Doug and Marcia Glauser, Senior Mission 2021-2023

  SUNDAY We had planned to go to church in person today, but Elder and Sister VandeWal are in quarantine because she tested Positive to COVID on Friday. They were going to drive us since we don't have a car yet. We (or President Watson) may decide we don't even need a car. But for today we watched Sacrament meeting on Zoom again.  We spent some time in the afternoon and evening talking with kids/grandkids.Matt and Mary are 7 hours ahead of us so if we call early afternoon it is evening for them. Texas is 7 hours behind, we need to figure out when everyone has church so we can call at a good time. Utah is 8 eight behind and California is 9 hours behind us so later evening for us works for them. MONDAY A busy training day at the office. Elder Jensen was coaching me on how to enter the payments and reconcile everything at the same time helping Elder Glauser figure out if every companionship in the transfers coming Wednesday would have a driver who had passed off th...

SUNDAY Since we are in mandatory quarantine, we watched Sacrament and Priesthood meetings via Zoom. (No RS link as yet). The Sacrament meeting was in Dutch so Elder Glauser translated. Because of technology we were able to 'attend' the ordination of Odin and Benjamin to the Aaronic Priesthood and Lance to the office of Priest. Evan was also ordained a Priest, but we weren't able to Zoom it. We're so happy these fine grandsons are continuing on the Covenant Path. We love them so much (along with all the others 😁)! It is our great joy to be part of our kids and grandkids lives. MONDAY-TUESDAY We had a Zoom meeting on Monday with the entire mission and Tuesday with the Office staff. We are beginning to feel connected to the others in our mission but look forward to when we can begin in person. Training for the Vehicle Coordinator and Finance will start tomorrow, Mission Health Advisor in a couple days. Our bishop in Tempe sent this out to our ward. Brother Frost was quite...

  SUNDAY Our last Sunday in the Tempe Ward. We have met so many good people in the short time we have been here. It has been good to serve alongside them, to be in their homes and to see their testimonies in action. Elder Glauser taught the Gospel Essentials class on Sunday school again today. It was a great discussion about the importance of the scriptures, how we can find answers to our questions in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. Daily reading from the scriptures can bring guidance and direction to us. But also the words of the living prophets and apostles are scripture and studying their words, especially from the latest General Conference can give direction and peace.  Our mentor for Mission Finance, Elder Lloyd, met on Zoom with us and gave us an overview of what to expect the next few days. There are many people working hard to make sure we are ready and able to get to Holland later this week and be ready to start our new a...

 SUNDAY We both spoke at the Christmas program at church today. Doug and I each had three minutes to speak about The Gift of Hope and The Gift of Love. The music was beautiful and all the speakers added to the spirit of the meeting. After church we met with Shari Rogers for a member lesson. She has an interesting story. She has been married three times, twice to her first husband who has since passed away. She is now single and lives with her sister. We have really enjoyed getting to know members of our ward and to give them a lesson with an invitation and promise. Next we met with John and Emily Tanner and their daughter, Eloise for lunch and a lesson. More great people with very interesting stories. Emily was raised in the church but at age 19 asked to have her name removed because she "just wasn't living it". She went several years without religion, but one day when she had her daughter at church (she wanted them to have the Primary experience), the bishop asked her to...