My list of questions for the Philippines Doctors

This is the email sent to the Mission president and his wife for them to ask the doctor when she returns on Friday for her doctor follow up.

Hi 

Since my husband and I can't be there this Friday (tomorrow) we have compiled a list of questions we have for the cardiologist.  I'm sorry, but since we aren't there it is quite long.

It sounds like we have quite a few issues going on with Jessica

1.  bradycardia

2.  low blood pressure

3.  arrhythmia (every 3-4 seconds)

4.  bacteria

5.  enlarged thyroid

6.  a few abnormal test results (neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophils)

So far we have determined that Jessica NEEDS to increase her water/fluid intake and take a multi-vitamin on a regular basis.  We also saw her sodium and potassium levels are normal (not what we were expecting).  Her younger sister had syncope so we are very familiar with it, however Marissa's heart doesn't have the abnormal beat like Jessica.

What is Jessica's current resting heart rate and blood pressure?  From what I can tell it was as low as 40 in the hospital with a blood pressure of 80/60 with the erratic spike every 3-4 seconds.  This combination is not good - leading to her symptoms dizziness, fainting, weakness, etc.  What can we do to increase her vitals to be more stable?

We also noticed in her Fecalysis analysis there is a "moderate" level of bacteria and that her white blood cell count is high - are you investigating if bacteria is effecting the heart tissue?  Should we be concerned about the high level of bacteria?  Is infection causing the bradycardia, low blood pressure and arrhythmia?

We noticed there were a few "out of normal range" results on some of her test ...

 - she was high on Neutrophils (85.1; normal 43-76) - white blood cell

 - she was low on Lymphocytes (8.6; normal 17-48)

 - she was low on Basophils (.2; normal 0-2)

- Was Jessica’s heart tested for level of oxygen rich pumped by the heart? If so was the level of oxygen in her blood normal or below normal?

- Jessica’s TSH level is at 1.26. Does she need some supplements to raise her TSH level which may give her more energy?

- What is causing her to have low level of lymphocytes?  What can she take to improve her lymphocytes?

- What do these mean?  Are they related?

- Another test mentioned "thyromegaly with diffuse parenchymal changes and few sub-centrimeter hypo echoic nodules". 

What does this mean with regards to Jessica and could this be causing her heart issue, or visa versa?  

- What would be the causing her thyroid to be enlarged?  How enlarged is her thyroid?  I read that an under active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism can cause bradycardia) - have we looked into this?

- Do we need other tests for her?

- Do you think she has sick sinus or blockage?

- So essentially - all those questions lead to - What is causing her slow heart rate, arrhythmia, and low blood pressure?

- Can this go away?  Can her heart return to normal? 

- Will any of this  cause permanent damage to her heart?

- At her age, what kind of risks does her heart condition create?

- Do we need to monitor her heart?

- How often will I need follow-up appointments?

- How is Jessica’s energy level currently? If she feels weak, is this due to her low heartbeat or is there a secondary cause?  

- Obviously right now she doesn't have the energy to be active, but will the permanently affect her activity level?    

- Is it safe for her to travel far distances - fly back to the USA when her mission is finished?

If I have overlooked anything please feel free to add or answer unasked questions.  This is all new territory  for us.

I wish we were there to ask our own questions.  I'm sorry to leave this in your hands.  We trust that you are taking care of our daughter the way you would take care of your own child.  Thank you.  We also trust that she is in the Lord's hands and he is dutifully watching over his precious daughter.  We look forward to hearing back from you with the answers.

Thank you again for all your time and attention to her.  It goes without saying that she means the world to us.  We have put her name on the temple prayer rolls, and have asked people from all around the world to pray for her health.  Thank you again for all that you are doing.

Sincerely and with much appreciation.

