Christmas!!!!

Well this week was great! It was Christmas so I got to talk to my family! They are all doing great and it was so fun to see them all! I can't believe how big all of my niblings (nieces and nephews) are! I finally got to meet my three new nephews! They are all so cute! I am so greatful for my family! They are so awesome and I wouldn't trade them for anything. They have been such a big support to me on my mission and I love knowing that they are all cheering me on and supporting me. Being a missionary is so great, especially during this Christmas season. What better way to celebrate Christ and His birth and life than by sharing with the world my testimony and the things I know about Him. I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that only through Him and because of Him can we receive eternal life and return to live with our Father in Heaven and our families. Only because of Him can we receive forgiveness of our sins and our shortcomings, only because of Him can we progress and change in this life. I know He lives and loves all of us. 

Have a great week! I love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier

P.S. Cool story of the week: So we have this couple that is learning from us that just accepted a baptismal date this week and seems like they are ready to change their lives. Their names are Solofo and Odille. We met him about two weeks ago. His wife had left him earlier that day and taken their one son with her to go live her parents. He had also lost his job just a few weeks earlier. He was devastated. He invited us in and we just talked all about how God loves us and wants us to return to live with Him, and how He wants us to be happy here on Earth. The spirit was there so strong and he invited us back. For the next 2 lessons we taught him by himself and he loved what we were teaching him and was slowly improving and keeping his commitments, but he was still concerned about the situation with his wife and if he was going to be able to pay the rent on his house. When we came back the next time his wife was there and learned with us and he told us he had been blessed to find the money for rent. It was a little miracle God had given him. Now they are learning together and this week we taught them about the Plan of Salvation and they both said they want to be together forever. They loved the plan and said they want to get baptized and go to the temple. We told them it isn't going to be an easy path but they can do it. They still have a ways to come before their baptism (stop smoking and drinking, and get legally married) but they have a desire to do it, and I know that if they will keep working hard they will reach their goal to get baptized! This is God's work and He is leading us to those that are ready to act.

P.P.S. This week we get transfer news... that means we will find out if the dream team gets to stay together or if we get split up. I will let you know next week.


Elder Rasmussen and I decided we needed a spa day so we got some epsom salts and took a 45 minute foot bath while we read through our journals!

christmas eve dinner...

Our district went to a way nice Christmas eve dinner! It was delicious!!!

christmas eve dinner..

This week we had some members "baptize" us. that just meant that they turned all the lights off and rubbed charcoal all over our faces! haha

We usually buy our meat at a place like this... looks nice and clean!!

Yes... this is a selfie of me skyping my family. Love Y'all!

This is our zone's white Elephant exchange that we did on Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas from your favorite missionaries Ever! Hope you are enjoying the Christmas season!

Because we sure are!

Merry Christmas from Madagascar!

Elder Glazier and Elder Rasmussen

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

 I hope that this email finds you all doing well. As you can tell, some of us are a little excited about CHRISTMAS! 

Because CHRISTMAS is this week. But this week was good.

 Elder Rasmussen and I had to do a lot of taking care of missionaries and stuff, but that's okay. We got a missionary up here that started in South Africa but then got sent here to do the rest of his mission. He is from here. His name is Elder Randrianavalona. Our zone is doing great! We have a bunch of new missionaries here that are all doing great! We are all getting ready for CHRISTMAS and of course, skyping home!!! I am soooo excited to get to talk to my family! It's going to be great! But to be honest, not a whole ton happenned this week. Elder Rasmussen and I took some more way bogosy (good looking) pictures. And yes, sent out a Christmas email. it went something like this...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

Sunrise on the beach

:Sunrise on the beach

Beach soccer with the zone

 Gotta love the beach in the morning!!!

                                                                          Cows on the beach!!!

BEST WEEK EVER!!!!!!!!!

So this week as you can tell by the title was the best week ever!!!

 Elder Rasmussen and I spent all last week tracting and trying to figure out who of our investigators was serious and who wasn't. That set us up beautifully for this week. We had at least ten times planned every single day! Now you can guarantee that at least a few won't be there so we put them every 30 minutes. Then, we went to work!!! And that was exactly what we did. We killed it this week! We had more that 15 more lessons that a normal week and tons of families we taught! We have found so many way cool new families this week and we're way hopeful that a lot of them are going to progress!

