Week 66

Hello Family!

 

Another great week here in Miag-ao.  Elder Workman and I are pretty used to each other now and getting into a good work routine.  We are also figuring out how to teach lessons together.  It feels so good to be past those couple weeks/days where you aren't quite used to each other and it is just an adjustment from your last companion.  Now I feel like we are doing really well as a companionship and this should be a way sweet week of work for the two of us.  Yes,  We are still working our butts off in the heat while you are all in Hilton Head being lazy.  It's ok though... I don't hold grudges for too long.  Just until I get my packages I guess.  haha.  Plus... I don't need Hilton Head.  I LIVE ON THE BEACH.  I'm done. 

 

ELder Workman and I are working hard to find some more investigators to teach.  The ones we found this last week are actually doing remarkably well.  We have had two of them really pray and say they believe that the message is true.  Now just time for the toughest part.... getting them to church.  People want to believe the message and never really act on it.  They really like to listen... let's just leave it at that.  Going to church, for me, is a big deal for these people and it shows how willing they really are to be baptized.   So I think we will have some good attendances over the next couple weeks. 

 

There is also a family that we are working hard with right now.  They have been coming to church off and on for some time now.  The Leongson Family is a really cool family that I have been visiting since I've gotten home.  They all want to become members but the parents aren't married due to some complications with paperwork.  But all the kids are eligible for baptism and they seem like they all want to e baptized.  Just getting them to church 4 weeks in a row is a bit of a trick.  SO we should get 4- 5 baptisms from that family if we can get everything worked out in the next couple weeks. 

 

The main focus of the church in the Philippines has shifted a bit lately.  Right now the church is trying to focus on retention and reactivation.  The church has about 20% attendance for the whole Philippines.  It is about the same for Panay as well.  Now missionaries have a lot more responsibility in helping members come back to church.  We have about 4 new forms we have to always be filling out and alot more of our finding time has been redirected to reactivation and finding members that have been lost through the cracks.  One big problem here is that people will just up and leave.  They will move across the country and their records never get moved and they are either shy to go to church or the church isn't in that part of the country yet... whatever happens though they usually go inactive and no one will ever know that they were ever members of the church.  We have about 20 members like that here in Miag-ao.  It is really tough to get them to come back to church.  Pres Pagaduan really wants us to work more with them and "complete" their families.  So we are going to our less actives to reactivate them and to try to find more baptisms as well.  Seems like a good plan to me... it is just hard to execute it. 

 

 This morning was alot of fun.  We had a missionary night last night in a place called La Paz. So our whole zone had to sleep in the city (iloilo city).  This morning everyone played basketball.  We had half court tournaments of 4 on 4.  Even President Pagaduan joined in and schooled our zone leader.  He was surprisingly really good at basketball and knew how to work the base line.  My team actually did really well.  It was a really fun morning of basketball with all my mission buddies.  I think all my companions that haven't gone home yet are in my zone right now.  It is awesome to be able to see them on a regular basis. 

 

This upcoming week seems pretty normal.  I kinda don't believe it will actually be Christmas on Sunday.  It really has snuck up on me this year.  Pres and Sis Pagaduan are both coming to Miag-ao this Sunday for church.  I am psyched to let all of our members and investigators to have a chance to meet and talk to him.  I also love Sister Pagaduan a whole lot.  She is such a nice woman... like completely my mission mom.  She said she is bringing me food as well... my mouth is watering already. 

 

Well I love you all and I can't wait to talk to you all next week.  It will be the highlight of the past couple months.  It is hard to believe that I haven't talked to any of you for like 7 months now.  After this one I talk to you all on Mother's Day and then I just come home in Sept... CRAZY!

 

I love you and miss you all so much.

 

Halong,

 

Elder Lowry

Week 65

Hello Family!

This week was quite a busy one for me here on the islands.  We had tons of traveling and tons of fun as well.  It has really hit me this week just how close Christmas is now.  I think with it being so hot and stuff... it has tried to just sneak by me this year.  I think one thing that helped me realize that it was indeed Christmas was the Christmas themed zone conference we had and then, of course, the First Presidency Christmas Devotional I got to attend last night.  It is weird to think of where I was this time of year last year.  I was still with my trainer up in Banga, Aklan and worrying about never being able to speak this language.  I was only three months out on my mission and, compared to now, knew absolutely nothing about the Filipino culture.  I think this Christmas will be alot more enjoyable for me just because I know how to interact with these people more and learn how to enjoy Christmas the Filipino way. 

So lets break this week down a bit.  I will start with the Christmas Zone Conference.  We had an awesome conference in Iloilo this last Friday.  Sister Pagaduan went all out for a way nice lunch.  I mean it was some of the most delicious Filipino food I've had on my mission.  Then we had a sweet talent show.  All the districts had to come up with a presentation to show off.  I think my favorite was this skit where the Elders made the Luke 2 story into Ilongo.  I was laughing the entire time.  Maybe even funnier than the skit, however, was the fact that all the couple missionaries attended and I don't think they understood a word of what was going on.  Everyone in the room was crying laughing and then the couples were just confused.  I felt bad for them.  They did have a good time though.  OH I almost forgot.  I met a couple from Lethbridge.  The Boehme family I think it was.  He was a doctor in Lethbridge... They worked with Grandma and Grandpa in the temple!  He actually went to University of Alberta as well... so we had a  nice hockey talk and just left thinking of how small the world is.  We also had a gift exchange!  The gift had to be between 100- 200 pesos.  I found this big native Filipino hat made of strips of bamboo.  This thing was big... like probably 2 1/2 ft in diameter.  Then we drew names and I got none other than Sister Pagaduan.  SHe LOVED it.  Originally the gift was meant to be a joke, but she really liked it.  I have a picture of us two while she is wearing the hat.  Sister Pagaduan is just the best ever.  She is literally just my mission Mom.  She even says that she wants to visit my area on Christmas day and go to church in our little group.  All that and I got to see Elder Balmeo again... he was my companion back in Manoling.  I think he will probably end up being my favorite companion.  I think he is just the Filipino version of me... or I am the White version of him... I'm not entirely sure.  It was way good to see him and get to talk to him for a bit.  I hope I get to be companions with him again... ah that won't happen.  I did tell him, however, that if he ever migrate to America he was welcome to live at our house.  I think you all would just love this guy.  He is hilarious.

