Week 9 from Jessica

Kumusta po kayo!

Guess what? Today I've been on my mission for 2 months! How crazy is that? Life is wonderful over here in the Philippines as always. Mom you are seriously superwoman with all the projects you are doing! Sewing, painting the deck (didn't we just do that last summer? haha), painting your room, soccer stuff, reorganizing the garage... you're making us all look bad haha! But I'm happy your busy and loving your summer :) Marissa, Devon, and Robert I am so excited for you all to go on trek! That is definitely one of my favorite memories. Just like EFY! Wow you guys are going to Kirtland Ohio?? Jealous. That's seriously going to be SO much fun. I remember when Amanda and I went and it was so amazing and such a spiritual uplifter. Dad you are awesome as usual and I love reading your email, they are so enjouraging and definitely help me with my new life here as a missionary.

Ok so who wants to hear about my week?? Ok so this week I had my first baptism!!! His name is Gardo and he is 16 years old. He was so SO excited to get baptized and after the service he got up and bore his testimony and thanked me and Sister Calaunan for bringing him the truth and helping him feel true happiness and true peace for the first time in his life. Then this week we had another one of our investigators want to be baptized!! His name is Rolo and he is 39 with a wife and 2 kids. He has a strong desire to be baptized, but has some issues he's still working on in his life. But I have faith and know that he will overcome them and when he does, be able to experience the true joy and peace the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to our lives.  We have 2 new families we are now teaching so I am very excited for this week to see how they progress and come closer to Christ :) So here in the Philippines I have been questioned for not using my hands when I eat rice, for eating too little, using toilet paper and washing my hands so much haha. I'm telling you this place is a 180 flip from everything i've been taught haha. So mom when I come home I hope it's ok if I eat everything with my hands, smell bad and don't use toilet paper- ha jk JK. So about the Tagalog... hahaha ya. It's good, obviously not fluent yet. Sometimes that's really hard because I want to understand and talk to these wonderful people so badly, but I know it will come with time with Heavenly Father's help. I read a quote from President Utchdorf the other day that really really helped me and I wanted to share it with all of you- "The Lord does not require us to work harder than we are able. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can, that we work according to our full capacity- however great or small." Right now I feel pretty humbled to be here in a new country where literally EVERYTHING is different from what I'm used to, but I know that as I do my very best and put my complete trust in God, he will help me. Sometimes the Lord breaks us down to build us back up, but he always builds us better. I know we all face trials and challenges in our lives but if we endure them well, put our faith in Christ and do our best, he will bless us and we can feel a fullness of joy :) I love you all and am so grateful for you in my life. I miss you and hope you are all well and happy. Because there is just so much to be happy about! :D LOVE YOU ALL!

Mahal kita!

Sister Lowe