March 31, 2014 - One Year

YEAR 1
This week has just been a crazy week. I one yeared! I burnt a bunch of clothing. All that hard work just gone... :) Joke - I still have memories :) I thought a lot about how fast life is - its crazy fast. :) Anyway, this week I have really thought about why I am on a mission. To serve God or get compliments and such. I learned that if I am here for any other reason than serving, I am sinning...I repented just a little and I recommitted myself to my mission. :) Our Area is doing great! Within the next month or so we should have 5 or more baptisms :) We refocused our schedule on the Investigators that are progressing :) To get them baptized. We also had the most people go to church since I have been here. We hit 70 :) I hope the ward sees it and gets more engaged in the work especially with the LA and keeping them coming to church.
I have to say it is just hot now.... Like Phoenix hot but with humidity.... I sweat so much... I can not wait for this next month to get over.
I also want to share what President said to us.
Missionaries are only as effective as the members. No matter how good the missionaries are, we can not do anything without help. So any of you who are reading this, please call the missionaries and set an appointment with friends, ask them how can I help. Ask them to work with them :) We need your help :) Please Help :)  I love missionary work :) I don't want my mission to end :) I love the Savior and what He has done for me and you for that matter :) Sorry about being to general in the letters :) Enjoy conference :) I wont see it till the 12th :) Its like the superbowl for missionaries :) I can't wait :)
Love
Elder Bigelow

At the mission home on one year mark.

March 24, 2014

Kumusta Everyone :)
What a week :) It actually had a long start. We went like 3 days with only 1 lesson each day. But after a great quad zone conference, things picked up. We gave 5 IBD's, which everyone of them came to church :) I am looking forward to April 26 :) We should have like 8 baptisms that day :) So, my first district was only one companionship and they got emergency transferred because of no support from leaders. So, my first district is done with :) I miss them. We had LA's come back to church and this week there was the most members in the branch since I have been here :)
This week, I am going to hit hump day :) I can not believe its been a year. It feels like 6 months.
I just want to write about a family, Brother S, Sister E and I :) We found them by accident but they are golden :) A whole family :) They are willing to follow each other and grow together and that is the best part :)
My thoughts have been turned toward the Savior this week :) About his suffering for me :) Not only his cleansing power but his enabling power :) He has given me more strength than I can muster with my own body and mind :) I know He can help you with any problem you are facing :) He is there and nothing can ever change that for me :) I have felt like a trisome again :) With Jesus always with me :) He has given me his spirit to bring back those people who came to church on Sunday. That was one of my happiest moments, waiting out in front of the church and just being so happy that somebody came :) I love it :) I am doing better than ever :) I love you all :)
Elder Bigelow

 First district - Only 1 companionship.

 Getting chased by turkeys!

March 17, 2014

No longer a Teenager :/
Time flies by so fast. This weekwa s my birthday :) I treated myself to a nice dinner at a restaurant like one that I would go to for my birthday in the states. :)  It was called Shakey's. I missed the salad more than I did the Pizza. I also bought myself a nice Banana Split :) It was better than DQ. It was amazing :) I wouldn't normally say that because everything is better in America! I am a little proud about being an American, but it is true :) On my birthday, I almost got into a fight with a drunk without even doing anything.  But I listened to the spirit and didn't say a word. (Which is not normal for me!) Thankfully nothing happened. :)
As I look at the 20 years that I have lived, I am filled with just gratitude for parents leaders, teachers  and bishops who the Lord has placed in my life to shape me to the man I am now am and will become. :) I can not name you all but you know who you are. I thank you sooooooo much, my prayers go out to each of you :)
Our work this week has been amazing :) Our area is doing great. We have been really working with the Less Actives and have found that most of them have PM families. That's hitting 2 birds with one stone. We have 11 new investigators and had some success this Sunday at church because a whole LA family came to church with their investigator son, named I :)  We also have just been working really hard on lessons with a member present. I can tell that this week is a start to much success because we were able to find and teach many new investigators.  Heavenly Father answered my prayer because ever since I have been on a mission I have wanted to find and baptize a whole family. This week I think I have found that family :) We went to just do a member visit and happened to run into the member's brother who also lives at the house :) Things are just looking up :)
Things could not get any better :) Even though I have been away from home for a while (a long while), I am still happy :) He gives me the strength everyday to do his work. I am physically exhausted every night but I wake up with new strength and power every morning :) I love you all :) I hope all you youth that are reading this are preparing to go on a mission :) Its the best ever :)
Thanks for the Birthday Wishes :)
Love Elder Bigelow :)