We also had a way good Sunday yesterday.  We had a Branch conference in San Jaoquin, the town next to ours, and even though it was far away we had great attendance.  We had 6 investigators at church!  We also had alot of our priesthood attend and all wearing white shirts and ties.  I was way pleased with how everything went.  Then that evening we went to Iloilo again to go see the Devotional.  I thought it was awesome.  I thought Pres Uchtdorf's story was great.  I also really enjoyed the new movies they are releasing online.  These videos are all done by the church as like their Christmas present to everyone.  I thought it was way good. 

This week was kinda rough for me health wise though.  I have had a bit of a fever all week and just been feeling sore and always had a headache.  It seems like it is about passed right now.  I am feeling alot better that I was a couple days ago.  Despite being sick, Elder Workman and I got alot of work done and I am really satisfied with what has happened here this past week.  I am ready for another one!

So we for sure have a place to use video Skype to call home on the 26th (here... 25th for you all).  I could get up early here and even get to call you around evening time in Georgia.  It will be sweet to see you all this time around!  I will just need the skype name or address or whatever it is called so I can contact you all.  I am way excited to see everyone.

I am doing well over here in the Philippines.  I miss you all so much, but I am soaking up my time in the Philippines while I can.  It really will be weird to leave here one day and know that it ill be hard for me to ever come back.  This just kinda feels normal and homeish to me now.  (I don't think homeish is a word... it has that red squiggly line under it.) I hope everyone is doing well over on your side of the world.  Have a very Merry Christmas!

Halong,

Elder Lowry

Week 64

Hello Family!

SO this week was quite a busy one.  The biggest news I suppose is that I got my new companion on Friday.  He is another American!  His name is Elder Workman from Sandy Utah!  We have had a good couple days working together and I think he likes where he is now.  He came from Guimaras Island from a little place called Cibunag.  They were a little group too but they struggled alot more than we are struggling here.  They would have like 9 people consistently at church.  He was happy to see a group that is actually on track to become a branch sooner or later.  

I also got some cool news from President Pagaduan in our transfer meeting.  The mission department has now approved using the video for skype to call home.  That would be awesome to use this year if you all have a web cam.  Just let me know what you all wanna do for this call.  It would be awesome to see you all for a bit though.  I'm sure you could find someone to let you use their computer... or even my laptop has skype and a web cam!  That is only like three or so weeks away!  I am way excited!

This last weekend was just trying to get Elder Workman used to the members and the area.  I think he is already getting into the flow of things and has already helped me figure out some more ways to help them progress more here.  I think he will really be a key to getting the members prepared for moving up to branch status.  This week we will be focusing a bit more on tracting and finding new investigators.  One thing I think this area needs right now is the excitement of having new people being thrown in the mix.  I think if we get more investigators to church every week more members will realize just how important it is to come to church every week and to be more involved.  Elder and I have talked a bit about how to find these new people and how much it will help the Saints here.  

This next week is also looking like its gonna be a rather busy one.  We have a zone conference in Iloilo on Friday which is looking like an all day affair.  It is going to be Christmas themed (GO Sis Pagaduan for getting that by Pres) and we are going to have a "special" lunch.  Then on Sunday we have our Branch Conference in San Joaquin and then we go back to Iloilo to see the First Presidency Christmas devotional.  I am going to be tired from all the traveling by the end of this week!  

Sorry if my letter seems a bit unorganized.  I have a bit of a head cold that has really slowed me down yesterday and today.  I woke up yesterday with a sore throat and a head ache.  I took some medicine last night and it only seems to have intensified my problem.  I think I will go to sleep early tonight and hopefully sleep off my sickness.  

I love you all out there in Georgia and can't wait for next holiday season when I will be back with everyone!  It will be MAJOR PARTY TIME!  Especially because the Dawgs are gonna tear it up next year.  We aren't just going for the SEC championship... it's time my boys brought back the national title to Georgia!  

I love you all and pray for you all often.  Let me know what you all wanna do for the phone call/skype this year.  It will be easy enough for me because when it is P-day here it will be the 25th over there.  SO I could just chat with you all in the morning here and it would be Christmas evening for you all.

Halong,

Elder Lowry


ALSO- CLICK HERE TO SEE A PIC OF SCOTTY TAKEN BY HIS MISSION BUDDY, ELDER WAGGONER {there's several more if you browse through all of them} http://www.flickr.com/photos/natewaggoner/6458409195/

Week 63

Hello Family! 

Another great week here in Miag-ao.  This last week was Elder Gowey’s last week on the mission.  In act, this morning I took him to the city and on Wednesday he will be back in Arizona.  Crazy, eh?  It was fun talking to him and seeing how he was feeling about going back after being gone for so long.  I am interested to see who my next companion will be.  I will know who he is on Friday at the transfer meeting.  So this week I will be with the Tiolas Elders (Elder Eror and Elder Waggoner) and we will officially become the coolest companionship to ever exist in missionary work.  Get ready.

Lots of people have asked about Thanksgiving in the Philippines.  Well, it doesn’t exist.  However, we had four American Elders within fifteen minutes of each other so we did the best we could to have our own little Thanksgiving… Then things snowballed a bit.  We ended up buying a live turkey that was about 6 kilos.  We kept it for about 3 days and then I brought it to a guy we know who makes “Litson Pabo” (a turkey that has been skewered with bamboo and slow cooked over charcoal… like a luau).  Then we cooked potatoes and gravy, had watermelon, caned peaches, rice, rolls, juice, and root beer.  Pictures, again, are on Elder Waggoner’s flickr.  It was a night of fine dining if I do say so myself. 

The work was pretty slow this week, but Sunday was a very pleasant one.  We had our Stake President visit along with the branch president and put them to work with interviews.  From what I could tell the plans to become a branch are moving along just great.  We had all of our priesthood holders/ potentials attend.  Our future group leader and branch president was interviewed and has set some goals to get married in the temple on May next year.  I am really excited or them.  He seems to be doing really really well.  We are still focusing on a couple families to really get them consistent in their church attendance and helping them live the commandments.  The big struggle is to get them to make real commitments.  They will always just say they will do things and never get around to it.  So, my focus lately has been how to get real commitments… the ones where they promise God and themselves to do something… not just a promise to Elder Lowry.  That is always a tough one to get.

I am really excited this week to get my new companion.  He is definitely in for a tough area that really needs someone that is dedicated to help and serve.  This is definitely a very unique area with really different problems.  It was a tough one for me to adjust to so I plan to help the next comp to adjust quickly so we can get our hands dirty here in Miag-ao.  And he had also be ready to have some fun… because when you work hard you have to play hard.   

The internet connection is way weak today so I will have to attach a picture next week.  But this morning at the office I got to take some pictures with my trainer and my trainee (they are both office elders right now).  It was so good to see them.  I love both of those guys.

