Dearest Pamilya... 

It has been an interesting week back in Tacloban 2nd ward. It has been fun to see some old faces and to see their reactions that I have returned. I'm honestly not sure what the missionaries have been up to the last two transfers but that's another story for another time.

I would like to take a moment to testify of the Gift of Tongues. This week has been a miracle. We have taught lessons in Waray, Tagolog, and Cebuano and sometimes in all three. I never before been able to switch between the three very well but now it almost seems just natural. We have one Investigator who my companion and I started teaching when we were still here who really only speaks Cebuano. He is a referral from an active member and is pretty old. Anyways, it has been cool to see him open up a bit more the past week as he has understood more clearly the gospel in his native tongue, Cebuano. I hope to see him progress and choose to be baptized in the coming weeks.

I don't have a lot to say but the work is going well. By going well, I mean that our work is cut out for us for the transfer. Elder G. is good and we have been able to teach some great lessons this past week. With each lesson I teach, my testimony of the Gospel increases. We had a recent convert ask us last night why FHE was so important and I was grateful to be able to testify of the influence that consistent FHE has had in my life. 

I love you all! 

Keep the faith and may peace be the journey.

One Last Transfer, One Previous Area. Blog Letter 5/18/2015

Dearest Family!

Thanks again for the chat last week! You all look and sound great as well! Our week went rather well and it finished off with the Baptism of N.M. She is only 14 but she's pretty bright and her mom is a returning member. The baptism was excellent and we had 2 of our investigators attend one of which is her Brother-in-law whom we have just started teaching and he wants to be baptized. As soon as he and N's sister get married he can. There are many others in her family as well that will hopefully be taught in the future.

The work here is starting to move a long and I have really grown close to the members and so you know what that means! Transfers! Transfer day is today along with p-day and that's why I didn't email you yesterday. I will definitely miss Kilim Branch and I was very surprised to learn of my new assignment/area but I'm excited as well... I think. My thoughts are all still pretty scrambled because I'm in transfer mode. My new companion is a Filipino and his name is Elder G. We have been assigned as the Tacloban Zone Leaders. So I'm going back to my old area in down town Tacloban and training Elder G. as a zone leader for my last cycle. When I transferred from this area in January I was hoping that I could have just one more cycle in down town and so here is that one more transfer that I wanted. I would have been content to end my mission in Kilim but I know God needs me here again in Tacloban. 

Two people I will definitely miss are the H's. They have been so kind to the missionaries and it was fun being assigned in the same District as them. They came to Tacloban yesterday(Monday) and brought our luggage and we met up with them this morning when we arrived in Tacloban. Because I will be transferring, Sister H pulled me aside and gave me unsolicited permission to take their daughter on a date when I get home. She specifically mentioned I could take her mt. biking or rock climbing... . ... I didn't really know what to say so I just laughed and said okay. So um.. I'm just gonna forget about that for 6 weeks and then perhaps I'll give it some consideration when I get home. But hey, as missionaries, we're always grateful to receive referrals right?

I'm excited for this next cycle though. I'm excited to give everything that I got and finish hard in down town Tacloban! I know this Church is the True Church of Jesus Christ and this is His work!

Keep the Faith and may peace be the journey! 

Amping!

Love Elder Lowe

P.s. Back to Waray-waray!

Understanding Things I've learned Blog letter 5/5/2015

So I don't know if you heard anything about the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. It was pretty big here because everyone loves Pacquiao but then he lost and so every one was pretty quiet yesterday. Apparently it was a good fight though. I don't know because I didn't watch it. We half expected it to effect our work and our attendance in Church but the truth of it is the faithful still came to Church. We even had some Less Actives come to church as well which we were excited about. The other good thing that happened yesterday is we had a good dinner appointment with a family that told us they would feed us dinner if Mayweather won the fight. That was mostly just a joke though between Sister S. and Elder A. because they were gonna feed us anyways. 

Elder A. is doing great. Our companionship is doing really well. Each day is an adventure but I have laughed a lot and have learned a lot as well. I have learned a lot of things throughout my mission but this transfer I have really started to understand some of those things that I've learned. And despite the trials and the challenges I can honestly say that I love my companion. I would do anything for him that is right. 

The work is going well. Our investigators are good. Most of them are female which is okay but we are trying to find Potential priesthood holders as well. But Men are just in general a little harder to get to. I haven't lost hope on Brother B. though. We've gotten close with his wife and family and I know that even if it doesn't happen in my time the time will come when Their father will open his heart. But until them we continue to wait and watch and pray for him. 

But I love you all and I love this Gospel. I'm continually grateful for the atonement and the wonderful truth that we can repent and change. It's never to late as long as we're willing. I know the Church is true and I know families are forever.

Keep the faith and may peace be the Journey!

Love Elder Lowe