Week 56 - 97 degrees

I think I could of melted away this week...it was so hot. But I guess not as hot as Arizona or South America so I got to give those people some credit.

97 DEGREES!!!!

This week was a little slower because for some reason not many people are home in the summer time, but still lots of things happened. So the Highlights of the week were:

Freddy's getting baptized this Saturday, July 1st!!! We are so excited! He is so prepared and ready to make this covenant with his Father in heaven. Yay for baptism!

Sister Davis, Jackie and Marissa

We had some lessons with Jackie and so far she has been 5 days sober of not drinking coffee. She is doing so great! She get headaches and stuff because of the withdrawal but she always says: "it's for the eternities!" I love her eternal perspective and the faith she has. She came to all 3 hours of church which was a shock! When we first met her, she told us she would never go to relief society because it was too domestic for her, haha, but look at her now! She actually liked relief society, woot! Jackie's baptism date has been pushed back…. She wants her family to fly in and they are flying in July 29th, so she wants to be baptized that day. It is a month away so it's pretty far but I feel good about her date and am happy Jackie feels good about it:) 

I went on exchanges this week in Hyrum with Sister Segura. She is from Guatemala and is learning English right now. This week her companion who has been struggling with health problems was released from our mission and went home. So Sister Segura has been a solo missionary the past week and will be until transfers. So we were in a trio all day Saturday with her and helped her out in her area, it was a fun day! Her English is really coming along!

Visiting with previous converts

We had some lessons with our recent converts Ida and Matthew. They are both doing so great! Matthews families going through some really rough trials right now with his father in law getting cancer but they are still so faithful and using the strength of the Lord to keep going. Ida is still so amazing. She loves church and I love lessons with her:)

It's been a good week. I sure do love Nibley. I love being a missionary here. I've now been out in the mission field for a year now, and it's truly been the best year of my life. So many amazing memories, fun adventures, spiritual experiences, and awesome converts!

I just want to soak it all up and keep going:)

Sister Lowe

Below is the area of Nibley:  the red dot is our new house.  We are way far away from everything!

Week 52 - Got to drive a Truck

Can I just start with saying how much I love Nibley! Holy molly this week was just another great week filled with miracles. It's a great time to be a missionary!

So highlights of this week:

We had MLC (mission leadership council) this week and it was so good. We got to do role plays with people and they brought some of the cache central missionaries up to be our investigators. So I got to see Sister Brunt and I got to role play with her which I haven't done in like 10 months, so it was so much fun!

We had ADTM (all district meeting) and Sister Davis and I had to give a training on our purpose as missionaries. I always hate giving Trainings because you have to prepare for them and you have to get in front of everyone but I'm starting to feel better each time I do them. The mission sure does stretch you.

Okay super MIRACLE! So on Wednesday we were walking in 9th Ward and trying to contact people. All of the sudden it started pouring down rain and we are just in short sleeve shirts. So we run up to this door which we had knocked before about a month ago. It was actually April 11th when we knocked this door and the lady was super nice but told us she wasn't interested. Well we knocked on the door to see how she was doing and we had heard she came to a family history activity in the Ward a few weeks back. So when she opened the door she said “I've actually been thinking of you girls lately, I think I'm ready to take the lessons now." We were in shock!!! All I could say was “awesome!" She then invited us in and said "I'm really really close to baptism.” Like I about jumped I was so excited. She then said she wants to do lessons Tuesday and Thursday at 1pm and we asked her to come to church and she said "yep I'll even pick you up!" She came and loved the speakers and was so happy to be there. It was so amazing. The Lord is truly preparing people here in his vineyard in Nibley. Another miracle. On Monday after our recent convert lesson with Matthew we got a phone call from his guy named hector. We had actually met him about two weeks ago and gave him our number. Well he called us and set up a time to come and teach him and his two teenagers. We are so excited. The Lord is blessing us so much I just can't thank him enough.

Marissa was recorded for the District videos

We had two lessons with Ida this week. She told us she put her coffee maker in the cupboard and is going to give it to her friend. Ida’s faith is so strong! She's been drinking it for like 80 years and simply just puts it away like no big deal! She's so great. We taught the law of tithing and she was just like oh yeah I'll definitely do that. She is so amazing! I love her so much and she's already picked a time (10am) to be baptized on June 17th.

Service activity

Okay last miracle...well I would say it's a miracle. So the APs called us on Friday and asked for a huge favor. So apparently some sisters are getting ET (emergency transferred) in the mission and the APs need someone to drive them to their new locations. They told us we get to drive the truck on Saturday!!!! We were like YES YES YES! We will do it! 

So you ready for this...

We drove from Nibley to Tremonton picked up Sister Vincent and Segura. 

