February 24, 2014

Dear Family,

So my comp is going home on the 23rd of April, so at night we always talk about home.  Haha, it's crazy.  I've only been gone for 6 months and it seems like so much has changed since I left.  I'm scared to think what it will all be like in 2 years.... but I don't think I should worry about it too much.  Missionary work is more important. 

It is so good to hear from you guys every week.  I love every letter that you send.  I would love it even more if you sent more pictures ;) haha. 

I finally got your letter's, Brittnee.  Thank you so much.  Just for the record every one...  Brittnee is the most faithful and most honest letter writer out of all of you!  Boom!  Some of you can improve.  Shoot your long-gone brother a letter, huh? 

I plan on writing letters to Chase and Crewbeans today, by the way.  So, you can expect those sometime next week. 

This week has just been crazy.  We had Zone Conference.  It was all about Family History work.  My eyes have been opened to Malachi 4:5-6.  Study it.  It all makes sense.  Use D&C 128 and 138 to make sense of it all. Along with that we had a little lesson by the AP's about taking to everyone.  They did a role play of what it will feel like after Judgement Day for those who were placed in our path and we didn't talk to them.  And then what it will be like when talk to them.  The spirit was super strong and I felt rebuked.  I kept thinking about Alma and the sons of Mosiah, and what they felt like about everyone, and how their very frames shook at the thought of someone not accepting the gospel. 

The work is going good.  We are meeting with the Ward Auxiliary leaders over the coming weeks to see what we can do for them.  It's all been positive responses so far. 

Last Friday the Chinese Elders put on a Chinese Cultural Evening.  It was great. There was a presentation about China and they had a Band and loads of Chinese food.  It was great.

This week should be great, though.  We finally have some time to do some real work.  I'm really excited.  There are so many people here, and there are people, somewhere in there, just waiting to hear us out. 

There's people like that in AZ, too.  Find them!

I love you guys. 

Elder Glasgow

February 17, 2014

Dear family,

 

I JUST LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I just had to get that out of my system. phew.  Oxford is the coolest place in the world to be.  I just love it.  Our ward is rather tiny, just 70 people but that's because we just got split about a year ago.  But they're all great. Although, lots of them are American.  I almost feel at home at Sacrament meeting!  It's so weird.  But I love them all.  They're all great members.  And there is just loads of YSA.  That's my favorite part!  They're all so funny and love working with us.

 

I think deciding to come out on a mission has probably been the best decision I have made so far in my life.  Not only have I matured quite a bit physically and mentally (I have more chest hair! and if I don't shave everyday it's so apparent!) but I've matured spiritually a whole lot.  Sometimes it feels a bit like the refiners fire, but strong timber doesn't grow in quiet and peaceful places.  You face a lot of opposition as a missionary as well.  Especially here in England.  But I know what is true and my faith has become unshaken.

 

It's a big thing to serve a mission.  Sometimes I wonder what I would be doing if I wasn't out here, and I come to the conclusion that whatever it could have been, it's nothing compared to where I am now.

 

Anyway, it's just amazing to hear from you guys this week.  Its sounds like you guys are having a great time.  I'm glad you had a good birthday, mum.  And I'm so excited to see how different everything will be in a year and a half.  It seems like so much has changed already.

 

Haha, I don't really wanna guilt trip my sibling into writing me more, but it has been.... lacking.  I get a quick note every once in a while and I just love it when they do but its not exactly... consistent.  Oh well.

 

Anywho!  Everything is under water here.  We had to travel to Reading for a Leadership Council and the train station had to put us on a bus because the tracks were under water!  But we can still get around for the most part.  All the fields are ponds and all the ponds are lakes.  Haha.

 

 

Man, everyone here is just so smart.  It's crazy.  I found out how Oxford University works, though.  It's actually 42 separate colleges that are under Oxford University.  But they are everywhere and everyone goes to them.  Some of the people you meet are quite hoytie-toytie, to coin the phrase, but most are really interested in the message because you're just as old as most of them and they're curious why you are doing it.  But there's just sooooo many of them.  It's crazy.

 

This week we haven't taught loads of lessons because the world was against us, but we did better than last week, and plan to do some solid finding and teaching this week.

 

You guys will never guess what is in Reading!!  A Five Guys burger and fries!!!  I was in heaven!  It was soooo good!!

 

It's so great to hear from you guys.  I love you all and hope you are enjoying the weather cuz it's cold and raining over here!

