Week 44

---

Good afternoon world!

Its been a remarkable week. We have 27 lessons this week and we have a lot of good things happening soon! 

SO, for starters I had the opportunity of teaching Paul and Ahmbroe. These 2 guys are  amazing! Like I mentioned in a previous email, they are from Nigeria and they are the  most humble people ever! I honestly haven't met more humble men in my life. And on Saturday they got Baptized! :D

Such awesome guys! A Stake president told me that you can't teach people from Africa about God or faith cause they already have so much of it. But we can all learn from them,  and teach them the truths, and we all end up learning as one! I love Nigerians. I feel gypped cause I was sent to Provo where a lot of people either love the Church or hate it and they are hardend. But Its good cause in the end, I really love the people here, and you love the place you are serving. Eventually you say to yourself  "this is where I was meant to serve." I am grateful to be here in the UPM!  

So a lot of you have probably seen the Worldwide leadership meeting. Yes I was there. It Was an awesome experience! I really enjoyed that. Its a missionary's dream come true, telling the members that we as members need to help the missionary's. We were going to be in the front row, but they told us last minute that we need to be with leadership.

But it was a lot of fun. I am excited for the Ipads! Coming in august for us. And by the end of the year, All missons will be able to have Ipads and Iphones. Truly amazing!

The Lord is Hastening the work. That is all I can say.

As for transfer calls! I am staying in Provo and I will be with Elder Kim from Seattle Washington. I am excited! And Elder Della Puca will be in Pleasant Grove With Elder Reed. Funny 'cause Elder Reed had a companion named Elder Dela Cruz And is now Getting Della Puca... Crazy.

Well I love you all , and Mission President told us that The work is Hastening, and is not going to slow down. The thing I think of now when that is said is... Bring it On!

Week 43

---

Hello World! Its great to see you again!

Well so far the news of the week is that we had a baptism!

This Lady has been wanting to be baptized for a year, but had to quit smoking and coffee and had many legal issues. She has gone through a lot for homelessness and her husband leaving her and putting a restraining order on her kids... that's not a fun life. But she is seeing miracles! She has a job! She's now a member of the church and things are going so much better for her its awesome! She says this is the best thing she has ever done. 

Great things are happening! We picked up a couple of new people to teach and its pretty exciting!

I have been seeing a lot of change in myself lately and I am amazed. Spiritually I have been concentrating more on my investigators and I am opening my mouth when the spirit speaks to me. Its different. I love it! I really don't like thinking a lot about myself very much. I have noticed it makes me prideful. Its no fun. "Forget yourself and go to work!" said President Hinckley. What a good saying!

Physically I have dropped 40 lbs... Yeah crazy!! 

Pictures say a thousands words but this is may be jaw dropping! Haha! I can't believe it. Haha but I love it haha Ihope to have a 6 pack by the end of my mission! haha

But I love The Lord. I am grateful for all that he has done for me. I haven't had such a greatness of happiness in a long time! Its wonderful! I love the Lord. I can't believe its been 10 months since I have been out. Its a mix between bitter and sweet. I can't wait to go home in about a year, But I also don't want it to end! Agh! Well I love you all. The Church is true! I can testify to that and thats why I am out here. :)

Week 40

Well Well Well! A lot is definently happening here in the Lord's work. So much is going on! So much hastening of the work! A lot is going on.

I have been very tired lately because of how much work there is. I am having a hard time catching my breath and we are going crazy! So much work! I haven't done so much in a long time!

But it is really a good thing cause now I am getting to the top of my game and working hard!! Yeahya! haha things are going great!

We recently had a baptism for Niko Ventura. He's 11 years old with parents who haven't been to church in a long time. But after the many visits and many things that worked out we managed to get him into the waters of baptism! But there was actually a greater thing that happened. So the Dad finally decided that he wanted to baptize Niko. And he actually didn't have the Aaronic priesthood. But about 30 mins before the baptism the bishop conferreded the Aaronic Priesthood to Niko's dad Renaldo. It was a great baptism. :) 

Seeing a father baptize his son is an amazing thing to see. It was a great Baptism ceremony. I really enjoyed it! It was hard work that was worth it. I can't wait to see the happiness the gospel will bring to this family. 

Well world I love you all and I really can't believe I have been out for 9 months now. It's going too fast for me to be honest. But that's why I was told once that missionary's should stop fooling around and that's why. Cause you have 2 years to make a difference. And these next 2 years are setting you for eternity. So that's why i hear the  term " 2 years to Eternity".

Week 38

Hello world its been a great week this week... Well its had its ups and downs actually.

So lets start with the ups! So this week hasn't been the best on lessons. We haven't been able to meet with a lot of our investigators. And we didn't quite make it to our goals.  But here is something pretty funny to tell you.

So the Spanish Elders had to drain the font from a baptism that they had. However, they messed up on the plug and they could not get it to drain. So they had this brilliant idea about how to drain it so they don't have to swim, they call us instead to ask if we can hold one of the Elders by the leg and... Well  pictures say

a thousands words... 

This is just funny, probably the dumbest thing I have done on my mission. But its a good story to tell. We had a luau that was hosted by the Spanish ward. And people here just come over and invite us over. They were showing off some of the dances from other Poly Islands. It was pretty cool! Reminds me of when we had a luau in Federal Way! Pretty legit! 