Anyways… I sure missed you all this last week for Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving 2012 will sure be a blast!  I am doing really well here though and am having a blast.  I am ready for a new week of good hard work and I will fill you all in next week on my new companion.  Thanks or all the letters and the emails and support.  I love to read about what is going on with everyone and how well you all are doing. 

Halong,

Elder Lowry

Week 61

Hello Family!

This was a way sweet week for me!  I am mostly excited because I just got done with a sweet hike that Elder Gowey and I and the Tiolas Elders (ELder Waggoner and Elder Eror).  We went to the very furthest barangay in my area called Ungyod and went to a place called Tinagong Dagat (hidden sea).  It was a gnarly climb up to the place with no switchbacks or anything.  It was a trail that as way small and just went straight up the mountains.  We trucked up the whole 2 hours with only like 2 breaks.  My legs felt numb afterwards.  It was well worth the effort though.  It is this little lake just hidden away in the back of this mountain.  Then you climb this mountain right beside it and you can see all around for miles.  I have a way cool video of it... but I can't send video a) it would take a year and a half b) I don't think the email would be able to hold the file.  We took some way cool pictures and had a good morning of hiking.  

This week was pretty slow.  We are struggling getting new investigators and to get our older investigators to go to church.  This last Sunday was low in attendance as Pacquiao had his third fight against Marcquez that morning.  (He won by the way)  This upcoming week should be alot of fun.  We are working way hard to get these two investigators married ad I think this week will be the week we really work to get to the Municipality and get the license processing.  But they also didn't go to church so it will be like Christmas eve that they can get baptized.  Their names are Noynoy and Nene.  Keep them in your prayers that they will work for their marriage and go to church.  Thanks!  

This is Elder Gowey's last two weeks in the mission.  Like in 14 days from now he will be in Iloilo for his departing interview and in 16 days from now he will be in Arizona.  Isn't that nuts!  I also hit a big milestone this week of being on this island for one full year.  That also mans I only have ten more months on my mission.  When you all call next month I will have just less than nine months to go.  Talk about time flying, eh?   This will also be the last Christmas I miss.  I will be ready to party hard core next year.

Well I love you alland miss you all so much.   I am so proud of my family.  My Dad is fifty and is officially well over the hill.  My older brother has gotten a sweet job.  Man... Lowrys are just cool.  I am excited to write to you all next week.  I also forgot one more thing that is cool.  GEORGIA BULLDAWGS! Oh my... I can't even contain myself with how well they are doing.  National Champs next year!

Love You All.

Elder Lowry  

Week 60

Well...  This week was definitely a busy and a full one.  We are still working way hard core with the less active members on getting serious about this becoming a branch idea.  We seem to have some real support coming from them as well.  This last weekend we had 4 couples (not including our Group Leader who doesn't live in our area) that we all members and married that attended!  We also had 5 Melchizedek Priesthood aged men there with three of them already having the said Priesthood.  The other two are, in fact, the two we are focusing on to be given the Priesthood in January.  Needless to say, I am way happy with the way things are going.  We didn't have some key families that had some solid commitments to go to church, but we still turned out 33 people in attendance.  We are feeling really good that we can keep up those numbers to the end of the year and report two months of 30+ attendance!  

Elder and I are really excited as well because we got our snake skin belts from that huge snake we found last week.  The guy who made the belts was way cool and made them for relatively cheap.  We also had some extra skin and got some wallets made as well.  We are excited to wear them back to visit the family that we got the snake from and show them off.  I have some pictures but, again, the computer isn't liking the idea of uploading anything.  I really do try for pictures but sometimes the computers here are emphatically opposed.  

Well this P-day I am going to the city again to go get some stuff from the big mall over there.  There isn't much for stores here (there are stores but they all sell crappy stuff from Taiwan or something).  We are also gonna get some pizza while we are at it as well.  then tonight will be a laundry party for Elder Lowry.  As much as I despise hand washing my clothes it really is a nice chance to relax and just think about the last week for a bit.  I enjoy that aspect of it.  Then  try to stand up straight after three hours of being bent over a washing board and I remember really fast how much I don't like laundry.  It is a bittersweet relationship.

Well... I am definitely reenergized and refreshed after reading all of your letters! Krista really sent me some fun blogs and news!  Sure sounds like those boys are just getting so big! Thanks so much to everyone for all the letters and support!  I love you all and am excited to report back next week.  Same time same place!

Elder Lowry

Week 59

Hello family!

This was another awesome wee in Miag-ao!  I am way happy right now with how the progress is going.  Again, we were just short of our attendance goal with 35.  We had a family that has been way consistent lately that didn't make it to church.  They have 5 people that always come... SO CLOSE!  We would've hit the goal!  I'm not too worried about it though... it will happen.  It is way good though that we stayed really high.  If you remember, the last week we had 36, so we are really showing consistency.  Also, we haven't dipped below 25 since I have been here.  8 months ago that goal would have been laughed at.  

What made this week so awesome was definitely our correlation with the Branch yesterday.  Correlation is something these people struggle with.  But yesterday we had our Stake President, Pres. Torres, to lead the correlation.  This guy is the man and just gets things done.  We were able to report how well the branch is doing.  He said that in January we need to have 2 more men worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and he would send the request to Salt Lake City to make a new branch! We definitely have two guys we are working with!!! That process in SLC will probably take 3 months so we are planning to make the group into a branch in April 2012! You have no idea how excited I was.  I almost just lost it.  President himself admitted that a couple months ago he thought Miag-ao would be branch material in like 2014... but now we are setting plans for April!  We are now working on just getting the members so excited! They have been waiting so long for this.  Once they are a branch they will have their own budget and we can rent a place that is bigger and right in the middle of town.  

We also had a way cool experience... with a snake!  Don't worry I never saw it while it was alive.  But we got to a members house last Saturday like two minutes after they had killed an 8+ foot snake.  It was humongous.  They had completely severed the head with a big machete, but it would still move and react if you touched it! I was trippin way hard!  Then the brilliant idea came to Elder and I to ask for the skin.  So they skinned the snake right there or us! (They were about to clean it to eat it anyway)  Then we luckily heard about this guy who works with snake skins alot that lived clear across town.  We washed the skin in ocean water (to preserve it) and found this guy.  We luckily found him and for 500 P each we are getting each a snake skin belt and a wallet or two made!  All from the same snake!  We are gonna be the rockingest companions in the zone conference later this month.  Like I have had comp ties and comp pants... but this tops all the best comp items I've heard of! Elder Gowey and I are pretty darn proud of ourselves right about now!

