August 25, 2014

Good Evening America  :)
I don't know why I just wrote that :) But anyway, I just want to share a few stories :)
One is about a Brother in our ward. He was baptized a long time ago. He and his family went less active for about 10 years They converted to a different religion but through it all came back to the church. They have a son who is on a mission and a daughter who is about to go on a mission. When I got to this area, Tatay (Father) was an "average member". He didn't go to church every Sunday but would go every other week!! He was one of those members who I thought would never do missionary work in his life. One Sunday we went and visited their family. We shared a message and asked for referrals. He was hesitant at first but gave us one. His family was flabbergasted, they said that we were the first missionaries for him to give a referral to. Then everything changed. He became super active. He is now the Young Mens President and now works with us every Sunday. His family still doesn't know what we did to him.... Missionary Work has changed his life :) It all came from a short little visit.
I then also want to share a story about a few investigators.
1) A man came up to us 2 weeks ago asking where our church was and if he could attend. My companion thought he was just another trike driver and almost blew him off... I am so glad we didn't. He came to church just like he said he would. It is amazing how the Lord is in the small details :) We are going to go find his house and teach him and baptize him.
2) Last night we taught 5 (19, 20, 21) year olds. One of them was a former investigator. When we found them they were all smoking and singing... Not the best atmosphere. When we talked to them we found out that they all were super religious. Not something that you would expect from a "Barkada" like that. We taught a powerful lesson. All I could think about all 5 of them is that they are all future missionaries ;) I know that they will get baptized. One of them has been really studying because he wants to find out about why he is here on this earth. We helped them answer that and they are super interested. Again, I don't know why I was led to find them. The thought just came into my mind to try them :) I know again that the Lord has his hand in all things :)
I hope that is enough stories for you  :)
I love you all
Elder Bigelow

August 18, 2014

So this has been the best week ever but also the worst!! This is an excerpt from my letter to my mission president, this was my week.
"We got punted more times than I can count this week, even from our most progressing investigators and members. They just were not at their houses. I know that it was something that the Lord knew I had to go through. I also got super sick from Thurs to Friday. I felt like this week most things just went wrong. The funny part about all of it is that I had been praying for trials so that I could prove my diligence to the Lord. Surely they came and I got through all of it. Even though the work was not the best this week, I know I have a stronger character because I continued to be diligent. I know that the Lord had his hand in everything that happened.

That sums it up. A crappy work week but I am still happy about things. The lessons we did have were super powerful and we now have 9 IBDs :) The Lord has also given me a huge assignment as a DL. I am going to need his help to fulfill this one :)

I just want to tell you about an experience to show that HF knows who I am. First on Wed I started to get sick, my tummy really started hurting. Thurs we worked, but I wasn't feeling the best. We worked in our farthest area, it was about 6:30 and I needed to go home. There is not trykes or anything at night in this area. So, we had to walk, about 1 hour. I kept praying and praying that I could get a ride home. Any trike that passed by didn't want to take us and what not. I was really hurting. Finally after like 10 min there came a van, the driver just said to get in, I am going to the main part of town. So as soon as we got home I went straight to the CR or bathroom. Lets just say I was in there for 2 hours. I have no idea what I would have done if I was outside our apartment. I am thankful that HF saved me from a super embarrassing and humiliating experience. I know its not anything related to missionary work but it touched me because I really felt that HF loves me :) I know he loves you to :) This is his work and I know it :)
I love you all :)
Love
Elder Bigelow

August 11, 2014

Hello Everyone :)
This week was just a normal week :) I just want to share some success with our investigators :) We had 8 come to church and 5 of them for their 1st time :) We have really been focusing on member missionary work :) The members are awesome here :) I just want to tell you about M and R :) They are 2 of my favorite investigators because they are 9 and 11. Their family reminds me of mine :) 3 boys and they just fight and are playing all of the time :) R reminds me of Braden. They came to church for the first time along with their less active Mom :) I am so happy !!  I don't really have too much more to say :)
I guess this week I have felt the spirit even more  :) I know that repentance is amazing even for small things  :) I really have been striving to be exactly obedient and I have seen the Lord's hand in everything :) Especially with the investigators. I have 1 and 1/2 more months here in San Quintin so I am going to make it the best ever  :) I would send you some pictures but I don't trust this computer shop! :P  
Sorry this letter is super short. I don't really have anything different to say :) I know that the is Christ's church and nothing will ever be able to take me away from that :) That's what a mission does to ya ;) 7 months I will be home !!!! Man time flies by so fast :)
Love
Elder Bigelow

August 4, 2014

Just a Normal Week!

So how is everyone doing? I hope great!! Because life is good :) Especially on a mission!! :) This week I want to share a story about Sister V :) She is 71 and just has a lot of problems in her life. Her husband died and she is having medical problems, financial problems and just the whole lot. She kind of reminds me of Grandma Biggs :) Short and just a funny woman. She got invited to come to church from another nanay (mother) here in the branch. She loves church, she says it different from all the other churches she has been too.  She has been reading the BOM but hasn't prayed about it. So, last night we went there and we bore strong testimony that the Lord has a plan for us all to be saved and she promised to pray about the Book of Mormon. The spirit was super strong. :)
She is our only Progressing investigator so far :) All the other have let us down because we were expecting 8-10 but only Nanay (Mother) came :)
Anyway we have been just finding and finding and finding. :) Working hard. I am on my 4th pair of rubber shoes...... And my good pair of shoes are close to being shot too...... they have holes :) Yep I do work!!! Joke!! I have been memorizing scriptures and I have done 5 in a week :) Its amazing what you can do with the Lord's help! :) Well anyway, I miss you all!! Pray for me that I don't get sick like all of my friends..... Nakakatakot iyan (that's scary) :P Anyway I love you all!!
Elder Bigelow

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