Touring Marissa's Mission

From IHOP we said goodbye to Jessica, Tate, Devon and Robert.  Marissa came with us as we drove up to the Utah Logan Mission.  Our first stop was seeing ____________. 

Our second stop was seeing Senior Couple _______________.

We then drove over to Nibley to see where she lived.  This is where she was companions with Sister Davis (best friends) and trained Sister Coakley.  She lived with the ___________ family.

The entrance to her apartment.

He Kitchen 

From Nibley we drove up to Utah State University (USU).  There we saw the tabernacle, and met more of her mission friends.

The Logan Tabernacle

We met Devan and her boyfriend (now fiance') at the Auggie Ice Creamery.  Devan had talked with over a dozen missionaries but it was Marissa that she really connected with.  The way Marissa was patient and let it go at her pace won her over.  Devan was baptized while Marissa was on her mission and now they are engaged.

Eating Blue Auggie ice cream (only at USU)

Our next stop was to visit the Senior Couple _______________.  They told us so many wonderful stories about Sister Brunt and Sister Lowe.  They also were in the films of the District with Marissa.

The next stop was to visit the very special JACKIE and BRIAN!!!! Marissa loves Jackie and Brian as if they were family.  We found out that before Jackie and Brian moved to Logan, she had prayed to know what church to join.  Then she moved to Logan.  She also had turned away missionaries (even Marissa the first time),  On a rainy day Marissa and Sister Davis needed refuge from the rain and stopped on Jackie's porch.  She let Marissa and Elizabeth in,,, the rest is history.  She was baptized.  They have adopted Marissa!!!  Earlier this month Marissa met them in Salt Lake City to attend conference together.

While traveling around we saw Marissa's trainee.  We hopped out and got this photo.

Marissa and Sister Coakley

For dinner we met Sister Davis at the home of ______________.  On our way in we saw two elders - photo opp!

Besties - reunited again

Pizza dinner with ______________________

Besties!!!

Later that night Betsy took Marissa to visit _______________.  They are members that were so supportive of Marissa and Sister Davis!!!  They adored her.

We also stopped at the house of __________.  

The next morning we stopped at __________ for a visit before going to the Logan Temple.

The Logan Temple is one of the most unique and characteristic temples because of its color.  Marissa had the opportunity to attend a few times.  We were so happy to be there with her.  It is so beautiful.

Mommy and daughter 

Love is eternal

From there we went to the mission office.  It was so fun meeting all the senior mission couples.  They adored MARISSA.  We go to see so many cool things.

Mission plaque

Mission boundaries

Mission banner

Next we went to the Brighton Temple.  It wasn't in her mission but it was were she spoke at the tabernacle.  It was on the way to her next area.

After the temple we drove to North Ogden.  We went to visit the ______________ family.

Then we stopped at the Lemons.  They also love Marissa as if she were their daughter.  They have the biggest hearts.  They have opened their house to her any time she is in the area.  She has already stayed there for visits back.

The next stop was to the Karin family.  We found out they used to live in Oakton, VA.  They were their while Betsy lived there.  I was young but I think I remember them (or at least their name).

Our next stop was to visit the ____________ family.  They were all out working in the garden so it was a great time to see them in action.  They have a HUGE garden.  

While in the area, we stopped to see Marissa's apartment.  The sisters were still there so they let us in to see.  We were grateful for their kindness.

Another family we visited in North Ogden was the ____________.  Marissa touched their hearts so much.

reenactment of mission picture

While in the area we were so happy to be able to stop at the Ogden Temple.  It used to be a circular temple.  Now it is an incredible monument to the Lord.

Dad and Marissa

Mom and Marissa

That night for dinner we met up with the ______________ family.  They were so good to Marissa.  We had the most delicious stake dinner with them.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped to see a previous bishop and his family, ________________.

The next day we went back out to Nibley to see Ida.  I remember her so well because she has the same name as my Aunt Ida.  Marissa met Ida at a elderly home.  She taught Ida.  Ida loved the gospel and wanted to be baptized but she was afraid of water.  It took great faith for her to be baptized - but she was, on a very special day.

We also visited the ___________.  Such a kind family.

Our last visit of the day was to visit with Marissa's Mission President and his wife.  IT was such a wonderful pleasure to meet and get to talk with them.  They spoke so highly of Marissa.  They adored her.  She was STL for most of her mission.  She earned their love and trust.  They are from central Washington.  

Questions from Devon

Devon wrote me and asked me 20 questions and I thought you guys might want to know them too so here's what I wrote devon:

So happy to hear from you!!! To answer all your questions okay:

1. How have you been?

I'm doing really great! Loving the mission!

2. What is one of your favorite scriptures?

Hmm there are so many but I think it Alma 26: 11-12, 16, 35-36

3. What are your top three favorite companions?

Sister brunt (trainer), Sister Schultz(traine) , and Sister Davis (comp for 3 transfers)

4. What are your top two area's?

USU and Nibley!!

5. Who do you think has had the most impact to you on your mission, besides the Godhead and scriptures?

PMG, my trainer, and president Allred

6.What do you want to major in?

???? Don't know yet still got to figure that out...

7. What does it mean to you for a missionary to be consecrated?

It means there mind is centered on their missionary purpose (teach repentance and baptize converts). They are focused on the Lords work. They are exactly obedient and have the doctrine of Christ embedded in their hearts.