Drove from Tremonton to Brigham city dropped off Sister Vincent and picked up Sister Andrews. 

Drove from Brigham city to Hyrum and dropped off Sister Segura and picked up Sister Schell. 

Drove from Hyrum to Tremonton dropped off both Sister Andrews and Schell. 

And then drove back to Nibley! We were on the road from 4-9 it was so amazing! I miss driving so much so it was a treat!

This week has been a blast. I can't describe in words the joy you feel helping others come unto Christ. I felt so much joy this week just seeing all the miracles the Lord has blessed us with. I know this church is true. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I’m so happy to be one of the Lord missionaries, the work is so great!

Sister Lowe

Week 51

WOWOWOWOWOWOW! What an amazing week.

First transfers were today and.... We are staying in Nibley together for another transfer! We are so happy!!!!

Also....Both MATTHEW AND KODIE WERE BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED! So Kodie got interviewed for her baptism and when she finished with our district leader she came running out screaming "I PASSED!" I’ve never seen someone so happy to pass the baptismal interview! So Kodie's baptism was a little stressful. The day before the baptism the bishop said no to waterside confirmation because he wanted the mom (who is inactive) to come to church. The mom wanted waterside confirmation because Kodie's real dad can only stay for Saturday. Kodie's mom said if they can't have waterside they'll have to push her baptism till fall so that her dad can get off work and be at her confirmation. We were stressing like crazy! We called President Allred and he talked to the stake president who talked to bishop and then told us that we will have waterside confirmation for Kodie's sake so both parents can be there. When In doubt call president Allred! He saved the day and Kodie got baptized:) also miracle, Kodie's mom, Cheryln, came to church on Sunday with Kodie which made bishop really happy! So it all worked out:)

Okay and now Matthew! Wow. Let me just say that was such a spiritual baptism. His parents who live in Canada flew in that morning and came to his baptism! They were so nice and even though they are Catholic they were respectful of everything. Matthews wife, Kelli, gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and she talked about how because of Matt’s decision today they will get to be a forever family and be sealed one day. I felt the spirit so strongly and my eyes even began to tear up from it. We asked Matthew how he felt after being baptized and he said "I felt that same feeling I felt when we were in that lesson in the temple waiting room. I just felt peace and happiness like I had never felt before." Wow, he was truly feeling the spirit. They invited us to dinner with there whole family afterward and we all sat and talked and we got to talk a little more to his parents which was cool! It was such an amazing day and I love the Izsak family! He was confirmed on Sunday and the spirit was so strong there!! 

Matthew told us that before when missionaries came over he would ask Kelli "do they have to come back?" And shed be like "you said they could." Well now Matthew told us that when we leave he asks "when can they come back?!" He's made a big change and he is truly converted to this gospel:)

Another highlight was that It snowed this week.... Like its may now, Utah is so bipolar!

Okay Ida. Man do I love Ida. We asked where she is in the Book of Mormon and she said "chapter 10," we asked what book and she was like " Ummm I'm in Mosiah." Like WHAT! She's already in Mosiah! We asked if she feels that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and she said, “I feel like I know it a lot better than I did 3 weeks ago. I'm starting To believe." We also talked about the word of wisdom with her and we started it off saying, "no alcohol, no tobacco, ...." Before we could finish our sentence she puts the pamphlet up to her face where you can only see her eyes and says "There goes my coffee!" It was so funny! We talked about the blessings of living the word of wisdom and her grandson, Jake, who came to the lesson with us told her about pero which is substitute of coffee. She said she'll try it! I love Ida’s faith she is so amazing! Her only  son converted to the church when he was like 25 and so his wife and 4 kids are Mormon but Ida is not. But she has an amazing family and Jake is a return missionary and is awesome in the lessons testifying to Ida of this gospel. We also had to push her date to June 17th because it's youth conference weekend the 10th and her grand kids will be there, so we asked Ida if the 17th would work for her and she said "well I'm pretty much always free so yep that'll work!" It was so funny.

We had a lesson with Jorge. He read the Book of Mormon in prison and prayed about it. We went over the BIQS (baptismal interview questions) and there's only a few we still need to work on. Jorge is really coming along. I can see the atonement start to work in his life and because of that his countenance is changing. It's amazing to see after working with him for 3 months.

It's been an amazing week! All of the hard times, all of the slammed doors, or rude comments are all worth it for moments like this week. The joy I feel teaching Ida and seeing her act on her faith, the happiness I feel at Matthew's and Kodie's baptism, and the peace this wonderful gospel brings me is worth any hard time. I love being a missionary....ahhhh it's truly the best.

Sister Lowe

Week 48 - great week

Hello from once again the cold… It snowed twice this week... It's May...only in Utah.

