Elder Andy Glanzer

Hola,

I thought we were in winter. Spring doesn’t even start for another month. It’s been in the 80s all week and on Saturday it hit about 92 degrees! Weird this country is. Know that this week entire was nice and hot and thinking that Monday would be perfect to play some sport action, I was set to get an exercise in, but no, as I woke this morning, I woke to coldness. What luck that I have. But at least we’re in Altagracia chilling. This city has a pizza place that in the best in this entire country. It has a bunch of old churches and cool things to check out. A big tourist place — sucks for the elders who work here, I’m glad I’m in the villas.

The food is normal. Rice, pastas, chicken, raviolies, pizza, and candies. I ate some intestines the other day…not a fan!

This is really, really poor area; the people who work and have just enough to live and support their fam and then the people who work like crazy and have normal lives. Then you have the supply of oldies that do nothing and like to talk to you about why the States are the enemy of the world…I usually have to tell them I don’t care.   I’m pretty much in the suburbs…houses and nothing else, and fields of nothing…pretty boring really.

This week was an exact copy of last week. It was a good week nonetheless. We did find a few new people that have potential to grow when they have a true desire and we teach them with the Spirit.

I have come to realized that I’m not going to waste my time on people who don’t want to progress. You can tell when people have the desire because they go to Church and read the Book of Mormon and do the things. These types of people blow your mind with the things they say and do.

The Fam Monje still amazes me. They haven’t missed a Sunday since their baptism. When we have lessons with them, you can just see how far they’ve come and who knows where they can go. When the dad went to another town to his job for a week, his buddies had tons of questions for him and he was able to answer them all. One even asked him to send the Mishes to his house, so I passed the direction to the Elders in that area. They’re becoming mishes!

The wedding of Nati and Marcelo got changed to the 24th of September, so I won’t be here for it. I have 6 months in my area and I will probably be leaving. They will be baptized the next week. Oh Familia Monje!

The area president in going to come on September 9th to talk to the missionaries and look at our agenda (Idk why). He’s going to tour our mish and tour all the stakes here. His name in Elder Arnold, and is new to America Sur.

Also we now have a pic of what the temple is going to look like! The ground breaking and dedication is going to be in November, and we are hoping the Prophet comes to do it. The entire providence is way excited. The photo of the temple is being passed around like crazy. This is the biggest new Cordoba has ever had, and I’m right in there too.

I need to take a pic of the land plot before they start doing anything to it. Then when I come back after years, I’ll take a pic of the finished temple. This is a blessing for these people in this country who sacrifice to go to the temple, things we don’t really have to worry about because we have three in good old Washington. But these people really have to save and plan it out. They need to prepare themselves to have a temple. They need to be ready to receive it and use the House of God. It truly is a blessing for them.

I love you all and thanks for remembering me and sending your letters and emails. Also for your prayers and support. Just think, mishes are the group of people most prayed for, besides the First Presidency. We are prayed for by everyone, I truly do have angels protecting me.

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

I thought that summer was a long ways off for me, but this week has changed my mind. It’s been in the 80s all week. I’ve been cruising around in short-sleeve shirts and loving it. I even sleep with the window open. I few nights ago, I sat on the roof and enjoyed the night air and the cold breeze. Then I was thinking that I’ve never really been alone, I felt weird…so I got down.    I’m afraid for summer, just think, if we are supposed to be in the middle of winter and it’s 80 degrees, I’m going to die in the “real” summer time. But at least I only have to bear one summer more.

We have been working in the most dangerous part of our area, don’t worry mom! We found out the other day that we are teaching the biggest drug dealers in the neighborhood, just a little fun fact. I probably could have figured that out by all the signs that I was given before hand. My companion says we probably shouldn’t go back…are you kidding me! We are definitely going to go back and change their lives! We have more of a reason to help this family. But this area is way fun at night. Every time we tell the members that we are there at night all the time, they tell us we’re probably going to die. A truck distributing soda the other day, was getting robbed and some dude bashed the robber in the back of the head and almost killed him…or maybe I didn’t understand the story just right, but that’s what I got out of it.

