MIRACLES MATES

MIRACLES MATES
Sister Marlowe...Week #31
July 11, 2017

WHAT A WEEK  MY DUDES!!!We started out with Golden Review last week with Sister Vue, and she KILLED IT! I was such a proud momma in there when she had all her commissions and principles memorized. I love that girl so much. Sister Vidmar told my trainer that Sister Vue is a miniature of me. It's kind of true hahaha.After golden review, we had an appointment with a cute little lady in our ward, named Dotty, and I just love her! Sister Vue shared with her about enduring.. This lady lost her 37 year old son in February and has really struggled for a while! It was very sweet and powerful to see Sister Vue teaching, in her newly-learned english, to another lady, both people who are going through various amounts of tough stuff. After that appointment, we got to go to ward council!  I love ward council. it's So cool to see how the different auxiliaries work together to HELP people. I almost cried on the way home, because when we left, our bishop stopped whatever he was saying and he looked at us and said "Sisters, please ask President Vidmar if you can stay here for a long time." Ah it just hit me in the heart. I would stay in this area for the rest of my mission if I could! These people have a soft spot in my heart, and I LOVE them. I hope they can tell I love them as much as I do!

Friday was awesome!

Saturday we spent the day with Sis. Parkinson, the most amazing lady evaaa, (she told me that she can be my Australian mum) and she took us to visit people all day! She is the most caring, loving person I have ever met and one of the most diligent, hard-working member missionaries I have ever met!!! [She's #2 on the list of best member missionaries. The #1 also happens to be in our ward. We dropped off a box of 36  copies of the BoM to him this week.. Wouldn't be surprised if he's got them all handed out in the next month or two. He is AMAZING]

I always love Sundays. We actually had a lot of things fall through on Sunday but it has been so exciting seeing the people who have been coming to church the past few weeks--MIRACLES! We also got some fun ideas/plans in place and talked with the bishop.. He reminded me to ask President to leave us here hahaha.

Monday, we got to meet with President Vidmar! he is such a wonderful man. Mission Presidents keep very busy, but he does a good job of working hard, keeping busy, and loving his missionaries. And we love him! It is always so good to talk to him. He said that YES he'll leave me here for a few more months hopefully!

I wish I could write more, but alas! We are going on an adventure. Maybe haha. We're actually going on a hike with a bunch of girls in our ward since they are on a school holiday right now! Should be super fun. This coming week is going to be fullllllll-on, so look forward to lots of great stories next week, and pray that I don't fall over dead from exhaustion! We'll be emailing Friday next week, sincec it will be our assigned day to go to the temple.. YESSSSSSSSSSS. 

I love you all!!!! 

Sister marlowe

Maroondah zone p-day with the Homiiiiiies---love these kiddos

When it's 5 degrees outside... and 5 degrees inside

WOW WOW WOW

WOW WOW WOW
Sister Marlowe...Week #30
July 4, 2017

First off. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! Hope yous all ate heaps of burgers and chips and played in the sun and watched some awesome fireworks and had a ton of FUN!

Also, WHAT A WEEK!!!!

Last Wednesday was amaaaazing! After Sister's P-day we had an appointment with a member couple who used to be senior missionaries for our mission. Senior missionaries are the best honestly. Please all of you people that are considering serving senior missions... Just do it. The senior missionary couples in our mission are like secret little elves that actually are the only reason that this whole operation is still functioning. We're the ones that people see out on the streets, but they're like the hidden glue to this place. 

Anyways, after that appointment we had an AMAZING appointment with a man in our ward who hasn't been active in about twenty years.. He rocked up to the ward pie night I mentioned last week, we got to have a chat with him there, and he welcomed us back to teach him. Basically he is wonderful. He really opened up to us about the hardships that he has gone through in being the only member of his family and he told us, "You don't realize the difference it makes in letting the the little things die out (i.e. reading scriptures, praying, attending church, etc.), until one day you realize that you just don't feel the spirit anymore." He is determined on coming back and getting those essentials back into his daily routine. As a missionary, I get to experience feeling the spirit often, and sometimes constantly, but that meeting with him was unique in the fact that I couldn't just feel the spirit, but I knew it held a firm presence in the room that we were all really aware of. Nigel came to church on Sunday. :) We get to teach him again tonight and I am EXCITED!!!!!! Love that guy. Keep Nigel in your prayers.

