Happy Halloween

This was such a strange Halloween - Robert didn't want to do anything, and everyone else was gone.

I dressed up in a poodle skirt for college - there was a big costume contest.  It was great fun, but I was one of 50 people that dressed up.  HMMM!!!

For halloween night I dressed up in Marissa's cheeta costume to pass out candy.  I did homework and then ran to the door every time the door bell rang.  It was crazy.  Just as I would sit down, the door bell would ring or someone would knock, but I love seeing all the kids dressed up in their costumes!  It's so much fun.  I love this holiday.  I don't know if it's because I love chocolate, or costumes, walking the neighborhood ... but it's so fun!!!

week 22 - Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!

Tomorrow I will have been on my mission for 5 months!! Which is crazy because it doesn't feel like that long! Time has flown by. This week was so great! I feel like every week just gets better and better!

So here the amazing things that happened this week!:

- The Elders called us on Tuesday night asking us if we could teach this girl they are teaching.  They told us that she has trust issues with men because of her past and wants sisters to teach her. So we co-teach with them. This girls name is jasmine and we had a lesson with her on Wednesday and asked her to be baptized on November 19th. She accepted right away. We then met with her on Friday and we were teaching the plan of salvation. We asked her if she had read 1 Nephi 1-10 and she told us she had to run away from home to do it because her dad would take he book and trash it. We asked how she felt while reading and she said "it felt right, I think it's true." We were in shock! Like that is the power of the Book of Mormon! I love it so much because it helps us gain a testimony of Jesus Christ! She told us in the lesson: "I've never felt this much love in my life." That broke my heart. This girl has gone through so much, she then said, "I just want to covert now, can I move my baptism date up?" Elder Gardener and Smith and Sister Schultz and I all look at each other, all of us beaming with joy and we said, "yes oh course, how about the 12th?" And she was like "yep that sounds great!"  We have only met with her twice and she is already ready for baptism. She truly is amazing!

- So another Elder companionship called us and told us they have an investigator, Mercedes, who wants sisters. Since we are the only sisters in our zone we told them we will teach with them. We get there and we ask who Mercedes is, and this little girl pops out and says "thats me!" She is 8 (almost 9 though) and both her parents aren't Mormon. Sister Schultz and I look at each other because we have never taught a kid before. Actually I don't even think I've seen a little kid on my mission yet because we cover YSA (college kids). It was a big change in our teaching because we had to make it super simple. We taught her and her mom, Lenor the restoration. And both of them were so interested and so happy to receive light in their life. The mom explained to us that she is trying to get sober from her drug addiction. It was a great experience.

- So this week for USU is the HOWL which is this big Halloween party on campus where apparently a lot of people come drunk to. So my whole zone was on lock down from 6pm - 9pm on Saturday in a church building. So we all played sports together which was a ton of fun! We also have a full P-Day because it's Halloween and we aren't allowed out. So we will be at the church tonight playing sports with the other Elders and Sisters.

- Okay last thing, sorry! Last night we had Elder Ucedes from the quorum of the seventy come and he gave a devotional, he spoke in general conference a few weeks back. He shared his conversion story of how he came to know that this church was true. It was so powerful. He taught us about prayer and how we should constantly be changing our prayers. One thing that struck me is that he said, "when we are praying we have the attention of the most powerful, almighty being in the universe!" That really gave me perspective on my prayers. I really need to take advantage of my time to talk to Heavenly Father because it is such a sacred amazing time. Our investigators came to the devotional which was great and they said they loved it.

This week we have seen so many miracles and I know it is because of our diligence, obedience, and faith. I know that God is watching out for us and he is sending prepared people our way. I love this gospel so much. Mission life is great! I wouldn't change it for the world! Hope all of your weeks go well, and look for the miracles in your life! Love you all!

Carving Pumplins

Marissa received a care package from the Crestwood Stake = it made her so happy

Logan Sunrise

Marissa with Sister Schultz

Marissa at a beautiful spot by a river

 Sister Lowe

Fall Break at home :(

State Qualify Game vs North Hardin at North Hardin

Prior to the game, the team had another Pasta dinner at the Frazee's house.  Robert and his teammates had a great time there.  Once again, the CATZ promoted the game on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

October 25, 2016
The school is on fall break but not these guys.
Tonight is the Semi-State Championship.
Tonight we play against North Hardin at North Hardin.  Unfortunately, North Hardin is not on Fall Break so they have a full cheering section at the game.  NOHS brought a tight cheering section as well, but the Black Hole was not in full strength.

Starting line up was Mason, Parker, Ryan, Robert, Dylan, Blake, Nathan, Matthew, Kaleb, and Conner.

Robert started the game on the wing.  He had a great first half, making an assist to Mason for the first GOAL of the night.  He played 37 out of the 40 minutes of the first half.  Half time we are up 1 - 0. 

Way to go NORTH

Ryan

 In the 2nd half North Hardin scored from a cross (Kaleb slipped while defending) allowing the score.  1-1.  About 10 minutes later North Hardin scored on a header from a corner shot into the goal, barely out of Max's reach.  It's now 2-1.

The Mustangs fought hard to get another goal.  Robert made several great passes to Conner, Mason and Ryan but our shots didn't score a goal.

It was so sad.  The game ended 2-1.  North Hardin advances.

It was a great run and the best NOHS had done in a long time!!!

We are so proud of Robert and his team for their depth and presence in the state tournament.

Week 21 - Devan got baptized!!!

Hello everyone !

A lot happened this week! And I took a ton of pics sorry!

