12/25/07 Christmas in Thailand...

And so this is christmas...and what have we done...another year older, a new one just begun -niel diamond. HEY!!! How was everyone's Christmas? I hope it was as good as mine was:) So yesterday all us missionaries were all treated to a boat tour/luncheon on the river jaw phra yaa.....down in bangkok. It was a lot of fun to see all my friends and see president Dodge....as for food wise we had some classics ...rice and stuff(stuff meaning meats) but it was tasty...and free. After our lunch we had a white elephant exchange....which was alot of fun...I personally ended up with the much coveted "swensons ice cream membership card" I was very pleased with the gift...in fact we have plans as a district to use it today...:) this card includes buy one scoop of ice cream get one free....and 15% off and what nots. So I was happy...the other elders in my district got as follows:E. witt, wind chimes; E. hunsaker, pingpong paddle set; and E. Ly, got a massive bag of candy....which will end up being dispersed and separated amoung the district....:) on top of that....i got a couple packages...from mom....which included the necessaties of the holidays: gel insoles, tooth paste/electric power brush....and junk food.....with spending cash....(which will turn into a custom tailored suit in a couple weeks:))and also a package from grandma fish....including swedish candies, socks, and study materials. So all in all the best christmas in the mission so far...As for other activities....on monday...our district and starting with about 4 members went caroling to lessactives and actives homes....after caroling to each individual home those members would jump in the back of the truck and go with us to the next home...so at the end of the night we had quite a few people...it was so much fun...I was loving every minute of those christmas songs....playing them on the guitar....we of course added licks and small solos....for show....only... needless to say we rocked christmas here in ayuttaya..no one ever saw it coming. speaking along the lines of music....there has been some speculation...with regaurds to the band sys. First of all , to answer some of moms ?s, it is all missionaries in the band...it is a "special" calling in this mission....we have the band because it helps keep us in the country...it helps us (as missionaries) keep getting visas...because we are playing free concerts and often perform for royalty and special parties and events...so it helps us have better relations with the government here. There are alot of rumors going around the mission about me right now...with regaurds to this band. It seems as though all missionaries are set at getting me into the band....everyone is always trying to convince president dodge to put me in....but of course he won't,yet, because he only calls those who he feels like he should call. It's not about the talents you have with music....but more so what president wants us to do. As for me personally I dont' really want to be in it.....I like being a normal missionary....if you are called in the band you don't really do missionary type of missionary work...meaning tracting and inviting and teaching investigators....so it would be wierd to be called into the band....but if thats what i get called to do I'll do it for sure. So anyways on another note..our area is really taking off. We got a couple people that are doing really good. they are really progressing....hopefull they will keep it up...and hopefully we can keep finding new people. I love this area alot it is so good. I've learned alot here.....probably some of the more important things I've needed to learn. It's been a sweet christmas and a good start of the moves...I can't believe there is only a couple weeks left until I get a new companion...I am going to miss my lil' cambodian friend, I love this guy alot. well enough about random things in my personal life....love you guys hope everyone is doing good and well....for those of you in missouri drive safe in the ice and snow....and those of you in cal. i guess drive safe too.. ...love you guys happy new year!elder lowrey

Kauai, Hawaii 12-2007

Hanalei Valley, Kaui...can't even image the beauty! I can't believe that I am in Hawaii...so much to see...many pics to follow!

Andy's letter 12/19/2007

Hey family.....how's life? As for me it's all good. So..kind of an interesting week...no Christmas email from mom and stuff.....hmm. So yeah I won't hold it against you:) Well yeah so I have had an interesting week this past week.....We got rockin and rollin a little bit in our area....we've found like 15 new people...and a couple familes so we are trying to get them progressing but haven't yet met with all of them....so next week we'll know who is progressing and ...but yeah it is looking good for our area....we are still practicing for our christmas jam on sat. I am looking forward to playing....I've loved playing guitar again it's been so much fun...but makes me think about home too much....haha...other than those things today we went down to a dermatologist in bangkok because I've had some "bodily rashes" break out the past few days...so that was really awkward.....enough said about that.....so as many of you probably know....this is my last christmas in the mission field...and I will be calling home on the 24th (think its a monday)at about 5:00p.m. your time....so don't worry about anything just sit by the phone on that day and time...and hopefully you are free....because I won't check my email before then...haha isn't that convienent?? we love mission rules.....anyways....my companion is dying in 3 weeks which is interesting beings that I am his last comp...it brings interesting feelings....I've actually just recently killed one of my zone leaders....this past monday was elder skousans last "working day" and he spent it with me up in ayutthaya...we saw some good stuff happen so that was sweet. Anyways besides that I can't believe it's christmas because I am still in a constant sweat....haha we are sailing smooth at a solid 90 degrees..so no snow thats for sure.....and there aren't any decorations.....or music....so it's like its not happening....although it is...oh yeah we have our christmas party on the 25th....for the missionaries....we are getting on some boat and floating on a river for like 3 hours gwaa gwaa.....from what I understand there will be food and gifts(meaning white elephant thing) and some other things....so it should be nice..... I am excited to see old friends and stuff.....well love you guys hope your holidays are fun....i sure miss everyone!love you guys elder lowrey

