Newest Ward: Puente Blanco

Transfer 6, Week 2

Soo we still don't have a house, so we're still living in the elders' area and having to pay a little more for transportation to get to our area everyday, but it's not the end of the world.  We're still close to the church building so that's good.

This week we had 2 baptisms! Angela and Thiago Valencia (10 & 8 years old) chose to become the newest members of the church and the first newest members of the Puente Blanco Ward.  They got confirmed on Sunday and that was special to be able to experience.  I'm excited to see these cute kids grow up strong in the gospel. 🙂

We had our first church meeting as the Puente Blanco ward on Sunday!  So cool to be apart of that.  We had 300+ active members in San Isidro, and now there's about 150 active members in each, so we were still a full house.  It's awesome and now I only have to focus on getting to know and visiting these 150, not 300 🙂

Our new ward mission leader is a very recently returned missionary from Chile.  He's awesome, but still living in his mission, if you know what I mean.  I'm sure he has a lot of good tips so we're ready to learn from him.

Nothing crazy has happened this week, I'm just here living in Perú, cold in the mornings and sweating to death in the afternoons, talking to strangers in Spanish and talking to everyone I can about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

My companion's favorite scripture is Alma 29:9-10, and I think it's my favorite now, too.

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it.  I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

This work is hard and sometimes I have bad days, but most of the time I am laughing and happy to be sharing what I know to be true with God's children here in Ica. I know He loves them, and I love them. I feel privileged to have this time to wear Christ's name over my heart and testify of Him in every moment.  I'm just trying my best to submit my will to God's and be His instrument here on the earth. I love seeing people change to become better and draw closer to their Savior; it brings me true joy; the same joy that Alma talks about in these verses.  I LOVE THE GOSPEL.

Thank you all for always supporting me and for reading my emails stll.  Love you all!

♥️, Hermana Lowe

the Internet cafe

"Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God"

1- So here's a cool experience to start off this email.  This week we were really stressed to find a decent apartment and we were asking every possible person and calling every number posted on random lightpoles and walls here in Ica, Peru, because where we live now is super far from our new area and it's costing a lot to take a lot of moto taxis to get places.  Anyway, the problem is that we weren't having much time to do the work we were sent here to do, like teach people and invite them to come unto their Savior, Jesus Christ.  So one morning my comp and I said that we're gonna stop looking for apartments and focus our efforts to further the work of the Lord and have faith that He will give us a place to live.  So that day as we were finding people to teach, we were walking and saw a 4-story building which looked like apartments and one of them on the 2nd story looked empty because there weren't any curtains, so we knocked and it's perfect! In our price range, a safe neighborhood, big enough, not too small, and in good condition!  It was truly a miracle.  I gained a personal testimony of 3 Nephi 13:33, "...seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." It's so true.  When we put enough faith in God to put Him first in our lives, He helps figure everything else out for us.  He will help us if we just show a little bit of faith.  I know that to be true!

2- On Friday night, we had Angel's baptism!  It was a very special day.  Although it's always a little stressful for us to plan and prepare for a baptism, it's SO worth it.  He bore his testimoney and shared his feelings after and it was so special.  He thanked everyone for helping him get to know and grow closer to His Savior and that he's excited to keep learning and growing.  MY HEART. When he was confirmed a member on Sunday, and sustained by the congregation as the newest member of our ward, he looked directly at us and smiled a smile so big that I almost started crying because I was so happy for how happy he was....if that makes any sense.  I know he is a very special and loved child of God and I'm so grateful for the opportunity God gave me to know him and teach him what I know to be true in my heart. Love that kid so much and I will never forget him.

3- On Sunday our ward SPLIT!  San Isidro ward is now San Isidro Ward and Puente Blanco Ward.  How crazy is that?  So that's something cool and exciting.  I'm so happy to be a part of this work!

4- Well, that's about all I got this week.  I'm just here giving it my all and seeing the hand of God in my life and in the lives of those I teach and serve.  I love this gospel and it makes me so, so happy!

Have an amazing week, my friends.  I hope you all remembered Jesus Christ this week and His suffering for us....but more importantly, His Resurrection!  He lives and wants us to use His Atonement so that we can be happy and have peace in our lives.  He loves us so much.

Love you all!
Hermana Lowe

Hermana Legaspi and Hermana Lowe getting ready for Angel's bapstism

Angel at his baptism!

Angel's dad and stepmom

Angel's buddies in the young mens

Ica Zone in the Peru Lima South Mission 

And you're watching Disney Chan- I mean House Hunters- April 16, 2019

This week was the last week of the transfer and we spent most of it house hunting- or looking for decent apartments here in Perú.  It's a bit difficult because we base our search off of posters and papers posted on lightpoles and front porches.  We were informed that Elders would be put in our ward to help us out (finally) and that we would need to find an apartment for them and also for us, because we will be moving to the other side of our area.  We found a perfect apartment with a new paint job and in a safe neighborhood, perfect for us, and we settled everything yesterday, but this morning the owner changed his mind and now we're back to the drawing board (rolling eye emoji).  But at least we found one yesterday for the Elders and they move in tomorrow.  The new elders that we're going to share a ward with are awesome.  Both gringos and fun.  Other than house hunting, we also visited a few people this week.

