Letter #7 Good Morning

7-28-10

Hola familia!

Estoy bien. Voy al templo hoy. Estoy muchisimo animado por que el Espiritu es marvillosa in el templo. Tambien mi espanol es bueno. Enseno la leccion dos este viernes in la TRC.

Anyways, thanks for all the letters and prayers and thoughts this week. I really appreciated all of them. I hope that mom and cory are having a grand time in Denver with Jason TIff and Eli. I still think that I will be the favorite uncle. But it sounds like everyone is doind well. Dad, way to get prepared for hurricane season!!! And I also really enjoyed that talk by Elder Bednar. It had a lot of great things in it and I thought of how great of job that you and mom have done at doing those things and raising your 4 boys. Les amo!

Cory, I am glad that you and Isaac had a blast at EFY. It sounds like you really learned a lot and really stregnthened your testimony. Sned me your stories. Tambien, that's cool you are going to get your Patriarchal Blessing. They are a huge help in your life, ecspecially during high school. Also, you got to do something. Study Preach My Gospel everyday!!!!!!!! That is one thing I really wish I would have done, is read all of PMG before i got here. So do it! ha It is an awesome study tool and combined with the BOM, you will learn so much.

Gracias for the package. THe SD card is the right one. I got a pic with Elder Sargent, so i am going to send my other one home today. Dad, I'm going to put a story in there that you may want to share with the YM. Its about missionaries that someone gave me and that I feel may help the YM. Or at least give them more of a desire to serve.

I haven't heard anything on my visa. I should get my travel plans thurs or fri but that doesn;t mean i have a visa. I will keep you posted on it though.

So this week has been really good. I feel like my spanish is improving. I am getting more and more comfortable teaching and understanding in spanish, but it is still a struggle. I know that once I get into the field, I will really progress. I can not wait to get to Mexico. I want to go walk around and teach the people. I feel like I am ready to get out there, but I still continue to work hard and study hard. Everynight in my journal I write Work Hard. Pray Hard. Serve Hard. That is my goal everyday of my mission.

On another note, i was called as Distric Leader this week. I was kinda surprised about it, but it will be a good learning experience for me. I hope that I can be an example to my district and really help everyone rise to their potential. We have a hard time staying focus, so that is something that I really want to try to improve amongst our district.

I read a really good talk today by President Uchtdorf. It;s called Lift Where You Stand. I liked how he shared that the reason we are called to certain callings, or to certain places as missionaries, is because there are people we will come in contact to that only we can touch. I have really seen that with our district and also with my companion that it was an inspired thing. Every thing we are called to, we need to lift where we stand. We need to serve those around us.

Well I hope that everyone is doing great. I pray for yall all the time and i am so thankful for your prayers. Please pray for me to have patience and for my visa. Hopefully I can get out on time. The Lord is a God of miracles...as long as we have faith. The Lord works according to our faith and in His time.

La iglesia es verdadera. Y Jesucrist es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Si tenemos fe, podemos todas cosas. Confianza en el Senor con su todo corazon.

Con Amor,

Elder Glover

Ps - Congrats about Riley. Let me know where he is going!

Pss - How's Belgium?

Letter #6 Pray for All the Visa's

7-21-10

Hola Familia!!!!

Como le va? Mi vida en la CCM es buenisimo. El Espiritu es maravillosa!!

Thanks for all the dear elders and the package this week. THe goodies were great. About something for my whole zone, you don't need to do that. My district has 10 elders in it, but everytime you send me food I'm sharing with them. So you can send a treat for the 10 of us, but you really don't need to. Oh mom, I did get Sis Prices package. COuld you send me her address so i could wirte her thank you?

Mom, the talk "COntinue in Patience" by Elder Uchtdorf is phenomanal. I have read it probably 3 times since i have been here. He makes some great points and really helps you out when you are struggling. I have found that patience is directly related to faith and hope. If one of those three increases, all the other t3 can increase. i have really seen my faith and patience increase since i have been here.

Well...my visa. Es no bueno!!!!! Someone asked the travel office about it and they said its not good. THey said it could be doing worse, but it could also be doing a whole lot better. From what i have heard (which could be rumors of the MTC) visa's to Mexico aren't coming right now. THe consulate hows pretty much stopped giving visas. So...it kinda stinks, especially since i only have 3 weeks left here. I have heard that they are starting to reassign elders right at their 9 weeks. So we will see what happens. PRAY FOR ME AND ALL THE VISAS FOR MEXICO!!!!!!!!!! I know we are going to need a miracle for me to get out of here to Mexico at 9 weeks. So please pray!

But I have been studying a lot about faith and hope these past few weeks, so i haven't been getting down about it. I know that whatever happens is what the Lord needs to happen. His work cannot get frustrated. I was reading in 2 Nephi 27 this week and found a great scripture about faith and miracles. It's verse 23. I have learned a lot about how the Lord can do anything, but things always happen according to OUR faith in Him. I have really seen how true this principle is.

