People gather around the wells.

Creating Wells in Sierra Leone

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is building wells in Sierra Leone. These wells provide safe drinking water to hundreds of people!

August 10th, 2009

August 10, 2009

Well Africa is doing great, and I am too, this week has been a little crazy for me too. Tuesday we proselyted, Wednesday was splits in our district again Thursday was zone conference, which went all day. And Friday we had combined district study with another district and then a branch missionary fireside to teach. Saturday we proselyted, and today was super p-day. Splits were good I went with Elder Lindi to Kissy, it's hard to teach people that you don’t know, but it was good, he was able to give me some good advice in teaching and things. Zone conference was great, it was so spiritual, I love that, when we are able to here from our leaders, and discuss and learn so much from each other, I had a lot to say that day in the discussions we had as a zone, it was so great, and they always treat us to really good homemade food after, which is soo nice! The teaching is going pretty well, unfortunately we are kind of dropping some people because they are just not coming to church, they are not demonstrating their faith to us. But on the other hand we have a few that are doing really well, and I have great hope for them. I guess from what other missionaries have said, that's kind of just the way it is here, you teach a lot, still baptize a lot, but also face a lot of disappointment from people who just don't care enough. There are a few missionaries going home end of transfer that gave their last testimony in zone conference, one is our zone leader. it has been good for me to see them and what they are like right before they leave, so that I can decide how I want to be when I reach that point, there are some things that I see that I definitely want to have in some and things that I definitely don't want to have in others. One missionary, Elder Whitlock, has really impressed me in the few times I have seen him, he seems to have a true love for the people, and a true love for the mission, and he doesn't talk about home much. I’ve had the opportunity to think a lot about what I want to accomplish long term in my mission and what I don't, it's good to think about, so that I can work on becoming like Elder Whitlock. It will make it so much more enjoyable as well, and it will end up going by quicker. We had a pretty spiritual experience in a lesson the other day we were teaching a brand new investigator lesson 1 and the need arose to teach about prayer, and how to pray, so we spent most of the lesson teaching about that. Then this lady's friend walked in, who we found out was a member, but had left the church because she felt like she had been cheated and offended by the people. so we immediately focused the lesson on her, asking very deep and thought provoking questions, the spirit really accompanied me as I spoke, and I believe we pricked her heart a little, and the look on our investigators face, as we were talking and bearing testimony to her friend was unforgettable, I hope that she continues to seek for that spirit that I really believe she felt that night. The lord also played a huge part in the life of another investigator that we taught just yesterday her name is nana, we taught the word of wisdom, which she didn't have any real problems with, which was good, but something else was bothering her as we were teaching that made it hard for her to concentrate. We talked to her by herself after the lesson to find out what it was. It ended up being that her boyfriend of two years had called her that day and ended the relationship. Which was sad, and we did our best to comfort her, but it was also perfect in the fact that next time we are going to teach her law of chastity, and here, when you say boyfriend of girlfriend or date, it means fornication. So she would have had to either break up or get married when we taught her that. The Lord works in mysterious but amazing ways, it will now be a little easier for her accept and to keep that commandment I think. We will see, she is one of our best investigators she actually comes to church every week, I hope we don't face disappointment with her. When we teach law of chastity is when we start to lose people here, it's really hard for them, the devil has such a good hold on that particular part of their culture, it's hard to fight. Today was super p-day, as I said, it was awesome, the whole zone came together. We played American football and soccer, on the beach!! In the sand!! In the middle of a huge rainstorm!!! It was soo much fun, especially the American football at the beginning, none of the Africans wanted to join us, accept for one. But it was soo much fun, it was the first time I have played in so long, and it was in the rain, which made it so fun, I would much rather play in the rain then in the hot sun. And the rain actually improves the sand instead of making it worse like with grass or dirt. I scored a couple of touchdowns too. I’m actually not that bad of a player. And we had some amazing food afterword, some great chicken and rice with a great sauce and pitas, the best pitas I have ever had. They like to treat us well, and they know just how to do that, with food! I’m going to try to gain weight, I have been eating a lot, or trying to, I will keep up with that, and with my exercising. with my camera, I gave it to a missionary that is going to try taking it apart to see if he can do anything, I’m not sure what he'll be able to do, unless he switches screens with someone else who has the same camera, and there are a few people here who have my same camera, but then they'd be out a screen, but there are some going home. The Petersons, the one's whose blog you have been looking at, are going home at the beginning of September and they have my same camera, so I don't know. I’ll keep you updated. Thank you so much for sending those pictures, it's great to see you guys! And to hear how well you are doing. It’s a great comfort to me to not have to worry about you guys when I’m gone. I was thinking, you guys should tell Alexis and Ryan to email me, at least every once in a while, it would be nice to hear a little bit of how there life is going now and then.

