Sister Dana Glanzer

Hola Familia

Espero que todos este bien. Muy bien aqui.

So I have had one week with my new companion. Her name is Hna Bravo and I have some news for Allison. She is from Nicaragua!!!! She is really fun. Very very very obedient and that is what I love about her. We have so much fun together. But it is fun that is obedient. I can be myself with her and I just feel comfortable with her. We make a wonderful team. I can even feel the Spirit so strong when we teach together. We have had tons of success together in this short week. It is great. I will send a picture of her.

On Sunday I had a weird experience. I gave a talk and it was great. After sacrament meeting, a member (man) told me it was great and shook my hand. But then he pulled me into him and have me a hug. It was so awkward. I didn’t know what to do. It just happened. I was a little shocked afterwards and we walked into the bathroom and I asked my companion “What just happened?” That man hugged me. I talked to him like 3 times before and now he is hugging me. It was all very strange.

We had our zone conference this past week and it was amazing. I had a wonderful experience that probably has changed my life. I will write you letter that includes my experience. It was very special for me.

Presidente Montalti is a wonderful man. The conference was filled with the Spirit and you don’t want to leave. You want to hear more and more and more. I usually don’t like the practices that we do but I loved them this time. I don’t know, there was just a different feeling. Maybe it is the place, but I loved it all.

I learned so much about the Book of Mormon. I wish everybody could have these experiences. I wish everybody would MAKE their children serve a mission ϑ But I don’t think it would have the same effect that it has had on me. I am so glad that I made the decision to serve the Lord. He has helped me a lot in the hard times, the times when I wasn’t worthy of His blessings, the times that were great and spiritual. All the time. I never want to lose this spirit in my life. I need to work hard after my mission to have it. I won’t have the same calling, but I can have he same life style. Just follow the guidance and promptings of the Spirit.

My companion says “hi” and that she wants to see a photo of the faces of the cats. Me too. The black one is gigantic!! Fatty.

I gave another talk on Sunday. I am turning into Andy, crying all the time ϑ Jokes, but really. I started to talk about an experience that happened to me in the mission and I started crying. It was a wonderful experience for me. The branch is going to know me as the crier. But that is okay, they all loved the talk.

I gave a talk about the scriptures and Elder Christofferson helped me. He gave a talk recently in conference about the scriptures. He made a great point that I love. He said that so many people now a days have the opportunity to have the scriptures. Every child has the opportunity to have their own quad. But how many of us actually open our books to study? We have the blessing of God in our hands.

How many times in the week do we open the Book of Mormon? I love this book and I have a firm testimony that it is true. I can’t deny it. I know the Book of Mormon is true and really can change the life of any one that reads it. Just give it the chance.

Mom and dad, Thank you for all the love and support you give me. I am truly blessed to have you as my parents. Really, you are wonderful examples for me. You love each other very much and have made me set goals in my marriage. I want to have an eternal family just like you guys have. I won’t accept anything less.

Allison, KT, Camille y Brian, and Andy, I love you all so much. Thank you for being my brother and sisters.     Always choose the right. I pray for you every night that you will all strengthen your testimonies, that you will seek the Lord in all your doings. Read the scriptures everyday because Father gave them to us for a reason. I Love you all with my whole heart.

Andy, I wish you luck in your mission. I love you and hope all your investies will see that you are a servant of the Lord. Be your best self and work hard. The Lord will put the people in your path. Trust Him.

KT, I hope your work goes good. Working with old people and all. More power to ya sista….. But I love you and I pray that you can have the things that you are working hard to get. Remember your Father in Heaven always. He is there to help you. When we forget Him, or put Him in second place, He is sad for us. Don’t do that.

Camille and Brian, I hope all is going well in school and in work. I read that you are now living in Seattle. I hope it isn’t too hard… but do your best. Always remember the Lord loves you and is looking out for you.  Remember your testimony and help it grow. Brian, give the church a change, get to know the gospel more and I promise that you will receive a lot of blessings in your life. You both will have a wonderful family and be able to live together forever. What is better than that? The answer is “nothing”.

Allison, I love you too. Be strong and be an example for your classmates. They need someone strong that will hold to their values. Be the valiant servant that the Lord needs up there in Tonasket. Remember you aren’t alone; the Lord is with you.

I will be sending a letter and pictures in the mail. Thank you for all the letters and packages that you send. I love getting them and love you all!!!!

We will see each other soon. But don’t count the days because I’m not. I love it here in Loja and I don’t want to leave. But in time, I will be happy to see you all again.

Hasta luegito!!!!

Chau

Hermana Glanzer

Hi,

This week has been great, but ended not great. Just to get it out, we received a call last night and the zone leaders asked to talk to my companion. I passed the phone and they said that she has emergency transfers. She heads out to the coast. We are just in the third week of the change and she is leaving. We got along so well, had tons of fun times, but she is gone. She left at 7 in the morning today. It is sad and sometimes hard to accept. But I have to and I will work hard and do well with my new companion.