Also I hit my 11 month mark of being on a mission today:( time goes by too fast...

This week has been eventful! We went to the temple as a zone which was so amazing.

We had exchanges this week. I went with sister Williams for the day since I'm her STL. It was a fun yet interesting day. I've never rode a bike on my mission until this week. And let me just tell you, biking in skirts....Worst. Thing. Ever. It was a fun exchange though and half of the day we were in her area and half in my area. We put this girl Kodie on a baptismal date for May 20th in my area so that was super exciting! Exchanges always bring miracles!

Lots of lessons this week:

We had two lessons with Matthew and both went so great! I remember when we first met him and we asked if he believed the Book of Mormon to be the word of God or of Joseph Smith was a prophet he said “I don't know yet I guess I've got to study it a little more." Well this week he told us he has a testimony in the Book of Mormon and that Joseph Smith is a prophet! He said he can feel it when he prays, reads his Book of Mormon, and at church. Man I just love the gospel so much it changes people for the better:)

We had a lesson with Ida who is the 86 year old we are teaching. She read the Book of Mormon and the pamphlet. She goes to church each week. Her only concern is that she thinks she doesn't retain all that she learns also she is scared of water... But we will fix that, haha. I love Ida so much and she is so ready we just got to help understand she is ready now.

We had a lesson with Yamile which I would say is a "dry Mormon," her son Matthew was baptized a month ago and her husband is an active member. She goes to church every week and lives the life of a Mormon. She's from Puerto Rico and said she just can't leave her Catholic heritage. We are working with her and hopefully we can resolve her concerns.

Okay funny stories so...

I had Tofu for the first time in my life this week. And let me tell you it is disgusting...I ate it all though but I'm definitely never planing to go vegetarian ever now, haha.

Also we went to one of our dinner appointments and she made a turkey for us and she put it on this glass plate that wasn't heat protective. So when she sat the glass plate down the whole plate shattered to pieces and the Turkey went flying across the counter and then had shards of glass all in. It was hilarious! Turns out we didn't end up eating the turkey but it made for a funny story.

Last one and this is super embarrassing and sad... So we met this man who is a member at church and he told me his brother went to Kentucky and Indiana on his mission. He said he was killed in Indiana. So first I though oh my gosh he died on his mission but then the guy said it so casually so then I said "oh you mean "killed" in mission terms like he went home after that area?" And he said "no he actually got hit by a semi in Indiana and died." I was so shocked and I felt so bad! He laughed it off but man I've got to watch what I say....

It's been a busy week, but an awesome one. For church yesterday we went to 4 different wards in 4 different buildings and spoke in one of them and the rest our investigators came to. Sunday's are soooooo busy! Not a day of rest for us missionaries, we don't even have time for tracting. I love being busy though, I just wish the time would slow down, I can't believe we are already in May and that I'm at 11 months:( I love being on a mission. It was the best decision I've ever made in my life, I love the people here and I'm so grateful to serve my Heavenly Father and walk with Jesus Christ everyday. It truly is a blessing.

Sister Lowe

Week 47: Raney Temple

Hello!

What another great week!

Well first I'll start with the  good stuff. So on Pday. Raney emailed me and told me she got her temple recommend and wants to go to the temple!! You can imagine my excitement. Raney is a women I taught in Ben Lomond and she has had made such an amazing change. We got permission from my mission president to go to the Ogden temple and met Raney there. It was such a spiritual experience and I was so happy and proud of Raney. Lots of tears that day. Love her so much!

At Ogden Temple for Raney's first time

Sister Davis and Marissa at the Ogden Temple

Sister Andrews, Raney and Sister Lowe at the Ogden Temple for Raney's endowment

Sister Lowe and Raney

Oh also cool thing... There was a lady in the bathroom after our session in the temple and she said, "I knew there was something special about you guys when you walked into the session and now I see why I felt that, you guys are missionaries" wow! I never knew how powerful our calling really is. Even without our tags on this lady could recognize there was something special about us, cool!! 

We had a lesson with the Izsak family this week. The 10th Ward was doing an activity where they'd take your family picture at the temple. It was so awesome so they got a pic in front of the temple, and afterwards we had a lesson in the temple waiting room (so cool)! Matthew said he could feel the difference so strongly. He just kept saying how he felt his burdens lifted and all of the struggles they were going through just disappeared. It was so cool to hear him say this. He felt the spirit. He told us he wants to be sealed to Kelly, his wife, a year after he's baptized. I love his cute little family.

