Last day at the MTC.....Anziano Glowa leaves for Italy today.

The next 24 hours for Anizano Glowa.
A 45 minute drive from Provo to Salt lake City.
Then on a plane to Denver .
Then on another plane to Germany and finally on a last plane Milan ,Italy !

Safe fights Ben , we love you .....

Anizano Glowa Leaves for Italy next Tuesday , Nov. 30th !!!!!

HEY!!!!

So , I'll start this letter with some very exciting news!!! I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS!!!!!!! I leave on Tuesday November 30th. 

I was so excited to get my flight plans it's so real and I can't wait to get out of here it's been sooooo long but it's finally come time to go to Italy!!! :) I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to talk to whoever I feel inspired to talk to ,on the plane ride there. I don't care if I'm shy or whatever I'm going to lose myself in the work and rid myself of pride and of thinking about myself. The same goes for when I get to Italy, even if I can't have my comp right away I'm just going to talk to people. I can say quit a bit and I understand a lot too so we'll see how that goes. I'll only be blessed with the gift of tongs if i need it, like if I'm not talking to people why would God bless me with that? So I need to show my Heavenly Father that He needs to bless me :)

 

So I didn't send back the coat and it's alright I guess I'll keep it till I get another one but yeah it's warm and stuff it's just that it goes down to mid calf so it's just weird I guess but oh well :)

 

Last Tuesday : we had a devotional with someone from the 70 it was really good. He talked about becoming a Disciple of Christ and how we need to honour that and forget who we were because that's not who we are now and we're not that person for the next 2 years. It was a really eye opener.

 

Wednesday : nothing big, gym got cancelled because 700 new missionaries came because this week is Thanksgiving. New missionaries aren't coming in today so they needed the gym so that was a bummer but its past and over with all .All is good and fine :)

 

Friday: I went to Temple Square so we got there and we went to do a session and it was cool. As I was walking back to get changed and I saw Jeffery R. Holland at the end of the hall. It was so crazy! So I went up to him to talk to him and the first thing he says which was so casual was " hiya guys" hahaha .It was awesome so we shook hands and I told him where I was going and he told us "God Speed" and whatnot ,but it was such a cool experience, hahaha . You can all be very jealous hahahha. It was amazing how I could just feel the spirit around him it was amazing! After that we just went to the conference centre and that's it .Then we left and came back to the MTC but it was such a cool experience.

 

THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!! I really appreciate it and I love the shirt you found thanks so much, you're all so kind and I love you all so much.

 

FOR VAVA- happy birthday I love you and you're not old you're younger then me :) so don't worry just be happy :) also I'll write you a letter and you'll get it early next week.

 

TRC was yesterday and it was the last one we had to teach the 2nd lesson in Italian and teach the law of tithing it was pretty fun I feel my language skills growing so much it's intense.

 

So that's pretty  much it for me for now . I love you so much stay safe and I'll talk to you next Tuesday on the phone, I won't write an e-mail because I won't have time. I'll try to write you a letter next Monday if I have time. I love you all so much and I'm so excited to hear your voices! :)

 

LOVE YOU ALLL!!

Anziano Glowa

PS

I don't get mail till next Monday because of Thanksgiving .So if people want to dear-elder me they still can I'll just get it all on Monday and make sure your last ones are on Sunday ,because if you write Monday they get there Tuesdays and I'll be gone. ! so yeah if you wanna write me Sunday is the last time that you can address it to the MTC. From now on they can email directly at my email : benjamin.glowa@lsdmail.net 

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to be on a mission and to do the Lord work.  I'm sorry that everything is misspelt and all I'm just trying to write as fast as possible it won't be like this next week when I get 2 hours to e-mail everyone!! :) I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL!

 

WEEK SEVEN AT THE MTC !

Hey Everyone!!!!

