Week 77: SICK SICK week

So to be honest this week wasn't super productive like I wish it would have been. My companion has been sick for a while, but he took a real hit this week, especially on Tuesday. We have this thing called a district council every Tuesday and he had to lay on the floor the entire time due to his poor health. 

On top of that we had to go to MLC in Bangkok on Wednesday, but Elder Despain did not look good physically. In the end, I went to MLC with Elder Laurence, who is on his second transfer haha. Which totally caught President Hammond by surprise.

Bad news...I got pretty sick while I was in Bangkok just like Elder DeSpain. However, we had already scheduled a switch off with the Buriram Elders so I just had to push through it. I got to switch off with Elder Sugabo, who is on his 1st transfer and it was a lot of fun. I got to be like a trainer for a day which was so fun. I honestly miss being a trainer because it teaches you so much and you develop as a person as well. 

By the time I got back to my area I felt like death and honestly was the most sick I have ever been on my mission. Needless to say, we were still able to visit many members. Goals this week...get new people to teach. We are still teaching some people, but we want some new ones that may progress. 

Love you all so much. Next week I will hit my 18th month mark and it will be Thanksgiving! HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I'm grateful for all of you, for my parents my siblings, my friends, and everyone that has influenced me in my life. You all are the best!!

Love, 

Elder Lowe

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Dynamic Duo:  Elder DeSpain and Elder Lowe (background)

Regional Playoff Game vs Simon Kenton

Simon Kenton is an hour and a half away north up interstate 71.  Robert had to be at the school by 5:45.  I ordered a pizza from Dominos for him, because I was tutoring and couldn't make him dinner.  Ms. Frazee took him to the school so I could finish tutoring and so that we wouldn't have to pick up his car after the game.

Mark and I left the house around 6:10 to get to the game. The game started at 8:00 pm.  Robert started on the right wing.

NOHS won the toss and possessed the ball from the start.  It hadn't even been 3 minutes when Robert crossed the ball to the center, it bounced around and came back to him - he took the shot and SCORED.  GGGOOOOAAAALLLL!  The whole team went crazy!!!  Kaleb came all the way from the back to chest pump Robert!  Robert played the left side of the field when Conner came in.  The Simon Kenton players played dirty and the ref let play get out of hand.  The first yellow card was called against Blake on a defensive play.  The second yellow card was issued to a SK player against Robert.  He fouled Robert just outside the box, and then kicked Robert while he was down.  The ref saw it and carded him.  From there it only got worse.  Robert played most of the first half; he was only out  of the first half for about 6 minutes.

The rest of the first half we dominated the game but didn't score.  Half time was 1-0.

Goal #2 was Robert crossing to Conner and a defender put it in the net.

Robert started second half.  He had the ball down the left line and crossed it to Conner.  Conner missed the ball, but the defender for Simon Kenton accidentally kicked it into the goal - SCORE!!!!  NOHS is up 2-0.  Mark wondered, "Does Robert get the assist?"  YES!!!!

The refs really did a poor job of controlling the game.  There was a point were SK and NOHS were getting out of hand.  SK started really attacking our players in desperation for being down 2-0.  At one point Matthew Morris fouled a SK player at the top of the box.  Matthew got a yellow card, and SK got a PK.  MAX was awesome - he punched it out!!!  SAVED!!!  Then Ian cleared it to Mo in mid field.  The goalie came out too far; Mo chipped it over the goalie and the ball, ever so slowly, rolled into the back of the net!!!  GGGGGOOOOOAAAALLLL!  3-0

End of game 3-0.

NOHS advances to the Regional Semi-finals tomorrow against Anderson County

Soccer game vs Collins - a WIN

So happy for the team to finally get a WIN!!!

Tuesday night after a long day at school the boy's soccer team challenges Collins at Collins.  When the whistle bows to start the game, it seems like all the boys are in slow motion.  None of them are really playing aggressive like they did against OCHS!  What is going on... Don't they want this win?

First Dylan in subbed out, then a defender, then Robert, and on and on until the Starters get the point.  The whole first have was a toss between Collins and North but ended 0-0.

When the starters took the field after half time, there was new life and energy.  The game was on fire.
The first goal was a perfect cross from Robert to Dylan - 1-0!!!!  Go North!
The second goal was a direct shot by Morgan Mandoza - 2-0!!!  Way to go!
The third goal was a direct shot by Dylan Smith - awesome!!!  3-0!!!

With 7 minutes left in the game, Coach Josh subbed in a lot of guys, with 5 minutes left in the game, he subbed in Wilton and Michael.  Almost everyone got to play in the Collins game!

Amazing Day for the Lowes at the Rumble in the Jungle

The night before the race, the Rumble in the Jungle, our house is full of excitement and anxiety.  Common things heard are …

"I hope I do good."

"I've never run Varsity"

"What if I don't do good."

"Marissa, Devon, Robert remember to drink more water"

"Did you get enough to eat, because you wont want much tomorrow morning."