Mark and Betsy Lowe

Email from LDS Philippine Doctor Morrison

Dear Lowe Family,

I have just had a long conversation with Sr. Lowe’s mission president’s wife, Sr. Dahle, who informs me that Sr. Lowe is  resting and asleep in the mission home.  I assume you have the lab reports from your daughter’s hospital stay and that she was discharged from the hospital  today.  In reference to all of your appropriate questions,  I can say that these reports were made available to me over the phone by Sr. Dahle only a few minutes ago.  Dr. Ablong has not returned my calls to her and I have had to rely on information  passed to me by Sr. Dahle.  I assure you that your daughter has had the testing available at this hospital  to allow the doctors to make the decision that she is stable enough to be discharged at this time.  The question which really needs to be answered  is when will she be able to travel.  Sr. Dahle will accompany Sr. Lowe to her appointment tomorrow and  again ask the doctor to call me  directly.  We would like to able to have her  examined by additional specialists at St. Luke’s Hosp. in Quezon City, a nationally prominent referral center hospital  with available sub-specialists.  This would be helpful in answering all of your questions and all of our questions in ensuring the best possible care for your daughter.  These plans would include transporting her personally when the time is best to ensure your daughter’s  well being.

Please be assured that she is being cared for and watched over at this time.

If you would like to contact me at any time, please email  or phone (cwmorrison@ldschurch.org     or 0917  869 4391).

Moved from ICU

On Tuesday (from Sunday) Jessica was moved from the ICU to a regular room.  This was great news.  Last time Jessica was in the ICU for 6 days and this time it was only 2.

Being in a regular room allowed others to come visit her and the hospital staff required that someone stay with her at all times, so the Mission president and his wife went and picked up her companion, Sister Pizon.

While Jessica was in her non ICU room, several people came to visit - Brother and Sister Gorringe would sneak her in ice cream - yum.  They love her so much!!!!!

The elders from the office gave her a priesthood blessing (I'm sure that was done while she was in ICU), but they came to visit her again.

President and Sister Dahle have been amazing - taking care of her every day.

Jessica was released from the hospital on Wednesday, July 30 because she begged and pleaded so much, and she presented stable!  Her pulse was still low, but her blood pressure had improved to 90/60.  She will need to return on Friday for a follow up appointment and stay on house arrest/bed rest for the time between Wednesday and her appointment on Friday.  She is staying at the mission president's house.

Jessica was very happy to be released from the hospital but she is weak and requires assistance while walking.  She is fully alert but weak.

It breaks my heart!  Please get well soon.  I should be there to take care of my sweet girl!  Please heavenly father - watch over her and care for her as I know you are!!!!

email from Elder Ferrin, In field Representative

Dear Sister Lowe:

Please see the comments of your daughter's Mission President below. She seems to be recovering in the manner you felt inspired to expect. President and Sister Dahle will continue to monitor her recovery and insure her well-being. I will follow-up with them to be sure you stay informed.

Thank you for your mighty faith and prayers. They are so powerful and a blessing to your loved ones. 

With sincere appreciation,

Elder Mark Ferrin

Philippines Area / Asia Area, In Field Representative

Missionary Department

Office from the Philippines  2 683 7265

Office from International +63 26837265

Cell from the Philippines     0919 992 6784

Cell from International +63 919 992 6784

Ferrin@ldschurch.org

Devon week 6

This week was amazing.  I experienced my first baptism on the mission last saturday.  The spirit was strong there and some less actives showed up, which was great because they could feel the spirit.  We have another baptism coming up on Aug. 6 for gladys.  I cant wait for her to be baptized either.  We had a lesson with a new investigator named Jayne.  She is so ready for the gospel.  She has her own scriptures (Quad) and all these other LDS literature like a temple picture book.  We taught her and she said that everything made sense to her so I asked her if she would get baptized.  She said Yes, plus she said that we could come back on Sunday and Monday and that she would go to a baptism and come to church this week and also read her scriptures. However,  she has had foot pain for the last couple days and has done nothing she said that she would do. She also pushed back her baptism date. I am a little upset since she was progressing so well. I think that satan is attacking her so much so that she will not join.  We keep her in our prays.  I am going on another exchange this next week, which will be exciting.  All the changes and new experience have been very hard to adjust to, but I am getting better at it each day.   Next week is transfers,  I hope that neither of us get transferred because of the success we are having.  There is still so much that I still need to learn here.  The members here are very nice and they serve us great dinners.  The work here is progressing.

On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 10:26 AM, Devon Lowe <devon.lowe@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I sent some things back that are too small for me and things that weight too much plus I don't need them.  I do need new Jeans and a new patriarchal blessing mine got destroyed.