8. What is the hardest thing you have had to do on your mission?

I thought it would be people rejecting me or being tired and stuff but it's not. The hardest thing is teaching someone and see the spirit work in them to believe in this gospel and then they reject it. It breaks my heart because you just love the people you teach and you can see how this gospel will bless their life and then they let it go.

9. What were some of your most spiritual experiences on your mission?

Ohhhh dang, there are so many. When Lansing was baptized that was such a spiritual experience for me. I taught her in the summer and she was ready for baptism and felt she needed to be baptized. Well she chickened out and then moved to Texas for her PHD and I thought I’d never see her again. Well I kept emailing her and then in December she emailed me and said she was coming to Logan for a week and wants to be baptized. It was a miracle and the baptism was so spiritual. I've had other lessons that were super spiritual but it would be too much to write. Mission is full of spiritual experiences.

10. What is your main goal before your mission is over?

My goal when I started my mission was first 1 baptism, haha which happened within the first 3 weeks.. so then I changed it to baptize every month. So I've had 16 baptisms so far and so I want to have 18 baptisms for 18 months. But my main goal is just to fulfill my purpose and keep being diligent in the Lords work.

11. What would be your perfect P day?

Going on a hike in the mountains and playing zone sports.

12. How often do you get to go to the Temple?

Every 5 months I think, I've only gone a couple times on the mission:(

13. On a scale of 1-10 how much do you miss Jasper?

1000000000000000000000000000000000 billion

14. Did you like the MTC?

Yeah I loved the MTC. My teachers were amazing. My companion was hard but I just loved how spiritual it was and how much I felt the spirit there. It is such a righteous environment.

15. Are you coming home and then going to school right away or staying at home for a while?

Yep I get home dec 18th and go to school in January

16. What was your first day like, what were you like, and what stood out to you?

Hahaha, okay so my first day I met my trainer and my trainer and I dropped my stuff and then our investigator and his girl friend picked us up and drove us to their favorite nature spot which they said was only 10 minutes away. Well we kept driving and driving and driving for like 45 minutes and we made it to Tony's grove which actually is out of my mission... whoops. Well we taught them the plan of salvation and then came back and on the way back we were like so this was really far away and they were like "yeah we knew it was so that why we had to lie to you". Yep that was fun. And then we had 2 other lessons that day. So it was a busy day and I went out of the mission on the first day. I was scared my first day but everything went well.

17. Have you almost been in a life threatening or really hurt experience?

Hmmm, well one day on exchanges we came home and we found this 40 year old crazy lady in our apartment who had broken in and was wearing our pjs and used our tooth brushes and shower. She was crazy and talked to herself, and I think was schizophrenic! We called the cops and they arrested her.

18. What do you think is your biggest change for before mission to now?

Waking up every day at 6:30am. I've done it for the past 15 months but man is that hard. But also understanding the atonement and Jesus Christ more. I get to experience a part of what he went through when he was here on the earth and that been change for me.

19. What are your top three Christlike attribute that you think you excel at?

Knowledge, humility, obedience

20. On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love being a missionary?

100000000000000000000000000000000000 trillion

Week 72 - AJ, CJ and TJ get Baptized - Tyler gets Baptized

Exciting things this week!

First and for most... TYLER WAS BAPTIZED!! Whoot whoot! It was such an amazing baptism. We found Tyler only two weeks ago but he has been prepared by the Holy Ghost and is now the newest member of Jesus Christ's church:)

Also.... AJ, CJ, and TJ were baptized!!! Hallelujah! I've been teaching them for 7 months straight when I was in Nibley and they finally were baptized this week!! I got to go back and speak at their baptism and it was just so great. My heart is full.

Okay so other awesome miracles. We met with Jospeh this week (new investigator) and taught him and he is now on date for baptism for November 4th! Yeet! His daughter passed away last week and we helped serve at the funeral and that's when we first met Joseph and he asked us to teach him more about what we believe about the after life. He seems super interested!

We also met this guy named Gary who came to church with his return missionary best friend and he wants to learn and take the lessons from us. We also tracted into a girl named Hailey who is 17 and she was interested in the missionary lessons and is open to baptism! MIRACLES PEOPLE! The Lord is just blessing us so much! Ahhh it's just so wonderful.

I'm starting to really like the area. Still trying to learn it all… it's HUGE! The thing is about down here is the people are really nice but they talk your ear off. People just love to talk. We will be walking and then stop someone on the street and they will just talk forever... like we talked to this non-member this week who literally talked to us for an hour on the street about stories in his life. He would not get to the point. My feet were dying and My legs were real tired after that conversation... and he wasn't interested...sadly:(

Okay so over the course of my mission I meet a lot of people who ask "has your mission changed you. Are you a changed person because of the mission?" And the answer is no. My mission hasn't changed me. I'm not a changed person because of my mission. On my mission I have come to know how to draw unto Christ. Am I changed? Yes. But it is Christ who has changed me. Christ has changed my life not my mission. Christ has made me want to become more like him and change for the better. In the scriptures it says "Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word" Alma 5:7

Mighty change comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ - Simple obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Change is about becoming. It is what we have become not who we were. We need to become one with Christ, have his doctrine embedded in our hearts, and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ changes us for the better:)

Love you all!!

Sister Lowe

Lots of pics!

1-3. Tyler's baptism

 4-5. AJ, CJ, TJs baptism

 6. Got to see Jackie and Bryan!!! Oh how I miss them!!!

7-8. Zone service project

Holy Cow - look at the size of that fallen tree

9-11. On our way back from the baptism we got to see the Brigham city temple!

 12. District meeting pic with Sister Coakley