Monday, December 2, 2013

Scripture Covers Elder Breinholt made!

 This is me on top of a huge subway station! Also, happy thanksgiving and merry christmas from the 평택 elders. :)

                                            Elder Breinholt's Scripture covers that he made:)

DECEMBER 1, 2013


 So our week! Monday we went up to 수원 to hang out with some other missionaries. That was super fun! We played bang which was super awesome! haha I love that game. Oh we went shopping in the 역 there which was fun I guess haha Elder Atkin bought a korean book that I want to buy. Next time I see it I'm going to buy it. It's super good. Then we came home and couldn't have FHE because 박희정 was sick so it would have been pointless so we just walked around and talked to people which is always fun! haha
 
Tuesday we had zone conference in 수원 for a really long time! haha that was a good time. It was good to see president. He rocks. One thing that he said that I really liked was that when we say baptism, we mean bringing people joy and peace of mind. I love that because that's exactly what we do. :) So awesome! Then he said that we just need to lift where we stand and do the best we can. It doesn't matter how little or how much it is as long as its the best that we can. Oh! 문호빈 gave me his Korean/English PMG which is so awesome! It has the two pages of PMG in both languages back to back. Super awesome. And its mini. So that was really awesome! Then Elder Atkin had a leadership meeting so we just kinda chilled there until they were done. Then we went home! It takes a while to get home from there. Wednesday was awesome aas well. We went to the guy who speaks english like a hippie black guy its really hard to explain. But he's super funny. Anyways, we went and printed off some pictures. I made an awesome scripture case! It's for my book of mormon that i always carry around. So now I can carry one for longer without it getting ruined. I'll send a picture of it. Then that night at english class we had like 15 people there! It was awesome! There were a ton. There was a girl there who was 16 and had already graduated high school so she was studying to take a test to get into BYU. Super awesome. Super smart. Haha funny moment from it. One of the people was telling us her favorite subject and she was trying to say moral ethics, but no one could understand and all she was saying was moral so dennis said "Murder?!" Are you murderer?! It was super funy.
 
Thursday was so amazing! I love thanksgiving. :) We had pizza school for lunch, delicious. haha then we went to the church for our scripture study class so we just kinda talked to 박희정 and 이혜경 for a little. That was fun. I love them. Then we went down to the Humphrey's base for dinner with the Spillaines! We went with 6 other missionaries. Our area then two sisters from 수지 They are an awesome family. They are pretty young. Like I think they've been married for about 6 years and just havent had any kids. but they had 3 nonmembers there and 2 more members! That was so awesome! That's the definition of member missionary. They were all black to which was even cooler. Their names were Rick, Vince, and Montrice. Rick and Montrice are from america, but Vince is from some west african country. Super cool guy. Super nice. We actually had a really spiritual time. We were going around and talking about what we are grateful for like one thing, ya know, cuz it's thanksgiving. So when it was Rick's turn he said that he was grateful that we were there and that he was inspired by young people like us trying to make the world a better place. Then his friend, a member, brother Frasier told his conversion story and Rick was there listening and the spirit was super strong! Well at least I thought so. He really has a lot of potential to become a member. That would be so awesome. He is so cool! The food was really good too. Haha almost forgot all about that. Don't worry about me. :) I am eating good! Oh! I was playing montrice in chess and he beat me. Dang it. That was too bad. :( But overall a good thanksgiving!
 
Friday was good! I found a really cool scripture in 1 Nephi 18:16. Before this he is talking about all of this stuff that happens to him that gives him plenty of reason to be upset with his brothers and with God. But It says "Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions." So what I kinda took away from that was to never complain. God is in control and he knows what is best for us. Bear it well. :) Then we went to lunch at our favorite place! haha we go there so much. It was 유가네. Then Elder Atkin was sorta sick so we couldn't really do much and then we had dinner with 이태경! She is sean's fiancee if you remember him. She seemed a little down because Sean's gone, but it's alright. She's going to America soon so she'll be able to see him. But yeah! She's doin good! Then saturday we had another thanksgiving! It was awesome! We went over to the 조's right in 롯태게슬 where we live. Elder Pruner and Sanderson taught a lesson to their grandma who is a recent convert. So that was awesome. They did a really good job. They are so dang nice to us. They are such an awesome family. Then we went to David Kim's for dinner with him and his wife! They are so nice. I really like them a lot. I don't remember if I told you about him or not. but he studied in Oregon and Texas and lived in the states for a really long time so he's super good at english. Pretty awesome!
 
