Week 94: The Best Two Years

"All good things must come to an end." Believe it or not this was my last week in Thailand and I will be coming back home to America on Tuesday night. I still can't believe it, but I'm grateful that I got to serve as long as I did. I have had 22 months full of experience, happiness, help, knowledge, and so much more. I truly feel that the Lord has blessed me so much in these past two years. Even though the Corona virus is the reason I'm going home, I believe this is all part of God's plan; He is always looking over us and I know He is in charge. 

In terms of my last week, we had a transfer board meeting with President all of Monday and Tuesday to try and organize the mission and put them in new areas. We decided that I should get back in the field for my last 2 months and get to work in หนองคาย (Nong Khai). While I was packing on Wednesday morning we received word that we aren't allowed to travel or move areas. So I stayed as the Assistant I guess. However, we were hoping that that would only be temporary. We also had a new missionary from Myanmar come to the mission so we got to do a little training for her as well. 

We had MLC and a district leader meeting and some other meetings to start off the new transfer. However, we got news on Saturday that we are all going home :(( Our last day we had testimony meeting for all the zones and it was so powerful. I'm truly going to miss Thailand and all the people here!!

I've learned a thing or two in my time here:

1) The most important thing you can do for your life is to develop a relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. As a missionary in Thailand we have the opportunity to teach people so many people who don't know about their father in Heaven that loves them so much. I feel blessed to know that I am a child of God and for the relationship that I have developed with him over these 2 years. 

2) The most crucial and significant event that has ever occurred since the beginning of human existence is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ loves us and sacrificed himself for us. Nothing else even compares with the Atonement. In fact nothing else is important in life when we understand the Atonement more fully. As I have come to understand the Atonement better on my mission, my heart is full of gratitude and joy that someone came to this Earth to suffer for my pains and sins personally. I know without a doubt in my mind that Christ suffered personally for me on that night. If you haven't started your relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you don't know where he fits in your life I implore you to start now!

3) The Lord answers prayers. My mission has been full of ups and downs. Good times and bad times. Joy and sorrow. Accomplishments and Stuggles. But through it all I have always had a guiding hand in this work. As I turned to the Lord I truly saw His hand in everything. He has answered my prayers repeatedly and helped me in more ways than I can name on my mission. 

4) The Lord calls prophets. It is quite obvious that the Lord has called a living prophet to lead and guide us in these days. With the Corona virus, panic is imminent, however as I have looked to our prophet I have felt peace and safety in every phase of the way. 

5) The Book of Mormon is God's other witness. It truly is another witness to the glory of God! I have developed such a strong testimony that it is true and that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I want to support the apostle Elder Holland in his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He stated, "I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgement bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the last days." I know it to be true!

6) The Lord is the master of the vineyard and he has a work for us to do. The importance of sharing the gospel cannot be overstated. God has a work for his servants to do in his vineyard and I have a desire to labor with the Lord. I'm so excited to continue to serve the Lord with all my might even when I'm back home. 

Just wanted to end this email with a quote by Dr Suess: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"

Love you all. See you soon!!

Love,

Elder Lowe'

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Bunk mates for one night in Bangkok

Heading home

Temple progress

Working in the office

Companions to the End

Stop with Robert and Elder Robison
Stop is an entertainment reporter in Thailand that is also a member of the church
He's fantastic

Robert - a proud Thailand Missionary

Robert and Elder Robison in Bangkok
AP's to the End

Betsy loses her job due to the Coronavirus

Earlier in March the city announced it was canceling the largest event in Austin - South by Southwest.  It brings in thousands and thousands of people to Austin and fills the hotel for the whole month.  Then the mayor announced all restaurants and bars had to close for sit down business. Take out was still available.  YIKES!  This is going to kill the hotel business.

I went to work on March 17, Wearing green for St. Patrick's day!  I was glad to be back after missing Friday and Monday.

We had planned to take donuts to clients in the area, however, due to the coronavirus Jennifer canceled our visits.  In our sales meeting Jennifer mentioned that the company had been discussing cut backs due to all the cancelations.

