Week 7 - Arrived in the Philippines

KUMUSTA!

Guys guess what?? I'm in the Philippines!!! Seriously though, sometimes i'll be walking down the road or on a jeepni or see the jungle around me and be like oh... i'm in the Philippines haha. So first things first. I got here safe and sound on monday night and we spent the night at the Manila hotel. The next day we rode a bus to Olongapo and let me tell you, that was quite the adventure in itself. The driving here is nuts! Like for real- no rules. They just weave in and out as they please and unfortunately my motion sickness prone stomach didn't take it so well haha. But ok lang! We got to the mission home and the next day we got separated from our MTC batch and got assigned to our new companions and areas! Not gonna lie, I miss my MTC batch and district so much, but now it's time for the real world. My new companion is sister Canaunan and she is so sweet! She always looks out for me and makes sure i'm ok. She is a native Filipino and speaks mostly Tagalog, but that will definitely push me to get better at the language. We are assigned to open a new area in Hermosa and we are the first sister missionaries to ever be there! Pretty cool huh? We live in an apartment with 2 other girls- sister Ila (another Filipino) and sister Mack from my district in the MTC!!!!! I am seriously so grateful to have her here with me and have someone to talk to. So the rumors about the bathrooms, toilet paper, showers, and food... all true hahaha. It's great though! Most of the time I just laugh it off and think about what an adventure it is here. Plus I get to share the gospel and my testimony of Jesus Christ everyday so what could be better than that?? The Philippines sure is crazy though!  First of all it is sobrang mainit dito!! So hot here! And so humid! You know that feeling of being dry? Ya I don't haha. You never stop sweating and always feel a little sticky, but you just accept it and move on haha. Oh and It rains randomly throughout the day everyday. Like water up past my ankles in the street haha. Mom I am SO glad we got the crocks now haha. My companions are all jealous haha. 

The people and members here in the Philippines are SO SO nice! Even though my Tagalog is at like level zero they always try to talk to me and make me feel welcome and help me to say things. They all tell me that they will teach my Tagalog if I help them with english. Pretty fair trade. It's so funny, on the street people always just stare at me and little kids always come up to me which is the best. People always call out to me with the funniest names. Some include: "hi joe!", hey Barbie!", Americano!, or grabe, sobrang magana, gorgeous and who knows what else haha. My companion laughs sometimes at stuff they say to me and she says they always think i'm some kind of a celebrity. She always jokes around and says she has a celebrity for a companion haha. The members here are super nice and ALWAYS want to feed us! I'm going to be roughly 5000 lb. by the time I get home so you better still love me! Remember, it's all about my sparkling personality :) haha. Just kidding with all the walking in the sun we do I should be ok.  But ya, Life as a missionary is great! We have 8 new investigators and 2 people who already want to be baptized! Its so cool  to be able to share my testimony of the gospel with others and help them to form a closer relationship with their heavenly father and Jesus Christ. These people live in conditions that I can't even describe into words. Like literally, they have nothing. Most of the people we teach live in the jungle/ rice fields with cement boxes as home- if they are even that lucky. Many just find scraps of metal or wood and put them against trees and find tin or tree branches for a roof. I've not seen a single home here with windows, carpet or tile floor, washers and dryers, or AC. But you know what? They are the happiest people because they have their families and are humble and enjoy the little things in life. I know this experience is going to and already has made me appreciate what I have been blessed with in my life. I feel so blessed to be with this people and to learn from them and to bring them something that means everything to me- the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all so so much- like seriously you don't even know how much I love and miss you, but I know I am where I am supposed to be and I have people who need me to teach them the gospel. Sorry if this has seemed jumbled and random but there is just so much I want to tell you with so little time and for all of you who know me -I’m horrible at typing haha. You all are amazing and such good examples to me. I love you and love this gospel and know it is true and that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and knows what you are going through.

Keep being amazing and write me lots of emails :)

MAHAL KITA!!

Sister Lowe

-ps sorry I don't have any pics of the Philippines... a monkey jumped out at me and I got scared and dropped my camera and it broke. True story. No mom I am not making it up haha and yes I know that is like the fourth camera I’ve broken in 2 years. But i'm going to buy a new one today! I love you :)

here are some pictures of my last night at the MTC with all my girls I was over as a sister training leader :)

From the Ologapo Mission Office

Philippines Olongapo Mission

Km. 140 National Highway, Mangan-Vaca

2209, Subic, Zambales

Philippines

19 June 2013

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Douglas Lowe

6104 Laurel Lane

Prospect, KY 40059

United States

Dear Brother and Sister Lowe, 

We were delighted with the safe arrival of your daughter, Sister Jessica Maryn Lowe here in the Olongapo Mission. She is excited about her mission and enthusiastic about entering the Lord's service in this area.  She has had an orientation session and is now serving in her first assignment with her companion.