On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 9:48 PM, Betsy Lowe <betsy4kids@aol.com> wrote:

I meant to ask you - how do you like the shoes we got you?  Are they comfortable?

Remember to let me know if you need anything?

Love mom

Sunday - 6:30ish Phone call from Philippines

It was Sunday morning and we usually get to sleep in because our church isn't until 1:00 pm - usually... however, today we have to go to church at 9:00 am because there is a problem with the roof at our chapel, but still that is sleeping in compared to 6:30 am.

I was fast asleep when the phone rang at 6:30ish on Sunday morning.  My first thought was, who in the world is calling at 6:30 on Sunday morning.  I saw that the number was from Florida so I almost didn't answer, but something told me to just answer it.  They said, "Is this the Lowe's?"  

I answered, "Yes, can I help you?"

Then the phone said, "Hi Mom, it's me, Jessica."  I immediately jumped up from the bed and repeated, Jessica, Jessica!  But then I realized missionaries don't get to call...

"Hi sweetie, what's going on..."

That's when she told me she passed out after group scriptures study or companion study while she was washing the dishes.  She immediately came to, but the sisters in her apartment called the mission president just to be safe.  He and his wife took her to the hospital where they did tests.  She was admitted to the ICU because her heart rate was fluctuating between 40-50 beats per minute, with a blood pressure of only  80/60 and an irregular heart rate.  They were keeping her to do tests.

Oh my gosh - what ????  what is going on with Jessica?  Should I go?  

She sounds good on the phone, very positive and upbeat!

We are keeping her in our prayers and hope that this will pass soon and that she will be able to be released from the hospital soon.  

Oh my gosh!!!!!  Please help my little girl!

Week 62 - Typhoon Glenda

How's it going over there? Life is great here in Olongapo! Our branch is super excited for this upcoming Saturday because we will break the record for the most baptisms in one day! 

Us missionaries here in Olongapo branch 1 have around 24 people being baptized on the 26th! That's 24 more souls who will enter into the gate, ready to begin their journey and progression to eternal life. Me and my companion Sister Pizon are baptizing 6 people, 1 family of 4 (Argie, Wilma, Shane, and Sandy), a 54 year old women named Belen who has been searching for the truth for years, and Arjay a 20 year old who has struggled with addiction to drugs, smoking, and alcohol his whole teen-life, but has decided he wants to change and find his life and found it in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His family was baptized last month, but he was still trying to quit smoking at the time so he wasn't fully prepared. But now he is completely drug, alcohol, and cigarette free and has a strong testimony of the church. He is so excited for his baptism, when we asked him yesterday how he was feeling as his baptism day is approaching he told us on a scale of 1-10 his excitement is an 11 haha. He's such a good kid, and I feel so blessed to have been a small part of his conversion and life change. 

This week was really eye opening as well because of the big storm! Typhoon Glenda was not kind to Olongapo.  We were without power for maybe 2 days (Don't ever complain about heat to me until you have no power no AC no fan and couldn't shower because there was no clean water and are laying on your mattress trying to sleep hahaha jk :) )  When we went out to work after the storm had died down there was so much destruction and so many trees in the road. A lot of houses had also been washed away in the flooding. We are lucky and live in a 2nd story apartment so we don't have flooding in our apartment. Our area right now is made up mostly of mountains so our big problem was that there had been a lot of landslides. 

