Week 38 - Salve and Marian's Baptism

Hey guys! 

It's been another great crazy week of missionary work! I'm telling you the time here just flies because you are so busy all the time but it's fun and I wouldn't change it for anything :) This week we found 12 new investigators and had 10 investigators attend church yesterday! They all really enjoyed it and are excited to attend again next week. We also had Salve and Marian's baptism this past Saturday!! It was SO good and they were just so excited to get baptized! It was so cute :) Sister Paciano, Sister Jensen and I let them borrow some of our dresses and jewelry and straightened their hair because they said they wanted to look their best on their baptism day. They looked so nice and the members were so nice and welcomed them into the ward with open arms. There is nothing cooler than seeing people from the moment you first met them all the way to their baptism day. When they come up out of the water they just seem to glow and my heart is always just so full of gratitude to my Savior for the opportunity we all have to become clean from our sins and mistakes if we just follow him and his shining example. I seriously just LOVE being a missionary and I can't imagine my life now without it. Of course, there are hard days, we all have them, but when you look back and see the lives you have touched for better, those hard days all seem to disappear and everything is just right. 

So I was able to attend a leadership training meeting earlier this week and I was really touched by what the speakers said. They spoke of Jesus Christ and how he is our perfect example. We should strive everyday to pattern our lives after his and if we mess up, get back up and try again. I loved what Thomas S Monson said in one of his talks from this past conference when he said we all have trials and hard times in our lives, but what sets us apart from the rest is how we react. "Shall I falter or shall I finish?" If I have learned one thing from my mission it is that no matter who you are or where you are from or whatever your circumstances may be, EVERYONE has problems. everyone. But what we do and how we react to these problems separate the great ones from the weak. These sweet people here in the Philippines live in very poor conditions with hard circumstances. Many of them open up to us and poor out their souls about how they can't feed their children or afford to send them to school. But when we share the gospel and when they accept it into their lives as my recent convert just told me this sunday "kahit walang pagbabago sa buhay ko, pagatapos tinanggap ko ang ebanghelyo at nabinyagan ako, parang wala na akong problema" or "although nothing in my life has changed, after receiving the gospel and being baptized, it's as if all my problems are gone". 

I know this church is true and I know the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives. I know it has changed mine. Love you all soooo much and I hope you all are happy and healthy!!

Love,

Sister Lowe

Happy Birthday Jessica

Week 37 - Sister Trainer Leader

Hey everyone!

Guess what?! I'm 21 now! It's weird because back when I was a kid and I saw 21 year olds I was like "man they are sooooo ooooolllldddd!" so now it's weird to think that now i'm at that age and spending it here in the Philippines of all places! This time last year I had just received my call and celebrated by 20th birthday and I remember feeling so excited and full of wonder of what this year would bring me. Well let me tell you, it sure hasn't been easy but it has been 100 times worth it and more. The peoples lives I've seen change, the families I've seen get put back together, and the blessings the gospel brings to all those who live it is more than I could ask for and is the one of best birthday presents I could ask for. The work is SO on fire here right now! We has Jannet and Raycel get baptized last Saturday,  Ronnel yesterday, and Salve and Marian this upcoming Saturday! February 8th was supposed to be the baptism of Harlyn, Elsa and Tatay Alfaro but... now its not happening. BECAUSE its moved to February 28 so the whole family can get baptized!!!! Yup, yesterday Nina and Karen told us they prayed about getting baptized again and they felt peace in their heart so now they are getting baptized too! ahhhh! Seriously, best birthday present ever! I seriously love that family so so much and am so close to them now! Probably too attached haha, but thats ok. We also had a ton of investigators at church this week as well as 5 Less actives so that was just amazing to see. It just goes to show the spirit combined with faith and hard work can work miracles. I truly do believe in that. If you ever feel like your in a rough spot or that your faith is wavering- pray for more faith and God will give it to you. It may not be in the way you want it- maybe a hard trial you have to overcome and grow from, but it will come all the same. That's definitely one of the big lessons I've learned here in my short time on the mission. So for more big news... I have a new companion! wait... no... 2! Yup I’m in a trio! Its now Sister Paciano, Sister Jensen and I here in Lubao. You know how we do, go big or go home haha. Also, I just got made the new STL or Sister Training Leader here. Life is good, once again no complaints, just living life missionary style and loving it :) I love you all so much and cannot express into words how much your love and support mean to me :) Mom and Dad- you guys are THE BEST parents in the world and as for you Devon, Marissa and Robert, I'm so proud of you and the choices you guys are making in your lives. Your Ate (big sister in tagalog) love you so much :) And for all my amazing friends, relatives, teachers, and anyone else who still read these emails haha I love you guys too and hope you guys are surviving the craziness of life! Haha I guess I'm just just really grateful on my birthday for everything the Lord has blessed me with and excited to see what this new year in my life brings. MAHAL KO KAYO at INGAT PALAGI!

love always

Sister Lowe  

Jessica is Called to be a Sister Training Leader

THE CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST of LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Philippines, Olongapo Mission

Km. 140 National Highway, Mangan-Vaca

2209, Subic, Zambales

Philippines

15 January 2014

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Douglas Lowe 
6104 Laurel Lane
Prospect, KY 40059
United States 

Dear Brother and Sister Lowe,

We are pleased to let you know the great job, Sister Jessica Maryn Lowe, has done here in the Philippines Olongapo Mission.  She has been working hard and we have recently called her to serve as a Sister Training Leader in the Dinalupihan Zone. Her companions are Sister Rubelyn Boyles Paciano and Sister Jasmine Leah Jensen.

