Week 16: transfer from Chaing Rai to Phuket

Robert Lowe

Sun, Sep 23, 8:55 PM 

So this week has just caught me totally by surprise. I'm still a little in shock about everything. But long story short, I love PUKHET!!!

First, leaving Chiang Rai. Honestly just one of the hardest things as a missionary is leaving an area that you have come to love so much. I loved the members there so much and all of the investigators were so kind too. But all good things come to an end. Transfers were this week which means I went all the way to Bangkok, picked up my new คู่ (companion), and we were on our way to ภูเก็ต (Phuket). My new companion's name is Elder ทู (thuu) and he is Samoan. He is super chill and wants to work hard so that's all I could ask for. Anyways, that bus ride was by far the longest bus ride I have ever been on...I think it was about a 14 hour bus ride but no worries, I got to Phuket in 1 piece! This place is super beautiful and very very hot. I'm literally living on an island right now teaching about Jesus Christ. Life can't get much better than that, right? 

Second, what caught me by a huge surprise was the lack of people we are teaching here. In Chiang Rai we had a bunch of people to teach but when I got here my companion told me we have nobody that we are teaching. This area is brand new so a lot of these people have never heard about God or are not interested at all. It honestly feels like we are the pioneers just trying to find anyone that is willing to listen to our message. The key is to have faith to find the elect and trust God that he can help me! 

Because we don't have too many people we teach, I have the sweet opportunity to talk with everyone. It's funny because in Thailand there are timers on the stoplights so I know exactly how much time I have to deliver our message. Sometimes with only 10 seconds I just ask where they are going and tell them I am a missionary that teaches about Jesus Christ. Anytime I pull up to a stoplight, if someone pulls up next to me on a motorcycle they already know I am talking to them! I've past out so many inviting cards because I am trying to plant these seeds for future missionaries. 

Overall I have gotten to speak so much more already. I talk with everyone I see, my trainer has me lead almost all the lessons, and I am now talking probably 60% in the lessons and my companion is talking 40%. It's just a complete turn around where I went from not speaking too much in lessons to being the one that answers questions and leads the lessons. I know it has got to be God helping me because I just feel way more comfortable and I don't really have to think about the words I am about to say they just come out naturally! But, I know I still have got such a long way to go because I am nowhere near fluent. 

I believe that God is giving me the gift of tongues this week. He has sent me to Phuket, a new area with only me and my companion. We both are relatively new in the mission and have a long way to go as missionaries. But, I can truly see God's hand in my life helping me teach these people in order to progress his work down here in the south. 

I feel so blessed to be here in Phuket. The people are still soo nice and I love the members here too. They are all shocked that I am a greenie and some of them say that I speak better than my trainer who has been out for 7 months in country. I think they are just being nice though. We visit members a lot and they always feed us so much. One member made a bunch of spaghetti and I thought I was in heaven. Overall the Lord is blessing me and has sent me here for a specific reason. I just have to find out what it is. 

Love and miss you all. Until next time

Love 

Elder Lowe 

1) me with sister ไหมา and brother พายุ and there crazy kid

2) last time teaching ต้น with Elder Davis 

 3) some guy dressed up in an elephant costume haha 

 4) the fam (my trainer and his son with my trainer's trainer and his son)

 5) my companion wanted in on the fun

6) the nicest people on earth or some of the members in Phuket 

Week 6: Photos

1) me staring off to Thailand

2) sweet quote

3) me and the old Zone Leaders, elder Barron and Benteti

4) me and my comp

5) me and old Zone Leaders again

6) me and new Laotian missionary, Elder Williams

5 Attachments

Betsy Lowe

12:50 PM (0 minutes ago)

to Robert

Dear Robert,

It's so great to hear from you.  I can't believe I am less than 5 
miles from you but it's as if  you are already in Thailand to me.

It sounds like you had a super week - both spiritually but also 
with friends and with the  language!  That's awesome.  When
this new group of missionaries arrive will they mix up  companions
or do you think you will have the same companion the whole time
you are in the MTC?

When Dad and I were first married we served a mission in the South 
East Asian Branch - dad was a counselor in the presidency and
translated for the branch president; I served with the Young Women.  
We served in the branch for two years. We met and loved so many
Thai, Loa, Moung, Cambodian and Vietnamese people.  They were 
all refugees fleeing their war torn countries from tyrants and corrupt
governments that killed innocent people.  I learned to love so much -
give so much and be completely unselfish while serving in that branch.  
I would have done anything for any of my girls and dad and I loved the
men and women of the branch.   I am still very close to many of the
young women.  It's so wonderful to see them grow up and grow in the
gospel.  When I went back to VA in June I visited with some of them.  
Right now, one of my Beehives (then) is now serving in Young
Womens and told me how grateful she was for our love and support.  
She was the only member in her family.  I picked her up for church
every Sunday even though it was out of the way.  She is now married
in the temple with three beautiful children and pregnant with number 4.  
You now have that same opportunity to show  people in Thailand
Christ unconditional love for them.

