Hola from beautiful Reedley

          WEEK 41 ..... Reedley ,California

Hola from beautiful Reedley!

 Ok so I only have 14 mins because it's summer and the kids are on the computers so we could only reserve time for 30 mins so I am going to have to keep it short this week, and I am really sorry for that.

But on a lighter note we are going to have a baptism tomorrow! It is for a man named Manuel and he has been investigating the church for a while and finally is ready to take that leap of faith. We actually set the baptismal date like 3 days ago because he is leaving for Mexico for a while so we set the date super close and its awesome.

We are so busy all the time and just dead tired constantly. It's awesome, I have never worked so hard and been so blessed and felt so much love in my entire life. We have been seriously working our hardest and getting our area in order and doing all we can with the ward and also with branch. We are doing so much it's amazing that there is even time to breath. This is the best feeling ever! I am so overwhelmed all the time and I know that I have no strength or stamina left but some how I keep going its amazing!

The bishop is so awesome I love him alot, partly because he is amazing and on the ball and party because he reminds me a lot of dad. It's so great to work around strong members who want nothing more then to help us fulfill our calling and purpose. We are so blessed and are truly finding those who are prepared to receive the gospel and are really getting alot of new and amazing investigators. I will send some great pictures home soon but I can't today because like I said I have no time. But it doesn't mean I don't love you, because I do and that's something I have learning alot on my mission is the love that can exist within someone for others. Its amazing to look back and see how much I have grown and to see how far I have come and who I have been able to teach and come in contact with. Life is great, the gospel is true and there is no other life I would wish for.

Love Elder Jason A. Glowa

Another transfer and some pictures !!!

                      WEEK 40 ..... COALINGA , CALIFORNIA

Hey mom and dad and who ever else is reading,

Ok so this week we have seen some trials as we have had some set backs and some of our investigators have needed to be dropped and others have just gone through and are going through some big trials. I find comfort alot in the words of Nephi and Jacob. How they felt pain for their people but they knew what they had to do. Even though they had to use boldness they had to speak the truth. I find myself feeling a lot like that . It pains me to use boldness sometimes but I know that at times that is what the Lord will require.

We have been pushing forward in faith and sacrificing to the the Lord so that we can gain the strength that we need as well as our investigators. I know that this is true because as we have been diligent this week in doing all we can do, we have been able to find people who really want to hear the gospel.

One person we where able to meet on Friday was Franky. We had been running around in the heat all day and had not seen many lessons all day, but we were persist in talking to everyone and doing what we needed to. Even though it was hard and it was very hot outside we pressed forward. We got to 8:40 at night and had only taught 2 lessons ,one of them being to a member after dinner. So we had worked all day manly outside and seeing really nothing for it, Then as we met to 2 ladies and we asked them if they would like to hear a message of Jesus Christ. One said yes but later,then went away and the other said she wasn't interested but her son would. So she brought out her son and his friend. That is where we met Angel and Franky. We taught them about the restoration of the gospel and they want to know how they can know there is a prophet today. It was amazing. Unfortunately Franky who is the more interested out of the two is gone for the next to weeks, but what really got us was he said "well I'm going to have a lot of time on my vacation ,do you think I could have a copy of the Book of Mormon?". So of course we said yes and I know that the Lord has been blessing us so much in our finds, as we have been obedient in keeping his commandments.

Also we met Juan who was basically the same story except on Thursday. We talked with him and he has just goten out of prison and wants God in his life. We have taught him twice so far and he wants to go on a church tour with us on Saturday. This is great and I'm so happy for all the miracles that we have been able to see. And just when all is working great and blessings are on the way we get transfer calls.

Never fails, we always get calls when everything is starting to skyrocket. So Elder Eagar and I are splitting up and I'm headed off to a town called Reedley. To be companions with Elder Christensen. I met him early in my mission when I was in Lindsay and we actually went on an exchange together. So I'm excited to work with someone that I know. I'm sad to leave and especially only after 6 weeks here. But I know that I have seen a lot of blessings and have been able to help some what. A lot of the members want to call president Gonzalez and make him change his mind. But it's not his mind but the Lords, I know that were I'm headed to next is where they need me most in the mission, and I am excited to see great miracles there.

