Week 34 - After Christmas

Hey guys!!!

How was your Christmas?? I hope you all got everything you wanted haha :) I sure did! 

It has seriously been such a fun and rewarding week! It was Sister Casaol's birthday on Monday so President Querido and his family took us out to a nice restaurant outside of our area! It was so nice and super good food. (perks of having a companion who is family friends with your mission president haha ) 

So for Christmas Eve we got to eat at a members home in our area and it was so good! Filipino style spaghetti (yes there is a difference), fish, adobo, minudo and a whole ton of rice haha. Then we had to come home early at 6 because there are a ton of drunks on the street Christmas Eve so we had 4 sister missionaries who live next door to us come over and celebrate christmas and have a sleepover! It was super fun. 

Christmas Eve Dinner

At a members house for dinner

Then for Christmas we had no one to teach because all our investigators were out of town or busy obviously so we went around to our members homes and shared messages about the Savior and, of course, ate tons of food! Every house we went to had food and made us eat it! I was so stuffed by the end of the day.  I absolutely LOVE it here in Lubao and would not mind staying here for a while, haha. Lubao is more city than Hermosa was and there are actually a couple restaurants and a grocery store here!! Jackpot haha. But the reason I really love Lubao is because of the people here. 

Jessica with a member

Jessica opening Christmas Presents

Jessica and two sisters sitting on a tyrke 

1. I love my companion Sister Casaol and we get along so great. We work hard but we also play hard haha and are always smiling and laughing. 
2. My housemates are hilarious and we just enjoy everyday together and work hard together to bring more people to christ. 
3. My Zone is amazing and we are all so close and if anyone is struggling in there area or homesick we help one another and pick them up- it's really like we are a family now. 
4. My Branch here are such hard workers and their focus is always on the missionary work and helping us to achieve our goals. And last but definitely not least I LOVE my investigators here. They are so open minded and willing to open their doors and their hearts to us so that we can help them receive the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. We now have 8 people who will be getting baptized within January and February and they are all so excited! Its amazing to see how much the Lord's hand is in this work. When we got here we opened the area which means we started from scratch. No investigators and only 5 members who live in our area. But with faith and the help of Heavenly Father we are finding much success here and helping others improve their lives and be happier through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jessica and Sister Calhaun - her first companion

The Lubao sisters

Mustache anyone?

I love it here, I love my mission- I cant imagine my life now without it, and of course I LOVE YOU ALL! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Make this one the best one yet!

Love ALWAYS,

Sister Lowe :)