 

Love,

Elder Glasgow

ps, those glasses are fake, they just make me look nicer/smarter and they only cost me 50p!  And we made pancakes!

February 10, 2014 TRANSFERRED

Dear Family,

 

Life is so great right now.  You'll never guess where I got moved to.  Its just the best thing ever.  My new address is...

 

I Hampden Building

5 High Street

Kidlington, Oxford

OX5 2FN

 

Aand now if you will be so kind as to put that into Google Maps...

You will now see that I am in OXFORD!  Yup!  Even though we live out there in Kidlington, our area covers all of the Oxford City Centre and most of the neighborhoods just outside of it.  We share it with 2 Chinese Elders, but they only teach Chinese so it's just amazing!!!!  And my new comp is Elder Aichele and he is from Osorno, Chile! Yeah, I get to serve with a Chilean!  He's so funny!  I love serving with him.  He's been out for 22 months, as well, so I will probably end up killing him because he only has a little over a transfer and a half left!  It's all just so new and amazing and I just love it all so much!

 

The Ward is awesome too.  Most of them are American, haha.  And there's loads of YSA's, and we have two Senior couples.  It's great!  Sadly, I have not taken any pictures just yet, but they will come soon.

 

I loved your letters this week.  I wanna see the new temple film so bad!  And I want to go to the Gilbert Temple! And I wanna help out with the missionary work in Mesa!

 

Here's what you do to help the missionaries.  Let them teach investigators in your home.  Give them referrals. Feed them.  Just do whatever you can.  Our ward is great.  They will be taken care of.

 

I don't have much time today but I love you all and I'll be sure to get some pictures to you guys next week, okay???

 

Bye-bye

 

Elder Glasgow

February 3, 2014

Dear Fam,

 

I am really stressed right now!!!  Moves calls should come any minute now!  I want to move, but at the same time I don't.  I love the island.  It's the best and the work is going sooo great.  But, I need to get out and see the world! Along with that we're trying to get a baptism together for Thursday and when I get Moves calls is when I can know to worry about it all or not. haha.  But, hopefully I'll find out by the end of me writing this email.

 

This week has been great, though.  Our friend who is getting baptized is named Eilleen.  She is in her...60's?  She comes from a family of Irish gypsies.  But, she just loves the Book of Mormon and how it helps us in everyday life and shes making some great friends in the ward.  Missionary work is just the best!!

 

*sigh.  The other night I realized that I left 6 months ago this friday, the 7th.  Time has gone by so fast!  I'm already a quarter of the way through!!  Can you believe that???  I can't!  Oh boy, I'll be home before I know it.

 

Ahem.  Anyway, it's great over here.  It's been around 45° to 50° the past month or two, which isn't too bad at all. I do kind of wish it would snow though.  That would be awesome.  I miss the snow.

 

Haha, so my comp, Elder Rogers, is a Seahawks fan.  He's from Seattle after all.  His family was sooooo excited about the SuperBowl.  They gave him a full overview of it all and hes.... well, I wouldn't say trunky right now, but he reeeeally wants to watch that game right now.  Haha.

 

Where are the Olympics taking place this year??  I haven't heard anything about it at all.  The last Olympics were in London, so the missionaries were allowed to watch it at either members or investigators houses.  EVERYONE was watching it and was not interested about a message about Jesus Christ at the time. We'll see what happens.

 

Dad, you're gonna be a Temple Ordinance worker??  That's so cool!  My Zone Leader, Elder George, was the very first young worker at the San Diego Temple.  He always tells us all sorts of funny stories about the workers there and stuff.  I wanna be one!

 

It's so great to hear how everyone is doing.  What kind of dogs did Rod and Connie get?  Haha, Disneyland.  That's pretty funny that Avery and Wake named them Micky and Minnie.

 

I hope everyone will get along alright over the next while.  The world is getting rough, that's for sure.  I see it every single day.  Society is falling apart.  But I know that when the gospel is the center of a home and a family, nothing will prevail.  Though the fiery darts of the adversary come, our shield of faith and our breast plate of righteousness will prevail and our sword of truth with divide asunder the enemies.

 

On a side note, my comp just found out his mum is pregnant with her TENTH child and he's kinda freaking out even more now!  Hahaha.

 

Ah, I love the temple so much.  Cherish it, cuz you have it right there by you.

 

I love you guys.

 

Elder Glasgow

ps. Picture is my District. Sisters Lloyd and Clark, Ward Mission Leader Bro. Marlow, Elder Rogers and me