The really sad thing though is that Jessie and her brother Geronimo get baptized next weekend. So I just barely miss their baptism but I know that it doesn't matter if I'm there but that happens is what is important. I"m sad I wont see it but I have been promise pictures  so I'm excited for that.

Thank for the email this week and for all the love and support, if you can't get to writing an email to me one week don't worry about it I understand the stress that comes with life. Just keep on, keeping on. I know that this work is true and that with the Lord all is possible. We must always expect trails because that is how we get stronger. I love you all very much.

Love Elder Jason A. Glowa

P.S.

I sent 4 pictures to make up for the weeks that I haven't so the first is me and Elder Eagar at the temple, the next two are me with the Manning's ferret (figured out I want one when I get home by the way, they are mega cool and when he's on my shoulder it makes me feel cool( And the last on is the coolest investigator ever his name is big mike and we got to be really good friends.

This is Elder Glowa Reporting from Coalinga california.

                    WEEK 39 ..... From COALINGA , CALIFORNIA

Hola Familia

This is Elder Glowa Reporting from Coalinga california.

Alright that's enough formal stuff. So how are you all doing? From the emails I get I guess everything going great and life continues to move forward despite the fact that I'm not there..... just kidding!!!

Ok so this week Elder Eagar and I really wanted to reach the standard for excellence and help out the district get excited for Church tours so we pushed and stretched and were able to do it we got our standard for excellence of 3 member tours and we exceeded the required 2 tours to a non members because and got 3! We have seen many great miracles and I know that it is only because we have stayed diligent and are doing what the Lord needs of us.

So here in Coalinga it's about 100 or so and let me tell you biking in heat is not the most fun I've ever had, but its so worth it, I have really learned as the week has goten progressively hotter to appreciate the small things in life, like a fan. Who ever invented that must have been the smartest person ever! LOL!!

We have had a really solid week and have been seeing alot of progress in not only our investigators but in our less actives also. The people here are so amazing and really want to learn and grow with the gospel.

On Tuesday we were able to to see one of our really progressing less actives sister Crawford. She is super cool and is really growing in the gospel. She is coming to church regularly now and even her kids are excited to come to church. She is really doing all she can to progress in the gospel and is just seeing the Lord bless her life more fully. Also on Tuesday we were able to teach that one person who called us 2 weeks ago for a dvd and explain what the book of Mormon and all that is in it. She is a little more curios then anything else but she is beginning to understand more and more.

Wednesday was district meeting which is always fun and because I've always been the companion of a district leader ,I already know what's going on before it happens. I got a great surprise that day when my trainer pulled up to drop off packages for the meeting. It turns out that he's a zone leader in Visalia  ,so it was really great to see him again. I went on an exchange with Elder Black after the meeting till Thursday and working with him I was able to see an amazing veteran at work, this is his last transfer as a missionary and I was able to find learn really great things from him. We are basically the same person, I hope that I can keep the fire  burning bright until the end of my mission as he did. For a while I have been thinking that I am to happy or act to excited at the simplest things but it's been a really blessing to know that I'm not really changing just getting refined and made better. I'm like the 6 million dollar missionary. (in Canadian dollars ,so it's cooler LOL!)

The past 2 days have been a really big push for our church tours and we have been able to get them and help Jessie Soto prepare for her baptismal date on the 4th of July. We have had non stop fun and sweat as we have been working hard and i know that it is such a blessing to be able to do this work. I'm so glad I decided to go on a mission. What a blessing it is in my life and all of the amazing people and companions and missionaries I have been able to meet. I LOVE IT .

This is such a great work and even though I'm in the US of A I know this is where I belong. I know that this is my mission and that even though going to another country would have been amazing I know this is were I'm need the most. I have taken so much joy in reading and re-reading my patristical blessing, I love it. I am able to learn and grow so much by reading it. This gospel, makes me so happy, I can't help it but always have a smile on and its because I can feel the fire burning bright! It will always burn bright because that is what is needed and that is just the way it is. Don't let the fire go out, keep feeding it and all will be well. All righty then, I'll talk to you all next week. Thanks for everything!