There are a little over 50 missionaries in this mission right now, our complement is 58 and we are ever so slowly working our way up to that. with that health clinic, my district did go back down there Saturday and paint it, and might I say it looks soo good, so much better than it did it took a long time, and we also did that in the rain, but god slowed it a bit for us, because we asked him to, so that was nice, but once we were finished painting, boom, it started pouring again. The work is so amazing! I have been relatively healthy so far, stomach has had a couple problem days, just adjusting to new foods and new bacteria, but I’m doing great. I can look forward to more stomach problem as well, and boils, I guess every blond haired blue eyed missionary gets boils at one time or another, and everyone gets malaria at one point or another, so that's kind of what I have to look forward to. I’ll do my best to avoid them though, mosquito net at night, when the malaria mosquito bites. And washing with antibacterial soap, which we actually managed to find at a pharmacy, hopefully prevent boils. Well, time is short, I love you all soo much I’ll try to keep a good journal for anyone who is interested in finding out more about my mission when I get back.
Love, Elder Lowe

Second Email!

July 13 09

Hey Mom and Dad,

I’m great! My stomach has been giving me trouble today though, just getting used to the food, and all the new bacteria’s. I think I am going to cut my hair so that I don't need hair gel. My apartment is great compared to other houses around; the water comes and goes, when it comes, we fill up barrels of water to use for dishes, and drinking, and bathing and washing our clothes. Everything we heard about taking a bath by dumping cold water on your head is true, and washing clothes by hand, which I learned how to do today, it's not too hard. It just takes a while. We do have a pump filter for our water to make it safe to drink. I eat all kinds of stuff that we get on the streets from vendors, just like that picture we saw of a market in Freetown, that's how the best of the streets look. Everything is poorly built and run down. My companions name is Elder Lauti. He's from Salt Lake and from Tonga. He's a former Highland Rugby player. Him and his friend, also a Tongan rugby player, both got called to this mission. My companion is great, he's showing me everything, and introducing me to everything. I'm learning the culture and the accent, and trying to learn Krio, it's a work in progress. Most of the people speak English, so as long as I use their accent, we can usually understand each other well enough.

There are small bugs everywhere here, and even some big ones. There are the spiders and cockroaches in our apartment, and the mosquitoes here are like the houseflies back home. I also picked up a huge, about six inches long, millipede the other day. I’ve been teaching my companion about the wildlife here, it's kind of funny that I know more than him, but I’ve studied it for a long time.

Yes, it's the rainy season here, and yes the rain is frequent. It's often a mist, which I swear is both forming and falling in the same area. Unlike home where a big storm cloud comes over and rains. I swear it just rains here because the humidity reaches 100 percent, so it just turns to water. I don't know when the children attend school. I think it depends on the school that they go to. There is no such thing as public school. I think most of them are out right now though, from what I’ve gathered.

The church here is very young. We are in the beginning stages, the leadership doesn't always know what to do, but they are trying, and we are trying to help. A good percent of our work is done with the members, and reactivating them. Not many baptisms because the branches couldn't handle it, having many new people. But the people are great. Anyone will listen to us, and often people will stop us as we are walking and want to hear our message. I wish they would attend church and keep commitments as well as they listen. That’s kind of a problem. I was able to take everything from the MTC, the church offered to pay for the extra weight since I was not told that it could only be 66 lbs total. The culture here is sooo different. Everyone lives outside pretty much. I mean they have houses, but they are mostly outside. Everyone is very nice, a lot of Muslims in my area, it's called Thunder Hill, it's in the city near Freetown.