I'm gonna start with the the exciting part! So DEVAN GOT BAPTIZED!!! Whoop! It was such a special day! Devan bore her testimony and cried as she expressed how happy she is to be a part of this gospel and it brought everyone to tears. Devan started investigating the church in January and was super bible heavy and super against the Book of Mormon. But she decided to read the Book of Mormon to give it a try and as she did she gained a testimony of how much it testifies of Christ. I met her in August and have been teaching her until yesterday when she got baptized! Devan’s mom who is not Mormon came all the way from California to see her get baptized! It's so amazing how supportive she was and she was crying during the whole thing. It was one of the most happiest moments of my mission. Devan is so inspiring to me and the spirit was so strong at the baptism. I am so happy the Lord called me to this mission, so that I could teach Devan and get to know her to help her come closer to Christ and be baptized.

Okay funny story:

So during the baptism we got a call from our mission president. I answered the phone and President Allred said..."what is your shoe size?" So I answered and told him my shoe size and asked him why he was asking. He told me that a women from Ogden who was speaking in the regional conference that day forgot her shoes and needs shoes to wear. So I gave president allred the key to our flat and he went to our flat and got my shoes to give to the lady who was speaking in conference. Haha yeah so long story short my shoes made it to conference where Elder Stevenson spoke.

This week we went on exchanges with our STL's. I went to Smithfield which was a lot different than campus! There were kids, grandmas, parents, yards, and houses! It was so different from what I'm used too! It was a cool experience to see what family wards are like. We did a lot of service that day which was fun! This was the first time I left sister Schultz alone in the area and she did great! I was so proud of her!

So now for the sad news... So one of our investigators, Katie, met with us this week and told us she didn't read the Book of Mormon at all that week. Which was strange because she usually always does. She then went on to tell us that she feels like she has gotten her answer and that it is not for her. My heart literally sank:/ she goes on and tells us that she loves us but doesn't want to meet anymore. We bore our testimonies to her on the Book of Mormon and told her that we are not the ones converting people, but the spirit and God are. We encouraged her to keep reading the Book of Mormon and to call us when she is ready. It was really sad because Katie dropped us that day, but

I know that we planted a seed in her heart and it will grow as time goes by.

It was a good/bad week, but as I look at the positive things I feel at peace and I know that God is watching over me! I love this gospel. It has changed me for the better. I love my mission and the people I am serving here in Logan. The members amaze me here and I am so glad I get to be apart of their lives. I love you all and hope your weeks went well!

Look Sister Lowe is wearing the nice North Face coat I bought her :)

Sister Lowe

Part 2: 

So we just got the roster today and we thought nothing would be changing for us but turns out that we will be white washing an area! We used to cover the 3rd stake YSA and now are covering the 5th and 6th stake YSA on campus! We are so sad because all the people we were teaching we can't teach anymore! The elders are now covering our area so it will be so different. We told everyone this week that we are 99% sure we aren't leaving and now we are, we are so sad! But I know it is what the Lord wants and that this is what is best for the area! Just wanted to let you know!

Love you all

Regional Finals vs Oldham County - Biggest Victory of the Season

Hype for the Regional Championship was awesome.  Photos again were posted on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Get your SPIRIT ON!!!

Betsy made a huge banner that hung in the main hallway at NOHS.  The whole team liked the spirit.

The game took place on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Martha Layne Collins High School against Oldham County HS.

Twice before these two teams have played against each other.  Twice we have out hustled OCHS but not won.  NOT TONIGHT.

Tonight is not the best weather.  It's predicting rain to start before the game ends.  Keeping our fingers crossed it holds off.

Tonight the game was electric.  NOHS was on fire.  The starting line up was Max, Robert, Ryan, Dylan, Parker, Mason, Matthew, Nathan, Conner, Blake and Kaleb. 

Friends came to support Robert - President Stevens and his family.

The Whites, the Stevens, The Robinson's and even the Longhursts even though their son plays for OCHS

During a small break in the first half, Coach Altoff came and talked to Robert.  He must have given him some good advice because Robert was on FIRE!!!

Fat heads rule - Mo and Robert (Rob Lowe)

So I filmed most of this game and didn't get many good photos of Robert playing - he played an awesome game!

NOHS out hustled, out played, out ran, out shot and our SCORED OCHS!  First goal was by Dylan Smith, the second goal was by Mason Rice.  The third goal was by Ryan Geoghegan, (there was a huge celebration after the goal - see photo) and the fourth goal was by Robert Lowe.

Robert's goal

Celebrating after Robert's goal

Such great team spirit!!

All the parents are on pins and needles waiting for the final outcome of the game.  OCHS could come back - but NOHS fights till the bitter end to secure the game.

Travis Rice - Mason's dad

Brian Vicich - Parker's dad

Diane Wheeler - Ryan's Mom

Elise Ball - Nathan's mom

Amy Vicich - Parker's mom

Amy Hickenlooper - Henry's mom

Chelsea - coaches wife

Getting a well deserved break after his goal

The look of satisfaction - Job well done!

Ryan and Robert celebrating

Although the game is going on - the starters are on the sideline celebrating!!!

Max and Mason

Max and Robert

Max Sander - Shut out at Regional game - Best GOALIE

8 minutes left - 4-0!!

VICTORY!!!!

The final score was NOHS 4- OCHS 0.
Victory over OCHS was monumental. Robert helped his team to another victory.  They all played so well.  It was a well deserved win!

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Robert was on fire for the Regional Tournament.  

He scored 4 goals, and had 3 assists in 3 games.  Dylan Smith scored 1 goal, Mason scored 3 goals.  Nathan Ball did an amazing job defending, too.

Robert Lowe, Dylan Smith, Mason Rice and Nathan Ball were named All Regional Players.

Robert was named all Regional Player!!!