Date sent AUGUST 16th 2010

WEEK 44 ...... REEDLEY ,CALIFORNIA

Hola from sunny Reedley california!

This week has been amazing and has gone by so fast its not even funny. At least for me it feels like last monday was yesturday. Well theres a week i wont get back, im glad it was a great one..... as always! We had our zone conference this week and were able to hear from our mission president and recieve the guidance and direction that we need. Also i was able to go on my exchange with our district leader Elder Wood. He and I get along really well, we are pretty much the same person. Its really weird how you meet people like that.

So to start from the begining this past week on Tuesday we had an amazing lesson with one of our new investigators Ethan, he is awsome. He is 17 and really loves sports so it was a perfect opertunity to bring in the football lesson. (Now for thoughs of you just tuneing into the Elder Glowa mission saga the football lesson is a lesson describing the restoration of the gospel to football.) He understood it completely and he really wants to know for himself that there is a prophet of God on the earth today. That night as if the day couldn't get better we contacted a Refferal we received from Salt lake and it was a family! Elder Chrsitensen and I have been praying to be able to find a family to share the gospel with, so its an amazing miracle. The daughter and mother listen to us and they were very interested we have an appointment with them tonight and we are so excited!

On Wendesday it was me and Elder Wood on our exchange for the day. The day pasted by as a normal missionary day until we got to that night when we went up to teach our investigator in the Sequoia area. As we talked with her we reviewed the restoration and were about to read Moroni 10 when she stopped us and said she had already read that. As we asked her how she felt when she did, she discribed that she felt the tingaling feeling of the spirit and she told us she knew she had to be baptized! So we set the date for her to be baptised on the 29th with her 8 year old brother she said she didn't want to take away from his day so she would talk with her father and see. So we prayed hard and hoped even harder and yeasturday as we talked to her at church she came up to us and told us she was going to be baptized in the 29th! She was so happy and excited, she was telling everyone and the whole ward wrapped there arms around her and has made her feel like one of there own.

The week we had Zone conference as I mentioned before and we got some amazing instrution from President about teaching skills and how the missions of the world are changing and getting better so the missions are stepping up so that when the missionaries with perfect teaching skills come out of the MTC in May of 2011 we will all be ready. Im so excited, we have the chance to get better and be better, i have come to truly love correction and very blunt correction at that. It helps me change and become so much more then i could on my own if people didn't care. I honestly think that is that greatest sign of love a missionary can give another is correction so we can all be better and bring more of our brothers and sisters home.

The final amazing experence happened on saturday, on saturday we had a lesson with our 10 year old friend Jazzleen and as we talked we mother said we would have to move the date because her date couldn't get the day off. Honestly my heart just dropped and then Sis. Aguilar finshed her sentance. She said that we had to move the date to the 22 instead of the 28th! So we get to have it a whole week sooner. Everything is going so amazing! We have been seeing Miracles left right and center. I know that our goal for 2 baptisms this month is completely possible and will happen we just have to stay obdeint, not get prideful, trust in the lord and work till we drop. The Lord provides a way all the time just like Nephi declares in 1 Nephi 3:7. I know the Lord will provide a way becuase this is what he needs us to do.

Thank you for all your love and for who you are, you guys are everything to me!

With much love Elder Jason A. Glowa

Date Sent AUGUST 9th 2010

          WEEK 43 ..... REEDLEY, CALIFORNIA

Hola my amigos  y familia!

Ok so this week has been a week of well, Miracles. I know that I keep saying it but it's true. Miracles are happening left right and centre. During the week we were having a hard time finding and teaching people, but we pressed forward and as we were diligent and doing all we needed to the Lord was able to bless us. We have seen so many great things happen this week.

For instance on Saturday we were able to finally teach one of the referrals we received from the bishop. it's a 10 year old that has not been baptized and so we were able to go over and talk with the parents and they said that they weren't sure when we could have the baptism maybe some time in September or something like that. Needless to say I was happy that we got an amazingly solid investigator but sad that we weren't going to be able to do it for August. Oh right I should give some back ground to that. So we have the goal this month to baptize 2 in August because the mission has the goal to have 200 this month as a mission! We are all stepping up for this challenge and we had to amazing people with this potential, the 10 year old and another investigator Lupita who will be baptized on the 21st. So we were sad but we keep praying for miracles and so it comes to Sunday night and we did a spilt to divide and conquer our area.

