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
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, September 12, 2011
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!
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!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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.
His Filipino fan club :)
Him and some Elders at the falls in Manoling!
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!
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