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)

Kids come for Christmas

We are so excited ... Marissa arrived on December 20 and Devon and Sierra, came in December 22.  Jessica, Tate and Cayson didn't arrive until after Christmas on December 27, 2018.  We had an extra blessing of having Jern Jern join us for Christmas and Devon's wedding.  She arrived December 27, too.

Before coming home Marissa and McKay take a trip to Salt Lake.  He went to California for Christmas.

  Mark and Betsy went to a "Whooville Christmas Party at the church.  We had a super fun time going there in our Pajamas and Betsy's white robe.











This was Sierra's first time in Kentucky.  Even though they got in late, we stopped to take a Derby Photo.











On Sunday we stopped at the Louisville temple to take photos.  It was so nice to have Marissa, Devon and Sierra there with us.  It's hard to believe not everyone come come before Christmas this year - because we know this is our last year in Kentucky.  It would have been nice to have Jessica, Tate and Cayson there too, but we understand we have to share them with Tate's family too.  This year their whole family went to a cabin in Montana for Christmas.




It's so great to have everyone home again.

Betsy made everyone their favorite dinners.

Steak for Devon
Teriyaki Chicken for Marissa
and then
Pasta for Jessica (when she arrived)

Unfortunately the kids also brought with them a virus that went through the house.  It first hit Devon - Sierra thought I gave him food poisoning from the steak (holy cow).  The Next day Marissa and Sierra came down with it.  Then Betsy got it.  It was a 24 hour stomach flu sickness that was awful - terrible and gut wrenching.  Only Sierra seemed to not want to eat anything after 24 hours so she felt sick for a few more days.

Thank goodness everyone got over the sickness within 24 hours (most) and felt better before the Kentucky Reception.

Marissa's Week 20 - she got sick :(

Hello everyone!
This week has been a bit rough! I have been sick all week which is not fun at all. The weather is changing, so of course I get sick. At the beginning of the week I just pushed through it but it's not as easy as I thought. Before when I got sick, I'd just go to school and then come home and rest. But being on a mission you are outside all day in the cold and have no time for naps or rest! I saw the mission nurse and the doctor and he told me I needed to stay at the apartment, take my antibiotic, and rest because I have bronchitis and have been coughing all week. So I've been watching a lot of gospel movies which is fun and I've been sleeping a lot, hopefully I'll get better soon.

Besides being sick, we had a cool week. One of the seventy, Elder Curtis, came to Logan for a mission tour. He spoke in conference a few weeks ago during the priesthood session which was pretty cool! He talked to us about Alma 5 and Ether 12! Such great chapters in the Book of Mormon by the way! He talked about daily repentance. Repentance isn't something bad, it is a gift that Jesus Christ has given us. Every time we repent we become more like Jesus Christ and can be perfected through him. This week I have repented daily even for the silliest things because I know that the atonement was done for me and I want to use it daily in my life.

We had some lessons this week too! We have been teaching this less active girl named Brie! She brings her non Mormon boyfriend to the lessons. This week we taught the plan of salvation to them (which is my favorite lesson to teach). He seemed very intrigued and it looked like he was thinking a lot. At the end of the lesson we asked Patrick to say the prayer and he said yes. In his prayer he asked for truth to be revealed, he asked to receive an answer if the Book of Mormon was true, and asked if the plan of salvation is God’s plan for us. It was the most sincere prayer I have ever heard. We were so happy after the lesson!

Last thing.... This Sunday we had stake conference! And President and Sister Allred (mission president) came to it. They asked us to sit on the stand with them, so we did. In the middle of President Allred's talk he asked for us to stand up and give the 4 minute restoration. We were super nervous because there were like 600 people there, but we did it, and I definitely felt the spirit so strongly. After stake conference so many people came up to us afterward saying how much they loved our message. This one girl came up to us and burst into tears and told us that our message just real pierced her heart. It took us 30 minutes to even get out of the big room! It was a great experience
and I'm so happy to be able to share the restoration with the whole YSA 3rd stake!

Well I hope all of your weeks went well! Just know that I love this gospel so much and it brings me so much joy even in the hard times!
Love you all!

Sister Lowe