 

Then, to add to our already way awesome week, the Assistants were down here all week (monday-sunday) with two other really good missionaries doing this thing they called the "swat team." Basically just 4 really good missionaries coming and visiting a city and going on tons of splits all week and helping all of the elders get tons of cool new families and work extra hard! And guess what, it worked. That was exactly what our zone needed. We have really been trying to get a fire under the missionaries up here and get a sense of urgency about the work and that was exactly what this week did. All of the missionaries are so excited about the work now, and we are going to try to keep that and to have our stats be just as good again this week! If we can keep that fire here we are going to be able to reach our goal of having a stake here in Tamatave by the end of 2016!

 

While the "swat team" was here we went and played soccer on the beach two mornings before studies which was way fun and a great bonding activity for the zone. We have an awesome zone up here full of awesome elders and we are really excited to see what miracles are going to happen the next few weeks and months! 

I still can't stand my companion. We fight all the time and I keep telling the president I need an emergency transfer, but for some reason he keeps telling me that we need to learn to get along like we're long time friends. I think he's crazy because I will never be able to understand Elder Rasmussen. We are totally different people... Not! We are still loving working together, and are praying to get to stay together for another transfer! I think if we can keep doing well like we did this week and get the zone doing well president will want to keep us together and we can have another transfer to kill it! 

Another cool experience I had this week was on sunday we walked into church and the branch president comes over to us and says, "hey missionaries... the person giving the first talk isn't here, do you think you could give a little talk?" Uhh... so that's in like 5 minutes?? sure. why not. So Elder Glazier now has about 20 minutes (including taking the sacrament) to decide what to talk about and plan a little talk. I ended up talking about sacrifice and how we are expected to give up absolutely everything to God. He doesn't just want an 80% effort, or 80% of our time and talents... He wants it ALL!!! That's a tough thing. We're human and that means we're selfish and want to do our will, but the only way to return to God is to align your will with His. My talk went well and I wasn't even that scared. I felt like I talked for like 3 minutes and when I sat down Elder Rasmussen told me it was a 10 minute talk! I never would have been able to do that before my mission! I struggled to write a 5 minute talk before.

I know that this is God's work and he is at the head of it. If we will be exactly obedient and give everything up to the Lord He will guide us. Elder Rasmussen and I have a companionship quote that says, "The Lord will guide your footsteps if you are willing to move your feet." That's so true! Move your feet and God will take you where He wants you to go and make you into what he wants you to be! Have a great week everyone!

Love, Elder Glazier

This is the dream team when they get locked out of the house... 

This is Elder Monsen coming to save us and bring us a key!

Andranomadio Week 2

Dia ahoana ny Fianakaviako?!

Hey everyone! This was a great week! Elder Rasmussen and I killed it up here in Tamatave! 

The week started out a little rough because we missed all of our appointments we had set up for last week so we spent some time going around trying to set up new programs with everyone we had missed. That meant most of them couldn't learn right when we got there because we came unexpectedly, but we got a lot of times set up again and our program is starting to look good.

 We have also started to have a regular meeting with the district president (like stake president) to talk about how the missionaries here can work better with the members to help the district progress. We are really pushing hard to turn this district into a stake because then the members don't have to meet with the mission president to go on a mission or to get temple recommends. That would be a huge blessing for the members here! 

We also have the AP's (Assistants to the President) coming up tonight which should be good! We are really trying to get the missionaries excited about the work and excited to turn this into a stake and we're hoping the AP's can help. 

My companion and I are really struggling to get along. We just have absolutely nothing in common. He is like 6'6" tall and I'm short, he has red hair, I have brown, he's from American Fork and I'm from... oh wait, American Fork! So really we have absolutely everything in common! We are loving being companions and working way hard together! It's going to be a great transfer (6 weeks) and hopefully 2(12 weeks)!

 But not too much has happened since last week. Just getting ready for the Christmas season by doing missionary work! I love the fact that I get to give up absolutely everything to God and not think about myself at all or anything I want.