Anyways! I think I am about done... nothing else big happened this week! We are doing really well here and I am excited or another week  o work and experiences.  It seems like the crazy things always sneak up on you... then you sit down that night and just say.. Dang Elder, that was sweet.  I am gonna cut this letter off here, though, because we have a Halloween party tonight that we have to get ready for.  They don't do anything crazy for Halloween.  It is called All Saints Day and it is November. They just make some food and leave it up for their deceased friends and Saints.   I haven't asked too much about it.  That is just what I have heard.  

I love you all and miss you all so much!  It is so nice to hear from you all... keep 'em coming!

Halong

Elder Lowry

p.s.- Marie! I thought that name was hilarious.  Good find.  I wrote you a letter either last week or the week before.  Get Excited.

Week 58

Hello Family!

How is everyone out there?  I am doing really well here in Miag-ao!  This has been a bit of a longer week as we have been really busy with a lot of things.  One thing that I am really excited is one of my really good mission buddies just got transferred into the area right next to mine!  I don't know if I have ever written home about Elder Waggoner, but we met each other in the MTC and have been good buddies ever since.  He was in the batch that came in while I was ZL.  He is from Kentucky and the way we found out that we would be best friends was when we discovered that we both loved the Avett Brothers.  Ever since then we have just become good ol' friends.  SO he is in the next area over in San Joaquin.  We are actually a part of his branch (we are just a group).  

I got my package this last weekend and I was able to withdraw some money so thanks Pa!  (I think the card activates if you put in the pin code at an ATM).  Thanks so much for the potatoes and candy!  The pancakes were awesome as well.  We are saving those because we have a hiking trip to the mountains on Nov. 12 and everyone from our district is coming.  So I figured I would be Mr. Generous and just cook the pancakes that morning for breakfast.  I am way excited for this hiking trip because the mountains of my area are supposed to be way cool.  We will be going to a place called "Tinagong Dagat"  (hidden sea).  It is this random lake on top of the biggest mountain here.  It will be an all day hike, but they say you can see like 8 towns from the top of the mountains and it is way worth the hike.  Get excited for some pictures!

The work this week was tough again because we had Stake Conference in Iloilo again.  We were only able to get like 3 members there.  The members here are all pretty poor and it is tough for them to go anywhere outside of Miag-ao.  We are getting way excited for our young couple investigators though.  Noynoy and Nene are getting closer and closer to getting married and should be baptized next month on November 12th.  We are really pushing for them to just get the marriage papers done.  They are always apprehensive to start and I think they are confused on how to get everything done.  So we are trying to help them get it done and trying to be patient.  They both really want to be baptized... the marriage is the thing they are nervous about.  We are actually going by to meet Nene's parents to help them feel more comfortable with the wedding and to tell them what they need to do for the paperwork.  

Other than that we are really trying to just get all of our members that are in our area to church on Sundays.  And we are really trying to help one guy get everything in order so he can eventually be our Group Leader/ future Branch President.  So that is a big job.  We are sometimes not quite sure what to do and how to do it, but we feel like the Lord is directing us and teaching us step by step.  We really feel like the work is progressing fast in this are and I am just way excited for it.  

Well I figured out my picture problem... my card reader was crap.  SO now I have it all worked out and I have like 20 pictures I really wanna send.  SO I will let them do the rest of the talking! (They woke up at 5am to get the sunrise pictures)

I love you all and miss you all so much!  Happy Late 2nd Birthday to little Levi and Dad's big 50 party is coming up!  Everyone is getting so old while I am gone.  I'm excited to hear from you all this next week!

Halong,

Elder Lowry

Week 57

Hello Family!

So this week was way sweet and a ton of fun. Time is just absolutely flying by. I was o surprised when I was planning one night and I though it was Wednesday the next day... but nope. We were definitely planning for Saturday. So yes... it does seem like the days are just passing me by here. I am definitely enjoying every single one of them. This last week was really exciting as we had a baptism! The little boy whose family is all member was baptized this last Saturday and I had the honor of performing it... in the ocean. So yes... In the year 2011 I have baptized people in a font, river, and now an ocean. I got some cool pictures and I hope I can figure out my problem with my card reader soon so that I can get some pictures to you all.

As for our goal of 40 at church... WE WERE SO CLOSE. We set the record though at 36 people. I figured it all out though. I blessed the sacrament and noticed that it was good that we didn't have forty. We only have one sacrament tray and the number of cups that can fit on one sacrament tray... 36. We didn't have any water out for the blessing either o it would've been bad that we had more people than sacrament. I figured that was God's way of warning us that if we want 40 people to go to church we had better be ready for that many. This next week we have Stake Conference in Iloilo. So we will have to wait til Oct. 30 to try again for the attendance goal. We till even had three families that we were counting on to be there but were no shows. With all of them there it should have been getting close to 50 people. So ya... we will be ready for them on the 30th and I think we will really get it. With the 36 we had 4 investigators again. We are definitely witnessing first hand how the Lord "hastens his work."

So Krista sent me a Primary story so I feel inspired to share mine this week. I have been "training" this newly reactivated sister how to teach Primary. Her name is Crestine and she is only 18 and way nervous for the calling. I didn't blame her because this group of kids is ROWDY. Like I was pretty overwhelmed at first. Then on Crestine's first week the kids were not very nice and made her cry... it was a dramatic Sunday. So we regrouped and Crestine and I got ready for another week. We taught about Samuel the Lamanite. It was good but they were still rowdy and all over the place. But then we let them draw pictures of it and they were happy. Yesterday we asked the kids what we taught the last Sunday... They told us EVERYTHING. It was perfect. We were both blown away with how much these kids had retained. It was nothing short of a miracle. I love teaching primary.

So I have got to get going soon because I have to get to the city and get some lunch. I'm starving. I am getting pizza today! Remember I love you all and miss you all so much! I love haring from everyone on Monday and when I get letters. It lifts my spirits a ton and makes me excited to get my work done and go home. I pray for you all often and hope everything is going well.

Halong,

Elder Lowry

Week 56

Hello Family!

