Missionary Experiences: Elder Lawrence John Glavinic

  Date: 5-29-63 We were talking with this Austrian gal and she said jokingly, “ I cold never be a Mormon because I steal flowers.” I could barely understand the conversation because the Austrians speak a dialect of the Hoch Deutsch.  We also had an interesting conversation with an English gal. She is working in a household here taking care of the people’s children and doing housework. We have a lot of fun talking about the funny customs and habits of the people here. We think we will be able to give them the Hill Cumorah slides next Sunday with a friend of hers, another English girl.  This missionary work is about the hardest work I have ever done. It seems all we do is chase people down. But when we get some good people is sure is worth it. 

  Date: 5-28-63 The police got a little excited and fined me 7 francs for not “Anmeldung” [registration] in less than 10 days after my arrival. This evening I called the mission president to tell him of my difficulties so maybe they can eliminate the problem in the future or work out some special arrangements with the officials here.  Learned my first scripture in German today. 

  Date: 5-27-63 Old Elder Hendrickson walked my legs off! If there is one thing I’m going to do when I become a Senior companion is use the motor or pedal bikes that are in our possession. It sort of makes me angry because we seldom us them- but the Lord is bonded when you abide the law. Elder Hendrickson was also tired, it seems as though I can’t say it enough, but the people here sure are religiously ignorant They don’t know what they believe or what even the Lord said. It’s no wonder there are so few baptisms here. The language is coming a little better but I still feel awfully weak. I have with ‘vigor’ again started to study the language. 

  Date: 5-25-63 I broke down and ate some chocolate today for the first time in 2 weeks. Boy, it was good, but I will be sorry when the pimples come. Every time we eat at Sister Brunko’s she is so nice and gives us a nice big chocolate bar. Old sister is just to good to us.  I met a missionary today named Brüder Atten. He was from Mesa, Arizona. He had been down in the Newport beach area before. We seemed to have a lot in common. He had been to the islands. He went to the church college there. The word “Halley” meant something to him also.  I have decided that I need to put forth a little more effort on my part if I am really going to learn this language well. The “umfrage” is my biggest challenge now. I’ll have to let the things at home go. Writing less will be on the agenda. It will be very difficult not to write Penny as often as I would like, but is I am going to do a good job on this mission, this will have to be in order. The cause is well worth it! "Penny tried to ...

  Date: 5-24-63 Interesting Experience- called the mission home yesterday to have Elder McCune bring the other pair of pants to my suit, that I bought from him, down to the missionary conference. I said, “Is Elder McCune there?” the mission president, Russon, answered and said “no”. Then asked me a question in German. It really startled me. I was caught speechless for a minute not knowing whether to answer of not; and if so, should I try in German? He repeated the question in German. This time I understood. “Wer ist diese? Or “who is this?” I answered in English. I finally got the message across \but it really brought the realism of how little German I do know. I imagine we will hear something today in conference about making English off limits. Yesterday, we also went out to do a little “Umfraging” or surveying. I didn’t even know the questions. It was kind of a soul-searching process. Well, the Lord will ask you to do nothing except He shall prepare way. At least, that’s what the...

  Date: 5-17-63 We have been meeting quite a few of the well-educated people here in Switzerland. Yesterday, we talked with a consultant engineer. His current work was with the construction of wind tunnels. He said some of the ones he had worked on lately would obtain speeds of MACH numbers of about 17.  He said he did his graduate work at Cal Tech in 1938. After talking to a lady in the area she expressed the opinion that the books of Proverbs in the old testament was filled with a lot of wisdom. So, this morning I read it in English. I really enjoyed some of it. It sort of gives you the strength you need by spelling out some of the do’s and don’ts as well as giving you something to ponder. Today is diversion day again so we took care of some of our personal needs. The weather hasn’t been “worth a dare” for the last 4 days, nothing but rain. I have seen more rain since I have been here than I have seen in my whole life in California. Guess you don’t know when we have it good....

Date: 5-14-63 Things have not been going to well. I t seems as though put in a lot of hours of labor with little or no reward. I guess the Devil is working awfully hard on us and the people we are meeting.  I guess I am sort of depressed because the language seems so incomprehensible when you talk to the folk speaking the dialect. What is needed is likely a good bit of studying. Since I’ve finished reading the D&C in English, Elder Hendrickson and I have been alternating reading out of the Book of Mormon. This should increase my vocabulary which is quite small at the moment.  I will be glad when I get the first round of letters off. It is such a laborious job for me to write. Perhaps, this writing is what I need though. Everyone is so important, and I want to do such a good job communicating with them. Well, time will be my witness. There is only one thing I can say at this point in my life, “there is so much to learn, and I know so little.”

  Date: 5-10-63 Just finished my 3rd week as a missionary. This last week I have been giving the door approach. It truly is interesting to meet the people of Switzerland. It surely is true what has been said. (that the people are very cautious about new people and also quite independent). In our tracting because we announce ourselves as Americans, we meet many people who have been or once lived in the states. We also meet many English people. Today, we met this Australian gal who was a Pacifist. One of Brother Russel’s followers. Her and her Swiss husband were busy in their ‘cause of peace’ as they put it. They were quite alert of the United Nation’s endeavors to bring this about. We gave her the screening discussion about Mormonism. This, to me, is the vehicle we should use in my opinion to bring peace to the world because in it are the areas where people can use their God-given talents. This would obviously avoid the problem of idle minds and the problem would be solved (sort of ...

  Date: 5-5-63 Yesterday, all the missionaries had an interview with President Burton. He was real nice. He asked questions about knowledge of the work, scriptures memorized in German, and moral standing. It was quite an experience making his acquaintance. We did some of our first real tracting today. It sort of ‘walked my feet off’. But I do enjoy talking to, or should I say listening to, the people. The thing that surprises me is the number of people that can speak the King’s English.   I am beginning to remember a few things in German now. Also, the reading of the language is becoming easier. I believe this is because of the patience my companion has with me in our study sections each morning.  I have been putting effort forth to read the D&C and then the New Testament. After that my companion and I will read the Book of Mormon in German.

  Date: 5-3-63 Missionary Conference People Present: President and Sister Russon, President Burton, and 50 Elders Talks- 1. Sister Russon-       a. Get Perspective Story about a stone cutter- asked one, he said he just cut stone, another said he was building a cathedral      b. Members in Beirut, Lebanon are quite active, and things are growing there      c. Italy- there are a few branches for the service men mostly in the North and South. However, the              field is ripe 2. President Russon-      a. Quotation- Confucius said, “Journey of 1000 steps begins with one” Confucius lived 2500 years                ago       b. Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles. Clifton was a philanthropist. And quite a Christian. In the                     ...

Date: 5-2-63 My senior companion packed up his bags and left today.  But before he left, I used my Israelite blood and bought his tape recorder. It costs, new in the store, 798 francs. I only paid 550 francs. It is a Grundig 4 track portable unit. The fidelity is quite good also. However, with the purchase of this and some other sundry items, I won’t have enough money to buy a voigtlander camera. Maybe that is for the best. The old Argus C-3 I have is a fine camera anyway. My new senior companion is a real nice chap. He comes from Richfield, Utah. He went to the University of Utah. There he was majoring in Civil Engineering- of which he completed in 2 years. I believe we will get along quite well. It’s quite hard in a way because he is so young and young looking too. But he’s got the lessons memorized so he must have a “list on the ball”.  I guess I must shape up a little because the President of the European Mission is to interview all the Elders in the Swiss mission. He will...