To answer your question about my reflections of the past year, I feel almost exactly like Andy. In my own words: I have changed so much. I understand this gospel, not perfectly, but I understand it. I understand that God will only bless me if I am obedient. It is the same for all of His children. I can’t disobey Him, I need to do the right things. I don’t think I could ever break a commandment because I just understand.

I have talked with Heavenly Father and come to know Him. I love Him and His Son very much. I will never in-activate myself from this church. I know it is the only true church on the face of this planet and will always be the only true church.

Heavenly Father loves me so much that He has placed me in the family that I have. He has truly blessed my life. To be born to the parents I have, have the siblings I have, the life I have had growing in this church.

I have the faith and always have had the faith I needed to keep me active. I don’t need any thunderous signs or earthquakes or visitations of angels to let me know I am not making an error in my life by establishing my home right in the middle of the path of the Lord.

I have had trials, yes, that I have learned from, but nothing can shake my testimony. It is as strong as a mountain. Satan has no power over me. I am not saying I am perfect, I will make mistakes, but nothing that will keep me from achieving my goal of receiving exaltation with my Father in Heaven. I will live with my family for the eternities.

I love the people here in Ecuador. My heart is just so open for them. We had an assignment from my mission president to read a chapter in Preach my Gospel about the Book of Mormon. I have been praying every night; almost all of my missions, to just reassure my testimony. I never received a strong answer or a small answer. But I just know. I just feel 2000000000% sure that it is true. It has strengthened my testimony. I love this gospel and know it is true.

I know that my Father in Heaven lives because I know Him. He knows me by name and has spoken to my heart. I will never forget my experiences here in the mission. The little ones or the big ones.

This week I was a little sick so I asked for a blessing. Elder Harrison (husband in the senior couple) gave me the blessing and I was anointed by a member here in the branch, our ward mission leader. It was his first blessings. The words that Elder Harrison spoke just hit the heart. He knew what I needed to hear. Afterwards, he asked each one of us how we felt. I felt the power of God working through both of these men. I have a firm testimony that the power of God is here on the earth. We have it through the worthy men who use it. Never hide it — use it for the good and don’t be ashamed.

I love you all and I pray for you every night.
Do good!

Chau
Hermana Glanzer

Hola,

To answer your question, yes I did feel the earthquake. It was pretty strong here. Not really strong, but you could feel it pretty good. It was exciting, Hermana Velasquez was a little afraid, but I was strong for her.   That day was a little strange. It rained a lot in the morning and then the earthquake happened. Then we left to go out and work.

Okay, I am going to back up to the beginning of the week. This week, after making a few decisions, we were left with out money from Friday until today. We have money in the bank account for us, but we don’t take out the money if we already spent for the week. So we only have 30 cents and our “food storage” is getting low.

We have a carton of milk, ketchup and mayonnaise, powder sugar, and maple syrup, 4 pieces of bread, and a little bit of black beans. We study after eating no breakfast because we have our mamita that gives us lunch. We head out to the house of the hermnna that is going to give us lunch, it is raining pretty good. We get there and they have a metal room and the rain is just too loud. She never answers the door. We head back to the house to call her. She answers and says that she forgot and is not in the house. The first time she has failed to be there to give us lunch.

Yeah okay, we have a little bit to eat. We eat the bread, beans, and milk. We are left with almost nothing to leave us for the next two days. We eat a big lunch the next day with the older couple missionaries here. Nothing like a good American cooked meal (they are from California). So we are set for the day because she baked cookies and gave us some. We were praying throughout the day that we wouldn’t have too much hunger at the end of the day and on Sunday because we have no food for those days. We were also thinking of people we could visit that always give us a little something to eat.

We use a lot of bus riding here in this part and after a while it really adds up and our money is used on that. We had to make a few purchases so the weekly money burnt up. By about 7 pm, I am hungry. We have no money and we have a cita with a less active. She is really good friends with a member here, Hno Omar who is always trying to find ways to help us. It is really nice of him. He is a little strange, but he is a good person.

So we are heading to the church to meet up with them when all of a sudden — ALL of the lights in Loja go out. ALL of them. It is pitch black. The only lights are from the cars that pass by. It is a little scary so we pick up the pace. We get to the church and meet them there. I am hungry, cold, and tired and they tell us they want to head to her house. So we get going. Hno Omar asks us if he can treat us to salchipapas (French fries with hot dogs). I feel bad but we are hungry so we laugh a little and say sure. They were really good.

We get to her house and there are still no lights. Hno Omar heads out to go buy some candles. He returns and hands us a grocery bag. It has a loaf of bread, yogurt and some cookies. He says it is for us. I wanted to cry. He said he just felt like he wanted to buy something for us. The lights come back after 2 hours and all is well. Then on Sunday, our ward mission leader gave us a gift also of a loaf of bread. We had sufficient food. The Lord was hearing our prayers. When they gave us the food, my and my companion and I just looked at each other.

