Letter #30 HOLA. ¡Prospero un año nuevo!

Date: December 27, 2010
Area: Tepalcapa, Mexico
Companion: Elder Irigoyen

Hola Familia

Well I don´t have too much time to write today because we were having too much fun. We went bowling and ice skating today as a district. And then afterwards we went to a members home and they made us all sopes. They were so good. But needless to say I don´t have too much time. (And the comma button is not working)

But to answer you question Mom Sí if you could send our christmas card and others people too that would be awesome. Christmas cards are always fun to get and to hear what everyone is up to. Dad I took out 600 pesos today for the 50 dollars that you said that Grandma and Grandpa sent me.

It was fun talking to you all on Christmas. It sounds like everyone is doing really well and that you all had a fun time being together. I think Ryan won with the best looking beard. I hope that mine will be able to grow like that once I get back from the mission. Could you also send me a copy of those pictures and whatever other new pictures you would like. That´d be great.

So since Saturday things have been ok. On Saturday we went by all of our investigators to confirm that they were going to come to church and everyone had said sí. But on Sunday when we passed by or members passed by nobody was home. It was frustrating. But we did have one investigator come to Sacrament Mtg. He is the dad of two of our miembras. And we also had a less active family come to church. That was really exciting because they don´t have the money to come to church. So it really made me happy to see them because I know what a sacrifice it was.

There have just been a lot of tender mercies of the Lord in the pst week. Christmas was great and it is just great being a missionary. At times it is so hard. But then there are also times when it really is the most rewarding experience. It´s like a big lesson for life. Lately I have found a lot of stregnth in the scripture Joshua 1:9. I have a little postcard of that scripture that is up in our casa. Be strong and of good courage. THe Lord thy God is with you. It is so true. THere is no reaso to get discouraged in life. That is the objective of Satan. When we are down it is so much easier for him to get us. We always need to find the good in everything. I like the talk on Gratitude by President Monson. We all need to be greatful and not let the world or our situations get us down. A smile is the best cure for that. And a friend always helps too.

Thanks so much for all that you do. I love yáll and I am glad that everyone is doing great. Enjoy the winter and snow. Let me know when you send that package so I can know that I need to look for it. Have a Happy New Year!!! Tell the Catchatoorians hi for me and give them my love. I love you guys!!

Con Amor
Elder Glover

ps Here are some pictures. One is of my Christmas dinner that some members brought to us because we had to be in the hous at 8. And the other is of today eating at the members house.

pss I tried to write yall at 10 today but noone had written. Love yall!!!!

Letter #29 A Good Start to the Transfer!!!

¡Hola Familila!

I am glad to here that everybody arrived safe and sound for the holidays. It bet it is fun being together. Thanks for the package and all the goodies. I got it on Tuesday because my DL had to go to the offices. I also got all the Dear ELders, but don´t worry, I haven´t read them yet. I am being obedient and waiting till staurday. But I did get a letter from Aunt Fannie and Cassie. Tell them thank you. The letter from Cassie was the one she sent to the MTC.

Dad, I took 400 pesos out of the ATM for the calling card and thermals, so that is probably what the call was for. So I have the calling card. We are going to call home at 12 in Mexico time. Elder Irigoyen is going to call talk first and then me. So I will probably talk to you at 1 (or 2 your time). We get to talk for 40 mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But what I am going to do is call you guys from a pay phone and then have you call me back in 5 mins. I am calling in the house of the familia Guzman. To call them its 001-55-26-02-58-82. LAst week i forgot a ´0´ at the beginning, but this number is correct. I checked it with hermana Guzman on Sunday. So yeah, I will probably call you around 1pm. If I need to, I will use the call card to get in contact with you, but if don´`t need to, I am going to try to return it. BUt yeah, I am excited to talk with you all!!!!

But this has been a good week for me. We had our mission festividad navideña this week and it was awesome. The stake that put it on went overboard. We had a chocolate fountain and they fed us barbacoa. It was so scrumptous. They also gave all the missionaries a stocking full of goodies and a tie. It was very special. At the activity, I played the violin. I arranged three songs together and it sounded really nice, well that´s what people told me. And then last night we had an activity with the stake and all the missionaries in our zone sang O Holy Night. An Elder accompianed them on the piano and I played the violin with them. It was nice. I am just full of gratitude for everything, especially for the opportunity to be serving the Lord. It is very different at this time of the year, but very special. I have been studying about the Savior and all that He has done for us. It is such a privelege to be able to share the gospel especially in this Christmas time. THe Lord has done so muich for us. His birth into the world, changed everything. It gave us hope, faith. He showed us the way. I have been studying alot of how we have to give ourselves to the Lord so the He can change us. He can´t change something He doesn´t have. During this Christmas time, I am thankful that I get to be a representative of JEsus Christ. I am thankful for the chance that I have to give myself to Him. Of all the gifts we can give, the one that we give to our Savior is the most important. And of all the things that we can give, the two things that he doesn´t have are our hearts and minds. We are the most precious gift. The Savior wants us.