 Being a missionary has blessed my life so much and I have learned what it really means to love a stranger and to love a friend. I know that this is God's work and He is at the head of it. His goal for all of us is to bring us immortality and eternal life. That means that if that is our goal He will help us get there! Trust in God and His commandments. Put him to the test! D&C 82:10 "I the Lord am bound when you do what I say, but when you do not what I say ye have no promise." God WILL bless us if we will follow His commandments. Give it a shot. Pick one thing that you struggle with and change. See if God comes through on His promises. I know he does and you can know too!

 Have a great week!

Love, Elder Glazier

This is me and my old companion Elder Te'e visiting our old bishop!

THis is me and Elder Rasmussen in the cyber because I forgot to take pictures of us...

Andranomadio Week 1

Akory aby O!!!  

This week has brought a lot of vaovao for us here in the southern hemisphere. On wednesdayour entire zone except for  two elders (11 of us) got on a bus and drove all the way to the capitol city Antananarivo or Tana. It was an 8 hour bus ride on the curviest  road on the entire planet!!! Luckily  I  managed not to get car sick. 

Then I had the three weirdest days of my mission. We got to the mission office at about 4 on wednesday and just hung out in the office all night said goodbye to elder Bingham and didn't do much. Then that night we slept at the AP's house with all of the trainers and trainees. 

 The next morning (Thursday) I went with the AP's to take all of the trainees to the office and got roped into translating the  meeting for new missionaries into malagasy for the new malagasy sisters. FUN... NOT!!!!! Translating is so hard! But it is a great opportunity and really helps you know what you need to work on. Then after that I was told to wait in the office for a couple of hours until we had a zone  leader training meeting at like 4.

 So after sitting in the office for 3 or 4 hours the meeting finally started. It was a great meeting, but I felt  really humbled to sit in the room with all of the great missionaries that were there and with President Foote. It was a room full of incredible men. I  hope that I can be as good of a missionary as they are and as good of a man as they are. We talked a lot about the goals for the mission and what we want to accomplish in the next few months and the year ahead. 

Then after the meeting president crammed all 7 of us into his car and we drove up to the Rova which is the kings palace and looked over the whole city at night! It was gorgeous! Then we went to the Foote's house and Sister Foote fed us thanksgiving dinner! It was DELICIOUS!!! She mad us chicken pot pie!!! I was in heaven! I couldn't have asked for a  better thanksgiving! 

Then on Friday I got to go visit the bishop in my last area for a little bit. It was really fun to get to see him. Then Elder Rasmussen came in! His flight got in Friday afternoon and we left on a bus to Toamasina as soon as he got there. We have now had two days of work together and I'm super excited! We are going to work way hard and get this area going great! But overall I had a great week! A lot different than normal with  very little work, but it was great!

 Hope you all had a happy thanksgiving! Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier

The last time I'll see Elder Rigby. He's helped me a lot on my mission. Great guy.

 This is a way cool beatle we found the other day! It was HUGE!!!

Tonga Dia Namana Vaovao!!! New companion!!!

It's been a great week! It was my last week with Elder Bingham so we worked extra hard to try to find some new investigators and do some good work! It has been way fun working with and training Elder Bingham. He is a great missionary. This week we were blessed to find a few way cool new families, but one of the coolest ones was a couple named Coco and Francia. We were walking down the path on thursday and this lady sitting on the side yelled at us and said she wanted us to come visit her and her husband so we made a time to go visit them on Saturday. Normally people like that are never home, but we went on saturday and they were there! So we taught them, and the lesson went way smooth and the spirit was there really strong. We were hot, tired, and hungry, but none of that mattered. It all just goes away and all that matters is the people in front of us. They asked us what they have to do to become members of the church and we challenged them to be baptized. They accepted and then said they wanted to come to church the next day but don't know where the church is so we told them we would come pick them up before church. They agreed again, and then on sunday they were there and ready to go when we got to their house. They seem way cool and I'm way excited to go back to them on Saturday!