Sister Lowe has been assigned to Hermosa Area, Mandama District in the Balanga Zone. Her companion is Sister Princess Calaunan.  The enclosed map will help you to locate this area and enable you to follow each future transfer.

We urge you to write your daughter each week.  Please include encouraging news of family events and achievements, spiritual experiences and other matters which will bring joy and deeper commitment.  Family problems or other matters which she does not need to know can only bring worry or concern. In emergency cases or special situations you can send a letter to me and I will inform the missionary.

All mail should be sent to the address listed above.  Packages sent through the Postal Service should be sent to the same address. Pouch is available in the United States.  If you need address for pouch or how to do it, please contact me by email. Please do not use Fed Ex or any other mail service because it is expensive to receive the packages.  Be aware that packages sent containing foodstuffs will be attacked by rodents during shipping.  Pack accordingly.  Enclosing your package completely with tape is recommended.

This is a wonderful mission and your daughter is in for one of the greatest experiences of her life.  With your support and encouragement she will mature and progress beyond your expectations. She will develop a great love for her fellow missionaries as they strive to teach a better way of life, and the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We appreciate the opportunity to work with your daughter.  We assure you that we will do all we can do to see that she has a fulfilling mission.  Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you or your daughter.  We love your missionary and want this mission to be a great experience for your entire family. 

May the Lord's blessings be with you.

Sincerely,     

Roberto Bayobo Querido

Philippines Olongapo Mission                                                    

Mission President

RBQ/rrm

Week 6 - Off to the Philippines

Kumusta po kayo!

Hey how are you all doing?? I miss and love you all so much! You guys are all such good examples to me and I couldn't have asked for better family and friends :) Oh and mom thank you sooo much for your package and letter! It totally made my day! Plus you know how much I love Oh cereal haha. 

I love my Oh's

So this week has been another super crazy busy one! So, last Saturday my companion sister Aruwititi all of the sudden had blurred vision and felt like the room was spinning and then passed out randomly and the ambulance came and I had to take her to the hospital! We were there for almost 5 hours and they still couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. I had to be in the room with her the whole time because her english isn't very good and I'm the only one who can really understand her. I asked her if this has ever happened before and apparently these episodes have been happening to her for a couple years now, but the doctors in Kirabati couldn't do anything for her so she just kept going on with life. Now I have to hook up all these wires to her everyday that go to a heart monitor because they are afraid she is having mini strokes! :( It's been really hard on on because now she doesn't get to leave with us to the Philippines tomorrow and we have gotten so so close, but I know everything happens for a reason and that the Lord will take care of her. 

Taking care of Sister Aruwititi in the hospital

Another hard thing for me this week was hearing that Grandpa passed away :( But It was amazing because as soon as I found out I started to tear up, but then this overwhelming sense of peace came over me and the thought that he was reunited with Grandma and that I know I will be able to see him again someday kept repeating over and over in my head. I know my Heavenly Father was letting me know that Grandpa is ok and happy in heaven with Grandma :) I love the gospel and the knowledge it gives me- to know that I will se my grandpa again someday!

But besides all that this week has been AWESOME!! The Tagalog is coming along, but I know once I get to the Philippines I'm going to wonder what language they taught me at the MTC haha but i accept the challenge and will just work that much harder to study and help the Filippinos in every way I can. This past Sunday I was called on the spot to give a talk in sacrament... IN ALL TAGALOG. But it was so amazing I just started speaking and the tagalog words just came out of my mouth. I know the Lord has really blessed me and that there is no way I could have done that without his help. But it was still pretty cool haha. This week our district got to host new missionaries and I saw so many friends come in! I saw Erica from my ward this past year, Kiersten from my hall freshman year at BYU and my friend Carlos from BYU freshman year! It was super fun and I loved being able to talk and help out all the new missionaries. Also, we received over 950 missionaries which broke the record for the amount of missionaries to ever come into the MTC in one day! How crazy cool is that?? We're making history! The Lord really is hastening his work and I feel so so blessed to be a part of it.  Another cool thing that happened this week was that because we have so many missionaries now, we have to have our devotionals in the Marriott Center at BYU! We all walked over from the MTC and it was pretty weird/exciting to be at BYU which has been my home for the past 2 years as a missionary, but it was such an amazing experience and the spirit was so strong there!

