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Elder Lowders new investigator, Inside a Catholic Church, Current Companion, Largest Pyramid

May 13, 2013

Hey guys, So today was a good day and I was super excited that I got to talk to you guys yesterday! So today was awesome when we went to the pyramids! I sent you guys a couple of pics but they’re not even close to being all of them. I loved it! So I just want you guys to know I’m a lot more calm about everything since you guys gave me that information and helped me out. I just need to have a plan of sorts for when I get home. It’s now time, I know, to finish my mish good and strong! I love you guys and miss you all! Love, Elder Lowder

May 6, 2013

Hey guys! So this week was good for us. We worked hard! I’m very very tired after talking to the mission and working and all the stress I have had. I’m working as hard as ever to be able to complete my goals and to work hard for the Lord. My comp and I talked to the mission on Friday and taught them about the importance of committing the people to change and to keep the invitations we give them. It went very well, according to what everyone told us. President loved it because the whole time he shook his head yes and had a huge smile on his face, haha. SO that went well. They have’nt told us anything about the calls we’re gonna make on Sunday so I don’t know what time yet, but I’ll let you guys know in an email during the week. So I have 4 months left in my mission! I have a lot to do before it ends so that I can finish my training for what comes afterwards. I know that the Lord loves us and that he needs every single one of our help. I know that we all have trials in our lives so that we can learn from our mistakes so that we can be the sons and daughters worthy of Him and so that we can serve him with all our strength. There is so much that I have to make better and that I have to learn but I will do so because I know that the Lord needs me to run his errands. I’ll write you guys this week to let you know about everything. Love you guys and miss you all so much! Elder Lowder

April 29, 2013

Hey guys, Wow, looks like you guys are having a blast in New York! Looks awesome! That food looks so good! hahaha. So everything here is going good! We baptized and we are happy about what we have to come. So, today I don’t have that much time to write because we have a butt load of stuff to do but I will write you a good email next week. I’m happy, healthy, and working hard. Love you guys and I hope you have a great rest of your trip and that you all have fun. Love and Miss you all! Elder Lowder

April 22, 2013

Hey guys!, So this week was good but at the same time hard for my companion and I. We baptized but we didn’t baptize everyone we wanted to. We sent an investigator named Roberto to a baptismal interview on Thursday. Roberto is a very very important person to us. He was a gangster at 29 years of age that didn’t have anymore hope in life and that was really going downhill in everything. We did all we could to help Roberto change and find the love of Christ in his life. He changed completely as we helped him. So my companion and I sent him to a baptismal interview on Thursday because we knew that he was ready to get baptized. He was in his interview for 1 hour. When he came out he looked happy. We gave him a big hug because the Elder that interviewed him told us that he was gonna get baptized on Saturday. He had to have a special interview with President because he participated in an abortion. When he left, he didn’t look sad or anything, so we let him go with plans to go visit him the next day to see how he was doing and all that. The next day we went to the Church building because we had a meeting with the Bishop to help him out with some things in the Ward. When we got there Robertos’ sister pulled us into a room and talked to us about how Roberto went home the night before crying and that he was saying that he didn’t want anything else to do with the church and a bunch of stuff. She begged us to go find him and help him. So went to go look for him but we couldn’t find him. He didn’t even come to our appointment which wasn’t normal for Roberto. His girlfriend finally got ahold of him and asked him where he was and he said he wasn’t going to make it in time because he went to go see about a job interview he wanted. The next day we went to go look for him but we didn’t find him. It was our turn to eat in their house that day. When we got there we started eating and all that. When we finished eating he showed up. He came into the house very very drunk. He had over a month without touching any kind of substance. We he got there, he said hello and my companion said to him, hey Roberto, we miss you man and he turned and looked at us and called us hypocrites. We started talking to him and trying to help him understand the big misunderstanding. He didn’t want to understand but I’m sure it was for the alcohol. He said a lot of stuff to us that made me feel horrible, because honestly I love Roberto, he is such a great guy and he changed so much. When we left the house we started walking down the street and the words that he said to me when he looked into my eyes and said i never want to see you again, you liar; tore me up and I broke down in the middle of the street. My friend Elder Tapia gave me a hug and told me it wasn’t my fault. My comp and I went to the house and got on our knees and started crying and praying for Roberto. I know that it’s not over with him. I know that he will give us another chance. I know that it wasn’t my fault but i also know that it was partly my fault. I know this church is true and I know that the Lord tries us because he loves us. I know that as I stay strong and do what I have to do, I never have to worry. I love you guys and I hope that you all have a great trip to New York. Elder Lowder

