Week 20

Hello Everyone!

Things are going well here in the Philippines!

This week has been a good week of work for Elder Ordeniza and I. We are truly working hard and we are having some good success. We weren't able to get Dexter and Merlinda an interview because Dexter had to work that day. But they will hopefully be interviewed before our zone meeting in early February. Like two weeks from now I think. So we are still holding our breaths that we will be able to work something out for them! We got 30 teachings again this week. Phew... that just makes you tired at the end of the week. But happy, and a sense of accomplishment. It is a good goal to have. We got 10 teachings on Saturday. We could have gotten 3 more but some of our investigators were already asleep and one part member family the dad had already started drinking. Maybe next week we will try for 13 again. haha. We decided to visit ALL of our investigators on Saturdays from now on just to help our church attendance. But sadly, this week, none of our 10 teachings went to church. Hopefully our efforts this week will be more fruitful.

So transfer week is next week. I am going on three months here in the Philippines pretty soon. That is insane, eh? I have only 10 more months on my mission. I have so much more to do. I swear this is not enough time. (It's not Scott, you're right. So I think you'll be happy when you realize you actually have way more than 10 months left! Twice that, in fact. As Levi would say... "Coo-coo, coo-coo...") My companion is getting transferred. I know because President assigned a district leader (my companion is DL). We are a really close district so there really is no element of secrecy. haha. So it is kinda weird thinking about this change coming up. I imagine it will be my turn to train. I am scared to death that I might have to train an American. Man. I need to pick up this language quickly! So I am almost guaranteed to stay here. I really really doubt I will leave Banga the Beautiful. Banga Banga Beautiful Banga, Banga Banga Banga city that I love! Me and my companion decided that Banga is the new Zion and switched the names... I know I know.... we are clever and funny.

So I have gotten a bunch of Scripture reading suggestions. thank you all so very much. I read them and study them. So thank you again. I have a good question for all of you though (and it is one that has taken me until now to be proud about) How is your reading of the recent General Conference talks? I think it deserves a bit of attention. We learned from two talks last General Conference the 14 Fundamentals of following the prophet. #3 "The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. Now that struck me hard the last time I read that. Those talks are written for us by men who live among us in the same crazy world that we live in. SO that has been my new goal. That I spend time with my nose in the Ensign (esp. the Gen Conf edition) a whole lot more. I have found some real great treasures in there. For my work as a missionary and as just an individual. Really though, it is awesome. Richard G Scott is still the man and President Utchdorf still rocks my socks. Elder Holland is bearing testimony like he was there for the restoration and President Monson is still the best example of a consecrated life we have. Read it. Feast on it.

So my cute story of the day has to do with my picture. Like 15 kids (there were more that didn't want to take a picture) came up to our house and just wanted to hang out in front our house Sunday afternoon. They are really nice little neighbors. So I gave them a bunch of silly bands and stickers. They loved it. The little kids here are so much fun and I love them dearly. Sometimes when the work is slow and investigators drop us or don't progress we just have to take a minute and play with the kids. They boost our spirits and recharge our motives to work hard. They are so cheerful and just want to have fun. With simple things. We played baseball with bamboo and not yet ripened papayas. They will play with ANYTHING and have more fun than I've ever had in my life.

I love it here in the Philippines. It is beautiful. It is green. It is hot and humid. I love the people. They are wonderful simple people who love the Lord. I am trying my best to help them in their journey to return to our Savior. I am thankful for all the sacrifices made at home to make this mission possible. I love you all at home and pray for you each night. Remember that I do and know that the Lord is with us if we obey his commands.

Luke! I got your letter. thanks so much. I love and miss you brother. If someone could get me his Peru address that would be awesome. Emily! Thank you so much for the note. I hope things are going so well for you in good ol Georgia.

Devyn. Your letters are great don't worry. I wish there was a more efficient way for my to respond!

Hannah Banana! Go you and your letter and email writing. I loved the Who What where pictures. Good thinking! Thanks for keeping me updated on your play. I am excited to see a video when I get home. Thanks for filling me in on the song's name. The Filipinos have probably thought I'm retarded for not knowing that.

Krista! Thanks for the Dear elder! I agree with you. Don't risk your children for sending me letters. Dear elder and email will do. That'll do. That'll do. Always and Forever. (I literally laughed out loud at your song)

Mom and Dad. I love you two! I miss you both as well and think about you often. I am so thankful for you. Keep working hard and we will all be blessed.

Elder Lowry.

Week 19

Hello Family and friends!

