Missionary Experiences: Elder Lawrence John Glavinic

  Date: 10 -25-63 We had another interesting week, but I just don't know about my companion. He is just too "Religious" I guess he is just a panty-waist, but he does know the language better than me. I would like to tell an interesting experience that we had. We came to this door and the name looked Polish. We range the bell, and a man coms out speaking Spanish. Then my companion stammers out with a little Italian. Then his wife comes out speaking German. They invited us in after a little self introduction. After talking with them a while we found out they were Jewish. We started to explain the Book of Mormon. After we explained how the people (Lehi & family) left the Old World and went to the new (America). The lady had a funny lo0k on her face. We explained a little more about the Book of Mormon and the story. She said to my surprise. I guess having seen many of her friends to America. " Well, I guess everything goes to America, even Religion". In retrosp...

  Date: 10 -21-63 Mission President and wife's birthday about October 20th. This past week I tried the "Crosby smile tracting" technique and it really worked well. in comparison to my first week in Lugano tracting. We really picked up some appointments. The area is so virgin and there are so many nice people here. I hope to be able to grow in the net week a little so I can explain the message in a good manner. I thought I would say something about the wonderful Haus Frau that we have, Signora Porotti. She is so nice, actually she looks after us like a mother. SHE COOKS OUR MEALS FOR US! Just because she is so nice. I guess I haven't met such a nice Haus Frau since I've been here in Switzerland. We don't even have to wash the dishes. I guess that doesn't leave me an excuse for not having enough time to do the Lord's work among the people. 

  Date: 10 -20-63 Well, after surveying another week everything seems to have gone well, except I'm going to have to motivate my companion and myself. It seems he won't get up at 6am and for that matter neither will I. I guess the thing that brought the change of attitude was a comparative report. We were down on the bottom for the whole district (and I just wouldn't take that lying down) Knowing that I'm just as responsible as my companion for not getting enough hours. Besides, I'm only cheating myself nd the people of Lugano of the wonderful opportunity to hear the message of the Gospel. I'm acting as Bishop this week so I'm going to see if I can lead my senior companion to get a few more hours. I have also got to start leaning the language. I've been studying but not as hard as I should. I guess I'm going to have to spend more time on the "great white throne"  Today I met the other member of the church here in Lugano. His name is Br. Alm...

  Date: 10 -12-63 Well, at the end of another exciting week and I just don't know how to sum it all up. Elder Monson and I did a lot of first tracking in an older section of Paradiso this week. Our reception wasn't any better than that of the German Speaking part of Switzerland. However, it's quite an experience to talk with the people here. It is interesting to note that about half the people here speak more than one language. I guess that is a maker of necessity.  The cottage meetings that we had during the course of the week felt as though i was really the Senior Companion. My companion though being out longer, that ever knowing the language better is quite immature in many respects. But we learn a lot together. It was interesting to note that my companion's cousin has been made a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. That's quite a responsibility for this cousin and also for him.  On our diversion day we took the "Funicolare" up to the top of Mo...

 Date: 10 -06-63 Well, I'm getting settled down a little now. This morning we had a fast meeting which was real good. It was made up of twelve missionaries and one member. (there are 3 members in the area). We had the sacrament and a testimony meeting. It was quite interesting in that the meeting was conducted in German since most everyone understood German, except for the one new Elder who only spoke English. But the songs were in Italian and also the sacrament. It was quite a mixture. We heard some real wonderful testimonies. It was the second time that I have born my testimony in German. After church we took a contact down to watch a Gigantic Parade held in Lugano once a year. There were floats covered with flowers and bands. Actually, it was much like the Pasadina parade on new years. Each little town of any significance entered some kind of group and float. There was also a couple of foreign groups, Italian, Austrian, Holland, French, an German were represented. We have seen a...

 Date:  10-03-63 The Conference was much like the one that we had in Wetzikon on the 21st of September. Except the D.L. from Lugano, Camberlang, showed a slide "Vortrag" of the way the missionaries would approach the doors. It was in the form of a satire. It was a real good; it had a " tape" sound tract with music and talk. I t brought up some of the interesting tings that you often do without really being conscious of them. Which sometimes leaves the people with a bad impression. Ex. Blowing your nose on the door, combing your hair at the door. Falling asleep in a cottage meeting, etc. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to get situated. My new companion is a fellow named Monson from Inglewood, California. He is a pretty rich kid and also pretty smart from what I can tell. But it could take a little time to really prove that fact. We will be working in a town called " Pardiso" It surely had a good name. I'm sort of anxious to se...

 Date: 10-02-63 I packed everything up and went and said goodbye to as many of our investigators as it was possible in the short time that I had. I jumped on the train and was in Zurich in about an hour where I was supposed to meet with the mission president and some of the other elders. The President was going to drive us down. While there we would have a conference. Anyway there were four new elders along with President, his wife, and the second counselor. That could have been an expensive transfer, especially since I didn't have any money-- check hadn't come. but riding down was nice. It was a shame that the day wasn't nicer. It rained most of the way down. We went through the Gotthard Tunnel about 6pm that evening with the train. We pulled into Lugano at about 7.30pm there we met with the elders that were already there. They had a room for us for the night. That night I slept in the same room with another Elder who had a background much similar to mine. He was also an E...

 Date: 10 -01-63 I can hardly find time to Write. But so much has happened in the last three days. It seems as though I'm just getting to the point where I can express myself write freely in German and lo and behold---yes! I was so surprised! Tuesday, we check back at our apartment for mail and what do we find? A large envelope filled with transfers. Yes, three of the elders from the district go transferred. Young brother Murry from Glarus up to Biel which I though was a good transfer for him. And what--huh? Me a transfer!! Where am I going? Why me? My German is just starting to get good.  Yah, I'm going to learn Italian down in the Tessin area. Boy, it is going to be like starting from scratch. Actually, I am quite thrilled with the opportunity to learn Italian and bring this wonderful message to the Italian speaking people of Switzerland. I know many of the elders would give their "eye-teeth" for the chance. Well, I should also be able to use some of my background i...