We also got transfer news this week!!! I am freaking out about transfers! President called me on Saturday and told me that I was going to be staying up here in Tamatave as zone leader. I was excited because I love it up here! But then he told me the really big news... who my companion is! He said it's some kid from like American Fork, Utah that has red hair. I think his name is like Elder Rasmussen or something like that... Yep, that's right! I'M GETTING ELDER RASMUSSEN!!!!! We are going to be companions and zone leaders up here together!!! I am SO SO SO excited! I was screaming into the phone when president told me! We are going to have so much fun together and work way hard! I should get him on about friday because he has to fly in from Fort Dauphin and then we will take a bus from Tana up here to Tamatave. It's going to be great!

I can't believe it's already time for thanksgiving! Time is going so fast! But because it's thanksgiving this week I want to take a chance to thank everyone that has made a difference in my life. Starting with my amazing parents. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. So thanks mom and dad for having me. haha and even more than that thanks for raising me the way you did and showing me what it means to be a true deciple of Christ. Thanks to all of my older brothers and sister and their spouses and families for the great examples you have all given me. I look up to all of you more than you will ever know and want to be just like you. Thanks to all of my church leaders and others who have taught me so much. Thanks to all of my friends who have helped me make good choices through high school. And thanks to everyone else who has had any kind of influence on me. You all have helped make me the person I am today and I am forever grateful for all you have done and all that you do!

Have a great week everyone! And happy thanksgiving!!!

Love, Elder Glazier

P.S. Sorry there are still no pics... my card got a virus so I'm going to try to get it fixed today hopefully.

Toamasina Week 11

Hey family! It has been yet another great week here in Tamatave/Toamasina.

 This week was good. We had a ton of our investigators not home when we went to teach them, and a lot of people we had tracted into the week before that bailed on us, but it's okay, because that meant that we got to meet some really cool new people! But definitely the highlight of the week for me was on sunday. So on tuesday we tracted into this really really cool guy named Prise and his family. We taught him tuesday and thursday (his wife was busy both times) and he said that he wants to come to our church and that we were sent to him from God. We told him we would come pick him up for church on sunday and he was really excited. So then on sunday we left like a half hour early to go pick him up. I wasn't really expecting him to be there, or to tell us he wasn't coming because that's usually what happens, but when we got to his house he had a white shirt and slacks on and was all ready to go. He handed me his tie and asked me to tie it for him. He looked way good in his church clothes and he stayed for all three hours! He participated in both of the classes and asked lots of questions. At the end of church he said he loved it and will be back next week! He is a way cool guy and we are hoping he will continue to progress and that he will lead his family to the truth as well! 

Today for P-day we went to this way cool beach that is like an hour and a half north of here. It is a really really pretty beach that is super shallow. We played soccer on the harder wet sand for a couple hours and just walked up and down the beach. To end our little trip we all bought lobster! It was so good and way fun! Sorry there are no pictures... I took a bunch, but when I went to upload them my card got a virus and deleted a bunch of my pictures! I'll try to get it fixed and send some next week. Hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier

Our Baptism

 The Book of Mormon is the word of God and no matter what anyone says it is the book that will bring us salvation! We owe a lot to a lot of prophets that gave everything up including their lives so that we can have the Book of Mormon. I think too often we take it for granted and just think that when we have a little time we will read it, but it should be one of top priorities to read a little bit everyday.

 Elder Glazier

Mangarivotro week 10

Hey everyone!

  Well I'll just start by saying it was an amazing week! There was a ton that happened, but the two biggest  things, were first we had zone conference, and second we had a baptism!!! I was so great!!!

I'll start with  zone conference.  The AP's(assistants to the president) came down last saturday like I said last week and they stayed here for the whole weekend. Then on Tuesday we had zone conference with them, and with President Foote! It was so good!  We talked a lot about studies, and the importance of studies and how to have a more effective study. We also talked a lot about finding and teaching those people who are ready to change their lives and ready to live the gospel and become deciples of Christ. It was great! I think it was exactly what the zone needed and it really gave us all a great boost. 