We were walking around our sector, going to our appointments, which none of them were set appointments. We contacted, I swear, everybody and their mom, but nobody wants to listen. Sometimes it is really funny the way they react. It is fun to contact.

We were walking down the street and a little girl was crying. We asked her what was wrong. She had lost $5. Her sweat pants were filthy and her shirt, which was really half a shirt, but dirty also. She was crying and we helped her look for her money. We asked her where she lives so we can go with her to tell her mom. She says she doesn’t want to because her mom will hit her.

We start toward her house, but she just doesn’t want to go. Her mom comes out and she just stands there. Her mom comes over and the girl tells her what happens. The mom´s being just changed. You could tell that if we weren’t there she would have just exploded. Her eyes pierced the girl and she starts to look all over for the $5. She can’t find it, but we stay with the girl. I don’t want them to leave. She then takes the girl and asks what is she going to say to her dad. I don’t want them to leave. They enter their house and shut the door. I don’t know what happened and don’t want to know. Over $5! Something that can be replaced. For some families, $5 is a lot, but their child is much more. It is sad, but what more could I have done. I had nothing, so I can’t do anything.

Sunday was great. Hna Kela and Hno Eduardo came to church!!! The first time. Finally!! She was so excited to come. She wants to be baptized and wants the blessings in her life, but Eduardo isn’t willing to do what it takes. But they are taking the first step to receiving the blessings. The youth bore their testimonies of the temple and Kela was just absorbing it. She wants to enter the temple and she wants to enter with Eduardo. They have a long trek ahead of them, but no one every said it would be easy.

There is a holiday here  — or I don’t really know what to call it. The Catholic Church here is going to have a month of chaos. Every year, on 20 of Agosto, La Churona of the Virgin Mary, comes here. It is a huge statue, beautiful is the word on the street, that lives in a town about 1 hour and half away in Cisne.

Every year, the people from Cuenca, a city about 4 hours away, walk here to Loja. They stop at Cisne to collect the statue and bring it here to Loja because it belongs here or something, I don’t know. When all these people come here, there are parties, fireworks, everything. But they say the missionary work is nothing. There is no one in the street, all are in the church to see the Virgin. They are starting to sell anything you can think of of the Virgin. I am excited to be here to see this event, the work will be low. I will let you know how it goes.

I am still learning so much. I am loving this work more and more everyday. I find a love in my body for someone I just met. I am setting new goals in my life and have new desires. I love you all and I am so glad that you are all strong in the Church and have your testimonies. I like what you said mom, that isn’t it just great that we just know the Church is true. I don’t need to ask anyone, I just know and feel it is true. I don’t have doubts and I never will. The Lord has called me, one of his faithful servants, to bring this joy and happiness to his other children who have not yet found it. I am so privileged to have this calling. I will never forget it.

I love you all to pieces and pray for you every night.

Don’t forget that I love you.

I love you more that you love me. times infinity!  

Chau!!!
Hna Glanzer

Hi,

This week started out great.  We had a lesson with Hermana Kela and I will never forget it. I will never forget the feelings I felt. They haven’t come to Church yet.  Eduardo is a member but not active and Kela wants to be baptized. We know that he is married to another woman and needs to get divorced so they can get married.

But wow, it is the hardest thing to do here, to get divorced. It is free to get married and so easy. But to divorce costs a ton of money and no one ever wants to do it. But Kela wants to get married and baptized.

We were visiting them the other day and we shared with them the importance to keep the sabbath day holy. My companion was talking very hard at them and macheting pretty bad. But something in me told me not to do the same. She finished her spiel and my mouth just opened and talked. I don’t remember what I said, but they listened very intently. The words just came out and I felt at peace. I was an instrument in the Lord’s hands. He was able to reach out to His children through me. I was worthy enough to have the privilege to be that person. I will never forget how my mind just flowed.  Eduardo usually interrupts every 6 or 7 minutes to say something, but he just listened.

Afterwards we asked them if they would come to Church with us. Eduardo kept trying to say that they are going to go out and do things. We explained that they have 6 days to do that. They promised to come to church. They said yes.

Sunday rolls around, I am so excited. We leave to go to their house to pick them up. We enter and knock on the door. The neighbor comes out and says they left to go to the market. My heart just dropped. I wanted to be mad at first but I let that feeling pass by. I just felt so sad. All of the desires and hopes you have just go out the window. In these moments you are so glad that they aren’t nearby because you would say certain things to them. My heart hurts for Kela. She wants these things, but she will do whatever Eduardo does.

She told us the other day that when she started listening to us again that she has seen so many blessings in her life. They don’t have a lot of money and they needed a place to rent that is calm and the landlord is flexible. They found just the right place, their house right now. The house is calm and quiet, the neighbor invites them over to eat every Sunday, gives them a little more time to pay the rent. It is sad to see her wanting these things so much, but her companion isn’t willing to think of her wants also. He is depriving her of the blessings.