Love Elder Jason Glowa

P.s.

Umm if you could get me a Portugal cap when they win FIFA that would be awesome! And any cool nik-naks you think ill like mom, your good with knowing that.

P.P.S

I put my head together with some of the elders in my zone and final figured out what I am and why I'm so big and hairy. I am the one and only rare Canadian Missionary Bear. Pretty cool, eh. :P

Mom and Dad get chastised by Elder Glowa.This is the letter were Jason Chastised Jay and I for asking him to many questions and asking him why he's always rushed in is letters. It's really funny because at first he's really mad and then by the end of the letter in true Jason style ,it's all O.K. My little bear can't stay mad for more than 30 mins at a time , I love that boy !!!!

         WEEK 38 .... From COALINGA , CALIFORINA

Como estas mis Padres

Alright so I got your list of Demands dad and let me tell you the only thing that was missing was, " We have your family deliver all this to 123 fake street at 5:00 p.m. or they're going to get it!"

I mean come on first off the reason I rush or sound like I'm rushed is because my mission president has asked that we write him our weekly report via the internet now so that takes up time, that and reading your emails. I"m not taking the time to write to anyone else. You don't need to chastise me I get that enough as a missionary for the world around me. I Know I'm only support to write and care about you guys and Ben and I do ,I  just don't have time for everything. I understand you want to know how and what I'm doing and I'll be better at that, I'm sorry for not being better at that. So I'll be more detailed in my writing but I'm not going into every hour of everyday because I just don't have time for all of that.

The picture thing well I found out the reason that you only got about a third of my pictures is because the discs didn't finish so I only sent the first pictures that I had taken. I'm sending more soon I just have to get to the post office next week to send it that you'll have my pictures. I haven't taken alot of pictures only about 520 or so. It's because I just don't have time. I'm called to do one thing, to baptize, and to get the job done for my brothers and sisters I am all ways on the move and at night now with all the work I'm lucky if I can even look at my journal let alone write in it.

Ok now that that's out of the way, sorry about all that, just alot on my plate right now. And dad I know you know better then anyone the stress and things I'm going through because you've been here. The true fact is that being a missionary is the hardest thing in the world, but I wouldn't want to be anything else. I'm constantly at my wits end and fighting an uphill battle but it's for my brothers and sisters so I am so happy and glad to press on. I know that I'm grow though and I'm so glad that diligence is coming more and more but nature.

It's tuff with the heat getting hotter and begin on bikes but it is what it is. This week was really amazing, we were able to teach the Ramírez family , and are getting them to come to a baptism this  weekend, he is totally on board but holds back because his wife is not 100%  ready, so unfortunately we may end up pushing off the date till later in July. Not everything goes according to plan all the time. We have been going out on a lot more team ups and are really able to rally the members together now. It's really great, Brother Manning is one of my favourite members he is awesome, it's that family that recently got sealed and he is the Bomb, always willing to help and is just an all around great person. I'm sorry I can't keep writing about specific members they are all amazing and are helping us out alot. Like Brother Elliot always is up for a team up and is really missionary minded and just a great person to be around. All the members here are amazing and ready and I just can't write about all of them.

Umm oh we had zone conference on Thursday and well needless to say it was great and inspiring we got trained on the power and importance of prayer. And I got to see some of the other missionaries I've served with and are great friends with, like Elder Kaczmar and Elder Wood. They are amazing and we were able to have alot of fun seeing each other and just seeing how we have grown. We were able to get in some great church tours this week, one with a recent converts sister and the other one was a great miracle. During planing on Friday we got a call asking for one of the church movies and so we met the person who had called us for the movie and she had goten the number for a commercial and wanted to see the movie, so we invited her on a tour and she agreed. She did not commit to baptism but still wants to learn more. My favourite miracle from last week happened yesterday though, we were setting up an appointment with one of our investigators who just came back from youth conference and said after we set the appointment. "Oh yea by the way I want to get baptized." So we set a date for the 4th of July! It's amazing to see the power that comes for youth activities and other members of the church. Yea so in a nut shell that was my fantabulous week.