Then, Saturday!!!  Saturday was great! We had one of our way cool investigators get baptized! His name is Delphin. He is so so  so cool and was so ready for the gospel. I know that he is going to be a great addition to the ward. He is about 22 and not married. He had been taught by the missionaries for a little bit before we got here and was coming to church consistently. He hasn't missed once since I've been here. I am pretty sure he wants to go on a mission in a year. But it was just so fun to teach him because he knows everything and is always prepared for the lessons  and always follows through on his commitments. I got the chance to  baptize him and it was a really amazing opportunity. I could just feel his spirit when he came up out of the water and he was just smiling so big. I saw him the next day at church and he came up to me and said, Elder Glazier, I'm trying my best not to sin. I just got baptized. And then,

 on Sunday Elder Bingham got to give him the gift of the Holy Ghost. He was pretty nervous, but he did a great job. I was so proud of him. I feel like he is my little boy and he is growing  up. haha in about  2 weeks it will be transfers and we won't be together anymore and he will be a big boy with nobody to lean on. Sometimes I feel like I feel just a piece of what a parent feels when their child is about to leave the house and become their own person. You just have to hope you taught him everything he will need and let him go. He will probably crash and fall a few times, but he will learn from it and become better. 

Also, on sunday I walked into elders' quorum and the clerk comes up to me and asks, "Hey, missionaries, can you give the lesson?" So yes... I got about  2 minutes to put together a lesson while they did opening exercises. I taught about the Plan of Salvation and the ordinances we must do to receive salvation. It ended up being a pretty good lesson. Fun experiences of the mission. Anyway, Everything is going great! Have a great week everyone!

Love, Elder Glazier

Mangarivotra week 9, Tonga dia Fihoanam-ben'ny Fiangonana!!! Conference!!!

Dia Ahoana lahy!!!

 Yo! Wassup!

This week was great! We were able to teach a lot of great times and way cool familes. But the real thing that stood out to me this week was this weekend. There were two things that really made an impression on me. We finally got to watch conference! and we had the Assistants to the president up here so we got to go on splits with them on saturday. 

I'll start with Conference. My two favorite talks were first, one on saturday about praying to find out what your weaknesses are and then being ready to change based on the answer you get. He talked about how the answers don't always come the way we expect. So I decided to try it and see what God would tell me I needed to change. Sure enough, I got an answer, and it wasn't what I was expecting at all. The overwhelming feeling I had when I prayed was, "You need to get in shape." I was really confused because I had no clue how that was going to help me spiritually. then it clicked. I need to learn greater self control. And then I heard or read this talk, I don't remember if it was conference or just something I read, that said, "self control is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets." So I guess getting in shape is the boost I need to get started on having better self control, so decided I'm going to start eating healthy and really trying hard to get in good shape.

The second one was about ponderizing. It was by Devin G. Durrant. He talked all about we need to continually treasure up the words of Christ and ponder them. He made up a new word called "ponderize." He challenged us to take one scripture a week and put it in a place where we frequently see it and to ponder it constantly throughout the week. At the end of the week if you did it right you will know where the scripture is, and the main doctrine in it. You will then have that scripture as a constant friend when you need help/comfort. I really want to try to start ponderizing one scripture a week and want to challenge all of you to do it too. I know that if we will follow the guidance of the leaders that God has called for us we will see God's hand more fully in our lives. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear stories. 

Overall I loved conference! It was so good! I feel like the brethren are really trying to help us step it up to the next level. Just going through the motions isn't enough anymore. The world is getting worse and worse and that means that we have to get better and better. we HAVE TO stand out as a peculiar people. We can't just try to blend into the croud anymore. Now is the time. What we have previously done is not enough anymore. God is hastening His work and we have to decide if we are going to keep up with Him or get left behind. Decide now. 

Have a great week everyone! Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier 

Mangarivotra week 8

Well this week has been another great week here in the beautiful city of Toamasina. I love it up here.

 It is starting to get really hot. We walk around and are just sweating really bad and your clothes all stick to you. But the worst, is when it's a really hot day and then you walk into a house to teach a lesson and it is twice as hot. A lot of the houses here just have a tin roof so when the sun beats down on the roof it just turns the house into a little oven. You sit there and are trying so hard to stay awake, and so hard not to die of heat and to try to feel the spirit through all of the discomfort and exhaustion. But the cool thing is he always comes.