The mission really isn't that big. There are only missionaries around Freetown and Bo, and Kenema, and then Monrovia in Liberia. It sounds like I will get to go to Liberia at one point or another. It seems everyone has.

When people work, it's all with their hands, not many machines. But when they don't, they sit around. A lot of sitting around here, so we go up and contact those people! People usually live with some sort of family, but there are a lot on their own too. Families are in every form though; they just all need somewhere to stay, so they share teeny little dwellings. We only teach in English, except for this one lady, and my companion then teaches here in as good of Krio as he can. She can't read either, so I’m not sure how well things are going to go with her. Most people that I’ve seen are at least somewhat literate. Like they at least went to primary (elementary) school. The only technology you really see is cell phones, most people have them. How they charge them I’m not sure. The only electricity we have here is supplied by a generator that we have to start for a few hours in the evening.

The people like me. The kids call me “weat man” or “wit man”. A lot of them want to touch my hands, it's kind of cool. I feel like a celebrity walking though some parts of this place. There is some really good African food. And there is some that it's just better to take your mind completely out of. I really like teaching, especially when people keep their commitments! I’m still struggling to know my way around and to put names with faces.

Everything here is so, so, not organized, things are just everywhere. There are chickens, sad looking chickens running around all over the place. I’m not exactly sure what their purpose is. Even more than that are the lizards. Lizards are everywhere. You almost step on them sometimes, they are all over. Oh, and dogs, the dogs here are pretty much all sad, very sick, mongrels. They just lay around. I feel bad for them.

Are you sending your emails to this address? This is the only one I’ve checked. Maybe I’ll look at the other before I leave. I'm in an internet cafe; it's actually a kind of nice little building. WITH AC! I’m so glad to hear about how well everything is going back home. I’m jealous of the trip to Nauvoo and Wisconsin. But I do teach the restoration a lot! Does that count? (hehe)

Emailing me on Sunday works out well. P-day is Monday. I sleep with a mosquito net, but they like to bite my feet, hmmm. This place is so opposite from what I’m used to. It's a lot to take in and a lot to learn, but I’m getting better. I really have to lean on our Heavenly Father some times, but he never fails, so I have nothing to worry about. This is the most adjusting I have ever had to do in my life for sure. Probably for the rest of my life as well, but, as long as I strive to keep the spirit with me, it'll be alright.

My apartment is all Americans, Pres. Squires say that it's the first time that's ever happened in this mission. But it's great, they teach me a lot. Apartment is district. My district leader's name is Elder Lindey, he was in High School Musical 2 in the dancing on the baseball field scene. He went out with all the main actors in that, they became friends. He says the blonde bratty one, (What's her name again?) is the nicest in real life.

Well, I’m being timed, g2g. I love you all so much and I thank you for remembering me in your prayers.