One of our investigators home, which consists of a few sheets of plywood   and a metal sheet for the roof, was right in the direction of the storm and it should have been torn to pieces in reality. BUT they told me they had such a sweet experience in their family that I would quickly like to share. The Joven Family consists of Arnie and Sonya and their 7 small children under the age of 12. They have no income except for the small jobs they come across such as washing others clothes or cleaning others homes. They often eat only once a day and that consists of one big plate of rice and if their lucky maybe some canned tuna. The rain was raging and pounding hard on their metal roof, the wind howling outside, slowly but surely pushing over their small home. Sonya the mom began to panic and cry as she clung to her small children and 6 month old baby. At this moment of eminent destruction Sonya was just about to lose hope when her 10 year old daughter RayAnne jumped up and said "Momma! Huwag matakot! Mag-Familyprayer po tayo! Tutulungan tayo ng Diyos kung may pananampalataya lang po tayo sa kanya! ("Mom! Don't be scared! We should say a family prayer! Heavenly Father will help us if we just have faith!" ). In that moment they all knelt down together and offered up a simple prayer to Heavenly Father asking for protection and strength. After another hour of the terrifying storm, it became calm and they came out of their house to find all the other homes had been severely damaged and that a large tree had come within 5 inches of falling on their house. Again they knelt down in the mud and cried as they praised God and thanked him for their safety. Sonya the mom told me this story last Friday. What touched us was the great faith of her small daughter RayAnne who was not scared because she knew Heavenly Father was there for her. I feel like sometimes we all feel like Sonya, trapped in a corner with no hope, but I know Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ are ALWAYS there for us and we should never lose hope and never lose faith because they have a plan for us and love us. I love my mission and I am so grateful for experiences like this that strengthen my testimony and help me see the bigger picture. 

I love you guys so much and can't believe how fast the mission goes!  My 2 very best friends here on the mission, Sister Burt and Elder Penano, go home in 2 weeks and its so weird because they were fairly new too when I got here... ahhhh the time is too fast! I'm just going to enjoy my time here serving the Lord and continue in being obedient and hard-working. Love you guys and take care! 

Love,

Sister Lowe

Devon - week 5

7/21/2014

I went on two exchanges this week.  The first one was with Elder Garside on Tuesday the 15.  He serves in the area next to us.  It was a long day with a lot of walking.  I learned more about finding with the spirit that day because we found by the spirit that day.  We also did service to less actives.  They were really grateful.  Plus I think they are going to church next week!  That was a district transfer.  

On Thursday the 17 we had a multiple zone transfer. I was paired up with both Elder Jones and Elder Bins in the Meridian North area.  Meridian is very different from Boise.  On that day we did service for a family but I felt really bad because I jammed their hedge clippers.  Then we meet with the ward mission leader talked and discussed with him about the area.  Also we did service for him by helping fixing his sprinklers. Then we went over to dinner and taught a lesson their to.  It was nice to have a car for a day.  It made traveling really easy. Elder Jones was stung on the ear by a wasp.  It swelled pretty badly. I hope that He is okay.  The portable ac unit that they had in their room was really nice.  

Luckily we now have a fan at our place so its not to hot when we sleep. Elder Jones, Elder Bins, and Elder Garside are cool spiritual Elders. We have finished the discussions with Gladys, Serenity and Kali.  Both Gladys and Serenity are going to be baptized soon (Aug. 6 and July 26).  Kali still is unsure about joining the church.  She has not got that defiant answer, she has prayed but has not received that answer. We both think that she is afraid of getting an answer so next time we visit we are going to talk to her about it, and if she has any fears about joining. We are lucky that the Burches are her friend and can fellowship her.  

We got a new investigator this week and she came to church also!  She was referred to us by Dr. Lowe.  Her name is Jayne and she is a great investigator who lives the commandments and wants to know more about our church!!!  I talked to Dr. Lowe and told him about my Great Grandpa Alexander Lowe and he said that he recognized that name so we might be related.  I can’t believe that the transfer is halfway over.

Devon - week 4

This is how my typical day goes. I wake up at 6:30 am everyday, exercise except on Sunday, eat breakfast, brush teeth, shower and other morning things, 8 am I study individually 9 am I study with my companion in companionship study, at 10 am we do 12 week training, between 11 and 12:45 we clean the house and fill our water bottles and eat lunch, I also write in my Big plates i.e my regular journal and sometimes my small plates i.e my spiritual journal.  We then do tracking and contacting the rest of the day until 9 pm, in between that time we eat dinner at a members house,  9-10:30 pm we get ready for bed and plan out the next days activity.  On Sunday I go to church at the Columbus park ward.  Monday's are P-days until 6 pm then we do contacting the rest of the night. My area is within these streets Kot-an-ie (pronunciation, I don't know how to spell it) , Vista, Freeway, and victory road.  It is small enough that we walk and besides you meet more people when you are walking then driving or riding. 

