Week 85: Back in Isaan

Last week Elder Andersen came to Thailand and gave all the missionaries a commitment to memorize scriptures. This will deepen our personal conversion and it will allow us to be sharper instruments, or in other words, more effective missionaries and teachers. I have personally been able to memorize a couple of scriptures in Thai this week and it has been a game changer. I am able to use these scriptures on the spot while inviting and teaching! People have been more engaged and willing to listen because they can feel a greater spirit. I guess what I'm trying to say is using the words of God (scriptures) has a greater power than using our own words.

I was in the Isaan from Thursday to Saturday. I got to switch off in Roi Et, my old area, on Thursday! I switched off with Elder Kearsley and we were able to teach a lot of new people. The Elders there are starting to teach some more families and individuals who are very interested! I'm so excited for them!! Also it was so fun to see all the wonderful members and the people I taught when I was there. 

On Friday, I was in Udorn and I switched off with Elder Benteti. He was in my MTC group and I have played basketball with him at BYU before I was a missionary. He loves the people he is teaching and has developed great relationships with them! Then on Saturday I went to Kumpawapi and I worked with the Elders there. It is a tiny area that doesn't really have a lot going on there. 

I'm excited for this next transfer because we should have some people preparing to be baptized. Right now we are teaching a several families and a couple of individuals that are preparing for baptism. We have this one boy that we are teaching named Arm who is so fire. He is 13 and he comes to church every week, he reads the Book of Mormon everyday and understands it, and his parents have given approval for him to be baptized. I'm so excited for him to be baptized on February 23rd! 

Love you all so much! Remember to choose the right!

Love,

Elder Lowe

เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

The Zones of Bangkok with Elder Anderson, an Apostle of the Lord

Robert on splits with Elder Bentiti

Isn't this Amazing!

Week 51: President Ballard and Mission Conference

This week was one of the coolest and most inspirational weeks of my mission and maybe my life. We had a mission conference, meaning that I got to meet with all the missionaries in my mission. I got to see all my friends from the MTC, and all my old companions! It was so fun to catch up and see everyone's growth as a missionary and as a person. I got to see an apostle of the Lord come to this great land of Thailand. President Ballard is already 90 but is still a jokester. However, it is evident that he is an apostle of the Lord and represents Jesus Christ. He talked a lot about having a desire to be better, to strengthen the church, and to be a missionary in every aspect of our life! I feel blessed to hear such powerful words from a true disciple of the Lord. 

This week we have been teaching so many people. We got a challenge for this transfer to ask at least one person everyday if they want to be baptized. Me and my companion have seen miracles by just asking people. Right now we have 8 people on a baptismal date for next transfer and I'm so excited to see them progress!! We have Rose (a Filipino) that has such a desire to find the true church, Brother ทัต who used to smoke, drink, use illegal drugs, and so much more but has completely turned his life around. We met this lady named C this week. She showed up to the church on her own and we just started talking to her and teaching her. She is so fire and has accepted a baptismal date!! 

I had the opportunity to do a lot of service this week too! I actually got to help build a Thai house which was way fun and so hard. 

We just had transfers and my ลูก or trainee is leaving! I am staying in the same area and I will be companions with Elder Burgess! I'm excited for this new week and the adventures to come!

Elder Lowe

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On the temple grounds, Elder Davis is far left, Robert is middle

Robert with Elder Davis - reunited.  

Elder Gantt - Robert's trainee, Robert - Elder Davis' trainee and Elder Davis

Zone conference

The whole mission with Elder Ballard, Elder Gay and Presiding Bishop Davis

Robert on the left, Suprakit on the right

The MTC group reunited!!!  Elder Bentiti on the far right

Robert with wonderful members of his ward

Teaching English classes

Service #1

Service #2

Teaching at McDonalds

Lunch with Suprakit

Week 6: Robert becomes an UNCLE

สวัสดีทุกคน (hey everyone), 

It's been another great week here at the missionary training center with a lot of excitement. First things first, my sister finally had her baby and I couldn't be more thrilled. I know she will be an awesome mom and I can't wait to meet my new nephew! The other cool thing on Wednesday was that I got to host this Laotian speaker going to California and he's in my zone. It was really cool cause Laotian and Thai are relatively similar so he was speaking a little to me on his first day. What a beast! 

Our lessons are going super well, but I  think these days are starting to feel kinda similar. It's a lot of work each day and at this point I kinda just wanna go to Thailand. Even though I know I'm inadequate with the language and probably won't understand most of what anyone says, I feel like I'm ready and super excited to head out in about 3 weeks! 

