Hahaha hello dear friends and family!

You all probably saw the title of my email. And I bet you thought I was talking about myself! Nope. Elder Strauss. We starting our new event with the Grand Valley Elders: Investigator Basketball. After the first 30 minutes, before everyone had even shown up yet, Elder Strauss had managed to roll his ankle and tear a ligament causing severe pain and swelling. We ended up taking him to the emergency room because everything else was closed by that time. Needless to say, he is now on crutches and will likely continue to be so for about a week, and his full recovery will take 5 to 6 weeks, as planned.

The work has slowed down a lot because of this. We can’t really even go and proselyte. So we are dropping investigators like flies, and are not finding more people to teach. It’s a little sad for me, especially since I always like to be working on something but we come back pretty often during the day so Elder Strauss can ice his ankle and take ibuprofen.

Other than all that we have been doing pretty well. Had some great, fun dinners with members. I probably ought to take more pictures with members, now that I think about it. I’m most likely going to be leaving this area in the next four weeks–or so President tells me.

Highlight of the last 7 days:

A member who has been less active in the church for a while who actually had issues against the church has been worked on over time by the Lord. God works in mysterious ways, my friends. I don’t know where it all started, but how I first got involved was by “coincidentally” knocking into her house, and her nanny answered and told us the situation with that members anger against the church. We answered some of her questions, got her information, and weren’t able to get in contact again. Later on we got a text from the Relief Society President, saying that member had surgery and requested a blessing! So of course Elder Strauss and I went over there and did that! On her TV she was totally watching Studio C (which I recommend, look it up on YouTube.) After that, her NANNY ended up in the hospital and the member asked if we could go giver HER a blessing, too! Holy cow. Meanwhile, members of the relief society had been helping to babysit her 5 special needs children while both she and her nanny were down. Later, the member texts us about her situation, and asks if it’d be possible we come help her rake leaves. We raked alongside the nanny’s two daughters, and then lo and behold, on Sunday, without us having asked or poked or prodded or even mentioned, The member Cabrielle showed up to church with one of her nanny’s daughters. They were happy and smiling and interacted with other members of the church. What a beautiful miracle this has been! Sometimes God works on us through the difficult, humbling experiences, so do your best to learn from them my friends.

Super long email. Sorry.

I love you guys and hope you have a wonderful week!

Elder Breinholt

Hello Friends and Family!

Our Ride is literally here to pick us up. So. Shortest Weekly Letter of all time?

God is good, he blesses us every single day!

Last night we put together a cottage meeting where we invited investigators to come together in the home of a member and we discussed the importance of family and centering the family on Jesus Christ. Our investigators from Calvin College came, and James, and Alisha and her kids so it was great! The Spirit was felt and they asked great questions.

Starting basketball with investigators on thursdays! So excited. I’m so glad we have enough people that that can actually be a thing!

Sisters got into Pokemon *facepalm*

IDK

I love you all and have wonderful week!

Elder Breinholt

Hello Everyone!

This week was a really confusing week for me. Oh and by the way we are emailing today because next week is the beginning of a new transfer, so our P-Day is today instead.

I totally thought I was going to transfer! Why? Because I got a letter from the mission President saying I would like my new district, and that my endorsement would be done by the time I arrive, but the transfer call came in yesterday morning and I am staying, and I was flabbergasted.

On top of that the Sisters in our district went missing in action during transfer calls, and we were sent by the mission President to check on them. Turned out they were in a lesson with their phone on silent. *facepalm*

This week was a short week, but we ended up teaching 15 lessons and picked up a bunch of awesome new people. Quite a few of them are planning on being at church so we’re hoping and praying it works out.

We’ve been praying for our investigator, James, to be able to come to church regularly but also be able to support himself and his wife. He took the leap of faith to ask his boss to stop having him work Sundays, even though he knew he’d no longer have sufficient funds to provide. He knew God would provide, and yesterday he called us to let us know a miracle happened! He got a full time job at a factory that will allow him to do more than provide for their needs, and they will be able to come to church every Sunday, as James says, “for eternity.” x) James and his wife Teresa are such awesome people and I’m grateful for everyone who has been praying for them. 🙂

Things have been going very well, and we know that as you draw closer to God, the Adversary tries to pull you away, so yes, there have been some trials that we have been facing, and It’s been difficult. I’m trying to be the best example I can, but still my own diligence or the diligence of others falls. Know this, brothers and sisters, that your choices and your obedience to what you know is right does not only affect you. I say this not to chastise, but rather to give another reason to be the best that you can be, not just for you, but for those you love.

Matthew 25: 40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

I love you all! Have a wonderful week! Don’t be afraid to shoot me an email whenever!

Elder Breinholt

Hello again family and friends!

How has your week been? How has social media been? How bout them politics? Oh and how do you feel about 5 for the Patriots??

Elder Strauss and I had a great week! But every week can be great if you make it a great one. Even the hard ones, because there’s something to be learned, and some way for you to grow and become stronger. So honestly, I can’t remember the last time I had a bad week, or really even a bad day. That’s a BIG change from how I used to feel 18 months ago.

On Friday, we had 6 lessons lined up and 5 of them worked out, and they were all filled with the Spirit. Saturday, we had another 6 lessons lined up! One by one, they all went down the drain. One simply asked us to leave, another cancelled ahead of time, another shined us, and another one apparently no longer lives in that house. Holy Cow! Stark contrast! But it was an eye opener for me of how God has helped me to grow in positivity and patience; through all this, my companion was becoming more and more stressed and frustrated. Meanwhile, I was able to laugh it all off, and continue on in the work. And although most all of these appointments fell through, we were blessed with a BUNCH of miracles throughout the day! Our first appointment was in a house that was actually 3 apartments. I said I had a good feeling to knock on number 2, after our Referral asked us to get out. It took a little bit of coaxing, but eventually we went and knocked it. Turned out to be a super solid family we are planning on teaching tonight. Just another way Heavenly Father showed me that I am in tune with the Spirit, even though I’m not perfect and I make dumb mistakes.

So yesterday our investigators Anna and Morgan invited us to a youth program called LOFT! We had no idea what to expect, and it was not a program run by their church, so we were able to go! We carpooled with them and a friend named Kirk, and turns out it was actually a program of Calvin College, and it took place in their CFac center, and there were upwards of 200 Calvin College students there to come together in singing and praise! It was the sickest thing ever. The band playing was comprised of students and they were amazing, and we all stood and sung songs that remind us of our commitment to follow Christ! What an experience. Not at all what we were expecting. We were expecting a devotional, and that’s apparently usually what they do, but yesterday was special because of the superbowl, I guess. I don’t know. Just thought I’d share my excitement with you.

Here’s a picture one of the guys from the home ward sent! It’s all of us before Colton and I left on our missions!

Anyway.

I love you all, I hope you will make it a wonderful week, and I will talk to you all again soon.

Elder Breinholt