Week 16: transfer from Chaing Rai to Phuket

Robert Lowe

Sun, Sep 23, 8:55 PM 

So this week has just caught me totally by surprise. I'm still a little in shock about everything. But long story short, I love PUKHET!!!

First, leaving Chiang Rai. Honestly just one of the hardest things as a missionary is leaving an area that you have come to love so much. I loved the members there so much and all of the investigators were so kind too. But all good things come to an end. Transfers were this week which means I went all the way to Bangkok, picked up my new คู่ (companion), and we were on our way to ภูเก็ต (Phuket). My new companion's name is Elder ทู (thuu) and he is Samoan. He is super chill and wants to work hard so that's all I could ask for. Anyways, that bus ride was by far the longest bus ride I have ever been on...I think it was about a 14 hour bus ride but no worries, I got to Phuket in 1 piece! This place is super beautiful and very very hot. I'm literally living on an island right now teaching about Jesus Christ. Life can't get much better than that, right? 

Second, what caught me by a huge surprise was the lack of people we are teaching here. In Chiang Rai we had a bunch of people to teach but when I got here my companion told me we have nobody that we are teaching. This area is brand new so a lot of these people have never heard about God or are not interested at all. It honestly feels like we are the pioneers just trying to find anyone that is willing to listen to our message. The key is to have faith to find the elect and trust God that he can help me! 

Because we don't have too many people we teach, I have the sweet opportunity to talk with everyone. It's funny because in Thailand there are timers on the stoplights so I know exactly how much time I have to deliver our message. Sometimes with only 10 seconds I just ask where they are going and tell them I am a missionary that teaches about Jesus Christ. Anytime I pull up to a stoplight, if someone pulls up next to me on a motorcycle they already know I am talking to them! I've past out so many inviting cards because I am trying to plant these seeds for future missionaries. 

Overall I have gotten to speak so much more already. I talk with everyone I see, my trainer has me lead almost all the lessons, and I am now talking probably 60% in the lessons and my companion is talking 40%. It's just a complete turn around where I went from not speaking too much in lessons to being the one that answers questions and leads the lessons. I know it has got to be God helping me because I just feel way more comfortable and I don't really have to think about the words I am about to say they just come out naturally! But, I know I still have got such a long way to go because I am nowhere near fluent. 

I believe that God is giving me the gift of tongues this week. He has sent me to Phuket, a new area with only me and my companion. We both are relatively new in the mission and have a long way to go as missionaries. But, I can truly see God's hand in my life helping me teach these people in order to progress his work down here in the south. 

I feel so blessed to be here in Phuket. The people are still soo nice and I love the members here too. They are all shocked that I am a greenie and some of them say that I speak better than my trainer who has been out for 7 months in country. I think they are just being nice though. We visit members a lot and they always feed us so much. One member made a bunch of spaghetti and I thought I was in heaven. Overall the Lord is blessing me and has sent me here for a specific reason. I just have to find out what it is. 

Love and miss you all. Until next time

Love 

Elder Lowe 

1) me with sister ไหมา and brother พายุ and there crazy kid

2) last time teaching ต้น with Elder Davis 

 3) some guy dressed up in an elephant costume haha 

 4) the fam (my trainer and his son with my trainer's trainer and his son)

 5) my companion wanted in on the fun

6) the nicest people on earth or some of the members in Phuket