The other weeks I focused a lot on vocab and learning more words, but this week I focused on reading and tones and I'm actually getting pretty fast at reading. Like not super fast but I'm reading faster than anyone in my class with correct tones. This week I've gotten about 3 elders ask me to help them with reading every single day and it's really cool to be of service to them and teach them. And I really enjoy seeing the other elders in my district progress so much. 

This week me and my companion learned another hymn in thai. We learned the hymn "families can be together forever" and used it in our lesson! The spirit was so strong again and I didn't realize the power that hymns can have in bringing the spirit when teaching an investigator! ผมกตัญญูสำหรับครอบครัวของผม. I'm so grateful for my family. They are the biggest blessing to my life. One of the biggest reasons I'm serving a mission is because of this quote that I heard. It states, "a missionary is someone who leaves their family for 2 years so that others may be with their families for eternity." That's the point of what I'm doing: serving others and bringing them joy through this gospel so they can be with their family for all time and eternity!! 

This week was somewhat of a wakeup call. Yesterday at the beginning of the day it hit me on how I will be going to Thailand soon and how much I still don't know. I felt like I had forgotten all my Thai yesterday and just was stressed beyond anything I have felt in a long time. I think it's because I had a lack of faith and belief and didn't trust in God like I should. Another quote that I really enjoyed this week is, "two people can accomplish anything...if one of them is the Savior." With the Lord's help I know I can do all things so I don’t need to stress. If I do my part and work as hard as I physically can Christ will do the rest. 

Tomorrow will be a big changing point in the mission though. We are getting like 37 new missionaries in the zone. I think there are like 18 or 19 Thai missionaries coming in and 18 or 19 Cambodian speakers coming in. I'm so excited for a change here and to get to know some of the people that I might be serving with for the next two years! 

Thank you for all your support and for all those who keep in touch. I'm grateful for all of you. I love you all, I love this language, I love this gospel, and most importantly I love my heavenly father and his son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! You are all in my prayers! 

ผมคิดถึงรวมทั้งหมด (I miss you all)

1) me staring off to Thailand 

2) sweet quote

3) me and the old zone leaders, elder Barron and Benteti

4) me and my comp

5) me and old zone leaders again

6) me and new Laotian missionary, Elder Williams 

5 Attachments

Week 6: Photos

1) me staring off to Thailand

2) sweet quote

3) me and the old Zone Leaders, elder Barron and Benteti

4) me and my comp

5) me and old Zone Leaders again

6) me and new Laotian missionary, Elder Williams

5 Attachments

Betsy Lowe

12:50 PM (0 minutes ago)

to Robert

Dear Robert,

It's so great to hear from you.  I can't believe I am less than 5 
miles from you but it's as if  you are already in Thailand to me.

It sounds like you had a super week - both spiritually but also 
with friends and with the  language!  That's awesome.  When
this new group of missionaries arrive will they mix up  companions
or do you think you will have the same companion the whole time
you are in the MTC?

When Dad and I were first married we served a mission in the South 
East Asian Branch - dad was a counselor in the presidency and
translated for the branch president; I served with the Young Women.  
We served in the branch for two years. We met and loved so many
Thai, Loa, Moung, Cambodian and Vietnamese people.  They were 
all refugees fleeing their war torn countries from tyrants and corrupt
governments that killed innocent people.  I learned to love so much -
give so much and be completely unselfish while serving in that branch.  
I would have done anything for any of my girls and dad and I loved the
men and women of the branch.   I am still very close to many of the
young women.  It's so wonderful to see them grow up and grow in the
gospel.  When I went back to VA in June I visited with some of them.  
Right now, one of my Beehives (then) is now serving in Young
Womens and told me how grateful she was for our love and support.  
She was the only member in her family.  I picked her up for church
every Sunday even though it was out of the way.  She is now married
in the temple with three beautiful children and pregnant with number 4.  
You now have that same opportunity to show  people in Thailand
Christ unconditional love for them.

Thailand is beautiful - even the areas that don't have much money  
not because of the physical beauty (which is there too) but because
most people have great love in their hearts.  They want to give their
children a good life just like we do, and they work very hard to do all
that they can.  You, too have a very strong work ethic.  You will be 
able to connect with them on so many levels.  :)

Well, the weather in Provo is crazy - last night there was a 
violent thunderstorm but today the weather is beautiful.  

Dad and I take either 3 or 5 hour shifts taking care of Cayson so 
Jessica and Tate can sleep through the night.  Jessica has to get
up to sleep but we at least can burp him and get back to sleep.  
We divide it up so that one of us can get a few hours sleep and then
trade off.  

I hope you are well.  If there is anything you need, please let us 
know so we can have it delivered to you while we are right here!

What is your favorite treat of all - I will have that delivered tomorrow!!!!!  
Please tell me - It will be something I can do to share my love for you.  

Have a wonderful day

Hugs and kisses

Mom