Thursday we got to visit a few people and then we had the GREATEST evening with a few people in our ward! There's a couple in our ward named the Mohrings... I love them to the moon and back. They are so so great and I want to be like them when I grow up hahaha. They invited us for dinner and asked if we could invite Lisa and Tayla too! Needless to say, I learned how to play the drums (very poorly, but still), and we had a great lesson with Lisa and Tayla. One thing I loved that Brother Mohring said is he asked Tayla if their house felt different when they first got there. Tayla said it did feel different and he said "Tayla, me and Steph got the Holy Ghost when we were baptized and it's kind of like it follows us around everywhere if we're being good. We always try to be good. When we drive in the car, the Holy Ghost is there. When we are home, the Holy Ghost is here, and even other people can feel it because we always try to be good so he can stay with us!" Tayla's mind was blown. And Lisa's. (And mine.) It was the coolest, simplest explanation ever of the Holy Ghost and how he works.

That's only two of my four favorite days so far. See what I mean when I say this was a pretty good week?

Saturday was pretty good and it leads in to why Sunday was so gr8888. We tried and tried to visit lots of people. and NO one was home! Except. For one less active girl who is AWESOME. and her parents are in our ward and they would pretty much be in my Top 10 of M'Bark. If I had a Top 10 of M'Bark hehehe. I love everyone!! Anyways, so we visited Carolyn and her friend and pretty much just got to know them and had a fun time talking to them about life/church/etc.

Wellllllll........

SUNDAY. FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING. (They're always great right?) Wellllllll. LISA GOT UP AND SHARED THE CUTEST, SIMPLEST, MOST HUMBLE LITTLE TESTIMONY AND I JUST CRIED. She basically said "It has been a looooongg time since I've been up here and I never thought I'd be back in this building, but I'm here. and I know this is the best place for me to be." and she asked for people to help her along the way. THEN. Carolyn was at church for the second time I've ever seen her there in over 3 months... and she got up and shared a beautiful testimony too! What a great day.

Sunday night, we had a girl in our ward call us and ask if we could teach her friend on Monday. (miracles) We said OF COURSE!

So Monday, after district meeting we went over and had the most amazing lesson with Emma. She really wants guidance and direction in her life, and as we taught her about the Book of Mormon, we testified that it can give her the guidance and direction that she's looking for.. (and it can give her so so much more) It was just such a powerful lesson... Aaand she wants to be baptized! Keep Emma in your prayers!

I am excited for the next week and few weeks. We've got a few exciting things coming up and I can't wait!!!! We are starting to (attempt to) be creative. It's a struggle for me.... Hehehe.

I love you all! Thank you for your love, prayers, support, etc.

Sister Marlowe

mikayli.marlowe@myldsmail.net

76 Cathies Lane

Wantirna South, VIC

3152 Australia

Sister's P-day. Yes I'm wearing a bugs bunny onesie and christmas vest. 

I'M STILL AMERICAN. A really lovely lady in our ward made us a cake last night and covered it in American flags for me :')

MIRACULOUS MIRACLES

MIRACULOUS MIRACLES
Sister Marlowe...Week #29
June 27, 2017

Alright SO. here comes another rubbish group email for this week but I am DOING MY BEST PEOPLE!!! Wow. So this week has been a week of MIRACLES!! Don't even know how to explain it, but after being here for 3 months finally Heavenly Father decided we can have some things fall into place hahaha. I think it's because Sister Vue is FANTASTIC!!! Our ward had a pie night on Saturday night. Wish I would have taken more pictures!! Everybody and their dog brought pies for three categories, Savoury (that's a thing here, meat pies), sweet, and best apple pie. And everyone in the ward just ate and ate and ate pie and then the pies got judged. But anyways, we had so many people come that were answers to prayers to have them there. and long story short we have a few new people to teach this week :) #SEKI #faafetai (also Sis. Ete is sadly in Utah. but she left me her samoan study book. Working to make her proud as when I see her in Temple Square next year.)

