Hello Everyone :)
So it is Transfer week, and I got transferred. I am now in Urdaneta :) And its an open area. My new companion is Elder Seprioto, from Bicol. I don't have a picture yet, but if you look at a picture of Elder Taniera that is my new companion. They look exactly alike :) No joke. They look like twins. :) So an open area is where both of the missionaries before leave, so me and Elder S are brand new to the area. They kind of just say here is a list of members, some old investigators, a map of the area, and now go and do missionary work. :) Luckily there were missionaries in this area last transfer so we already have 4 IBDs, a whole family :) When I met them I could tell that they were elect. :) We taught them and they came to church yesterday :) We were worried because they didn't show up to our ward but showed up to the next ward. :) Their baptism is on Oct 18 :) I am excited for this but it means that we have to do just straight hard work :) Urdaneta has a lot of people which I am not used to. I am used to being out in the middle of the country. All of my areas except for this one have been out in the middle of nowhere.. :p Well I am out of time :) I love you all. Sorry that I don't have any pictures. :P
Elder Bigelow
Monday, September 29, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
September 22, 2014
Well, I just want to start off with a little background... Last week I got my white letter from president and it told me that most of my problems stemmed from me being prideful... So it sunk deep into my heart :) This is what happened.
My life has been changed. As I sat in retrospect about my life, I had an epiphany that I was one of the most prideful people I have known. I have been for almost my whole life as far as I can remember. There were fights between my parents and brothers because of my pride. (SO I am super sorry Mom and Dad :) and my brothers :) ) I wanted the praise of the world and nothing else. Even here in the mission. I wanted the praise of other missionaries and especially from my mission President .. I remember the MTC and just how prideful I was that I was going to be the best missionary ever. This week I have prayed with all my might to become more humble and to forgive me of that hideous hidden sin of pride in my life. The effect has been life changing. I have seen myself acting nicer to people and not be so judgmental. My problem with thoughts and wanting the attention of women has vanished. My whole view about my mission has changed. As I reflected on why I am here, I realized that I came here to be praised of the people of my ward and to show off to other people that I was going to be an RM. But this week that has changed.... I am here to serve God and God alone. I do not need any more praise than his. This week has strengthened my testimony that God does not give you spiritual gifts so you can be praised of the world, in fact that was a mockery of God on my part. Elder Carfielo has noticed that my language has improved. I thought about that and realized before I was praying for the gift of tongues to look "cool in front of other elders." I am sorry for who I was. I was a prideful person.... But I have started that mighty change not just a minor one. I thought to myself this week that being humble is super hard but its the price I must pay to be His disciple. I am going to be humble for the rest of my life because there is no other way :)
The work has been ok here. We don't have any progressing investigators. I am probably getting transferred. We will see what happens :) I love everyone and I hope all of you can have this mighty change of heart that I am having. :)
I love all of you :)
Elder Bigelow
My life has been changed. As I sat in retrospect about my life, I had an epiphany that I was one of the most prideful people I have known. I have been for almost my whole life as far as I can remember. There were fights between my parents and brothers because of my pride. (SO I am super sorry Mom and Dad :) and my brothers :) ) I wanted the praise of the world and nothing else. Even here in the mission. I wanted the praise of other missionaries and especially from my mission President .. I remember the MTC and just how prideful I was that I was going to be the best missionary ever. This week I have prayed with all my might to become more humble and to forgive me of that hideous hidden sin of pride in my life. The effect has been life changing. I have seen myself acting nicer to people and not be so judgmental. My problem with thoughts and wanting the attention of women has vanished. My whole view about my mission has changed. As I reflected on why I am here, I realized that I came here to be praised of the people of my ward and to show off to other people that I was going to be an RM. But this week that has changed.... I am here to serve God and God alone. I do not need any more praise than his. This week has strengthened my testimony that God does not give you spiritual gifts so you can be praised of the world, in fact that was a mockery of God on my part. Elder Carfielo has noticed that my language has improved. I thought about that and realized before I was praying for the gift of tongues to look "cool in front of other elders." I am sorry for who I was. I was a prideful person.... But I have started that mighty change not just a minor one. I thought to myself this week that being humble is super hard but its the price I must pay to be His disciple. I am going to be humble for the rest of my life because there is no other way :)
The work has been ok here. We don't have any progressing investigators. I am probably getting transferred. We will see what happens :) I love everyone and I hope all of you can have this mighty change of heart that I am having. :)
I love all of you :)
Elder Bigelow
Monday, September 15, 2014
September 15, 2014
Kamusta po kayo :) (Hello Friends!)
So this week has been one of pondering and learning for me. I don't think that we realize how important the spirit is in our life. I had an experience this week that really changed me. So I don't want to say everything, but lets just say the spirit wasn't as strong as it should have been in my life due to a few of my actions. Members started noticing. They kept asking me if I was sad or what the problem was. That really bugged me.. I realized that the spirit is a tangible object that you can see in people. When you hinder the effect of the spirit by sin or by anything people can notice. I realized how people can tell the difference in you if you do have the spirit. That is something that I am not proud to say. Actually, I am ashamed but I didn't have the spirit before my mission. I plead with you youth or anyone who reads this please, please, please repent. The spirit will fill your life and people will be able to tell :) You need it. It is the most important thing that you will ever receive if you are worthy of it.
On the other hand. We are having a Bagyo (storm) right now :) It got super windy and rainy yesterday and today. It was fun to walk through it :)
Elder Carfielo and I have been working hard and found 13 new investigators who are all super interested because they are coming from members. We have had some real success with working with members this week :) I would share some experiences but I am low on time..
