January 26, 2015

Just another week :) 

This week has been a normal one for me. Saving souls and all :) I want to share an experience in which I was lead by the Holy Ghost. Our area is one long road and that is it. On the long road, some people's jobs are cracking open oysters and they are on the side of the road everyday. We walk past them multiple times each day. But one of those times, I had a feeling that we needed to talk to them. We did! This led us to finding a whole family and then it turns of that her parents are less active and she has some sisters that are not baptized yet. So, just through following the spirit we found not only 1 but many :) Also, not by coincidence found another sister. She said that she was here on a vacation from Manila. She was super hesitant during the lesson and it seemed to me like she could care less. After the not so best lesson, we asked her when we could come back. She told us the next day. She was there and ready to listen. The spirit told me there was something more on her mind and directed me to ask inspired questions. It turns out that she is having family problems and has been praying fervently for help. We are her answer. Its the best feeling knowing that Heavenly Father answers people's prayers through me as a missionary. Even though I did not know that sister, we were there to help. When people pray and say that we are angels that Heavenly Father has sent to them, it inspires me! People here are so nice. :) We are going to have a baptism next week. :) (If I do not get transferred.) Hopefully, I get to stay here, I love it here too much. 

I hope that you young men and young women are really preparing yourselves. Preparation does not just mean going to a mission prep class but it means becoming a missionary before you get in the field. Get lost in the scriptures and change your lives. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT! It's worth it to change your music and stop doing things that you know are wrong. It's something that I wish I would have known before. There is a big difference between the ones that prepare and ones that don't. I was in between and I wish I would of prepared more. Please Prepare :)

Hope you all are doing well :) 

Love, 

Elder Bigelow 

January 19, 2015

Exciting news! :) I had another baptism :) It's even better because when the missionaries found them the parents were less active :) Now they are active and happy :) 
The big news here in the Philippines is that the Pope came to visit. School was cancelled and he was paraded through Manila. All of the members said that's all that was on TV the whole week. This week our investigators didn't come to church. A member came up to us and said, "Since the Pope is here everyone became catholic again. You can probably get them to come to church in 2 or 3 weeks." Its kind of true though. 90% of the people here are Catholic..... It was crazy. Even members didn't come to church. Our attendance dropped by 30 people.... 

This week I have also felt that the promises of the Lord are being fulfilled in my life. This week, I have no idea why, but my Tagalog has made leaps and bounds. I know that the Gift of Tongues has been given to me this week. Even my companion said that I am more fluent than I was a week ago...... Vocabulary words just stick and my grammar is like 99% right :) 

I am continuing to work hard :) I think that they say I have like 50 days left...... I am not counting but other missionaries are doing it for me.

I love you all :) 

Love 

Elder Bigelow

January 12, 2015

Hello Everyone,

This week was great! We learned a lot but I just want to share a quick story. We have an investigator who knows that our message is true. He told us he feels the spirit, but is not willing to make the necessary changes in his life.... It's hard because I have done all I can as a missionary. As in 2nd Nephi, it says that the spirit will take our words unto the hearts, but they have to let it into their hearts. I can not change that fact. People sometimes are just frustrating but that's what a mission is all about :) Helping people gain salvation by their own free will :) 

I have also learned a great lesson on obedience. This week I have been thinking about obedience and what kind of obedience do I have. I have thought about it a lot and what President Monahan said about Laman and Lemuel came to mind. True obedience is not just conforming to rules. I have been striving for obedience that comes willingly and because I love the Lord. I have been trying to really focus on my purpose. 

We have a baptism this week :) Well technically 2. We are teaching his brother who is 8 so he is not an investigator. :) Our church attendance has been steadily increasing we are now at 100+, which amazes me :) 

I love all of you :) 

Love, 

Elder Bigelow

January 5, 2015

Happy New Year :) 

Well first things first, right now I am so sick of fireworks. They have been going off non-stop from Dec 25th until like the 3rd of January :) On New Years eve, it was crazy! It was a war zone with lots of smoke and non-stop noise. Fire crackers going off all the time. Our neighbor's yard caught on fire and so we watched them put it out, it was actually pretty funny :) 

But this week was amazing :) The ward is such a big help :) We had a baptism on the 31st. When I look back on it, I started last year with a baptism and ended it with one :) Looking back on the year it has been amazing and I have grown so much :) I can now say I am truly converted because of this year :) 

We also have been finding and teaching non stop. We had over 30 lessons this week.  We have baptisms planned for the next coming weeks and we will continue to find.

Last Sunday, the ward missionaries went out and found us 21 of their friends to teach :)   I am super excited. :) Things are really progressing in this ward. Our attendance is growing, and missionary work is flourishing :) 

I am so happy I can be here on a mission at this time :) I really have grown a lot and will continue to grow day after day :) 

Love, 

Elder Bigelow