¡Hola Familia!

Two weeks to go then I’m heading to Argentina! I have some amazing news, but first I’m going to set the stage to draw your attention, because this is monumental for me and mí compañeros. OK…Argentina shut down it’s Visa office because of the Swine Flu in Buenos Aires. This makes it so no new missionaries can go there. Argentina is one the the highest missionary receiving Missions/Countries. So big problem, eh? Si.  For everyone who is going there that I have met in the MTC, got reasigned for two months or so to somewhere in the US. That’s no bueno, re mal.

Entonces, everyone, including the MTC Visa people, were a little ticked, I guess you could say. So, remember the many problems with obtaining Visas for those blessed enough to go to Argentina. On Friday we got a letter telling us about a meeting for all of those going to Argentina, so we were all scared thinking that we were getting re-assigned and going to have to stay in the US.  At our meeting, we learned that some missionaries had received their visas and most everyone else would receive theirs too eventually. We had to sign a bunch of documents and such and we had to be fingerprinted for some visa requirements.  On that Friday, some missionaries had gotten their Visa Promiso…and lo and behold I GOT MY VISA!!! Ya that’s right, I’m going to ARGENTINA baby! No US for me. ¡Vamos a la Argentina!

Tambien, today the Consul for Argentina flew here to meet with all the missionaries going to Argentina. He told us about Argentina and the different areas, culture, lango/accents (especial for Cordoba), and answered all of our Q’s.  After three hours, we were done meeting with him.  We got some good information from him … but I got my visa and that’s all that matters.  :)  Some people are still a little upset that they don’t know if they got theirs yet, but they will. No problema.

My Departure date is still set for the October 12th, I should get my flight plans this week. I will have some two-hour lay-overs so get ready for some phone call action. I’ll tell you more later. The language is flowing, I guess. Somedays I can understand everything and speak back to them, and other days are like I’m a little kid and don’t know anything. But I have had few small experiences with the Gift of Tongues (Del Don Del Espiritu). During a few lessons, Spanish words and phrases just come to me and flow into my mouth. And I can address their questions in Spanish. But I need real invesigators, por favor. We talk about the Argentina culture in class sometimes but do not have a dedicated time for it. I think the last few days here we will.

That’s no bueno about that well pump, just continue to look for the blessings. Hermano Jensen told us to look for a miracle everyday. It sounds lame-o but just do it. Don’t ask questions, even if it’s something like you didn’t get a door slamed in your face…because one didn’t open the door.

I’m actually looking forward to General Conference for the first time in my life. It’s going to be a spiritual feast. Everyone can receive answers for their Q’s if they listen. General Conference isn’t just for the members of the Church, its for the world.

The weather here is amazing! I love the cold…but in two weeks I’ll have another summer

On a sad note, Elder Chessmore, Elder Andrus’s companion went home, for family reasons. Its was a sad few days, I’ll tell you what.  It was hard for me to have him leave because I don’t have brothers in my life and he’s my brother.  I love him as I do my other companions. I have come to embrace these new feelings of brotherly love, they are new feelings for me. I’m glad I have all sisters, no doubt, I learn from them. But, genuine brotherly love is incomparable.  Hermana Nielson left for the MTC in the Dominican Republic. She was legit and still is! So now there’s only eight in our District.

Our Zone leader looks like Paul/Conrad (Glanzer) and is just like him

That’s all there is this week in the life of Elder Glanzer, hope you enjoyed.

Su amoroso hijo,

Elder Glanzer

Que Pasa Familia!

I’m on the down stretch of the MTC. Finally! This past week has been full of triumphs, fails, low times, and pretty high points. One experience I had this week was being able to listen to ANOTHER Apostol of Dios. Who might this be you ask?

First — to set the stage — I have been listening to his talks all week and have been learning much from him. Also, in one of our Large Group Meetings, we watched about three clips of his addresses to the MTC. So I guess the stage was being set for me. Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come to the MTC last Tuesday for our Devotional. He spoke to my heart; he pierced me. His words that he spoke were inspired by Dios. How can someone know exactly what I need to hear? He laid it down so well. He talks with such power and strength, but at the same time he’s so loving and full of the Spirit. He told us not to come home and grow a beard, get a tat and wear a leather necklace and “look like an idiot”. An Apostle de Dios told me not to look like an idiot — Ha Classic!  Elder Holland also said to go hard for 24 months, not 18 or 15, but for 24 months and don’t come home until you’re done, we don’t want you home.

One thing that Elder Holland spoke of was the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He said that it wasn’t easy for Christ so why should it be easy for us? It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.  I will trust in Christ and rely on His arm to strengthen me. If the road goes through Gethsemane, I will take it. If I’m called to Gethsemane, I’ll go. I will knee at His feet and beg Him for forgiveness, I will wash His feet with my tears.

Entonces… This week and the weeks to come, everything is solomente in Espanol. I have the days were I get it and some were mi mente just explodes. Por ejempol, we taught an amazing lesson to a man and the Spirit was so strong that the words were coming to our minds. We were addressing his needs as an individual and I could tell he was also feeling that Spirit. I can’t wait to teach real people and come to love them, because I want to give them that which has changed my life. A couple of days ago while I was in the Referral Center, a place where real people can call in or chat in from the Mormon.org website and talk to missionaries about the amazing Gospel, I was talking to a girl and she was asking some good questions. One thing she asked me was “Were you born in the Church or are you a convert and did you just do what your parents and the Church told to do because they said it was true?”  I had to think for a bit…this is what I told her…

My parents are converts so I was born into the Church. When I was young, I lived off of my parents’ testimony and didn’t really stray from that. But as I got older, probably about a year ago, I needed to sincerely gain my own testimony, not through someone else, but from me and my God. I did just that, and I can tell you that I know this Church is the true Church on the earth and I know that God directs it. This I know for myself, without a doubt.