This week has been really good for Elder Gowey and I. We finally got to go see General Conference on Saturday and Sunday! I was so excited to see all of the Apostles and Prophet and to hear all of their messages. It really is an amazing thing to hear them speak and relay messages that they have been given from God. I can always feel that their messages are true and important. I went to this conference with a couple goals in mind. I really had some investigators who requested that I bring them a talk that could help them with the challenges they are facing right now. I really felt during three talks that those are the ones meant for each of those people who made requests. I was very thankful or the inspiration given to those people who delivered perfect messages that seemed just custom made for my investigators. I can't wait to give out those talks and let them receive that revelation that God wishes them to have. I also wanted to remember some specific counsel from the prophet that I could use in helping people understand the need of a prophet in our time. I don't think that simply stating the fact that there is a living prophet is enough to let people know just how important having a prophet is to all of us, but if you have some examples of what the prophet teaches your witness can be more powerful. It really stuck out in my mind about how President Monson was talking about how, in a world of change and shifting values, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is something firm and consistent and something from where we can draw support. I think the talk I took that from was his address in the Sunday Morning Session if you would like to review. As you can probably tell... I really enjoyed Conference.

We are also really excited because we have a baptism this weekend. His name is Francis Drilon and is a part member little boy. He is 10 years old and all of his family are members. He has been going to church for a long time now and we feel that he is prepared to become a member as well. We are really pleased with how well he remembers everything we teach him and how solid his testimony is. So that will happen this Saturday October 15. We are also really busy with three more people who are on track to be baptized on November 12. Two of them still need to be married. Their names are Noynoy and Nene. Noynoy's mom and dad were baptized in July and he has been coming to church for a month now. His soon to be wife went for her first time on Oct 2 to the church. We are way buy right now and we are way happy with how the work is progressing. We also have a big goal this weekend of getting 40 people to church and 10 of them to be investigators. I really think this is a possible goal and one that will really get the Stake's attention in our plea to become a branch. So I will have a lot to report to you all next week!

We also had a big surprise this week that seems to be really promising. We were on our way to an appointment riding on the back of a tricycle. We had to stop as one of the other passengers was going to buy food or his chickens or something like that. So while we were waiting we saw this black guy walking up to us (I have never seen a black person in the Philippines). He came right up and starting talking to us... in English! This is maybe the third time I have talked to a native English speaker here that wasn't another missionary. He is a Liberian citizen who moved to Maryland when he was two and then moved back when he was 15. He also went to college in Nigeria and is now starting a job at the University of the Philippines which has a big campus in our area. We asked where he lived and he invitedus over anytime to talk. So last night after we got home from conference we went to go visit our new friend. He is a way nice guy and was blown away that we knew how to speak the language here. He also let us share a short message and we were able to give him a pamphlet and a return appointment for Tuesday. He has been to church before in Liberia and has even read a bit o the Book o Mormon before. So Elder and I are way excited to see him again and find out more about how he has found himself here in the Philippines. So crazy, eh?

Well... that is all I can really think of! I am loving my time here in the Philippines and I am just blown away right now that this is the last week of this transfer. It felt like nothing... like just last weekend I was unpacking my stuff here. I've been here for over a month now. I am understanding their language.... I forgot! We have been talking to all the big shots here in Miag-ao this last week. We gave a Book of Mormon to the Chief judge here and we are starting an English class for the municipality workers this week. We have met with the Mayor a couple times and discussed the class. We will be doing everything in the municipality and we hoped to really be able to branch out more soon. So now everyone in the municipality office will be taking English classes from the Mormon Missionaries. So Elder and I are way excited for this new opportunity.

I love you all!

Elder Lowry

Week 55

Hello Family!

So this week was really good! Nothing horrible or anything happened. And my foot is doing just great. I am just waiting for the gash to heal up all the way. It doesn't hurt or anything anymore. Anyways, I am way jealous of all of you that got to enjoy your conference weekend a whole week before me. But I am way excited for this weekend coming up. I'm sure it will be just awesome. I really liked getting all of your updates on what you all liked though, it gives me a heads up as to what to look out for.

This week was pretty slow as far as lessons are concerned, but the turn out on Sunday was great. Like the first week I was here we set a goal that by October 2 we wanted 40 people to go to church (the record is 34 people at church). We were all ready to go and meet our goal on Saturday night and had firm commitments from alot of people that they would be at church. Then we wake up on Sunday morning to rain just absolutely pouring from the sky. Just walking to the little tricycle terminal with an umbrella I was SOAKED. Filipinos hate to go outside in the rain if they don't have to and therefore, only 29 went to church. So I was a bit let down yesterday morning why there had to be rain on the day that we goaled for having forty at church and had worked so tirelessly for. Later on in the day I looked back on exactly what happened though. In the past if it was even just sprinkling they would only get like 12 people out. This time it was raining WAY hard and there were 29. Also, we had 4 investigators at church and they are the 4 people that have baptismal dates. So the more I thought about it I wasn't as let down about not reaching the goal and really focused on how much actually did get accomplished. Maybe the most surprising to me was how many Melchizedek priesthood age men were at church. Only 4 of them actually had it, but we had 4 more guys that were either investigators or recent converts that could all potentially get the priesthood in the next year. That has never happened before here either. It used to be ALL girls that went to church, so this was a big step for the Miag-ao group becoming a branch. It will probably happen after I am gone, but it will still be sweet to hear about. Needless to say, the work is moving along just fine here and it is looking bright for the future.

This upcoming week is a week full of travel. We are going to Iloilo four days out of the next 6. So I will be a bit sleep deprived and way tired of travel, but it makes for a very exciting schedule. I am so excited for General Conference. I read an interesting article in an old Liahona I found in our apartment. It was this guy who told a story about how he was doing some member missionary work and told his friend about how we have General Conference in our church. How great it was that God calls living prophets and Apostles in our time and how grateful he was for it. Hwe thought he was doing a pretty good job talking it up until his friend asked, "If you all have prophets in your church what does he say?" Then the guy admits that for the life of him he couldn't remember a single thing of what the prophet said in the last conference. So his opportunity to really teach and testify was quickly brought to an end. I thought of how true that could be sometimes for me. Luckily no one really asks me that, but when I read that I thought of how important it was to really remember and study what our prophet today has to say for us. So that is definitely something I am going to focus on more this week. What are the unique messages our prophet has for us today.

I am really excited now for a new week of adventure and teaching. The language is coming along alot better and I can understand and hear it alot more. It has a really different sound so it is sometimes hard for me to pick out the words they say and then try to translate them. When learning these new languages it is really best to talk to the kids. They are forgiving if you make a mistake and usually they talk slower so you can pick out what they are saying easier. So that is what I use my primary opportunities for... learning the language better. I also am getting way good at their little games. I learned some more games that we will all have to play when I get home. This new one is called Coca Cola... Masarap... Inumin! I will have to just show you when I get home.

