Betsy makes the local paper

Local helping Philippines typhoon recovery

By Alix Mattingly

Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 6:00 am (Updated: November 28, 6:01 am)

Betsy Lowe never thought her daughter, Jessica, would be halfway around the world.

Jessica Lowe

A picture of the destruction in Hermosa, Philippines.

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Jessica is currently in Hermosa, Philippines on a mission trip through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A former track runner at North Oldham, Jessica was in her junior year of college at Brigham Young University in Utah when she received a letter saying she would be serving her mission trip in the Philippines.

“This is a test of faith, not only for us but for her,” she said.

Young adult members of the Mormon church are encouraged to take mission trips to develop their faith. While young men are strongly encouraged, the recent change in age minimum from 21 to 19 for women to go on a trip opened up doors for young women like Jessica.             

“Immediately my husband and I knew and we said ‘She’s going to want to go on a mission trip,’ ” Betsy said.

Soon after Jessica heard of the change, she called her parents who agreed that a mission trip would be a good opportunity.

“You don’t get the opportunity to do that much service again in your life,” Betsy said, noting family life quickly takes over for many young Mormon women.

During Jessica’s 18 month long mission trip she intends to meet with locals and share her faith and beliefs. Jessica received six weeks of language training in Tagalog and offers English training as part of her faith-sharing visits with locals.

Betsy and her family had another surprise when Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines. The typhoon, also known by the name Yolanda, killed over 5,209 people according to the Philippines National Disaster Agency. This number is likely to rise as bodies are discovered in clean up.

An email from Jessica to her family notified them of her safety by saying, “despite the weather, we had a good week.”

Betsy continued to watch news coverage of the typhoon. Through all of the reporting, an interview with a woman who said she just wanted a clean shirt stuck with Betsy.

“I looked at my closet and said, I have twenty,” she said.

It was this realization that pushed Betsy to take up donations to send to the Philippines.

“They are families just like us, if we had gone through what they went through we would want a helping hand,” Betsy said, “This is a least we can do.”

Email us about this story at amattingly@oldhamera.com.

The following items can be donated at NOHS or OCHS.

1. Hygiene items like shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, tooth paste,

    dental floss, comb, brush, deodorant and razors.

2. Clothing for warm weather climate, any size.

3. Dry foods, nothing that will melt.

4. Other items: batteries, sun screen, bug spray, lip balm.