Another really cool thing that happened this week was that another one of our investigators wants to be baptized!! After our lesson last week about the Book of Mormon, he's been reading the Book of Mormon every day and he says he feel such peace when he reads it and prayed and felt in his heart that it was true. I was so happy to see him accept the gospel and begin the path back to our Heavenly Father as well as strengthen his relationship with God. It is amazing how much the Book of Mormon blesses our lives and touches our hearts. Through it I know that we can receive answers to our questions. I've heard it said that when you want to talk to God, Pray and when you want God to talk back to you, Read the scriptures. That has been so so true in my life and I am so grateful for both the Bible and the Book of Mormon in my life. I know they are God's words to us and that they can help us receive direction in our lives. Guys, the gospel is just so good!! It just makes me so happy and I can't imagine my life without it. I am so grateful for the opportunity to go the the Philippines TOMORROW and start serving my brothers and sisters there and work as hard as I can to help them in every way I can. I know this church is true. God loves us and he is in the details of our lives. He cares about us individually and knows us by name. He is with us every step of they way willing to guide us and give us direction if we just let him in. We are never ever alone. All of these truths found in the Book of Mormon have brought me such comfort and I know I can do whatever I need to do with the help of my Heavenly Father :)

Tomorrow morning I head off to Seattle, Tokyo and finally the PHILIPPINES! I am SO excited! Slightly nervous but that's ok too haha. I love you all SOOOOO much and feel so blessed to have you in my life. Keep being the amazing people you are and know you are all in my prayers!

Mahal Kita!!!

Sister Lowe

Ps if ANYBODY wants to get in touch with me for the next 17 months my email is jessica.lowe@mylds.net and I would LOVE to hear from you or help you in any way I can :) Mahal ko kayo!

Week 5

Magandang umaga Pamilya ko!

Hey everyone!! I hear this has been a big week for you all! Devon's graduated high school, Marissa's going to YW camp and Robert has try-outs for club soccer?? Wow. Life here at the MTC has been pretty busy too! This week we found out that we were getting another district added on to our zone so I've been spending a lot of time helping them and giving them orientation to the MTC and cool stuff like that. One of my favorite parts of the day here at the MTC is gym time! We get to go up on the field across from the temple and play soccer or baseball or beach volleyball! It's SO fun and it's nice to just play around and not be inside for a little bit. I'm getting pretty good at the stuff we do except for baseball... oh baseball...ya lets just say whenever I step up to bat everyone starts laughing and scoots up haha. The language is going really well! I got to talk to my teacher yesterday one on one and he told me that he's never had a student who's caught on to Tagalog so fast! Not to brag or anything haha, but it was just really nice to hear that my hard work is paying off.  

Yesterday when it was my turn it took me literally 10 tries before I hit the ball. 

Embarrassing! haha All well. Something I'm really starting to miss are those home cooked meals mom! The food is fine but I eat granola and a wrap like everyday haha. This week we also found out that Thomas S. Monson is coming to the MTC!!! OH wait... the week after I leave for the Philippines haha. At first I was pretty bummed that I was gonna miss it, but I know that there are people out there in the Philippines that are just waiting to hear the gospel so I have that to look forward to instead :) Which brings me to my next subject... I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS!! We have in-field orientation this Friday where we learn more about what the Philippines will be like! We leave June 16th from the Salt Lake City airport at 11:15am and arrive in Seattle at 12:30pm. Then we have a 2 1/2 hour layover and board our plane to TOKYO JAPAN at 3:05pm!! I'm so excited!!! We arrive in Tokyo at 4:45pm the 17th of June, fly to Manila Philippines at 6:25pm, and hopefully arrive in the Philippines by 10:00pm. Someone from my mission will be there to pick me up and from there I have no idea haha! It's gonna be an adventure for sure!! AHHHHHH you guys i'm so excited!!! It just got so real! 

