We’ve almost done it: Three months in the field, and finishing off The First Twelve Weeks training. Honestly, it’s a little scary, because I have no idea what’s going to be happening to me by next week. Chances are that I am staying here in Sturgis (as it would be crazy to throw a missionary who just got trained somewhere into a brand new area), but I don’t know for sure whether Elder Yadon is leaving, or who my new companion might be if he does, or if I will actually be a trainer, as is possible after the first three months. Heck I could even end up as the district leader for all I know! I believe we get the calls on Friday, so we’ll see.

I traded off with Elder Reynolds, another Elder in training in Coldwater, one transfer younger than me. So sure, just throw two trainees together in a town neither of them knows very well, right? It actually went very well, and through constant prayer and diligence, we found more people who were willing to hear the gospel then either of our companionship usually find in a day. It doesn’t matter how inexperienced you are at something, so long as you rely on the Lord. He goes before us, and he leads the way, and through listening and following, we are blessed, and everything falls into place. 🙂

Oh by the way, this sunday we are having another baptism, and her name is Whitley. She is part of a part-member-family, and has two kids. She has made major, major progress in a short amount of time, and made the commitment to be baptized on Nov. 1 only two weeks ago. That was her choice, not even us being pushy 😉

I send my love and prayers out to all of you. Take every opportunity you can to serve others, and the world will be better for it.

For anyone who wants to send anything, supposedly it is best to send it to the mission office this week as it is possible I could be in a different area next week.

Sincerely,

Elder Breinholt

Hello Everyone!

So I don’t have much time, and I still need to finish laundry and shop for a bunch of stuff, so if and when I don’t respond to your emails this week, that is why! 🙂

Today my district all went to Shipshewanna and visited the Menno-Hoff and learned all about Amish and Mennonite background, so that was really cool. But let’s get on with the miraculous weekend already!

So essentially it consists entirely of just Saturday, when I was on trade-offs with one of my favorite zone leaders in the whole world, Elder Alley. He and I did a lot of doorknocking in Indiana, and found 7 potentials within a matter of about 4 hours. Each of them seemed as though it was simply meant to be and they are truly in need of more knowledge and light shed upon the idea of Jesus Christ and what He wants for us. One specific miracle would have to be at the end of Mountain Street, when Elder Alley was trying to talk to this lady who was really trying to get away from us, she was already twenty feet away and Elder Alley asked “is there anyone you know who might want to hear our message?” and this woman, without even a pause of a second, immediately responded “2nd floor above the Carney’s Apt. 2!” and walked away. Elder Alley stopped for a beat, said “We’ll take it,” and we were off to the Carney’s. The people who live in that apartment hate to speak about religion, and do not like missionaries, so it is obvious that the lady who gave the referral gave it entirely out of spite, hoping we’d get yelled at; however, the renters of the apartment were not the ones to answer, but a man who happened to be visiting at that exact time who is very interested in learning about the gospel and specifically asked for a pamphlet or something he can read to learn more until the time he can have a lesson with us. The only problem is that he lives out of our mission boundaries, so other missionaries further south into Indiana will have the privilege of teaching him. The Lord works in mysterious ways, even through people’s spite the gospel can and will go forth, as long as we remain diligent.

I love you all and I truly do have to go, but I will be talking with you again in a week and hopefully will be able to respond to a few of you!

Sincerely,

Elder Breinholt

Oh and by the way, WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! 😀 Her name is Holly, and she’s basically been in progress towards being baptized for about a year, and she
finally got her wish to be baptized in a lake near their cottage 🙂 And a couple of these are pictures of Elder Alley, in one of which he was making me cake
in a cup as a gift for my birthday (late). Cake in a cup, who knew, right?

Elder Breinholt

Hello everyone!

How did you enjoy conference?? I LOVED it! As missionaries we still do get to watch all ten hours, and we do so using the satellite at the church, and how crazy is it that we have three brand new apostles?? We got to watch a sort of Q&A with the newly sustained apostles, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund, after the second session of conference, and it is very apparent to me that these men are truly called of God, not of men. I’m so grateful for all of the uplifting and inspiring words that were said, and the loving words of warning and counsel as well. If you will follow their guidance, they will lead you to the Savior.

Ice cream social before Priesthood Session
Brother Walker — One of my favorite people here, known by us as “Scientist” Walker, because he’s seriously a genius, and it’s awesome

Birthday present from grandparents

I think I said otherwise in my last letter, but interviews with the mission president actually happened on Friday. They are not something to be worried about, but an opportunity to talk with the mission president about any concerns you have, and to receive some counsel from him and let him know how things are going. He indicated to me that he is aware that I am confident in the work and that he is confident in me, and he helped me realize that I know what kind of missionary I want to be and can be, and eventually will be if I keep working hard. It’s a process, and it takes using all of your might, mind, and strength, and it would be a lot harder and have less purpose if we did not first love the Lord with all of our might, mind, and strength.

Elder Erekson (right) (new zone leader), and Elder Reynolds (left) (Brand new trainee in the district)

Do you all remember Jason the Brony? Well he came to the second session of conference on Saturday! He has been seeking an answer from God as to whether or not the Book of Mormon is truly God’s word, and if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet. One of the talks given I was just hoping and praying he was taking it all in because it was basically perfect for him. He has been doing well and it’s a result of prayer and of the effort of people in this word to fellowship him. Our other investigators are doing well also, but we don’t get to see them as often because they are busy, especially with the changing seasons.

I love you all and I will talk to you again next week!

Elder Breinholt

Hello everyone!

Quick weekly update because we have to go soon. As usual.

Saturday was a huge event that had been months in planning: The Family History Affair put on by the Sturgis Ward, for people all around to come, take classes on family history, learn how they can find information on their ancestors, record their history online, index, and so much more! There were booths from all sorts of other organizations which revolve around family history work and exhibits and a big poster for people to take old-timey pictures in front of. It was awesome. The only thing that was a little bit disconcerting is the difference in the amount of people who showed up this year opposed to the numbers last year when this same event was put on. Last year: over 100. This year: 6. Yup. 6. 🙂 Better than zero, but less than 100. However, I did have the opportunity to personally serve a man by the name of Ralph to do much of his family history and he was ever so grateful, so if we had to do this whole thing just for him, I think it was worth it. I literally sat down with him for three hours, starting with showing him how to work a computer mouse, and ending with searching possible duplicates for his ancestors in familysearch. It was awesome.

So many miracles are happening here and I thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. Also, the sisters in my district tried to get me to swallow a live goldfish, but when I declined they had Elder Mafile’o do it, and it was a little bit sad. Inhumane? I don’t know.

We hopefully have a few more baptisms coming up so stay tuned!

Sincerely,

Elder Breinholt