Yesterday we had a lady in our ward take us to visit her friend.. and we had a three hour long adventure hunting down her friend and finding her in the hospital! Sweet little old lady that we are going to visit again later this week and bring her some light-reading for the hospital (the Book of Mormon :) ) The members of this ward are the best. It was so funny because for a split second driving around with her yesterday, I almost felt like I was driving around with my mom.. and then I looked over and it definitely wasn't my mom and my companion was sitting right behind me and I am in a different country and I'm expected to be a "grown-up" now hahaha. it's a good thing the families here are so awesome. yes I'm a missionary and we do so much work and we're "adults" but it's nice to have people who are willing to help us out because I'm still only a child hahahahaha. I have said a lot of prayers of gratitude this week and I won't be quitting out on that anytime soon. I am grateful for a loving heavenly father who knows I have been trying, trying, trying for a long time and decided to throw some good things our way this week :)

I love you all!!! have a great week and don't forget to stay cool.

Ofa atu,

Sister Marlowe

76 Cathies Lane

Wantirna South, VIC

3152 Australia

Ps. Sis. Ete left me a giant bugs-bunny onesie. Yes it's the best. She's the best.

Pps. Also one of those stars above me definitely says "Sis. Marlowe is a white samoan." #polyforlife

June 27, 2017

MOM

Hi my lovely momma-lou. Oh how I love you. I have been thinking about you a lot this week. Momma, this ward is the best ever! Someday, I need to bring you back here and have you meet all the people I love here so much!!! Some are funny, weird, different, but oh how I LOVE them. I told President today (again) that it would be more than fine if he leaves me here for a while. I've been feeling upset the past few weeks, because I've been really trying my best since I got here, but we haven't seen much progress made. I just have felt sick about leaving this place with nothing to show for it. I have prayed harder than ever to just be able to find out how the heck to help this ward. and this week was such a week of tender mercies/answers to prayers/miracles!!!! I told President he needs to leave me here a while longer so we can get this work done that has taken us (me) so long to figure out how to do! This ward is like my family hahaha. I love the heckies outta them. I've already had a few offers of places to stay when we come back to visit, so no worries about a hotel! ;) Please, please, PLEASE keep Lisa in your prayers. Lisa Presland. Her daughter Tayla (10 years old) committed to be baptized next month. Tayla is great and strong and wonderful, but she's still only 10 and needs support from her mom, and her mom needs heaps of prayers.

Momma this has truly been a week of miracles! I feel a tiny bit worried about Sis. Vue because she's honestly getting a fantastic start to her mission, but like THIS IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE WEEK I'VE HAD MY WHOLE MISSION! And I don't think she realizes how amazing all this stuff is that's happening because.... she hasn't had bad weeks before...... and she hasn't been here for the last three months that it took to get to this point. It just makes me laugh because I've been here through 4 different companions, and it has taken so much trial and error and hard work and failure and disappointment and prayers and now after THREE MONTHS, things are finally working and we have started to get some real traction.. and now she is just here to tag along (most of the time having next to no idea what is going on).

I had kind of just a tender mercy on Sunday, we have family in our ward who invited us for dinner and they were also having some friends come who wanted to meet us! We were sitting in their living room waiting for their friends, and one of their daugters, Serene, (the one I sang with on Easter and in a fireside for another ward) just randomly came over and started to just rub my neck. As silly as that sounds to call that a tender mercy, it really was! I have just felt so worried and like I've had a big weight on me for a long time. and apparently I've been getting reeeeall tense because my shoulders have been cramping up.. I'm sure you remember when I used to have problems with that during school! They have been so much worse lately, to the point that they will start hurting really bad even just while I'm driving. It just helped me to remember that somewhere I have a heavenly Father who knows I'm tired and I'm sore but I'm really trying to do whatever I can to care for his children here! And there are people he is sending to remind me that he's still got my back. Man I never knew neck-rubs could be such a testimony builder/emotional experience hahahaha.

Anyways. I LOVE YOU MOMMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best ever.

THE LAOTIAN

THE LOATIAN
Sister Marlowe...Week #28
June 20, 2017

Talofa lava!

Wow. What a week!!!!