To answer your question mom , the pictures are coming so don't worry, there on there way at the latest by next week. Oh dad for your friend I would say to get the missionaries to teach her in our home, call her ask her how things are going and then when you see where she is at with her learning and understanding of the gospel invite her to learn more from the missionaries. I know that it maybe hard but its the best thing you can do for her. I only have 3 minutes so I'm going to wrap up and say thank you for the emails this week and don't worry about being busy believe me I understand how that feels. Thanks for everything!

Love Elder Jason Glowa

P.S.

Congrats To you Merr for Graduating Seminary

 and congrats Ty on the Mission to Japan!

                   WEEK 36  ( 9 months !!!!)  from COALINGA , CALIFORNIA

Hola Everyone,

 

So this week we were able to help out the ward with baptisms in the Temple, and it was awesome. It was a great time but I wish we could have been out working. The ward I'm in now doesn't have that many people or priesthood. It's about the size of a larger branch. Anyway most of the ward members have been here on and off because summer vacation just started up so everyone's going on vacation and what not.

Man, being a missionary is great you are so detached from the world it's amazing. This is true freedom. I finally realized that this is true joy and freedom. I don't have to care about anything other then the eternal welfare of my investigators! Its amazing and I am so glad for this great experience, I am growing so much and what is even greater is that I'm able to see the progression of people to eternal life.I have seen the greatest miracles that Heavenly Father can give, which is that change of heart. As we listen to the spirit and do all we can to progress He changes our heart for us and makes it better. He does this because it will make us happy. I'm so glad for the opportunity to see this change of heart in people.

This week we were able to commit two of our Heavenly Father's children to baptism. It is an older couple that we are working with, the Ramirez family. They are so amazing and are some of the sweetest and most kinda people I have ever met. It is such a great blessing to know them and have them in my life. My companion Elder Eagar is really great, he has been on his mission for about 20 months so he knows how to be quietly dignified and has that great experience that keeps making me better. I need to be better, I know that I'm a good missionary but I still have so much to learn .I wish that I could just stop time and learn how to be a perfect missionary then keep going and do the very best I can.

I know that the Lord puts us where we can do the most good so even though I'm learning I know that I'll learn the most here and be the best I can for the people and my companion. Everything is going great and I can't wait to see the great miracles that will happen this week. Alright, that's all for this week, hope that I can hear from you next week.

 

Love Elder Jason Glowa

 

P.s.

(For DAD)

HAPPY FATHERS DAY! I'm saying is now because next email you get will be after it so ill write it again then but till then. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

          WEEK 35 ..... First week in COALINGA 

Hola From my new area COALINGA!

 

Ok so this area is really cool, its an older ward so there's not to many middle age people, just kids and parents and 5 younger couples. It's really awsome the members are so nice. It's another small town, it kinda reminds me a little of Vulcan, Alberta. It's out in farm country. It's awsome to get here you just go past the middle of nowhere and then keep going and you find the sweet little town of Coalinga. We also cover 3 outlining towns called Avenel, Huron, and Kellington city. We don't really have to much time to get to the out to thoughs towns to much because we have alot of work here in Coalinga.

We have a bunch of investigators here and its really amazing. There is one family, the Ramirez family, they are coming to church and we are going to commit them to baptism tonight for the 26th of June! I'm really excited because this area is amazing. I can't wait to see what blessings unfold from Heavenly Father this week.

My new companion is of course a district leader that's the 5th companion in a row. It's funny because Elder Larsen, my old companion was released as district leader to become a trainer so of course I had to get moved. My new companion's name is Elder Eagar. He is a really good missionary, he is really humble and has alot of love for the area, people and for the work. We get along very well and all is going great, this is going to be a great transfer I can feel it.

So fun fact about Coalinga is that it's the hottest place in the mission. So hooray, its going to be like biking into an oven pretty soon. Good thing though because I'll just sweat out all of the fat and as long as I eat well I'll shed some major pounds.

This last Saturday I was able to go to the Temple and better yet we went with a recently reactivated family and got to see them get sealed for time and all eternity.

