Christmas in Hawaii...

I no longer wonder why Hawaii is the rainbow state...I started out trying to count all of the rainbows that I saw during the 10 days on the islands...but failed! :)

The beauty and uniqueness the Hawaiian Islands hold is incredible!

taken on Oahu

Reunited and it feels so great! 1/16/08 Happy B-Day to MEGAN!!

Hey...so the new and unique adventure has begun...what an interesting and mentaly draining past couple days I've had. So lets talk about it so far.....last Wed. I packed my bags and thur. i went to bangkok and had moves meeting...of course I got called into the band....nothing new....I actually am in a three-some.....interesting eh? now my second time. I am with Elder Pyper and an Elder named Howell....well you might have heard about E. pyper because he is in my group and I was with him for 3 1/2 months in surin,...in the same house..E. howell is 2 groups older than us and i met him in the mtc also so it s a big reunion...so those are the comps....we live with 2 other elders....E. mccleary and elder chaiotta....both of whom i was pretty good friends with before so we have the sweetest house in teh mission for sure...it is so fun....sometimes too fun. So in the group there are 7 of us....E. chaiotta is the sound man....and the rest of us do different things...: E. Mcconnel(utah) our music leader plays piano and sings; E. Wortham.(another guy i met in the mtc one group younger than me) plays bass....and sings...and some trumpet..;elder mccleary....sings and random things like cowbell, shakers, chimes, and bongos...an interesting mix...;e. pyper plays 2nd guitar part and sings lead on almost everything....;i play guitar.....and some thai instruments that i am learning and sing; and elder howell sings. thats the group....we practice 2 times a week for about 4 hours....(tue. and thur.)other than that we work like a normal missionary unless we have shows or special gigs.....like sat. we had a specail fireside in a place called thonburi...in bangkok...which we performed an "acoustic" set..so yeah...the new calling is really hard....alot harder than i expected....we have 30 min.a day to study our parts (singing and instruments) and then get together and practice as a band tue and thur. so not a lot of time to learn parts....beings that i am not a singer and have never learned how to sing parts but we are workin on it...and we have to memorize the songs in thai...and our instumental parts...which i have alot of.. so at first it feels kindof overwhelming ...but it will all happen...in due time. Man I love playing guitar....I missed it so much:)well i have never been so tired my whole mission ...there is alot of practicing late and getting up earlier to do special things and assignments....like today..we woke up at 4 30 to go to a place called asoke...and met with a guy named Bishop Keith B. Mcmullin...might have heard of him before eh?? he is in the presiding bishopric....so that was way sweet it was so good but i am sooooo tired..there is alot of pressure because its just like i come in and need to be ready to perform for shows so its an interesting thing we got going ...but it helps this mission alot, so I am learning..well we only used about 30 min today so i've got to go teach english class....love you guys hope all is well at home....i am good and enjoying burger king and subway:)i already feel better:)love you guyselder lowrey

Our Missionary Rocks...literally!

Well....man what a crazy week.....it has been such a roller coaster here this week. This past week by far has been the craziest moves week of my mission. It all started because my companion is going home this week.....which leaves me in our area....because I know all our investigators and members and the area....so usually I would stay and train someone else in the area then I leave ...but ...that is not the case this moves.....President Dodge called me on Tuesday and sure enough asked me if I'd come play guitar for the mission band "SYS". Well ...wasn't expecting that haha...so tomorrow I'll be going to bangkok and getting situated down there.....and two new elders will be coming into my area. On top of that .....Elder witt's greenie (hunsaker) is moving and elder witt is training again.....so ayutthaya will have two greenies....so that will be fun for the area. Anyways as for me I have no idea what is going to happen haha next week I'll have more information.....but yeah we don't have a lot of time because I need to go pack my stuff and clean the house and do a number of other things before I leave...so we aren't using very much time on the comp....but I am in good health and still happy ....love you guys thanks for everything elder lowrey

Live from the Elder 1/1/08

Hey all, wow I can't believe that it's 2008! A part of that unbelief is that we don't celebrate it as missionaries.(meaning staying up till' midnight and eating all kinds of foods and what not) So a new year ....what do you do? I am glad I am on a mission, it's like I don't have to chose what I am going to do this year...it's all laid out for me. I just decide how I'm going to do it. Well I am way excited for this year and for the experiences that lay ahead. I honestly can't believe that more than a year has past since I was last at home and last saw everyone. Well as for my week, it was awesome. Even though almost everyone was completly drunk it was still good. So everyone is off work and school and most everyone wastes their time with alcohol and drugs....but....we found one guy in the mess of the crowd who is awesome......we hope. haha. We invited this guy and made and appt. for the following day which was yesterday...he was really good. We are going to see him on friday again so next week we'll know how he really is. Other than him all our other investigators went home....meaning went to diferent provinces to go visit family for the new year...so it's been a quiet week. On the other hand, it was way good to talk to those I talked to. So good to hear a familiar voice and to hear all is well. Thanks so much for the christmas gifts and for the new year wishes from everyone. I hope everyone has a fantastic year and we will see you in a couple months...haha...well not much too report...love you guyselder lowrey

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