Week 61 - Ty and Jackie's Baptism

This week was definitely one I'm gonna remember for the rest of my life. (Be prepared for a long read...sorry)

First Ty was baptized! I met him back in March when his step brother David, who we taught, was baptized, but Ty was never interested then. Well 3 weeks ago we stopped by to see how David was doing, and we saw Ty there. He told us he wanted to be baptized as soon as possible! Well 3 weeks later Ty was baptized! He's such a cute kid and it's been cool to see how much his heart has changed since March when I first met him. 

Sister Vea, Ty and Marissa at Ty's Baptism

Second, JACKIE WAS BAPTIZED! Let me just tell you WOW! Her baptism was amazing. The spirit was so strong, there were many tears shed. I don't think you could be in that room and not feel it. Jackie's story starts with Sister Davis and I knocking on her door in April, she told us she wasn't interested, but she was super nice. Well later she was invited by her neighbors to go to a family history activity (she's into genealogy) and she went and loved it. Well about a month later, we were walking in her neighborhood and it started to down poor. So being the sissys we are, we ran to the closest house we could find and that was Jackie's. Before we knocked we kind of were panicking because Jackie had already told us no, so usually we don't go back to a house where the people said no to us. Well we knocked it anyways and she opened the door and said, "I've been thinking of you girls lately, I think I want to take the lessons." Yep. I think my mouth literally dropped open. So then we started teaching her in June and she had to give up her coffee addiction which was so hard for her, but she did it! Bryan her husband got re-activated after 30 years of not being active. Jackie bore her testimony in sacrament yesterday and now She is the newest member of Jesus Christ's church! Amazing right. God truly works miracles. I know he led us to her door and I know he softened her heart to let us in the second time. God is so good.

Jackie and Bryan

Sister Davis and her companion, Jackie and Bryan, Marissa and Sister Vea

Sister Davis and Marissa with Jackie and Bryan, they are so happy for them

The sisters with Jackie!!!

All the Sisters with JACKIE!  Jackie looks so happy!

Such an amazing day for Jackie!

Sister Vea, Jackie and Marissa on Jackie's baptism day

Bryan and Jackie!!!  True happiness

If that wasn't already enough of how much I loved this week, we also had many other miracles...

One night we decided to visit all of our flakey investigators (people who told us they were interested but always reschedule or are never home). Well we visited all 6 of them and all of them were home and set up actual appointments with us and said they still were interested. We said a prayer before each door, and I know it was Heavenly Fathers hand that let us get all of those appointments set. It was a miracle because some of the people we visited we've been trying to get in contact with over the past month! 

Also we were tracting one night to go visit an inactive lady who just moved in who the relief society president texted us about. Well she was outside her house in a bikini and cow boy boots working on her car.... yeah a bit awkward, but we went for it anyways. She was super nice and told us she's trying to get back to church and has gone the past 2 times. We asked about how many kids she had and she told us she had a 9 year old girl. We asked if she was baptized and she then said, "hmmm, actually Gracie hasn't been baptized. Wait isn't that something you guys do? Could you teach her so she can get baptized?" We obviously said yes! We taught her on Sunday and she said yes to being baptized August 26th! Just another miracle Heavenly Father blessed us with. I just love this work so much. I feel so close to Heavenly Father and I can see his miracles everyday. 

It truly was an amazing week, full of love, the spirit, and miracles. I never want these feelings to go away. Can I just be a missionary forever? I wish. 

Heavenly Father has blessed this area so much. I know he is watching over us here and giving us miracles after miracles according to our faith in him. I know everything that has happened on my mission is because of him and I am so so grateful.   My joy is full:) 

Sister Lowe 

Cedar Point

Mark, I, Devon and Robert loaded up the car for the long weekend vacation.  We haven't had a vacation in since last summer when we went to Jessica's wedding (and I went to Spokane).

This vacation is in honor of Devon's homecoming!!!  He loves roller Coaster rides so we are going to his favorite amusement park, Cedar Point and Soak City.

We drove up on Thursday and made it to Jessica's work by 3:00 pm.  She was getting off work at that time.  Everyone there said I looked like her sister - yay!!!  From there we went to downtown Detroit to see Tate.  He works at the big tall, Renaissance Building (used to be Fords) where GM has it's headquarters.  Tate was able to get off at 4:00 and join us on the river front.  We walked around and had a super fun time.  