That afternoon, Jennifer called Marisa into her office.  Marisa was crying when she came out and started packing up her things.  OH MY GOODNESS.  It's happening.  As expected, Jennifer then called me into her office.  I knew I would be one of the first to go since I was the last one hired.  She was very polite about it, and said she would like to hire me back as soon as this is over, but that for now, we were let go.  One other, Karina was also let go (she wasn't there that day).

I packed up everything and drove home.

Week 93: The End of the World

Just for your information, I'm doing fine but I am pretty bored. It's been about 3 and a half weeks of being in my apartment only!!

 It's been such a crazy week, but more for all of you who are in America. I have heard how insane everything is in America at the moment. But, don't worry!! Our prophet is very optimistic and as long as we follow his counsel and keep the commandments we will be fine. I'm praying for all of you back home and may God be with you.

 I marvel at the day in age that we live in. These truly are the last days, and although the second coming may not come for some time, I believe it's time for us to all prepare for our Lord, Jesus Christ and his glorious second coming. I had the opportunity to study in the book of Revelations and D&C 77 this week to understand the second coming a little bit better, and how I can prepare. All of you who have not yet started your personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I invite you to start now. Jesus Christ is the light and the light of the world (Mosiah 16:9) and through faith in him all things are made possible (Moroni 7:33).

 I have tried to develop my relationship with my Savior this week by listening and hearing him. I got to attend a zone conference this week (via video call) and 5 different zone devotionals. They were so uplifting and focused on how we can hear the voice of the Lord in our everyday lives.

 Oh yeah I also made some more progress on memorizing Mormon 9 this week. So far I have memorized 23 verses of that chapter!! But, I still got a long way to go haha.

 Last thing that I wanted to share is that I have been able to watch a lot of the Book of Mormon videos and other church produced videos. It has really helped me to feel the spirit and has strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

This week is transfers, so we'll see if I move or if I stay in Asoke! Love you all.

 Love,
 Elder Lowe
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The World is Changing overnight - every night

Every day the number of coronavirus cases grows and grows. 

California
New York
Washington
Texas

The entire state of California, New York and Washington are on Lockdown.  People are to stay inside except to go to the grocery store or to the doctor.  We heard rumor that the entire USA would go on lockdown soon.

Instead of Trump shutting down the entire USA, he left it up to each Governor or Mayor.  He left it up to each state and city.  Some states took the coronavirus seriously and others did not take it very seriously. 

As the virus spread from person to person - the growth was directly related to the enacting precautions in the cities. 

Texas was late to react - it didn't start shutting things down until March 6 (closing South by Southwest) and then the next week the economy fell and people starting losing their jobs. 

Week 91: Complete Shock

This week was not like any ordinary one. First of all, I turned 21 years old a couple of days ago and I still can't believe it! I'm grateful for the person I have become over the last 21 years of my life. Also I want to thank all of you that wished me a happy birthday, posted on my timeline, wrote me personally, or sent me a package. I am so grateful to have such great friends and a wonderful family. So thank you! On my birthday the Senior couples made a big Mexican meal and my district got me an ice cream cake! I'm so lucky!!

However, the day after my birthday was a day that I will never forget.  Wednesday Afternoon we get a phone call that says all of the missionaries that have 2 transfers left will be going home this week, possibly the very next day. At first, I didn't know if that included me or not and I was just in complete shock. But, i came to learn that it was for all missionaries that had a release date before May 31st (or 90 days from that Wednesday). Also, the senior missionaries would be going home this past week as well. I still couldn't believe all of my close friends would just be going home out of nowhere. 

I had the opportunity to drive a couple of these missionaries to the airport, and all of the senior missionaries. I'm grateful for them and their service. 

Overall this week has consisted of making phone calls, answering phone calls, driving missionaries to the airport and teaching members and investigators on the phone. 

Also, we worked on our member board this week.

Last thing is that Brother Arm and Brother Arthur were both confirmed as members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this past Sunday at church. It was wonderful and they were just full of smiles!!

(Church here was a little bit different this last week as well. The Bishop had all the members sit every other row so that those who passed the sacrament wouldn't ever give up their tray. This is due to the Corona Virus and the fact that everyone is terrified of getting this virus. Additionally we all had to wash our hands multiple times and wear masks during church haha!)

Love you all so much. have the best week!

Love, 

Elder Lowe

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The Ward Member Board - complete with photos

Senior Couples going home

Treat for Robert