Then the next day, we had service. So we go to the place, do our thing and return to bath ourselves. I was done but my shoes and socks were in the other room. Hna Velásquez finishes and does her things. A little while later, I hear, “Hna, I had an accidente.” I am thinking her clothes fell on the ground or something. It is about 4:30 pm.

She comes and tells me the door to the bedroom got closed and the keys are inside. We look around and there is NO WAY to get into that room. The windows all have bars on them. We go down and talk to Cecilia, our landlady, and she gives us some keys to try. The thing is, we have all the keys to the door. She calls her husband and he comes home from work and we all try things. Knives, bobby pins, everything.

They call the guy that put in the lock and he doesn’t get there for about another hour. He tries and nothing. The door is shut good. The good thing is, the lock does its job. He has to break the handle off to open the door. By the time all this gets done, it is 8:30 pm. So we didn’t even get out to work. It was a funny day. Hermana had all her stuff, but I didn’t have shoes or socks. But we studied and used our time wisely.

Since the first Sunday, I have had a different name. The first Sunday they introduced me as Hermana Gladys. So every time we met up with a member, I had to tell them my name is Glanzer. But the name has stuck as a joke. I am Hna Gladys here.

I love it here in Loja; I don’t think I could get tired of this place. We just had changes today and it is the saddest day of my mission. We were a very close zone. We did a lot of things together. We all got along together very well. Hna Montenegro was here and a couple of elders I was pretty close to. They all left, the 2 elders and Hna Montenegro. It is the first time I cried here in my mission (not counting the MTC). You just feel empty and sad. You were with them for 6 weeks and then one night, chau. But I know why I am here and I will not let it get in the way of my work. I am here to help the Lord’s children.

My Spanish. Well, Spanish has taken over my life. I think and dream in Spanish. Hna LeCates told me in my 2nd change when I asked her if I would ever understand Spanish, told me that one day I will just understand. We were watching a movie the other day and it was just so clear. We watched this movie in the beginning of my mission and I understood nothing, but now, it is a whole different movie. I watched the videos that you sent of the fam. It was so weird to hear everybody talking in English. My mind has to switch.

Sometimes the members here like to talk in English with me. Whoa, is it the hardest thing to do. They talk to me in English, but I tell them I have to talk in Spanish. Sometimes I think about how I am going to do it in the States again. I think that I will be speaking in Spanish for the rest of my life and I sometimes think how I will communicate with you guys and then I realize that I will be able to speak in English with you. It is a strange feeling. I just understand.

We ate a food the other day called guatita. It is the stomach of the cow. I ate it once with Hna Montenegro and she had to eat it for me. This time, Hna Velasquez had to eat it for me. I can’t do it. It is one food that I cannot eat. My throat doesn’t allow it to pass. It is a flavor of barf. Fish I can handle but this guatita, no. It was so hard. I ate a little and nothing more. We switched plates and then afterwards the lady that cooked it said I don’t like guatita very much. I didn’t lie. I said no, not really, we don’t eat it in my house and will never eat it in my house.

The teacher here for Sunday School is the best teacher I have ever had. He makes it so interesting and I love listening to him when he teaches. He doesn’t read from he book and tells the story with animation. This Sunday we talked about temples. We talked about being reverent in the temple. It reminded me of when we would go to the temple as youth, you guys would not let us listen to music or watch movies. I now appreciate that. It helps prepare me to enter. We can’t only just think about being worthy to enter, but preparing ourselves and our minds to enter. If you were listening to the music of the world before, how can you have your mind in the spiritual things to invite the Spirit? I really liked the lesson.

I love the work and wouldn’t trade this time for anything else.
I love you all more than you know it. I miss you, but I love being here. I will see you in due time.

Be examples for everyone around you!!

CHAU
HERMANA GLANZER

PS  -  I miss you Monti. So take my strong hand!

Hey,

To answer your question, the indigenous people are pretty much the same, but the men have long hair, which I actually really like. If I were one of them I would have it too. But they have their clothing. I will try to get a picture of them. They speak Quichua and I will someday learn it. But it is hard.

This week has been a long week.

We have an investigator, Kela, who lives with her companion, Eduardo. He is married to another woman and she doesn’t want to get divorced, she doesn’t want to sign the papers. But he isn’t trying as hard as he can to do it either. Kela really wants to be baptized. We ask him if he loves her and he says “too much.” She then turns around and says, “Then why don’t you marry me?” Touché. They are great people but they don’t have very much money and it cost about $300 dollars here to get divorced, for the very least, but nothing to get married. It gets frustrating. It all depends on who is your lawyer and how much he will charge.

The other day, Eduardo told us to come over on Tuesday but we came over a little earlier. So he started to pray and said these words, “And tell the hermanas to come when I say to come.” and a few other things. It was so funny I had to try really hard to hold in the laugh. He is a jokester like that. He jokes, but it is true what he says.

