Week 65: The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came UP

Sorry for the cheesy subject title, but yeah its pouring over here! This week was like no other on the mission with a bunch of flooding and helping people with their huge losses. 

On Thursday the rain started coming a little bit, but by Friday we knew it was over. We were biking to a service project and it was just pouring and the next thing we knew the streets were flooded up to our knees. it was insane!!!

With a bunch of canceled appointments, we took all of Saturday going to members' houses to get the water out. We also transported care packages and hygiene kits for all of these families. Some of these houses were just wrecked and they lost so much. However, despite of the circumstances these people were still happy and we were able to make some ส้มตำ (somtam) together. I swear nothing brings a community together like making somtam in Thailand! 

As a matter of fact before all of the flooding, we visited a friend we are teaching and he couldn't focus on the lesson because he wanted to make some ส้มตำ really bad. So we made some ส้มตำ with him, ate it together, and built a never ending friendship. All it takes is some somtam and sticky rice, and your are best buds in the isaan. 

We are teaching some really good people though and we've already seen some really great progression and change in them. My new companion is Elder Ratelle and he is from Idaho. He is way cool and wants to open up a sick Thai restaurant when he gets back home. He has 3 more transfers left after this one so this is my oldest comp I've ever had so far. That's it for this week. 

Love you all so much!!

Elder Lowe

เอ็ลเดอร์โลว์

I'm OKAY

Our meeting house

My Companion mucking out a house.  Bailing water and shoveling mud out

Also I went on a switch off with Elder Lewis and caught a couple fishes in the road haha

Last Area (Don Muang) last day 

Saying good bye

Week 50: Our District is on Fire

So this week was “way” good and my district is doing so good - we are on fire. For starters, I had the opportunity to interview four people for baptism this week!  So far I have interviewed nine people for baptism in the last two transfers! The success in this area is amazing.  It feels so good knowing that one by one we are sharing the message of Jesus Christ’s gospel with the people in Thailand and inviting more joy and happiness into their lives.

This week we taught a bunch of people and got to teach with Elder Khanakam (member of the Quorum of the Seventy). We had the opportunity to teach with him before, it’s such a spiritual experience.  He is incredible when he teaches. I have learned so much from his example about how I can become a better missionary and show more love to those I teach! 

We had seven people at church this week and the people we are teaching are progressing more and more. For example; Somsak and his daughter are really starting to accept the message of the gospel.  I am so happy for them.

This week both Min and Ratchani received the Holy ghost and became members of the true church. They radiate with a light from within.  It’s so incredible to see the changes they have made in their lives.  

Lastly, I went on a switch off with our zone leader, เอ็ลเดอร์เอกนิรันดร์. He is on his last transfer and he is Thai. He was such a good missionary and used these insane analogies that only Thai people would understand! 

Well that's it for this week. Sorry this is all over the place I just had no time … more to come next week.

Robert bikes this narrow concrete passage

Robert had fish for dinner at Sister Issaya Inlee.  He says she is the nicest lady.

The sisters in Robert's district and Him and his companion.  Robert is the district leader.