Week 5 for Jessica

Magandang umaga Pamilya ko!

Hey everyone!! I hear this has been a big week for you all! Devon's graduated high school, Marissa's going to YW camp and Robert has try-outs for club soccer?? Wow. Life here at the MTC has been pretty busy too! This week we found out that we were getting another district added on to our zone so I've been spending a lot of time helping them and giving them orientation to the MTC and cool stuff like that. One of my favorite parts of the day here at the MTC is gym time! We get to go up on the field across from the temple and play soccer or baseball or beach volleyball! It's SO fun and it's nice to just play around and not be inside for a little bit. I'm getting pretty good at the stuff we do except for baseball... oh baseball...ya lets just say whenever I step up to bat everyone starts laughing and scoots up haha. The language is going really well! I got to talk to my teacher yesterday one on one and he told me that he's never had a student who's caught on to Tagalog so fast! Not to brag or anything haha, but it was just really nice to hear that my hard work is paying off.  Yesterday when it was my turn it took me literally 10 tries before I hit the ball. Embarrassing! haha All well. Something I'm really starting to miss are those home cooked meals mom! The food is fine but I eat granola and a wrap like everyday haha. This week we also found out that Thomas S Monson is coming to the MTC!!! OH wait... the week after I leave for the Philippines haha. At first I was pretty bummed that I was gonna miss it, but I know that there are people out there in the Philippines that are just waiting to hear the gospel so I have that to look forward to instead :) Which brings me to my next subject... I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS!! We have in-field orientation this friday where we learn more about what the Philippines will be like! We leave June 16th from the Salt Lake City airport at 11:15am and arrive in Seattle at 12:30pm. Then we have a 2 1/2 hour layover and board our plane to TOKYO JAPAN at 3:05pm!! I'm so excited!!! We arrive in Tokyo at 4:45pm the 17th of June, fly to Manila Philippines at 6:25pm, and hopefully arrive in the Philippines by 10:00pm. Someone from my mission will be there to pick me up and from there I have no idea haha! It's gonna be an adventure for sure!! AHHHHHH you guys i'm so excited!!! It just got so real! Yesterday after we got our travel plans, we went to go teach one of our investigators about the Book of Mormon and as we were teaching I started thinking about how I get to do this everyday for the next 17 months of my life and I couldn't imagine doing anything more worthwhile or that could make me happier. Yes, there are most definitely days where things just don't go your way, or the language is hard, or you just feel down, BUT those moments when you can feel the impact you have had on the lives of those you teach just make all of those disappear. When we were teaching Rizolito, I started bearing my testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and all of the sudden I just started saying things that were in my heart, but I didn't even know I could say the in Tagalog. I told him that this Book is the word of God just like the Bible is and it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is evidence of Gods love for us and it bring peace and joy to our lives. I told him that this book has changed my life and made me a better person. I know it is true and that if he reads it and prays about it he can know of its truth as well. The spirit was so strong and everyone in the room was crying (including me how embarrassing haha). But It was such a cool experience and I know that God helped me to say the things that were in my heart so that Rizolito could be touched. He said he would read and pray about it tonight and I can't tell you how excited I am to see what he says on Monday! This gospel truly has blessed me and makes me so happy! I just want to share it with everyone so they can feel as happy as I do :) Which I guess explain why I'm giving up 18 months of my life to do just that haha! Being a missionary is just the greatest :) Mahal ko po nagiging ang misyonaro para sa simbahan ni Jesuchristo!

I love you all SOOOOOO much and I think about and pray for you all the time! You are all such good examples to me and I couldn't ask for better family or friends :) Keep being awesome and know that you all are loved :)

Mahal kita!

Sister Lowe