Ok so this is Sunday now , we had an amazing miracle in getting 2 new investigators the day before and it brought us over to the D-day of miracles! We were able to teach up in the Sequoias that day and were able to get a new investigator with amazing potential and that will most likely be baptized by the end of the month if not the beginning of September. Then as we came home we spilt and I went to work with Brother Ayers and Elder Christensen went to work with Brother Phillips. He went to our set appointments and I went to see recent converts and less actives. Basically an awesome Spanish filled night. When we got home and compared what we had done my mind was blown as he said that the Aguilars (the 10 years parents) had talked it over and want her to be baptized on the 28th of august!

As we were able to pray in faith to the Lord ,He delivered to us an amazing gift and we are now on track to reach our goal and to help the mission reach it's goal. Were all pulling for 200! We can do it, this month will be an amazing month of miracles and we will take this momentum for August and push forward to the end of the year and reach our gaols for 1200! I know that we can do this. We just have to be humble and diligent and just keep fighting.

I realize alot of the time we are fighting a seemingly un-winnable battle but the Savour gives us words of council by saying. "come unto my all ye that labour and that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." When we give our troubles to him we have the strength to press forward. I know that it's only through him that we can do all things, we will win. There is no question about it. We are going to win the only thing that is up to us is to choose which side we are going to follow.

Obedience is the key. Thanks mom and dad so much for teaching me all of this in my youth, you have always been the greatest examples for good in my mortal life. I am so blessed and grateful for you righteous service to the Lord. I know that we will all live together as a forever family. And I promise on my honour as a servant of the Lord that Vovo's coming with us mom, he's coming all the way home.

Thank you for all you love and prayers!

Love Elder Jason A. Glowa

There are miracles ever where !!

           WEEK 42 ...... Reedley , California

Hola my beautiful family!

So I heard the amazing news! Ben is now endowed! That's so awesome, I can't believe that time is passing so fast in a few short months he will be out in the mission field and I will be half way done with my mission :(. I know I've said it before but I really don't like time. It's stealing itself from me, so much to do, so many to teach and I'm running low on time, snap this is crazy. I can't believe all that has happened and all the amazing experiences that I have had. This mission is such an amazing thing, there is no way I will ever fall away, I have and do see the gale of darkness and the people are in and I know that I am much better to help if I stay in the light. So this week I have seen so many blessings and I want to share them with you.

On Tuesday we had the baptism of Manual, and boy was it amazing , we had a pretty good turn out, the ward has really been pushing and doing amazing with missionary work. Even though there is a language barrier that doesn't matter, they are truly trying to get passed that and come together. The baptism needless to say happened and was a great success. I love baptisms we had Manuel's fellowship brother Mendoza baptize him and I know that that's the way it should be. It would be so easy for me or Elder Christensen to do it but there exists such a tangible bond when someone baptizes another that it is so much better for a member to do it because missionaries move and members will always be there.

I have done alot of growing up since I left little old Montreal. I can feel it, I'm not the same anymore and nor do I want to be. I have a drive, a purpose and calling and I have a work ethic now. There are just so many things that happen and I feel like I'm going through a rapid growth. I'm not the same person I was, even yesterday, each day i get (or at least try to get) better. Tomorrow who knows. I like to think of this as a spirit steroid if done right the mission will change the missionary forever and he will come home the man that Heavenly Father has intended him to be. That's why we serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength. Because as we give it all to the Lord he takes us and perfects us in him.

I know that I'm no one really special, I mean sure I'm unique and have my own life experiences, but all success comes from our Father in Heaven and anyone can gain it when we do His will. When we sacrifice our will and give it to Him the blessings of heaven come down like there're no tomorrow. This area and my mission is living proof of that. We are teaching alot of new people and they are amazing as we taught a girl named Lupita this past Saturday she felt the spirit and asked us when she could be baptized! It was truly amazing, so many blessings and I can't believe it.

The last amazing miracle that happened this week actually took place yesterday. We had found no new investigators all week and that above all was what we were striving for so that we can keep up our teaching pool and keep up the amazing work and miracles. Our goals was for 3 and as we went to our appointments Sunday night we came to Ivan's house and we asked if anyone else wanted to listen in and lo and behold 2 of his friends were really interested in what we had to say! We were able to get 2 of the 3 we wanted and it is such an amazing miracle.

 I know that it really doesn't sound like the heavens were open or anything but it is still an amazing miracle. I have learned that God shows us miracles all the time and we don;t realize it. Most of us wait for a divine sign or light bright miracle but we have no need to look further then our own personal conversion.

I have to end things here because I'm out of time but I want to say thank you for your love and everything you do for me and for the Lord

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Love Elder Jason A. Glowa

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!