New Pictures from Facebook...

I didn't want to loose this one off the blog so I added it to this post.

The following pictures are from the Facebook page of the young man that is in the baptism pictures. Abi and Elisabeth sent them on to me. Don't you just love technology! Jed looks so incredibly happy and we are so incredibly proud. I love how in the first picture they are making fun of his "thumbs up" gesture. In the rest of the pictures you'll know why. I can't caption each of them because I don't know the names of those in the pictures so just enjoy!!

And the New Area is...SÃO PEDRO DO SUL!

I´m just going to say...flood the earth with the Book of Mormon.

Today marks the 6 month mark for Elder Breinholt. WOW! As you can tell from the title (which is the subject line of his e-mail) of this post that he has been transferred. Here is his e-mail from yesterday.

Transfers were today and yes I am getting transferred to like it says in the subject line São Pedro do Sul. It's a little town that lies 35km from Santa Maria. My new companion is Elder Abreau. I don´t know anything about him...only seen him a few times...but its cool. I'm excited to get to know a new place and a new companion. I have had some interesting experiences here in São Gabriel and ate some interesting things...tripe included(it´s not as bad as you would think...)

So the Abister is going to big bad college is she? That's pretty cool I guess. Someone should ask her why she hasn´t e-mailed her big brother in Brazil yet...she can e-mail me from her e-mail address...she really can!

I really don´t have anything big to write about this week besides transfers. I am going to leave early in the morning, well not really early like 9. Then in the bus station in Santa Maria meet Elder Abreau and leave for São Pedro. The bus ride is really short maybe a half an hour. We will be the only Missionaries in the city it's really small only 16,000 people so the area is small. They tell me that the branch attendance is 13 to 20 people...GREAT!!! For district meeting we will travel to Santa Maria. So it turns out I´m going to the Newcastle of this mission...YAY!!!
Some good news Sister Myrrha didn´t come to inspect our house...good news...thumbs up!

So that's all I have to talk about this week...will have a ton to write next week!...btw...I am now a senior companion.

Love you all!

Hello people of the great white hat of America! (joke about Canada)

Hello Family...
This week has been crazy...really. Saturday we had another baptism it was good. We also had an activity with the new Joseph Smith movie. Elder J. Silva got a copy I don´t know how because no one here has ever seen it. Anyway it's been a fairly good week thanks everybody for your prayers. Like I said we moved to the other apartment and like I said it's a dungeon. We had a few very humid days and everything...EVERYTHING...started to mold bad news bears. So this morning we started cleaning...heavily...because Sister Myrrha most likely will be here Thursday to inspect...joy. I will get you Elder Cordeiro´s address next week. And I will tell you where I am going next week, because really I think that I am getting transferred...so well see next Monday. Well that's been my week.

I am reading the Book of Mormon by the schedule...in Portuguese...yay!!!! (We read the Book of Mormon as a family from August - December every year. Want to join us? We are on 1Nephi 15 as of today. Read 2 chapters 6 times a week and you'll finish by Christmas with us!)

So Abi turned to the dark side, did she? (Abi bought an Apple Computer!!)

Well that's my life as a missionary. Have a great week everybody. This computer that I am using doesn't have a CD so no pictures this week...almost didn't have them last week...the cd wouldn't open...then a miracle happened...YAY!!!! So that's how I roll!

Goodbye all! I love you all...
Elder Jed Breinholt

chamados a servir - "Called to Serve"

Sao Gabriel Branch Building

Hello family...this week has been crazy...
First we had zone conference on Tuesday....funny story...
I was talking to a certain elder laney...and he asked me where i was from...and what mission i lived in...then asked me if i knew elder eck...turns out they're from the same ward... so we had some good times talking about him...the office...laser cats...abi you understand... anyway so wrote him a letter too

Got your letters...didn't understand the letter from abi and stephane...was i supposed to?

Thursday we moved...to the dungeon...its not that bad i guess...closer to the church(see picture)
Saturday had another baptism...of a 12 year old kid.

I don't have really alot of time...p-day is already over...know that i love you all and wish for your success.
Dont have pictures of the baptisms yet!...will send later...next week i will know if i am getting transfered or not...