Yesterday after we got our travel plans, we went to go teach one of our investigators about the Book of Mormon and as we were teaching I started thinking about how I get to do this everyday for the next 17 months of my life and I couldn't imagine doing anything more worthwhile or that could make me happier. Yes, there are most definitely days where things just don't go your way, or the language is hard, or you just feel down, BUT those moments when you can feel the impact you have had on the lives of those you teach just make all of those disappear. When we were teaching Rizolito, I started bearing my testimony about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and all of the sudden I just started saying things that were in my heart, but I didn't even know I could say the in Tagalog. I told him that this Book is the word of God just like the Bible is and it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is evidence of Gods love for us and it bring peace and joy to our lives. I told him that this book has changed my life and made me a better person. I know it is true and that if he reads it and prays about it he can know of its truth as well. The spirit was so strong and everyone in the room was crying (including me how embarrassing haha). But It was such a cool experience and I know that God helped me to say the things that were in my heart so that Rizolito could be touched. He said he would read and pray about it tonight and I can't tell you how excited I am to see what he says on Monday! This gospel truly has blessed me and makes me so happy! I just want to share it with everyone so they can feel as happy as I do :) Which I guess explain why I'm giving up 18 months of my life to do just that haha! Being a missionary is just the greatest :) Mahal ko po nagiging ang misyonaro para sa simbahan ni Jesuchristo!

I love you all SOOOOOO much and I think about and pray for you all the time! You are all such good examples to me and I couldn't ask for better family or friends :) Keep being awesome and know that you all are loved :)

Mahal kita!

Sister Lowe

Week 4

Kumusta Pamilya ko!

Mahal kita! I love you all soooo much and you all are such good examples to me. It sounds like life is wonderful in the great state of Kentucky, as per usual, and summer has begun! I can't believe that Devon has graduated from High School and will be going to BYU in the fall!!! It seriously feels not that long ago that I was right there... crazy how much the time flies. Speaking of- Robert goes to High School next year??? Ya I don't think so.  He's my baby bro! He can't go to High School! Uhh I feel so old now haha. I heard Marissa totally rocked the State track meet as well as her AP tests/ finals which doesn't surprise me one bit. She's pretty much perfect in every way haha. Shout out to my sibs- You guys are so amazing and I love you all so much!! Seriously so proud of you! Oh and try not to have too much fun or grow while i'm gone haha :)

So this week at the MTC has been awesome!! I really feel settled in here and feel like I know what's going on and can help out my new girls that have just come into the MTC. Being a sister training leader is hard work, but SO much fun! Every night I get to go around to each girls room and just sit down and talk to them about their lives and be their friend. We have a couple girls who have come a long way from home and are in culture shock, struggle with learning Tagalog, or are homesick, or miss their boyfriends or dog or whatever the case and it feel so great to be able to help them and comfort them and talk them through it because I know they can do it and I know that the Lord knows they can do it. He has helped me SO much since I've been here it's honestly just incredible. I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in my life or for so many times a day, but I can truly feel the love of my heavenly father for me when I pray and the blessings of being a missionary in my life. Guys the gospel is just so good! It brings so much joy and happiness into people's lives including mine and I just want to share it with everyone I know! I just want everyone to feel as happy as I do :) 

Earlier this week when we were teaching our investigator I bore my testimony to him of the truthfulness of the gospel and that If he prayed sincerely and with faith to his father in heaven, he would know with assurety that the gospel is true and that once he knew that, he would want to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and feel of God's love for him. At that moment I felt so much love for this person and knew that God loves him and each and every one of us. He really is in the details of our lives and cares about our individual wants and needs. It was super cool because I didn't even know I could say all that in 100% Tagalog until I said it, but the Lord helped me and made it possible. You could just feel the spirit so strong in the room and when the Rizolito looked back at me he said that he knew it was true because he could feel it in his heart and he wants to be baptized and have the Gospel in his life.  We were all so happy and I can't wait to go to the Philippines in 2 1/2 weeks and be able to teach the people there and make them feel of God's love for them.

I love you all so much!!!!!! I seriously have the BEST family in the whole wide world and I'm glad I'm stuck with you all forever :) Mahal kita friends and family, you all have made me a better person and I wouldn't be who I am today without you. Your examples and friendship mean so much to me and I LOVE hearing from you while i'm here because I miss you and love you! Keep being wonderful and be happy- because there is just so much to be happy about :) Mom, I love how you end all of your dear elders with "every day is a new day :)" It's so true. We can all start over everyday and try to be better than the day before and choose to be happy :)

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Mahal kita!

Sister Lowe