The word on the street is that an Apostle is going to come in October to do the ground-breaking for the temple. I know not whether to believe it or what, but I like the idea so I’ll go along spreading the story. So maybe we’ll get to go for it and see some action. Also the Area President, Elder Arnold, is going to be coming in a few weeks to speak to the missionaries about the changes in teaching and other goodies.

We learned a valuable teaching tactic from the President today. Everything that we do is based on our faith in Christ. If we have faith, we obey the commandments. If the people we teach have faith they also will obey these same commandments. So the very first thing we need to find out is if the friends we are teaching have faith and understand what faith means. If not, we teach them how to grow their faith, alimentar it. It makes so much sense to me! Everything comes so easy after that. I love simplicity.

Thanks for the packages and letter. Keep them coming, it’s like a little piece of home every time. Remember to strengthen your soul and your faith everyday. And you all should know how.

Les amo

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

I completed 12 months on the 12th, last week. That’s one year — halfway. I fault only 12 month…or a little less. This time next year I’ll be going home. I really don’t have much time left, its crazy how fast it all goes by. You need to stop every once and awhile to catch it. Open your eyes and take a breath. Experience life.

I experienced life this past year, I lived an active, exciting year. Full of many new things, new friends, country, lango, new reasons to cry, foods, life-style, & culture. Full of tears, laughing till my side hurts, worrying, loving, more tears…but of joy, Knowledge seeking, and getting people wet.

What did I accomplish this past year? To start, I got comfortable in Spanish. I can go and look back in my journals and see how frustrating it really was! I can remember nights that I pleaded for help. Wanting to just throw in the towel, I’m serious, who can learn Spanish in 2 months. But now I’ve got a much better hold on it, I can survive. I know I fault a lot of experience, but hey I got a whole lifetime to learn more.

I grew more as a man. I’m going from a 19 year old teen to a 20 year old man. My taste in crude things has dropped; my level of thought is higher. I understand a little more about the world and the people therein. I’m finding a love for the word of God. The New Testament is amazing, along with Jesus the Christ and the Book of Mormon (or LDM) are full of help and guidance for me, I just need to open them. I’ve learned so much out of those books in the past year.

Other words and teaching of Prophets, I’ve devoured.

The meaning of “Love” has changed drastically. Love is now a deeper meaning. The love I have for my family is amazing to me, something I never understood before. And their love for me is irreplaceable!

The love I have for the people here…is truly something. I really love these people I teach and the members in the wards. I want to see them strive to be the best and see their progress.

The love God has for me is magnified in my eyes 10 times. He loves me. He wants me to move forward. He puts stepping-stones and challenges my path everyday because He knows I can overcome. Sometimes I do fall, but His open arms always catch me before I fall too far.

I have been an Instrument in His hand through the Holy Spirit. I have been close to it and also so far from it. I can state that I’d rather be so very close to it.

I have seen people change in just one prayer; people usually change over the course of 3 months. I have helped these people on their path to perfection. I have helped familias draw closer and come unto Christ. Be it through baptism or by coming back to church. I have helped others in ways that I can’t see.

I’ve been an example for many and my writings also and have helped others…I hope.   I have helped my family, my Parental Units, KT, Camille, Dana, and Ali- Jo.

I have baptized one Family complete, the family Monje and now we’re going to baptize the son and his wife on the 11th of September.

I have made relationships with many people. Elders, members, and investies. I have had fun on P-day chillin’ with these outstanding Elders and have become friends with many. A few I’ll have for life, Like Elder Silas. I’ve loved my Mission Presidente. He has guided me and will continue to do so.

I have dropped bad habits and picked up new ones, good ones.

I’ve had experiences Argentina, but got a lot more to try out.

I almost forgot about the MTC! Oh the MTC! Two of the best months of my life. The flow of letters and emails has died. After one year, pretty much the girls have stopped writing.

I’ve understood the Gospel and applied it in my life — understanding what I’m doing. I’ve applied the Atonement also, to find a remission of my sins. I know it works, I know it! I’ve had a low point in my mission, but was raised by a brother. Elder Bair, my bro, got me back on the path. He worked me hard, but he got me going again. He’s a stud! I will return the favor by helping those who need to be lifted.

