July 28, 2014

So I just want to start off by saying this week has been stressful but in a good way :) #1) all of my investigators from before have been dropped because they are not progressing..... But we have found 10 new investigators and 3 of them came to church :) Man the Lord has truly blessed me :) I just want to share about how I came in contact with R and share some of the spiritual moments. So we found him by walking, he actually found us and not for wanting to know the gospel. He saw me and wanted to interview me for his thesis about Language, because I am one of very few white people here. I stick out! He asked to schedule an interview for 2 hours. I kindly explained that we are super, super busy and that I had no time. I didn't think anything about it. So come Saturday a member said he had a "friend" that would come to church on Sunday and started laughing. Apparently he went to the members house and asked to schedule a meeting with me through the member and the member said I would be at the church on Sunday. I didn't think he was serious but he showed up. We became friends and I gave him a few minutes of my time for the interview but told him in exchange he would have to go to the other classes. :) He did and we scheduled a meeting with him for later that night and we taught him and He felt the spirit at church and wants to change. That is what he said in his prayer :) I know that the Lord puts people in my path for different reasons and weird ways sometimes to bring his will :) I know I was needed here :)

I also want to tell you I had another Baptism :) It was super spiritual and I have seen her growth in the past few days :) She even stayed to pay her tithing :) It just amazes me :) 

I know that this is the Lord's work :)
I have also been memorizing scriptures lately and have memorized 1 everyday for the past week :) Its amazing how the Lord stretches your memory :)
Elder Bigelow

At the Zoo

This is a Kubo or called a floating house.

July 21, 2014

How is everyone doing ? We had our first hurricane of the year ,which it didn't really rain hard!!!! That was fun and exciting. Um I spent 6 days in Tayug, so on thursday I got a new Companion, Elder Carfielo. He was in my first district as a District Leader. I am excited to work with him but I just want to share something that I have learned!!
Being grateful no matter what happens. This week has been a week of really not knowing what is going on. I didn't know what was going to happen or if I was going to get a new comp or go back to my area. But I stayed happy and it payed off :) I have a baptism this upcoming Sat :) of Sis R. A 20 year old who is studying but lives with her parents. She is always reading and her mom has finished the BOM, she just can not get baptized because of various reasons. R is the only one to get baptized but I am so excited for her!!
But everything else about the area has fallen apart..... all of the other IBD's have fallen through due to various reasons. Satan is trying me to make me stressed out and ungrateful for the baptism. He just wants me to look past it and not make it a happy moment in my life. Its been like this for actually most of my baptisms. I am going to make this baptism the best ever :) Through these trials I have been made stronger. I have made some goals for myself and I am going to achieve them.
Its also just a testimony to me that having missionaries in a ward or an area is a Blessing not a privilege.
I have learned a lot and I am continuing everyday to become like our savior :)
Things are doing ok
I love you all
Elder Bigelow

 My area

My new companion

July 14, 2014

So this week has been, lets just say a wild one. I am in my 6th area because of an Emergency Transfer :) I am in Tayug with Elder Nieva and Macalindong. With everything that went on, I have grown a lot though. Usually when things do not go my way, I tend to ask "Why me?" But the difference in this "trial" is that I did not question why. I just accepted what the will of the Lord was. I did everything that I could. I know there is a reason. Let me tell you a possible reason why I was meant to be in this area. Last night we met a lady who speaks only English. I was able to answer her questions and help her to understand.

At church, I read an Article in the August Liahona about Wondering and Wandering. In the article, it talks about how when there are trials in your life, (wandering) sometimes you lose out on the blessings because you are wondering when things will get better or go back to normal. So in my  mission right now, I am a wanderer.  But I will not let myself wonder when things will go back to normal because I am going to do the very best wherever I am assigned even though I might not know how long I am going to be here or what is going to happen to me.  I know there is a reason for everything.

I just want to tell you about an experience that I had :)  This mission has been focusing on using the members for missionary work. We do what are called 15 min member visits. We go, we share with the family, and then we go meet their neighbors or friends. So, we were out of appointments one night and we went to the house of a member Bro J. He is a less active who goes to church but doesn't really pay attention and who didn't really pay attention to our lesson either.  We were bold and would not take no for an answer of him not having any friends. Finally, after the trial of our faith he said well I have this one friend. So we set an appointment and we went the next day. Turns out she is super rich, has a car and a pretty nice house. :) It was also the first time the tatay (father) ever gave a friend to the missionaries. We also talked to his daughter and she said that she had so many friends that she wanted us to teach. I saw how persistence pays off :) I also saw how faith pays off too :) Sometimes you have to not give up :) 

I love all of you :) I know that this work is true :)
Love,
Elder Bigelow

My Companions

July 7, 2014

Kumusta sa lahat :) (Hello to all)
So I am back to being a Filipino because my companion is one :) He is 6 foot tall, which I am not used to. I am going to miss eating at MacDo. We now are going to eat rice at every single meal........ but my new companion is Elder Agostino :) He is from Pasig Manilla and he is just ready to be on a mission :) He is a brand new member and so he has a lot to learn, but he brought faith and an attitude to work :) He is 18 and it reminds me of how crazy I was with just question after question :) This week we had a lot more work from the ward. The ward is catching the wave :) They are all taking us to meet their friends :) Sorry about the picture it was about 2 mins ago and I am running out of time!!!! Um, I miss all of you but I am so lost in the work which is a good thing.
I met a lady from Mesa. So it was nice to try and remember streets and stuff. She works at the Phoenix Convention Center which is by Dad's work :)  :) Oh I miss being in America :) And I can say I am soooo proud to be a citizen !! Like my American Pride has skyrocketed :) I missed fireworks..... and rodeos... but I know that the sacrifice is worth it :)
I love all of you :)
Elder Bigelow