I love you all :) I really do ! Please work with the missionaries.
Elder Bigelow
Monday, September 8, 2014
September 8, 2014
Merry Christmas Everyone :) Yep let the countdown begin. Or at least they have started here. They have already started playing Christmas songs and things because it is the 100 day countdown....
We had a mission conference on Thursday :) I really needed that conference :) I hadn't seen how low my spirituality had gotten. It really helped me to change my heart and turn it even more to the Savior :) One thing that he shared was about Promised lands and where is my promised land? Am I obedient enough to get there :) I think so :)
I also just want to share an experience about Bro G :) He is an old man who we went to his "tindahan" or store to buy some sugar cane. (By the way sugar cane is super good) He asked what our beliefs were in God. Turns out that he has been searching and searching for the truth his whole life he has never found it. He doesn't want to pay a pastor to teach him. ha ha ha :) We explained the Priesthood. He knew about the 2 different types and everything. We helped him know the truth :) In his prayer he let out a few tears and thanked our Heavenly Father for sending us for him to know where the truth is :) Sadly he didn't come to church because he was super busy but he promised us that he would come and that he would spend an hour reading the BOM :) He is super interested in it :) He has some cool books that are called Apocrypha :) If your into deep doctrine, you should look it up :)
We have a whole family of Bro R who is progressing towards baptism :) They should be baptized soon.
This week I also learned a lesson on Member Missionary work. So this week has just been a struggle. I have seen how success in missionary work is in direct correlation with working with the members. The last 2 weeks the members have been overloaded with all sorts of things and have not been able to work with us. We have seen the effect. We have had none of our new investigators come to church in the past 2 weeks .
If you are a member PLEASE, PLEASE work with the missionaries :) THEY NEED you :) Investigators can not progress in the Lord's prescribed way, which is true conversion without you :)
I love all of you and know that this is the Lord's work and that He guides us :)
Love,
Elder Bigelow
We had a mission conference on Thursday :) I really needed that conference :) I hadn't seen how low my spirituality had gotten. It really helped me to change my heart and turn it even more to the Savior :) One thing that he shared was about Promised lands and where is my promised land? Am I obedient enough to get there :) I think so :)
I also just want to share an experience about Bro G :) He is an old man who we went to his "tindahan" or store to buy some sugar cane. (By the way sugar cane is super good) He asked what our beliefs were in God. Turns out that he has been searching and searching for the truth his whole life he has never found it. He doesn't want to pay a pastor to teach him. ha ha ha :) We explained the Priesthood. He knew about the 2 different types and everything. We helped him know the truth :) In his prayer he let out a few tears and thanked our Heavenly Father for sending us for him to know where the truth is :) Sadly he didn't come to church because he was super busy but he promised us that he would come and that he would spend an hour reading the BOM :) He is super interested in it :) He has some cool books that are called Apocrypha :) If your into deep doctrine, you should look it up :)
We have a whole family of Bro R who is progressing towards baptism :) They should be baptized soon.
This week I also learned a lesson on Member Missionary work. So this week has just been a struggle. I have seen how success in missionary work is in direct correlation with working with the members. The last 2 weeks the members have been overloaded with all sorts of things and have not been able to work with us. We have seen the effect. We have had none of our new investigators come to church in the past 2 weeks .
If you are a member PLEASE, PLEASE work with the missionaries :) THEY NEED you :) Investigators can not progress in the Lord's prescribed way, which is true conversion without you :)
I love all of you and know that this is the Lord's work and that He guides us :)
Love,
Elder Bigelow
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
September 1, 2014
Hello Po :)
This week to be honest has been just the regular mission life. Which includes teaching people and just feeling the spirit :) Um I really have no cool stories to share.. Actually this one :) Sister V was an old investigator who got offended by a member in a class. So, we had some of her friends go and visit her. When we visited her again, she was a "different person." She was super interested and ready to learn. We had a super spiritual lesson. She knows its true and even though she is an investigator she is going to take us to all of her family. :) :) I am excited about that !! :) Um nothing to much happened. :P Sorry about pictures.... I haven't really had anything exciting to take a picture of. :P Me and my companion are doing just fine, but I am going to be honest because I am still struggling with the language. I don't know what I am going to do... I only have like 6 months left. :P
I have really been thinking about different things. I have been reading the D&C and have been inspired by the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he is a true prophet :) I know that Jesus is the Christ :) I am slowly losing myself in the work :)
Sorry I know I am not the best at writing but I will try to get better :)
Love you all
Elder Bigelow
This week to be honest has been just the regular mission life. Which includes teaching people and just feeling the spirit :) Um I really have no cool stories to share.. Actually this one :) Sister V was an old investigator who got offended by a member in a class. So, we had some of her friends go and visit her. When we visited her again, she was a "different person." She was super interested and ready to learn. We had a super spiritual lesson. She knows its true and even though she is an investigator she is going to take us to all of her family. :) :) I am excited about that !! :) Um nothing to much happened. :P Sorry about pictures.... I haven't really had anything exciting to take a picture of. :P Me and my companion are doing just fine, but I am going to be honest because I am still struggling with the language. I don't know what I am going to do... I only have like 6 months left. :P
I have really been thinking about different things. I have been reading the D&C and have been inspired by the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he is a true prophet :) I know that Jesus is the Christ :) I am slowly losing myself in the work :)
Sorry I know I am not the best at writing but I will try to get better :)
Love you all
Elder Bigelow
Monday, August 25, 2014
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
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
Monday, August 18, 2014
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
"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
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