Betsy Paints!!!!

We had a young couple come through the house with their agent.  The agent gave us the feedback that they liked the house and the layout but thought it was a little dated!  DATED!!!  Are you kidding me.  I painted the basement and every room upstairs.  The only rooms I didn't paint were the one's on the main floor (except I had already painted the kitchen).  Most of the rooms in the house are a comfortable "Agreeable Gray"!  With this news, of being dated, I looked to see if we had more "agreeable gray" paint - and we did!

SO! I made up my mind that I was just going to paint the front two rooms of the house to be this aesthetically pleasing gray tone. Unfortunately, there are not any real natural breaks in the walls between the parlor and the foyer, nor the dining room and the foyer, so it ended up being required that I paint the two story open foyer as well, which connected to the upstairs hallway - all of it.  I used up the one can of paint that I had and purchased one more can of paint from Lowe's.  That and several hours of painting, risking my life on a tall ladder, and working round the clock, the painting was done!  To be honest, it looked fantastic.  It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a house.

Well, we let the realtor know we changed the paint color and invited them to come see the new look.  They loved it!

President Blair Releases Mark and I from Pathways

We knew this day was coming, but we were still sad to see it come to fruition.  Mark and I have served as BYU-I Pathway missionaries for the past 14 months.  We worked with the 18-30 year old students in the churches continuing education program through BYU-I.  We devoted all of our extra time to this calling - really connecting with each of our students and finding ways to really help them continue to progress in their studies and in their personal choices. 

We had many wonderful and spiritual uplifting moments.  I personally love each of our students and look forward to seeing them.  Our first group graduated in December. 

We started a new group in January.  This group is smaller - 10 students - but three of them we knew before Pathway:  Frank Broadwater (Bailey's husband - Bailey is from our first group), Ethan Hansen (Devon's friend), and Jacob Wetnz (Jessica's age).  We even have a non-member attending with us.  How exciting is that.

The day came that we were released and asked to train the new Pathway Missionaries.  We met with Brother and Sister Brovont (best couple to call) to continue our efforts as Pathway Missionaries.   We wish them all the best and we will miss this opportunity to help make a difference in people's lives.

Week 34: Thailand is getting a Temple

So this week was the start to a new transfer and we started it by making a bunch of goals! I'm excited for this next transfer and what it holds for us in Phuket. First of all, this week we got to see the groundbreaking of the temple in Thailand. I can't believe in a couple of years, Thailand will have a temple! What a miracle and blessing. Also sister อ้อย was confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost this week!!

This week was full of ผิดนัดs or canceled appointments, so we invited. We tried some new techniques for inviting. One day we decided to go to an orphanage and play soccer with a bunch of little boys. Another day we were inviting in a neighborhood and saw a bunch of little guys playing soccer. So we jumped in and they loved it! Honestly it was awesome to see so many adults pass us while playing soccer and say look at those ฝรั่งs (foreigners) playing soccer with those kids. 

But this Sunday was pretty cool. I pretty much get the opportunity to translate every week but this Sunday was a bit different. The first counselor told me that he was just going to read from the book Saints, chapter 7. And that is exactly what he did. I just had the English translation open and just got to read it, but the audience thought I was like a wizard at translating. Haha so funny!!

After church on Sunday we had a couple of solid appointments. For one of the  people we taught, we decided to teach the restoration and it was honestly the best one I have ever taught. The spirit must have just been helping me because I don't even remember what I was saying. For another person, we taught the plan of salvation. They thought after this life we just become dirt forever and that is the end. However, after we explained God's plan for His children she was so excited. I love being able to teach so many people the "Good News."

Lastly we are teaching this younger kid who is only 8 or 9 and he is so awesome. Although he didn't come to church this week he is the most prepared person I have ever taught. 

I am so excited and grateful to be a part of this work, as the gospel continues to spread throughout Thailand. I love you all!!

Love

Elder Lowe เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

1) the cleaning squad

2) playing soccer and basketball with the orphans

3) playing soccer with the neighborhood boys

Nomads

Mark came back from Mexico with a new idea - why live in Memphis - wouldn't Dallas be better.

Dallas would  be better for Mark's job since he would/is traveling more and more to Mexico and South America (since the tariffs to Asia).  It also is a better place with relation to Finance.

Dallas seems like such a better city.  It's huge!  It has so much to offer - so much more than Memphis.

For Betsy, I was so excited to hear Dallas!  My cousins from my mom's side live there.  Also, Dallas just sounds like such a better location.  In addition, it would be so much closer to the kids.  I'm so excited.

I have to calm down ... it isn't confirmed yet ...

So at the moment - we don't know where we will end up living... To Be Continued.

More time with Cayson

Cayson loves to be with his daddy.  Even when Tate is eating, Cayson is right there snuggles right up in his lap.  HE wants to be as close to daddy as possible.  I invited Tate to allow me to take care of him so he could eat, but Tate said he really enjoyed the time with him.  Cayson is only six months old, but he has already grown, developed and changed so much since we last saw him.  He's so interested in his environment, he is active, curious and observant.  He tries to talk, too!

Hi Daddy, I love you!!!

Cayson loves to chew - although he doesn't have any teeth, he doesn't seem to know that.  He would pick up the case from Jessica's phone and chew on it incessantly.    