April 15, 2013

Hey guys!, So this week was good, we baptized and have people to baptize for the next 3 weeks! So I just want to thank you guys for all you do to help me out and just for everything you guys do for everyone out there. So Dad, how is it going with that patient that is interested in the Gospel? How is Brother Clemons doing in his process? Is Brandon doing good? Still hanging out with Ammon? So I’ve been doing P90x with my comp in the morning and when we have time at night and I feel great! I’m gonna get back looking better, promise! So dad, I was thinking and talking to my comp the other day and we were talking about Nauvoo and I remembered when we went you said that we are related to the gun smith that was there? I don’t know if you remember but if you do fill me in on some information about that because Elder Willis says that he’s related to them so it could be that we’re family in some way or another, hahaha. So I was wanting to know if you guys have anything planned for my return? I’ve been thinking a little bit about where I want to study and what I want to do and all that. I’m almost sure that I want to study in Arizona but I still have a little bit of desire to study in Utah. I’m wanting to study something that has to do with psychology or the body like nutrition and weight lifting, health stuff, hahaha, but i don’t know yet. So i was thinking the other day about a lot of things while I was in a meeting with my Mission President and the Area 70 and the assistants and Stake Presidents. As I listened to them complain about all the problems they have in their Stakes and Wards when it comes to missionary work. All the things they complained about were that organizations were’nt completing their responsibilities and things like that. As I was thinking about what they were saying, a story came to my mind in the Bible. It was when Jesus Christ dies for us and then he’s resurrected. When he dies and is resurrected what the apostles do. Peter basically tells them, like Jeffrey R Holland said in 2 conferences ago, that we did our best, we worked hard but I’m afraid it’s over and all that. So they go back to work as fishermen. Then as they were fishing, Christ comes back and asks Peter if he loves him 3 times and all three times he says, yes. This came to my mind and I thought about the importance of verifying the things in the church. Like as zone leaders we give orders to the district leaders and they give them to their missionaries. Everytime we give an order, we always call 4 or 5 times a day to check to see if they’re doing what we asked them to do and we check how they’re doing and what they’re doing and all that. When we do this the missionaries always do what we ask because they remember and they don’t have any excuse to not do it. I feel that this is a very very good way to be able to make sure that our revelation and the revelation from President Morales is being completed. This is something that I’ve personally never seen in the church being used as much as we should use it. I’m sure that we do it, but just sometimes not as much as we can. I honestly feel very strongly about this. That if we truly verify with our organizations and help them complete the things they need to do, they’re going to do it. But now I haven’t explained to you all why that story is in the Bible. In that story, Jesus Christ can see that his apostles are full fulfilling the things that he sent them to do. So our Savior goes and verifies 3 times to Peter about why he isn’t doing the things he asked him to do. After Jesus asks him 3 times if he loves him and 3 times tells him what he should be doing Peter and the other Apostles are converted again and start doing what the Lord asked them to do. I know with all my heart that when we are asked to do something, sometimes we forget or we just don’t do it. But I know that as leaders, if we verify with our quorums or our Wards, we will have more success. I know that this is true. I know it because I’ve seen it here in the mission as a missionary and a leader I have been able to see the success. The Lord did it, why shoudn’t we. I know that this church is true! I know that the Lord suffered for us so we can have Eternal life. I know that he has left teachings and examples that as we study them we can receive revelation in what we need to do better in our lives and our callings. I love this gospel and I know that as we live it and we do our best to be like our Savior, we can see so many miracles in our lives and in the lives of so many. I also know that as we study the scriptures and pray everyday as a family and personally, we WILL be strengthened more and more every day and in all things. I promise as you all look for the bad things in your lives and change them into good you will be happier and you will feel the Saviors presence and hand in your lives more and more. I love you all and miss you! I share these things with you all in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. Elder Lowder