Friends from school, they were at the MTC together

Elder Gleed and Elder Jahde Clark

Elder Gleed and Elder Parker Miller

Elder Gleed and Elder (Tucky)

Things are going by pretty fast here in the MTC, already week 5! Thanks for all the encouragement you have given me! I hope you enjoy the pictures, there will be more soon! I love you guys! Can't wait to hear from you soon. A bit of advice for all future missionaries: Get the shiniest pair of shoes you can find!
Elder Gleed

Destination: DC-NORTH (spanish speaking)

Comb over P-day (Now moved to Tuesday's)

One Month Celebration Party!

It's been SO HOT they wish they could jump in!

Ho la!

How is everything going back home? Its crazy its already Thursday, I feel like I just had my Pday! Which is both a good thing and a bad thing! I'm glad time is flying but it is also starting to stress me out because I'm not sure if I'm ready for the campo (field) I have about 3 1/2 weeks left, not very much time at all it seems!

I'm trying to get you pictures, I'm just trying to figure out what is the best way to get them to you because there are kind of a lot. But I'll get them to you! yes I have actually ran into Parker several times, I took a picture with him on his first or second day so he still has his sweet bright orange sticker on his name tag. Jahde, Parker and I are going to try to meet up and all take a picture with each other on Sunday night and then you guys can hang it in the office at Westlake ;) .
I wouldn't say I'm doing awesome with the language but its definitely coming, I can listen really well but the hardest part is saying what i want to say. There are so many words you stumble over and then you have to change your entire sentence around because you don't know what one little word is, its a bummer.
The weight gain is actually up to 10 pounds since last week. Elder Walton and Spear have been working me hard which is good. When we work out we don't really do a ton, we do it all in about 15 minutes but we just push ourselves to make it hard. We just do pull ups and push ups and that makes a big difference.
My adventure to the outside world was pretty sweet and i am excited for the next one on Tuesday! So Elder Chugg was on acutane and therefore was not allowed to get surgery of any kind so he couldn't get his wisdom teeth pulled, plus his dentist told him he would be fine. But apparently its not okay ha.
Where would we be without this Gospel eh? I know where I would be and its not a very happy picture. Its important in times of trials that the Gospel bring relief to all our trials and problems but its even more important to remember that there is always someone who is going through a more rough time than you that does not know about the Gospel of Jesucristo and are unable to find that comfort that you find in the Gospel everyday. "They are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it".

Mustache Monday sounds like a great idea, we tried it here but it got shot down in a hurry ha. yeah I have been drinking a ton of water too, mostly because the soda and other drinks like that don't seem to quench my thirst really. Its all about water and chocolate milk!
I love the Mormon Messages we watch them probably everyday, I wish they would make more. Have you seen "Hope ya know, we had a hard time" I really like that one. After watching them you feel so inspired to go out in the world and do good. I hope everything is going great for you guys, I'm kind of worried that I'm about to get kicked off my Internet though, I'm not sure if they took the ban off or not, I will have to send you guys some letters with some pictures.

This week I was able to participate in my first blessing it was a way cool experience. I definitely needed it that's for sure. Sounds like you guys are all doing great. I would like to leave you with a scripture D &C 123: 17 " Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power" I hope you guys are do everything you can! Love you bye

Hola!!

I've been doing pretty good, things are getting a little repetitive here but they are still pretty fun! Definitely has its ups and downs. I'm still working out with Elder Walton and Spear every night and its a lot of fun. Last week I checked to see how much I weigh and i had gained 8 pounds, I weigh 136 now. Hopefully its not fat....ha. In our classroom we have a window that looks out across the valley and everyday looks so great and we wish we could go outside and enjoy it sometimes but lately it seems like the days always end in somewhat bad weather.

Yeah it is pretty weird to think that I've been in the MTC longer than all the English speaking missionaries but I'm definitely not ready to start teaching in Spanish that's for sure! We have a time every night where we work out, we only do a little bit but a little bit is better than nothing.

