October 15, 2012

Hey guys! So I’m feeling way good, but at the same time a little bummed out because my companion is headed out. It’s hard because he’s become one of my best friends that I would do anything for. He’s a great guy and a great missionary and it’s going to be hard to let our companionship go but it’s time to do so. I’m excited to train and teach this new missionary what the mission is. I’m excited to be able to help him become who he can become. I’m nervous but I know I can do it. So yesterday my companion and I went to go eat. We got there and they told us were gonna eat enchiladas! I love enchiladas they’re my favorite! So he asked me how many I wanted and thinking that they were the ones I loved said, give me 8. ha. So we start eating and they bring me my plate of enchiladas, then I saw what kind they were. They were enchiladas made with mole. I was like crap, you have got to be kidding me! So I looked at my companion and he started laughing. Then they brought him his plate and he was like, these are bad. I was like great. So we ate and ate almost dying in the process. When we walked out I felt terrible! I felt so sick it was ridiculous. So we went walking to the church because I wanted to sit on the toilet. Right when I walked into the gate of the church I was like noooo! And it came out! I started throwing up but it wasn’t normal. It was like one shot of about 2 seconds and then I kept walking to the bathroom and when I got there I started cleaning everything and boooooom again into the toilet. Now all this time my companion is dying with laughter. I walked out of the bathroom and started to talk to him and he was like, oh no! and he took of running and I followed him and he started throwing up, which made me throw up again. We both were throwing up, but dying with laughter doing it. It was awesome, hahahahaha. But yeah, it killed us. So we baptized again this week. I am praying that the same success my companion and I have had, my new companion and I can have. Well I miss you guys and love you guys. Elder Lowder

October 8, 2012

Hey Guys! So this week was great! We baptized for the 12th week in a row! I’m so happy with what’s going on! Sadly, in a week my companion will be leaving and I’m going to train a new guy! so I’m excited for that but its gonna be tough to not have Elder Tapia as my companion. I know that the Lord only has more waiting for me. So iIsent you guys some pictures that some people sent me, hope you guys enjoy them. So I need a new memory card because I’m out of memory a year later, haha. So last week we baptized America. She is way awesome and received her answer in way that was awesome to be able to see! At church! We were talking about the revelation and the importance of it and I asked her, “America if God were next to us right now and he gave you some time to ask him the desires of your heart, what would you ask him?” She just sat there thinking and my companion and I could feel the spirit so strong working with us and teaching her. When she just started to cry out of no where. We gave her a little more time and then I asked how she felt and she said I know that this church is true and I know the book of Mormon is true. I want to be baptized on Saturday, so we baptized her, haha. It makes me feel emotional to know how much the Lord prepares the people and to see how much he loves them and just how capable we are as his children! I absolutely loved conference! I’m sure you guys know that my favorite talk was Elder Hollands. I felt the spirit so strongly in his testimony and it made me feel that much stronger about what I need to do in my life. As easy as Be Loyal to the Lord and work and do what he needs of me. I also loved President Monsons’ talk about how we should see people how they can become. That it doesn’t matter who it is in this world, they can become something amazing! We just have to open our mouth and share with them what we know to be true. I loved how he talked about the fact we should take an inventory on our lives to see the blessings we have received and what we need to change. Wow, great talks. So I just want to tell you guys I love you and miss you and hope that everything is ok because you’re putting your trust in the Lord! Elder Lowder

October 1, 2012

Hey guys, So this week was good! We baptized the Family that received their answer in the tour of the church building. It was an amazing experience to see the husband and wife who had so many problems with their relationship just put everything in the hands of the Savior and enter into the waters of baptism with the firm testimony that everything was going to be extremely better than ever. So I’m glad to hear everything is going good back home and that you guys are happy. I have been very full of the spirit lately, more then I ever have been in my life. I feel in these moments the desire to not only do everything I can for the Lord but to give him all that I have and ever will have. The opportunity that we all have to share this gospel is a blessing greater than anyone could ever imagine. When we share the Gospel with everyone, this world changes. Through the eyes of our brothers and sisters and through our eyes. I love thinking about how the Savior in his prayer to our Father in Heaven expressed his love for him and all of us. He said "And he said, Abba, Father, All things are possible unto thee ,Take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will but what thou wilt." The love in this prayer the Lord expresses through the word Abba, his closeness and love that he has for his Father is such a great example to me. I feel in every moment of our lives we should think about and follow this example. My favorite song is Savior, Redeemer of my Soul. Every time I listen to that song I think of the Savior and our Father. The way this song expresses how I feel and how I want to be in every moment, is perfect. I think that we should always reflect this in our lives and think of what we can do better. The Lord loves us all. Every time I teach, I love telling the people of the love that our Father has for them and how possible it is to do what we should in this life. I think the strongest testimony I have is of that thing. Our Father is all mighty! He is who gave us all we have! What a message we all have to share! That He Loves us and He lives and has given his only begotten Son so that we have the opportunities we have. I was thinking the other day of how you Mom and Dad feel about how I’m in the mission. About how you guys have given me to the Lord for 2 years and have trusted in him with your greatest possession and that you know that what ever happens to me will be what he wants not what you want. I can’t express the gratitude I have for this. That you guys have taught me and have never given up on me. That I know before my mission I was’nt a very expressive person or someone that talked a lot about my life. But still you guys had the trust and love to know that I was ok and that I was doing what I needed to do. I can’t thank you guys enough. I love you guys and will always be in your debt for what you have given me. Not only will I be in your debt but I will ALWAYS be in debted to my Father in Heaven for giving me you two and letting me learn from you both. Love you guys and miss you! Love Elder Lowder