Week 87: เดี๋ยวจะบอก "Wait a sec and I'll tell you"

Such a crazy week I almost don't even know where to start. The subject title means like "wait a sec and I'll tell you," because there are so many crazy stories, miracles, and experiences this week.

To start, Monday and Tuesday were literally all day meetings with President Hammond. On Monday we talked with President for like 8 hours about the new English Program implemented throughout Southeast Asia. But surprisingly, Tuesday was even a crazier day than that. We had our Transfer Board meeting from 8am-8:45pm which was so long, you have no idea!! But, it is one day where we can really feel the spirit and receive revelation!
That night Elder Sumsion and I picked up the brand new missionaries at the Airport and brought them back to the office. It brought me back to my first day in Thailand when I got off the plane and saw the Assistants hahah.

The next day we trained the new missionaries and we took them out to invite with us. Again, it brought me back to my first couple of days when I didn't understand anything, couldn't speak the language, and was just so stressed. It's cool to see my progression over this last year and a half. Trusting in the Lord was the key for my whole mission and it still is.

On Thursday, I got my new companion, Elder Robinson, and we had a couple of meetings. It's weird to be the leading companion as the Assistant because there is a little more responsibility. I'm excited for this transfer as I will surely be humbled many times! Friday morning at around 5am I got to drive the dying missionaries to the airport. What's crazy about this group is that 3 of them were my companion!! I love those Elders so much and I'm grateful for their dedicated service!!

But Friday, Saturday, and Sunday me and Elder Robinson got to work. In three days we found 19 new people and we have taught probably an average of 8 lessons a day!! I'm so excited to just give it my all this transfer. Me and Elder Robinson have already been companions, so we already have some chemistry and we know how to work with each other.

Funny Story:
This is more of a miracle than a funny story, but here it goes. We were walking back home one day and we see this one guy watering plants. I start talking to this one guy, so Elder Robinson starts talking to the guy watering the plants. He got an appointment with him for Sunday and so on Sunday we visited him. It just so happens that he lives with a ton of people. I mean like 13 other people!!! They all came into the front room and sat down and waited for us to teach them about Jesus Christ! It was insane!!! I truly believe that the Lord blesses his servants with people to teach when they are diligent and have a desire to do the Lord's work! I love being a missionary!

These last 4 months I am promising to the Lord that I will not slow down, but be more diligent than ever!

Love,
Elder Lowe
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This group of Elders was special to Robert:  He served with many of them.
Good bye and thanks for being great missionaries

Back together:  Elder Lowe and Elder Robison (from Phuket)

Hahaha

Week 86: Count your Blessings

Sorry I didn't get this email out last week! I'm going to send 2 out this week to catch back up. This week I went to a district council in Bangbuathong and we totally surprised them. They talked a lot about the importance of unity as a companionship and loving your companion. It made me think about my relationships with my companions over my mission. I'm grateful for all my awesome comps and the things I learned from them.

So I got to do so me cool switch offs this week with 2 of my close friends on the mission. First, I switched off with my MTC companion, Elder Ward, who is such a good hard working missionary. We saw so many MIRACLES and I just love being on the errand of the Lord. God helped us through having our morning appointment cancel right as we were about to get on bikes and leave from the church, which led to us walking inside and finding that Bishop just so happened to have the day off and was in his office. It was powerful to discuss with him his vision for the ward, commit our service to him, and then invite him and his wife to go help us teach Brother Den, who is a new member of the church. After teaching and Ministering to him with the bishop, wow did he keep the commitments we gave him! We invited him, whenever he had friends who questioned his faith, for him to simply accept these things and say "Hey, let me have two of my friends come to explain more about what I believe".

After going and getting some lunch, we went back to his classroom and immediately two of his friends asked him what it meant that he had received the Aaronic priesthood (as the bishop had just given him his ordination certificate confirming he had been ordained a priest). Immediately we looked at each other, and he turned to us and told his friends to ask us and listen to what we had to say. We had such an amazing conversation and came to find out his two friends, brother Bright and sister Nat, have had a belief in God for a long time now, but now everything makes sense to them. So excited for them to continue to come to know their Heavenly Father and their Savior Jesus Christ as they continue to learn of Him more!

My switch off with Elder Bird was awesome as well! We taught so many people and we just worked. Honestly is the best feeling to just work as hard as you can and then just come home at night drenched in sweat!
I also had the opportunity to switch off with Elder Kearsley and Elder Palmer, while my companion was in a meeting for missionaries that are going home.

We put Arthur on a date for February 23rd on Sunday and he is progressing so well!! Keep praying for miracles here in Thailand.

Lastly, Elder Sunsion and I got to go out with President Hammond to visit Suwat and his family. We taught about the importance of family and we even read the Family Proclamation to the world with him. I love being a missionary and teaching families the good news! I hope everyone has a good week and I hope that everyone will count the blessings in your life.