Well I'm glad to hear you guys are staying busy but I hope you are still having fun and finding time to relax! So let me tell you a little about whats going on here in the MTC: So on Friday, Elder Chugg and I taught three native investigators.( I don't think i told you this yet....But the investigators are volunteers) One of them was from El Salvador and she was really nice. The other two were sisters and were from Chile, one of them was a member and the other one wasn't. It was a lot of fun, somewhat difficult but Elder Chugg and I were able to understand everything they were saying and able to teach about how they can improve their relationship with Christ through El Libro de Mormon. So I guess you can say that Spanish is coming! Which is always good! So the other day Elder Chugg and I were able to go to the Outside world...kind of a big deal! He chipped his tooth and so we had to go a Dentist on University Avenue. We felt so cool the entire time we were out there! Everyone says hi and you just feel way cool, I cant describe it. It got me way more excited to get out into the Mission field that's for sure! We have to go back on the 26th because Elder Chugg has to get his Wisdom teeth pulled, that will be fun....for me! I'll let you know how it goes! A lot of districts in our zones have been leaving the last couple of weeks, Its kind of a bummer to see them go! One of the last ones that left, left a bunch of their stuff and left a bunch of clues for us to try to find it. Elder Chugg and I found it first, so be proud!! We spent the rest of the day acting like we didn't have it which caused some of the Elders to start making fake clues for us, thinking they were so funny because they were tricking us when in reality we really got them, it was pretty funny. that will have to be a story I tell you when I get home! Ive taken a lot of pictures so I will send those to you guys soon! Things are going pretty good here for the most part, oh by the way Elder Chugg and I are starting a new fashion trend.....comb over P day. So yes I have a comb over right now and yes, I look good. ;) Hope you guys are enjoying life and doing the things that matter most! "Doing the things that matter most will bring us closer to the Savior of the World" That reminds me, there are some great Mormon Messages out right now, I recommend checking them out as a family for FHE one of the nights! My favorites are "What matters most" and "Watch your step" take time to listen to these great apostles speak for they truly are men of God, I have felt their spirit and I have had el Espiritu Santo testify it to me. LA IGLESIA ES VERDADERA! THE CHURCH IS TRUE! I challenge you guys this week to start up FHE again, Do things that will make our family relationships closer! I love and miss you guys! Thanks for everything you've done for me and the examples you've set! I cant wait to hear from you guys soon!

Love Elder Gleed

P.s. So I don't know the exact flight plans but I leave Monday August 15th at 9 pm. Just a heads up! I'll know the plans in three weeks! Adios!!

Hey guys!

How are you all doing? Sounds like you have been keeping pretty busy with everything, good to hear! How was the 4th of July, everything you dreamed it would be?

I'm sorry to hear about Mr. Mangleson's son, that is horrible. I hope things get better for him and his family. Good thing we have the gospel for trials like these! Imagine where we would be in life without it! That's crazy that Parker is already about to head out for the MTC, is he speaking spanish? I forgot, well if he is there is a chance he could be in my zone because we lost almost 25 missionaries this last week and a half. I'm glad to hear Shacie and Tyler enjoyed their trip, it sounds like a lot of fun. Hopefully packing and getting ready for Logan turns out to be just as fun! Cinnamon rolls with raisins? Are you kidding me Grandma? That's gross.... ha Make sure to tell her happy birthday for me!

Life here in the MTC is pretty much the same. We have a scheduled day of events every single day which takes up the entire day, no time for free time really except when its time to go to bed. Here is our basic schedule: 7:00 a.m. Personal Study Time, 7: 30 Desayuno (breakfast), 8:00 Service, 9:30 Gym, 11:00 Personal Study Time, 12:00 Almuerzo (lunch), 12:45-3:45 Classroom instruction, 3:45-4:45 Language Study, 5:00 Cena (Dinner), 5:45-8:45 Classroom Instruction, 9:00 Daily Planning, 9:15 head back to rooms, 10:15 Quiet time, 10:30 Bedtime. Pretty sweet eh? Not all days are like that but pretty close, that is my Miercoles(wedenesday) schedule. I exercise every night with Elder Walton and Elder Spear, it can get pretty tough sometimes! Elder Spear is a state champ wrestler and Elder Walton played college football. Chilling only occurs right before bed and on P days, especially for the next month because the temple is closed which is kind of a bummer. We are suppose to speak spanish as much as possible which can be pretty difficult but helps you get better. Our teachers only speak spanish though so I guess I'm doing pretty well since I'm learning right? So it turns out that Tucky was sent home, he has to get surgery on it and I think the minimum recovery time will be six weeks, so he will be out for a while, I know it was heart breaking for him and I wish him the best. I have a picture I will send soon of us two which was the last time I saw him before he went home.

In my classes we pretty much learn how to teach our investigators. I am in a pilot program where they have us focus on the investigators more. We aren't really taught spanish in a general way but we learn what we need to know in order to help the investigator or meet their needs. Example: If we want to challenge Josue to read the Book of Mormon we need to know the future tenses, so that's what we study so we can challenge him to do that. Me explico? (get it?)

