Hermana Glazier . . . SE VA

It's really really happening. My first time moving to a new area in the mission! I kind of expected it, because I've been in Tomé for 1/3 of my mission. A THIRD. So, uh, hey, who can explain to me where that 6 months went? I sure don't know. All I know is that tomorrow I will be in Cauquenes! Don't know much about Cauquenes. Only that it's hard to spell and it's in one of the farthest zones from here. One thing I do know - the ¨Lord wants me to go there and I will be able to continue progressing at mission-speed. 

I'm sad to be leaving Tomé, but it's probably for the better because I'm starting to be famous here. We always go out jogging in the mornings and every once in a while someone recognizes me. Not sure how, considering how I look first thing in the morning compared to once I shower and put on a skirt. Sometimes it's hard to share my testimony with someone after they say "Hey I see you jogging in the mornings!" Just a little embarrassing for me. 

Not quite as embarrassing as our other prime experience, though. This week in a trio was absolute insanity. I've never seen so many ups and downs in my life. One day we went to leave our dirty clothes with one of the sisters in the ward that washes them. She always has us just throw it over their giant gate and leave it there because she gets home from work really late at night. We did that as usual and went running to an appointment. Afterwards, as we were walking 30 minutes late to lunch, we were talking on the phone with another sister in the ward who informed us that the sister who would supposedly be washing our clothes had recently gone on vacation. We were then faced with the choice: find a way to get our clothes back, or live without them for an undefined period of time. We opted for the first. Our only option besides climbing over the 10 foot wall for all the neighbors to see was pulling our clothes out from under the gate, one piece at a time. We tried to do it as fast as possible but a good 15,697 people passed by in that time. Having to rob your own clothes isn't something they prepare you for in the MTC.

I don't know if anyone will remember my work as a missionary here in Tomé, but I have the feeling I will be remembered. That is also evident by the note one of the hermanas put above the kitchen sink, pleading that others wash their dishes because now Hermana Glazier won't be here to do it. 

This computer doesn't work with my camera so sorry for the lack of pictures. But expect lots next week! Can't wait to tell you about a new companion, new people, new area, new ward (actually I think it's a branch). Love you all and pray that I won't get lost in the travel process. 

Con amor, Hermana Glazier

Adios, Pues, Adios

There's a hymn that says that. I think it only exists in Spanish and it's really good. We sang it this week because Hermana Suarez is already on her way home! She's a great missionary and I was lucky to be her last "hija."

 There's one week left before cambios, so the three of us in our ward will be in a trio. I'm feeling legitimately nervous like I haven't ever felt in the mission. Never been in a trio before, and I literally have no idea where I will be in one week. Everyone says that when you love your companion you get changed sooner. I hope there are exceptions to that rule.

So I was trying to think of things that you would all be interested in hearing about, and only a couple stories came to mind that have happened recently. 

Most of the people here either pretend they're not home or just make up an excuse if they don't want anything to do with the church. I can only remember a couple times when people have actually been hostile. Before coming out here I thought those people would probably make me cry, but they actually just make me laugh because the things they say to us never make any sense. One guy we contacted started immediately saying "No I don't like your church, I don't believe in the Mormons. I don't believe in your Joseph Smith." When we addressed him as "brother," he said "WE AREN'T BROTHERS" (it makes more sense in Spanish). We asked him if he had a religion and he said "Yeah, I believe in the BIBLE. I study the BIBLE. I don't believe in prophets, I only believe in Jesus." I knew in that moment that there would be absolutely no point in explaining that the Bible is literally just writings of prophets or about prophets, and that Jesus himself was also a prophet. So I tried to offer him a pass-along card with a picture of Jesus on it, because he said he at least believed in Him. But to my surprise, he had something else to say about that - "I don't believe in that either!" he said. "In what? It's a picture of Jesus." "I don't believe in that WHITE Jesus! I'm brown, why couldn't he have been brown?!" We then tried to end the conversation but he told us to wait and listen to what he had to say. He wanted to test our knowledge of the Bible and asked us what John 3:16-17 says. My companion recited it perfectly and then basically just said "I know what we're teaching is true CIAO" and we went home. Those few spare minutes before it's time to go home are always the most interesting.

The other thing that came to mind also has to do with prophets. We've been teaching a lady that used to go to an Evangelical church. We were explaining about the Restoration of the Gospel, and what it means to be a prophet. She was really interested in that - revelation, someone called by God, all of that. She asked us if prophets suffered a lot, and we told her that yes, they normally do because the people reject them. She then said that she has suffered a lot and told us about a revelation she had. We realized then that she was so interested in hearing about prophets because she thinks that she also will be a prophet. The next lesson we decided to simply explain that a prophet has to be a man. She was like "wait, it can only be a man?" "Yes, because men can have the Priesthood and women have other responsibilities." "But, like in the scriptures it always says men but means men and women . . ." "It has to be a man" "Wait it really has to be a man, not a woman?" We went in circles like that for a few minutes. We still don't know if she understands or if she just thinks the church is discriminatory. We'll see what we can do there. 

