Week 81 - 18 months & 18 days & 18 hours - Marissa comes home

Well I think my time is up now... the hourglass has run out... and I’m heading home today. I've been out serving Jesus Christ on the mission for 18 months and 18 day. It truly has been the best time of my life and I wish I could set the clocks back and do it again. It was hard coming on my mission. It was hard being on a mission. But the hardest thing will be leaving my mission.

It has been an amazing last week. We had 6 convert baptisms this Saturday. The Richey's (our senior couple) taught two and the other 4 were taught by us. They were amazing baptisms, the spirit was so strong, and there were many tears shed. I can't think of any better way to end my mission. I got to see them all get confirmed on Sunday which just made my sabbath day.

On the plane ride home I sat next to a women and got to teach her the whole restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon and I wrote my testimony in it. It was such a tender mercy from Heavenly Father, that I got to teach one last lesson:)

It's really gonna be hard for me to adjust to not doing this everyday all day. I just have felt the spirit so strongly on the mission. I never want this feeling to go away. I just don't want to lose this. I don't want to lose how pure I feel here. I don't want to lose the magnitude of the spirit I feel. I especially don't want to lose my focus on Christ. I want to dedicate my life to him. I want to serve him with everything I have in me. I want to please him and become who he wants me to be. I just have to put my trust and faith in him at this point because it is inevitable that my full time mission is ending and I guess that's apart of life and I will have to just act in faith and press forward. I am eternally grateful for the suffering Jesus Christ went through for me.

Where I am is just a fraction of where I am going. The plan that Heavenly Father has for me is so much greater than the plan I have for myself. In my last interview with my mission president he said to me that he knows it's going to be real hard for me to take off this name tag. I told him "it's okay President, I plan on super glueing it to me" haha just kidding but for real Jesus Christ's name is forever written on my heart. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever will be.

In Luke 19:30 it says "he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the Ghost"

Now as I am on my plane ride home I say "it is finished." My mission is complete and like how Jesus Christ still had a mission after his ministry, I still have a mission for the rest of my life. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ and follow him always.

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become." - Elder Scott.

God never promised life would be easy but he did promise that it would be worth it.

My mission has been so worth it.

It's been the best thing for me.

Christ has changed me for the better.

Sister Lowe.

1-3. Kameron's baptism

4-6 Alejandro and Rico's baptism

7-8. Gary's baptism

9. Saying goodbye to brother Caron

10. Saying goodbye to the Alberchsons. We lived in their basement

11-13. Saying goodbye to my comp Sister Coakley and the Richey's (our

senior couple)

14-15. Temple trip

16-? Goodbyes

20. Home

At the Louisville airport with my mom and dad

Home after 566 (oops not 568) days

Week 80 - Snow Basin

Oh man another week gone. So much to tell and not enough time to write.

So this week I went on back to back exchanges with Sister white on Tuesday and then Sister Hunt on Wednesday. I didn't see my real comp for like 3 nights!! But it was good time!

We had 9 people at church this week! Another great sabbath. We had a cool miracle this week. We had just gotten dropped off in this neighborhood we've never knocked before and knocked on our first door...no answer. But we saw the houses neighbor outside about to get in his truck. So we walked over and introduced ourselves. Turns out the guy is not a member, his wife is a member, and his goal is to be sealed to her in the temple. We asked if he was baptized and he said not "yet" (his own words). So we set up a lesson to meet with him next week, he seems so prepared! Heavenly Father just keeps putting us in the places we need to be at the right time. If we had been dropped off any later we would have missed him. I just love these little moments.

Okay so now for the best part of the week... zone conference. This zone conference was honestly the best one I've been to my whole mission. I had to give my departing testimony along with a bunch of other missionaries going home this transfer.

President Allred taught us about the atonement and it was so powerful and moving. Jesus Christ truly suffered everything for us. President also showed us this video with the song savior redeemer of my soul. It was a video of Jesus being whipped, mocked, crowned with thorns nailed to the cross, and dying on the cross. I felt the spirit incredibly during the video. I had goosebumps all over as I saw my saviors soul be received into heaven. It brought tears to my eyes. I just was hit with feelings of so much love. I love Jesus Christ with my whole soul and will give him everything, even my whole self. He suffered so much for me, a sinner, a weak, insecure, mistaken 20 year old girl. It pains me to know how much pain I have caused Jesus Christ to feel and for the amount of blood he poured out for me and my sins. His love is infinite and his sacrifice covers all. I stand all amazed by the love Jesus offers me. He is incredible. He is my everything. I was touch this week in away I haven't been before. I was overwhelmed with the spirit and cannot deny it. I just want to sacrifice everything, all of my sins for Christ. I am eternally grateful for the suffering Jesus Christ went through for me. I love you all!