Love,
Elder Lowe
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Elder Sunsion, Suprakrit, and Robert in Chung Buri

Robert with one of Dad's mission friends, Dave Boland

Farewell for Elder Sunsion

Robert with Elder Palmer and Elder Kearsley and a new member

Robert with Elder Ward, the Bishop and his wife, and the new member

Looks like ice cream - where did they get that in Thailand

Robert, Elder Ward and the group of friends

Robert, Elder Sunsion with Bright and Nat ?

Robert and Elder Sunsion - what a great companionship

Week 84: Apostle in Thailand

This was such a special week because Elder Andersen, an Apostle  of the Lord, came to Thailand. I'm grateful for living Prophets and Apostles who are living representatives of Jesus Christ. He talked a lot about the temple, the second coming, focusing our teaching on the Savior, and memorizing scriptures in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. Basically, we need to be converted to Jesus Christ and not the church. The church leads us to Jesus Christ and helps us to become more like Him. If we are true disciples of Jesus Christ then we need to live like Jesus lived. I learned a lot more about the importance of learning of Christ and becoming converted to him. I know that as we become closer to Jesus Christ we will have more happiness in our lives too. 

This week I did 2 switch offs. I switched off with the Zone Leaders in the Bangkok West and the District Leader in my area. Elder Anderson is 2 transfers above me, which means he is about to go home. We got to teach a couple families and we just continue to use the Book of Mormon as much as we can in our teaching. I taught this lady named แหวว (Waew) who has read all the way to 3 Nephi and understands everything so well! We read the scriptures to explain the restoration of the gospel and she says she believes the Book of Mormon to be true. 

I also switched off with Elder Fox, who came into the country a month after me. He has so much faith as a missionary and had a very difficult past, but has developed a strong testimony throughout his mission. We got to teach the family of Suwat and Petploy, and he shared some personal experiences of a time in his life when he had little faith. The difference the gospel can have in our lives just amazes me. Later we committed this 13 year old boy to baptism. His name is Arm and he has so much faith and desire to have a better life. His baptismal date is scheduled for February 24th which is the day before my birthday!!

Miracles are truly all around is! The question is do we have the faith enough to see or go out and find them?

Love you all so much. 

What a small car!

Reunited:  Elder Burgess, Robert, Juthamas' sister, and Sathit's wife - Juthamas Kaivalvatana

Robert, the elders with Issaya Inlee

Week 83: The Power of the Book of Mormon

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are excited for this new year! For me, I didn't do really anything special for the new year, but I have made some great goals and I'm excited for a new beginning again. I have been in Thailand since 2018, so it's very weird to me that this will be the year that I go home. I'm excited to serve with all my might these last 5 months! 

This new year I'm really excited to focus my studies on the Book of Mormon and just really dive into it. We have been focusing our finding efforts, teaching efforts, and our studying on the Book of Mormon and I've seen so many miracles already. I'll share 2 really quickly...

First, my companion and I were visiting a member and at first he wasn't there because he was a little late to our appointment. However, a man was passing us and we started talking to him. We got to know him and I asked if he got anything cool for Christmas last week. He said he didn't get anything and it just so happened that I had a wrapped Book of Mormon in my hand at that time. I gave it to him and he opened it and we got to talk about the Book of Mormon and how it has completely changed our lives. He loved it and wanted to start reading it with us right then and there. It was such a miracle and it strengthened my testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon! 

Second, I was walking down the street and I saw some people lifting some boxes into a truck, so I stopped and helped them out. One of the guys, out of nowhere, asked me what church I'm from. So I told him and he said he loves reading books, including the Bible. I told him I had another book, called the Book of Mormon, that I would give to him the next time we met. He was thrilled and told us that he would meet us at the church! I believe the Book of Mormon opens people's hearts and is such a powerful tool in conversion. 

On Friday, I got to switch off in an old area of mine. I got to go back to Don Muang for a day and switch off with Elder Halversen again! It was so much fun because I got to visit so many people that I taught and show Elder Halversen some of the LAs that I visited while I was there. I saw Sister ซี (See), Brother เพชร (Pet) and Sister กิ๊ก (Gig)! I love that area and the people there so much! 

Lastly, I want to talk about 3 cool individuals and families we are teaching. One, is a little 9 year old boy named น้ำแข็ง (Nahm Keng), who is so ready for the gospel. We gave him the children's Book of Mormon and he had just been reading a ton from it. He was recounting the story of Joseph Smith and Nephi to us better than all the adults that we teach. He loves the gospel and he loves praying! 

Second, we are teaching this one family that has a ton of kids. The dad's name is โกฮัง (Gohang) and the mom's name is แก้ว (Gaew). They have such great faith and want to be baptized, but we haven't got the dad to come to church yet. We hope that the Lord will provide a miracle and help them get to church soon!

Third, สุวัฒน์ (Suwat) and his family. His son พัช (Pat) is actually a recent convert and wants us to teach his family, including his dad, aunt, and sister. The dad is progressing so much and is just the nicest guy, and his sister comes to church and has told us she wants to be baptized. I'm really excited for this family and for their desire to learn more about Jesus Christ and how to follow him. 

I'm so excited for this new year and for all the miracles in store! I hit my 19 month mark today, which is just crazy! I love you all and may God bless you this year. 