Elder Lowe

First Email

July 6^th 2009

Hey Family,

Sorry I haven’t written, but they didn't let us email in the MTC, but I did send you a letter via the pouch that you should be receiving soon. Well, right now I am in Sierra Leone, at the mission home before I go to my mission. I am having a great time. You will learn more about my MTC stay when you receive the letter, but it was great. It really is an outpouring of the spirit. My companion was awesome, Elder Titus from Nigeria. I had great teachers. Last Saturday and yesterday I had my first experiences proselyting, they were great. Yes I was very nervous at first, but I just had to remember the scriptures that said that the Lord would give you what to say if you have the spirit, so that's what I did. I found out quickly how receptive the Ghanaian people are. They weren't converted right away, of course, but they were willing to listen. Thank you so much for your prayers. Things are going very well, I am happy, I am adjusting to the African food well. I lost my yellow card for the yellow fever vaccination somehow between, the MTC president and his wife and me. I don't know if I will have a problem and need it, but I’m glad that we have two. God works in mysterious ways! If I see a need to have it, I’ll let you know so that you can send the other one. I appreciate your letters so much. I was able to receive the one's mom left in my suitcase, as well as the two through email. You all did so good to buoy me up. The plane ride here was good, about two hours on a fairly small jet, and then when we got to the airport, we had to fly across the ocean to the mainland on a helicopter, it was lots of fun. It was an old Russian helicopter from what I’ve been told. They also have options for taking a speed boat across, or a ferry, or a hovercraft. I would have taken the hovercraft but it was broken down. Well, already from those two days of proselyting in the MTC I have introduced the gospel to about 15-20 people, and gotten info for the missionaries to get back to them. Nobody turned us down; they would all at least listen to us. We ran into a couple of people from other religions that told us what they thought, but they still listened to what we had to say. My companion has a bad habit of losing his head a little when there is any sort of disagreement, he takes offence and argues, I hope I helped him to not do that, it destroys the spirit. But, regardless of that, the people listened, it's amazing, I hope the people here are like that. There are two other missionaries here from the MTC with me, Elder Grabau (gray-bah) from Houston, TX, and Elder Kitson Dodoo from Ghana. President Squires took us on a little jaunt up a mountain and showed us the city a little, he seems really cool. I’ll try to email every week, they said I should usually be able to, but if it doesn't happen, don't worry about me. I hope everything back home is doing well. This place is beautiful, it's like someone dumped a bucket of green paint on the country, especially from the air. It’s quite hot and humid, but the heat's really not that bad, I’m used to worse. Ghana is worse. With the humidity you do sweat a lot but it's not too bad. Well, I’m not sure what to say you all need to flood me with some more questions! I’m growing a lot and learning a thousand new things all the time, doing my best to adjust, it's pretty exciting. I knew this would be an adventure and it sure is!
Elder Lowe

MTC Letter

Dear Mom, Dad and Everyone Else, June 29, 2009

I am doing great! I love the MTC. There are 29 missionaries here, 6 of us are white. My companion’s name is Elder Michael Titus. He’s from Nigeria. I love him. Everyone here seems to have such unshakable faith. We have Elders here from Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Shana, Nigeria, some elders and sisters from DR Congo, one Elder from Sierra Leone, and a sister from Kenya. All of the missionaries from DR Congo speak French, but so do President and Sister Harmon, so everything is translated into French. Hymns are kind of fun with half of the congregation speaking French and the other half English. The food here is great. It’s almost entirely African. We eat things like fish. They give you the whole thing, just fried up. I have learned how to eat without getting the bones. Elder Titus eats the whole head and some of the bones. We have also had Ban-Ku. I don’t know how to spell it, but it’s just like the Fu-Fu that Dad and I tried, about the same consistency as cold malt-o-meal, which is the hardest part. The flavor’s not bad. I’m learning to like it. The pineapple here is so so good. I could eat until I got sick, but I don’t. They also have a lot of rice, and some noodles, all of which is very good. I am trying hard to be a good missionary, learning as much as I can. We have a lot of classes teaching us different teaching skills. They are also giving us lots of time to study on our own. My teaching skills are improving, but I’m not sure they are good enough yet. We keep learning what a big role both the spirit and the Book of Mormon play in our teaching. I hope to be able to use both effectively, but I am quite confident I will. I am making so many good friends here. It’s amazing. A little while ago I had the opportunity to give someone a blessing. How grateful I was for the experience I have had, having done it before. It was my companion’s twin brother, Elder Gabriel Titus. He’s allergic to meat and had eaten some. His skin was swelling with these bumps. I’m not sure what they were, but the next day he was healed. It was myself and his companion who gave the blessing. I sealed because Elder Larsen had never done a blessing before. The Africans here all love football (soccer) and most are very good at it. I have tried playing with them, but I am so inferior. I think I get in the way. Thank goodness they have a Ping-Pong table here. Some of them are pretty good at that too. But at least I can hold my own. It’s been rainy the past few days, so during our Physical