In our devotional this week, H. Ross Workman, an emeritus of the 70, talked to us. Something that really stuck out to me was he said, A dely of a blessing IS a blessing. I have really seen since I have been here that the Lord knows when we need to recieve blessings. I have felt here at times that I needed a blessing at a specific time that I didn't get. And looking back on it I have seen what I would have not gained if he would of gave me the blessing. He knew how much I would learn from studying, searching, and feasting on the words about faith and patience and pouring out my heart to him and asking for faith. The blessing that comes from waiting is just as great if not greater than the original thing we were asking for. He also said as our faith grows, our knowledge grows. And vice versa. They more faith we have, the better we study and the more we want to learn what we can do to align ourselves with the Lord's will.

So i know what ever happens with my visa and where i end up, whether Mexico or someplace else, will be what the Lord needs to move His work forward. I am just so grateful He is using me as His tool in His work.

Something else i have found as I have studied this week is the Power 3: faith, hope, charity. We read in the scriptures about all of these and most often all three are talked about together. As one grows, they all grow. And as one struggles, they all struggle. Its Power 3!!!

A good talk to read is from the 2008 Oct. Conference talk by Pres. Uchtdorf about Hope. It is so powerful. It has a wonderful message that we all need.

Well my spanish is coming along. It gets frustrating teaching because i know what i want to say and i can feel what i need to say, but i don't know how to say it in spanish. BUt i am learning its not what you say, but its how the investigator feels the spirit through you. I am praying and studying for my ability in spanish. TImes it's better than others, but I am doing my best to not get frustrated or discouraged. I can't wait for the time that I can speak it and understand what people are saying.

Well thanks for all the notes, prayers, thoughts, etc. They are much needed and I am so thankful for them. I love you all and pray for you daily. Stay safe from the sharks and the hurricanes!!!!

Love,

Elder Glover

P.s. - Dad, yeah it's a San Disk. And I'm takning my pic with Elder Sargent on Sunday. I dont see him as much as Elder Kofford, but I have seen him a few times.

Letter #5 ¡La iglesia es verdadera!

7-14-10

Hola familia!!!

Jason and Tiffany, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so exciting and i am glad that litttle Eli is doing good. Hes a little cutie. I can't wait to meet him in two years!!!! And I just saw Elder Sargent. Since its p-day, i was just doing my laundry. So at 1:15 i started to look for him and I saw him. He looks great and I'm glad to finally see him here. It'll be fun seeing him around.

Mom, i don't really know what I need. I like ice breaker mints and the eclipse mints that you sent me. In terms of a treat, i dont really care. I thought of reindeer poop, but you can surprise me with whatever. And the calling card sounds like a good idea. We can talk more about it when it gets closer. But i really don't need anything and I haven't found anything that I have forgotten yet either. So i'm aokay.

And thanks for forwarding Kevin's email. It sounds like he is doing good and having a great experience. He is going to learn a lot about missionary work seeing how there were only 2 people in the Area book.

Well my visa. I have no idea about it!!!! People say it is getting better, but i am still meeting people that have been here 14 or 15 weeks. I still have 4 weeks, so i could get out on time. But I probably won't know anything until I get my travel plans before i leave, which will probably around week 8 or so.

Dad, in response to your question about food. It is the exact same stuff I ate in the cannon center at BYU. So i'm used to it and tired of it, but it still tastes pretty good. I never go hungry and i can choose what i want, so i can't complain.

My spanish has been a huge struggle for me this week, but things are starting to look brighter. I have been studying A LOT about faith and patience in my personal study everyday and it is really helping out. Something cool i read in bible dictionary about faith is that people's faith is kindled by hearing the faith of others. I thought it was coool to think about how i am going to be telling and showing people my faith and that in turn will kindle their faith. ITs was kinda cool to read that. But things are starting to go a lot better. My faith and patience are increasing and things go way better when I have a postive outlook and attitude towards everything. I have been trying to smile a lot more and its working. So pray for me and for my spanish!!!! I need it!

But something cool happened this week. ON Sunday, we had our usual fireside, but guess who it was?!?!?! Jenny Oaks Baker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was such a cool experience for me to hear her play and listen to her live. She is phenomenal!!!!!!! I think i was one of the very few people to know who she was before the firesid started. She has an amazing gift and i am so grateful that I was here at the MTC to hear her. She played 6 songs -- Amazing Grace, I Need Thee Every Hour, (I don't know the name for this one), Be Still My Soul, This Is The Christ, and I Know That My Redeemer Lives. It was one of my favorite firesides ever. I was like a little kid just listening to her. I thought of all the times that i have played and all the time I had mom accompany me. It was special to say the least.