Well hopefully i can tell you enough about me, time is running out on the computer. Well on Saturday we had a pretty big 4th of July celebration here, it was way cool! We had a fireside, sang songs and listened to a guy who has been the assistant to six U.S. presidents. We then had bagpipes play for us and kind of a multi cultural show going on to celebrate the freedom all around the world. They focused the fireside on how the freedom of American led to the restoration of the Gospel. We then all got ice cream and were allowed to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks as long as we stayed inside the MTC fences of course. It was really cool. Nothing else cool has really happened that I can think of, just normal MTC stuff. My companion and I are pretty much the only ones in our district that don't argue ha We work well together. The language is coming along pretty well. I have something I'd like to share with you guys though, just a thought. This week I've heard a lot the saying "Nobody is perfect" and it has got me thinking. Nobody is perfect is not an excuse, Its a challenge. We should always strive to be perfect, its what Heavenly Father wants us to do. There is always something that we can improve on, ALWAYS. We all can be perfect because it is possible, Our Savior, Jesus Christ did it. I challenge you guys to strive to be perfect in every thought, deed and action. No excuses! I know I'm struggling but I will try and do better! I will try and get you guys a letter to tell you more about my week. But time is running out so will talk to you soon. Love and miss you guys!

Thanks again for the letters and everything again!

The future is as bright as your faith!!!'

Love Elder Gleed

Austin's District

Roommates: (LtoR)Elder Spear, Elder Gleed, Elder Chugg, & Elder Clark

Companions: Elder Gleed & Elder Chugg

Austin being Austin....

June 30, 2011

Hey Guys

How are things going at home? You guys seem like your staying pretty busy, hopefully you guys get some time to settle down. I am sending pictures home today so don't worry, I knew how to do it but I just had to wait for them to be develop and then my District leader is a little strict and wont let us write or send anything home until our P day which is today. You should probably get them tomorrow. Thanks for the addresses but I'm only allowed to email family. So i need the addresses of their houses instead. But thanks for the effort and the letters and packages, its always exciting to get mail and especially when you get a lot of mail. Mom, I don't know if i have gained weight but ill probably check tomorrow. Ive been working out and eating healthy so hopefully something good comes from it. Sorry if my letters are somewhat short and choppy but I only get 30 minutes and its hard to get everything in, in only thirty minutes but I'll do my best.

This week was a pretty sweet week. On Friday we had a surprise fireside where we were able to hear from Elder Bednar, it was a great talk about becoming Preach my Gospel missionaries. Elder Ballard, Oaks, Holland, Nelson, Scott, and Anderson were also there. I sang in the choir for that fireside, I mostly did it though so I would get a guaranteed spot at the fireside, good thinking huh? Then it has been a pretty crazy week here because they are having the New mission presidents seminar, there are tons of General Authorities coming in and out of the MTC, the prophet was here on Wednesday but I didn't see him. Then Sunday was the highlight of the week. Before the actual sacrament meeting I got to hear Elder Holland, Perry, Cook and Nelson speak and bear testimony. Then when I was actually passing the sacrament Elders Holland, Bednar, Cook, Nelson, Scott, Perry, Anderson, Christofferson, and Eyring were in attendance. President Eyring spoke and it was super sweet, it was a great experience. My testimony of the love that the apostles have for us increased tremendously as they blew kisses, waved and smiled with their cheesy grins. They are truly men of God and called of God, I know that mission presidents are called of God as well and I want to assure you guys that I will be in great hands with the Matsumori's. The love that these presidents have for their God and their missionaries is indescribable. I can't wait to be in the mission field. I met Sister Beck and talked to her for a moment or two and walked right pass Elder CooK and he smiled, made me feel pretty cool... Since that great experience I've been striving to "lose myself in the work" and not be so selfish and worrying about my needs. I hope I can become the missionary you guys want me to be and more importantly the missionary our Heavenly Father expects me to be. In the mean time things are pretty normal here in the MTC, the weather looks beautiful through the little window in our tiny classroom, I've never appreciated the sunshine so much in my life. During our Gym time we spend most of our time playing beach volleyball and it's a ton of fun I love it. The language is coming along nicely and I've probably taught about 10 lessons now in Spanish, Elder Chugg and I are slowly getting better. Our service here is pretty much just cleaning other buildings. Elder Walton and I usually tag team and conquer the toilets when were cleaning, I think I might want to do that when I get home..... I've been getting letters from you guys Cindy, Angel and Brooklyn so far. For fourth of July apparently the MTC presidency has some activities for us to do and I heard we get to watch the Stadium of Fire, Fireworks. I'll let you know though. I haven't gotten sick from the food yet but I'm pretty sure everyone else has. Thanks so much for the letters and packages they make my day more than you will ever know! I miss and love you guys so much. I want you guys to know that I know this church is true and I am learning to love it more and more. If you guys have any questions or going through some rough times I'm always here to listen and i will do my best to help out. Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of every single one of you DON'T FORGET IT!

Well time is running out I'll talk to you in a week!

Love

Elder Austin Gleed