That's all for this week...I'll write better next week.
The other photo is me saying "wyoming again!"

tchau...eu amo vocês!

As best as I can translate using Babel Fish this says "Goodbye...I love you all" I love seeing him this is the first picture we have had for months! It makes me miss him. Elder Eck is one of our favorite missionaries here in our mission.

MISSIONARY WORK ROCKS!!!

They had to go in the back room to find them but yes you can find

Hand Warmers in Wyoming in July!! Thanks Bishop Klamm & Wyoming Work Wearhouse!

First off...thanks for the package...got it when we were on splits with the zone leaders this week...thanks for the hand warmers(using one today) This week has been crazy go nuts. We were on splits this week(like i said)which was really good...i always learn something i can do better when we are on exchanges...anyway... I've had some really good experiences this week...most of all on saturday and sunday when we had 2 PEOPLE BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED! one was Anathan...the kid that i told you about last week about english class...and a 12 year old girl named Amanda...she is the niece of the primary president...so that was good...i cant send pictures this week but i will next...i promise...i baptized Anathan...and only had to do it twice because i forgot to say amén just that...the water was really hot...it was good...and they were confirmed yesterday in sacrament meeting...which was also really good. It was really spiritual at church yesterday...i don´t know why...it just was. we will be having a baptisim next week too...of the grandson of a less active member.
turns out i´m still in são gabriel with no end in sight...we´ll see i guess. but it has turned cold again...really cold...at least its not raining...i´ve listened to the Saturdays Warrior soundtrack...like 3 times already...the other one is good too! thank you!
and now about some other things in my life:
We are going to be moving...either to an apartment that the mission already has or to a new apartment that we´re looking for...because elder rizato(of the missionary couple) was called as the branch president of the other branch...and our apartment is closer to his branch...so we will be switching...but the other apartment is a dungeon...doesn´t have sunlight at all...so the humidity stays and so does the mold!...so were looking for another apartment that has more light...keep you informed. Tomorrow is zone conference...YES!!!!! i love zone conference. we will be taking a member with us to be set apart by pres. myrra in Alegrete...because its a district here and he´s got the keys to do it...and so he will be staying with us tomorrow night...MISSIONARY WORK ROCKS!!! it´s so exciting seeing him getting ready to go...and going through some of the same things i did. yay!
so thats my week...photos of the baptisim and some pampas next week...tchau all
I LOVE EVERYONE OF YOU!
ELDER JED BREINHOLT
p.s. abi e-mail me from your e-mail...i want to talk to you when you are away at the lege(as in college) and abi text my freinds and tell them about the blog!
this week has been really good for me!
peace out home slices!

Good week for Elder Breinholt

hello family...this week has been really good...we started to deliver things for references this week...which turned out really good...have a few new families because of it...i can´t send pictures this week because the place we came today doesn't have a cd drive on the computers...but i burned all my pictures to a cd so i can send them a little more easily... so next week for sure...
i knew the package would get back to you...patience is where it's at... i do have one package here...i don´t know which one it is...about the english class that i started...we have since been teaching a young man from that class...a cousin of a member...and he will be baptized in 2 weeks...he´s really a golden investigator...everything we tell him to do he does...he stopped smoking in 3 days...and hasn´t looked back since...it's funny...on sunday we were in gospel principles...with the rest of the branch(because the sunday school teacher couldn't come) and the teacher said..."where are the men of my branch?" (understand that we have 35 relief society members and 5 quorum members...) and he said to me...aren´t you a member of the branch...so i explained that i´m not really...and then i said to him and your not a member yet...he got really excited and just said...yet...he goes on visits with us alot too...gold...thats all i can say...gold
well thats all for today...you all have a good day and live the comandments...they bring blessings...
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

I mailed a package to Jed in May that he never got and Saturday the Postman delivered it back to me YEA!!! He only gets his packages and snail mail every transfer or Zone Conference. I've been trying to do better at sending him snail mail letters as well as my weekly e-mail so he always has something from home on those transfer/conference days.

minha família marvlhosa!

