May 26, 2014

Dear Family,

How I miss you guys so much. Every single time I read all of your letters it reminds me of home and how great all you guys are. Did you know that you guys are the best? Like seriously, I love you guys.

Well, we finally have a move-in date for the new Flat. We'll be moving in on June 10th. But there's a kicker. Transfers is the week right before that and I have been with Elder Cooper for 2 transfers now. But you never know! Maybe I will stay. But it's all up in the air right now. Lots of people are going home the next two transfers and they're going to need some new leaders to step up. 

This Wednesday we have interviews with President. I'll ask what President wants to do with me, then. But you can never be sure on things like this. Sometimes the spirit speaks at the last second, so we'll see what happens.  

This week has had some definite ups and downs. I went on an exchange with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Grice, and we had quite an adventure. We had a car so we were going to take the Didcot Sister Missionaries home because Sister Bolinder has been sick for the past 2 weeks. But, on the way we had some car problems! The car started misfiring and it's a diesel, so that's bad. After a whole lot of phone calls and talking to three different garages and a very terrifying drive all around Oxfordshire we ended up back in Kidlington that evening. Then we had to take the bus and train all the way back to Reading! It was madness! So, it would be super great if I could get some $ on my card, pronto, because this whole exchange escapade has sapped all of my funds temporarily!!! And I still need to replace my ruined trousers... 

We also had to drop our long-time investigator, Tim, this week. His set religious views get in the way of him simply praying about the Book of Mormon. It's really sad. I was pretty gutted. Missionaries have been working with him the past 4 months and last Friday we put it all on the line and it didn't pay off. It's really difficult to put the gospel above your friendship with someone because that's what Tim is, a friend! But if he isn't willing to learn and progress... well... we have much better things to do with this time we have consecrated to the Lord.  Pray for his future, though.

That was one of the biggest things Elder Grice taught me. As a member of the church, we covenant to live the Law of Consecration when called upon. I think a mission is one of those times!

We have picked up some new investigators this week, though, and one of them looks very promising. Rio, from East Timoor. Great guy. I'll be sure to update you about him next week. 

You better enjoy Memorial Day as much as I would have if I was there!

I love you guys!

Elder Glasgow

May 12, 2014

Dear Family,

It was so nice talking to you all on yesterday! I really did not mind the madness at all. I just enjoyed seeing everyone. It was kind of strange, though, to see you guys. It's almost like I only think about you guys on Mondays and then Mothers Day and Christmas. My mind is just so preoccupied with being a missionary!!! 

I loved all the pictures you sent this week, too! It was probably the best week of  pictures that I've gotten, yet! 

Sometime I wonder what it would be like to be on the receiving side of the gospel - to be an investigator and possibly even a convert. Sometime I wonder if I had not been born into the gospel if I would have accepted it. It's a strange coincidence. I've come to realize, though, that the preexistence plays such an important role in our lives here on earth. I guess it was all in for me so heavenly father just had to put me in a family with the gospel so I would accept it!

It can be really difficult, though, to see people reject the gospel. We knock on their door and speak truths; pure truths, and then, being so numb and stubborn, they tell us to shove off and go bother someone else.  My life would be nothing with out the gospel!

To answer some questions...

1) I've realized that what happens in this life is nowhere near as important to what I am doing. Anything can happen but it's what we are doing, ourselves, is what matters. People can reject me all day but if I am out being obedient and working I will be blessed.

2) One of the best ways I've seen member missionary work is to invite a friend to a Ward activity and having the missionaries there, then simply introduce them! Let the missionaries take care of the rest. We're good at that. Another approach would to simply be an example. People watch you. Dare to be a Mormon!!

3) More effective scripture study should involve a prayer at the beginning and the end, with a question or questions on your mind, and a study journal handy to write down any impressions. Along with that, at the end of every chapter of "Preach My Gospel" there are ideas for study and application with some great ideas. 

4) Our goal as a companionship is to teach at least 20 lessons a week and no less - to reach out to at least 20 people and give them some truth. 

5) My favorite scripture is Isaiah 40:28-31. ''Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, niether is he weary.'' It ends with, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  

6) Finally, my relationship with Christ has become extremely personal over the past months as a missionary. He has made my life so easy. I've come to gain this mentality of being able to overcome any trial because Christ already has. It's really that simple. He shows me how to do it and I do it. His yoke truly is light and his burden is easy.

Theres a video on mormonchannel.org that talks about weaknesses I bet you guys would all enjoy. http://www.mormonchannel.org/youth-videos?v=1463164184001 heres the link. 