Also pretty cool thing also was that I caught a bird...yes with my bare hands!

Yep I am pretty legit!

Well Everyone I am going to make another blog for the bad news on what happen this week. Till next time!

 

(This is the bad news part of Elder Gleed's week)

 

Elder Guerra

 

So on Thursday morning we received a text from the mission office about an Elder amed Elder Guerra. He was sent to the hospital for a brain aneurysm. That is where there is a bleeding in the brain basically. He went to the hospital in the morning and they tried to operate on him. But it was too late.

He was announced brain dead by that afternoon. He was kept alive for a little while till his parents were able to fly from Sweden. 

Today we had the Memorial for him. I personally didn't know him. We did come out into the field at the same time. But I could tell just by looking at him that he was an amazing missionary. Exactly obedient, had that Spirit to him that made him shine. I now wish I could have served around him.

There were a lot of stories that were said today. And from those stories came every single Christlike attribute. He was more Christlike than any other missionary I have met in my life. I really appreciate him and his example to me and all other missionaries in the Utah Provo Mission. He will be remembered always for his service here.

I leave my prayers for him and his family. I know that family's can be together forever. I know that the atonement will bring people comfort. And I pray that the atonement will be used on his family. I love my Savior. And I know that Elder Guerra did too. But I also know that he will continue to do missionary work in the spirit world. I will miss you Elder Guerra. God be with you till we meet again  

 

Week 36

Hello Everybody!

 

This week we have had success! Working with Elder Harpole was fun! I learned so much from that Elder. But it was stressful to be in 2 areas at once! We have driven almost 1100 miles this month! That's more than the ZLs get! So yeah we have been busy!

On the Bright side We had 4 Baptisms this week! It was pretty awesome! But what was not fun was the ward Mission Leaders didn't fill the font for our baptisms so we had to fill up the font like twice! So yeah it was crazy!

But I had a great opportunity to get into the font and help this Mongolian Lady get baptized cause she has a hurt neck. So I got to go in and help.

But Yeah now that we got 4 people to be baptized we now have to find more people... So yeah that's the worst part of missionary work haha.

Luckly we have like 7 referals from people who are either prepared or they were just random people who the LDS people think need the gospel but the referal wont accept it haha. That's Utah for ya!

SO I love you all and this letter is short but I am having a great time here! So much is happening! I can feel it!

--
-Elder Gleed

Week 35

Well Hello World!
 Wow so much has happened since I got here in Provo South!

So for starters, we got another new companion in our district. His name is Elder Harpole! He will be with us for till Saturday cause his companion had to go home on Medical release. So our areas have combined together. And so we cover almost half of Provo. Crazy huh? So Yeah this will be fun!

We had my birthday last Sunday and it was pretty awesome!I got a cake from a less active family we are teaching. haha t

The funny thing was that they bought the cake on Sunday hahaha but it was awesome! I had a great birthday!

So on Saturday we had a baptism for Christina Jones! Her baptism was one to remember. So they left us the responsibility to fill up the font. However we mis-calculated how long it would take to fill up the font... So it was half an hour before the baptism started and the font had been filling for almost 2 hours... and the water wasn't even filled half way... So what do we do? Panic!!! SIKE! Handle it like a boss! haha

We got pitchers, Garbage cans and we started filling the font from the sinks and janitor closet. and we did work! We spent the last 30 mins just chucking water into the font. We found out, midway though, that we ran out of hot water as the font was almost complete. But She had a successful baptism and things turned out good! :) So yeah plus thats honestly a good picture of me (I mean us!! ) :) 

But yeah things turned out good and we have 4 baptism this Saturday!! :D I haven't had that many baptisms  in one day before so haha this will be fun! 

I love you all and I hope all is well. My testimony and teaching have gotten so much stronger! Its amazing how much I have change. Physically and Spiritually. I love life and I love My mission! I can't believe I have been out 8 months today! Its going fast!! I love you all and till next time! 

--
-Elder Gleed

Week 32

Hello hello everybody!!

This week has been a little slow to be honest. haha But it was good.

We put someone on date this week! And we got a couple of less activespeople to commit to come to Sacrament Meeting. 

I don't think I explained that we have recently gotten a new teaching style. We now have to teach with the pamphlets! Every lesson! No more spiritual thoughts! Mission president said that if we do not use this new method we are sinning and we need to repent!... I was like, "um, well I guess I need to get in the zone and do that then!" haha Its from mission head quarters so its basically  saying you have to do this or you will... burn... in... Yeah haha.

SO today I  got my transfer call! And The news is,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I AM LEAVING LINDON! I will be going to Provo South. I don't remember my companions name but that's what's happening. Man I am going to miss Lindon. So much has happened. I really love this area. But I know this is where the Lord needs me.

I will miss a lot of people...the Melines, Pennocks, Anourack, Pierre, Bob, Shane, and countless other! But I am excited to see what is next! 

Just like this picture haha good times.

Well I love you all and I will let you know what happens next in my new adventures in Provo South! Till next time!! :D

--
-Elder Gleed