Translation ... My Marvelous Family!
Happy Birthday Annie!!! I really do have photos to send to the 3 birthdays (Elisabeth, Abi and Annie)...and i think i will have it resolved by next week so i can send them. I have q-tips...and i can buy them here! yay!...but i can't buy fruit snacks boo!...oh some people of the branch have some requests for stuff...chocolate chips...chocolate orange...marshmellos...redvines...peanut butter... crazy...one american missionary introduces people to things and then they crave it forever. We have washing machines down here...i don't have a dryer...i have a thing called a tankinie...not the swimming suit! Anyway its just a tank of water and a jet roter...cleans pretty good...but you have to ring it out by hand...and a dryer in the assistants house...coisas boas!(good things for all you gringos)
Its already my third transfer...weird...
all my love to you all...
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

Late e-mail today

ok i have to be short...because we have to go to the chapel to play volleyball...my companions idea...i will write next week...a lot more...i´m sorry all...but i am alive and well...sorry

SCRIPTURE POWER!!

I thought I'd post a picture of the chain that we have hanging on the bookshelf in the office for Jed's first year out. One link for each week. We decided that we'd do something different next year. 33 weeks to go this year and 85 weeks overall. However, I like the sound of 19 months 2 weeks that is on the ticker at the bottom of the blog.

This week has been quite emotional here in Gillette. One of Jed's best friends, Ryan, his little sister, Ali who is Abi's age, was killed in a car accident last week. We are all still in shock and you can read Jeds reaction to the tragic news:

Hello family...
I really don´t know what to say...Ali´s death has kinda shaken me up this morning...she is the first person to die that I have known(i think) while on my mission...but in a community like Gillette...I know she won't be the last...but it´s Ryan´s sister!!!!! That is just crazy....

How great it is that we have great truths like the plan of salvation. I am so grateful to be out here sharing these great truths with the people of Brazil...but you guys at home have a great responsibility now...to invite people to know about these truths...to learn that the heavens are open once again and that we have a Prophet on the earth that really speaks with our Heavenly Father...invite Rishi, Jon, Ryan(especially), Max, Kelsey, all of my freinds...not just you guys invite them, I INVITE THEM...to learn that families really can be together for ever. this gospel is too great to be kept a secret...in the words of the scriptures...LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE...and what is our light? THE GOSPEL! It is our responsibility as members of The Church of Jesus Christ...to share this. I would like to write my testimony...to each of you... and I want you to print it out and give it to everyone... this is my testimony...

I know that our Savior lives. I know that he really suffered for our pains and imperfections. I know that our Hevenly Father loves us and that like a real father we can talk to him about anything through prayer. I know that families can be together forever through our Heavenly Fathers plan. I know that Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that through him we do have Jesus Christ´s church. It´s not just a title or the name of the church, it really is led and guided by him, through Prophets today. The heavens are open once again. I know this to be true. I invite you as a representative of Jesus Christ to learn about this gospel that I hold so dear in my heart. This is the reason I am here in Brazil to share this gospel with others and I would like to share it with you. Take my invitation as a freind. This I sincerely write to you. With every fiber of my being I know it is true.
Talk to my family to find out more.
Your Friend,
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

ok. you can attach a picture to that...i really want you to do this for me...i was such a slacker with sharing the gospel at home...but know i realize the importance of sharing the gospel...don´t keep your light under a bushell... in the words of Paul: I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ
ok now that that is off my chest...i will answer some questions.

How are you and Elder Silva getting along? super
Working hard? of course
Hows the weather? this week has been warm...
How is the English Class coming? good. Teaching some people because of it
Sacrament Meeting attendance any better? were working on it

Angela...thank you for the recipe...

THATS GREAT about dad loosing weight...maybe when i get back we can go rock climbing as father and son!...

I want you to look at one of the teaching styles we use here in the mission...Mosiah chapter 12:31-36...its where Abinadi is asking the priests about the law of moses...first he asks. then they respond. then he testifies...then he uses the scriptures and proceeds to teach the ten comandments...its awesome...

now a question for you...i kow its like a year and a half early but what is the talk about coming to pick me up? :) you guys would love it down here....seriously.

thats all for today...
will write and send pictures next week(with any luck)

YOUR SON/BROTHER/COUSIN/FRIEND
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

Sorry I'm Late Posting this Week!