I love you all and think of you all so often. Sorry I'm not able to send any pictures. I think something has gone wrong with my card reader. So I am still trying to get those along, but I don't know how right now. I will try to find a computer shop here that has card readers this next week. Anyways thank you all for all the support and love!

Halong kamo

Elder Lowry

Week 54 - Crazy foot surgery story!

Hello Family!

Boy do I have a story for you all! It all started on Friday... We were working in this area called Guibongan and were having zero success. We were trying to find a member that joined the church on a different island forever ago and we somehow caught wind that they were here. So we looked and some people knew them and gave us directions where the peoples' house was. I think it was kinda flooded back there so getting there proved to be pretty difficult and we had to get through this really muddy place that smelled horrible (probably because there was some human waste around). Well we found them and they weren't very receptive. On the way home, however, we were going back by the muddy bad smelling place and yours truly stepped on a HUGE thorn and it gave me a nice little puncture wound (It went through my rubber shoes). I couldn't ever find the Thorn because it was pretty hidden in the mud/i-don't-know-what-else. It hurt like crap. I looked at it right after I got out of the bad smell and it looked like some of the thorn was still in there but had no way of getting it out right then so I just put my socks on and made a mental note to take it out at home. Well about three hours later my foot was hurting pretty bad (it got me right on the ball of my foot) and I noticed at one appointment that my big toe had swollen and wouldn't move without sharp pain. Then I got home and the whole section around the thorn was red and swollen and very sensitive. I got some tweezers and couldn't get the stupid thing out. The next morning I asked the landlord and his wife if they had any sharp tweezers so I could get the thorn out but they just freaked out when they saw the swelling and sent me to the doctors clinic at the town hall. Sister Pagaduan also said that is what I should do so Saturday morning was spent at the clinic. They gave me some shots and then said they wanted to take the thorn out so they sent me off to the pharmacy to buy a scalpel and some anesthetic. So after hobbling around town I got a surgery... for free. we had to buy all the medicine and other stuff like that but the actual surgery was no charge. And I must say... it sort of freaked me out. They shot me up with the Lidocaine I had bought and went digging. I didn't feel anything but it freaked me out that I had just bought 50 pesos worth of Lidocaine and a 5 peso (20 cents) scalpel and here was this woman just digging away. It was nothing like a hospital either. I am pretty sure everyone in the waiting room came to see the surgery I had and was offering advice to the doctor. The called my companion in to get his opinion and he nearly passed out. Then they said they couldn't find anything and wanted to dig deeper so they did. Nothing... so I stopped them from cutting more and said we would just come back in a couple days for a check up. So they gave me two stitches and sent me on my way. They put some tape on the cut and I put my flip flops on and walked outside to get a tricycle ride home. 1/2 hour later the Lidocaine wore off and I thought I was going to die. I had forgotten to take my pain medication right after the surgery and was quickly reminded of how foolish that was. So for about an hour or two it felt like some one was digging in my foot and I definitely couldn't walk. So Saturday was pretty slow and we weren't able to get any work in. Sunday was a miracle day and with some pain medication I was able to walk all day with a little unnoticeable limp. Today everything is going great and I don't expect anymore problems from it. The doctors just figured that my foot got infected from the actual puncture from crap that was on the thorn. but they were sure willing to keep digging and looking. Also, Guibongan is the exact same place where I noticed my wallet was missing. I don't think I'm going back there....

This week was pretty slow because the weekend was full of foot related problems and then right before the weekend was the town festival of Miag-ao. This is a pretty big town and so the festival was as big as I have ever seen. We had lots of delicious food. We ate with our landlord who is pretty wealthy. For the occasion they had two 30 kilo pigs slain. One of the pigs was "litson" or BBQed. they shove bamboo through its mouth and out it's butt and slow cook it over a fire. The other was just used to make more delicious Filipino dishes. then we had coconut juice and cake. But other than the delicious food, having a town festival means that no one is at home and there are tons f drunk people out in the streets and are just waiting to harass Mormon Missionaries. So it slows things down.

Then earlier today we checked out this new restaurant that just opened right on the beach. We ordered something called Sisig na Baboy. It was this really good pork dish that I don't really know how to describe. It was way cheap and cooked to order. It was one of these really cool beach resort things that is all made out of bamboo and all native architecture and all good Filipino foods.

Hmmm... I don't think much else happened this week. We are doing well here in Miag-ao. I have some pictures but the computer I'm on right now won't read my card for some reason. I have a picture of me on the beach and of our house and the best is the nice little slice with stitches that came from a blade happy surgeon looking for a non-existent thorn. So next week will have to be full of pictures.

I love you all and think of you all everyday! Thank you all so much for your emails and your love!

Halong

Elder Lowry

Week 53

Well Hello Everyone!

So this week was a pretty good one here in Miag-ao. We are really working hard out here and constantly keeping that goal of becoming a branch in mind. I had to give a talk this last Sunday and talked about how only 50 years ago the first Elders came to the Philippine Islands and now there are over 600,000 members in the islands. I emphasized that Miag-ao has only been open for 3 years and how much can happen in the next 50 years. Not only becoming a branch, or a ward, but becoming a self- sufficient stake. I told them to keep in mind that the Lord WILL do his work here in Miag-ao and all we have to do is decide if we are in or out. So I encouraged them to make the decision that they are going to be a part of the Lord's work.

I think that is something I have thought about a lot. Especially being a missionary. That the Lord is no doubt going to finish his work whether or not Elder Lowry decides to be a part of it. The only decision that has to be made is whether or not I want to be part of it. I will never be able to do so much that my name is remembered for years and years here. but if I just do what the Lord expects of me and can be remembered by him as a servant who did what he was supposed to. Just like the 2,000 stripling warriors never made a name for themselves individually, but as a group they will never be forgotten as soldiers who obeyed with exactness and trusted the Lord. That is what I have been trying to do more of this week. Not to make people remember Elder Lowry, but to just be the good missionary that is needed right now. Then my name will be remembered by the people who matter the most.

We had some pretty good success with our investigators this week and even got a good number out to church. We are on track to baptize a good part member family kid next month. His name is Francis Drilon. I was really excited this last week because we actually got 4 Melchizedek Priesthood holder out to our meetings. We will have to work to get some of them cleaned up and ready to take on responsibilities in a branch... but we got 4! That, by the way, is the minimum requirement to become a branch. So it is a good doal for this group to have it's eyes set on becoming a branch in April of next year. I would love to see it happen in October, but it just isn't enough time to get our Elder's quorum ready. We have an avg. of about 30 people at church and it looks like it will steadily climb from there. So that is the biggest thing we are focusing on right now. Helping our Elder's quorum to become what it needs to be so we can move up to branch level here. If we add another ten or twenty to or attendances we will be able to rent a small space in town and make a more official meeting place that we have right now.