This week some of our investigators' College Terms end so the work should pick up a bit. Along with that we should probably be finding out if we got the Flat we submitted! Should be good.

Thank you again for your letters and encouragement. I enjoy every last word. Heres some pictures!

Love, Elder Glasgow

Pix: Cinco De Mayo Burritos, London Temple with investigator Tim, Holloway  University

May 5, 2014

Dear Family,

Thank you again for your wonderful letters. I love reading them every week. It's nice to know what's going on back in sunny AZ. Haha, maybe you guys should check the weather over here more often and you might appreciate it more. 

Today was a nice easy pday. As you can see, Its already 4:30pm and I just started emailing. Well, there's a little something called Bank Holidays here and let me just say - I might just despise them. The whole country just takes off the Monday around a holiday and all the Libraries shut down and it's lame. So, we're here at the Chapel today.

It turns out there is a Mission Burrito here! It's not Chipotle, no sir, not even close to Cafe Rio or Costa Vida, but I did stuff a burrito into my face 4 hours ago. It was awesome. I felt so Arizona-ish. My splurge of the month. 

Oh! so I'm guessing that you guys have not gotten the small package I sent Crew, yet? Hopefully it gets there before his birthday. If not, Happy Birthday Crew! you're 8 years old!!!!!!! I hope you like the card and present I got for you.

So.... I keep forgetting its Mothers Day next week.....I KNOW! I'm a terrible son.... I'm sorry mom. But I will be able to Skype you at 7;30pm, England time. Along with that I will be having to check my email every day due to our Flat hunt. I just sent you a contact request on Skype, sooo yeah, it would be good if you checked that.

AHHHH thats so cool for Mesa High Volleyball!!!! I wish I could be there. And send me Crew's tumbling video!!! 

Okay, so about me... this week has been alright. We've had some pretty good teaches with some of our investigators. We had to drop a few more people this week BUT we totally have a Temple trip with Tim planned. And I've got to say I am so stoked! I just love the Temple! You are so lucky. GO more often! 

The weather's been pretty nice to us, too, this week. It's been a little chilly - just enough for a jacket, and it was SUNNY the other day! It was great! 

Haha, so the other day Elder Cooper and I were running out of food to make so we ended up making a ''what we found in the flat'' soup. Man, it was delicious. There's a picture of me with it. I think it was the Cream of Chicken soup that saved it, though. 

Sad news, this week I totally wrecked a pair of my trousers. Like unusable. So I would appreciate it very much if I could get a bit of cash to buy some new ones. 

The search for a Flat still continues! We submitted one last week but President did not approve. He thought if we moved there we would be doing more gardening than missionary work. Something along the lines of being too spacious. Oh, and we're not looking for a 4-man flat, anymore. Only a 2, which is fine. Not much gets done in a 4-man Flat, anyway. Way too many boys. 

It's so strange to think that I'm thousands of miles away from you guys. It's unreal. And then I remember just exactly where I am and it's even more weird. Anyway, I miss you guys a lot and hope you guys are finishing up the school year alright. Whenever you find yourself thinking, ''how the heck did I ever end up here???'', just remember that those who walk on the straight and narrow path of the gospel are never lost, because we have a perfect example to lead the way! 

Love, Elder Glasgow

April 14, 2014

Dear Family,

As you can see, I'm emailing just a little early this week.  That's because there is a missionary in our District (Elder Wright) who is going home next Wednesday!  So, we're going to have an epic pday together.  A member in the Oxford 2nd Ward is taking us out to the forest and were going to have a little fire and cook sausages and play some frisbee or whatever.  It should be great. 

This week was pretty good, a nice solid week.  We found some new people.  I also went on an exchange with a missionary from South Africa, Elder Mafubelua.  We had some good teaches.  It was just a good week.  But, I still haven't seen any of the Sunday sessions of General Conference. 

Tabatha is doing great.  She loves learning about the gospel and her 7 year old daughter absolutely loves church so much.  The only concern she has is that her husband, Andrew, isn't supportive at all and she would like it so much if he was at least positive about the whole experience.  We want to get all three of them to visit the Temple. 

We had another teach with our Polish friend, Andy.  We brought a member along and it helped so much.  We pretty much told him that what we teach has nothing to do with Science or even past revelation, for that matter, but what we're talking about is modern revelation from a Prophet in these days.  Then we taught him the Plan of Salvation.  It went great.  He was really opening up to the spiritual aspects of what we have to teach.  We'd like to get his wife, Kate, more involved.  It would help out so much.  He loves her a lot and wants everything for her. 

