Letter from President Hammonds - Zone Leader

27 August 2019

Dear Lowe Family

The Lord has called your son, Elder Robert Thomas Lowe, to serve as the Zone Leader of the Roi Et Zone in the Thailand Bangkok Mission. As a Zone Leader, Elder Lowe is a member of the Mission Leadership Council that meets monthly at the Mission Office in Bangkok. He will be responsible to work directly with District Leaders in his Zone to promote the Doctrine of Christ in the Scriptures, the method of missionary work in Preach My Gospel and inspiring missionaries in his Zone with the spirit to advance the work of the Lord in Thailand. His assignment will require him to travel to the Districts in his Zone to provide Zone trainings and companion exchanges with District Leaders. He will offer them encouragement and help wherever needed in their missionary labors.

Elder Lowe is a dedicated and obedient missionary. His strength of character is a great example to the missionaries with whom he works and I look forward to working more closely with him. Thank you for all you have done to prepare him for the great trust the Lord has now placed upon him.

Sister Hammond and I thank you for your son and for your continued faith and prayers in your son's behalf.

Sincerely,

President Todd M Hammond

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Week 64: Roi Et - The promised land

So as a missionary we get to move around to different areas in the state or country we serve in. I just moved to the Eastern side of Thailand and it is like a new world compared to Bangkok. First of all, to get to Roi Et (my new area), I took a bus by myself for about 8 hours, which was one of the strangest experiences on my mission. I'm so used to always having a companion around, but he didn't come down to pick me up. Anyways on the way there I realized how weird it was to see no cars on the street. In Bangkok the traffic is insane, but now I'm in the country part of Thailand. 

I'm in a biking area now, which I am stoked about. However, it rains every single day so I have been soaked and filthy the last couple of days. We are working with a bunch of Returning Members and apparently there are a ton of people we need to help reactivate. 

One of the people we visited this week bought some ส้มตำ or papaya salad right beforehand. Anyways I have been told that on the East side of Thailand the food is very spicy. So, I start eating this ส้มตำ and me and my comp are almost in tears from how hot this ส้มตำ is. I just open my mouth and saliva starts pouring out in like buckets. All in all, the food here is extremely spicy so I'm a little concerned for my life. Hopefully I will be alright! 

I love you all so much! I love serving the Lord in Thailand! This is a scripture that I really love in the Book of Mormon:

"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." I encourage you all to read the scriptures because they are for us. Don't forget the power of the words of Christ. No matter how hard life gets, answers and help are found in the scriptures! 

Love,

Elder Lowe

เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

(Sorry not too many photos this week)

Bus ride to Roi Et

Arriving in Roi Et

Week 63: Leaving Don Muang

Hey yall! It's been another fantastic week here in Thailand and once again we have seen so many miracles. I'm so grateful for the time I got to serve in don Muang. I have learned so much and gained so much more experience. Also I have seen so many people follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized. I'm so grateful for the wonderful people here, however I am being transferred to the East side of Thailand. I will be serving in Roi Et as a zone leader. So I have never been to the east side (Isaan) of Thailand, but I have heard that they speak like a different language and that the food is extremely spicy so I'm way pumped!! I might be able to eat spicier food than my dad now haha. 

This week we continued to visit recent converts and teach new people. I stopped by an old investigator who we had dropped about 2 months ago, and he said he was ready to learn now. Sometimes, actually a lot of times, people reject us because they have not opened their hearts. However, the Lord will eventually open and prepare the hearts of his people just as he did for our friend วินัย. 

pictures:

Last week we had our RC baptize one of the people we taught and he forgot to unplug the baptismal font. 

I got to play this rock game with an LA here called หมากเก็บ. She was a pro at it haha

Chair pictures with 11 missionaries!

Saying goodbye to all the amazing members and RCs here. 

I love you all so much! Have a good week everyone!

Love, 

Elder Lowe

เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

Marissa comes to visit us in Texas

Marissa arrived in Texas on Friday, the day before Nina's wedding.  It was perfect timing, but very stressful for her.  She had to finish her last final, drive down to SLC and then didn't get into Austin until after 10 PM on Friday.  The Wedding is at 10 AM the next morning in San Antonio, so we woke extra early to get a good breakfast, get ready and drive the 2 hour drive.  It was all worth it because Marissa was there for Nina.  The wedding was wonderful; Nina was beautiful!  

After all the wedding fanfair, we changed our clothes and toured San Antonio.  It was Marissa's first time there so we took her to the River Walk.  There we walked around to the famous, Alamo.

We also went down to the river level and took a river boat crusie!

 

After the tour we walked along the river and enjoyed the sites, sounds and conversation.  I love having time with Marissa!  It's so easy to talk to her!

The next weekend we decided to go Zip Lining!  

What a blast.  We've never been in Texas, but I heard that this was an excellent adventure!

 

Another favorite of mine was spending time with Marissa at our neighborhood pool!  We would load up the sunscreen, towels, music and floatie!  What a great time!  You know I love the sun - it's so fun to go the pool with someone else that wants to get a tan!

Marissa brought her long board! WOW!!!! She's a pro!!!

Both Mark and I gave it a try too!  Clearly Marissa rules, Mark and I had fun!

The next weekend we decided to drive out to Enchanted Rock for a hiking experience!

We hiked to the top of Enchanted Rock and then we took some hiking trails around it - or so we thought.  Somehow we got off the trial, but it's all cool.  We found some exciting places and conquered some hiking challenges.

  

Marissa and I went to Brushy Creek and rented a kayak.  It was a double kayak so that we were together!  We were out on the water for an hour.  The day was beautiful - sunny blue skies, clear water and a great time together!

An absolute must was meeting Mark for lunch to treat Marissa to the Famous, Rudy's Bar.B.Q!!!

We had a delicious brisket lunch!

While Marissa was here, we got to celebrate Mark's birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

We planned on taking him to Chuy's but they had a long wait, so we went to Red Robin instead.  We all enjoyed a dinner out and a chance to celebrate!

More hiking - by this time, Marissa is not liking that Mark and I enjoy long hikes.  This time we went to Russell Park on the north side of Georgetown Lake.  

It's so sad to see her leave!!!