That night we drove up to Novi, MI to meet Julie and Scott Barb, and their kids and Mark's older brother, Kevin and his wife Shauna.  We were so excited to eat at the Cheesecake Factory, but they had a 2.5 hour wait!  UGH!!!  We decided that was toooooo long so we ate at the food court, which turned out to be a great idea so everyone could get what they wanted.  It was great to catch up with Julie, Scott, Kevin and Shauna.  This is the first time I've seen Shauna after her transplant.

It was also so much fun to see the nephews and our niece.  I got Tanner and Logan Michigan Pendents as a birthday present.  I also got Preston and Mallory Michigan Pendents (just smaller ones) so they would not feel left out.

Devon, Tate, Jessica, Robert, Mark & Betsy, Tanner, Kevin, Mallory & Shauna, Preston & Julie, Logan and Scott

We checked into our hotel, bringing Jessica along for the ride.  We got her a roll-away bed.  I didn't know she was staying with us at the time I booked the room.  Luckily they were good to let us have a rollaway.  

Because we are staying at the Breaker Express we get into the park one hour before it "opens."  YAY!!!  However, the next morning slept in longer than we expected, but still made it to the park by 9:30.  At first we went to Soak City - it was empty - good reason ... it was still closed.  Someone left the gate open and we just walked in.  Too funny!

We made it over to Cedar Point and put our stuff in a locker before heading to Top Thriller Dragster!  Last time there was an hour long wait - this time NO WAIT!!!  We rode it two times in a row... well the kids did it three times.  Then I went to Soak City to lay out towels while everyone else went to ride Millennium Force!  Again, no wait!  Mark, Devon, Jessica and Robert rode it two times before I got there.  Jessica and Robert rode it with me (that makes 3 for them).  I can't believe there is no wait.  Devon went to ride Maverick, but it was temporarily closed.  Bummer!  We rode went on some water ride - Thunder Falls (we got soaked, Robert got the most of it) and the Log Ride (since we were already soaked it was okay to get completely soaked again - and that's exactly what happened).  Jessica has the art of water bending.

We finally found Devon and ate some lunch together.

After lunch Betsy and Robert went to Soak City.  We road Dragster H2O, and three other slide rides, and Erie Falls (totally black covered twisty slides - you go so fast in total darkness) ...  while Devon went to ride more roller coasters.  He rode Rapture, Twisted Sister, & Magnum.  It was incredible - no wait!  Mark and Jessica went to meet Tate at the hotel.

Everyone arrived back at Soak City at the same time (while Robert and I were in a line in a tower - so we could see them).  They caught up to us and we road the Water Roller Coaster together.  Devon didn't hold on and he crashed into Robert and me.  It wasn't fun for us!  However, we got over it (I freaked out at him).

After that we road all the water rides and the lazy - not so lazy river.  The lines were so short!  it was awesome!  We stayed at Soak City until 6:00 and then loaded the towels in the car before returning to Cedar Point.  We road Dragster (because Tate had never ridden it) again and then we rode Maverick.  OH MY GOSH!  IT is the scariest ride in the park.  Betsy SCREAMED the entire ride - and lost her voice on it, for sure!  After that ride we ate dinner at Subway and then road more Roller Coaster Rides.  We rode VALRAVN which drops at 90 degrees going 75 miles per hour.  It's awesome!  It was the longest wait of the night at 25 minutes.  Then we went and road Gate Keeper.  Everyone had a blast.  To slow things down we road the Ferris Wheel.  We wanted to do bumper cars, but it was already closed.   We left the park around 9:00 pm.  It was a fun and full day of activity!

The next day - REPEAT!  Actually today was a little different.  We again got a locker and road Magnum first - then we road Maverick.  Betsy went to put the towels out at Soak City.  The rest of the morning we road roller coasters and did water rides.  We took Tate and Devon on Thunder Falls - Robert got soaked again.  What are the odds!  We did the Log ride again too!   Betsy & Mark headed to Soak City while they rest road Maverick one more time.  Unfortunately, this is where Devon lost his phone.  He had to spend the next hour and a half going back to find it, then going to lost and found to report it missing.  So sad, he's only had it two weeks.  Now he's without a phone again.

We spent the remainder of the day in Soak City - lazy rough river, rides, water roller coasters, relaxing in the sun, soaking up rays, going in the wave pool, etc.  What a great day!  It ended with a trip to Dipin' Dots, and a ride on Gemini and the Cedar Point Train. 

Gatekeeper

Mark and I love the ferris wheel

The boys:  Tate, Mark and Robert

The park

The Girls

So cute - young love

great view of the park

Get ready to get wet

My favorite picture:  We had so much fun

Devon - you have to be in the photo - NOOOOO!

Jessica is in heaven - Dippin Dots
Tate's never had them

YUM!!!!

Betsy loved the water park