I don’t know what will happen to the girl that called in, but I came to realize that this Church is for me and anyone who wants it — truly and simply.

I love you all and don’t forget that!

Le ama,

Elder Glanzer

Hola!

Well, I’ve been in ye ole MTC for uno mes and dos dias, (One month and 2 days for those non-Spanish speakers). Its weird how it seems to go fast, yet it’s slow. Its hard to explain. You kind of judge time on how many letters you get — for real! hint hint   : -)

It’s kind of sad when the older districts leave, but at the same time, it’s amazing because they are finally getting out there! In one semana we’ll be the oldest. Loco. Esta buen.

This week nothing exciting happened other than learning this amazing languange and learning the gospel. The days melt together and so do the weeks, I can’t even remember what I had for dinner last night.

Thanks for your conversion stories, I don’t think I’ve ever shed so many tears. Your testimonies strengthen mine. I have such a love for all those in my family. Especially mi Madre y Padre.

In gym, we play four square. In past years, the Mandarin speakers usually dominate because that’s all they play because they are not good enough to play basketball!! But the past four weeks, us Spanish speakers have been crushing it! There’s a little rivalry between the Spanish speakers and the Mandarin. I have no idea why, but I love it. I guess we need to entertain ourselves somehow. So hopefully we teach our four square skills to the younger districts so they can continue to dominate.

We have a new district coming in, eight elders and four sisters. I love sisters! They are so amazing and they mix it up so it’s not all a bunch of men.

Anyways…we had a slumber party last night and Elder Andrus came to our room again. It was fun, we did a lot of activities. And let’s just say we got to bed on time.  :- ) These Elders are great!

Entonces, time to get on with my day, keep those letters coming.

Le ama,

Elder Glanzer

Hola!

I just typed a massive email and deleted it — again — so I have eight minutes to do as much as I can, l almost cried. 

Week five starts on Wednesday, it seems to go so fast. It seems like only yesterday I was saying goodbye. It’s humbling to see my progress in everything. I can’t believe how far I’ve come and I can only go further. I gave the first lesson in Spanish last semana. I did most of it in Spanish with only a few ingles palabras.

I sat with Hermana Glanzer during the fireside last night. It was what I needed. I love her. We talked about everything from Spanish to companero(a)s. It’s nice and amazing to have her here, to talk to someone who knows me.

On a normal Sunday, we wake up and study for a bit then eat some comida, then go back to our classroom and study. We have our priesthood meeting at 10:00 a.m. and lunch at 12:30. Then we have a District meeting.  After that we walk over to the temple. Thats where we take lots of photos — good photo op!  It was Fast Sunday yesterday and all the Elders that are leaving this week all gave their testimonies. Their testimonies certainly strengthen mine. There are some amazing people going out into the mission field.

On a normal day, we have breakfast at 8:15 a.m., lunch at 1:00 p.m., and dinner at 6:00 p.m. It’s the pefect schedule.

The nuevos are doing excellent! They recieve a lot of love when they come in because we were all new at the MTC at one time.

We were a little bored today so we were shooting starbursts out of a giant rubberband. We needed a break from studying, I have pretty legit aim! 

To answer your question, Allison, I’m on the bottom bunk.  On the first day, Elder Anderson said I could have the bottom. Nice elder, eh? We have companion or room prayer then I kneel at my bed to have personal prayer. ‘Tis nice not to have to climb to the top every night.

We had a sleep-over last night. Elder Andrus and his companion slept on our floor, they brought their mattresses in and it was fun. I’m not sure if it’s allowed, but there’s no where that says we can’t do this. I laughed so hard a few times.

Last time I heard, there are 2,400 missionaries here, but missionaries are leaving and coming every week. President Smith is the MTC president and he has counselors who assist him.  President Smith was in our Sacrament meeting on Sunday. There is a Branch Presidency over an entire Zone and for our Zone #16, we just got a new one, President Olsen.  I’ve only met him once. He seems great.

We don’t have much down time because if we did, we wouldn’t get much done, so I try to stay busy. It’s hard sometimes because my companeros likes to talk to others a lot. Oh well.

The bookstore at the MTC has everything, and its all 40% off for missionaries.

This whole work that I’m am doing is based on whether or not Joseph Smith saw Dios y Jesucristo. Did he translate the Book of Mormon? Did he receive revelation? I can tell you that this work is true with every fiber of my being, and I have found this out for myself. I have to believe in the work if I am to go out and teach it. This I know, yo se que Jose Smith fue un Profeta y Dios vive. A traves de Jose Smith, dios restauro Su Evangelio. El Evangelio de Jesucristo ha sido resturado.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet; and God lives. Through Joseph Smith, God restored his Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth again.

Those Muddy Buddies were amazing! Too bad I got them on Saturday because Sunday was Fast and Testimony Sunday! They kept staring and tempting me while I was studying. And the camera is amazing! Thank you so very much, and keep those glue-ins coming and tell me where they go also.

Gym — all that you need to know is, that four square is intense! Some peeps have some skills and I can do some damage. I also play a little basketball.

Mail comes everyday and the District Leader gets it, the dearelder.com letters come at 4:00 p.m. — so keep sending them!

I finished my laundry and folded it and now I’m just waiting to eat dinner then on to class until 9:00 p.m., P-days are the best. We ate breakfast and lunch outside, it was so nice. Estoy amándolo! I’m loving it. Anyways….

See you next week

Les amo!

Elder Glanzer