With the Isack's at the Logan Temple

Oh yeah and funny story, after our lesson I went to shake Mathews hand and then he said, "I think we're on a hugging basis" and went into hug me.... I didn't know what to do and it was to late so I hugged him and sister Davis had to hug him too (it's against mission rules to do that oops). The member that came with us said my eyes looked so big and she could see the fear in my eyes, haha. I haven't hugged a guy since hugging my dad at the airport, wow long time. Funny story, we had a referral given to us one day so we went to contact it and it was a single dad and an 11 year old girl. He let us in and just had us sit with his daughter and then left us... Very weird we think he's inactive. He then came back holding a gun and handed it to his daughter and said "don't be afraid to use this on those two!" At first I thought he was talking about us and got pretty scared, but turned out he was talking about the two dogs that were by us and it was a BB gun he handed his daughter. Very interesting and weird night, haha.

This week has been really rainy and lots of our lessons canceled which was a bummer but that didn't stop us.... Rain is the worst though....know one likes to open the door but like Elder Choi said in last general conference: "Go out in the rain, look up to heaven, open your mouth, and drink it! When you look up, you will be strengthened to open your mouth to everyone without any fear.” I love that quote. We can be positive in any circumstance and even when it's super windy and raining like crazy I still love being a missionary and doing the Lords work:) this week we spoke in 2 different sacraments (stressful!) and we had 5 lessons on Sunday, the week ended with a bang and I know it's because the Lord is watching out for us and helping us find his elect children! The gospel is so true I can feel it everyday day and every minute that I'm a missionary, its so great to be here! Love you all!

Marissa and Sister Davis

Sister Kelly pulled over and took a picture with us

Christmas letters arrive from Harmony Branch

Logan is beautiful

Sister Davis forgot her name badge

Sister Lowe

Week 46: Easter

Heyoooooo!

Happy Easter!!! So Easter is now my new favorite holiday! So many miracles and blessings happened that day! But first I'm gonna start with the highlights of my week:

Easter Morning treats

So Matthew. Matthew is progressing a lot. He moved up his date of baptism to May 20th and told his parents about his baptism! In one of the lessons he said his real goal is to get sealed in the temple. He said "I like how it's not death do us part but we Will be sealed forever." He really has the vision of eternal marriage! It's so amazing! Kelly, his wife, said since we've been coming over they haven't fought once. She said that they've been a lot happier and that Annabelle (their 3 year old) likes reading the children's Book of Mormon every night. This family melts my heart!! We were running late to church on Sunday and got there 1 minute before and they were already there and saved us a seat. So cute!

We had MLC this week. I love MLC. I wish I could have it every week. It's where all the ZLs and STLs come together with the mission president. It was an awesome training, the leaders are so great in our mission!

We had a mission wide fireside this week and we invited all of our investigators to it and they came!! It was such a spiritual fireside and their were so many missionaries there! I got to see Sister Brunt again which always makes my day:) I got to see a ton of people that I knew from serving on USU! Man I miss that place. (Shoutout to Elaina cause I saw her there)

We had ZTM this week and we had to give a training on the role of the Book of Mormon. Since being an STL trainings are starting to become easier and not as nerve wrecking so I think I'm definitely improving. It was a really good Ztm!

So then Easter happened! So President Allred called us earlier in the week and asked if we could recite the "Living Christ" in his sacrament meeting on Sunday. So this Easter He and Sister Allred picked us up and both of them spoke and then Sister Davis and I went up and shared the "Living Christ." It was so powerful. I could feel the power of it in me as I spoke and the spirit was so strong. I could see people crying in the crowd as we spoke, it was such an amazing experience. President Allred invited us back to his house for dinner. So later that day they picked us up and took us to his house. It was just Sister Davis and I and President Allred and Sister Allred. Best. Easter. Dinner. Ever! We just shared stories and we talked a lot of the gospel. President Allred shared some stuff with us that is very personal to him and he told us he doesn't share it to many people. I feel so blessed to be in this mission. I know I was called to this mission because I needed a mission president like President Allred. He truly is the best and I love him. He is my family on the mission and I love his wife also.

For the rest of the night we went tracting and.... We found 3 new investigators!!! It was a miracle! We have been trying to contact this

family called the James. Every time we've knocked no one is home. We’d go in the morning, afternoon, night and nothing. Well last night they were home and they let us in and were so kind to us. The parents are inactive and the 3 kids have never been baptized. They set up a time we can come again and so we are excited to teach them.

Marissa and Sister Davis

Easter I think now is my new favorite holiday. It truly was such a spiritual day. To remember that Jesus Christ lives! He was resurrected and now all of us can be resurrected again. He performed the infinite atonement for all of our sins and pains. He truly is my savior. My example. My friend. I feel his presence daily as a missionary. I want to end this email with the last paragraph of the "Living Christ" it says:

"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles--that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

On a trampoline - just like old times

Sister Davis and Marissa!

Love you all!

Sister Lowe