I'm sorry I'm late posting this week I'm sick but feeling a bit better today. So here is the latest from Elder Breinholt...

hello all...
my week has been just fabulous.
we went to santa maria wednesday for a mission conference...about...EXCERCISE...i now excercise every morning...except sunday of course...but it was good...didnt get anything in the mail...dont know why...probably because i´m doing pretty bad at writing people...sorry everyone...i will try to get everybodys letters off this next week.
ok...about the missionary couple...they have been in the mission for a year...they are brazillian and will be here on the 7th...they will be working with less actives...primarily...yay. but here in the mission were are getting a missionary couple...the Langs...and the don´t know portuguese...never learned a languge...the wanted to go to an historical site in the united states...but they are coming to brazil instead...crazy huh?
also...the language...is much better...much better...extremely better...i am now to the point where i can start talking back...and not just understand...awesome(said like lilly in shark vs. eagle for you abi) i figured out that my new card reader is not working also...so i can send pictures...i will buy a new one this week...that makes me super mad...
english class was good...hard for me to speak in english...thats good right?!?!
BEN:(to the tune of row your boat)MOW MOW MOW THE LAWN...DON´T COMPLAIN AT ALL. YOUR A MAN SO DEAL WITH IT...YOU´RE NOW BIG AND TALL...speak german to the max!
ANNIE: SING SING A SONG...SING OUT LOUD...thats really cool about your singing lessons.
PHOTOS WILL COME...
that is all
E. BREINHOLT

Hey Angela, Jed in another short e-mail asked for a Banana Bread Recipe. After reading your post about Costco Bananas would you send me yours and I'll include it to him. THANKS!

WELCOME TO WINTER!!!!!

It took until late in the day today to get Jed's e-mail I had begun a little "mother panic" but all is well in Sao Gabriel with Elder Breinholt...

Why hello family!
I am doing great...mission life is crazy go nuts awesome. It has been crazy to the max this week... first off we walked crazy far...we have an area it´s really another city but it´s ours and its roughly 6km from the edge of são gabriel...yeah we walked it....foi louco!!!!! (IT WAS WILD) We also taught in a high school monday night...showed Finding Faith in Christ...and they wrote down their addresses...if they wanted to...more did than did not...was good...we´re doing it again Thursday...
As the title states we´re in the full swing of winter down here!!! and it is cold....brrrrrrr...mostly because houses dont have insulation...so its kinda weird when we come home its warmer inside...but in the morning its colder inside than outside...cold to the max!
i don´t know what it is with places down here...i cant send a picture to save my life...but i have some really good ones...i made pastel...and took a picture...let me explain pastel...pastel...in one word is delicious!...ask any missionary who served in brazil! but basically you take massa...pot sticker shell more or less...then you stuff it...with ham and cheese...hard boiled egg and cheese...really whatever floats your boat...you can even go desert style...with cocunut and chocolate...banana is a litte weird...but good...really what ever you feel like...then fold it over and press with a fork...then the best part comes...deep fry...delicious!!!!!
also...ask a missionary that served in brazil....ok turns out this is the closest thing to a kit-kat...they have here...but smaller and like twenty of them...you buy them by the box...either white or milk choc. its delicious as well...
I DO NOT LIKE PAPAYA!!!thought i would just put that in there for you all.
has anybody ever eaten donkey??? my companion has...swears by it...ITS A DONKEY ELDER J. SILVA...THERES PROBABLY A LAW SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CANT EAT IT...luckily here in the south...people agree with me...just cow...no horse...or donkey...
i´m really mad about the picture thing...i really want to send them.
i really havent had any cool experiences this week...
oh...we´re getting a missionary couple...here in são gabriel...at the end of the month...thats all we know right now...nothing else...i´ll keep you informed..
thats all for now...
talk to you all next week
ps. starting an english class...keep you informed.