Activity time I introduced my companion to Ping-Pong, which he picked up so quickly. He’s been playing for two days now, and he’s throwing out things that I can’t always return. By the end of our time here, he may pass me up in skill. He learns very quickly. I taught him how to tie his tie (here it’s to knot his tie) and after once of walking through it he had it. Mariama was right about needing to have patience with my African companions though. I have taught my companion not to say “Lord Jesus” in the middle of a prayer to Heavenly Father. He’s still working on that. I also tell him to watch his language sometimes. I also taught him how to conduct a meeting. It’s amazing the amount of small small things we learn growing up in the church. I had the opportunity of going through the Accra Temple with these missionaries as they received their endowments. There were only a few of us who were previously endowed. Missionaries here are all different ages. The Titus twins are 20 and they range up to about 25, but no one is treated any differently. I have been taking a lot of good pictures that you will eventually see. I may send the first SD card back when I get to Sierra Leone. There is a missionary here from Sierra Leone. He’s actually my District Leader. He has told me a few things, mostly confirming what others have said. Life’s pretty good in Sierra Leone unless you are sent to a village where life is harder. But the people are better there. There is lots of rice. The people there are great. Sister Harmon, the Mission President’s wife told me and Elder Grabeau (gray-bow), who’s also going to Sierra Leone that they choose the best missionaries to go there. She said that West Africa is currently the forefront of missionary work in the church right now, and that Sierra Leone is the forefront of West Africa. Back to the temple; I had to assist several Elders with knowing how to do things. I felt so privileged and so lucky. The Accra temple is the smallest one I have ever seen and it’s located right on one of the busiest streets in Accra. It’s beautiful. It has no chapel and only one endowment room. You switch to another between. I’m going to try to get to the questions in your letter now. Thank you for writing! The schedule here consists of lots of classes, lots of study time and a few meetings in between. Every day we have a Physical Activity time for an hour, where we can do whatever activity we want, soccer, basketball, table tennis, whatever. After that we come in and take a shower. I’m taking two showers a day here, and I never thought a cold shower could feel

soooo good! The humidity here is amazing. It doesn’t really get too scorching hot, but you sweat a lot! But it’s a water sweat; it’s not as smelly as you’re used to. It’s kind of weird. The weather here is bearable though I’m coming to like it. Of course I’m not in it most of the time, I’m indoors. It rains every couple days for a couple hours. Thanks so much for those letters and the great advice. I may really need that if the works gets hard. I’m going to send this letter in the pouch. I don’t know how long it will take to get to you, but it’s being written on June 29, ’09. When I get to the mission I will be able to email. Sorry this letter is so scattered. I’m so glad to hear that things are going so well at home. It’s nice to know that the place isn’t going to shambles without me. Yes, I can usually understand the people in the MTC, with their various accents. Sometimes it’s hard, I have learned to talk slowly, and to ask people to repeat things. Yes, that picture was taken in the cafeteria here. The MTC is much nicer than anything close by. McKenzie, Just work hard to not have the shape of an “L” on your forehead OK? You have always been much more than that to me! The flight was OK. Taxiing the jet was probably the hardest for me. After the first flight I was used to it though. The second plane was much bigger. There really is that sign in the bathroom stalls. Some of them are ripped off though. There are so many things different here than America. I have been very flexible. I can in no way mention all of the little things that are new to me. On Sunday we had a very spiritual day. Lots of great meetings and I got to sing a special musical number in a fireside (myself and two other Elders sang “Child’s Prayer”. I just learned today that my companion didn’t know about the Word of Wisdom until he got here and learned to teach it. He has committed to obey it from now on and I absolutely have no doubt that he will. I’m sorry for not writing sooner. I wasn’t sure what was allowed. We can’t email here. I recently learned that I will have to somehow reduce the weight of my luggage considerably to get to Sierra Leone. I think that it will need to be 60 lbs total or something. Well, end of paper. I’ll send another letter, or try to while here. I love you all sooo much. Your prayers are much felt. Thank you and I hope you had fun in Wisconsin.

Elder Spencer Lowe

Elder Lowe Leaves For Ghana

This is the picture that Elder Lowe has on his passport. He left for the Ghana MTC on June 18th. We dropped him off at the Salt Lake Airport early in the morning. We were so happy to see two other Elders heading for Ghana there saying goodbye to their families as well.