The work just keeps going on, through the hard times and the good times. You have to be open to changes and to trials. Maria Jose had a date to be baptized this coming week. She was telling us she didn’t feel ready, but wouldn’t say why. So… finally we found out that she had been drinking and she feels really bad. We aren’t mad at her, we could never be. We want to help her overcome her trials, because she wants to. That is the good thing.

There are a ton of really good young single adults here that help Maria Jose a lot. They befriend her and invite her to all the activities and when she isn’t in church, they call her. It’s a good support system for her — a good group of friends to have.

I love you all and never forget it. I can’t wait to see you again, but I am not counting the days.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
CHAU
ME!

Hola!

Okay family there is so much to talk about.

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to know my new mission president, Presidente Montalti. He is a wonderful man. Different than his picture — but the same.     I think Andy had a better first impression of his new mission president than I did. He was very… “Here are the rules, are you doing this?” “What are you not doing”” bam boom bing. Rushed, not very filled with feeling.

But hey, I am giving the man a break. It was our first interview and he has to follow the rules too. But then afterward we had a question and answer kind of thing and it was amazing.

I asked Father for forgiveness for judging this man. He is great and will be a wonderful president here for us missionaries. He is very spiritual and very strong. I already love him.

Other than that, the week has been filled with little things, like hitting a kid in the face with my backpack on the bus and I gave a talk in church about missionary work and it rocked the house. Well, I thought it did.

I got a little choked up when I talked about you guys — my family. I had to take a few seconds to find the scripture to catch my voice back.

There is a lady, Carmen Delia, a “sweet” old lady. Yeah? No! She is harsh and only thinks of herself. We got started a little late for church, and she even was the last person to walk in. I was giving my talk and I looked at her. She taps her watch the hardest I have ever seen anybody do and then looks at it and looks at me. I was surprised and lost my train of thought. Then thought, well I am going to take up more time, Carmen.

So she does it about two more times. I finish and take my seat, which happens to be right next to her. She taps it 11 more times for the last talks and does that little breathing thing that signifies that she is tired. Then we sign the last hymn. She doesn’t have a book and isn’t singing. We are singing a song that not very many people know. She stands up and turns to face the people, we are in the first row, and says, not very loud but loud enough, these people need to sing. It was so funny, so I sing even louder. She makes me laugh.

I had the privilege to assist in bringing a child of God closer to Him. On Saturday, Virginia was baptized. Her mom doesn’t know, but all went well. She came, we had her service and the Spirit was strong. Then on Sunday she came to church and received the Spirit. It was just amazing. She sat down and hugged us both.

When she walked into the bathroom after being baptized, she was crying and gave us the hugest hug. She was so happy. I almost couldn’t hold in the tears, but I did it. She is very special and I am glad that she was able to make this covenant with her Father. She will be a wonderful example for her son and her mother. I hope all is well in her house. Her mom hates Mormons.

I have learned so much here in these past few weeks. I have changed so much in person. Maybe the people can’t notice because I am still the same old Dana, but I have changed. My love for Christ and Father has grown so much. I loved them a ton before, but I found more room in my body.

I love them so much that I can’t disobey; I have to obey all of the commandments that I receive from them. My love is so big that there is no power or room in my body to disobey. I have chosen in my life to not ever be mad again. I can do it. I have been doing it for while now and I love the new feelings I have, I love that I can recognize the Spirit more. I mean, I was never a person to be mad, but at times I felt resentment. But not now.
Something happened in the past few days. I filled out a baptismal form with an error and everything went wrong. It was the first one I have ever done. Everybody was telling me I did it wrong and I need to read all these books and it wasn’t with love at all. I was wishing “hey would just tell me without saying ‘whoever did this did it all wrong.’”

When I told them that I did it. I felt bad and I let my guard down and Satan took his chance. I was mad and didn’t want to talk to any of them. I know I need to do it right and I need to learn, but I felt the way they told me was wrong.

Later that day, I realized that I made the mistake and I corrected. I made the mistake to let Satan win my heart in that day. I kicked him out and apologized to the right person and corrected my error. It was small and made into a big deal, but it was nothing. I learned and it will never pass again.

For so long, Satan had no power over me, and in one second he got control. It was an ugly feeling and I didn’t like it at all. This is the moment when my will to disobey just sky-rocketed.

I love my Savior and my Redeemer. My Father is with me always when I permit him to be with me.

Sunday was great. We had our lesson in Relief Soceity about progressing. First we have to have the desire to progress, then comes the progressing. I liked this and applied it to my life. To my mission — I made new goals.

I am a different person, a better person. I am learning so much, growing so much. I love it!

I love you all and yes, I got your package of the DVD and the cards. I loved it so much. I love getting mail…..
I don’t think I could love you guys anymore than I love you right now. But I always find more room.

I love you more than you love me.
Love is like a red red rose.

¡¡¡LES AMO!!!!