This isn't my last email, I'll send you one more on my last day:(

Sister Lowe

Lots of pics we went to Snow Basin for my last Pday

1. MTC crew

 2.-8.  Snow Basin!!!  Amazing P-day!

2. Kyla from my last area got baptized this week and I got to come back and speak at it.

Marissa with Kayla

3. Jackie and Bryan!! I love them!!

4. Met a reindeer!

Week 78 - Thanksgiving

Guys it's finally Christmas celebrating time!!! I'm so excited! I love the Christmas season on the mission, it is truly the best because we get to celebrate Christmas with an emphasis on CHRIST. Which is the real reason we celebrate Christmas! Also I think people are just a little nicer during Christmas time:)

Okay so great things happening this week:

We met this guy, he's 17 named Cameron and he has been going to seminary for a semester now and has some great LDS friends and so he told his parents that all he wants for Christmas this year is to be baptized...that's all he wants. And so his parents who aren't members and are pretty anti-Mormon actually agreed to let him finally. So already this week we are starting to have Christmas miracles!! Gary! Gary is so awesome like literally he is so prepared! He is still on date for the 16th and he said if they schedule him to work that day he will just quit his job. Wow the faith! I'm so excited for him! Alejandro came to church again all by himself, literally the best 9 year old I know! He is now on date for the 16th because his catholic mom wants to make sure he understands everything.

I went on two exchanges this week which was pretty fun. I've learned a lot this transfer as I've gone out with these sisters. A lot of them are struggling in the mission and so it's been cool to help them keep going and seeing their purpose here.

It was thanksgiving this week and that was just a blast. We went to the Bischoff’s family for thanksgiving and I just love that family! I have never eaten so much pie in my life. My fav was the pecan pie…so good!

We passed out a ton of Light the World cards this week. It's the Christmas initiative this year and it's about serving others and becoming more like Christ. To serve others in 25 ways over 25 days leading up to Christmas, pretty cool! I am just so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ who has literally given me everything, and everyday I have the chance to give him something back by serving the people here. It's the most joyful feeling.

Sister Lowe

1-3. Thanksgiving

4. Christmas lights for our door!!!

5. #LightTheWorld

Week 77 - Mormon Muffins and Dwight Shrewt from the Office

Okay So an update for this week:

Alejandro and Rico are on date for baptism December 2nd!! Whoot whoot! They are such cute kids and have such a desire to learn. It's been fun teaching them.

We taught this guy named Gary on Saturday and he has been prepared by the Lord. His friend told him to read Moroni 10 and so he did. He told us he felt this overwhelming feeling come over him as he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true. He then decided to meet with the missionaries... that's us! He accepted a baptismal date of December 16th! We are excited for him.

One day we were walking and we were on the other side of the street and I looked back and I saw this lady outside trimming her bushes, so we decided to turn around and ask if she needed help. Well she accepted our help and we helped pull out 3 of her bushes in the ground. She then told us that that morning she was praying that God would send her angels to help her get this project done. She then said "You guys are my angels!" Wow. God truly is so aware of us. He listens to everyone's prayer and answers them in his own timing. God truly cares so much about us.

It snowed again and the mountains are super pretty because they are all white.

We got poured on one night and as we were knocking doors we were soaking wet and people would just look at us like "why are you knocking my door as it pours outside???" Haha it was actually pretty fun but super cold.

This weeks been rough at times, but then also super joyful. A lot of our investigators cancelled on us or keep rescheduling and it can be frustrating. It can be rough. And It can be hard sometimes. But when times are hard I remember him. I remember Jesus Christ. Even Jesus, the one perfect one, prayed: "Father let this cup pass from me..." There were things he too did not want to do and yet he did them because of his kindness and long suffering charity he had for us.