This week has been really hot, but I keep myself hydrated always.  It also helps that both members and non members offer us water whenever we teach them.  The members are really nice here.  They give us rides when we ask them and also ask us if they could drive us places. Bless them.  Not too many people are rude here, there has only been one rude person but it ended very well.  I am going on my first exchange today with Elder Garside.  I am a little nervous because of the change, but I am well and okay with it.  The lord has helped me in so many ways that I cant even describe. Last week I accidentally left my bag at the mission office and had to retrieve it the next day.  Hopefully I can avoid that today. This week has been filled with spiritual experiences and service.  We did yard work for a member by leveling part of their yard and cutting a tree load of branches off.  We also helped crazy Jake fix cars.  He is a non member but I see potential in him.  He taught cars and car information to us.  We had a lesson about the atonement to less active members.  The spit was flooding their souls to the point that both of them were in tears at the end of the lesson.  I don't think we could of had a better atonement lesson than that.  It was that strong.  Weeks fly by fast.  This transfer is going to fly by.  I hope that I get to stay with Elder Bodine for at least another Transfer. 

I went to a members house yesterday and I have never seen a larger cat.  He must have been the size of two Garfield's.  You thought that Jasper sheds hair, you have not seen how much hair.  his hair was in the air and everywhere.  The members do their best to clean up but he sheds that much.  My eyes were red and I was dying.  Not really the lord protected me.  The lord helps me not taste food that I don't like.  Thank you Heavenly Farther. I still eat coco puffs everyday.

  Can you send these emails to both Ethan and Norman?

week 61

Hey mom!! sorry we have a zone activity today so we don’t have time to email but i promise next week it will be a good email!!!! promise :) oh! and i got the yellow dress and the green skirt!! I wore the yellow dress last sunday and got TONS of compliments haha. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! YOURE THE BEST!!!!!!!

Robert has NOHS soccer try outs

Wow, what a week!  This year try outs were a week long event...
Every night from 7:00 - 8:30 or 9:00 pm the boys had try outs.
Monday was the 2 mile time trial with ab workout in the gym becuase it rained right after the 2 mile run.
 - Robert did excellent.  He finished in 2nd place, right behind Mason Rice with a time of 12:08. 
   That's excellent!!!
Tuesday was more conditioning tests - sprints and more sprints!
 - Robert did excellent again
Wednesday was the BeeP test!  It is a very challenging test of sprinting a specific distance before the beep goes off.  Most of the boys made it to 8

Marissa goes to EFY

Marissa left on Monday morning for EFY (Especially For Youth) down in Bowling Green, KY.  Vicki O'Brien drove the car pool down - Meg, Marissa, Ben, their cousin and Zack Fisher.  Robert was supposed to attend with them, but he had to cancel due to soccer try-outs.

Marissa was gone Monday through Satruday around noon.  She had a super great time each and every day.  She said they stayed up late most nights so when she came back she really needed to sleep to catch up.

Thursday - dress up day.  all the girls were dresses and the boys were shirt and tie.  They have a dance int he evening.  It's a great day.  Marissa and Meg made great friends while at EFY.

Friday

Photos still to come..

Robert and Marissa got to Youth Conference

Thursday at 3:00 - Robert and Marissa drive over to the Crestwood stake center to participate in their Youth Conference.  Last year they got to do the Pioneer Trek, which is a huge thing, so this year the youth stayed "local."

The first day they are assigned into a group and do various activities.  They had pizza for dinner and then everyone at Youth Conference got to go see a play at the Oldham County Arts Center. 

That night, Marissa and Meg were off to Meg's house to sleep with 2 other girls, and Robert and Ben along with 2 other boys were off to the Moore's house to sleep.

The next day both Meg and Ben got sick so they went home.  That left Robert without a partner, and Marissa without a partner and it left Marissa without a place to stay.

Friday was a day of workshops and exciting activities ending with the Stake Dance.  Betsy's boss was the DJ for the dance.  When the evening was over - they called Betsy to see if we could house the girls (since Meg got sick), but I was driving to Toledo so Mark was home alone... no can do.