Hermana Glanzer

Hola!

This week has been a little different. We taught Maria Jose and her mom, Isabel on Tuesday. They came to church last week so we went to their home and taught them the Plan of Salvation. Whoa! This woman, Isabel! We taught that we were spirits before and that God had a plan and Adam and Eve ate of the fruit and could then feel pain. She then tells us that she doesn’t share the belief. Yeah, that’s okay.  She then goes on to say that she basically wants Satan’s plan. She wants everybody to be with God as spirits in the Garden of Eden where there is no pain or sadness. We then led on to say — with a lot of love — that look, hermana, we aren’t spirits anymore, we have bodies. This is God’s plan. We aren’t in the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve ate the fruit. She didn’t believe it. I don’t get it. She was telling us the story of Adam but doesn’t believe that they should have left the garden. She wasn’t making any sense and was telling us that “our plan” was illogical. Yea, that is fine, we won’t pressure her into believing the truth.  It is okay. But her daughter, Maria Jose said that she believes and it is more logical than anything else she has heard. She is so great and so receptive.

We have another investigator, Virginia. She has been investigating for a while and finally came to church on Sunday. She can be baptized on her baptism date, this Saturday. Her mother is very un-supporting. We called her the other day and we have to whisper because her mom would beat her if she knew. But you could hear her in the back, “who are you talking to, who is it?” A little scary. I don’t want it to be that way, but she really wants to be baptized but doesn’t want her mom to know.

I am learning to have more love. I am not the biggest touchy-feely person, as you all know, except with you guys. But here the people are very touchy-feely. Especially my companions — especially my companion right now. There is almost never a moment when she isn’t holding my hand or my arm or something. I am learning patience and just holding her hand. She also cries a lot. But with time, it is okay. I just go with the flow and I have more love for them and everyone. I love this mission.

The hardest thing to adjust to in the mission would probably have to be the punctuality. Yeah it is part of their culture, but I do think they need to learn to be on time. Some places are great and some people, but the majority of them are late. It drives me a little nuts, but I am trying to not let the small things get in the way.

I have noticed that little things tick me off so I made the goal to just let them pass and be happy. It helps a lot. I don’t like being mad or upset, it is just a waste of time. Some people find it hard to believe that someone can live their life without being mad, but it is possible. Just choose to be.

Everyone I know is benefiting from my mission. I am benefiting a whole lot and I know all the people I am teaching are benefitting more. I have the gospel in my life, I have the blessings. I am bringing the blessings into the homes of these families. I am bringing them to the knowledge of Christ and His true church. They are benefiting more because they didn’t know how to gain salvation before, but now they can have this gift.

I hope to continue to use the rest of my mission wisely. I will not waste my time and I will not waste the Lord’s time. I will not deny these people here of the blessings they can know.

I LOVE YOU ALL WITH ALL MY HEART, GUTS, INSIDES, ARMS and LEGS

CHAU!
Hermana Glanzer

Hola,

So this day has been crazy. The zone decided we were going to go visit a near by city (one and a half hours away) because the elders in this place were complaining because they couldn’t do anything with us on p-days. So we went and visited the waterfalls there.

It was amazing! So beautiful. But everything beautiful costs something. The trek was grueling, but the price every so much more wonderful. We first ate lunch and took about two hours to decide where to eat and order and eat. So we got to the waterfall a little later than we thought. Took pictures, hung out and headed home. The little bit of the malcriado (trouble maker) part is that we didn’t get back to Loja until about 7:30 at night. Mal, but we made it safely and then came to write.

This week has been interesting. Here in Loja it is very different than Guayaquil. The people are nice and all, but a little more closed up. It takes a lot of work to have a lesson, but you always find that person.

A woman that has been investigating for few months wanted to be baptized finally. Her mother is extremely in another religion and pretty much beats her if she knew she was listening to us. This woman, Virginia, is about 44 years old and her mom is running her life.

So we teach her and set the baptism date for this coming Saturday. She was excited and accepted. But, BUT! She didn’t come to church on Sunday, so she showed us that she doesn´t really want to be baptized. She told us she would do whatever she could to complete this baptism, but isn’t willing with all of her heart and might and mind. One day, her mom will understand and it will be easier for her.

Sunday rolls around. We had almost a full day of set lessons. We go to the first but they say come the next week. We contacted a taxi driver and he was very interested. He gave us the direction to his house, but we can’t find it. So we call and his wife answers and says he really wants to listen but is busy. SO we will go back the next week.

Then the next was another contact. Her son comes out and says she isn’t there. Well, darling boy, what time will she be back? Oh, the thing is, she is really here, but is busy. Well tell her, darling boy, that we will come back and visit her when she can. Yeah, the next week. So by this time I am bummed a little. We contacted pretty much everybody in the town, but yet nobody.

