Hermana Brittany Lowe : Fiestas Patrias -- The Red & White (& blue)

This week we borrowed a basketbal so we've been playing in the mornings and that's fun. One morning, a dog entered the court and played with us, ha ha. I have a video that I'll try to send, it's hilarious.

This week, Perú played good (so I've heard from everyone here) and almost won the copa America. It was a good conversation topic to start talking to people in moto taxis and in the streets because literally everyone knows about it. It's kind of cool to see how people come together and bond over these things. The good thing is that people are selling cheap Perú jerseys and flags in the streets, ha ha, for the game and also for the month of July. On the 28th is the holida for Perú's Independence, so all of July is a party. The 4th was also a party, we made pancakes, the bishop called me and wished me a Happy 4th of July in almost perfect english, Camila gave us candies with the American flag as a wrapper, and the elders coordinated their outfits very well, with white shirts, red and blue sweaters and ties. It was fun, but not so special like it is at home. But what did make it more special was I got to talk to my family and m y cousins, who were with them. I absolutely love my family.

On Saturday morning, all of the missionaries in our zone went to the area Santa Maria 2 and helped them contact people and find members who are less-active in the church to offer our service and try to share the love of God. I was with my bestie, Hna Boyd, and as we were walking in a poorer part of her area, we saw a woman mixing dirt with a shovel on the ground, with her young daughter sitting nearby. We stopped and asked if we could help her with anything, and she accepted our offer. After a couple minutes, our hair was in ponytails, our watches taken off our wrists, and our books and bags on the dirt ground as we mixed water with special dirt to make mud, putting chunks of it in between dirt bricks to reconstruct the deteriorating wall separating her humble hom from the unpaved main road outside. At the end of our service, we had dirt encrusted in our fingernails, sweat on our faces, and mud on our shoes and skirts, but more importantly, she had a further constructed barrier to protect her little family, and hopefully had seen the love that God has for her, and that she is just as important to God as we are, that He is just as mindful of her. I know that God answers prayers through other people, and I'm humbled to be able to be His instrument in His work at this time.

Oh yeah, this week was the call for transfers. I'm staying in Ica for one more transfer! For a month and a half more! You have no idea how happy and relieved I am. So looking at the big picture, I have 12 transfers in the mission field; I was in Ayacucho for 4, will be in Ica for 4, and will only have 4 left in probably only one more area! HOW CRAZY IS THAT. Time is flying by so dang fast and I'm not ready for anything. YIKES.

Also, Hermana Harris was in a trio with us for 5 days, which was a blast. her companion finished her mission, so she was with us until her new companion arrived, and they returned to Nazca yesterday. She's so fun.

This transfer, Hermana Boyd left me. She's in Pisco. I'm sad, but she's only an hour away and we'll see each other in the Multi-Zone conference, which is in a few weeks, no más.

Since Hna Boyd left, we have a new hermana leader: Hna Valencia! She's also going to train a new hermana, so it's a big and exciting change for her! I'm happy for her and excited to see her grow in my last transfer here in Ica.

Well, that's all the time I've got. Love you all! Keep going strong and look for the Lord's hand in your life everyday! I know He's there and very mindful of you.

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Lowe