            I'll start with my week: so last Tuesday night I heard from another Apostle. :) And it was my favorite one!!! Elder Bednar!!!! :) It was so awesome; he talked about Doctrine and under the Doctrine are principles and under that are applications.  He told us the answer is always in the Doctrine. Missionaries try to fix problems with applications but the answer is always in the Doctrine, for example you may say obedience is a doctrine and a principle is the word of wisdom and the application is no drinking. Applications are important but if the investigator doesn't understand the Doctrine, he won't follow the application.  Anyway, it was such a sweet talk I really love him! He's one of the few Apostles that when I just look at him I feel the spirit.

Wednesday we got new missionaries we got 2 new districts with a total of 15 missionaries: 11 elders and 4 sisters. There are 7 going to Milan and 8 going to Rome from that group, they're pretty cool. It's fun to be the "older" group and to show them around and tell them how they should be acting and all the fun stuff. 

Thursday Anziano Neff and I had to do a devotional for them explaining how to use MDT(study time) and how to plan and have a good comp inventory. I sent a paper of what I really have to do in a letter to Courtney but yeah that went well. The branch presidency was there and they said that in the 2 and a half years they've been here they've never seen it done so well. :) That made me happy.

Friday was service, as always. I had to take out the garbage and I didn't get to scrub showers. :( Instead I got to clean toilets!! :) Oh joy!!!! Haha it wasn't soo bad, it was kind of gross but service is service and it was fun. :)

This weekend nothing really happened. We got new zone leaders for the Portuguese because they left but besides that nothing much. I didn't give a talk and I'm not sure if I will just because I’m zone leader and they give me a lot to do and they choose more people that are quiet to give talks.

Monday was TRC and it was fun. We had to give directions on how to get to church, which was fun and we taught the 2nd lesson in Italian and the spirit was so strong it was amazing. Also, we taught a progressing investigator whom is really our teacher acting as someone he knew on his mission named Giacomo, a 14 year old boy. It’s really fun and I really feel the Spirit when teaching in Italian. It’s weird how much the Spirit is really communicating to the investigator with my broken Italian.

So that’s it for my week now let me get into some other stuff:

So there aren't really any DA's (dinner appointments) in Italy because people eat late and it takes like 3 hours. We often have lunch with members; dinner doesn't really exist in the field for us. Our lunch is from like 1 to 3 because everything is closed and then we come back at 9 or so, plan and eat. So yeah but I'm so excited to just get outta here. I think I was bored with the MTC within the first week I've was here. Hahaha but yeah, I know I'm probably not ready but I just want to go so that I can actually teach to the Italians. I just want to bear testimony sooo bad and there is only 2 more weeks!!!! I can't wait, hahaha, November 30th here I come! :)

Oh, also I think uncle Mike sent the wrong coat. I got the coat that goes down to my knees so I'm sending it back today. Maybe just call him and explain that I want one that goes to my hips. I guess like I tried on at the missionary mall; it was probably just an accident.

Thats exciting to read about the stake being split in 2013! That would be so awesome!! It just means that the missionaries there have to work harder.

I can't believe Ashley is moving to Montreal right when I leave for my mission! You're going to have to give her a hard time about that one from me, hahaha thanks! :)

Oh guess what!!! Because I’m an international missionary and I'm from a far away land called Canada, I get to go to Temple Square on Friday and do a live session and go to the visitors center and all that. :) I think I'm so excited for that just because I'll be outside of the MTC and even though there are only going to be members in Temple Square, I'm still going to bear testimony and place some books of Mormon. :) I love this gospel so much and I just want to do missionary work so bad it's like a bad craving for like chocolate or something hahahaha. This gospel is truly amazing and to think that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to bring it to the people in Italy, I'm truly humbled and honored.