During church, a member introduced a woman to us who came to church and we set up an appointment to visit her the same day. So this is our last hope. We go to the house of this woman with the members. Her mom is there also. We teach them lesson one and it was amazing. The mom was saying that she has been searching and searching for the truth but hasn’t found it. Then the member shared his testimony and said that we have the solution but she has to do three things. Then asked her what she was willing to do to find out. It was great. I learned so much from this man. She said whatever she needed to do she would do it. Then afterwards, we put a baptism date and they both accepted. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong there.

This woman has been preparing for this moment for a while. I am praying for them every night that they will continue seeking these feelings they had this night. They are two wonderful people that heavenly father prepared. They sought out the gospel and are prepared to accept it. They heard the gospel through a member who the mom works with. They even attended church with the member. We ended this day happy. We needed that week to end happy. The whole week has been hard, but the very last lesson threw out all that other stuff out the window. It doesn’t matter how many people reject you or how many lessons fall. It matters how you are using your time. If you are using it correctly, it will always end the way it should.

I love this work and I am learning so much everyday. I am learning of the person I want to become. I have opened my eyes so much and see the world of being a member in a way different perspective. I wish every member was willing to serve a full time mission. But those who do, truly receive a grand reward. I would never trade this mission for anything.

We also taught the son of a less active member. We asked if he would be baptized. He took the whole things as a joke. It just irritates me when the people can’t just open their hearts and minds for a little while. Yes, I know they all have their agency, but why can’t they all use it to do good?

It made me think about my life. I am so privileged to have the family that I do. I love you all and your strong testimonies. Your love for the gospel and Christ helps me so much. If you, mom and dad, hadn’t been strong in the church, I probably wouldn’t have been either. Then I probably wouldn’t have served a mission. And maybe Leonardo, Nestor, Laura, Javier, Teresa, Cecilia, and Gabriela wouldn’t have had the chance to hear the gospel. Maybe they would have, but I wouldn’t have had the wonderful opportunity to share it with them and strengthen my testimony so much.

Thank you for the love you have for me, thank you for the wonderful examples you are for me. I really do miss you guys, especially as my mission is coming to end (I still have time to work)  :-)  but I am here for the right reasons, I know I am. The love I have for these people here is tremendous. So big that it hurts when they don’t want to hear the message we have. But I am here to seek out the children of God who are ready to change. One day the others will know it is true.

I pray for each and every one of my family members who are not strong in the church or have not yet accepted this church as the only true church on the face of the earth. One day they will want to know more. I just hope my hard work and example will help them.

I LOVE YOU ALL WITH ALL MY HEART, MIGHT, MIND, AND STRENGTH!

Choose the right when a choice is placed before you, then a blessing follows, AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU EVER MORE.

Don’t deny the blessings Father is ready to pour out upon you. Please…

I love you.

Chau
Hermana Glanzer

Hey everyone!!!

Did I tell you guys that Loja is so beautiful?     I will send some pictures.

I learned a few things this week. It is super cold here. I got asked out on a date for the first time this week here in the mission. The taxi driver asked if I wanted to go dancing with him. I said, “No, I am here to share the word of God, not to go on dates.” That shut him up. So we got out and walked the rest of the way to the destination. Then I learned not to judge people. Well I don’t, but this firmed up my feelings.

On the trip to Loja, I didn’t really feel hungry so I didn’t buy anything. Then a girl sat next to me with super black hair, black nails, black clothes, black makeup and everything. I was thinking creepy and emo. But as we were driving we started talking and she kept offering her food to me so finally after the 100th time I accepted. But she was very nice and fun to talk with. She didn’t want the missionaries to visit, but in her own due time.

We have an investigator from Otabalo, Hno Segundo. He is great, likes to joke around. He has a shop of little things like bracelets and necklaces and things here from Ecuador. He sells to us a little cheaper.  He speaks Spanish but understands more in Quichua. I am trying to learn a little bit from one of my leaders de zone so I can explain a few things so he can understand.

Quichua is hard, it is a native language here in Ecuador that the people in the mountains speak. Here, in this city they speak with this accent that I love. The double “rr” they say with a “sh”. I am going to pick up this accent. I love it. The men and some women speak it here and it sounds like they are from Russia.

I am also the ward pianist again. I love it!!!!

I also learned that in Garcia Moreno, my sector I just left, I was the first American missionary in a couple of years. They were all getting married with the members.  :-)  Presidente trusted me. :-)  Now here in Loja, I am the first American (girl) to be here in like 5 years. It is great because the members are so excited and a few are willing to help a little more.

There is the secretary to the branch president. He came up to us a million times and told us he is at our disposa - that he will teach our class, help with the investies and the converts. It is great. He never talked with the Hnas before. I will use my nationality for the good, don’t worry parents. No but really, I am so glad to be here. The people are a little more closed up, but there are those that are ready. I just need to find them.

I feel very blessed to be in the city at this time, for the family I have and the love you have for me. I can feel it everyday. I can’t wait to be with you guys again, play pinochle , but I love this time here and don’t want it to end just yet.

