Tsunami Alert

Last evening I ready to take it easy after a very long day,  when Don came in a said, "There is a Tsunami Alert". Of course, I thought he was kidding since we were just in one a year ago on Kauai.  But he wasn't kidding and it became a very long night.

It is interesting the things that a person thinks about as being important in a situation like that.  I have a dear friend, Connie Lo, who is now in Hong Kong.  Her husband just graduated from BYUH.  Before she left she presented us with a framed quilt that she had quilted herself.  I know how much love went into this gift.  It is very precious to us.  It was among the important papers that went to higher ground.

Events like this and the flooding of the lower level of our home a few weeks ago, really put things into perspective as far as what is important.  

About three in the morning I was outside and being close to a hill and to the Church building many, many cars were parked on the street.  People were milling around visiting, waiting. At that time I spotted a young family with three little children walking toward me.  As they got close, I asked them if they needed a place to stay during the alert or if they needed to use the bathroom.  They hardly missed a step as they said, "We are going to the Church".  Even as I write that it brings goosebumps.  They were focused on the important things in life.  They were headed for safety -- the safety of the Gospel, the safety of the Church.  I can imagine how many prayers were sent heavenward during the long night.  

As I reflect on the events of the night, I hope that we can always stay more focused on the important things of life  and not so much the urgent things of life.  We can all get caught up on the urgent in lieu of the most important thing--those things that can bring us safely home to our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to come to His safety.  

Aloha, Elder and Sister Glasgow

Thoughts of a crowded mind - Don would say, "Oh No" she's thinking again. That is scary.

I have been thinking a lot lately about missions as a whole.  When we have sons and daughters, one of the things we always think about is hoping and praying that they are worthy and willing to serve a mission for the Lord.  Growing up is hard, especially in these technological times. So much STUFF bombarding us all the time.  We don't think very much about ourselves being worthy and able to serve when the time comes.  We too must have kept ourselves spiritually fed, morally clean and physically able.

I have been thinking about the things I would have missed if we hadn't come on a mission.

• I would have never known a darling, black-haired girl from Mongolia who will remain in my heart forever.
• I would have never heard a young man, raised as a Muslim, bare his testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and his love for our savior, Jesus Christ.
• I would have never known how much I would  love the Polynesian people.  They are so faithful and have such strong testimonies.
• I would have never tried quilting.  I am not saying I love quilting, but I have completed one and two more on the way.
• I would not know that I could do so many great things at my age.  I am still learning every day.  The brain is a miraculous thing.
• I would have never heard a young man from Africa tell his conversion story or how he met the missionaries in Russia.
• I would never have met kids and gotten to love them  from, Cambodia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Korea, Italy, Tonga, France,Viet Nam, Mainland China, Mongolia, Kiev Ukraine, India, and many more

• I would have never had an "adopted" Chinese Family  Connie and I served together at the Mission home.  She and her family are back in Hong Kong now. I miss them.
• I would have never known how much the Church needs senior missionaries.
• I would have never gotten to talk with soldiers who are in Hawaii on R&R and to thank them for their service.
• I would not of had the experience of seeing people of75 different nationalities work together in peace and harmony.  If the world would just use BYUH as a training ground there would be now wars.
• I would have never know that Fiji has 332 islands of which 110 are populated.
• I woudl have never known that in Samoa the men cook the food.  Go Samoa men!!

What a blessing at my age to still be learning and growing.  Well, that growing part could relate to dress size. :).  One thing they do over here is feed us.  There is always a reason to eat.  Eating is a celebration.  I wondered when we got here what are all the piled up picnic tables doing in that yard.  Now I know - family dinners all the time.  Even Halloween was a reason for a big family party and dinner outside in the driveway.  

There are always huge family camp outs at the beach with many, many tents and big canopys set up with lots of those tables I mentioned.  Sundays are fun, because you will see everyone dressed in their white shirts and ties and the ladies in dresses leaving the beach camp out to go worship the Lord on his day.

     Our "adopted" daughter, Connie Lo with framed quilt she made just for us.

Well, I know that I have bored you all to death by now.  Just so many wonderful things to share from our mission.  God Bless you one and all

Interesting people we meet.

Below is from a journal entry of June 16, 2010

We meet the most interesting people.  The other day there was a lady from Brazil who came into the place where we serve.   We got to talking and she was telling me how impressed she was with the young men and women that work at the PCC.  She wanted to know all about them.  After explaining that they were going to the University and working there to earn part of their money for their education, she said she would like her Grandson to be able to do that.  I then explained that most of them were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  She thought that was wonderful and wanted to know how she would go about getting the process started.  I told her that when she got home to Brazil to contact one of the local LDS Churchs and they could probably send some young men or women to her home to explain how it all worked.  Now, we do not wear our missionary badges while serving at the PCC so we are not proselyting missionaries per se, but the work will go forth in spite of that.

