Hermana Brittany Lowe : Buenas Noches, Maquinas Bautismales

Well, another week has flown by at the speed of light. It's already July. Que miedo.
This week, on the 25th, we listened to Christmas music, because only 6 more months until Christmas! But who's counting.

Also on the 25th was Hermana Boyd's birthday. Here's a cute pic of her face smashed into her oreo cake. I love her.

On Wednesday night we celebrated Hermana Boyd's birthday and the last week of Hermana Butler in her mission, with pizza, inca cola, and pineapple. It was fun, we partied as much as we could as missionaries, ha ha, and with our bedtime. But it was a super good time.

This week we were talking to a moto taxi driver and we were trying to get him to talk about something he likes to do, you know, to gain his trust, and later invite him to church. So he started talking about how he likes to make chocotejas with pecans inside. So we started to ask him about how to make chocotejas and where pecans come from, etc, and he ended up telling us that pecans are only native to Perú, and especially native to Ica, and that only Perú has them....and so I started to speak up and say that the United States also has pecans, but my companion shushed me and kept asking about it and so we just laughed. Especially after we got out of the moto. It's funny how proud he was of his Peruvian pecanas, but we let him have his moment.

HAHA, guess what friends? So in church every Sunday we take the sacrament. (That's not the funny part, it's actually a very special moment.) This is where we eat a piece of bread and drink a tiny cup of water in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and how He sacrificed His body and shed His blood for us. We take the sacrament every week to be able to repent of the sins we've committed throughout the week and to remember the immense love that God and Jesus both have for us. I love this time and couldn't go a week without it.

Well, anyway, this week, or yesterday, there wasn't water in the church....I don't know why, but sometimes that happens here, and we don't have water to put in the little cups to take as the sacrament. And we also don't buy on Sundays, so that wasn't an option. But guess what someone found in the secretary's office upstairs in the church building? Liters of Inca Cola. Yup, we took the sacrament with Inca Cola instead of water. This is another one of those moments where I remembered clearly that I was in Perú, ha ha. Really, it doesn't matter what you drink or eat for the sacrament, as long as you can remember what Jesus did for you, and as long as it is blessed by worthy men or boys who hold the priesthood, so it was fine. Just a moment I will never forget, ha ha. And I bet someone will now put a stash of bottled water in the secretary's office. Well, I hope so. If anyone is confused about the sacrament, what is is, or if I didn't explain it well, shoot me an email! I'll be happy to clear anything up.

Okay, now to explain the title of this email. Our ward mission leader is awesome. His name is Angelo and he's 23 years old. He's a recently returned missionary from Chile and is studying medicine. He helps us a lot in our work here in the Puente Blanco Ward, even though he's super busy as a medical student. He's ALWAYS joking (kind of) about baptism saying that we are machines. He's crazy, okay. We are not here just to baptize, but to share what we know to be true and invite others to come unto Christ. It's just a joke he likes to make. But anyway, last night he sent us this message (see picture attached) but I'll translate it here: "Okie dokie!!! You guys are fire!!! Good night, baptism machines" LOL. He's a crack-up.

Well, this week I've been re-reading general conference talks from April (because we finally got the Liahona for May) and I absolutely love the talk by the prophet Russell M. Nelson called "We Can Do Better and Be Better". You should go read it. It's directed at the men and priesthood holders, but each one of us can apply it in our lives.

I LOVE THIS GOSPEL. I know that the doctrine of Christ does not change and that this church is led by revelation, and by Christ Himself. I love being able to walk around Perú and share this happy message. I know that you all can do the same.
Love you all! Hasta la próxima!

❤️, Hermana Lowe

Deb: I didn't want to share too much or make this about me (recovering from achilles tendon rupture/surgery), but I love the advice, concern, and hope that my daughter gives me in this email. She sure is a light, a strength, and a blessing to me! And I know the advice she gives can be applied to anyone going through a trial in their life....which is most of us. I love the Book of Mormon and the comfort, truth, and guiding words that come from it and bless my life and the witness it is of our Savior Jesus Christ who lives and loves us.

Brittany: Aww momma... I'm so so sorry. What can I do for you? I'm praying and I will keep doing so.... keep praying harder and harder. I feel so sad that you're suffering so... and wish I could take away the pain!! All I can say is for you to read the scripture Alma 1:25. I attached it below. I know that we pass by for trials and dififculties for a reason, although we may not see why so clearly. This week we had a lot of difficulties too but I tried not to focus on the bad and to think of all the blessings that I have. I hope that my service can help you and the rest of the fam receive blessings at home. Sometimes I wanna go home to be with you and to be an example to the kids, but I think being here will help you guys more. That's one of the reasons that I didn't go home when I was suffering at the beginning of my mission.

I didn't want to turn the conversation on me, but momma, just remember that Jesus knows your pain. He personally has felt it. He understands you. (Alma 7:11-13, attached below) He is here for you in this very moment. Pray to have Him help you relieve a little of the pain, more than He has already relieved. I love you momma. A whole lot. Keep pushing forward. You are so strong, and always have been. You are an amazing example to me of strength and love. Keep being positive!! Pain is temporary! You can do it, I know you can.

I love you momma. More than words can express.

Hermana Lowe

Alma 1:25: Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were ^asteadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with ^bpatience the persecution which was heaped upon them.

Alma 7:11-13

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake uponhim the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Alma 17:11, “yet you shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions that you may show forth good examples onto them and me and I will make an instrument of the in my hands and to the salvation of many souls.”