I'm trying to think of much more to tell you all, but not much is coming to mind right now. I am having alot of fun and trying to still get fully adjusted here. Oh... the language. Lots of people asked about the language. It is coming pretty slowly, but it is coming. It is closer to Aklanon than it is to Ilongo and so I can hear it easier than if I had never been to the Aklan. However, it is still different and tricky to catch on to. The thing about the Philippines is that EVERYONE has to go through language barriers like that. So they are used to this sort of thing. It is not uncommon at all for a person to be more used to Tagalog and so they always speak Tagalog to everyone. Even though everyone else will respond in Ilongo or Karay-a. So conversations very often will happen in two separate languages. I will speak Ilongo and they will reply in Karay-a. I understand what they say to me and they understand what I say to them, it is just using two different mediums. It is weird, but works.

Well, I love you all and I am excited for another week of work here in Miag-ao. (pronounced Mee-ag - owww... like the Miag and the ao should be separated by a glottal stop and the ao should not be mixed with the g sound. Like two separate words) People are picky here about pronunciation. I pray for you all and love you all so much!

isa ka pinalangga,

Elder Lowry

In a separate email he told me a few interesting things I thought I'd share...

Our new apartment is the downstairs of a retired sea captain. It is really quite big and all tile. Like a marble theme or something. Everything but the bedroom is open to the outside. Like metal gates instead walls and windows that have no screens. So you always feel the breeze and hear the waves... not the best for privacy, however. I will make that sacrifice though. Then we always get our hair cuts out. But yes we do have electricity. Just no air con. Electric fans are missionary best friends. About hair cuts though... they are all FLAMING gay. Gay guys in the philippines is a story for when I get home. It is too funny and too detailed to attempt to email soorry. But keep that question in mind because it is weird and funny and just excellent!

Week 52! Half way mark!

So Here goes the second half of my mission, eh?!

This week has been a really busy one. It feels like a long time since I have been able to write you all as so much has happened. SO yes, I got transferred. I don't really think anyone, but missionaries can really know how tough it is to transfer. I struggle to adapt quickly and it makes for a long first week. But I am starting to really like this area and I am really excited to get working here. I am now here in Miag-oa Area in the Iloilo zone. It still isn't a "city" mission, but it is much bigger of a city than Banga or Manoling. I am south of Iloilo city and RIGHT on the beach. You all would be so jealous of where I am living right now. There are NO houses between ours and the ocean. We look out our window and see nothing but ocean. We fall asleep every night to the waves. So I am really excited for how beautiful of a place this is. And also we have some of the best seafood I have ever had. The shrimp are huge and the fish are so fresh. I just feel like I am bragging now... haha.

Here in Miag-ao there is only a tiny group. Only about thirty go to church and we meet in a member's old broken down house. Missionary work only opened here about two years ago... so we are some of the very first Elders here. The work is proving to be pretty tough. It is hard to explain where the church is to people and sometimes if they go to church they won't come back... because it is a little house. So we are really trying our best to get our members to go to church. If we had ALL our members going to church every week we would become a branch and get a chapel. We need a chapel before the work with investigators will really take off. And with becoming a branch we need more priesthood holders. We are still lacking about 4 of those. Needless to say, it will be tough here. But it will be ok, i think, as I have beautiful scenery to keep me motivated.

With this transfer I have tried to be much more accepting. I think I struggle when there is too much change and I find it hard to just accept it. It has been way tough to just leave everything behind in Manoling and come here to Miag-ao. The work style is really different and how we teach is really different. When the area AND the companion both change it is just hard for me to adjust and accept it all. I kept in mind however that I wanted to work on adjusting to the area and everything better and I did pretty well, I think. I really liked going to church and actually got to teach primary again. So I am excited to actually get a program here started for them. I will make some songs for them and really get the kids excited for church as well.

My new companion is actually American and a way nice guy. His name is Elder Gowey and is from Arizona... close to Phoenix. he goes home in another transfer... So I will be his last companion most likely. It is crazy being with a companion who is about to go home. He is still focused and I am excited to get working with him. This is my first time being companions with an American though. It is kinda weird to just have two Americans and no Filipinos. It is weird to be able to speak real English with him.

Also... they have a different language here. NOOOOOO. It is called Karay-a and is the language from Antique. It is pretty close to Ilongo, but it is still different. This island is crazy with all their languages. SO now I am speaking yet another dialect and I loathe learning more languages. Lucky for me, I don't think I will encounter anymore. I am familiar with Tagalog, Aklanon, Ilongo and soon to be Karay-a. There is only Cebuano left and no place speaks only Cebuano here... so I should be fine. Keep my language skills in your prayers because it is not always the easiest thing to do.

Well. I don't think I have much else to say for this week. I am doing way great here and I love working as a missionary. It really does feel like a year has gone by, but at the same time it feels just like a short while longer until I come home. The crazy thing is, is that I will probably still be in this area when I get to call home for Christmas. Only like three more months left until then.

I love you all so much!

Halong,

Elder Lowry

Devyn and Hannah- Wrote you both letters and sent them! Get excited.

Marie- Thanks so much for the update. I want to write you back so give me your address!

Shelby and Michael- I got your letters while I was in Manoling and couldn't write back I have your letters and will send them tomorrow!

Week 51

Hello Family!

So this email is coming pretty late because we spent the morning in my area for an activity. We kinda through a last minute activity for the district and decided to pay a trip to the HUGE waterfalls here in Manoling. They are awesome! I got so many pictures too. So that was a ton of fun. I planned it all out and got us all a vehicle rented and two meals for 130 pesos a head. Like $3 a person. I was pretty proud of myself. It was a beautiful day for hiking and we got to hang out with some members and missionaries for the whole morning. We also had a huge lunch planned and all partied up at the top of the mountain at the Dislag family's house. Like they literally live right at the top of the mountain so we got to have lunch just overlooking our area. Very cool. Everyone also commented on how we probably have the most beautiful area in the mission. SO we just barely got back from that. We were so lucky because on the ride back the heavens opened and rained harder than I've ever seen. The thunder would make you shake... it was insane. SO there we were on the back of a truck just SOAKED. It took me a good ten minutes to ring out my shirt and shorts... but it was all fun when all 15 missionaries got just as wet.