Isn't that just the cutest smerky smile

Grandma (me) loves to dress Cayson up in cute outfits.  This post has several different ensembles!  From red and black buffalo plaid to sporty soccer shirts, or the causal cars and jeans.  Grandma (me) bought him matching shoes for his outfits - because every boy should look his best.  Isn't Cayson so cute!  I just can't get enough of this boy.  We got to spend everyday together for two weeks except for the one day I went to Sundance to ski (by myself - because Ali decided not to go).  He has an excellent schedule that his mom created.  She is really on top of taking excellent care of this boy.  He eats super good if you can figure out what he wants to eat.  That's the thing - he still can't tell you what he wants, and he's become very picky about what he likes.  I found these great food pouches that he can hold and he loves the Peaches, banana and strawberry one, the blueberry and banana one, and even the apricot, pears and peaches one.  He likes sweet fruit pouches.  

Cayson also sleeps really well when he isn't sick, but he's been sick since I arrived so I filled up the humidifier and that seemed to help.  I also give him saline nasal drops to clear up his congestion.  He's such a sweetheart - even though he doesn't like the drops, he twists and turns to avoid them - as soon as it's over, he's giving me a great big hug and smile.  

I want the phone!!!!

Now for the fun - I bought this in honor of Robert - let's go BYU Soccer team!!!!

Corrected "Went so Wrong"

So the next day after the crazy "Sierra walks away" was Sunday and it was Jessica's Birthday.  Devon and Sierra were coming over to Jessica and Tate's apartment for her birthday dinner and asked not to talk about it.

I wanted to talk to them about it before they came over but we didn't have time due to the family Zoom call at 4:00 pm

Dinner was at 5:00 pm and the Zoom would take up all the time in-between.  Everything went well during dinner, that was super good.

The next evening I took Devon and Sierra to Blaze Pizza so we could talk about it.  Before going to dinner, I talked to Devon and discussed it with him so he at least could understand there were no bad intentions.  He understood.  Now the question was, how will Sierra respond?

We met at Blaze and everything went very well.  Sierra explained how she jumped to conclusions and mis understood what I was trying to say - since she left without letting me finish my sentence causing her to storm off.

I apologized for making her feel bad even though it wasn't my intention.  I also apologized for my comments after she walked away and tried to explain my perception of what happened.

It broke my heart that she would walk away and react that way - I was in shock.  I couldn't believe it.  She explained a little about her past and how her family dealt with contention - essentially they each went their separate way (Sent to their rooms). So her sharing this with me helped me to understand that that was how she dealt with stress.  She also explained how she had not been taught manners as a youth because her parents were working so hard (after the recession).  They were not there for her, and she felt like she had to raise her younger siblings.  (I could relate to her - not having parents around, cooking dinners, taking care of the younger kids, etc.)

We talked about how that isn't a healthy or mature manner, and shared other methods of dealing with stressful situations.

She explained she has been afraid of making a mistake; I commented that it is the fear of making a mistake that is causing the mistakes.  I asked her to trust me - I have accepted her into our family.  I have (from the beginning) wanted us to have a pleasant and good relationship.  I want her to feel loved and comfortable around me. IT all ended with great big hugs and an even bigger understanding of each other and a great appreciation for a willingness to put this behind us and grow closer together from the experience.

Week 33: First Glance of Heaven's Light

Wow so many miracles this week it has been insane! To start today was transfer day and I got the news that I will be staying in Phuket for another transfer with Elder Robinson. This will be my 4th transfer here and I am so excited for the work to keep growing. We have done so much inviting and we have worked so hard, so I hope me and my companion's hard work pays off. 

So far it has payed off big time. This week I got my first baptism in Phuket. She rocked her baptismal interview and then on Sunday Sister อ้อย(oi) was baptized. She is such a wonderful daughter of God and I am so grateful that I had the chance to help her grow a relationship with her father in Heaven. Speaking of that Sunday, I got to translate in church, give the sacrament prayer, give a talk in sacrament meeting, give a talk during the baptism, and I had the opportunity to baptize Sister อ้อย. Such an awesome day and I could feel the spirit so strongly!! I could seriously feel God's love for her so much and I know she got her first glance of heaven's light. 

One of the people we began teaching not too long ago has really progressed. This week we have been able to teach him a good amount. His name is กอล์ฟ (golf), and he has a smoking addiction. He really wants to get over it and this week we have really worked hard on deepening his relationship with Jesus Christ. We have had Sister อ้อย teach กอล์ฟ with us and it is just so cool to see her desire to change and share that change with others. 

We have a couple of cool people that may be pretty good but my favorite person is this young boy named William. He is so fire! He legit tells him mom "tomorrow is Sunday, let's go to church." He is only 8 or 9 and has already begun to read a bunch from the Book of Mormon. All in all, I love this area and the opportunity I have to help it blossom. I feel so blessed every day and I know that the Lord is looking after each and everyone one of you. He knows your sorrows and your trials. If you just turn to him and ask for help, he will ease your burdens. Love you all so much!!! 

Love

Elder Lowe เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

1) me and my man uwe Baumann

2) me and my boy Golf

4, 9, 10) looking over the city of Phuket

5, 6) baptism of sister อ้อย

7) mini golf

8) English class