That is what I want my motivation to be. To do hard things because of the love I have for these people. I want to acquire that Christ like love for all of his children. I have learned the only way to win is to lose. To lose yourself in the Lords work, to surrender yourself and all of your desires to him. Like the Scripture says, "whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."

I have really come to understand the suffering Jesus Christ did for us. His love for us is incomprehensible. I'm so grateful to be able to feel a glimpse of that love for the people here in pleasant view. I love being a servant of Jesus Christ. It is the best calling I could ever hold.

I love you all, hope you all have a great thanksgiving!!

Sister Lowe

1. Utah logan mission (front row left corner)

2. Our senior couple took us to this really cool restaurant

3. "Mormon muffins" on the menu... only in Utah, haha

 4. Best news ever!! Dwight Shrewt (from the show "the office") “was visited by some very nice Mormon missionaries Sisters" Our investigator sent us these pictures and it made my day!

Week 76

So it's only been 4 days since I wrote, so I'll just give a quick update on how our weeks been!

We had such a good week, like our lessons didn't cancel, we found lots of new, and put 5 people on date for baptism. Good week, am I right? The person that I want to talk about though is Alejandro! We were tracting in the trailer park and this dog came running towards us so we picked him up and then the owner came out and was so thankful we caught her dog. She told us she wasn't Mormon and wasn't too interested but she said her kids were really interested. So we came back another day and met Alejandro. He is 9 and really wanted to come to church and be baptized. His mom said she'll drop him off but he’d be going all alone. So Sunday rolled around and he came all by himself and sat with us. He is the cutest and I know I wasn't like that at 9. He's so great. I'm excited to teach him.

Yep so that's my update for the week, sorry it's so short. I really like this area. There is so much potential here. I wish I could be here another 6 months to see all the progress these people are making. Conversion takes time and I'm just sad I only get 6 weeks to see it now. I love being on a mission. It's the greatest thing in the world. And I'm just so happy being here.

Love you All!

Sister Lowe

1-2. Sorry had like no pics this week so we just took some with the Book of Mormon

3. Saw Sister Davis on Sunday at the my plan meeting:/

4. The MTC crew, the sisters I came out with.

5. A whole year ago yesterday, jasmine was baptized!!!

Week 75 - my last transfer

So today is transfer day...and I get to stay with Sister Coakley!! 

Hallelujah! Also today is P-day! So that's why I'm writing to you now:) also this will be my last transfer in the mission:((((( crazy how fast it's gone.

So highlights of the week:

IT SNOWED!!! Which means it's getting super cold!!! But I love the snow:)))

Funny story: we were walking on the highway (the only way to get to our appointment) and it was dark and late at night and raining... and a car drove past us and literally it was like the movies. A big wave of water just splashed us and soaked us, haha. It was pretty hilarious but super cold, good thing we only had like 20 minutes till we went home.

We had a lot of Fourth four last door experiences this week... which means we would tract all day with no success and when we were about to turn back we would knock one last door and we would find someone interested. We found Marco, Casey, Brooke, Cindy and Armarndo (who now is on date for baptism for December 2nd!!!)

Tyler (recent convert) bore his testimony in sacrament and is getting his temple recommend soon!!! So excited for him:) We still had some rough patches this week with people cancelling or rescheduling on us but God still provides miracles despite the hard times.

This week in ADTM I had to give a training on the prayer of faith. This week I've been really working on strengthening my prayers with my Heavenly Father. I spend 15 to 20 minutes in the morning on my knees talking to my Heavenly Father. I've really seen this help me throughout the day even when we aren't having success. Prayer is a defining moment. It is the moment the world stops around you. You have the attention of the most powerful being in the whole universe.

He is listening intently to you and is waiting to answer you. Im so grateful for the conversations I get to have daily with Heavenly Father:)

Love you all!

Sister Lowe

1-2. MLC

 3. The Elders carved pumpkins for us and left them at our door... itsays KFC YALL! 😂

4-5. Return and report, got to see Schultz!!!

Marissa and Sister Schultz

6-7. Tracting pics... I had to wear my glassss cause my contacts were acting up:/

8. PROOF OF SNOW!! Sorry for the selfie but I had to get it on camera

 10. Newbury... I lived in Newbury England when I was little so I had to take a pic:)

11.  After District meeting