I hope that you guys enjoy this week together. Thanks for all that you guys do. For the prayers, love, support, letters, you name it. Thanks so much. I can´t wait to talk to you all this Saturday. I can´t believe that it is already Christmas. I love yall. Enjoy the Christmas spirit and take time to remember the Savior.

Con Muchisimo Amor,

Elder Glover

Letter #28 Another Week in Paradise

¡Hola Familia!

SO cambios were this week...and I am staying here in the Lomas Ward with Elder Irigoyen. I am excited to be staying here. I feel like I am starting to bind with the ward and get to know them more. It´s hard sometimes because I want to get to know them but the spanish makes it hard sometimes. But these past few weeks I have really started to just get to know them and do my best with the language. You just got to have a smile.

Mom, Dad, and Kherington...feel better! That sounds like no fun being sick. I hope things have gotten better for you today and that you guys are feeling better. Dad, I will go buy that card this coming Lunes. Also, could you put some money on my card so that I can buy me a couple of thermals and a pair of gloves. It sounds crazy, but it gets kinda cold. And we can´t wear our sweaters without our suit jacket, so I have been wearing thermals under my shirts when it is cold. And my hands get freezing at times. I am glad that Erin and Ryan and Kherington got there safe. I bet it is fun having your grandkid around. HOpefully Jason and TIffany and Eli gte there safely and that Kherington and Eli are bestest of friends.

Well this week went a lot better. We had a lot of success during the week, but when Sunday comes, noboday is home or they can´t come because of something. It has been really frustrating because we are working hard and being obedient, but noone is coming to church. We keep trying new things but nothing had seemed to work. Any suggestions on how I could help my investigators come to church?

BUt I also had an experience about the BOM this week. We had a lady try to give us our BOM back after she had said she would prepare for her baptism on Dic 26. When she tried to give it back, I was thinking no way. What´s going on? I told here that I knew that she didn´t read it and that there is no way that someone can read this book and not feel anything. We asked here some questions and man, it was so depressing. THe BOM is such an awesome book. I know that it is true. I am getting ready to finish it again this week. I started Nov 6 and have been reading and marking anytime it says Christ´s name, a pronoun of Him, or any of His words. I t has been so cool. My BOM is all yellow!!! It truly is another testament of Jesus Christ. Anybody that reads, ponders, and prays about it will find out that it is a true book. It changes lives.

Well I love you guys. Have a good week. Thanks for all the love, support, prayers, thoughts, etc. >Yall are the best!! Enojy the holiday season together!

Con muchismo Amor,
ELder Glover

ps -- ON Christmas I am going to be calling from the house of the Familia Guzman. THere number is 01-55-26-02-58-82. I will write more next week and give you a little more information. Love you guys. And I am glad that you and Cassie got my letter. Tell her and the Catchatoorian´s hi for me!

Letter #27 It's Been A Tough Week

¡Hola Familia!

Well it has been a tough week for me this week. But before that, how is everyone doing? I hope well! And since it´s fresh in my mind, yes I can print. All the internet cafes have printers. And I asked about the calling card today, and they are 100 pesos (10 dollars) for an hour. If you want I can buy one, but having you call me is the best way from what I heard. We have changes this Sunday, so depending if I stay or go, I can give you the phone number of the house that I will be at. This has always worked from what I hear. But yeah, let me know what you want to do. Oh, and have you gotten my letter yet. I sent one in the middle of november. Let me know when you get it. Oh and some things you could eat to remind you of me. At Wal-Mart, they sell this Hot Chocolate called Abuelita. It´s pretty good. It has a little spice in it. And also, Jarritos. It´s a Mexican soda and they sell it at Wal MArt and its is soooo good. Those two things are authentic Mexicn stuff you could eat.

But anyways, this has been a really tough week for me. These past two weeks I have just been really stressed and overwhelmed with everything. So I have been studying a lot about faith. And it has helped. So much of missionary work is based on faith. We find with faith, we teach with faith, we learn by faith, we grow by faith. No wonder why it is the first principle of the gospel, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. My faith and my attitude has really what has kept me going this week. We haven´t had much success this past week and of all our investigators, none of them came to church. It was really hard. Everyday I am learning and growing. It´s true, the highs are higher as a missionary and the lows are lower and tougher as a missionary. BUt that is what makes it so great. I always remember to smile no matter what is going on. A smile says a thousand words and changes your outlook. I have really learned the importance of smiling and having a happy countenance, even though things my be flipped upside down. People notice! This week, I want everyone to SMILE!!!! Escpecially DAD!! Because ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy BIrhday Dad!!!! You guys better spoil him!!

But the miracle of the week is that we had a menos activo come to church yesterday. He bore his testimony and it was AWESOME. He has a lot to change, but he has started on the path. It is amazing to see how a little love can go such a long way. Thanks mom for that scripture. One of my fvorties. In everything we do we have to have love...for EVERYONE!!!!

I love you guys. Thanks for all the prayers, support, thoughts. THanks for everything. Remeber this scripture this week, D y C 123:17. I love yáll. Have a good week and stay warm!!!!

Love,

Elder Glover