An Amazing Week - August 12, 2013

Anyway this week has just been amazing. My new companion is great. Our lessons are fine and the ward is awesome. To begin with, I changed sacrament meeting for the better. Every week there are kids running up and down the isles, people not coming to church in white shirts and you just can not really feel the spirit. My zone leader said just change it. So I did. Before Sacrament meeting, I found all the YSA that weren't wearing a white shirt and made them go change.  When sacrament started me and my companion got up and stood at the doors so no one could come in during the ordinance. That made a huge difference. Lots of people come late. Then I sat and chased children around in the back and gave them to their parents. And guess what, I only had to do that for a few minutes and then parents got the message. They started holding their kids. The spirit was there. I wanted to make it the best sacrament because we had R come for the first time. What a miracle! He has changed in the past 2 weeks.  The C Family is now on track to be baptized as a family. That is why I am here. We had D come with his wife S too!! We had 10 investigators at church and it was the best ever. That was not even the best experience yesterday. The ward had a 1/2 day mission. Pretty much the whole ward showed up and they were missionaries for 4 hours. They visited all the less actives they could. Man it was cool to see on the right a group teaching and then on the left a group teaching a less active and then on the right again. Everywhere I looked there was just teaching, it made me proud to be a part of their ward!!!!!! We got 3 referrals and just a huge success. Yesterday was the best Sunday I have had here. Like I have said R has changed. He went from drinking in front of his house with his friends while we taught his wife and kids to now listening and just really interested. I have seen miracles on my mission. Now that I have shown the ward that it can be done, hopefully they will take initiative and make sacarement even better. There are still alot of things that the ward needs help with, but I will revel in the success of yesterday through Heavenly Fathers help and take 1 problem at a time. I am going to leave this ward better than I found it when I got here. 

It's hard leading an area to be honest. I am the one now that knows the investigators problems and what they need. But who the Lord calls he qualifies and I can testify to that. 

This week I have really grown closer to my Savior and to the ward here. I have seen miracles and just amazing things. I am still learning though. I still need to work on being myself with Tagalog. That's the hardest part. I kind of get into this robotic stage when I am teaching because that's all I know how to say. I know it will come overtime though. 

I love the Lord more than anything or anyone. 

I hope you know I am safe and staying obedient. 

Mahal Kita!!! 

Elder Bigelow

My new companion

Long and Interesting Week - August 5, 2013

Well Kamusta Sa Lahat!!! 

This week has been a long and interesting week!!! Shemps because its Transfer week!! Guess what?!?! I have my first of probably many Philipino Companions!! Elder R from Cebu! He is the district leader and I sure did get lucky he is great!! I will send a picture next week!!!! :) But even better than that I had another Baptism of C he is 12 years old and just a stud. He has some good examples to follow because his brothers are going on missions really soon!! :) This Sunday, we only had 2 investigators come to church :( We should have like 10! The biggest thing here is there is no rides. There is only 1 car in the whole entire ward and like 5 trikes. It's a sacrifice for these saints here to come to church!! It just breaks my heart when people do not follow through with their commitments. 

I ate aso (dog) for the first time this week. It was not bad. Really chewy. I am still not used to all the bones in all the different meats here. They use everything. Fat is nothing for me anymore. 

Hmm what else. Me and my new companion met a 114 year old that still is sweeping and cleaning her house. She can't stand up straight though. She even came to church yesterday!! I love it here and I love my new companion!! :) I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me!!! I know that the Lord is helping me along, I can feel his love everyday!!! I look back on yesterday and I am not the same person I was. Especially this last 6 weeks. I look back and the good times are so worth all the hardships of the first 3 months of a mission :) It was cool to see how my testimony went from being on a mission for myself and now for others. :) I can't wait to see how the next 6 weeks will change my life. I love the Lord and I can never repay him for what he has given me. But I am trying by bringing souls back unto him!! :) 

Over and Out!! 

Elder Malaki na Mababa!!

Hangang ang susunod. 

Mahal Kita!! (You are loved by me!)

Wow 4 months! - July 29, 2013

This week I have witnessed miracles. We have been teaching a family the Cs. Tatay or the father has not wanted to listen. We really wanted to teach them as a family because the wife and their 2 daughters were really progressing. They are Eggplant farmers and they have to pack the Talong (Eggplant) (which is really good by the way we eat it at least once a week) on Sundays to bring it to the downtown area. They haven't came to church so we prayed and fasted for Tatay to listen and when we got there he was reading the Book of Mormon. We taught them Sabbethday and Tatay said that they would change their schedule so they could come to church. He could not come this week, but his wife would for the first time. Well Sister B (Wife) came to church not only an hour early but they were the ones who opened the church which I am not really sure how they got keys yet. But it was great. 

We had another Baptism Sister W :) She really has changed and she is really smart with the gospel. She gave us a scare because she showed up late to sacrament so she almost did not get confirmed on Sunday. 

All I can say is that I really believe in the power of prayer. I can tell the difference of when I give good thoughtful prayers and when I don't. It's so hard to give it at 1030 at night when you were walking all day. But I just think of the Savior who did not stop even though he was crucifed he went into the spirit world to teach. Man he is the best example. I love him with all my heart.  

This next week we have a baptism of C a 12 year old whose 2 older brothers are going on missions pretty soon. Transfers are this week, but I will probably stay here in Malimpec. I love it here even though its out in the middle of nowhere. 

Over and Out for this week!!! 

Next week na lang!!! 

Elder Malaki na Mababa

Keep reading and praying everyday it will change your life truly and thats a promise from me, but more importantly a promise from God!!