As for our other investigators, since it is mid-terms, (Oxford University) it's kind of hard to tie them all down.  But it will pick up in two weeks. 

This Transfer is only 5 weeks long, so it ends on the 23rd.  We'll find out if anyone is moving next week.  Elder Cooper thinks I might be heading out, but I think I have another transfer left here in Oxford.  Oh! we also got a phone call from President saying that we might move Flats and get to live in the City Centre!  Kidlington is about half an hour outside the City Centre, where our work area is, and it just kills us on travel time.  So, we're crossing our fingers. 

It's so great to hear from you guys. Happy Birthday, Dad.  I'm still looking for that Chabat #8 French Rugby jersey for you.  Haha.  Maybe next year. 

The other day I was thinking about the Easter Pageant.  You are so blessed to have such a wonderful Temple just minutes from you!  In England it's usually a two-day commitment if you want a nice Temple trip.  Cherish the Temple so much.  I will do the same when I get home.

The other day a member showed me on his phone the very first Ensign article written by Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr.  I think it was him at least.  But the message was all about how we need to strengthen and protect our families. The thought that came into my head was, ''this was ages ago, yet it sounds exactly like the talks today.''  So, I'll ask you the question...  Are we really heeding the messages of men who we sustain every six months as Apostles and Prophets, or are we falling into the false assumption that, ''all is well in Zion''?  In Ether 12:7 it says, "For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world".  Okay, so do we have enough faith as a church to see Him?  What about the Second Coming?  Will faith be the only way we all get to stick around to see that?  You gotta have faith to see him.  Just a thought for you guys. 

I miss you guys so much.  I love reading your letters every week and can't wait for my package!  Just remember to send it to the Mission Office.  Better safe than sorry.  Go read Ether!

Love, Elder Glasgow 

ps, I love Oxford.  Sorry I'm not in the pic.  I'll do better!

April 7, 2014

Dear Family,

We are just so blessed to belong to the church that we do. To have Apostles and Prophets of the Lord telling us exactly what we need to do. Truly amazing. I've only had the chance to watch Saturday and then Priesthood so far, so you'll be getting even more next week about how awesome Conference is. Favorite talks: Elder Holland on Saturday morning. Mind blowing. Elder Hallstrom, and of course, Elder Oakes in Priesthood. I'm going to study that one for ages!

From what I have seen so far, the General Authorities have told us 3 major things. We need to defend our faith, no matter where the world goes. God will stay right where He is. And that it is the role of the rising generation to take charge NOW. 

I would suggest to all of you to go back and listen to Pres Eyring's talk Saturday night and think of how you can improve on Home/Visiting Teaching. Got it? 

I always get so pumped around General Conference. These guys are every missionaries heroes. 

Other than Conference, this week has been really good. We got a new investigator named Tabatha. She was invited by a member who is returning to activity and she is just golden. She wants to know everything!!! She also has a daughter of 7 who just loves church. She's even invited us over for dinner Wednesday. It's the perfect example of member missionary work. Invited by a member and fellowshipped by the members. It's all just wonderful.

I've had a bit of a gradual revelation this week. Elder Lam, a Chinese Elder, said something rather spectacular the other week. He said that the Lord does not expect us to come back from our missions the same person. Elder Day added that in these two years we have the chance to make changes in ourselves that would not be possible in any other part of our life. And to top it off Elder Hallstrom taught that saying you cannot change is rejecting the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Wow.

I just love the gospel so much. I don't know what I would do without it. 

I love you guys, too. I hope everything goes well for Aubrey and Tyler in Arkansas. I pray for all of you guys. Thank you again for the emails.

Love,

Elder Glasgow

(pic is me reading the coolest bible ever!)

March 17, 2014

Dear Family,

I got to say... I'm impressed right now.  I got an email from pretty much everyone this week, even Grandma Glasgow!  Thanks Grandma.  Chase, it is the best two years.  No doubt about that. 

Wait, so did you fix my car?  I thought she died!  And Dad, I'm super jelly right now.  Is your truck a manual or automatic? 

All of your guys letters were great.  I wish I could reply to all of you but sadly I don't really have the time.... I am sending loads of pictures this week however, so be excited. 

Me and Elder Aichele got a phone call from president on Sunday.  He's moving!  I'm losing my Chilean!  And I only had him for 6 weeks.  My new comp is Elder Cooper, probably from Utah.  I hear he's a good guy. 

This week me and Elder Day are planning on going to the Ashmolean as well because we don't have to go anywhere Wednesday so it acts as our p-day!  I'm excited!  The Ashmolean is a super cool museum that isn't open on Mondays. 