I am doing well here in the Philippines. I am sort of sick right now though with a cold. So bear with me. This week has been super busy for Elder Ordeniza and I. We are working hard just to keep up. That is so awesome though that Graham and I got to experience or first baptisms on the same day! I think we will treasure January 22 2011 for forever. Congratulations Courtney! I know it was a tough decision and a very big decision for you. I know it will be tough to stick through and to endure. But I also know it will be a decision that you will never ever regret. So really, good job. I said to Sister Sheila this last week. Baptism is likened to a gate for a reason. Once you are baptized you aren't to the Kingdom of heaven yet. You are in the right direction though. You still have to walk more and persevere until that day comes when you do arrive at the door to heaven. You are on the right path to learn those things you need to know and for the Savior to say, "Welcome home thou good and faithful servant." So those are my two cents!

So Sheila's baptism was a very nice one! We are excited for her and her journey. Her brother this week said he wants to be and Elder. This is actually what his mother said, "Ginhambae ni Fernando nga gusto niya mag-elder" They put mag- in front of alot of american words to just say "to do that thing" So he wants to do whatever Elders do. So we taught him and hope he will progress and e baptized as well. I was able to baptize Sheila. Funny Story: The priest who was supposed to get there really early and fill up the font was, of course, fantastically late. So we waited and waited and had some problems with the water. So finally, with the water at my knees, they made me attempt the baptism. Sheila is not short either. Failure! We tried twice and basically only succeeded in scaring the poor girl half to death. So I told bishop that we need to just wait for the water to raise in level. So 45 minutes later I was able to baptize her. She is so nice though and didn't hold it against me. She is getting involved with Seminary this week and got her Young Woman's achievement book this week. She truly is awesome. Attached is her note to me in my remembrance journal. I thought it would be good so you could see real Tagalog. You don't have to just take my word for it. It says: Thanks so much for the teaching to me. And I hope that you still have many more teaching to your brothers and sisters. And you are very talented in Aklanon. (it really says that, I don't know why. I am horrible). I really believe in you. Thank you for your baptism to me, I won't be able to forget it (probably because she thought I was trying to drown her.) Always take care." So there you have it.


Aklanon Aklanon Aklanon. the story of this week. We have taken our language study at a member's tindahan the past week. It has paid ridiculous dividends. I don't know why we didn't think of it before. I can teach in Aklanon now! Very basic vocabulary though. This past Sunday I wasn't lost for one minute because I could completely understand the member's Aklanon. It was awesome. I was overjoyed! The pronunciation is still impossible, but the grammar is coming along. I have also noticed that when I speak Aklanon the people are SO much more forgiving on my speech. When I completely speak wrong Tagalog they don't understand, but when I try my best in Aklanon they still get my point. So I am so thankful for that! It is very different though and I get head aches from thinking so hard about it... haha. So here is a basic testimony in Akeanon. Kasayod ko nga ro mensahi namon, tuod gid imaw. Nga matuod nga propeta si Joseph Smith ag gintawgon imaw it Diyos bilang propeta. Nakita nana ro atong amay sa eangit ag si Jesus christ. Sa paagi nana mayuna kitang simbahan ngara. Kon ipangamuyo mo parte sa mensahi namon, gasabat do Ginoo it mga pangutana mo. Kasayod ko nga matuod ro Simbahan ni JesuCristo ng mga banal sa katapusan adlaw. Sa takipusoon ko napamatiyagan ro banal nga espiritu. Nagpamatuod imaw kakon nga matuod imaw, ro simbahan ngara ag si propetang Joseph Smith. In Tagalog, the very same thing- Alam ko na ang mensahe namin ay totoo. Na totoong propeta si Joseph Smith na Tinawag siya ng Diyos bilang propeta. Nakita niya ang ating ama sa langit at tsaka si Jesus Christ. Sa pamamagitan niya meron tayong simbahan na ito. Kung ipagdasal mo tungkol sa mensahe namin, sasagot ang Diyos ng mga tanong mo. Alam ko na totoo ang simbahan ni JesuCristo ng mga banal sa mga huling araw. Sa puso ko, narumduman ang banal na espiritu. Nagpatotoo siya sa akin na totoo siya ang simbahan na ito at si propetang Joseph Smith.

So there is the Aklanon. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I think it is just the most interesting thing ever. I should be able to get some others while Im here. Like Karay-a and Ilonggo and Kapish-non. Like that. I am very excited. I am sending the pictures home to Krista so hopefully there will be plenty more for people to see soon. The pictures are

(I haven't received any pictures yet... so maybe he meant snail-mailing them?)
1 Already explained.
2 Me in Altavas with the members who started my Aklanon lessons. Marco and Resty. Resty is very happy he just doesn't want to show it.
3 The baptism day! She is not very photogenic either! But we love her anyway.
4 Typical kitchen.

