Doug and Marcia Glauser, Senior Mission 2021-2023

  SUNDAY Thanks to the miracle of technology, we were able to watch Joseph participate in the Primary Program in the Coppell 1st Ward in Texas. It is so nice to see the young children expressing their experiences and growing testimonies.                                     MONDAY Elder Nathan De Jong (the Office Service Missionary) has a birthday on Wednesday, but since he doesn't come to the office on that day, we had a little celebration for him today. He is a great young man and we really enjoy getting to know him.  (front) Rhyan Green, Landon Thomas, Nathan De Jong, Nichole Cullumber (middle) Leif Andersen, Izaak Bevell, Norma VandeWal (back) Ethan Fowler, Jarrich Grey, Atticus Snow, Mason Zarges, Dallin Doxford, Gerrit VandeWal, Chris Kleijweg, Doug TUESDAY Doug and Gerrit drove back to Emmen today to return the washing machine that has now been repaired. Norma and I worked in the of...

  SUNDAY It was good to be back at the Utrecht Ward after a couple weeks of conferences. We have certainly come to love the good people here. We were able to talk with Matt and Mary this afternoon. We appreciate the miracles of technology that let us talk to and see our kids a half-world away! Another of our missionary's has been stressed and anxious the past few weeks. I talked with her yesterday for a while, listened and offered some suggestions and asked her permission to tell Doug about her concerns. She agreed and the three of us talked again today. Some of her concerns are already resolving but Doug is so good at listening and asking questions to get to the root of the problem. It was a good conversation and we will check in again later this week. This is one of the reasons we love the mission...to have the trust of the missionaries so they feel they can call when things get overwhelming. MONDAY This morning Gerrit asked Doug to go with him to Emmen to pic...

SUNDAY Stake Conference in  Rotterdam. It is so good to gather with the Saints in our Stake. We have been here long enough that there are many friends and familiar faces. And then a quiet afternoon catching up on some study and rest.😁 MONDAY We are trying to stick to a Missionary Schedule and find time each day for personal study, exercise, companion study and (for Doug) language. He is very diligent at continuing the study of the Dutch language and it pays off! He has conversations about bikes, cars, taxes, the gospel and is able to speak to anyone in the shops.  We have been using companion study time to study Come Follow Me. It is good to read together and talk about impressions and insights that come to our minds. This week we are reading in Jeremiah. One thought is that Jeremiah was a contemporary with Lehi. Lehi was called to leave  Jerusalem and Jeremiah was called to stay . Both were righteous men but with different 'mission calls'. It is sometimes...

  SUNDAY Conference weekend! Because of the time difference, we watch the Saturday sessions of General Conference on Sunday. Today we met at the office with the SM District, the office Elders, Brother Garlick and Bangeter and the VandeWal's. Gerrit and Norma and prepared lunch for everyone...always a feast when Norma plans a meal! We walked around Gouda on the way home to show Mike and Meli a little of our city, then spent the evening watching the Sunday morning session and having dinner. It is so nice to have family here! We love our mission but miss seeing the family often so it is such a treat for us to have them here. Mike, Meli, Marcia, Doug Mission Office in the background  MONDAY We had a wonderful time enjoying some of the sites of The Netherlands with Mike and Meli. First we headed north to Zaanse Schans and had a great time seeing a village re-created to show what it would be like to live here in the 1800's. There are still some working windmills, one grind...

  SUNDAY Our plan was to go to church and then to the De Haas' for lunch. I am still coughing too much to be around people although I feel much better than yesterday. Doug went to church and then to the De Haas's with the VandeWal's. I miss gathering each Sunday with the members of the Utrecht Ward. Many have become good friends. And the few minutes set aside to partake of the Sacrament has become a quiet time of reflection and thanksgiving for me. I was still able to read the conference talk that was discussed in RS today but it is so good to hear other comments and contributions to the lesson. MONDAY Even though I stayed away from everyone, I still needed to go to the office and get the normal Monday things done. The Financial duties are probably busiest on Mondays and today the rent is due on the 40 Mission apartments. And several of our missionaries are not feeling well. Sister Huber is still trying to figure out what is wrong. She will see a doctor again on Wednesday...