 No matter how hot it is, or how loud the music next door is playing the spirit always comes into the room so strong when you bear testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, or of the prophet Joseph Smith, or of God's love for us. I know that all of those things are true and that if you are struggling to know for yourself all you have to do is study it, ponder it, and pray to God and ask Him with REAL INTENT if it is true. Real intent means that if, and when you get an answer you are going to change. You are going to act upon it and become a new person and a disciple of Christ. If you don't truly intend to change, an answer from God can not benefit you. But, if you will do those three things you have a promise from God that you WILL receive an answer. Moroni 10:3-5. I know that that's true. And that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to know the truth. Please think about your own testimony and where you stand, and if you still want/need more of a witness (all of us!!!), take some time to follow the guidance Moroni gives. You will get an answer.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Glazier

I made bread the other day... but why make boring bread when you can make it into a turtle and a crocodile!!!!

We went and watched the sunrise on the beach! Only problem is it was cloudy so we didn't see it...

This is Emanuel. He is 21 and has been learning from us for a couple weeks and comes to church every week! He is awesome and will hopefully be getting baptized in December. This is his turtle.

This week was great! We had a great week as far as the work goes and we had quite a few of our investigators start progressing! We are way excited about it! We have a baptism coming up on Nov. 7. I think only one of our investigators will make it, but we have a few with dates for Dec. 5 and I think a few of them will make that date. We have these 3 families we are teaching right now that are way cool!

 There is one (named Guillom and Fara) that they read the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon and really liked it and seem to be loving our teachings.They had us over for lunch yesterday. It was SO GOOD!!! They are pretty rich, so we had like a potatoe salad, green salad, meatballs, then rice with steak, and then they made us carrot cake and we had watermelon. It was incredible!! And they had this french guy there because the wifes aunt married a french guy and every sunday they have all of their family over, so it was like a big family dinner. It was really fun. I was really frustrated though, because I can't speak french anymore!!! I could understand the french guy and when they talked to him, but I had a really hard time answering back. I could speak a little but not much. I ended up speaking malagasy to them and having them translate into french. haha

 And the other 2 families learn together and whenever we come they invite like all of their neighbors and everyone and all of their kids are there, so there is like 15 of us in this little tiny house talking about God and the restored gospel! It's awesome! They love what we're teaching them and seem way interested. We just gave them a Book of Mormon this week so we will se if they have read anything. But we are really hopefully. They are pretty active in their churches, but want more truth, so we are hoping they will recognize that this is the fullness of the gospel. That this is what they are looking for.

We had transfers this week. Nothing changed with me and Elder Bingham. Still the same. But we had 2 missionaries leave and we got 4 new ones that came. I'm really excited about it. They are great missionaries and are going to be a great addition to the zone. One of them is my last companion (my trainee) Elder Monsen. It's been fun to see him again and to have him up here the last couple days. 

Overall everything is going great here! I know that this is God's work and that He is guiding us to those that are ready to hear this message. I know that when we are obedient to the commandments God has given us He blesses us. D&C 82:10. Have a great week everyone! 

Love, Elder Glazier

 Hey everyone!!! 

Well this is going to be a very short email because I just got a call that I need to go meet someone at the church for something. Not sure what, but the mission driver says I need to be there in like 15 minutes so I'll keep it short.

This week has been great! We met a ton of way cool new families that gave us return times so I'll keep you posted on which ones progress. But the work is still going great here! Sometimes I feel like the only thing holding it back is me because I can't get from time to time fast enough. The people here are so ready for this message!

On saturday there was a baptism in our zone so we went to that which was way awesome! Baptisms always help remind me why I'm here and give me a new desire to work even harder! Then after that we got to have interviews with President Foote who came up this weekend. I had a great interview and learned a lot! It gave me some great advice about being a leader and about how to be a full purpose missionary. I hope some day I will be able to be as good of a teacher as he is. He teaches so clearly and so simply! I am hoping to be able to apply some of the things he taught me into my missionary work.  One thing that really stood out to me about our interview though, was every time he talked about Christ or the atonement he seemed to get a little choked up and the spirit would immediately come into the room! I know for a fact that he knows Jesus Christ lives and that He is our Savior. And I know that as well. Jesus is the Christ and He suffered for us and all of the wrong we do. He brought upon Himself all of our sins and shortcomings. I know that because of Him we can someday receive a resurrected immortal body and that if we will repent we will return to live with our Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for Christ and His atoning sacrifice for us. I know He lives and leads His church today. 