Oh, so i thought of some things to send. Could you send me the music for Did You Think To Pray, Joseph Smith First Prayer, and Come Thou Fount -- both violin and piano music. Im think of maybe trying out to play at a devotional.

Well I am thinking about all of you and pray for you daily. Thanks for all the Dear Elders and prayers for me. They are much appreciated. Give little Eli a hug from his favorite uncle and kherington a hug from her favorite uncle. FLy safe to UT and Cory have a blast at EFY. I'll just be right down the road.

Love,

Elder Glover

P.S. -- I'm going to send some scriptures to a place in Provo for you to pick up. They should give you a call and tell you where it is at. So if you get a call try to pick it up while youre here, but if someone doesn't call you, then don't worryy about it. I love you all!!!!

Letter #4 WOW!!! Can you believe it has been a month!?!?!?!

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Hola familia? Como estan? Soy bien por que de los muchos bendiciones en mi vida. Nuestro Padre Celestial es maravillosa. No?

Well family, can you believe that I have only have 23 months left of my mission. Its crazy how fast time has flown by. I can't believe that I have been in the MTC a month and that my halfway point is thurs or fri. Time is just flying by. I did get to see Elder Kofford before he left on Tues. I actually had dinner with him and Elder's Christiansen (sp?) (JOhns younger twin brothers) on monday night. It was great to eat with him and then tell him a final good luck. And I can't wait till Cameron gets here next week!! What time does he go into the MTC? I'll look out for him because its my p-day and the new elders come in right by the laundry room where i am usually at. So see if you can let me know!

Sounds like the family reunion was a blast like always. Its amazing how much fun that everyone always has while they're all together. I'm glad to hear that Alex went. I continue to pray for him. And tell everyone thanks for the notes. That was cool to get a note from everyone at the family reunion. It always amazes me about how many people are thinking about me and praying for me while I am serving the Lord. Cory, quick question. How in the world do you not realize that there is dog poop on a piece of card board???/? Couldn't you smell it??? See it??? That is absolutely disgusting!!! But rather hilarious also!!!! How was Alcatraz???

Dad, its sounds like your not doing to good with your cough and not being able to sleep at night. Have you gone to the doctor yet?? And Jason, that's very cool about you sending the BOM to your buddy in Texas. Let me know how it goes and his reaction to it.

Well my zone is great!!! I have been blessed to have been put into a great zone and a great district. Everybody pretty much gets along and has a good time together. Mom, there are 5 sisters in our zone. 2 are going to San Diego I think and they have been in here one week more than me. And the other 3 are going to Argentina. 2 of the sisters leave next week, and one of them got delayed because of her visa. but she is taking it well and realizes that its a good thing that she gets to be in here at least two more weeks.

My spanish is coming along much better this week i feel. Elder Cole and I were taught by the sisters that are leaving next week in spanish and it was a great blessing to see that I wasn't that far behind them. I am understanding more when i listen to my teachers speak or others speak in spainsh. BUt i can also understand a lot of what people say in Portuguese and Italian. Its kinda cool to see how close the languages are.

So this morning my district was asked to go help and clean the temple for 3 hours. It was such an awesome experience to clean and help out inside the temple. They are doing a lot of renovations. New furniture, chandiliers (sp?) in the sealing rooms, new carpet, etc. I started off cleaning lockers, but then was asked to go help and take up carpet off the floor. It was a lot of fun to do service in the temple and to be in there while it was closed. I can't wait till we get to go back and do some more sessions before I leave.

Our devotionals this week were about the BOM. On saturday night we had a fireside about the things that made the restoration possible. It was interesting to learn about and to see how much the Lord had in making it possible for him to bring about the restoration. After wards, we got to see the fireworks at the stadium of fire from the parking lot of the MTC. That was cool, but I missed hearing the music that goes along with the show. Then on Sunday and Tuesday both of the speakers talked about the miracle of the BOM and how important it is in missionary work. It is so vital to have investigators read and pray about the BOM. Because if they know that the BOM is true, then so many other things in our church must be true. It is convincing evidence that we are apart of the only true church and that it really is the keystone of our relgiion.

And on Sunday I had a great interview with my branch president, President Krueger. He told me something that really comforted me and really helped to brighten my spirits. He said that I am radiating. That my spirit is radiating. It was such a comforting thing for me to hear because it really helped me torealize that I am changing and that my example is being seen. He also told me when he wrote back from my mission pres letter that he can really feel of my spirit. This two things really helped me to see that I am making a difference. Sometimes its just so hard to see when you are in the MTC sitting in class.

Well thanks so much for writing me. Keep doing it!!!!! I only have at least 4.5 more weeks in the MTC so please keep dear eldering me. THanks for praying for me. I pray for all of you guyss. YOu are all great examples to me!!! Love yall. Le amo.

Le Amo,

Elder Glover