First Baptism

Church House in his area

Missionaries

Another Week Again - July 22, 2013

Well Everyone, 

This week went by soooo fast and was one of partying and just having fun and yes still working!! There is always work to do, but like my aunt Rachel said "I need to stop and smell the roses every once in a while!" So, I gotta say Phillipino Parties are awesome! Friday night we went to the reception of JR (just for the food)!! We got there at 8pm and it was just starting, it was legit. Saturday morning we had the wedding, it was the first actual wedding I have ever been to. It was different because it wasn't in the temple. We got a few new (hopefully) investigators from it. People here see a reception and they just flock because of the food. The reception only lasted 30 min, when they run out of food they are done!!  Then we had a baptismal Interview, for WDLC!! Her Baptism is on Tuesday!! I am so excited! Anyway, after that we had the baptism of JR. Lots of people showed up!! Which I am so happy about! His face after he came up out of the water was the best thing I have ever seen!! Sunday was his conformation and he said it was the best feeling ever. I can't wait to experience it again on Tuesday!! Then we have C next Thursday, August 1st. He is 12 years old and his brother who is leaving on a mission is going to baptize him. It will remind me of me being able to baptize Braden right before I left on my mission!! I wish I could put a lot more details in here but I am limited to an hour.....

These are the best days of my life!! I am happy to serve my Lord. Its been way different than I expected but way better than I would have ever Imagined. I can't wait to see what the Lord has instore for me next!! 

Love Elder Malaki na Mababa !! 

Another week - July 15, 2013

Well I have had a great week!!! We had zone interviews and President is amazing! J passed his Baptismal interview and so we have a Baptism and Marriage on Saturday!! We are going to wear our suits to the wedding!! We have 3 FHE's planned with the ward and another interview!! This week is going to fly by so fast!! One thing I learned from the Bishop is that change starts in the little things like reading you scriptures! So anyone who is reading this please READ the scriptures daily!!! It will change your life! Even just for 10 or 15 min! Please, I promise you that if you will you will grow closer to God without a doubt!! You will receive that personal revelation that the Lord wants to give you!! I know because He has given it to me!! I can't wait for Saturday!! This week has been a great one, full of ups and downs but I have been patient and the Lord has blessed me!! 

Mahal Kita 

Elder Malaki na Mababa!! 

In the Middle of No Where - July 8, 2013

I am out in the middle of no where, It takes us 30 min to go into town on pdays in a different area, where the only store is. There are no restaurants in our area. Not even ones from houses. It's amazing at night to see all the stars. Man its so pretty when there aren't any clouds. 

So I will tell you about J. He is 20 years old and he has his baptismal interview on friday. His baptismal date is July 20th. His story is he got a girl pregnant. It happens alot. A saying here is "Baby first then Marriage."  So when the misisonaries got here they started teaching. He has just accepted everything we have taught him. Here Investigators have to come to church 4 weeks in a row to get baptized. He has come to church 6 weeks in a row. He is a stud!! He is having his wedding on the 20th as well. So we have a baptism and marrige coming up. Then W has a baptismal date on the 27th. Her husband is less active so we are getting them both to come to church. She has so many questions, she even researched tithing to ask us questions about it. She is so smart. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will send them when I take some. We have 9 IBD's (investigators with baptismal dates) in the next coming weeks, if they come to church.

I am ruined because you guys feed me vegatables every day. I am craving them every day. I cook alot which is something I really have  come to love is cooking. I am doing just fine. I havent lost any weight. Which is good. I miss steak and real hamburger.

I love you all!!! 

Until next week! 

Elder Bigelow!

Here is My Letter - July 1, 2013

I guess he was way busy during his P-day because this is what we got.  He wrote his mission president and simply copied and pasted into this email.  I guess that is a good thing.

President, 
This week has been one of learning and great joy for me. 
First of all, Satan has been really attacking me this week. Telling me that I do not have a testimony, my Tagalog is getting worse and that I am not a successful missionary. Well he almost got to me. But Heavenly Father has given me strength to overcome my adversity through prayer and through other missionaries and members. 
Second, I really did not want to move areas. I was just starting to get close to the members in Rosales and I loved it there. I have had a change of heart. What I have found here in Malimpec is something far greater!! Its where the Lord needs me to be. I am thankful for the Lord and his great knowledge. 
Third, I have found how the spirit works with me. It has made the biggest difference in everything. I had been looking past the mark for what I thought the spirit was. I now see the joy in serving. I now see that what I am doing is the most important thing I could be doing. I am soo much happier. President it has been a life changing week. 
I can say that Elder Bird and I have had lots of success. We have taught 28 lessons to over 40 of Heavenly Father's precious children. Some of them have not received the Gospel yet or have forgotten and/or lost their way. We had an excellent sacrament meeting with 8 investigators and 12 Less actives in attendance. It makes me so happy that I am able to see it this way now! Heavenly Father's love has changed me for the better. I have felt his love and I want to give it to all of his children. 
Fourth, the scripture you gave me when we had our first interview, Heleman 3:35, its coming true. I can see my faith growing everyday, so is my humility. I trust in him with all my heart. I am letting him change me to be, Heavenly Father's Best Elder Bigelow. 
I thank you for your Strength. I love you President.

This week like I said to my President, has been life changing. So many stories and so many experiences have changed the way I look at everything. I feel like I am on a cloud right now!! The spirit is so key for everything and anything!! 

I love the Savior and I know he loves you too!! He knows you and wants to give you his blessings, all you have to do is let him in.

I love all of you!!! 

Elder Bigelow