February 17, 2014

So this week I have learned some things. 

1) I miss hard work that makes me sweat. I miss doing projects around the house. It has taught me how to work :) I can not wait to get back and just do projects around the house. It has taught me to be self reliant. 

2) I have really come to understand the need for the Atonement. We can not save ourselves. We needed someone who was not subject to the curse of the fall of Adam and that was Jesus Christ. He suffered for each individual. My investigators, the ward members here and each and every one of you reading this letter right now. Use it in your life. Its the best feeling ever to repent. I do every night :) It makes me a better person. I have came to the reality that I am so small compared to the scheme of things but yet I have a huge part in the whole Plan of Salvation. I  have a strong, strong testimony of Christ's life. He lived and this week it has been just strengthened. 

We have a baptism coming up this Saturday. :) Sister S :) I promise I will get a picture soon. I have been terrible about taking pictures these past 2 weeks because I have been here forever. This might be my last week here in  Bantocaling.... I am sad about it because Elder Balane and I have gotten so close. He is like my Brother in a diffrent Country. :) I have also seen the effect of working with the leaders. So, any missionaries getting ready to go do not overlook the leaders they are there for you. You can not do this work on your own. You need the help of the members. 

I guess here is a picture. I love taking these :) 

Love Elder Bigelow

February 10, 2014

So this week is just full of miracles again. 

We had an investigator try and drink coffee but she said it was like poison to her mouth. She spit it out and threw up.  She said it was a real answer to her prayers. It surprised me because I had never seen or heard anything like that. It was a testament to me that 1) That the WOW is true and 2) that Feb 22 is the date for her baptism :) Cool expericence there :) 

I just want to share one experience how Heavenly Father blessed my life by not giving me what I wanted. Ever since I have gotten to the Mangatarem area, I have wanted to go to the zoo here. I have never been able to go on P-Days because of our travel to Lingayen for zone studies. Our branch had an activity to the zoo but it was on a Saturday morning during studies. We asked our leaders if we could go because we had many investigators going. They told us no because we had to study. I was a little sad but I knew their answer was coming from the Lord. We had great studies and come to find out, when the branch arrived there was no animals, they moved it to a different spot. It was a real answer to me. I found out a lot about who I was and a lot more about my loving Heavenly Father :)

I have grown closer to my Heavenly Father this week. My prayers have become talks and not just rote sayings. I am just always in his presence. That's when the most trials come. Its been hard this week. 

I just want you to know that, I know that Jesus Christ is real. He knows me and you. I stand as his witness at all times and all places :)  We all can :)  You can receive that knowlege for yourself. We are not confined to olden scriptures or testimony of him. Or, even latter day information through Joseph Smith and many others. You can receive a personal answer, the heavens are open :) I know they are :) I have received that witness :) I will never be the same because of it :) I know He lives :) 

Love

Elder Bigelow

Have a Happy Valentine's Day :) 

And I just saw a little glimpse but GO TEAM USA :) I am proud to be an American :)  

February 3, 2014

Kumusta Everyone :)
This week has been one like always - full of miracles :) I guess the biggest one was that I started the ball rolling for a service project for an investigator :) Her name is Sister B and she is just having a really, really hard time with life. She got kicked out of her house and had to build a new one, but never got the roof finished. Its almost rainy season and just it would have been bad. I can not believe how much help the branch gave us. They coordinated it all after I put it into their hands. It goes to show how hard work and building a relationship with your bishop can really pay off. I didn't get to do the hard stuff in the project which made me sad because I was in proselyting clothes. Its more and more of a miracle every time I think of it. She has given up coffee and everything because she knows that Joseph Smith is a real prophet. Her baptism is going to be in March - hopefully :) We also have a baptism coming at the end of the Month on Feb 22 :) I am so excited :) We have just been working hard and time flew by so fast this week :) Still eating mangos and watching fires every night. I went golfing for the first time in 10 months :) Oh I guess thats something that happened. I hit ten months last week :) Its flying by soooo fast :) Other than that nothing really happened :) Life is great :) its hard but we just keep smiling :) I am doing good just in case anyone is wondering :)
Love
Elder Bigelow

January 27, 2014

So this week has been full of random things that happened. So, first off on Tuesday, we saw all this smoke on the mountain, by night time it was a pretty big fire. I was wondering why people were not doing anything about it. I asked a member. So apparently every year it happens. The hunters just light up the mountain to get all the wild pigs, like Javelinas, to go where they want. That's the reason why these mountains really have no trees. I am so happy to live in a place where deforestation is not happening and I can enjoy it like the national parks in AZ.  :)
I ate snake for the first time. It wasn't bad it just had lots of bones. Our neighbor pulled it out of the rice field.
I think this is the best thing that happened this week. MANGOS :)  I eat about 7-8 a day, you just pick them right off the tree. They are soooooo goood :) So Mangatarem in tagalog means Mango(Manga)- the edge of a knife(tarem). Its the most delicious thing ever. We also had a 1 1/2 day brown out this week :) At least it isn't hot :)
Our work is really progressing, we have 2 IBDs now and we are going to build a roof along with the ward for one investigator with an IBD this Friday named Sister B. I have just had so much compassion for this woman the things that she has had to go through. :) I hope nothing goes wrong like the projects me and my dad always did. I am excited to just get out and do a really cool service project:)
I have also had the help of the Lord as I search for new investigators. At the beginning of the week it was looking dim, only 1 real investigator. I had thought I had been to every part of the area because I have been here for so long. But I trusted in the Lord and pleaded for his help. I have found new roads that I had not noticed and new investigators who are truly prepared. I could sit here and write and write about all the things that happened this week but it would take up my whole hour. So this will have to do. Sorry I am not really specific on my stories I am running out of time : )
Till next week :)
Love Elder Bigelow