Jed's New Companion: Elder J. Silva

FUNNY BLOG Check it out!

ok...so sorry everybody about last week...its been crazy...and no pictures this week becuse the place where i have sent them before is now blocked up...OK so turns out this week has been crazy...transfers on tuesday was insane...said goodbye to elder cordeiro in the moring and got ready to go to the bus station...where all the missionaries getting transfered...more or less...converged....crazy...then...waited...and waited and waited for my new companion...ELDER J. SILVA...to arrive...was late...left at 4:00 from santa maria and got to são gabriel...
a little about my new companion Elder J. Silva: he is from the city of Natal...in rio grande do norte...funny story about that...natal in portuguese means...Christmas...so whenever he tells people where he is from...they say você conhece Papai Noel? Translated means do you know Santa Clause? Its pretty funny.
Thats great about the baptisms of the elders in gillette...does anybody have any suggestions on getting people to sacrament meeting? We are having some troubles with this. They just won't come....
Other than that...nothing else really happened this week or last...just alot of work...but thats good for me :}
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

hopefully will send pictures next week...i have some really good ones...

Two in one and none the next!

i had an e-mail ready but it got erased...sorry i dont have time to write a new one...will write next week!!!SORRY EVERYBODY

This is all we got this week! Check back next week!

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! 2 e-mails in one day!

What a surprise when I checked my email this afternoon and found this!

"I have a little time this afternoon...so about pres. monson and elder nelsons talks:
pres. Monson: talked about the temple of course...talked about families being sealed in the temple...told a story about a patriarch in europe, named percy fester. that when the iron curtain was up there was a family of latter-day saints trapped in poland...and he went and gave patriarcal blessings to the family...and when he returned to salt lake he came to president monson and said something to the effect of: elder monson...i´ve done something horrible...in those patriarcal blessings i promised things that can´t be fullfilled...but they were...and when the family moved to west germany...they went to the Bern temple...and the temple president was there to greet them...It was Brother Fester!!!! he told another story about a family in south africa...that was saving up money to go to the temple...this was before there was a temple in south africa...the 4 little girls asked him questions for 3 hours about the temple...and when he left the youngest girl said "We´ll see you in the temple" and a year later he met them and sealed them as a family in the salt lake temple...
now about elder nelsons talk: also was about the temple...
he talked about the ordinances of the temple...he talked about how before the Savior opened a way to teach the dead...ordaninces were only done for the living...and now they can be done for the dead...he also talked about how the temple fulfills the purpose of the creation...and without temples the entire earth would be uterly wasted...he also talked about the sacredness of the temple...and when Jesus clensed the temple the first time he called it my fathers house...the second time he said my house...and when they had further desecrated it he called it their house... all in all it was a really good talk...
i´m glad i had the opportunity to participate in a temple dedication...because i don´t get the opportunity to go to the temple during my mission...and the chapel had the same holiness as the temple yesterday...revelation was received...and my testimony is stronger than ever...i love this church...this gospel...i know it is the only way we can return to live with our Father in Heaven again...

because i forgot in my e-mail earlier...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABI AND ELISABETH!!!!!

i have photos for your birthdays i will try to send them next week...if i can´t i´ll go snail mail!...and for the rest of you...have a good week the church is true...i know it with all my heart...thats why i am here in brazil!

LOVE YOU ALL!
ELDER JED(GED) BREINHOLT

(This is in reference to him misspelling his name in the letter he sent with his cartoon portrait on it)

Is this a great kid or what! I truly feel so blessed to be his mother. He was born with a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has been an example of unwavering faith for me his whole life.

Curitiba Brazil Temple Dedication

The dedication of the Curitiba Temple was yesterday, was really good understood almost all...there was a talk given by one of the area presidency...he talked about problems of the temple...one it being too far away...and two...too close...let me explain...when you have a temple really close...you think to yourself "i can go anyday" and you don´t...he talked about making a plan...to go to the temple...put it in your schedule...it is a blessing...btw...his entire talk was in portuguese but i understood all of it :)

Are you getting your daily dose of bifitus regularus? nope...sorry (That question was from Abi)

How are things going? so good....this week has been filled with so many spiritual experences(why yes i do know it is spelled wrong, i forgot my own language!)

How is the investigator pool right now? a whole lot better... we have found a family of a mother and son...so awesome...so spiritual...i feel they will be baptized...

What did you get at Zone Conference? got my 2 mission ties packages...letters from grandma/julie. grampa. elder eck and elder vanmeetern...and one from elder gardner from the mtc...already has 8 baptisims...yup...but this next sunday is transfers...basically here is what happens...everyone who is getting transferred converges on santa maria...gets letters and such...and goes...so i will get all my letters that were sent to the mtc...and such...it will be good...