Love, 

Elder Lowe 

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Watermelon for the APs:  Elder Sunsion and Elder Lowe

Week 79: It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

It's really beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Believe it or not...Thailand is sooo cold right now. I've been freezing the last several days, no joke. It is usually around 90-100 degrees every day, but this week the weather dropped to the 60s-70s and let's just say I was not ready. My parents told me that Thailand would never get cold so I have no jackets, sweatshirts, coats, etc. Thank you mom and dad, haha, jk!

Right now as I am writing this email I feel completely exhausted. This week has felt so long and has overall been very tiring on me. Needless to say, it was an amazing week full of miracles and cool experiences.

I officially hit my 18 month mark on Friday!!

To start the week we went around to some different members and worked on our member board! We were able to share the wonderful Christmas message with some members in Roi Et before leaving to the other areas this week. As a Zone Leader I get the privilege to travel around the area often and visit other missionaries in different areas. This week I got to go all over the Isaan and I even got to go to Bangkok. I switched off in Ubon on Wednesday, Korat on Thursday, Sisaket on Friday, and Asoke on Saturday. These different areas are pretty far from each other, so yeah it was a week of traveling.

Traveling this week was brutal for 2 reasons. 1) we traveled at night so I probably got about 10 hours of sleep total this week and 2) I was so so cold. However, I am done complaining about this past week and I want to talk about all the cool experiences that happened. 

On Wednesday I switched off with Elder Fushee, who is on his first transfer. We did a lot of service, as we are trying to light the world, and we visited some members in Ubon. I want to talk about 1 member in particular that has been a blessing to me. Her name is Sister Tip (ทิพย์) and she is a recent convert to the church. I had visited her about 2 months ago with another missionary, before she was baptized, and at that time she had no desire to be baptized. She was drinking with her friends and family, and not really paying attention to us. Me and the other missionary decided to love her enough to help her, not JUDGE her. We read the Book of Mormon with her that day and applied every verse into her own life and she was amazed. She couldn't believe how this one book was "written for her." Anyway, fast forward to about a month ago where I got to interview her for baptism. She had changed a lot from that first moment to the day of her baptism and I was so proud of her. Okay fast forward to Wednesday this week when I went with Elder Fushee. We came to teach her follow up lessons about the restoration and she started crying. She had goosebumps and had another witness by the Holy Ghost at that moment that what we were telling her was true. She told us she has quit alcohol for almost 2 months now and that she wanted to help her family to do the same. She also told us that she has a desire to share the gospel with her family and she wants the missionaries to teach and baptize her family as well. Miracles really do exist!

On Thursday I was in Korat on a switch off with Elder Blood, who I first met in the MTC. He came to country about a month after I did, so it was really cool to spend a day with him and see how he is doing. This Elder is solid and is a very social man; he loves talking to people, so we used that skill and decided to talk with everyone we could. We visited a bunch of members and shared the message of Christmas with them. I love asking people what is the meaning of Christmas? Or what is the best gift you could ever receive? And after that asking them how is Jesus Christ a gift in your life? Or what role does He play in your life? I'm truly grateful for my Heavenly Father who gave his Son to us to be our Savior and Redeemer. I'm grateful for Jesus Christ that he did everything for me and allows me to return back to my Heavenly Father again.

On Friday, I was in Sisaket and I switched off with Elder Cruz. I got to interview another lady for baptism who just got baptized yesterday! We basically did the same thing in Sisaket and visited some Less Active members and got them excited for this Christmas season.

Lastly, on Saturday I was in Bangkok and I switched off with the Assistants. I switched off with Elder Sumsion who goes home in less than 2 months. He is a very talented guy and way humble about it too. He is by far the best Thai speaker on the mission, it is literally insane. But, what I learned from him is the importance of getting less active more involved in missionary work. We had an appointment with this one less active named เจดน์ (jade), and we got to show him a Christmas video. He felt uplifted and bore his testimony of the Savior. We were so impressed that we asked him to come with us to our next appointment and share his testimony again. He agreed and brought such a strong spirit with him into the next lesson!

We got back to Roi Et on Sunday morning, showered, and then immediately went to church! I have had absolutely 0 breaks this weeks haha. But, we had a miracle at church this week with one of the people we are teaching. We have been teaching this guy named Ping (ปิง) for a long time (he has been am investigator for about 2 years). He has been to church a billion times, received the missionary lessons all the way through 4 times, and has wanted to be baptized for such a long time. However, he is 17 and he told us that his mom didn't give him permission to be baptized. That changed today when she walked into the church and my companion and I got to meet her for the first time. We gave her a church tour with another member at our side and she immediately gave permission for her son to be baptized. I'm honestly so excited for him and his eternal progression. He is set to be baptized on Sunday, December 22nd, which is in 2 weeks! Yayyy!

Again so sorry this was so long, but I just have felt so blessed this week. I love you all so much and I hope everyone is doing good. I invite you all to remember the true meaning of Christmas this Christmas season. Take some time to think of all the things that your Savior has done does you!! Trust me there's a lot.

Love,
Elder Lowe
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PUPPIES!

On the Road again!

Christmas Tree in Thailand!