Thanks for these pictures. I really love them. Oh also I forgot to mention, so yeah I’m leaving on November 30^th, do I need my flight itinerary or will they give one to me? I don't have it. I have the photocopy of my passport but not the flight itinerary. Also, my old visa is still cracked so am I going to get another one maybe when I get to Italy? Anyway that’s about it. Are you excited to talk to me on the phone in 2 weeks Tuesday? I'll have to tell you next week what time I'm actually going to call you at :)

Can you thank Nick Gould for me on Facebook or something for sending me a dear elder. I got to hear from him and it was really nice. I miss everyone back home, but I know that I'm here at this specific time for a reason. I don't know why I was called to serve in Italy but I was and I'll be able to teach and baptize all those that the Lord has prepared before hand just for me because he knows that they will only be receptive to the gospel from me and obviously from the spirit.  I honestly love this gospel so much and I'm so grateful for the love that you've given me and in showing me this great church and truth. The church is true. Jesus is the Christ. We are God’s children. He calls prophets and we call can receive personal revelation. I love you so much and it's because of your testimonies that I borrowed as a child that I'm here today. You may say how you're grateful for me to be serving but really I’m grateful for you and it is because of you that I’m serving. I love you so much and I'm so grateful for all that you've done and that you continue to do. You are my life! I can't wait to be with my family for eternity :)

Love Anziano Glowa

WEEK SIX AT THE MTC !

          Hello my dear family and friends,

For my scripture plaque I'm going to use Alma 26:27 and 29 because that's how I  feel as a missionaries from time to time but I must not turn away I must relay on the tender mercies of the Lord :) I really love that Scripture so much.

Secondly I'm so proud of you dad and expanding from your comfortable zone and watching movies with your friends, you're growing up right before my eyes im so proud :) ha-ha

 So last Tuesday night guess who came and spoke? M. Russell Ballard!! Three apostles in a row. His talk was really awesome it was on becoming a master teacher and communicator, I cannot believe how blessed I am to have heard 3 apostles talk and testify it's truly amazing I took notes and I will send them with Courtney's letter today.

For service guess what I got to do :) my favourite thing, as soon as I got there  just asked if they needed any showers scrubbed and I scrubbed the heck out them :) ha-ha

So I have this pretty funny story to tell you. Friday nights we have gym from 8:10 to 9 so I played b-ball till like 8:55 and then figured I'd play some volleyball. Two mins before gym ends and my first play in volleyball that night, I go up to make a block and come down on my ankle and heard a crack!. So I just limped off the court and to the medical care unit. They gave me ice and a thing to but on my ankle and gave me crutches.  The next day I used them but it was so hard to get around anywhere and it was super annoying.The next day I told myself I didn't need them and it was like a miracle my ankle just stopped hurting. It was pretty cool because I actually thought I fractured my ankle, sure glad that didn't happen :). So right now my ankle is fine and there's nothing to worry about :)

Sunday was fast and testimony meeting and I really wanted to bare my testimony but it was awkward because as a zone leader I sit on the stand so I'm not "in line" so it would have been rude of me to just stand up and cut in front of everyone. So that night I went to talk to my German friend Anziano Schwing and I bore my testimony to him in Italian it wasn't perfect but I was able to say much more then I thought :) I truly feel the gift of tongues in my life :) I've learned more Italian in the 6 weeks that I have been here, then I have French in the past 19 years of my life ,crazy eh :P.

So because it was fast Sunday we had a mission conference. We all went to the gym and listen to the MTC president and his counsellors speak. It was really uplifting and just pumping us to do missionary work :) That night we had a fireside and Sister Sheri Dew ,the old 2nd counsellor in the General Relief Society spook. That was cool and she gave really uplifting words.  I really enjoy being here because I can feel the spirit in all that I do.

TRC yesterday was good we had to pretend to buy stuff and then set up an appointment to teach them the 1st lesson and it was all done in Italian obviously it wasn't perfect but the spirit was there and that's what counts, I love barring testimony :)

Thanks for sending my running shoes I haven't goten them yet but thank you also if you want to send me another pair of Steve maddens you can because mine are getting worn out, what do you think because I will be in Italy in 3 weeks I could just buy shoes there :D hahahaha

I met this sister here and she left for Montreal yesterday she's short and has blond hair, I know that doesn't help much, and I don't know her name but you can look out for her if you want :P

I don't now if you know this but I live on the 1st floor and there are 4 floors for each building. There are 2 sets of zone-leaders on each floor, anyway the 2nd floor makes sooooo much noise and I don't know what the zone leaders are doing. So last Sunday morning when we had our meeting I brought it up and they totally lied saying they didn't hear anything anyway we'll see if things change this week or not hahahaha.