The language is doing better...the church is true...even here in the wyoming of brazil...but i have to go now...next week maybe pictures...and i will write more about the temple dedication...pres. monson and elder nelson gave great talks (in english with interpreters) that were just awesome about the temple...oh yeah...turns out the music rule in the south dakota rapid city mission is now here...yep...i´m glad i have all that church material!!!!!

But love you all tons...
YOUR FAVORITE GAÚCHO ELDER
ELDER JED BREINHOLT

Your horticulture lesson for the week

"Wow this week has shot by...it´s been crazy...ok...zone conference is tomorrow...in Alegrete...2 hour bus ride!...YAY! and i did it twice already this week...about that...went on exchanges with the líderes de zona this week...like i said the zone is in alegrete...so it was a big long drive...worked there with elder andre...elder oliveria was here with elder cordeiro...anyway...was good...talked with american elders for the first time in like a month...that was good...everybody thinks i´m doing really well with the language...i guess...the brazillian comp is doing good... I will answer questions from dad:
How many members are active in your branch? 50 or 60
How many MP holders? 7 or 8 Have you spoken in church yet? no but its coming... i know it is Are the members helpful with referrals? mais ou menos(portuguese for so-so)...GIVE THE MISSIONARIES REFERRALS!!!! all of you out there in blog land...at home...share the gospel!
What time does it get light in the morning now and what time does it get dark at night? light at about 8:30 dark at 6
Are you still getting a lot of rain? not much

Is it getting colder? its really wierd...because monday-thursday was super hot....but now its fresca(portuguese for chilly) again...wierd
oh funny story...ate maracuja(passion fruit) and caqui (i don´t even know...looks like a tomato...but is not) for the first time this week...BOTH EXCELLENT!...and i know where cashews come from...a fruit...of the same name...tasted the juice...not very good...the fruit i don´t know...we´ll see

CASHEW FRUIT

The nut/seed is on the bottom has a shell/covering that

has the properites of poison ivy!

CAQUI FRUIT or JAPANESE PERSIMMON

Working hard and loving it...your favorite missionary in brazil...

ELDER JED BREINHOLT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another link off the chain...thanks for visiting Jed's Mission Blog!

OH THE JOY OF NEAR ELECTROCUTION

Can you see a resemblance between this and the self portrait above that Jed drew on his letter that he wrote to us from the Mission Home!
Elder Breinholt & Elder Cordeiro
Their apartment

We had a great e-mail from Jed today here are the highlights:

"ok this week was great...showers fixed...thats pretty great...the heating coil had come out...no connection...no heat. Anyway turns out that this week was really weird...correction...saturday was weird...

you see the morning i had gotten up to get a shower...this was after the shower was fixed and hot...got in...just got done shampooing my hair...when all of the sudden...there came a rather loud pop from the wall where the shower plugs in...not wanting to fry myself i quickly turned off the shower and got out...started getting ready...when another louder pop came from the same place... this time the power went off in the apartment...checked the breaker...nothing tripped...so elder cordeiro went down to the landlord to see...only the landlord wasn´t there...so we checked the main breaker for the whole apt. complex...only 2...and sure enough i had tripped the main breaker...this was caused by bad wiring...which was fixed today!

story 2...happened same day...saturday
we had an activity for mothers day at the church...so we start preparing for this activity...everything is fine and dandy...and when we are about to start the activity the power goes out...IN THE WHOLE CITY!...we sat for about 45 minutes with just the Emergency lights on...then it came back on...YAY...Not 5 minutes later it goes back off...we missionaries have to get home...this is like 8:00 at night...stays off for 30 minutes...on for 15...YAY...off again...and it was off for another hour while we walked home...weird

The Elder Breinholt Blog continues.....

Thanks for the visit!!

What to say?

This is a picture of Jed and Elder Stanfield from the MTC. Elder Stanfield is from Murray, Utah and they really got along great. He is in a different mission than Jed. Actually he's still in the MTC in Sao Paulo. They both liked the same things, music, movies etc. I like his choice in football teams! GO PATRIOTS!