"Drink more water"

"Time for bed, everyone needs a good night's sleep"

Tomorrow is  a big day for our family.  Devon, Marissa and Robert will be running in one of the most prestigious cross country meets in the state of Kentucky because it has such a true "Cross Country" course…filled with hills, narrow and wide areas, running through a wooded area that I call a forest.

Devon is running on the first team of the JV race.  It starts at 9:15 a.m.

Marissa is running for the first time on the Varsity team.  Her race starts at 10:00 a.m.

Robert is running on the middle school boys team.  His race isn't until 1:00 p.m. 

We get up, get Devon and Marissa a good breakfast and then Mark and Devon leave by 7:15 to be at the meet by 7:45 (early).  I come shortly after with Marissa, Robert and Oliver.  We wanted to give Robert more time to sleep (since he really doesn't need to be there until 11:00).

Betsy has agreed to take photographs for all six teams - JV & Varsity girls, JV and Varsity boys, Middle School Girls and Boys.  The first race is at 8:30.  Mark, Betsy, Oliver and Robert are great spectators.  We watch the start (Betsy taking photographs the whole time), then run over to another section of the course - more photographs, then to spot three of the course and then finally to the finish line to cheer the teams on and once again, take photographs.  We do this six times!   

For the first race there isn't any stress since non of our kids are in the race, but we do want to cheer on the JV girls.  They do great and finish 3rd overall, 1st in their division.  I think it would have been 1st place if Marissa, Emma and Christina were running but all three of them were moved up to Varsity.

Devon runs in the second race.  He gets a great start and stays close to the person we told him to stay with.  He looks strong and confident.  He has an amazing finish - it is a race to the finish against his team mate and friend, Danny Walker.  In the end Danny passed him - Devon actually says he's happy Danny did, he knew he would.  Devon finished 17th with a 19:07 time.   That is over a minute faster than what he ran in the Rumble last year and 30 ish seconds better than his last race.  Devon was in the top 50 - he got a medal!   Way to go Devon.  

Marissa's race was right after Devon's.  She was on the very far side, second back, but got off to a great start!  She was in a great position the entire race, surprising us since it was a Varsity race.  At the 2 mile marker Marissa was in 2nd place for our team, right behind Shelby Adams.  Then the runner disappeared into the forest again, so you don't see them until they approach the finish area.  As the lead runners are finishing the race, we are watching, Shelby Adams comes out of the woods, but right behind her is Marissa!  She's done amazing!!!!  She finished in 46th place with a time of 21:57.  That's a 1:37 minute PR!  … and only 2 seconds behind Shelby.  Marissa received a medal for 46th place.  She did amazing; this was her first VARSITY race and she came in 2nd fastest runner for the whole team.  She also broke her season goal of breaking 22.  We are so proud of you Marissa, and so happy for you!!!

Okay, back to the races.  The boys Varsity run.  They do amazing - all our runners are in the front of the pack.  We finish third behind two AAA teams.  Devon's time is faster than one of the Varsity runners - that's a good feeling.  Now there is a long break for the high school awards before the middle school races.

Robert's race is after the middle school girls.  I didn't realize it but my camera photo card became full during the girls race.  Yikes!  I had to go through, very quickly to delete some mis-shots to make room for the boys race.  Now it's the boys turn.  Robert is right on the front line.  We told him to stay with Tyler Scholten - he did, and even passed him down the finish stretch.  He was only a .03 second from passing Dallas as well.  Robert finished at 11:56 for a 3K, 8th for his team and 21 overall.  We have such a strong middle school team.  They won 1st place and continue to be undefeated.

What a great day!  All three medaled, all three improved their times.  Devon had a season best, Marissa and Robert each earned a PR.  I feel so happy for all of them.  They set their goals and accomplished their goals and even exceeded them.

Shelby County Meet

Marissa's cross country team ran in the Shelby County meet on Saturday, September 3 - the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  The temperature was extremely hot.

The Varsity girls ran at 9:00 am with a temperature of 99 degrees F.  There were two girls that didn't finish the race and one of those girls (the one from Male) had to be taken away in an ambulance.

Marissa was running in the JV race at 10:30 am.  By that time it was 103 degrees F.  I personally believe they should have called the race but they didn't.  I emailed Mark at 10:00 and asked him to cover Marissa's head with ice water - cool her down before she runs so that keeps her temperature down as she exhorts exercise.  It worked!

Marissa ran a 5K in that heat and did FANTASTIC!  She was the lead runner at the beginning of the race and maintained her position in the top 5 for the entire race.  As a matter of fact she was in 3rd place the whole race until the last few seconds before the finish.  She finished in 4th place with a PR of 23:20.  AMAZING!

After the race was over Marissa needed water, but the girl that finished just before her passed out after crossing the finish line.  There were four girls that didn't finish the JV race, and several that needed ice baths or to be treated by EMT.  It was a very dangerous race because of the heat!.

We are so proud of you Marissa - you took the right pro-cautions and ran a fantastic race!