Then yesterday I gave a blessing! in Korean! At church this lady comes up to me and says "건강 축복 받을 수있을까요?" which means hey can you give me a blessing? And I of course was like heck yeah! Then she asked me to do it and I was like hmm. Maybe you can't. ;) Haha just kidding. In the pass off book there is a blessing for the sick and afflicted so that's what I read. I mean, it was the best I could do. Heavenly Father did help me to read it though. Like I read that thing speedy. So that was a really cool experience. My first blessing in Korean. :) Then after church we went home and studied which of course was good! Then we went to the church to meet an investigator but he didn't come. :( He punked us. He called us saturday night wanting to meet but didn't come so that was sad. But what can you do. And that was our week! How are you guys? It sounds like you had an awesome thanksgiving! Which is good! Dad, mom said that your turkey was delicious and that you did an amazing job making it! So good work! It sounds like all is well. :) I miss you and love you!
 
Love,
Elder Breinholt

MAKING KIMCHI

                                                 Me and Elder Pruner at KimBap Chun Guk.                                                                   
                                     

The pile of lettuce was at one point two times the biggest picture. They filled all of those containers as full as        they could go. So cool.    Making Kimchi.                                                     

                                               
                            This is Sean. Isn't that so awesome. Haha he rocks. Given us a little Blue Steel.     
                                           

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Letter Dated November 24th


Hello Family,

We got to hang out with Sean, the other elders recent convert too, which was super cool. I'll send a picture. We saw some wigs and told him he had to put them on. I think you'll enjoy them haha. At FHE we played Bang! Which was super fun. I love that game. It gets intense. That was fun. :) Then Tuesday! I read about Enos in personal study and that was really cool. He's an awesome example I think for how we should try to live our lives. First he starts out by praying and working out his weaknesses. Then once God forgives him he prays for his people to be blessed and their prosperity. Then he prays that his enemies will be blessed and come to the light of the gospel. Here is verse 11 and a little of 12: "And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites. And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence..." He wanted even his enemies to be happy and not have to struggle through life. And when he prayed, he prayed with all diligence. Prayer is so key. It is the one time we let our Heavenly Father know what is going on in our life, and it is how he can talk to us. So when we do it, which should be focused just on that. Eliminate all other distractions and just pray to our Heavenly Father. 

So yeah. Then later that day we practiced for the song that we sang in sacrament on Sunday! I'll talk more about that later. :) So we sang Be Still My Soul. We sang and figured out what we wanted to do. That was fun. haha then we had Korean Class which as always was fun. I also shared the message in that. I talked about Alma 26:29-31. It says "And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again. And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us." The reason I shared this with them was because both of the families that come have been involved with us a lot and one family gave us a referall and the other is working really hard with a ton of people. So I just felt like even though sometimes it feels like our efforts aren't that great. That we really don't do too much, we never know how great our "fruits" are. They are so much greater than we even know. Something you say to someone could have an effect on them 20 years later. So yeah!
 
Then Wendesday was a lot of fun. We did our normal thing and had our good ol' 김밥전국 for lunch. haha we go there all the time for district meeting. Then we had our district meeting where we talked about how key the members are. That was actually really good. Because they are! Both of the baptisms that we had were member referrals. So, if you can, work with the missionaries and I promise you'll see success. maybe not right away or with the first person you refer, but soon I'm sure you will! Then me and Elder Hale started a split! He's an awesome missionary. I respect him a lot. Then at our ward mission leader meeting thing I actually had to take charge and talk to him about our investigators and everything which made me actually feel really good! That was super fun to take charge! Then we had our English class which was fun as ever. We had some funny stuff happen. Elder Sanderson and Pruner taught them the song John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, and they all sung it at the end. Super fun. Then me and Elder Hale taught 박희정 the second lesson in Korean which was so cool! Haha there was one point where we asked her a question and she started talking super fast, but I just concentrated really hard and she used all words that I know so I actually understood her. It was awesome! I love it when I can understand. It makes me feel so good haha. So we taught her all about why we're here, why we need the atonement, and the three kingdoms of glory. Super cool. HSe remembered everything from the lessons before she was baptised she's so good. She took notes haha she rocks. I love her.
 