Marissa and the other girls in her group ended up at my boss's house - how crazy is that.  They got drinks at Sonic on the way home - they had lots of room - She loved it - they had egg and sausage casserole for breakfast - she loved it!!!  hummm.   

The next morning they dressed in service clothes and did service at Crestwood Elementary School for 3 hours.  They painted and weeded and cleaned up the play ground. 

Mark picked up the kids around 2:30 on Saturday.  We sure hope they had a good time.  They were both very tired when they got home. 

Going to Napoleon, OHIO

For years - decades I have driven to Toledo, OHIO to visit my grandparents (now my grandma) and passed the exit for Napoleon, OH.

Every single time I wish/want to get off and explore the area, but we are always tight on time and cant take the 30 minute drive out of the way to go there.  Time after time I have passed the exit feeling the need to go... so this time when I left my grandma's house and wasn't with children or other obligations in the car, I decided to get off at the exit and travel the Anthony Wayne trail to Napoleon.

On the drive down, I called my dad to find out the what interesting sights I should see.  He instructed me where to go to see the Lingel and Winters grave site and he gave me directions to the Lingel Farm - which is owned by someone else, but still there.

down town

town hall

I was so excited when I arrived in town and found the sights!!!  I love exploring history!!!!



 Finding my great grandpa's farm was the best!!!

Visiting grandma

Friday at 5:10, Betsy left straight from work to drive up to Toledo, OHIO to visit with her grandma, Vera Rennhack.  Grandma had taken a bad fall and broken her foot.  She is in a shoe and uses a walker but she isn't supposed to walk around on it very much, if any at all.

She lives in an assisted living community but in her own apartment.  She used to be able to tend to herself, but then in the last 2 years her health has really declined (she is 94 years old) so she or her son, my uncle, Uncle Dick has hired a part time nurse to help grandma at key times of the day.  Deb Lester is her name and she comes over in the morning to get Grandma ready and do breakfast and set out her pills, then at lunch and then again for dinner.  Grandma doesn't really move around so, she has gone to taking naps during the day.

Well, since her fall she was put on hospice.  That was such a surprise to me - it shouldn't have been, for heaven's sake, my grandma is 94 but I just imagine her around forever.  It is hard to think of her passing on.  

Well, on Friday, I had a lot of traffic on my way up to Toledo - I didn't get in until 11:00 pm.  I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott right by her place.  The next morning I went over to Grandma's around 10:30 - I was supposed to come at 10:00 but I over slept until 10:00 so --- oops!!!!

I spent the entire day with grandma.  We talked and shared about all sorts of things.  I asked her a lot of questions about Dick and Judy and their kids and grand kids.  She was getting tired around 12:00 so I went to Bob Evans and brought lunch back to her apartment.  We ate there.  After lunch we called Uncle Dick and Kirstie so grandma could talk to them.  Uncle Dick and I spoke about some photos that Grandma didn't remember giving to me to preserve, and make a history journal of ... that was very upsetting because Uncle Dick accused me of taking them.  Not in my wildest dream.  Here I was getting photos and stories of his mother to preserve them for her posterity (1/2 of which is his) and he's getting mad at me.  UGH!!!!  

Grandma and I continued our little chats for the rest of the day - at times she seemed like she wanted to nap, but she refused when I gave her the option.  I had to leave around 5:30 so I could get back to Louisville.  It was a great visit.  She looked great and acted completely as expected for a 94 year old woman.

Devon's First Email from Boise, ID - week 3

Thanks for your words of advice. P days are actually on Monday.  It was on the schedule to write home on my first day in the field but Elder Bodine and I were to busy proselyting and never had the opportunity to email home.  He apologized because he know how much families want to hear from their missionaries.  So far dinners have been delicious because they have been 4th of july related.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, CORN on the COB, and BARBECUE CHICKEN no problem eating here. It like the food at home.  Hopefully food is like this every day!!  However, One day I had to eat taco salad. I prayed so hard that that the Lord would help me through it and he did. It wasn't bad but I didn't like it. Maybe I just need to try more of it.  