Have a great week and don't forget to thank your Heavenly Father for the blessings He has given you. Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier

This is the crew. This is our zone up here in Toamasina.

Elder Bingham and I overlooking the big river at the lemur park.

We were tracting and ran into a butcher burning hair off of a pig in his back yard. 

Mangarivotra week 5

Akory Aby O!!!! 

Hey everyone!!! This week was good! We have been working really hard and really trying to find those people who are ready for this message and who are going to help the church here progress. One of our big goals is to try to get some more stakes here in Madagasikara and here in Tamatave where I am is a big focus. So we are really trying to find men that will be potential Melchizedek Priesthood holders. Last week I talked about Emanuel and his wife who we are teaching. They are still doing great! They came to church this week and are super mazoto (diligent)!

Sadly we found out they don't live where we are teaching them (right next to the church), but that is where their kids live, but they are just always there because they work right by there selling bananas. They really live like 30 minutes away and not in our area. But, they came to church again this week and seem way interested. We were talking to them the other day about how important our message is and they were just like, Yeah, it's way important. Religion isn't a game. It was way cool. So if they keep progressing and coming to church we're going to have to figure out where they should go to church and who should teach them and stuff. But for now we're just going to teach them at their sons' house.

This week for Preparation Day we went to this lemur park close to here. It was way fun! Our whole zone went and we had a ton of fun looking at lemurs and also going on a hike through the small tropical rainforest there. This country is the coolest place ever!!!

I'm sad to say that we did not get to watch conference this weekend. We won't get conference for about another month or 2. But I've heard lots of great things about it, so if you haven't had a chance  to watch it... Please do!!! We are so blessed to have a living prophet here on the earth today who receives inspiration for us the saints. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." We need to pay extra close attention to the words of the prophets and do our best to follow them. They will prepare us to be ready to meet God. I know that Christ's church has been restored on the earth again and that we are led by a true and living prophet of God. I am so grateful for the chance I have to share the message of the restoration with everyone everyday and to bring them the good news. If you are looking for a fun family night, invite the missionaries over and ask them to share with you the message of the restoration. I promise you will learn something, and the spirit will testify to you that it is true. Have a great week everyone!!!

Love, Elder Glazier

P.S. Shoutout to Bree! Happy Birthday Bree!!! Climbing up the latter to old age!!! haha have a great day! Love, 

Elder Glazier

Mangarivotra week 4

Akory ABY!!!! Inonoa vaovao?! Tsy dia misy aty aminay. Hey Y'all! What's new. Not much happening down here in the southern hemisphere. 

This week was great!!! Elder Bingham and I taught so many people and everyone was just so nice and accepting of the message we brought. We found a couple of way cool new families that I'm way excited to go back to and to teach again.

 But probably the biggest success we had this week was on sunday at church we had this couple come that we did not expect to be there. The husbands name is Emanuel and I'm not sure what his wife's name is. They were the very first people we tracted into here in Tamatave. My companions first door he ever knocked as a missionary!! We taught them twice that first week and they seemed pretty interested, but then the last 2 or 3 weeks we have tried to stop by probably like 7 times and they are never home and it just seemed like they were avoiding us so we kind of gave up on them and assumed they weren't interested. Then they show up to church this sunday!!! I was so shocked to see them, but I was so happy! They were the last people I expected to see there! They stayed for all three hours and at the end gave us a time we can come back to their house and visit them!

 You never know how someone is going to react when you share the gospel, but you can't be too quick to count them out. You have to give everyone a chance and be mazoto (diligent). It's too easy to get discouraged when you are sharing the gospel and it seems like someone doesn't want to hear what you have to say, but don't give up. And don't forget that it isn't you, but the Holy Ghost that is the teacher. You are only the middle man that says the words to help invite the spirit into the room. This is eternal life at stake and God will testify of the truth of this message and of His church if we will just give Him the chance. I know that's true. I have had the opportunity to see the gospel work in peoples' lives and to change them and help them know God and feel his love in their lives. Please don't ever take for granted the gospel and the easy access you have to it. There are billions of people in the world searching for joy and for the truth that you and we have. Pray for an opportunity this week to share the gospel with someone, then go out and look for one! I promise God will put someone in your path that you can share a gospel message with. Have a great week everyone! Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier
Tiako Ianareo

Tomasina - Mangarivotra week 3

Well this week is going to be short. Not much happened. We are just working hard to go through our investigators and decide who is serious about learning the gospel and who is not. That is a big problem here. Everyone is willing to let us in to share a message about God, but getting them to actually follow through on comitments is the trick. But overall the area is doing great and we have found tons of new investigators and people that we think are going to progress.