It was one of the greatest things I have ever seen and I am so grateful for the chance that I have to be able to do that someday, as we live the commandments and do all the things we need to, that is when we can enjoy true and everlasting happiness.

So if that wasn't cool enough it turns out that Madera 3rd ward had there temple trip that day! So I got to see the first ward I served in at the Temple! It was awesome and even better one of my recent converts was there! It was great to see the Gospel bless the lives of the people I knew and worked with, and they even remembered me :D so it was great they all said they missed me a ton and that they wanted me to come back to Madera.

That would be way cool and I know that the Lord will send me back one day. But right now I found out my MTC companion, Elder Kirk is now serving in Madera! Its awesome, man I'm so glad that I am here on a mission, there is nothing better that I could be doing right now. There are so many blessings that I have seen and I know that I will never be able to deny the truthfulness of this church. I know I have said it before but I declare with Job " I know that my Redeemer liveth". I'm so grateful for the great opportunity I have to serve, and I can't wait for the miracles this week.

Thank you for all that you do and for all the prayers and love. That's going to do it for me this week, till next time you stay classy Montreal.

 

Love Elder Jason Glowa

 

                    WEEK 34 .... He's going to COALINGA

Hola Everybody!

 

Ok Mom and dad you really have to save my email or something because it's a major bummer every time I come to the computer and there is no email from you. Ok  I'm sure Vava is nagging like crazy so tell her that Elder Glowa says hi and he loves her and that he is safe almost.........some of the time. Haven't goten stabbed yet but I'm planning on coming home with some sort of stab scar or bullet hole so be prepared to see me with something new or missing something. Now that your all freaked out right now know that, that statement is just a joke. LOL!

Alright  this was the last week of the transfer and Elder Larsen and I really gave it all we got to finish it off right so we did all we could and saw a bunch of miracles! First at the beginning of every month we council with Heavenly Father about what our goals will be for the month coming and then we work towards that. With the work and faith of the missionaries and members combined we were able to have all of our goals reached or surpassed. This is the first time that it has happened to me on my mission and I am so happy right now. We were able to set 3 baptism dates last week projected to be baptized in the month of June.  And last week we had a BAPTISM!!!!!!! Isaac got baptized and it was one of the greatest experiences of my mission. To see that change of heart happen to someone as they learn and grow and come unto Christ. Hoary for the Spirit, it is the really worker, we just do the best we can and sit there while the spirit takes our message to the hearts of the investigators. 

The dream team (Me and Elder Larsen) were able to see all these miracles because of the great love and mercy from our Heavenly Father. So we got transfer calls this Saturday that just passed and well you guessed it, there breaking up the dream team. I"m headed out of Lindsay and going to a place called Coalinga. Elder Larsen is staying here in Lindsay and is going to be training a brand new fresh from the MTC missionary. Would you guess it, my next companion is another District leader. I have been a companion to a district leader every transfer of my mission, even in the MTC. I think president wants to keep an eye on me, which is why he's doing this :P. Just messing, I know that it is all inspired of the Lord for me to become better and there is someone in Coalinga for me to go find and teach because the great thing about the Lord , He always puts us were we will do the most good and learn the most and with a companion who we can learn and teach the most.

Everything is for our benefit and so I'm excited to see what adventures lay in wait for me. It's really sad leaving an area because you really come to love the people like your own family. Its really cool to see this change in me. I see the people as my brothers and sisters, I mean I know it's true and everything but its different now, I honestly care about there salvation and I'm sad when we get turned down to teach. I know that everything is a process and one day they may accept the gospel, but still. I honestly feel for these people and I have been here for 3 months so its hard to say good bye. But just like the song says we must press forward with steadfast faith in Christ, the Scripture that corresponds to that part is 2 Nephi 31:20. Look it up its one of my favourites.

Al-rightly well that's it for this week, next week I will probably write you on Monday because in Coalinga I think the library is open on Mondays. So be ready to write me Sunday night next week.

 

I love you and thank you for everything.

Love Elder Jason Glowa

 

P.s.

You stay classy Montreal.