Elder Bodine and I are always preaching, teaching, walking, studying, or reading. Our motto is exact obedience and live and do as Christ would.  We are blessed to be constantly busy in the lords work because we live our motto.  We are so busy that it causes me to fall behind in my Small and Large plates. Our eagerness to serve and obey the lord has led him to bless us with two people that have baptismal dates!  We also have found two new investigators that we will teach and hopefully they become progressive investigators.  I popped the question to be baptized to a progressing investigator. She said that she wants to be baptized in the right church and to have the perfect knowledge that she is going the right church.  I have the impression that she will be baptized because she feels the Holy Ghost strongly in her life when we teach her and when she reads the Book of Mormon. So far she is in 2 Nephi, but she wants to read the entire Book of Mormon before she is baptized.  When Elder Bodine and I taught her she would write notes about scriptures that touched her and what she felt and heard when we were teaching her.  The note taking made me nervous but the spirit comforted me. We brought 3 investigators to church and they liked it; two of them have baptismal dates. The ward that I am serving in is struggling, its in the Boise south zone.  It has 350 people but only 50 showed up last sunday! However, they could be some that are visiting family.  I was told that over half of the ward is inactive. I believe that  Elder Bodine and I can bring back some of the lords lost sheep.

I feel the spirit constantly and I don't feel like I am struggling yet. For the first three day in the field I had the mind bomb or blown feeling all day. There was just too much information being crammed in my head like street names (vista,columbus,manor,Leihi,Tanee,Koteni,Leam,and others), people names(President Winder and wife,President Christenson and wife, Zone leaders Poplion and Merrill, District leader McAdo,Elders [Bodine, bro, xmopanpacty, medcom, garside, lee, hook, etc.] investigators, RCLA, members names, Bishop Swanson, ward mission leader, sisters, and etc.), phone number (###-###-#### I know it but I can't tell you it), and a whole mountain full of information. luckily, I only serve one ward.  It was like a sensory overload for three days, but the Lord helped me overcome it.  

If you have questions let me know.

Love, 

Elder Devon Lowe

Week 60

Hey guys! 

How are all of you? I'm still doing good here in Olongapo! We had another awesome week! Last Monday we had a wedding for our investigators Brenda and Reggie!!! It was so awesome and so good to see their family make this step in their life. 

Reggie and Brenda's wedding

Tuesday through Thursday was normal work, finding new investigators, teaching preaching, all that good stuff :) We have this super sweet investigator named Arjay and every lesson I am just astounded by his growth and change. I have been with him from the first time we taught him so I can really see everything he's changed in his life. Before we started teaching he was always out drinking, smoking and doing drugs with his friends, dropped out of school and and no job. Now he has quit smoking, drinking, drugs, and is trying to find a job to help support his family. In his spare time he reads the Bible and the Book of Mormon and told us his family is stronger, closer and feels close to God. He will be baptized on July 26th!!!!!!!! Im SO pumped!!! He’s a stud, him and his whole family- (we baptized his family last June, he just wasn't ready until now.) 

Then on Friday we had MLC which is a leadership meeting with all the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and the new mission president! President Dahle is so nice! And when he speaks the spirit is just so strong and too be honest I felt like I was in general conference listening to an apostle, haha. He talked to us about becoming consecrated missionaries and consecrating our lives to the Lord. The meaning of consecration simply means making God's will your own will. Making his wants your wants, his goals your goals. When we conform our will to his we become obedient and become like Jesus Christ. And the good thing about consecrating your life to the Lord is automatically your life and Christ-like attributes improve, the plans that you made before that you thought were good get changed and perfected into better plans, because that is God's plan for you. Hope that makes sense haha. It really hit me hard and makes me want to keep working hard to be more like Christ. To improve myself and my weaknesses until they become strengths. 

Then on Saturday we had 2 more baptisms!!! Reggie and Mark Carlo!!! They are super awesome and have strong testimonies of the church. It was amazing to see 2 full grown men change everything in order to come closer to Christ. Reggie could barely speak when he bore his testimony because he was crying. He told everyone, back then before we taught him, everyday he came home from work, ate, got drunk with the guys, and went to bed. copy and paste that and you have his life for the past 10 years. Now, he comes home from work, spends time with his 3 little boys and has a great relationship with his wife. I love the gospel!! it changes people and has changed me. Well thats about it for this week but i'll keep you updated for next week! Love you guys! Mahal ko kayo Ingat palagi ha? :)

Jessica at a baptism with Sister Pizon

so cute!!!