On Tuesday, we visited a woman who had recently lost her 27-year-old son.  She was a mess (quite understandably).  Her son was a doctor, or at least studying medicine for awhile and was in perfect health.  We didn't ask how he died.  But she was in desperate need of comfort.  We sang songs for her, offered personal experiences with loss and talked about the grand Plan of Salvation that God has given us so that we can be with our family and loved ones again and forever.  I felt the spirit SO STRONG as I testified to her from my heart that I knew I would see the people I have loved and lost in my life again and that they are happy and with us in every moment.  It was powerful.  I know that she felt the Spirit and could feel her son there comforting her as well.

On Thursday morning we did service for some members in our ward with the elders from our district.  Mostly we cleaned their store (which had not been cleaned in awhile, let me tell ya).  This mostly consisted of cleaning and dusting shelves, soda, and beer bottles and restacking them in order.  Something I never thought I'd do on my mission would be to touch a beer bottle...much less clean and organize them, ha ha.  But it was fun.

On Friday, I got to call my cute Hermanita, Bridgette, and wish her a happy fourteenth birthday.  I can't believe it.  She's so grown up but still a crazy kid at heart.  Love you, Bridgie.

We made cara pulcra esta semana and it was soo good (heart eyes emoji).  I love Peruvian food!!

On Sunday, we had Stake Conference, which was good. There were problems with the connection so we couldn't watch the whole transmission but what we did see was super good.  We ate tallarin verde con papa a la huancaina for lunch that day, which is also one of my favorites.  Yum.  Yesterday the missionaries being transferred to other zones left and new missionaries arrived.  Hermana Valencia (my past companion) is now Hermana Boyd's companion!  and us three are from the same group and all back together again in Ica.  It's craaazy and Hermana Boyd is our Hermana Leader!  I'm happy for her.  Hermana Butler also came from Ayacucho and went to Nazca, the zone below us.  It was good seeing her for a minute.  Hermana Legaspi and I are staying together!  She only has one transfer left on her mission so we're going to work extra hard these next 6 weeks and I'm so happy.

I'm really enjoying the mission and I am so happy and proud to wear the name of Jesus Christ over my heart.  I know that this chruch has been restored and that it is truly led by God Himself.  I have never felt happier than when I am in the church with my family, or with my family reflecting on all the blessings God has given me.  For this reason I am so far away from them for so long, to share this happy message with other individuals and families so they too can have the happiness that I have.  I love God and I am so grateful for the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.  I know He loves me and you.  Have a great week everyone!

With love,
Hermana Lowe

Hermanas Boyd, Legaspi, and Lowe:  TRIO for a DAY!

Hermanas Lowe and Boyd

A little something I made for Hermana Legaspi for her 2 months left on the mish

My Zone

My District

Hermanas Pelaez, Boyd, Lowe, Legaspi

A little night out with Yazmin, our favorite

Yazmin & Hna Lowe house hunting

Cara pulcra with Kari! So good! (Kari, Hna Legaspi, Hna Lowe) 

Cara Pulcra

Saying goodbye to Hna Jimenez who finished her mission: Hnas Legaspi, Lowe, Boyd, Harris, Jimenez, Pelaez eating pizza on the floor 

Hnas Boyd, Harris, Lowe, Jimenez, Legaspi, and Pelaez

Pink skies 

General Conference and la Huacachina

Muy buenas tardes!

This week was pretty good.  It cooled down a little bit and now it's back to being hot. Oh well.  

On Thursday, we helped peel potatoes (I'm an expert in this now) for 2 HOURS. We used potato peelers but honestly a sharp knife is easier becaues these peelers were pretty dull.  My fingers were bruised for a few days, ha ha, and the dirt gets ingrained into every slight crevice in your hands. 

But as for Saturday & Sunday, GENERAL CONFERENCE!!  I love, love, loved it.  There was so much good counsel and advice that I wanna apply in my life and in my mission.  One of my favorite quotes was "The prize is worth the price." 

This week we found a new person to teach and she's from Venezuela, and not only did she get here from there, she WALKED from Venezuela hasta Ica!! How crazy is that? Talk about a pioneer. She's super humble and receptive and says the only way she made it with her group was because they prayed and read from the Bible together. Super cool. 

I know that the price we pay to follow God and sacrifice our time and efforts to Him in this life will be worth the eternal price in the next life. I know that this time that I am giving to God is only a sliver of time in my life and that my family and other families and I will be able to receive countless blessings because of it. I love the people of Peru and love talking to them about the Gospel and what I know to be true. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now!! Thank you for all your love and support. I hope you can look up talks that were given at general conference and learn a bit from them. I know we have a living prophet and that he guides this church under the direction of God himself. I LOVE THE WORK!

Hermana Lowe

La Familia Aquije Aguado

Yummy Filipino food!!

Hermana Lowe and Hermana Legaspi watching General Conference

Zone P-Day activity on the way to Huacachina (Oasis)

Hermana Lowe & Legaspi at Huacachina

Hermanas Lowe, Legaspi, and Boyd at Huacachina

Hermana Pelaez & Hermana Lowe at la Huacachina

Hermanas Boyd & Lowe

Hermanas Boyd, Lowe, Legaspi, and Pelaez

Hermanas Boyd, Legaspi, and Lowe

Zone at Huacachina

Epic tag pic

Fingers provided by Elder Lescano

Zone at Huacachina