Sister Lowe has shown great leadership ability and we know that with the service she will give, she will grow even more.  The service she will give to the sisters she is working with will be greatly appreciated.  We know she will do a great job.

Your daughter has a great testimony of the gospel and she is doing a great job here in the mission field.  She has helped many come unto Christ and we know that she will continue to grow as she serves those she is in contact with.

May the Lord bless you for the service you are giving to the Lord.

Sincerely,

Roberto Bayobo Querido

Philippines Olongapo Mission

Mission President

RBO/mfg

Week 36 - WOW shirts

Hey Everyone!

How's life over there in the cold? Its a nice balmy temperature of 70-80 degrees here :) Jealous? haha. Well guys, it's been another great week here in Lubao- life is good, no worries, no complaints, just preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ day in and day out, I mean how does it get better than that right? Seriously though, sometimes I think about what my life would be like without my mission and I honesty can't imagine it! I mean I can, but I can't imagine not meeting all these wonderful people and experiences the culture of the Philippines, and most importantly- forming an amazing and close relationship with my Savior and Heavenly Father. They really do work miracles for us when we ask in faith and when we act upon that faith. 

me at church with some of the Reyes family kids :)

Salve making Sinigang Tilapia yum yum yum!

Me at the Reyes home in their "kitchen" while they had me try some of their cooking! Masarap! (delicious) :)

This week we have really been focusing on helping the Reyes Family, The Rivera Family, The Morales Family, and the Etrone Family because they are the ones who will be getting baptized in the next couple months. They are all so great and really love learning about the gospel. Every time we walk up to their house and yell "tao po" (you say that to let them know you are there bc they don’t have door bells or even doors for that matter) they always run out saying "sisters sisters!!" and take our hands and bring us inside. The people here are the BEST and I love them so so much. 

The Reyes family and the Rivera and Etrone family are studs and are always so willing to listen and learn about our message. The only problem they have sometimes is attending church because our area is so far from the church building so its expensive for them to have to ride the “jeepny” all the way there especially when they could use that money on rice to feed their kids. Sometimes its so hard for me to not just give them all my money when i see them struggle like that.. But we were SO happy to see them ALL attend church for the 3rd time in a row this week! We had 8 investigators at church and 2 of our less active families come yesterday and I couldn't stop smiling just seeing them all there and enjoying themselves and being welcomed by the ward. Its such an amazing feeling to see all your hard work really help someone come closer to christ. I love being a missionary and I love my savior! He loves you all and I do toooo :)

Ingat po Kayo!

 just an average night at the apartment with sister Casaol my comp! haha

The Lubao sisters in our apartment! We work hard but play hard too :)

the Lubao sisters made "WOW Lubao" t-shirts! Love these girls :)

Love always,

Sister Lowe

Week 35 - Happy New Year

Hey everyone happy New Year!!!

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the New Year :) This week was pretty interesting. Tuesday night we had to go home early at 6 pm because apparently these Filipinos really know how to party when it comes to New Years, haha. New Years Eve was fun we had dinner at a members home and then came home to the apartment and did our normal planning and then had our own New Year’s party with the other sisters next door. We played some traditional Filipino games which I am so excited to teach you all when I get home and I made my famous mango float (its like my favorite dessert here in the Philippines). We actually have a terrace on the 2nd floor of our apartment so we got to watch the fireworks from there which was really fun. Our neighbors were blaring (and I mean BLARING) American music all night so we didn’t really get much sleep but, I did hear some new songs I’ve never heard before which was pretty weird. It was nice to do some reflecting back on this past year and see how the choices I made have led me to where I am today. 

I’m excited that for most of 2014 I get to be here in the Philippines spreading the joy and happiness of the gospel :) Unfortunately, my first couple days of the new year didn't go the way I had hoped, haha. I actually got pretty sick and had to stay home a couple days BUT (before you worry mom haha) I’m totally fine now and am back to work and loving life as usual :) I am super excited for this month and the next month because we have lots of people who are preparing to be baptized and they are so so excited! I just love them :)

And I love all of you and hope you have a super duper amazing week! :)

 Love always,

Sister Lowe

PS: how many of you had chicken liver cooked in chicken blood for New Years Eve dinner? no one?  huh you guys are missing out haha

pss: sorry this computer wont let me send pictures... :p next week promise!