So this is a funny shout out and I doubt she even reads these blogs. But one of my investigators reminds me EXACTLY like Rachel Van Dyke. Like her personality the way she talks.... just everything. It is uncanny. haha. She is one of the girls that gets to church at six! She literally is just a 10 yr younger version of Rachel. So Michael or someone who knows her. If you could please just pass that along. Thank you!

Devyn- I'm glad you got your letters and you are doing so well! I have no explaining to do. All explaining will be done after the mission. Thank you for the pictures.

Bro Anderson- Are you getting these emails? I really hope this other person I am sending the emails to is you. haha. If not just tell me and I will quit.

I love you all and pray for you all daily! GO Dawgs!

Elder Lowry!

Week 18

Hello family and friends!

So this week has been a different one! I went to Altavas to work this week. It is about a 45 minute bus ride away from our house. Elder Ordeniza had training again in Iloilo so I went there again. It was a lot of fun and the area there is just beautiful! I got ALOT of mail from home this week. It was so nice! Thank you all so much! I got the letter from the primary, I am thankful for all of them! It was so nice to read all of their testimonies and good wishes. I even got a request to get home quickly and babysit them. Unfortunately I heard that the Ainesworth's are moving. So Abigail maybe I will have to pay a visit to your new house after the mission, haha. Thank you so much for the letters! I got Michael Ryan's letter. It was great to hear from him as well! I need to know if your address is the same this semester though. I have as letter already written so the quicker the better, eh?

So the work in Banga was slow this week because the first art of the week we weren't here and then when we got back EVERYONE was in the neighboring town of Kalibo for the humongous festival called Ati-Atihan. So we were pretty bummed. We only had 1 investigator at church. It also flooded like crazy on Sunday and a lot of streets were flooded. Sheila Mae Rofino went to church though and she will be baptized this Saturday. So get excited. She is reading the Book of Mormon all the way through and is almost done with 1st Nephi. Jessa didn't go to church and so we had no 6 o'clock investigators. They were all at the festival.

While in Altavas we worked with the members. Brother Marco and Resty. They are awesome. They are really good at English so everytime I get to work over there I get Aklanon 101 lessons. This last week I got like three lessons so I can really understand it now. I test out all of my Aklanon on Devine. She doesn't laugh at me when I completely botch it. Haha. Like to say what are you doing is "Alin ro ginaobra mo?" and in Tagalog it is "Ano ang ginagawa mo?" So it is quite different. But I understand and I am starting to incorporate it more in my speech. Elder Ordeniza and I are practicing more and we are now starting to go to a member's tindahan for language study. We ask questions for half an hour and then practice teaching her in Aklanon. I think in about 2 weeks we should be able to teach a lesson in Aklanon. People are super impressed when I respond in their local language. They love it.

Dexter and Merlinda have an interview with President on Jan 26. No guarantee that he will be able to do anything but I sure hope he can. Dexter shared with us some of his reading. He is just awesome. His scriptures are marked. He truly just loves to learn more. So we really just hoe they can get baptized. It would make my mission to be able to baptize this family. So we are working our hardest to prepare them. But honestly. I would have Pres. Monson interview these people and I wouldn't worry.

Dad, I withdrew some money because I made some pants. Some of my pants are not holding up too well with this intense mud. It is ridiculous. I am also buying rain boots for this season because my shoes will just be ruined if they have to endure these conditions much longer. It should help to save some pants as well. I ordered two pairs of pants and in all it was 1000 P (~$20) so no worries here for money. Thank you so much! I will send you a picture when I get the pants next week... They are really good looking!

Devyn! Im so glad you got the letters. They are as old as dust now! Disclaimer for all letter recipients. Expect 4- 6 weeks. Sorry!

Marie and Joseph. Sending the letter today! Get excited (or rather postpone the excitement for a couple weeks). I just looked the two names again... haha. I didn't mean to make it look like you are a couple. Another Disclaimer Marie and Joseph are not a couple.

I pray for you all everyday. Mom... don't test my prayers for your safety anymore please! Thank you. Take care of yourself lady! I hope you get some answers to all your tests. {Mom had a stroke scare that ended up being complex migraines this week. Yuck! We could ALL do without that kind of drama from our mama. Get well Mama Lowry!}

Go Dawgs! Basketball might just be better than football this year. haha.

Elder Lowry!

Week 17

Hello Family and Friends!

Thank you all so much for all the emails. It is so nice to hear what is going on in the motherland. I really really do appreciate it so much!