Last Thursday morning we had a Train-the-Trainers meeting at the Mission Home with President Vidmar. Before the meeting, I said "President, can you pleeeease tell me who my golden is?" He proceeded to give me a big grin and say "Absolutely not sister Marlowe." Then, "I'll tell you where she's from though." He just looks at me with this big, huge smile and goes, "She's from Laos." WHAT?! They then go on to tell us that this transfer was the smallest intake they've had since the Vidmars were in the mission, with a total of 6 missionaries. One elder is from Paris, France. (made me think of you dad!) One elder is Samoan, from Sydney. (Sis. Ete was so disappointed that he can't even speak Samoan haha) One elder is from South Korea Seoul. Two sisters straight from mainland China, and my favorite, Sister Vue from Laos. WOW! (talk about diversity mate) She is the best. She started learning English 9 weeks ago in good ol' Provo. It is awesome. 

Friday, we had a lesson with Lisa, and just talked about the introduction to the Book of Mormon, and how we can receive answers to our prayers from God. When we accept and act on Moroni's invitation (in Moroni 10:3-5, and the end of the Intro to the BoM) to read the Book of Mormon, ponder on its message, and ask God in the name of Christ if it is true; We CAN and WILL receive an answer!

Saturday was crazy as, and we got invited super last minute to come help with the mini mission for the Narre Warren stake! So we went down and got assigned to go with different youth.. I felt so bad because it's Sister Vue's third full day in the mission, learning how to speak English, and she got sent (with Sis. Ete thankfully) to go do a full day of finding with a bunch of youth! I took two other laurels and a YSA girl with me and we just spent the day in some random area I didn't even know, but it was awesome!!

Sunday was pretty good! We started off with lots of companion study and a bit of language study.. Yay :)

Church was great.. I love our ward. As always. Which is a good thing because I think I'm going to be sticking around for a while hahaha. After church we had a mini ward council--always a blast! It's so cool to see how everybody works together to help everybody in a ward. It is an amazing thing to be a part of! We had dinner with the the coolest fam fam evaaa, the Brooks. Their daughter Natasha is awesome! She's my age and is working on her mission papers currently, hoping to get her call soon.. I told her she better get called to Idaho...... You better watch out for her!! 

We brought Sis. Ete to Wantirna Sunday night so she could fly to UTAH(!!!!) monday morning.... One of the hardest goodbyes I've ever said. My first daughter left me for the great Salt Lake. But it is okay, Sister Vue is wonderful and we get along great! She is the sweetest little thing, and I love her to death!

We had a zone conference yesterday. WOW!!! I  love zone conferences. I always just leave feeling so GREAT! And also feeling very much like I need to be... SO MUCH BETTER! I have room x98731098479348 to improve!!! 

But I left very excited to get down on my knees and repent. I need to learn to and get in the habit of repenting daily, I have so many flaws and things to improve on. But I'm grateful for the knowledge of a Savior, and the opportunity I have to always progress, learn, and begin again. 

Lastly, I just wanted to end by wishing my dad the HAPPIEST FATHER'S DAY! (Even though it's not Father's day here, he deserves more than one) I love you PapaMark. Even though you don't like when I call you that. You are the bestest in the westest.

Love yousssss,

ofa atu

tofasoifua

Sister Marlowe

76 Cathies Lane

Wantirna South, VIC

3152 Australia 

(I'll try to send pictures.... I left my camera at home, so maybe I'll get some of Sister Vue's)

Hello my momma! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!! My companion is amazing. I love her!! You will have to look out for Sis. Ete in a few weeks once she gets to temple square. Give that girl a big hug for me and say "ou te alofa ia te oe" in your best samoan accent... She will try not to laugh at how american you sound :) it takes a lot of practice but I have been told I have better poly pronunciation than all the other american elders in our zone hahahah. I LOVE YOU!!! Will keep the smiths in my prayers. I feel terrible. Just wondering if I am doing okay on money, I might buy an extra rain jacket from target!  Tell Blake and Cody congratulations and I LOVE THEM!!!!!!! I love you too. and Dad. and Anna and kellen and max and meg and tess.

Fa!

Sister Malloo

Her camera is amazing and I took like 293874 pictures on it the other night..... 

So tempted times 7 to buy one. But #poormissionary

 

Just in case you miss my face

PS. Can you please send me some recipes! I thought of a few, and any others you want to send too

would be much appreciated

hawaiian haystacks

potato chicken bean casserole

enchiladas

chili 

thanks mate:)))) LOVES