Elder' latest 12/12/07

Hey mom and fam, how was everyone's week? Hope it was good. Hey mom you should ask Elder Snieter if Elder Jensen ever rapped for him....because while I was with him I would make up beats on my guitar and we would have E. Jensen rap every night....he's really not that good.....but the stuff he says is way funny. We had some good topics and good times:) Well, I can't believe that the Clasons are moving away....sad day. Hey, I bet everyone is excited for Christmas....eh? I know I am. I'm not sure if I told you this last week but we are going on a ship for christmas....so it should be way good. Besides that we have some good activities planned at our branch. Well this past week was so good. We had our Zone conference, in which we had a guest speaker. Who just so happened to be Elder Hollstrom of the seventy who looks over the asian area. It was so good we did alot of hands on trainning and got some good advice and direction. We definetly got the spiritual boost we were looking for. Other than that, Elder Witt and I switched off yesterday and had a way good time and found their area a new investigator. Elder Witt and I get along really good and are pretty close.....so it made for a really fun day. By the way, I told Elder Witt about our boat trip we are planning.....and he being a surfer from flordia said if you need another hand....he is in. He gets home before me though, in march of next year so...little before me. O hey mom I was wondering if you or Dana or the kids wanted me to get you anything special....like get a suit cut or whatever.....suits are like 150 bucks......custom tailored and you get two pairs of pants...so if you are interested in anything.just send me your measurements ..and what color/style you'd like........or watches or anything let me know and i'll hook you guys up. Well I was thinking about getting myself a suit cut.....because my suit that I brought is pretty much done for....well anyways...hope everyone has a good week. The gospel is still true over here ....hope everyone has the opportunity to share it this christmas!!!!Love you guys....let me know what you need Elder Lowrey

Irony

hey mom....glad you liked the pictures....hey that Elder that you asked me about is the one that just moved from ayutthaya....I served with him for a moves here in ayutthaya....and he is one group younger than me so I met him in the mtc...he is a cool guy and a solid elder....so you can tell elder snyder that he is good :)But yeah he moved out of my district a week ago and is serving in a place called warin, province of ubon...well on another note....you guys are going to Hawaii??? for 10 days..??? Just for the record....in my childhood we never left the states...then when I went on a mission you guys went to mexico last year and hawaii this year...oh, man.....shheewww...these kinds of things are hard to get over...haha.well atleast I'll get the boat trip when I get home....next december..well work on the island...hasn't changed too much....in fact work in ayutthaya hasn't changed for a while....this whole area hasn't seen a baptism for about a year already...so its hard for both areas right now...this past week I met one really cool guy....that just so happened to be the head father at the biggest catholic church here in ayutthaya...but I called him and went and met with him and taught him about our church...he is way good....I'm pretty sure he won't change because of his current position in the church, but atleast we have the chance to give him an opportnity....and he is pretty open to studying in the book of mormon so who knows what will happen with him....so yeah other news we had our moves meeting and elder witt is training a greenie from st.louis mo!! so the district morale is up because of hometown bonds....haha....his name is Elder hansakerhe is pretty cool.....hopefully he gets to see something good in his greenie area....well this past week we have been having alot of problems happen in the branch my first week here we had almost 55+ people at church, which is pretty normal but the last couple weeks weve been getting about 30 or less....so its getting interesting.....funny how the experiences I had in surin kind of trained me for this place...i find myself being able to find answers to problems alot easier because of past experiences.....so I am grateful for that.but yeah hopefully we just keep working and someone eventually will reap the rewards...well hey this week is huge for the thais..its one of there bigger holidays..Fathers day.....which is the kings birthday. there are so many crazy things going on....for instance...infront of city hall they have this massive tent with free food alll day.....which is of course planned into our daily plans....its not the best food but its free....and there are alot of people over there to invite. besides that they have set up concerts all over the city so it makes finding people alot easier at night....because they are all gathered in these areas;.....bad thing ..they usually are all pretty drunk.well not too much other news...life is good ...oh yeah i was wondering if I could get some calcium pills...im having problems with my joints ....i think it might be from not getting calcium because i eat rice....so that would be nice...it doesn't have to be a sams club size..just something normal ....umm other than that life is all good....i'm excited for christmas...the ward had me learn a ton of christmas songs that we will be using when we go caroling....so that should be fun....well love you guys...hope you have a good week .....i want to throw some happy birthdays to all those who have one.....(i cant belive my lil bro is 17..!!!ahhaha crazy sweet hope you had a good one man)well love you guys....elder lowrey ps...grandma fish: thank you so much for sending my book!!!!love you