Thailand is beautiful - even the areas that don't have much money  
not because of the physical beauty (which is there too) but because
most people have great love in their hearts.  They want to give their
children a good life just like we do, and they work very hard to do all
that they can.  You, too have a very strong work ethic.  You will be 
able to connect with them on so many levels.  :)

Well, the weather in Provo is crazy - last night there was a 
violent thunderstorm but today the weather is beautiful.  

Dad and I take either 3 or 5 hour shifts taking care of Cayson so 
Jessica and Tate can sleep through the night.  Jessica has to get
up to sleep but we at least can burp him and get back to sleep.  
We divide it up so that one of us can get a few hours sleep and then
trade off.  

I hope you are well.  If there is anything you need, please let us 
know so we can have it delivered to you while we are right here!

What is your favorite treat of all - I will have that delivered tomorrow!!!!!  
Please tell me - It will be something I can do to share my love for you.  

Have a wonderful day

Hugs and kisses

Mom

Week 5: ผมก้าวหน้าอาทิตย์นี้- 4th of July

ทุกคนเป็นอย่างไรบ้าง

How's everyone doing this week? Not gonna lie this week felt a little bit longer than the other weeks. 

First, Wednesday was the fourth of July and I was expecting it to be such a good day because it's America's birthday!! But in reality it was the first day here at the MTC where I felt homesick and I was constantly hearing everyone say the same thing. I got to see the fireworks but they were so far away and they just reminded me of home and the good times with my family and friends. I remember last fourth of July I was competing in a hot dog contest haha. 

Even though the week didn't start off too well it was probably one of my best weeks here. We got new missionaries that are speaking hmong which is just sick. They got here on Thursday and they are all awesome and will be great missionaries! 

But what I really liked from this week was that my language is starting to become so much more natural and I can speak a little bit faster each day!! In the lessons I teach I used to write out kind of like a script in English and then memorize the script in English. Then when I gave the lesson I could just translate it to Thai. But, this week I kinda just go into the lesson with a couple of questions and not really anything and I'm able to just go off. We memorized and sang a hymn in Thai during one of the lessons and it was a really cool moment. The song was, "I am a child of God," and the spirit was so strong while my  companion and I were singing. Plus, my teachers were very ประทับใจ (impressed). 

The lessons in TRC are amazing, too. It's so cool to feel like you aren't progressing that much one week and the next you see yourself improve so much. I've learned probably another 150 words this week or so which is awesome! The best is when my district and I just talk in Thai during lunch in front of the Vietnamese and hmong elders. haha

So, on Sunday this week I was finally released from my assignment as district leader and Elder Davidson took my place. We got new zone leaders as well, Elder Hodson and Elder Brown. Also, the mission president of the MTC visited my branch on Sunday and shared some really cool insights. Sunday night we watched this church movie and it was low key kinda funny. I enjoyed it a lot because it was kinda of nice to just sit back and relax and laugh. I'm so busy all the time so having a moment to just watch a movie was very enjoyable. 

Tomorrow we get to host new missionaries coming in again. I always enjoy doing that because everyone that comes in is so scared and just being there for them calms them down, and it makes me feel so good! In about a week we get 18 new Thai missionaries and 17 new Cambodian. I can't wait!

Speaking of not being able to wait...I had to wait this entire week to hear news about when my sister is going to have her baby. And she still hasn't had it haha. Love you Jess and I wish you the best luck tomorrow when you finally have your first kid! Still can't believe I'll be an uncle wow!! 

I heard something I had never really thought about until this week. A lot of times when we think of happiness it's when we are doing well and having no problems. But, true happiness is not the absence of burdens or challenges in our lives. Instead, true happiness occurs when we are able to overcome the challenges we have faced, are facing, or will face ... and learn from them. I know that going on a mission may seem like a burden to some because I'm giving up two years of my life to go to Thailand. However, the happiness I've had here is abundant. I have learned what hard work really means and how much God can bless our lives. Besides, this isn't a burden in the first place, it's an opportunity to help others and in doing so,​ I can become a better version of myself. 

I had someone take a video of me speaking Thai this week and hopefully everyone will be able to see it! I love you all!

Have a great week!! 

I'm going to post the video on his Facebook wall and mine

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 First vision pt 3.mp4

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Love,

Elder Lowe 

Robert home for one month before reporting to the MTC

While Robert was home for the month of May he did a lot.

First:  The MTC contacted him and wanted him to start learning the Thai language before getting to the MTC.  He started working on the written language since the culture there uses social media, texting and digital forms of communication.  WOW!  He was on video conference calls at least two days a week for 1-2 hours each time.  He studied Thai language everyday and quizzed Mark and Betsy every day.  Needless to say, Mark passed, Betsy didn't.

He also had a great time catching up and hanging out with friends.  He saw Max Sanders, David and Shannen Roy, Ryan Geoghegan, Zach G, etc.  He played soccer with the guys from church too.  Great times.

It made it hard for him to say goodbye to everyone.