March 10, 2014 - San Leon

So this week has been pretty amazing. First, Elder De La Torre and I are perfect for each other!!! The other day he said "it feels like we have been companions for a really long time, doesn't it?" It really does. I also have had some really cool things happen. I went on exchanges and I felt like I knew the investigators and members. I have had that feeling here in San Leon. Even more than I have in the past. Its like I know every single person from before this earth life. The spirit was so strong when I had that epiphany. I know that this is the place for me to be on a mission and in this area. We have 2 baptisms coming up in April and hopefully a lot more in the following weeks :)
I have seen this week how deeply rooted in PMG (Preach My Gospel) that I am. Its actually a lot more than I thought. Everything I do is from that book. I am becoming more and more of a PMG missionary everyday. I would tell anyone who is reading right now to STUDY and live PMG. It is your best friend as a missionary :)
I got to see all of the people from my first area at the Stake conference this weekend :) Everybody was like WOW you know tagalog now :P Those are the good ole days when I didn't know a thing :P
We have been teaching a women named B. My companion actually found her before I got here but she is the perfect investigator. She basically said when and how can I be baptized. :) I know that I have been led to people who need my help :)

This picture is of a green bukid (farm) and I want to compare it to the saints. Us as members are thriving while the world around us is dying. How do we keep the bukid green? Water pumps which are coming from the ground. How about the saints? We use the scriptures and other things that we know we need to do. If we don't use the gospel or the water then we will just shrivel up and die like the fields around us. Luckily the wells are way deep and have an endless supply of water, but so does the gospel  :)
I love everyone :) I love you all :)
Thanks for all your support and prayers :)
Love Elder Bigelow 

Here is my favorite past time - Spider Fighting!

March 3, 2014

San Leon - Rosales Zone
Well everyone, its a small world after all. I transferred back to my home zone. Rosales :) I am in the town right next to it :) San Leon :) It is still in the rural part of the Mission. Not that much city in the mission, actually very little of it is. But at least it has a highway. I passed by my first area and I just was way happy and sad, all the memories came coming back. The branch here is great. Its a small branch of about 50 members that go to church. There are a lot of less actives here so that's going to be a part of our focus. Its part of Rosales Stake, so I will be able to see the members from my first area. My new companion is Elder De La Torre. He is from Negros Occidental the southern part of the Philippines. And I am the new DL here in the Zone. I thought it was a joke when Elder Balane handed me the phone...but it was the AP. I am going to sorely miss the BantoCaling area. All of the recent converts cried when I left. It was really, really hard to leave them. Some of the members did too. I have a lot of work ahead of me but I know I can do miracles here. :) I love the Lord, he is so amazing. :)
I am excited for this new transfer :)
Elder Bigelow

 This is a snake that I found on my last night in Banto :)

February 24, 2014

A Week That Has Changed Me

This week has been amazing. It has helped me get refueled to endure. I have for the past 11 months of my mission tried to make my mission what I have wanted it to be. I acknowledged the Lord that I needed his help but I was hard headed and still tried to do things on my own. To be honest, I am still struggling with the language. Not in the sense that I am getting sad, but just that I want to be better. I have prayed and prayed for the gift of tongues and it just hasn't come. I have always wanted more. Things haven't been what I wanted. Even in my prayers, I just have that kind of attitude that I am going to take control of things and they have to be my way. Sometimes not relying on Heavenly Father. It gradually made its way to being ungrateful for everything that I have been given. Even though I had a baptism coming up, I wanted more.  But this week changed it. I knew what I had to do, give myself up completely to his will. I fasted and prayed for help to be grateful. It came with the baptism of Sister Sheila. I think this baptism has helped me grow the most. I felt the spirit and even more about what kind of work I am doing.  An answer also came last night. I happened to run into the only real atheist I have met in the Philippines. I am so grateful for the gospel and the direction it has given me in my life. Unlike him, I know my life has a purpose. I am doing more for the people. The humanitarian work is important because Christ changes things from the inside out, but the world changes from the outside in. I am changing people. They can then change their surroundings to make a better life style for them and others.  I am so grateful for everything that has happened in my life. I have given Jesus Christ the reigns for my mission. He will make it much better than I can on my own. This whole experience has helped me grow closer unto my Savior, Jesus. I am grateful for everything. Its been hard, but rewarding. I have sooo many more blessings and experiences on the way :) He will give me everything. Even the gift of tongues :) If I pray and fast hard enough for it :)
I have changed and taken steps towards my Heavenly Father :)
Love,
Elder Bigelow

 The pitfalls of walking in the rice fields.

 Here is another, Where's Holden?

 My new white Caraobou belt.

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