This last Sunday was probably my last Sunday in Manoling. Very very sad for me... I will miss this place so much. I got to bare my testimony to them though and it was a very happy day. It was one of those things were you were said but at the same time you had so much fun saying goodbye and enjoying the last couple days with them. The kids were all so great in Primary. That afternoon they gave me remembrance pages were they wrote short little notes to me to say good bye. They all gave me big hugs and said goodbye (some kids live far away and I won't see them at all this week). They were all so very gracious. that has surprised me so much about these kids. Every Sunday they let you know that they are thankful Every time they pray they thank the Lord that the Elders were able to teach to them and visit their house. Just very thankful and sweet little kids. Little Eriel just came up to me yesterday and said, "Elder Lowry, thank you for baptizing me." And then gave me the biggest hug she could muster. It was one of those times that completely makes going on a two year mission worthwhile.

We also had an awesome week of work as well. We had 7 people attend church and 5 of them have a baptismal date. It will be hard for me to leave all of them as well. Their baptisms will for sure be an awesome day. All I have to say about that is the Elder who replaces me is one lucky dog. We also got all of the Mission Standards of Excellence so that was very fulfilling. This, for the record, is the fourth week in a row we have done so. But I kinda realize that the area can progress perfectly fine without me and it is time to go get the standards in the next area.

I am very sad to hear about how the UGA game went. I am depressed here as one of our district mates is a Boise State fan.... shoot me now. In fact Mark Richt can fly over here and pull the trigger for me. All the more reason to just focus on the work, right?

I love you all so much and I am excited to email you next week to tell you if I got transferred and about my new area if I have one. I pray for you all often and think of you always. I only have 53 weeks left here!

Elder Lowry.

Scott with a boy who will be baptized just after he leaves (if he leaves)

His Filipino fan club :)

Him and some Elders at the falls in Manoling!

Week 50

Hello Everyone!

So another super successful week here in Manoling! I am so excited with how well things went this week. We were scared for a bit that we weren't going to hit our goals... But we relied on the Lord to help us out and it went really well. We only came short on the number of new investigators. But two of our new investigators that we got this week both have baptismal dates for September and they both went to church. Speaking of going to church we set a record for my mission this weekend... we had 9 investigators come to church! We were way busy, but it was so nice to see our investigators at church. They all said they had a great time and they would definitely come back next weekend. I am excited for all of them and hopefully we can get some more people a baptismal date over this next weekend. It was good though because every single investigator that has a goal to be baptized went to church. And all the people that I have baptized here are all going to church every week. I am so happy for them.

Elder and I have been doing really well getting the ward's participation in the work. We didn't teach a single lesson to an investigator without a member present. That is also a record for my mission. We really are doing alot of good work out here. We are really doing quality work here too. Like the ward is getting stronger and the new members are all doing really well. We have a solid four baptisms in September... so this whole next month we can focus on just finding investigators who can also be baptized the next month. We already have one couple lined up to probably be baptized in October. So the work is just progressing so fast here right now. I am going to be really sad to leave this area. I am thinking this is my last full week here. I won't be able to tell you all anything though until Sept 12 (whatever that Monday is) as we find out our transfer status on Wednesdays now. So I will already be in my new area before I can even tell you I'm going to leave. If I leave that is.

I am doing really well right now. I love serving here and all of the little kids here just get cuter and cuter every week. I just can't even get over how lucky I am to get to know them. I have learned a ton from them... I have learned how to play the COOLEST game ever! I have seen them playing it before but I never could figure out the rules just by watching. It is called sodsod. Literally all you need is a patch of dirt and a couple rocks. But the rules are really quite intricate and it is easy to make stupid mistakes. You just draw a big rectangle longways into the dirt and divide it into six blocks inside of it. Then at all intersections down the middle line inside of the rectangle you draw circles. Then you have to kick your rock from square to square with out the rock landing on any of the lines or your feet ever touching the lines... oh and you can only use one foot (so you are hopping one one foot the whole time.) This game is way more intricate than I can try to explain right now. There are a ton more things you have to do after you get through all the squares without hitting any lines. I will have to write it down sometime this week and take some pictures to send to help illustrate it better. I will definitely have a sodsod party with everyone when I get home though. It is so much fun. We play a short game with Eriel and her siblings every time we teach her.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW TANNER! You old man. Hope everything was good and just don't wish for GT to win this November. It would be such a waste of a good birthday wish.

Other than that I don't really have much to report. I just have more pictures... (i bought an sd card reader... yes it took me a year on my mission to realize it would be more efficient to just buy one here) So I hope you enjoy the pics!

1. Monkey friend in Manoling!

2. Working in Manoling... an everyday occurrence almost. This was the group I was on splits with yesterday.

3.The boy is RJ (bishops son) who will be leaving on his mission soon. The two girls are both from the family we live with. Mary Grace is the older one and Chloebelle is the younger one.
4. Me with two of my pimary kids. Jovilyn and Janiza (sisters) Then the one in the very back is their cousin or something. I forget her name. I just met her yesterday.

Week 49

Wow look at the week. I have been out for almost a year!

So this week was a big success! I was so happy with how everything turned out. I was busy as I've ever been. We had two baptisms in two weekends. We also had a zone conference in Roxas city on Wednesday. So we were stressed on how to get all the teachings done and how to get the interview and how to have the service all ready. Just busy. But I am proud to say that we did ALL that and we got EVERY single one of the mission goals for a single week and for one month. I will just tell you now that it was the first time to have that happen in my mission. Yes, it is pretty tough. We have 4 people with date. We had five investigators at church. We had over 15 lessons this week with a member present. And we had well over 7 new investigators. And for the month of August we had 2 convert baptisms.

So yes, Rimya B Tungala was baptized and confirmed as a member this last weekend. We had well over 60 in attendance with 4 investigators that attended as well. Her husband's cousin came from his mission just on Thursday. His name is TJ Tungala and he had his welcome home party right after the baptism and we actually got him to perform her baptism. The baptism was just perfect. It was so nice to sit there and just relax and enjoy it. Pictures will be attached!

So I am just so happy right now and enjoying my last couple weeks in Manoling. I got tipped off by Sis Pagaduan this last week at the zone conference. I won't bother to translate it... I will just sound like an idiot trying to translate our conversation. But she essentially said that I just might be moving to the city (iloilo) in a couple weeks. So I am way sad to leave Manoling area... Like I will cry the day I leave here. I have been expecting it this whole transfer because Elder Balmeo and I have been together for two transfers. So I am trying to be as optimistic about moving to a city area for my next transfer. Then my first week in my new area I will reach my year mark.

Well I will let my pictures tell the stories for you all.