January 20, 2014

This week was just business as normal. Teaching, finding and sharing my testimony of the Savior. I am going to be in my area for another transfer. Which means I will be here for 6 months. I am happy but also a little sad because I am running out of places to go :P I am so close to the members, well as close as I can to keeping my dignity. I want to tell you about Sister S :) She has an IBD for Feb 22 :) She is so elect :) We found her by referral and she has been following all of her commitments :) She came to Church and just loved it. She received a testimony of the BoM by praying and I know that's the reason why she is progressing :) She is amazing :) It was just one of those weeks where you look at your life and see all the blessings that the Lord gave you. It leaves me breathless.... I am blessed beyond measure. I have really focused on walking in the Saviors footsteps and paying the price to be his disciple and even in just a week I have seen the difference in myself. :) Its amazing what happens while I try to follow his footsteps :) I know that Heavenly Father lives :)

Elder Bigelow

January 13, 2014

Kumusta everyone :)
I have seen miracles this week. Last Sunday we were completely out of investigators. My companion and I fasted and prayed for investigators.  I asked for the members help. They responded and responded well. We have a full teaching pool again because 15 minute member visits are amazing. I have seen the difference in the work because of it. We got 7 referrals and all of them are soooo golden.
I just want to share about S. S is 24 and we found her through a referral. Her husband is less active. The reason why she wanted to listen was to get his personality back. He has just been smoking and drinking and ever since then hasn't been the same. She is very receptive to the spirit and has accepted a baptismal date for February 22. The spirit was sooooo strong in our lessons :)
But this week I have also felt like Ammon and how the Lord puts people in your way to teach. One day while finding I decided to go down a road that I had never been down. It led to 4 houses in the middle of rice fields. On the very last one, we were an answer to a prayer of a lady, named U. She felt the spirit and even started crying so hard. We didn't know what to think. Just how much Heavenly Father's hand is in everything :) Its amazing to me, and all of the blessings of the mission are coming true :)
I have also realized how much the Lord was helping me when I had 2 kids (companions). I always asked Elder Balane for a rating on how my Tagalog is. He said when he first saw me I was about an 8, now I am about a 6. He also said that my Tagalog started getting worse after Elder Taniera left. It made me realize the Lord took my language and strengthened it because he knew I needed it. I would have been way too stressed if I had to do deal with the language too. That is a complete miracle in my life.
My life is just full of fun and miracles :) I have finally started to realize how lucky I am to have an area like I do. Its like a real campout :) Its soooooooo beautiful because I could be stuck in cities :) That would suck  :)

I love my life :) I am becoming Heavenly Fathers best Elder Bigelow :)

January 6, 2014

Happy New Year :)
This week I learned patience pays off :) We had a baptism of Sister E :) The problem is usually I am so obsessed with time and people showing up that I usually don't enjoy it to the fullest. This one was even worse because her husband didn't know if he was going to make it back to the baptism at 5. The worst part was that he was the one doing the baptizing. So they said to us either 4 or 5 or if he doesn't make it then 8...... As a missionary that is frustrating because we always have a plan for every second of the day. Our chapel also doesn't have a font and it is a long drive to the nearest font. How were we going to get work done and not waste our money going back and forth? So, I had this overwhelming calming feeling that everything was going to be ok and that I need not worry. That's what I did. It started at like 6.... But I wasn't worried about the time or anything. It was one of the most spiritual baptisms I have had. I realized that Heavenly Father is in complete control. He knows everything, absolutely everything. There is nothing he does not know. His knowledge will not ever change, unlike parents who change from kid to kid :P ha ha ha joke lang Mom and Dad. It's a joke because I am the oldest. I have seen how each kid gets treated better and better :p ha ha It just showed me I need not worry about the little stuff because HE is in the Details :) I had a great New Years :) Year 2013 changed my life for the better :) But I know 2014 will be even better :) Its going to fly by...... A mission goes by so fast. My companion is doing amazing :) He is such a great missionary right off the bat :) Me and him work :) We are getting spiritually feed ;) :) I am happier than I have ever been :) I love the people so much :) I love, love, love them :) My companion is like your a Filipino because of some of the things that I do. One is eating with a spoon no matter what food is being eaten.  It's cool to learn a new culture :) I love it :)
I am doing well everyone :)
Mahal Kita
Elder Bigelow :)

Just Me!

Latest baptism of Sister E