April 28, 2014

So this week, Heavenly Father is just laughing at me and Elder Ball. So, we have noticed this week that we have become way prideful about America. I can honestly say now that America is the best country in the entire world. My patriotism has gone through the roof. Anyway, me and Elder Ball have been really praying for us to get more accustomed to the culture. Guess what Heavenly Father does? Cuts off our power to the house. Its really humbled me up though because I have experienced what the people have to go through. I have had to shower using a big metal bowl that gets filled by the well because our water pump runs on electricity. We have had to plan off candle light and its been a humbling experience. I hope our electricity comes back on now......
On a good note. We had a BAPTISM :) Her name is Sister B. She is very faithful. We sent out a text to bring a friend to church. She called us and said she couldn't bring a friend because she was already at church :) Isn't that so cool :) We have been getting a lot of rain and it really isn't even worth it to stay dry. We usually just get soaked down to the core  :) Its pretty fun  :) The things missionaries do for people. :)
We have had success finding people by going to their neighbors :) It works like a charm :) We have a couple more baptisms coming up in the next couple weeks and I am way excited :) I am happier than I ever have been because I am helping people and just having fun while I do it :) I love having an American companion. :) I feel the spirit so strongly in our lessons and our investigators are responding to that spirit. :) Elder Ball is an amazing missionary :)
I have also learned how to pray... I stay up for a while at night just talking to my Heavenly Father.... Sometimes for like 45 mins. I have never been so close to him. He really is my best friend :)
This week I have felt like its been a real growing week for me :) I love you guys. I pray for you to do missionary work :) I love you all!!!
Love
Elder Bigelow

April 21, 2014

Baptism Pala  :)
So the Number One thing is we are going to have a baptism this week :) Last week I decided was just a week for Heavenly Father to test me :) I am so excited :) We had zone interviews this week so it was nice to see president :) But I just want to share what happened on Saturday. I have the opportunity to interview people to see if they are ready for baptism. :) I had 5 on Saturday. It was a super spiritual experience and I learned a lot even though I didn't get any work done in our area. To see why and how people change their lives to live in accordance to the gospel was a real testimony builder for me. Why would they change, and some dramatically changed their lives, for something that's not true or real? But the most real thing there was the spirit. I felt the spirit in those interviews stronger than I have in my entire life. I had a 21 year old bear pure testimony to me and it just filled us with the spirit. He told me, just 2 days before, he was really worried about wether or not he wanted to do this. He knelt down and just prayed. He said, he knew because the spirit went into him. Heavenly Father answers prayers, I know that. :)  My companion said that when he walked out of the room he could see how he was just overwhelmed by the spirit. I really enjoyed helping other people :) Our investigator passed and things are just looking up :) I feel the spirit more than I ever have before with Elder Ball. He is amazing :) I miss all of you, keep going no matter how hard it is :) Do missionary work :) It's amazing :) It saves you and your friends :)
Love Elder Bigelow

April 14, 2014

So, I am no longer the taller one in my companionship :) I am companions with an American  :) Elder Ball from Layton, Utah. :) He is amazing :) This week I have learned that Heavenly Father is in control and wants me to learn a lot more than I can from having success by giving me trials. I thought this new transfer was going to be amazing and just harvest my hard work and get 5 baptisms. Well, due to things that I could not control. All 5 baptisms are pushed back........ I know they will get baptized, but I have no idea when. They all have just little things that they need to change. But even though my whole world came crashing down because of the baptisms being pushed back, I still have a smile on my face :) I am happy in my circumstances :) Like President Uchtdorf said in conference :) I also really like Elder Bednar's talk about how "loads" in a person's life can save them. The load of missionary work gave me and is giving me that traction to come back to the road when I start to drift. Missionary work is not only saving other people but saving me. I realized that I need that load in my life and there was no other way I could get out unless I came here and filled up my load. Conference answered my prayers.  I loved it. It went by so fast. :) I am so happy :) I have no idea why sometimes :) 
I am so happy to have an American companion :) Anyway I love you all :) Love Elder Bigelow :) 

April 7, 2013

Happy April Everyone :)
This week has been a week of testing. Heavenly Father tested me to see if I learned my lesson of looking at the small success instead of just always wanting more. One lesson I learned from my last area. I felt like I had grown a lot from my last area and I lived up to it this week. I passed Heavenly Father's test. I looked at the little things instead of just looking at the big. Even though pretty much all of our lessons with our IBD's failed through this week because of things we couldn't control. It was stressful trying to find things to do. One of our baptisms might not continue on the right date because the parents have work and different things like that. I had to look at the thought that at least we will have 1 baptism on the 26th. Look at the little successes! We also had a big success with our family si Brother S and E. We taught the WOW and Brother S had a problem with cigarellio. About 15 sticks sa isang day. He is now down to 6 sticks within one week :) He is progressing and his whole family is following him. A Daddy, a Mommy, and their kid :) A WHOLE family :) Something that I have wanted my whole mission. :) I realized that missionary work is not only affecting their family but his brother A. He is the only member of their family, an RM, 30 and still isn't married. He told us that this FHE, that we will have later tonight, will be the first FHE at their house in his life. He was soooooo excited for it :) What he said and seeing this family progress has made my mission worth it all over again. There have been so many hard times, but experiences like this and seeing people progress make a mission so worth it :)
Elder De La Torre and I have been doing great together. He is really progressing and many of the ward members have commented on his growth and confirmed what I have seen in him. He is a great missionary.
I had a good week even though it was hard. I got to work in the Corn fields and really feel how it was like for the life of people here and its hard. I respect them for what they do day after day. :) They do it for very little money... I spent just one hour out in the field, but I got to experience life here. I want to work again so I know how it feels when an investigator says I am tired because of my work, or I have no money. Us as missionaries here, even though its no where close to the missionaries in the states, are spoiled. We have running water. That is a huge blessing. We have a house and money to buy food. I wish sometimes I could live like the people here so I can be more empathetic towards them. I love you all :) I hope you never forget where all your blessings in life are coming from :) And where your true strength is :)
FHE scripture - Alma 48: 11-18 :) Think about who you want to be like and what other people would write of you if they wrote an autobiography about you :)
I love you all :)
Elder Malaki Na Mababa