This is the only picture he could get through. After talking for an hour yesterday it was really hard for him to come up with a letter to us this morning. I totally understand it was hard for me to write to him early this morning too. He is doing so great. Happy, healthy and loving Sao Gabriel. The hot water is broken in his apartment and he said the shower is like ice! BRRRR. I sent him 9 pictures of the kids various activities this past couple of weeks and he really liked those. Well that's about it for this week. Thanks for coming by the Blog.

I found this tribute to Sao Gabriel on YouTube it's pretty good.

He told us yesterday that they play the Accordian and Violin in their traditional music a lot and you can hear it in this video.

Dia Feliz Das Mães! *** Happy Mother's Day!

Who knew - today is Mother's Day in Brazil too! We were able to talk to Jed for an hour today it was WONDERFUL! We called him at the church house at 3:00 p.m. our time (6:00 p.m. his time) and he answered. It was so great to hear his voice. Well - actually we heard from him yesterday for about 2 1/2 minutes to make sure we had the correct phone number to call him today. It was a bit of a shock to hear him on the other end of the phone when I answered it yesterday afternoon. Abi talked to him first today because she had to go to work this afternoon after the yummy spaghetti dinner Tracy made (my choice I love spaghetti). Then Ben and Annie had a turn. Then Tracy and I each got on a phone and talked for about 40 minutes. Here is a bit of a recap of our conversation...

Language- Jed says he is so grateful that he is understanding just about everything even to the point that he isn't having to consciously translate what he hears already. He says he is still timid to talk but is getting a little more brave every day. His companion is Brazilian and so that helps. They study familiar scriptures and sing familiar hymns in Portuguese to help Jed out. He even says that occasionally there are a few words that he forgets in English already.

Companion - Elder Cordeiro is from Brazil and he goes home next transfer. He is the District Leader in Sao Gabriel. Jed says they get along very well and he is a great missionary. They work really hard. I prayed that Jed would get a great trainer that would know how to work and teach Jed how to the best missionary ever and my prayers were answered. Jed says their area is about 8 miles square and they walk it all. They have a goal of 10 contacts a day to increase their teaching pool. They both are very committed and have a great attitude. In Southern Brazil there is a lot of money and everyone thinks they have everything they need. He said it's a little like teaching here in our ward in Gillette.

The Church in Sao Gabriel - There are two branches in the area. Three sets of missionaries, Jed and Elder Cordeiro and two sets of Sister Missionaries. The Branches are small but they sign up to feed the Elders just like we do here in Gillette. Which brings me to the next topic...

The Food - They eat one meal a day with the members - the noon meal. Jed and Elder Cordeiro and one set of the Sister Missionaries eat together at a members home. He says he and his companion usually skip dinner and work right through. He loves beans and rice and the fruit is so good. They buy lots of magoes each week. He also is developing a taste for Chimarrão. It is made from some kind of dried grass and infused with hot water like you would tea but it is not tea and totally legal. It is quite a process and ritual to prepare and to drink. Google it if you want to know more. Even though it gets pretty cold there are still palm trees and he says everyone has an orange tree. He saw his first Avacado tree. They use avacados in a sweet dessert and put sugar and milk with them. His companion loves it and assures Jed he'll like it too. He hasn't had it yet. The term rodizio (as in Rodizio Grill) comes from Southern Brazil where Jed is and the type of restaurant that you get rodizio is a Chiausciria. Sao Gabriel is the "Capitol" of Chiausciria's. They're are 7-8 really good ones in Sao Gabriel. He is hoping they'll eat at one tomorrow for p-day.

Well there will be an e-mail tomorrow from him so I'll post again tomorrow.

Thanks for the visit!
Jed's Mom

New Address

Jed's address for letters...

Elder Jed Breinholt
Brazil Santa Maria Mission
Caixa Postal 0339
97001-970 - Santa Maria -RS
BRAZIL

Jed can receive e-mails from you but will not be able to answer them. He can only e-mail his parents. If you are interested in his e-mail address leave a comment and I'll send it to you. From his letter it appears that all letters and packages to go the mission office and they are distributed about 3 times a transfer so about every other week. Thank goodness for e-mail!