The highlight of our week is always the time we spend as mentors to the students at BYUH.  In FHE this week (which by the way doesn't start until 9:30 p.m.- yawn) the lesson was on repentence.  It is always given by one of the students and they do an excellent job. He stressed the importance of learning to "forgive yourself".  It was excellent and I learned a lot.  Every Sunday all of the talks are given by the students.  About 70% of them are returned missionaries and each time I am so touched by their strong testimonies and the faith that the have.  Most of them are a very long way from their families, and sometimes do not see them for years, yet they push forward with faith, studying, praying, supporting each other and going on missions.  After the mission, they return to BYUH to graduate.  What a wonderul way to live - kids from over 75 countries living together in peace and love.  If only the world could see what goes on here. They love to have us as their  "Proxy" family.  They are just so kind and loving toward us and are always happy to see us, as we are them.  

As we were studying in Mosiah 2 yesterday, I was again struck by verses 21-23.

"I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess,to that god who has created you and has kept you and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another,

I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another -- I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

And behold all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he has said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and posper you". 

We testify that that is true.  We pray the Lord's choices blessings to be with each of you.  We love you and miss you.

Elder and Sister Glasgow

Getting a late start on blogging

As you can tell, I am starting this blog a little late.  I happened upon a Blog by some of friends who are serving in Italy and thought -- I could do that!.


We were set apart by President Brad Stucki with some of our dearest friends and family joining us. It was an amazing blessing.








Our time at the MTC was fun and frightening at times.  When they told us we would study for an hour or so and then give a discussion to an investigator, we were all stunned.  Most of us were on service missions and didn't expect to be giving any discussions.  It doesn't matter.  Everyone taught the gospel.  Once we got into it it was amazing.  We found that we could have been teaching missionaries if needed.  We love the gospel and what it has meant in our lives.  The testimonies of the returned missionaries who taught us at the MTC will ever be a memory we will cherish.  





These are the people in our District.  The Winninghams, from St. George, Sister Lee, Bro and Sister Cannon.


We arrived in Hawaii on April 24, 2010.  It was a beautiful day, as all days in Hawaii are.  We were very tired from our time at the MTC and our long flight.  Elder and Sister Arnold Palmer (no he isn't the golfer) picked us up from the airport.  We were immediately taken to the PCC and a wonderful dinner at the Ambassador Restaurant.  Prime Rib and Crab Legs were the order of the day.  Not your usual missionary first meal.  We met some of the other senior missionaries and loved them all at first meeting.  Everyone was so wonderful to us.
We had orientation for a full week before we were turned loose in the Mission Home of the Mission Settlement.

This is taken in front of the Adminstration Building for the PCC and BYU.

I spent my 70th birthday here.  We were in for an interview with the President of the PCC and when we walked out they had a cake for me.  It was truly a surprise.  We were just beginning to find out how awesome the people in Hawaii really are.

The cute girl on the right is our dear friend, Gana.  Gana is from Mongolia.  She was one of the first people to greet us with "Hi Auntie" and "Hi Uncle".  Along with the greeting comes a great big hug and kiss.  She is the one who worked with Elder Glasgow to learn the ukulele.  Gana served a mission in Mongolia and was engaged to a wonderful young man.  One of the saddest days of our mission was the day she died from stomach cancer.  Hard to believe that someone so young and faithful, was taken so young.  She taught us both so much.  She was just to good to stay in this world.  

 The lady next to her (she would die if she saw this picture) is our sweet supervisor, Lanae.  This mission is different in that we are directly under the President of the Polynesian Cultural Center, instead of the Mission President.  If we need a temple recommend we go the Mission President, otherwise everything goes through President Von Orgill. 

We serve in an area of the PCC called the Mission Settlement.  Our particular assignment is the Mission Home which is a replica of an original home that was brought over in the 1800 by some of the first missionaries to Hawaii.  They were Congragationalists. 

It is a store where we sell all types of handmade items, including quilts made right here. About 70%  of everything we sell is made by us, with help from volunteers and other missionaries.  Some who serve there full time and some who just come a few hours a week.  Turtles are big here in Hawaii, supposed to bring good luck.  So we make turtle pin cushions, turtle necklaces, shell turtles and anything turtle. 

Elder Glasgow and Elder Haugen work on the porch and run the ukulele business -- selling, purchasing, inventorying and giving ukulele lessons.  Sometimes they can give as many as 25 lessons a day.  They work hard.  

When we first arrived we served with Elder and Sister Pulley (they are now on a mission on mainland China teaching English) and Jolene and Marshall Ogden (L).  As you can tell we had not gotten our "uniforms" that matched as yet.  I can't tell you how often someone comes in and wants to buy our mumuus or at least get a pattern.  Neither of which is available.