I’m very satisfied with my mission right now. I’ve done wonderful things for others and myself. I’m satisfied, but not done. I have one more year to grow and change my life; in this I’m more than happy.

What I expect for the next year and goals that I have thus follow. I will grow in my Spanish skills, understanding more and speaking more. I will study and practice. I will never lose my Spanish, because it means so much to me; those Spanish speakers know what I’m talking about! Ya saben como es.

I’m going to find those people who are waiting for me, to hear me and change. I’m going to influence others. Other elders, being that example, helping them grow, as I grow. Being that “Elder Bair” in their path.

To also grow as a man. Growing everyday for the rest of my life. My ability to help, love, change, inspire, will be growing. So that girl who is looking for me can find me.   I think I’ll be a very good candidate!

To continue to grow in my knowledge of the gospel, fortifying my faith and foundation. For when my life passes through those hard times, I will not fall. I can be a pillar for my fam and the fam I will be making. Living to my fullest, breathing and having my eyes open. I know life isn’t peaches all the time, I’m not ignorant, but I KNOW that the gospel of Jesus Christ gives me the basics that I need to overcome all. It’s like that and no other way. There’s no excuses for not going to Church and obey the commandments, not one.

My course is being set, I’m preparing for the rest of my life. Not to be an in-active ex-missionary — not in the plans. I’m very excited to see what this year and the following have in store for me. Lets see what happens.

Fun Fact: It’s the year 5770 Shenton, that’s the Jewish calendar.

Les amo

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

This week I’ll be completing a year in my mission. That’s one year away from home, in Argentina. That’s half of my life; I’m on the downhill side. I don’t have much time left to complete all the goals I have set. I’ll be putting on a new list of goals and things to get done in this next year on my mish and my life. It’s pretty much a huge day if you don’t realize it. It’s weird to look back and see how much time has gone by and the things I’ve done, been apart of, and experience — and to think of all the things that are yet to come.

The growth as a person and the Spanish I’ll be gaining. I’ll have 6 months more Spanish then Dana.  :-)  It’s okay to be jealous.

This week I got a little cold and had a fun time walking around. I couldn’t stay in the apartment because that can drive someone nuts. But other than that it was a pretty good week full of new people and teaching. Doing the mish life, todo tranqilo (all quiet).

I was thinking about some of the cultural differences and it is a little tough to remember them because I’m so used to them now that they seem normal to me. But I did realize a few, that people really don’t do or partake of in the states much.

Ok so, when we get to a house and there’s a gate and no doorbell, how are you supposed to knock the door, or what if they don’t even have a door? Well of course it’s obvious what you do. You clap. You clap your hands and the people know that you’re out there. And if they see through the window and if they don’t want to come, they shake their finger mouthing no. “What…I don’t…hello how are you…ya, come to the door…we want to talk…. oh no?….ok…. gracias.”

Also you walk everywhere — to church, the store, and everywhere. And the thing is there aren’t many stores where they have everything, like a one stop shop. You have to go to the butcher shop to get meat, the chicken place to get chicken, the vegetable place to get fruits and veggies, the drug store to get painkillers — there is a store for everything. In the little neighborhood shops everyone knows you and says hi. You’ve talked to everyone at least 4 times.

The Fam Monje are going to take their turn to be married on Tuesday, so on Wednesday we’ll know when they can be baptized, hopefully this transfer. They have now had all the lessons and are in the Church every week. We just continue to teach them and strengthen them everyday.

We’ve been having some very good lessons with the Fam Videla, helping them move forward and do the things as a fam.  We still haven’t put the date to be baptized yet, but this week we need to.

They have been passing for a few bad situations lately and want to distance themselves from the Church, what good is that going to do?  When we are in hard times, that’s when we need to hold tighter to the Church to find that strength we are looking for. Not give up and build our house on sand. Keeping that foundation on the rock of the Lord is how we will not fall when the winds come. Because come they will and they will only get stronger.

I’m thankful to know where I’m building my house and know where my family has been building theirs also. 

As I commence this next year of my mish, I’ll be making the best of it. Not taking a moment for granted, I don’t have time to waste. There are people who are waiting for me; I know this because I have experienced it. I’m proud of the work I’ve done this year, and I’ll be proud of the two years I’ve dedicated when all is over.