Well, just wanted to say that I love you all and thanks for you prayers, letters, emails, examples, everything. This time is going too fast and I'm still learning so much!

Con amor, 

Hermana Glazier  

Photos:

Going-away party in the church for Hermana Suarez!

Delicious cake.

My approving thumbs up for empolvados - something that I will attempt to cook for you when I come home. They are the best of the best that Chile has to offer. 

Future missionary ward amigos.

Someone can translate what it says on the chalkboard...

Hermana Harris can communicate how we all feel.
My 2 dear companions!

Not to be THAT Missionary, But.

I always said I wouldn't be that missionary that gets lazy with their weekly emails and just says "yeah things are good, we worked this week, yeah, miss y'all see ya". 

I won't do EXACTLY that, but be prepared for a less-exciting email. 

The great moments of the week include:

Playing "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" on an Elder's ukulele that he brought to the zone activity last week. At first I couldn't remember the chords and I was really mad. But after playing around with it for a while I remembered. It's just a sign that I'm focused on the mission, right?

Today we went running to the beach for our exercise time. That's one thing that Utah doesn't have on this place - every day we're looking at an incredible view of the sea. I love love love the view here. 

This is the last week of my trainer, Hermana Suárez. I can't believe that she's already going home! I will now be truly orphaned here in Chile. I won't even have my mission mom to look out for me. That also means that I will be in a trio for a week. (Hermana Suárez extended her mission so she's leaving before the end of the transfer). Keep listening for news on the trio experience...

Thing that I want my family to be grateful for this week: washer and dryer. We don't have one in our house so sisters in the ward wash our clothes. Sometimes we have to wait longer than expected to get our clothes back. I hope the people of Tomé don't notice when I wear the same outfit a couple times in the week...

Tip for people who interact with missionaries on a daily basis: don't talk about marriage. Hermana Rodriguez and I have noticed that all the members here love bringing up the subject of marriage with us. Like "oh do you have someone waiting? at what age do you think you'll get married?" etc. etc. It's like hey, people, let's talk about missionary stuff. I can't be thinking about men right now!

The Lord really answers prayers. And He always prepares the way. The Gospel is true amen. 

Love yaaaallllll, 

Hermana Glazier

The Best . . . 1 Year!

Welcome to 2014 people.

Did you know that I will spend every second of the year 2014 as a full-time missionary in Chile? Pretty cool, no?

I'm ready to have the best year of my life, and we've already started out pretty well! New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were normal work days, with supposedly the same schedule. We had a little mini-celebration from when everyone finished planning until 11:20 (it was like 15 minutes long) so that we could still go to bed on time. It consisted of guacamole I made the day before, a little bit of food our neighbors gave us, and whatever random Christmas food we still had lying around. Then we were so tired we just went to bed.

It was pretty hard to sleep on New Year's eve, though. At midnight everyone goes outside, honks their car horns and does fireworks. That's more or less how we celebrate at home. The thing that's different is everyone starts enormous bonfires all over the place. It was actually kind of scary . . . doesn't seem like a very safe activity for a bunch of drunk young people to be doing. The good news is that our house didn't get burned down. 

New Year's day we did service in the morning because everyone was sleeping. The New Year holiday was less productive than Christmas Eve, which was kind of a surprise for me. But we had a good time just working like normal. I feel weird when we do too many fun things because it's kind of hard to get back into the missionary mindset. Wow, weird, I'm starting to talk like a missionary. Before you know it I'll be back at home saying "When I was in the mission . . . " (we constantly joke about that here. Someone only has to say "when I was ____" and we start laughing). 

Today we had a great zone activity. We walked to a tunnel here in Tomé. The last time we walked to a tunnel it was really really far away and I got really sunburned and it was terrible. But this time was better. Plus we went to eat after at a great Churrasco place in Tomé. 

I hope this less-than-exciting weekly letter has been all that you hoped and dreamed. Hope you're all starting 2014 with as many great and reachable goals as I am!

Love, 

Hermana Glazier

Photos:

                                                                                      New Year's Eve "fiesta"

                                                                     With Ana and her stellar Christmas tree

                                                                 Remains of a bonfire in the middle of the street

                                                Last lunch with Hermana Suárez and the De La Concha Marko family!

                                                                                           Chillin in a tunnel