HOLA,

We all stood to say we had faith, I stood. We all said we had faith, I did too. Now they told us to show our faith and leave the Conference and find someone and bring them back to the chapel. I left too, just like everyone else. As I left, I left without faith. I would come back, to return, just like everyone else, investigator-less.

So we head out to find a street that didn’t have missionaries in it. We walked and knocked on a door and that brought nothing, if possible, my faith dropped a little more. I just wanted to return like everyone else. I was thinking the whole time that I didn’t want to be last back to the chapel. I mean come on, we had 15 minutes to find someone, to capture their interest in a few seconds, gain their trust, and get them to come with us back to the church.

Awaiting them would be 50 missionaries and a Mission President. A situation that could literally change their life in a matter of minutes. Where was my faith? As we continued on, still nothing. The area we were in and the time of day means that there is no one in the streets – the streets were dead. Around the chapel are all houses and no one really wants to listen to two Mormons. We had 15 minutes to find one person; I’ve spent the last three months with less than ten new investigators. Faith, I had none.

Now, time had burned and it was time to head back. We had our straight-line to the chapel; I didn’t want to veer from this path. Then a man, not in our path, emerged. Nothing special, just a guy. Forward. But then something happened and then we both went towards him. He started to talk; I didn’t receive any burning sensation that this guy was going to be baptized. He seemed a little tense and hurried, he just got stopped by two guys in suits and not to mention, one is a tall Gringo, terrifying, I know.

I asked where he was going, and we walked with him. Now we didn’t have much time, so we jumped into it. We told him right off the bat that we wanted to invite him to a special musical number and message in our church, and he accepted. But only for five little minutes he kept saying. I would say that my faith spiked in that moment.

As we walked, he talked a little more and we got to know him. He kept saying, “tengo otro religion” (I have another religion), we just laughed, Oh that’s nice we said. As we neared the church, we saw all the other missionaries investigators-less. Now I would love for all of them to have brought someone back, but I had mine, and it wasn’t pride, I was just pleased.

We walked him into the church, we were beaming, and he was scared. But he had two angels on both sides, perhaps the safest man in the world. Little did he know what he was walking into. He met the President and then sat down and I sat next to him. There were also three other people inside too — how amazing (there’s that word again)!

We opened the message with singing the most powerful song for someone new to hear, that’s right, “Nearer My God to Thee.” Now the room was completely drenched with the spirit. Then Elder Reyes and Elder Bair stood up to speak, or rather bear testimony of a young boy and how he saw God and Jesus. How the true church of Christ is on the earth today. It was amazing, I couldn’t help but let one or maybe two little tears fall to my tie. Then to top it off there was a member there who had been baptized two years ago and he spoke so simply and powerfully. I don’t know how anyone could deny this at this point in time.

I’ll probably never find out what happened to Gustov, but I had this experience for the building of my own. Jesus “punched” me in the face, and said what are you doing? You have the faith, didn’t be afraid. I’m helping you, when have I ever let you down? Now go out and show your faith. Something changed for me after this. I know that there are people out there waiting for me, in reality. After each step I’m becoming the man the Lord wants me to be, the man my parents know I am, and who I want to become. How many steps are to come? Will I make it up all of them? I have faith. Faith is action.

I never thought an earthquake in Chile would affect my life. Around 3:30 am on Saturday, I was laying in my little bed because I couldn’t sleep. Then it started to shake, who the heck is shaking my bed?! So I stood up and my companion said that it’s an earthquake. Now, we live on the 6th floor of a building and the entire thing was swaying. Legit!

Our neighbors are all running out of their apartment, I just laid there. There were people in the street. Then we got another wave, but of less strength. The next morning, we found out what happened. There was an 8.8 quake between Concepcion and Santiago, Chile.

My companion’s family lives in Santiago, so this is very real for him and all the other Chileanos in this mission. They all got permission to contact their Parental Units in whatever way they could. But there’s not much communication into Chile. Concepcion was destroyed and parts of Santiago also. Way bad situation. It’s all over the news. Crazy eh, who’d every think a quake in Chile would have any effect on me. But my companion is way worried; he hasn’t talked to his parents yet — so things are tough all over.

It’s been an interesting week, but we’re trying to do our best to get out and work still. Moving forward.

I love you all and hope you’re doing well.

Les amo

Elder Glanzer

Chao