Les amo,

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

We had transfers. And first let me tell you how hard I prayed to be able to stay here. I even hinted in my letters to the President to let me stay here. I have so much left to do here and people to enter the water. It all paid off. :-)  I’m staying here in Jose Nacho another transfer. That mean in means I’ll have 2 areas in one year — 6 months in Centro and 6 in JID.

The other part of the Fam Monje has a date for the 4th of September and the Fam Videla for the 11th of September. I’m so excited to have another 1 and 1/2 months here! But it’s going to be a trial to stay with my companion for another transfer. I’m not going to complain, but I’ll just say it’s not easy to be his companion. Sure we work hard, but it’s the little things that drive you nuts. Like the way he rubs his hands together really fast to warm them up. It can eat at someone. I’ve set goals and set my mind to improve my situation.

At church, we were expecting a lot of peeps. But when we arrived, we found something that was against our odds. But first understand where our Church is located. First, it is in the most dangerous part of the area. With fields on both sides and behind and in front. It’s always under attack from the local losers. All the windows are plastic and there are bars everywhere. There’s an alarm system that rivals the Pentagon, with motion detectors in every room and a giant vault to put the valuable things in…and giant flood lights. Now that you understand a little more, this is what we found.

They had bashed the plastic windows and tried to bash the bars to get in. But since they couldn’t, they decided to light the curtains on fire. They burned almost to the ceiling that is made of those panels that are in every church, but it stopped a few feet from the ceiling. If it had reached that it would have been all over but the shouting! There would be no church. So we only had Sacrament meeting, which ended at a different time so we had to call all of our investies and tell them not to come.

I saw something funny the other day as we were working. Now, I don’t know if everything was just funny because the day was way hard or what, but I saw two kids playing catch with a brick. Just like normal kids play with a ball…no they had a brick. Also as we walked around a corner I saw two more kids, one on the ground with the other one pinning him down. The one on top was hanging spit over the other and telling him not to move or it would drop and not to open his month or it would fall into his month. I remembered my sisters and mom doing that to me and realized that it wasn’t limited to my household. 

The experiences that I continue to have are shaping me and helping grow. And I know during this transfer I’ll be learning a lot and baptizing will just be a plus.

I love you all and hope you are enjoying hearing about my Argentine Life.

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

I love arriving at a house or home in exactly the right moment. The moment right after a plea for help, or news that a loved one is dying. That’s what we do; we are the Lord’s messengers sent to find people in their moment of need.

On Friday, we were working in an area called Barrio Vypro. Heading for a contacted that we made awhile back, I received the impression to head to another familia that we taught once but never got back into the house. I decided about 4 months ago to always follow even the slightest impressions and later judge to see who they were from.

We were pretty much at the door of the other people’s house when we bounced. As we approached the door and knocked, we were greeted by a lady. As she cracked the door, she looked at us and began to cry. We didn’t say anything and then I asked what was wrong.

Moments before we knocked, she had just got off the phone, finding out that her dying dad just took a turn for the worst. She let us in and we comforted her and taught her a little about the Plan of Salvation. We told her to pray for him and through her faith everything will be fine. She recognized us as the messengers of the Lord. I offered the closing prayer and right after that, the phone rang, saying that her dad had just opened his eyes and was talking. She cried again. That’s just what we do as Mishes.  

We were talking to a Jehovah’s Witness the other day, and we asked how and where they do their baptisms. She told us that they rent a pool in the summer and just throw everyone in and baptize everyone at once. How special, no? I couldn’t help but laughing, and speaking of laughing…I was on an exchange with my District Leader and we were making a contact and the very first thing the DL asked, right after hello, was “Oh are you pregnant?” And this lady didn’t laugh and just said “No.” Now I had to laugh, I honestly tried to hold it in but who am I kidding — it was way funny and awkward. I busted it! I said sorry but it was just too funny. Oh funny days.

The Fam Videla is still cruising along. They even came to church by themselves! We taught them the story of the 3 little pigs and how we need to build our house of bricks. I also added the how the last little pig, who let the others in, was a member of the church.  

