Week 70: Fat Dogs and Hitch Hiking

This was a way quick week here in Thailand! Also happy General conference weekend. Although I haven't yet watched it, I have heard some of the policy changes and also some very powerful messages from my family. I'm super excited to watch General Conference to be enlightened, inspired, and to grow spiritually. I know this church is true and that we are led by true and living prophets of the Lord in these days. 

This last week was transfers. However, I did not go to Bangkok to pick up my companion. Instead, I went on a switch off with a very young missionary, Elder Hollowell, in Mahasarakam. He taught me a method of transportation that gets me to appointments way faster and way less tiring. I have brought it back to my area and it's been working out way well. I'll attach a video - basically we just grab on to the back of a truck. But don't worry it is very safe! Anyways we had a very good day and got to teach a couple people that are interested in that area. 

By Friday I got my new companion and his name is Elder Despain! He is way chill and I know that we are going to get along very well. I'm already learning things from him and I'm excited to see what this transfer has in store for us! 

Elder Tu (a former companion of mine who also lives in the same house as me) is training right now. Elder Tu is hilarious and I love seeing the way he is training this brand new missionary. I don't think this new missionary is ever going to forget us first transfer on his mission...ever. 

Also sister Nielsen is back in my district. She brought me a jacket from Chiang Mai and it's way cool. I'll have to send a picture of me wearing it some day.

Tui (ตุ้ย) is still doing good. We went over to his house and continued to read the Book of Mormon with him. I know that consistent reading in the Book of Mormon is the greatest way to strengthen your testimony. 

On Sunday, I got to go out with a personal friend of mine, elder Khanakam. I have served with him before in Don Muang, so it was a wonderful opportunity to work with him again and to visit a bunch of different families. I love his spirit and he has developed a Character of Christ within himself. When you are near him you can feel his love and warmth. I want to emulate Chrsit's Character more and more each day so people can recognize me as His servant! 

Like I said it was a shorter week, so that's about it. I love you guys. Have an awesome week!

Love, 

Elder Lowe 

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We saw this massive dog and massive worm this week. Like massive seriously. You probably can't tell in the pictures, but yeah they are huge

Fat worm

Close up of fat worm:  crazy big!

Fat dog - I felt sorry for him

Skinny cow:  Is Robert becoming a cow rancher?

Wow!

Hitching a ride

With Elder and Sister Gigi.  He served in Thailand before Robert's dad

The Bro's

With some Buddhist monks

Week 69: The Character of Christ

From Mark's Mom:  As you read Robert's email he will talk about his new companion, just FYI one of Mark's (Elder Lowe back in 1982) was Elder DeSpain.  NO WAY!!!!

From Robert:  Developing and emulating the character of Christ is the purpose of this life. I feel like I have been able to Draw closer and become more like my Savior, Jesus Christ, as a missionary. This week we had a wonderful district council about Christlike attributes. We talked about the character of Christ and what that really entails. One of the missionaries in my district shared a sentence from the talk entitled, "The Character of Christ." It says, "There would have been no Atonement except for the Character of Christ." I'm making an effort to become more like the Savior everyday in my thoughts, words, and deeds. I encourage everyone to do the same as well! If you are feeling down, sad, angry, stressed or anything I encourage you to turn outward like the Savior, not inward. Following the Savior brings pure joy and happiness!!

I just wanted to share that because sometimes in life we get so caught up on the little things. But what's most important is that we are becoming more like Christ and remembering Him at all times. 

This week has been a long one but way way good! I had 2 switch offs this week, but luckily they were both in my area! First, I switched off with Elder Sarabia, who is a Filipino. So many times I get stressed and I overreact to little things, but he would always say "don't worry, be happy." I like that type of mindset...just be happy!

I also switched off with Elder Freeze who is an older missionary than I am. He is a big dude and I mean like a big dude, but he was very good at making relationships with people. It turns out he has done 7 switch off with the Zone Leaders here and half of the time he would come to this area. So it turns out he knows the area pretty much as well as I know it! With both switch off days, I took these Elders to visit some recent converts and less active members and we took videos of their testimony. Like I said we are working on making a bunch of different videos and one of them will be centered on the members' testimony! We are so excited. 

In terms of new people that we will be teaching, we met this guy named Leon. He is way cool and we took him out to dinner on Monday. We had a casual conversation at first and then he switched it to religion. He mentioned the Bible and the Book of Mormon and asked what is the difference. We taught him such a fire restoration lesson and related everything to his own life. He says he is searching for the truth and we were able to bear powerful testimonies of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon! Overall, he has a ton of potential!

The family we are teaching (Giad, Nid, and Ingfaa) are doing so so good! They came to church and we are able to meet with them every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. We have sent them the basic belief videos and the restoration video and they watched them all. We gave them the pamphlet to read and they read it! We are focusing this week on having them read the Book of Mormon. I have such a strong testimony that deep conversion comes through diligent studying in the Book of Mormon! 

Lastly, we are teaching this one person named ตุ้ย (Tui). He is doing way good and we have been reading the Book of Mormon with him lately. Recently he wanted to dress us up. He said I looked like a prince and wanted us to come back on Halloween so he could dress us up like the King. Haha what a guy!

  

  

Oh yeah, this was transfer week. I will be staying in my area, but my companion will be leaving. My new companion is Elder Despain who is way cool! I've met him before and we are pretty close. He is 3 transfers older than me on the mission just like Elder Ratelle. It's gonna be such a good transfer. I'm so excited!! Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Lowe

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Eating Thai style

Great district and zone!!!