This week has been on the tougher side of things. We are not sure if Dexter and Merlinda can get baptized anytime soon. It is way tough to explain in writing so bear with me. Merlinda has a former husband that she has not had the marriage annulled. (No such thing as divorce in the Philippines). So we filled out that cohabitation form for President Pagaduan and sent it back to him. The problem is that Dexter and Merlinda have only been together for one year. In order to prove that the relationship is permanent, the Area Presidency says they have to have been living together for at least 5 years. SO President basically said that we have four years to go. So heart breaking. SO we tried to look at things from the legal standpoint and get them civilly married. The annulment is the tricky part. The lawyer said it would cost 15000 Pesos and take over a year and it still probably wouldn't happen. (Philippines is SUPER catholic so divorce is just frowned upon). So that is just out of the question. We are working really hard to somehow prove to our leaders that 1) they are the BEST investigators and have kept every commitment we have extended 2) they really are prepared for the ordinance and 3) the relationship is permanent. SO I am requesting an interview from President anyway for them. Just so he can meet them in order to know how he can help them. And my big question is their temple marriage. If we wait four years anyway are they ever going to be able to get married in the temple. They have the commitment to prepare for their temple marriage but I am not sure how that works now. They aren't legally married. I can't imagine this is the first time this has happened so there must be a way to get them married in the temple. SO my logic tells me that we should baptize them now and prepare them for that temple marriage as soon as possible. Wouldn't that prove the permanency of this marriage? SO I'm really hoping something works out. 4 years is just too much of a gap for anything to happen and then they never get baptized. So keep praying for them. They are still doing SO well. We love them dearly. They know about the situation and have agreed to keep persevering even though it looks grim now. They come to church and have accepted to read the Book of Mormon all the way through. They have truly been blessed as well. Work opportunities have popped up alot for Dexter and he is very thankful for that. So this story is just getting more and more intricate, interesting, and challenging. More details to follow

Their nieces have also started the lessons. One is named Rosebell. She is 10 and a very sweet little girl. She got appendicitis this last week. So she went to the hospital in kallibo for surgery. We were in Kalibo the next day to talk to a lawyer for Dexter and Merlinda's annulment. So we just got bad news and then we went a Filipino hospital. Phew... I cried. It was hard to see. It made me so thankful for clean hospitals. She was in a recovery room and since they are very poor she stayed in the room that is free to recover in. The beds were old and rusty, with two to three people to a bed. It was very hot with so many people crowded in there. The parents basically have to take care of the child while she recovered. It was hard to see, that's all there really is to say.

I got pretty sick the next day. I think it was from the hospital. I got pink eye though (Thatcher and I were on the same page). I woke up Saturday with my eye swollen shut and gunk coming out of it. My eye is still kinda red. Apparently it is really popular here though. SO we couldn't proselyte that day. That is never fun.

I got the Christmas package! Thank you so much Mom! It is great and I'm very excited to listen to that CD. It was still sealed and everything was there (CD player and speakers as well). No worries! SO now I have my stocking... in January. Good times! This Christmas was different. My Christmas present (until now) has been a cup. I've never loved a single cup so much. Who cares if it is Hello Kitty, right? It is MY cup. I got it for Christmas from an investigator. I love that cup because it basically represents Christmas 2010. No worries. I will bring it home.

This week has been full of trials. I am ready, though, for this week to try my best to overcome and learn form them. I am excited to get things going and figure things out. Here are some more pictures (Krista- it would be great if you could send that cable. I have a cafe I can get SD card readers here in Kalibo but for future areas that would be great. SO no rush.)

1 This is Devine! She was heart broken when I couldn't play with her last time because I had pink eye. She lunged for me while her Dad was holding her. She is adorable.2 This is our haunted apartment. Im pretty sure I sent this last week but Krista made it sound like I didn't.3 Bamboo is EVERYWHERE here. And they get really big.4 Most bridges here are about like this. This is pretty nice. Usually it is a balance act to walk across streams and small rivers.5 Bananas. They are so delicious here. Small, but fantastically delicious.

So I am so proud of the Bulldogs pulling off the big win against Kentucky (basketball). I'm liking this season and I'm missing my $2 student tickets right about now. Oh well. Dad's commentary will just have to do. haha!