Sister Pizon and Jessica

Love,

Sister Lowe

Ps: the rain does not stop... ever haha  

Grandma Rennhack is in hospice

So I talked to my Grandma Rennhack tonight, she is 94 years old - amazing.

However, she's not been answering her phone and it caused concern.  Tonight I got a hold of her.  She's been in and out of the hospital for the past 4 weeks due to her bad heart... :(

On top of that she's had to falls - one that hurt her elbow and one where she broke her foot - really bad.  Instead of breaking across the bone, it broke long wise down the bone.

Things are not looking good.  She is now on hospice which means the doctors believe she has between 3-6 months to live.  I am so sad at the thought; I shouldn't be sad - for heaven's sake, she's 94 years old... but she's all I've got left from my mom's side of the family.

My mom passed away almost 25 years ago, grandpa passed away about 7 years ago.  Although I don't see her but once or twice a year, she is a rock to me.  She's always had such a good attitude and always tried to be Christ-like and have a Christian attitude.  She's always getting along and making the best of every situation.

She's so cute - she's only 4'10" tall, and she's legally blind - probably even more than that but she's always been such a fun little grandma.

I am going up to see her this weekend.

4th of July Celebration

It was awesome.  I've only been at work full time less than a week and I get my first paid holiday.  Independence Day fell on Friday this year... Finally a day to sleep in.

Mark and I really didn't feel like there was much difference in the morning ... Robert still had XC and soccer and Marissa has XC.  Marissa had to work from 1:00 pm to. 6:00 so we decided to have dinner after she got home. 

Although it is nice to have a day off and time to spend with family it is most important to take time to appreciate our country and the freedoms that we have.  Having lived outside the USA I really appreciate all the freedoms we have and are blessed with - most importantly the freedom to worship!!!

Mark and Robert enjoyed a challenging game of tennis up at the club.  Robert is getting really good!!

Betsy grilled steaks on the outdoor grill.  We had a delicious dinner of amazing steaks, baked potatoes, garden salads and cressents.  

Mark and Robert went to work out after a break after dinner and Betsy went to finish sewing the articles for Jessica.  She finished the white eyelet dress and the white and blue skirt.  She will mail them to Jessica in the Philippines tomorrow.  

Marissa was invited and went to a friend's from work.  There were a group that met over there.  They set off fireworks for a while and then the boys left and the girls watched "Frozen."  Betsy stayed up until 2:30 am waiting for her to come home, but right around that time Marissa asked if she could just sleep over.  She had a wonderful time with her friends.

Our neighbor, Jeff Emonz puts on one of the best "home" firework shows.  He has for years.  Everyone in the neighborhood really enjoys them.  He actually did his fireworks on July 3rd this year since he was going to be out of town on July 4th.  We are so grateful for his hospitality.  Well, tonight one of the fireworks went right into our front door - CRAZY!  Luckily there wasn't any damage.  The show was fantastic.  My favorite photo is of Marissa and Mark laying on the blanket watching the fireworks.

my favorite photo

Robert and Marissa go to Kentucky kingdom

Since I started a new full time job I can't take the kids to Kentucky kingdom during the week any more... Bummer, but Marissa can drive so she and Robert are both very excited to be able to go by themselves.

Today Marissa and Robert went to Kentucky Kingdom on their own after they got their chores done at home.  They were there all day.  They had a blast.  Around 5:00 it started to rain and they came home.  

Devon called from the SLC airport

So it was Tuesday morning 7/1/14 and we knew that this was the day Devon would be traveling to Boise Idaho to start his mission.

To my great surprise Devon called me while He was in the airport.  It was such sweet music to hear his voice!!!!  I melted at every syllable he spoke.  He sounded so happy!!!  He said he has loved being in the MTC and that he had learned so much.  He had felt the spirit so much!!!!

I talked to him for about 5 minutes and then had to let him go.  I don't know how long you are allowed to talk but I imagine there are others that want to call their families too.  

I miss Devon so much and love him!!!!  I wish him all the best on his mission; I'm so happy for him!!!  I pray for him every chance I get :)