The dad is trying to stop smoking and is doing good. He cut from 30 cigs a day to 4 or 3 a day. Last night we watched the Restoration DVD and bore witness how we know that this is the  true church and told them that they to can feel and know.

They told me that they have been asking for a year and still haven’t had the “clink” yet. They understand that they need to be baptized but are waiting for that witness. I know exactly what to do, because I’ve done this before. We are going to kneel and pray as a group to know. First me, then my comp, then the mom, then the dad. After we have a moment of silence to feel. Then we ask what they feel but what do they feel in specific. I know that through the power of prayer and the Holy Ghost that they experience what they are waiting for. I know because I have experienced it, and continue to do so. Not a doubt in my mind. It’s just that simple, the Spirit doesn’t lie.

I’ll tell you have it goes down.

The most challenging cultural change that I’ve had to deal with…oh, the list I have.  :-)  Everything and everywhere seems to be dirty. You can’t drink the water without getting diarrhea definitely sucks. But the toughest would be the siesta. There’s just something in the air from 3 pm to 5 pm where you don’t want to do anything. It’s like a sickness.

Enjoy my letter, photos and experiences because I certainly am. I love you and thank you for the prayers. Keep on Keepin’ on!

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

This past week I have my interview with Presidente Salas. I was way looking forward to it, to talk to him one on one and see what he’s about — get down to the nitty-gritty. He was very easy to talk to, smooth conversation we had. He got to know me a bit better and told me how President Olsen didn’t leave any sort of book about all the mishes, so everyone is completely new for him.

He also said that he can receive inspiration in the moment to know what kind of mish he is talking to, I guess like a first impression thing supercharged with the Spirit. He told me that I must be a good mish, I said “Yep”! He must have gotten some good inspiration. :-)    It was funny because we talked in Spanglish during the interview and it worked just fine for the both of us. I realized there are some things to say in English are way easier to say in Spanish. Thinking in Spanish is a regular thing now, in fact it’s weird not to think in Spanish first. I work out problems in my mind in Spanish, I guess because every second of my day is in this lango. I live my life in a different lango.

So my mom gave me a map with some scriptures of how the Book of Mormon came to be. I never really liked it, so I just put it in my scriptures and there it stayed. It never really made much sense to me, and it was in English. Check this. The Fam Monje wanted to learn, in depth, about the Book of Mormon; I decided to whip out this map that was given to me by my mother. And they loved it! I did the translating for them and it really helped them understand way better. They had something to look at and relate to it. Thanks for that tool mom.

This week was full of those wonderful moments called “self trials.” Gotta love them! On Thursday, the day started out way cold, but bad. I had this wonderful day planned, good contacts to pass by, and a new area to be knocked. Everyone wasn’t there, I mean no one. And that killed the morning.

After lunch, we bounced over to an area called “Carcano”. Paradise it was as I walked in and looked around at all the many houses and people to be found. Little did I know. We started to knock and talk. We literally found nothing in two hours of work. Just people who like to yell, lie, and not answer doors. I would compare this area to Babylon. I told myself that I would knock every door and talk to every person in this area. Also, I had other trials this past week but I’m not going to dwell on my mistakes and past, this week is going to be amazing! I’m going to have a week of excellence.

Les amo,

Chao

Elder Glanzer

Hola,

¡Que semana que tuve! Today is my month day in the mish. I now have 11 months, but who is counting. I don’t have much time left to find more families,  but there is so much more left to do. E’ Silas and I were chatting a few days ago about how when you look forward you got a ton of time to go. But when you look back its like “What the heck, I’ve been about for almost a year, that’s half way.” I’m not worrying about it, but still it’s a fun fact. 

We knew our new Mission President last week. President Salas is what he’s called. He is here with his wife and his son, who has 14 years. They all speak amazing English — amazing. When he pronounced my last name, he didn’t even say it with a Spanish accent. I gave it a 9 out of 10. In his fam, all of them speak English also. He studied at BYU for a long time and pretty much all of his kids are there now.

