Elena and Glenna share a hug.

Glenna—A Blessing to All

I want to share a story about the most-wonderful person I met while in the USA.

Her name is Glenna Van Buskirk.

She came to Kirtland, Ohio, to spend her summer as a volunteer. We met at the Cleveland airport, where she came to greet me and my partner. From the beginning, I felt like I had known her a long time. We started to talk about my country, our culture, and traditions.

After that first meeting I saw Glenna almost every day—she worked in the garden near the Kirtland Temple, planting and watering flowers. She helped in the gift shop, and she attended evening classes with us.

She was called to Kirtland to become a real blessing for us. Glenna made us feel safe, comfortable, and at home while in an unfamiliar, faraway country.

Glenna, thanks for everything you did for us.

—Elena Martikhina reporting

Note: Elena was a 2009 international guide who volunteered at Kirtland Temple. She is from Voronezh, Russia, and is a translator for the church. To learn more about the International Guide Program, visit www.worldservicecorps.org/programs.