Tagalog is going along really well. No big complaints and I can understand Aklanon. For the most part, anyway. I love the language. It is constantly tough but very interesting. I have been observing how versatile this one word is in Visaya (I think that is the root language, Im not sure though). It is "bilog." I've asked so many people but none of them can give me a good answer to what is means. They use it all the time though. The best definition I can come up with is anything that is round. I first heard it playing basketball. You say "Isa pang bilog!" if you want "One more shot" So I thought it was just a basketball shot. No no no. I went to church and I hear it about 20 more times. So obviously it doesn't mean a basketball shot. But if someone has alot of fruit they will so that they have so many "bilogs" And then just this morning someone payed for their fare to go to Kalibo and referred to himself as a Bilog. So the word is really versatile and as farm as I can tell it can refer to anything that is remotely round. Sorry if that was confusing... I just thought it was interesting.

Thank you all again for the support! I love you all and pray daily for you all.

Devyn- Sorry the Post is taking forever to get to you! I really hope it arrives soon!

Love you all!

Elder Lowry

1st letter of the New Year!

Hello Everyone!

I am really excited because this is the week I can finally send you all some pictures! I am so happy to give you all some visuals about the work here.

While I wait for them all to load I will give you the low down on this past week. It hasn't stopped raining and it is a quite comfortable temperature. Even though all the Filipinos are saying it is too cold for them. (like low 70's). But it has been a super busy week. We hit our goal of having 30 lessons taught. SO needless to say we were practically running to appointments and trying our best just to keep up with the lessons. Dexter and his wife are just flourishing as investigators. It really is amazing to watch and experience. We worked out the marriage thing and we can still baptize them on the 29th of January. We had to fill out some forms and President Pagaduan will have to interview before the baptism. SO we are working super hard with them to really prepare them for that. Nevertheless, they are so excited to be baptized and to go to church and stuff. It was awesome that they came t church this last week. They have a 1 month old baby and they had no umbrella to take. SO they left early and had to find shelter every time the rain picked up. They texted us and said they were at market and the rain was too intense, so a member and I went to pick them up with some umbrellas. I was so happy they came because as soon as we woke up and heard it was still raining we got really depressed because we thought for sure that sister wasn't gonna go because of the rain. On the 22nd we are also going to have two other baptisms. A girl named Sheila (She for short) is getting baptized and a sister of JeckieLynn and Georlyn named Jessa are both getting baptized. Tayson might be able to be baptized on the 29th if he goes to church every week this month.

The cutest investigator story ever: I hope you are ready. We asked Jessa if she was going to church on Saturday of course. We made sure she had a way to get church and everything. (she is 11). Then we reminded her what time it was and asked what time she would leave. She then asked us "I can get there anytime before nine right?" And so we were like, of course, we will meet you there at 8:30. We get there at 8:40 and they aren't there! So after like 5 minutes of waiting we ask some of the members and they said "Oh ya, they are here. They are up in the chapel" So we go up and there they are just talking with the bishop and some other members. SO we go up and ask how long they had been waiting for us. They said, "We got here at 6 this morning." They literally waited three hours for church and were the VERY first people to the church that day. They stayed for all of church too. We about died laughing. They thought it was great because we bragged about them to all the members the rest of church. They are so funny. SO I told them that they won the best investigator story of the week award.

So Picture 1: This is Dexter and Merlinda Alvares with their baby Princess Linzie Alvares. They are so awesome and love to have us over.

2: These are the Sollios family girls. They love me. The one on the right is Gelmarie. The one on the left is Geraldine(the little one)! hahaha. The one in the middle's name escapes me. sorry

3: This is what happens when little Filipino kids steal cameras. They just have goofy photo shoots. I will let them hold my camera and within 15 minutes I have 100 new photos. The girl is NorieLynn and her family is taking the lessons.

4: Krista asked how much weight I've lost. Quite a bit, but I gained alot in the MTC. So probably as skinny as I was when I ran cross country. But this is just Elder Ordeniza and I walking. I think Tayson took this picture.

5: This is our little gang just walking one day. We posed alot this day. I forget why. Hahaha

I will send a separate email to attach some more pictures!

What was up with both Mom and Dad giving me Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium quotes. I thought that was hilarious. Both very good though thank you! It makes me proud to see such good movie choices in my home.

This week has been a ton of fun. I have learned how to really enjoy this new culture and Elder and I have just laughed all week. We play punch buggy alot because that is the most common vehicle here I think. We saw 7 on our way into town today. I am doing really well though and the language is continuing to improve at its turtle pace. But I have learned to just keep going and worry about it just during study time.

Thank you all so much for the continued support and love. It really is so nice to know I have a fan base on the opposite side of the globe.

Elder Lowry.

Email with more pics:

1: Buloklok in Tagalog. Flower in English

2. The first baptisms on my misson!

3. The little nephews of another one of our investigators. They are funny!

4. JECKIELYNN AND GEORLYN

5. The day of the flood! When we met Dexter!