He struck me as a man with love and power. Within the first 30 minutes, he won my confidence. He teaches us things we want to know, how to better our teaching skills because we all need skills and powers (maybe not eagle powers). The son just chills with the APs pretty much all day, but he is also going to school here. We hung out with him today and did some sportage.

There are some new changes worldwide for all the missions. It’s kind of hard to explain right now, but what I got out of it, it is a new program that will not replace PMG, but will enhance it.

The focus now is on our teaching skills as mishes. The President will be spending more time with mishes and less time in the office, which is way legit because he is way legit! Also more emphasis is being put on the investigators receiving their own revelation of things, through reading the BOM, Praying, and Going to Church.

There are more changes but I don’t remember any more. It’s amazing to see revelation again in our days. True revelation from a living prophet of God. I think that these changes are going to enhance the conversion process and enhance our abilities as teachers. I really, really want to have an exchange with the President, but bad, pero mal!

Also, the schedule of things changed a bit, instead of having Zone Conference and interviews every transfer, they are now every three months, but we can talk to the President anytime and have an interview anytime. Also, we will be seeing him in our other meetings and having exchanges with him. I’ll tell you more about this great man when I come to know more myself.

Marcelo y Nati are progressing like craziness! They are just drinking it all in, and Marcelo stopped smoking! In Argentina to get married there’s a ton of things you have to do, which takes about two months. Today they started the process of getting married. I’m so excited to see them get dunked and have almost the entire Fam Monje in the Church. Even if I don’t get to see them get baptized, just hearing that they did, will cause so much joy for my heart and soul. How does my love grow so much for people?

Today the APs were playing sports with us and after I was chatting with one, we started to talk about the old mishes dying and going home. Then he said that in two months it will be my turn to be Zone Leader. Ha ha ha, he’s a funny guy. I told him to stop messing with my brain because I don’t want to have a heart attack. But he didn’t laugh. I guess I’ll just have to wait, but I love my senior companion position and don’t want to have more assignments just yet, I’m still young in my mish. Looks like I’ll be breaking some rules just to stay were I’m at…JK

I was having a conversation the other day and we made a comparison that only Mishes would make. The life of a mish starts in the MTC (pre-mortal world). We have everything in this state: Food, bed, AC, clean clothes everyday. We are oblivious to the other worlds. We are learning new things and the things we are learning are for our life in the field because we can’t grow to our full potential in this state. We have to leave in order to experience, to grow, and to prepare for our life after. We are preparing for the callings we’ll have and everything else, preparing to go home.

So we then enter the Mish Field (Earth). When we first get out we forget everything from the MTC (the veil), we are babies. We are dependant on help from our dad and mom (trainer, President and his wife). We slowly start speaking the lango and begin to grow like crazy. We then hit puberty and just skyrocket! We communicate with our parents (prayer). Then we start getting old and wrinkly. Most of us will have the opportunity to train a new guy (have kids, some can’t have kids). We teach them all we know and pass our attributes on to them and they carry our legacy.

Then we go home (death). Where now we can go to school, see our parents (God), magnify our callings, and kiss girls (exaltation  . It’s pretty much like life — and life is good!

I love the guts of all of you!

Les Amo

Elder Glanzer

Chao

Hola,

Another week of teaching and preaching here in Jose Nacho. Everyday I realize more and more how amazing this area is, the people to find and the members. I wouldn’t mind staying here for another transfer. You would think being in wintertime it would be cold, but the weather is way perfect, with a light jacket - everything is nice. At night is cold and in the morning, but during the day is great. We had an Asado last night and it was a prefect night for a BBQ!

On Sunday we were in the Church waiting for the Fam Videla to come. I said at 10 am we are going to go look for them. So we headed out and right outside the church was the Fam Monje with Marcelo and Nati, Marcelo is the son to Hno’ Monje. They are still progressing like crazy, fast. But they need to get married first.

We went to the house with the Bishop and had an excellent lesson of matrimony. Then the next day they told me that they want to get married. I told them they need to do it this month so I can baptize them after the marriage.  :-)  So we got them into church then headed out again for the Fam Videla. As we were walking the path I heard “ELDER!” and looked around and saw my fam walking to church…on their own! They asked where we were going and I played it off and said we’re headed to another fam. They laughed and we went to Church. And we, after Church, had the Asado con them.