 It is still really hot here, and is only going to get hotter. We are just coming into hot season which usually lasts about November-February. So I'm getting ready to be soaked in my own sweat 24/7.

This week as many of my family and friends already know my grandma passed away. She was an amazing lady and loved by many. I am so greatful for all she has done in my life and for the great example she gave. 

I want to take a minute to bear my testimony about the plan of salvation. I know that we are all truly God's children and that He loves us and wants us to be happy. I know that this life is not the end nor the beginning, but a probationary state. We are not meant to stay as fallen mortal beings, but so much more. If we are willing to obey God's commandments and to do what he asks us we will someday become like Him: immortal beings full of glory and power. No more sin, no more sickness, no more death. That is the ultimate purpose of this life. I know that grandma young has been received into God's arms and that she is now resting from the cares of the world. I know that someday I will be able to meet her again and to give her a huge hug and tell her I love her. I know that no matter what we go through in life and no matter how alone we feel we are never alone. Christ is there every step of the way. We just have to invite him into our lives. Those are beatiful truths and if you don't yet know they are true and challenge you to ponder them and to pray to your Father in Heaven and ask Him. He will answer you. He loves you. I know that's true. Amin'ny anaran'i Jesoa Kristy, Amen.

Love you all!

Love, Elder Glazier

P.S. I would like to give a shout-out to Devan and Kristal. They had a beautiful little baby boy this week. Little Shepard James Glazier. Congrats Devan and Kristal!!! 

Mangarivotra Week 2

Manao Akory jiaby!!!!

How is everyone?!! Everything is going great here in paradise. This week was great! I am  loving the new area! Everyone here is so accepting of us and just wants us to share a message with them! We have had a lot of success getting into people's houses and have been very firm about keeping commitments and the importance of it in learning/living the gospel and we have seen great progression.

 Already in just a week we have had quite a few investigators read the pamphlet and invite us back. We also had one new investigator come to church this week which was way awesome! But the real story of the week is this guy named Armand. He is married but doesn't have any kids yet. They had a baby but it died and they haven't had any more kids yet. We met him while we were tracting and he invited us to come back a couple days later, so yesterday we went back to him and taught him. He said that he went to school to be catholic a pastor, but he couldn't do it because he just wasn't convinced. He couldn't teach people when he wasn't fully in it. He saw all of the different churches and had looked for God, but none of the churches satisfied him so he has finally kind of just given up on going to church and just prays at home. So we taught him about the apostacy and how the reason he isn't satisfied is because the other churches aren't complete. He totally agreed and said that he really wanted to find the full church but didn't know where it was. Then when we taught him about Joseph Smith the spirit was so strong and you could just see his countenance change. At the end he said he thought Joseph Smith was true and that there really is a prophet that is alive and leading the true church today. Then we told him that he could KNOW for himself that it is true if he will pray to his Father in Heaven and ask him with a sincere desire to know the truth. He agreed to pray about our message and to read the pamphlet and then invited us back again next sunday. I'm way excited to teach him and to help him find the truth he has been searching for! It was such a cool experience! 

I know that this is the Lord's work and that this gospel is true. If it wasn't true and we were expected to just convince people it wouldn't be 18 year old boys that the Lord sent to do His work. It is not us that do anything when it comes to the gospel. We are only tools for God to complete His work. If you have some spare time read Alma 26.

 Have a great week everyone!

Love, Elder Glazier

Star Fruit

 So this guy is named M'Zafimbelo. He has been learning from the missionaries for like 2 or 3 months and knows that it is true, but his wife just died a couple months ago so he is moving to the country with his kids. That is great, but the only problem is that the church isn't in that part of the country yet so now he isn't going to be able to learn from the missionaries or go to church or anything. Never take for granted how easy you have it! We have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities