Collins Tennis at Clear Creek Park

3/28/17

Robert played doubles for the first time with Simrod.  They won their first game 6-1.  It was a blow out.  It got their confidence up ... not sure if that was a good thing.  Crazy enough, the Collins team came back little by little from loss of focus.  Not to be critical, but I will say, Robert continued to be focus and determined to win, it was very frustrating for him when his team lost the point.  He played a very consistent game.
In the end, the game went to a tie breaker because NOHS lost the second set.  Too close for comfort. 

This was the last game before Spring Break.

Week 43 - Matthew's Baptism

Hiya!

This weeks been a bit hectic! So Sister Davis and I are both STLs and the new way of exchanges is to bring the sisters we are over into our area both at the same time. So this week we had Sister Schell and Picinich come to Nibley for the day and it was so great. For one, I love Sister Schell (she was in my old zone) and it was a great day we definitely saw miracles! On Thursday we also had Sister Ricketts and Wayment come to our area for exchanges and it was yet another great day. To worst part of this week was that it pretty much rained all day and it was like 30 degrees so we have been cold, but It never stopped us.

So next great thing was that MATTHEW WAS BAPTIZED!! Woot woot! It was an amazing baptism and the Ward supported him so much. The baptism was packed that people just had to stand because there wasn't enough room. I had so many people come up to us and say "we never thought this would happen but it did today and we are so happy!" The spirit was so strong at the baptism it was incredible. Also, President and Sister Allred came to our baptism again with Sister Bettey who got off her mission 3 months ago! It made me so happy, but also nervous when we were speaking. So a little background on Matthew. His mom, Yamile, is Catholic and his dad Paul, was inactive, up until a few months ago when he started to become active and now got to baptize Matthew. Matthew decided he wanted to learn more and now has been baptized! We are hoping to teach Yamile in the recent convert lessons:) It was a great week. We've been pretty busy with lessons and tracting. The hardest thing is when no one answers the door. We will spend a few hours knocking doors and it's the worst when no one is home. But we keep going and eventually someone will be home:) We had some great lessons with Allee and she is set for baptism on April 8th, we are so excited for her!

Matthew's family: Paul, Matthew, and Yamile.
I love this family with my whole heart. Yamile still isn't a member but we hope to change that:)

Marissa, Matthew and Sister Davis at Matthew's baptism

We spoke in sacrament again this week. It went really well but it’s always so intimidating because everyone is just staring at you. I shared a story about my dad on his mission in my talk and while I was speaking I saw the bishop and his wife crying and some others which I didn't really touched people so dearly. Also after our talks everyone now is so pumped for missionary work, we are excited! Hope you all have a great week! Remember to watch General conference! It's literally the best...like Netflix on the mission! 

Sister Bettey came to our baptism also!!!
She used to be a missionary here and actually took me out my first day as a missionary here in Logan.

Holla! Love you all!

Sister Lowe

Ronald McDonald House

Today was a busy day.  Mark, Robert and I volunteered at the Ronald McDonald house downtown Louisville starting at 9:00 AM.  We volunteered with the Thiess family.  They are so wonderful to work with.

Mark and I brought the sausage and bacon, they brought the pancake mix and syrup. 

We cooked enough to feed 80-100 people. 

Whenever we are there Betsy also organizes their pantry.  It's always left in a disarray but she tries to make it nice and organized.

After the service at Ronald McDonald house Robert had a basketball game at 1 PM against Louisville 2nd Ward.  It was a great game!  Great sportsmanship, great athleticism, and a nice win.  Robert had an awesome game!  It's so fun to watch him play!

Robert Plays St. X again

This morning was colder than expected.

Robert played number 1 Singles against the St. X team that didn't go to the Chattanooga tournament.  St. X has been state champions for several years in a row (7-8).  Robert played a great game, stayed with it one for one each game, but in the end the St. X player got the last shot and final point.  Robert never gave up!  Great job!!!

Match against Trinity at Top Gun

Trinity is ranked highly in the state.  Robert played third singles against Ryan Biddle.  Ryan used to go to North. 








It was a great match. Robert fought for every point. He lost the first set 6-4, and won the second set 6-4 so it went to a tie breaker.  Sadly, Robert lost the tie breaker, but he played a great game.  We were so proud of him.  He had a great match that could have gone either way.

Week 42 - David's baptism

Hello everyone!

So highlights from this week:

On P-day we were in the mall because sister Davis needed new shoes and guess who I saw there!  Janine! I taught Janine when I was serving on USU. She was living with her boyfriend at the time for 7 years and that is why she couldn't be baptized. Well on Monday she told me she broke up with her boyfriend because he wouldn't marry her, she moved out, is now dating a return missionary, and is getting married April 8th and then wants to be baptized! Like what!!! Miracles do happen. It's crazy how much can change when you leave an area. I'm so excited and proud of her. 

Okay so the first week we were in Nibley we knocked on a door and it was this guy named Mario who was a realtor showing a house to someone. He didn't look to happy to see us. Well the other night we were at our Ward mission leaders house and they told us their realtor was coming later that night. We then realized it was going to be Mario who we met already and the Ward mission leader told us to open the door when her rang the door bell. Mario's face was priceless when he saw us open the door. He was so confused, haha. We let him in and then the Ward mission leader explained why we were over. It was so funny and a great missionary opportunity because he is not a member and we actually got to talk to him this time because he couldn't shew us away. 

Sister Davis got sick this week:/ so on Friday night she was not feeling good at all and wanted a priesthood blessing. So we called the district leader to come over and it turned out that the district leader and zone leaders all came over. It was 9pm at night and I realized after the blessing about how amazing it is to have the priesthood in our lives. Who would of thought that 6 teenagers would get together on a Friday night to give a priesthood blessing. We had to do outside because the elders aren't allowed in our house. The blessing was so spiritual and it was so quiet and peaceful outside. I love this church:)

David was baptized!!! So his dad is super in-active and kind of anti-Mormon (Like whenever anyone from the church goes to their house he hides in his room and never comes out). Well David asked him to say the prayer at his baptism and he did! He went up and first said "I want to thank you all for helping my boy become the boy he is today," he got super emotional and began to cry a lot. When he went to say the prayer he said "I haven't done this in a long time so bear with me." He then prayed and while he prayed he took long pauses and cried in between. After the prayer I looked over at David and he was crying. You can tell how much he loves his dad and how happy he was for him to be there. It was so spiritual! Man I love baptisms! 

We have one next week too I'm so excited for Matthew:)

Sunday. So we we came late to church at 9am and slipped in the back. The bishop went to the stand and asked us to come to the stand and sit up there. So we made the long walk up there and sat on stand. Then in 4th Ward the bishop asked us to say the opening and closing prayer. We then went to 11th Ward and spoke in sacrament. All 3 wards were in different buildings. Busy busy Sunday! We had 3 investigators come to church which was a plus:)

I want to end with one of my favorite scriptures. I shared this in my talk yesterday in sacrament: It is Alma 5:26, "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"

I have truly felt the song of redeeming love and I have experienced a change of heart and that is what has led me to be the missionary that I am. I would ask all of you to ask the same question to yourself and ask if there is more you can do to share this gospel with Gods children. The gospel has blessed us so much and all we need to do is invite and love others.

Birthday present from Tate and Jessica

Marissa with her companion Sister Davis:  

Pday we matched! White Aggie shirt and adidas pants 

Marissa is 20

Oh you know just hopping over a fence!

Sister Davis's mom sent a package and I got all of this Alaska stuff for my birthday:)

Love the Powells! They sent this to me on my bday:) 

We built a green house this week for this lady in our area. 

Love YOU ALL!

Sister Lowe

Ps: this little girl called Sister Davis and I Anna and Elsa! I was so happy!

Robert indoor tennis vs Greenwood

It's been 8 days since the boys got to play tennis.  They've had a few practices, but the weather on game days caused a few rainouts.

Robert was all set to play Carroll County on 3/13, but it was canceled.
The same thing happened for their matches against St. Francis on 3/14.

The next schedule games were against Greenwood (they are from Bowling Green).  Since they traveled so far, they didn't want to cancel the games due to rain.  Coach Arteburn secured courts at the Louisville Racquet club.

Robert played third singles against a very talented and experienced player.  Indoors has a very different feel - the ball is faster.  Robert tried to beat his opponent at his game, but that didn't work.

Actually the whole NOHS team struggled.  We lost 5-0.

Robert was so disappointed that we got a membership at the Springhurst Tennis Club and he and Mark practiced more that night.  More on accuracy and ball placement - less on speed and power.

Practice makes Perfect

Last Test in Last Class - I Did IT!!!

Last week and this week have been so stressful ... it is finals time.  I am taking five, 5 classes = 20 credit hours.  Yes, I'm crazy, but Mark recommended I just get it over with.  Most of the time I was afraid that taking 5 classes was going to ruin my GPA (4.0) but now that the end is in sight, I'm very glad I decided to take all 5 classes this quarter.

Over the weekend, I had so much to finish ...

For Information Systems for Managers:
- Discussion 10
- Final Exam Paper

For International Business
- Homework week 11
- 42 page report on Thailand

For Diversity Management
- Discussion 10 and feedback
- Marriott Training paper on Diversity (24 pg)
- Marriott Training powerpoint on Diversity (19 slides)
- Discussion 11 and feedback
- Final exam

For Business Policy
- Executive Briefing Q6 (6th quarter of module)
- 5 year Business Plan for our company (20 pg)

For Analysis of Business Structure
- Marriott paper (15 pg)
- Final Exam

Slowly but surely the above requirements were completed (in order of priority by due date).  The last thing was the final exam in Business Analysis.   Today at 11:00 am - I took my last exam!  I scored a 100% on it!

As I was packing up my professor congratulated me and complimented me in front of the entire class.  I was beaming!  I can't believe it!

A dream and goal of mine for 30 years has finally been met and is complete!  I did it!

On April 22, I will graduate with a degree in Business Management and certification in Conflict Management.

Week 41 - crazy week

Hello People!

Wow just another busy week here in Nibley! It's crazy! I can't believe it's Monday again! So this is kind of birthday month so happy birthday to Devon (my bro), Tate (bro-in-law), Mom, Marlie, Makenzie, and all the others born in March! Love you all!

Okay so here are some highlights of my week:

1. It snowed one day here and the next day was like 60. Utah weather is so crazy! I love the sun though...it's starting to feel like summer!

2. We had MLC (mission leadership council) this week! It was so awesome. I always learn so much from those meetings of how I can be a better missionary and improve and become more Christ like. The thing I got most out of MLC was "nothing happens in missionary work unless you find people to teach" we need to be constantly finding so that we can always be teaching. Our mission president wants us to find 2 new investigators every week....and we found 3 this week! Whoot Whoot! I’m up for the challenge.

3. So the zone leaders asked Sister Davis and I to give a 30 minute training in Zone Training Meeting. We were both nervous to do it and had to really plan for it, but it turned out really well. I was happy I had that opportunity to stretch myself. The mission definitely gets you out of you comfort zone!

4. Okay miracle: so we were tracting and usually we just knock the non member doors since there are a lot of members in Utah. Well we felt like we should knock on this one members door. And they let us in and we asked if they had a neighbors who weren't members. And they told us their neighbors weren't Mormon and then said "Let's all go over there and we can introduce you to them!" Best. Members. Ever! So we met their neighbors and asked to do an FHE with them and they said yes! Whoot! When members and missionaries work together the work truly progresses.

5. Sunday.... So busy! We went to 3 Ward councils, 3 sacraments, 4 investigators at church, and had 2 lessons that day. We were all over the place, but I love being busy! We just building hop all day, so our senior couple just drives us all over Nibley. It's sometimes overwhelming to cover 12 wards, but we are starting to get the hang of it!

6. We've had a ton of lessons this week! I love it here in Nibley the work here is on fire!

We had a couple lessons with David and he is set to be baptized Saturday the 18th! So excited! We had a lesson with Matthew (13 years old) and his mom Jamille. Matthew is set to be baptized the 25th and now his Mom is interested in learning more (she's Catholic)! So she's our new investigator! And both came to church on Sunday!

We met this girl named Allee this week. She is 12 and goes to activities with her friends. We asked her if she wants to learn more and she said yes and her mom told us that she supported Allee in anything she wanted to do. So yay another new investigator!!

We also met with this part-member family. The dad, Matthew, is Catholic but doesn't believe in a lot of things the Catholic Church does. He said the religion that most goes with his beliefs would be the Mormon church. So he wants the lessons, so now he's a new investigator too! We had so many miracles this week! I just know God is truly mindful of all of us and he loves us so much!

Well I love you all! I love this church. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. He has done everything for me and I know we wouldn't be having this success without him by our sides helping us along the way. I love the Book of Mormon and it truly testifies of Jesus Christ.

Snowing again 

Marissa with Sister Davis at the mission office

Birthday present from Sister Brunt

Love y'all

Sister Lowe

Tennis Scrimmage vs St. X

The second scrimmage is against St. X.  What a match.  St. X is the returning State Champion for something like 9 seasons!  St. X has an amazing tennis program. 

The Senior Varsity guys:  Robert, Jack Stewart, Jack Dugan, and Mitch Zuberi

 Robert got to play their #1 player as the #3 seed.  He lost 6-1 but at least he won one.  He learned a lot from this game.  He kept trying to beat him with a hard fast shot or a shot with spin, but really all that matters is hitting it somewhere and somehow that the opponent can't hit it back within the boundaries on your side. 

I love that Robert and Mark talk in between matches. 

Robert got to play another player.  This time Robert won 6-2.  It was a great game.  He was on his serve and had great finesse with the ball.  Way to go Robert!!!