Thursday was super awesome. I really liked it actually. I read the parable of the widow and the two mites in the morning and I felt like that is applicable to missionary work. Sometimes we feel like we don't have nearly as much as others to give to our heavenly father, but all that matters is that we give Him everything. No matter how little we think it may be, as long as it is our all, its enough. Then we went and made our way slowly to the subway and talked to some people along the way. Elder Hale is really good at street conversation. So I learned a lot of skills from him that I'm gonna put to work. Then we went down to 평택 and end the split. In case anyone gets confused. Our whole area is called 평택 but where we live is actually 송탄. So it is pretty far away, like a 20 minute drive. Not bad. So yeah. Then we went to 유가네 which was delicious. I really wish that you guys could go there. If you come pick me up we'll find one and we'll go there. :) Then we walked around and talked to people! Oh haha these jr. high kids that were like 15 ish come up to us and say hi! Then keep on walking. So I catch up with them and just start talking to them in sort of english sort of Korean, they were super funny. I ask em if anyone has a girlfriend and they all point and one kid. Super super awesome. Haha so that was fun. Then we got pulled into a 부동산's office. They are like the realtors of Korea. He's like hey come here have some coffee. We were like uhh we can't. He's like oh! Green tea then! Uh...we can't. Okay well how about water! Haha it was funny. So we talked to that guy for a little bit. He was funny. It's crazy how all Koreans just see and american and assume they can't speak Korean. It actually comes in quite handy sometimes though. Like we never get anyone trying to sell anything come up to us so that's nice.
 
Friday was our weekly planning day! Same ol same ol. haha I'm sorry about that. Nothing too exciting happens. We cleaned our missionary room at the church and practiced our song some more. Then we went and got Thai food with our investigator Julie. It was so goo dto see her agian! She's been really busy with her work and everything. She works at 연새 which is one of the top 3 universities in Korea. Super awesome. I've decided I love Thai food haha it was really good. We talked with her about the priesthood and why we have it. She hears things from her friends that we have to clear up. Haha it is kinda saddening that all of these churches think things about our church that aren't true. She heard that when we use the priesthood we are trying to be God. So we explained to her, no we are simply acting as God's servant to bless the lives of people on earth. And also to perform the saving ordinances that will get us back to our Heavenly father. Then Saturday we made Kimchi! It's called 김장. 김장하다 is to make kimchi. Anyways, it was with our investigator 김현철. We went to his house and helped him make it sort of. They were almost all the way done. They offered some of it to us and I won't lie. That fresh of kimchi is super super good. There comes a point somewhere along the way of Kimchi's lifespan where it gets like pretty sour and that is when it isn't that good. But, you should eat it. Kimchi is one of the healthiest foods on the planet just so you guys know. :) Then we went around and talked to people for the rest of the night! So yeah! That was fun.
 
Sunday! We went to church and performed our song! 잠잠하라! The bishop asked us to sing in sacrament like last week or the week before. It was good! Koreans are too nice to tell us we didn't do good, but I think it went pretty decent. Elder sanderson sang the first line, then me and him sang the second. Yeah they asked me to sing basically by myself. haha so that'll give ya a little taste of how the song went. ;) Then we all sung the rest of it. And the third voice we sung acapella. That was kinda hard! haha no more piano to watch my back for me and cover up my voice. But it was good. THen for sunday school we went to the 독신 class. So since there aren't that many young adults they just do a YSA class and have like YSA advisors in the ward. So we went to their class and that was awesome. 신세개 is the main guy in charge of that and he's so cool. He's the nicest, most stylish guy ever haha. I think I've told you about him before. But yeah. That was really fun. Then we had the ward 식사 after church which was really good. Just a little rice 고기 type thing. So that was delicious. We talked to a lot of the members for a long time and we got a lot of kimchi. Yeah so remember how I said that we did 김장? It is 김장 season. So everyone is making it and it smells like kimchi all over the place haha. Super fun. So they also make kimchi with what is called 무우. It is a raddish type thing that they make a few different type of things with and one of them is kimchi. Its pretty good! So yeah! We got a lot of kimchi and stuff from members then we went home and did our studies! That was our week! Pretty good one. I saw that dad and Jace went to the Lions and BYU game! That looked like so much fun! That was so cool! Like dang! That's so fun! I'm super jealous. Hey how is Kenah's last year of elementary school? :'( If you want me to get anything and send it home let me know! I'll do that for sure! I hope you guys are lovin good ol Utah! It's getting cold here! The wind blows and that makes it really really cold. It is definitely coat season now. But yeah! I love you and pray for you! I hope you all are just lovin life! I love you!
 
Love,
Elder Breinholt