I think that's it ,thanks for your letters. Between your letters and packages and Courtney's and Uncle Mike's ,I feel so blessed and spoiled. Thanks again uncle Mike and aunt Meredith you're the best. And thank the Blakemores for writing me if you can get me their address so I can write them next week that would be good.  Sorry if I didn't answer some of your questions I love you and will talk to you next week :)

Love Anziano Glowa

WEEK FIVE AT THE MTC !!!

Hey Everyone!!!

 

There are a few questions dad had that I'm going to answer first okay ha-ha

So the sports I play in gym are "knock out" and sometimes volleyball , thats pretty much it. We get gym 5 times a week and each day I get 50 mins. I don't get it on Tuesday because thats p-day and also Sunday :) . The people that go to my gym time are people in my zone so the Italians and also a bunch of people going Spanish speaking.  Its weird how we don't have our whole branch in the same gym time but whatever ha-ha. Also I did join the choir, they practice 2 times a week, on Sundays during dinner so I skipped that one ,and on Tuesday just before the fireside. I'll go to that one because the speaker of the fireside on Tuesdays are usually General authorities and that way I'll always get a good seat because I'm in the choir :) Haha !

This week we started  progressing an investigator in Italian. It actually wasn't too bad we didn't teach the first lesson we just taught to her needs so we asked a bunch of questions to get to know her. Then she seemed interested in the book of Mormon so we explained about it and gave her 3 Nephi 11 to read and pray about. We meet with her tomorrow, her name is Jlenia . She is actually a teacher here that service in the Catania mission which is the Rome mission now. She's our progressing investigator because the older anziani are in Italy now and she doesn't have anything to do till next Wednesday when new Italians come in.

So the TRC was yesterday it was pretty fun we started with having a fake day so we had to talk about food and get to know her . She is really cool she is actually a native from Rome and has been living here for 9 years.  The lesson went fairly well, I truly believe in the gift of tongs. I thought it was be impossible to teach in Italian but we were able to cover every topic of the 1st lesson and answer questions ,share scriptures and also bare Testimony.  I love teaching and I love teaching in Italian . I'm pretty much starting to be able to formulate sentences faster and faster and I'm able to talk more and more. I think what helps with that is SYL(speak your language) in our district. We set time apart that we only speak our language and right now we have  3 days a week where we speak only Italian so that really helps a lot to practice :). Obviously we're not perfect and I mess up but it's so cool that I know Italian way more then I know French. I even think I've lost almost all my French now because when I want to say something in French it just comes out Italian hahaha.

For service this week I got to scrub showers I LOVE this job so much because there are 4 of us .Three with brooms and one with the hose and it's so fun because we just chill and scrub :)

For Halloween I was a pirate with vampire teeth I'll have to send pictures. My roommate anziano Sanders got some stuff from his girlfriend , so we had eye patches and earrings hahaha. It was alot of fun ,we didn't go trick or treating because we had sooooo much candy :) ha-ha

I listened to the recording you sent me. Thanks so much, its good to hear your voices. I miss you all so much but at the same time I don't because I'm really happy here .I hope that makes sense . I'll be taping a recording soon here , but I won't send it till I record some stuff about Italy when I'm there hahaha.

I want to thank some people who wrote me this week Brigitte Kaufman and Jon Kaufman, Nancy & Chris Gagnon, and Alex Morales I don't have time to write everyone back but I'm so grateful for your letters it gives me such hope and strength I love you all.                                                                                                                               If you want to write me so I can respond, you should write dear-elders on the weekend because I don't get dear-elders on weekends. They all come on Monday and I only get dear-elders once a day so if you write me Monday chances are I'll get it Tuesday which means I've had already written my e-mail to all of you. 

I'm loving the MTC it's just an amazing place and I love feeling the spirit all the time :)

I love you soooooooo much!!!!

 

love anziano Glowa

 

P.S I'm getting Phil's dear-elders and I'm writing him today I just didn't have time last week so no worries .I'm loving all the dear-elders :)  THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH !!!!!