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/