As for our investigators, Izzy is being difficult.  She got a full time job and is really busy.  Suman accepted a baptismal date!  But he is also working full-time.  Other than that there's just a couple people we are trying to work with.  It's been tough because Elder Aichele has been sick and things just always get in the way.  But I think once my new comp gets settled it will all be wheat. 

So, it seems like so much has changed since I left.  Thanks for the day count-down, Dad.  I'm just going to tell people after I hit my year mark that I've been out ''a little more that a year'', until I go home.  But I do agree with you Pops - the mission is the most wonderful thing in the world.  But sometimes I just want all the experience and stuff right now.  I want that Return Missionary status right now.  But that will come.  I have to earn it all.  But that's okay.  Mission life is pretty great.

Serena sent me a little leaflet of the Gilbert Temple.  I want to go there so bad!  I miss the Temple. 

Aubs - I'm so happy for you.  Keep it up. 

Chase - tear it up.  Are you still living in my shadow?  You better not be.

Cedar - thanks.  Enjoy Mesa for me.

Brighten - you're the best even though you haven't written me much.  Your letters are quality and I know you'll be blessed so much as you help the missionaries out.  Just imagine them as me. 

Crewbeans - no letter from you, huh?  Did you like my letter I sent in the mail?  How is school going?

I have the greatest family ever.  Thanks, you guys.  Don't miss me too much.  2 years isn't that long.  Enjoy your week.  Look for opportunities to share the gospel with everyone. 

Love, Elder Glasgow

Pix are from Christ Church visit last week, and the Oxford District

March 10, 2014

Dear Family,

I just have the biggest smile on my face after reading all of your wonderful emails. and Brittnee, I agree. Thanks

Well, you're probably wondering why I am emailing so late in the afternoon.  It's because we went on a tour of the one and only Christ Church!  It's the place where most of the Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland sets were inspired. It was so cool. Our Bishop is the head porter there so he took us to all these cool places that no one else gets to see!  Sadly, you guys won't get the pictures until next week.  I didn't have time to copy them to my usb drive.... but it will be legendary!

This week was.... okay. Elder Aichele was still pretty sick this week so we only got to work a little bit on the weekend, then we went to church.  We have a grand total of 4 investigators because we had to drop a few last week.  They just weren't committing.  But, if you guys can pray for Izzy to get an answer about the Book of Mormon, that would be great. 

Last Friday I watched the video of the Gilbert Temple being dedicated.  It was so weird!!!!  I would have loved to be there. 

Funny thing about temples, I was sitting with all of my district at this little Italian place eating a sandwich after going to Christ Church and this guy walks up to us and is like, ''hello Elders and Sisters!"  So we get to talking to him, and his name is Brad Houston.  He's only the Lead Designer and Architect of all the temples all over the world!!!  He was really nice and talked about the temple that they are starting in Concepcion, Chile and how beautiful it is and how the Pheonix temple is almost ready!  I totally forgot they were building one there!

Mom, about the atonement... watch Elder Bednar's talk, "The Enabling Power of the Atonement".  So many of us only see how the atonement fixes things, which is does, no doubt about that.  But, it also enables us.  We realize the Lord has already gone through our challenge and He knows what it is like.  He knows exactly how to help us.  I believe it's Alma 7:11-15ish.  He helps us do things that we can't do by ourselves.  He helps me be a better missionary every day because I know He has felt the fear that I feel.  He over came it so, so can I.  And so many people just have no idea of that and that's why I need to share it with everyone!

The other day I had a little vision myself.  I was on the bus.  I can remember I was feeling pretty gutted about something, and feeling low.  But while I sat there praying; I don't know if I imagined this, or what, but I heard footsteps coming up the stairs of the bus and a man sat down beside me.  I could feel him put his arm around me and that's when I realized it was the Saviour.  We had a little chat about how I was feeling and afterward the burdens and weight I was feeling were just gone.  They vanished.  I felt invigorated.  I felt alive.  I felt like I needed to go tell everyone how great Jesus Christ is!  He not only fixed me, but he enabled me to go and be strong and to work and to work hard.

I wrote Chase and Crew a letter and sent it a few days ago so it should be getting there pretty soon. I hope it helps. 

Oh!  There's a guy here from Mesa!  He was in the Fairfield Ward.  His name is Ben Shurtz.  He said he knew Rodney's sister, Jordan, and the Biggs family.  Haha, it was so fun to talk about Arizona with him. 

Thank you guys for the letters. and the pictures.  They were great.

I'll send some really good pictures next week, okay?

Love, Elder Glasgow