Les amo bastante y nunca alejése de la iglesie y las bendiciones que Dios está listo para darles. Nos vemos!!
Chau
Your favy middle daughter!

Hola, ¿cómo está? Muy bien aquí.

Okay I have some news. Changes were this Monday. Hna Aguilar had 3 changes in Garcia Moreno, and Hermana Rivas and I had 2. I had my mind set on staying in Garcia Moreno — sure I wanted to leave or at least not be comps with Hermana Rivas. I printed out the map and was trying to hard to learn the sector. Hna Rivas was saying that 100% she was leaving. She hates the sector and the people (not our investies), and didn’t want to stay at all.

So the call comes. I answer the phone and Elder Jackson says Hermana Aguilar and I have changes. I was so happy in my mind, but I had to act calm and a little sad on the outside. I said good-bye and then shared the news that Aguilar and I had changes. Hermana Rivas looked at me and asked if I heard right. I said “Yes, I can hear just fine, and he told me in English.” But I said it nicely. She even called them back to see if I heard right or they were wrong. She then rambled on in a loud voice that she hates this place — “odiar” is a strong word and she was throwing it around like a snowball in the middle of a middle school play ground. Also, she was crying.

So I leave her to her stuff and start packing. This is exactly what I wanted to happen, not that I wanted revenge or anything, but she needs to learn a few lessons, that it isn’t her will. Of course it isn’t mine either, but I have been truly blessed and every change my prayers have been answered. And another thing, Hna Montenegro is here in Loja also!!!! We get to hang out yet again! It is great.

But this isn’t the great news! After 10 hours on a bus, I arrived in my new city. LOJA!!! It is so beautiful!! It is in the middle of the Andes Mountains. It is so amazing, you have no idea. It is a city of the indigenous people here. There are about 5 or 6 Americans here, and they are all missionaries. But their language is so beautiful. Well, it is Spanish, but they sing. I want to leave this area and my mission speaking like they do here. It was great. This place is just so beautiful. I will send pictures next week.

We are going to go to a castle. But when we visit — parents — we are going to visit here. The trip is a little long, but wow, it is an amazing trip. It is in the mountains so it is cold. It rains about every day, but it is a light rain that almost feels like snow. I have to wear warm clothes, which I have almost none of (mom, another request. Can I take out a little bit of money to buy a few warm clothes?).

I can’t say how much I love it here. My sector is on the side of a mountain so I will be learning how to climb hills again.

My companion is Hna Velasquez from Guatemala. She is so nice and cute. She a little girl and is so fun. She is so loving also. She has less time than me but just one change less. It will be fun to have this time here with her.

I have a little bit of bad news. I lost the jump drive and a CD of all my pictures from my time in Garcia Moreno. I have no idea where or when or how, so don’t ask…. I really can’t remember anything at all. I just know I had it in the cyber the last week and I think I I might have left it there. It sucks, but I got over because it is just a thing. I try not to think about it. Don’t be mad, please.

Mom, those pictures are mine. You can have the copies.  :-)  Who had their eyeball on them first? “Dana” is the correct answer. But you can have them while I am here in the mission.

Yes, I have the cross for her, but I haven’t sent it yet. Sorry. I will try to get on the ball. Loja is just too beautiful sometimes.

I have a few questions, well one. Where does it say the name of the brother of Jared? Is it in the scriptures? My comps didn’t believe that I knew what it was and wanted proof. I know what it is and I know that it is that. But they need proof.

What I mean by the members not caring much about the mission rules is they told us to eat lunch in the house when there was just the man, or to ride in the back of an open back truck, or stay out a little longer than we can. They don’t understand that it is rules — laws for us. If I want to have the Spirit with me, I need to obey all the time. They have no power to tell me that it is okay to do those things. There are rules for a reason. It was just really hard.

Last Sunday we were in Gospel Principles class and the teacher was talking about the dispensations. He said that this is the last dispensation. This is the last optometry that the people have to hear the gospel and do the things in this life that will bring them to God. This is the last chance, there is no more. Like we read in Alma, you can’t arrive at the awful crisis and say you want more time. That won’t happen. We have to use this time wisely, choose the right, and do the right.

It makes me think of the people that know the gospel, have made the covenants with Father, and are choosing to reject His power and His love. They aren’t participating actively in the church. It hurts my heart to think that these people know what they are missing out on but don’t want to change. They know, they can’t deny it. But what else can I do but speak with boldness and tell them to come back to church right now. They have to choose. Choose the path to salvation or the road to destruction. I do what I can.

I love this work and pray for you all every night. Choose Christ.

Les amo demasiado, y tampoco yo estoy contando los días antes estoy con usted otra vez. Este día va a llegar, no se precupe. Pero, sigan adelante y hagan lo bueno. Escogen a Cristo, por favor. No dudan so poder y so veracidad.
CHAO!!!!

Hermana Glanzer

PS
Did I say Loja was beautiful?