I’m still loving being in charge, but not loving having to pay for everything. I’m late on the rent and I hope the lady is not mad, It’s not my fault all the ATMs in this country suck! Today were having our P-day in Centro, to get a little leisure time.  Maybe we’ll be getting some Burger King, the BK lounge is always open.

I love you all and this email is a little sorry, sometimes you just got to be happy with what you get. 

Chao

E’ Glanzer

Hola,

My first of being Senior Comp, and I got to tell you it was amazing. I know I still have a ton more to learn to be more effective in my planning and teaching, but I’m making leaps and bounds. As a senior comp I have to plan out the days, call the people (well, we take turns because you know me, I hate talking on the phone), call the DL to tell him my numbers and how my day went, pay for all the travel, and just fun things like that. Yes, I take into account what my comp thinks also. But I’m still Senior Comp. 

I was helping my comp this week with English and realized something very funny. Remember how Isaac Glanzer talks when he does the Down Syndrome impression, well that was my comp sounds like, needless to say we study English everyday! It’s not bad to do right? I may be laughing but I’m helping him learn. It’s just too funny to pass up a situation like this. Like if I have a not so good day or he makes me mad, I’ll say, “Hey lets go study English.”

My day of birth was great. I went to a member’s house and we made Empanadas and drank coke and played Futbol. Everywhere I went somehow everyone knew it was my B-day. In my contacts I would tell peeps that is was my B-day and I wanted to give THEM a gift. The Bishop also invited me over and we ate and he made a desert also. Things like that really make you feel loved even when your a million miles from home. Also, when I got my hair cut, just a simple thing like that, all the members were like “Oh you got your hair cut!”

Clydio Monje, the dad of the Fam we baptized, this Sunday got the Priesthood! To see him take that next step was amazing. That fam now has the Priesthood now, what a blessing! As I laid my hands on his head, being a part of the blessing was probably one of the grandest experiences of my life thus far. Through my efforts as a missionary, I was able to see this man receive the authority and power to act to the name of God.

On Saturday, we were walking to a member’s house to have a lesson with them and some dudes we are teaching. I was bringing my American Football along to teach the little boy how to play. When we got them everyone wanted to play, so we did. After playing out in a field, we sat down and taught a lesson to 5 kids. It was a way different experience, but very effective. Just throwing the old pigskin around on the Gridiron, then teaching about Jesus after. Classic. I’m pretty Jesus did stuff like that.

I have a miracle you tell you about, ready? There was this fam that I always saw in the Area Book, we always put them on the list to pass by them. But it never happened. I always heard their name in the Ward Counsel in my first transfer in this area, but never found them. About 2 months ago I started to pray to know what people are waiting for me, and this family, Fam Videla, always came to my mind. It took me a long time to even find the house.

When we got there, there was no one. Then 2 days later we were walking to the apartment and I was super hungry. But I got that impression to pass by them really quick. Na, I’m hungry…wrong. I had a little battle in my mind but came to the conclusion that I’ll always follow a prompting just like the Prophet Thomas Monson. And I did. We knocked and they were there. We got a return appointment for the next day.

We started to get to know them and listen to them tell us about their lives. The dad, mom, and 2 kids, Lucas and Carolina. It’s was way fun to talk to them, so fun and amazing…and they are married!  :-)  A mish who had found them was called E’ Montieer. He was the trainer of my trainer E’ Smith. That makes him my Grandpa. He found them on the 26th of June of 2009 and I found them again on the 26th of June 2010. Exactly one year!

This fam is ready, I guess they just had to wait for me to come along. This week I’m going to put a Fecha (date) with them to be baptized. They rank up there with the Fam Monje…close. It was quite a miracle for me because I had been praying for them for 2 months. The lesson we taught was way good also, I haven’t been overcome with the Spirit and with tears for a long time. After we left 2 hrs later, I couldn’t even fall asleep. I just laid there thinking about them and how I’m going to help them. I truly have an amazing love for them. These are the moments in which time is judged.

This is my life thus far and it is changing everyday.

Still haven’t got the package yet from you. 

I love you more than you love me.

E’ Glanzer

Chao