June 30, 2014

I have a lot to write and I am going to try and write about all of this
1) I am training again
2) My answer
3) The Prompting
4) Members

#1... Yes, I am going to have my "3rd kid" on the mission. I got called to train again and it blindsided me because I had no idea I would ever train again. I guess one thing on my mission that I have learned is to expect the unexpected and that the Lord is in control of who he wants you to be. One thing that President Monahan said that really impressed me is him quoting from an apostle. He said "Some people can argue mistakes in callings," he then pointed at us and said, "but not with this and not with you." He said he really prayed about this :) So I am grateful for this opportunity and guess what I also have a grandson now. Yep Elder Balane is training. So yeah, I am humbled and excited :)

#2 I finished the BOM for the 3rd time on my mission. I took Moroni's challenge and at that moment I had no answer. I thought that was weird but I kept on going. I prayed again that I could get an answer again that it was true. Well it happened in a lesson. When we were testifying of Joseph Smith. The warmest most beautiful feeling came. I almost couldn't breath :) But I know that it is true that he is a true Prophet :)

#3 Is the members :) They are so cool :) We have really been working to strengthen the members here. It has taken about 5 or 6 weeks of just work but this Sunday we had 9 investigators come to church because people brought their friends. 5 of them we had not met before church. :) People are excited to introduce us to their friends. I have the trust of the ward and its beginning to be their work too not just ours. I hope I don't transfer anytime soon :)

4) I just want to share a story of what happened yesterday!! As we were leaving, I had an impression to go to a family. Part of my Patriarchal Blessing flashed through my mind saying its important for you to follow the spirit to find families that only you could teach. So, it was an investigator family. The Tatay (Father) had just come back from working in a different province. They even went to church but their daughter, who is like 25, had not wanted to listen to us because she has her own religion and just never cared. So, we show up and I was so excited. They weren't there but the daughter was. It was pouring rain. We waited for our fellowshipper. He came and we tried the daughter. She gladly accepted. :) During the lesson the Mom and Dad came back. The spirit was super strong. :) We gave all 5 of them an IBD for August 9. :) I am grateful for inspiration. Because they needed me and I was worthy of the spirit. I am grateful for the spirit to take the message to their hearts :) People change all the time :) I testify that this is the Lords Work he directs it :)

Ok, long email!
I love all you  :)
Elder MalakinaMababa :)

June 23, 2014

So Hello to Everyone :)
This week was just a normal week, nothing happened but conversion and preaching :)
We have had rain every single day now... Yeah and being from Arizona, I love my good thunderstorms just not every single day...... You can be the most happiest person but when you don't see the sun most of the day you can't help but to be a little melancholy.
So this week we actually had to drop a couple of investigators due to circumstances that are out of our control so we have been focused on finding.
I just want to share an experience of a RM that has been taking us around his neighborhood. He has no fear of what other people think. He is a great example to me. :) Anyway he took us to all of the Barangay officials. So you can think of them like the "HOA." The people that decide what's going on in a certain neighborhood. Its not completely the same because here its actually part of the government. Anyway, he took us to the Barangay Hall and we taught all of the officials there :) We found a family through that, in which yesterday we taught about the Priesthood. Sis J, is super religious and actually her religion is super similar to ours. But they don't have priesthood. We asked her to be baptized and she said yes because she said that you have the authority.:) The priesthood is our only difference :) Things are going good and I am getting prepared for Bagiuo season again :) I hope there is going to be a big storm :) Not like Tacloban but just big enough so I can say I went through a hurricane :)
I love you all :)
Elder Bigelow

June 16, 2014

Well I have been pretty sick.... just the sniffles..... it stinks. Ok, I will tell you a story of a girl named R. She is 20 and is going to school to be a teacher. When I first got into the branch she was an average investigator. She didn't really read or anything because of her school. So we challenged her to read before she studied and she has and she said that she has seen a difference in her studies :) She just accepted an IBD for July 12 :) I am so excited. I better be here for a fair amount of time so I can harvest some souls :) I always feel like I have been the planter, especially in my last area, and that is ok :) It's all the work of GOD :) I just heard that the Sister E and Brother I got baptized, the family that I was talking about, and another family that I found is getting baptized next week :) The sisters there said they are harvesting my fruits....  :) So if I could count all the investigators that got baptized that I have either taught or found it would be over 20 ;) That's what the spirit does :P
This week we had a mission tour :) We had Elder Echohawk come and visit the mission :) His talks and things helped me change how my mission was going and help me through a problem that I was having :) It was perfect for me :) I needed it :) One thing that he shared was that life is hard when you go decision by decision. (I know my parents have always taught me this, but I had to be reminded.)  The choice to go to church, the choice to pay tithing, the choice to serve a calling, but what you can do to make it easier on yourself is to make 1 choice. The choice to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and all the choices are already made:) So I recommitted myself that I had already made that choice :) I kept thinking of Aunt Rachel's advice to stop and smell the roses :) I needed to just take one big look around. Things are so busy and time is flying by so fast :) I also had this distinct feeling that Heavenly Father needed me :) I felt loved and just felt like I know I can do this :)
I love all of you :)
Love ,
Elder Bigelow :)