Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wednesday P-day

Good morning! Today is actually my p day. It has been a little bit of
a wait to get to Wednesday, especially on the food front. We tend to
only last about a week and have to stretch a lot of stuff if we have
to go longer than the normal seven days. Anyway, that is past and we
will do some shopping.

I have been feeling really grateful recently. That definitely has to
do with the excess of blessings we have been receiving recently. I
hope I can keep that same feeling running through my life even through
the trials that will inevitably come. I think gratitude really is the
fountain of never ending happiness. As I continually re-recognize
everything I have been given and love in my life it becomes silly for
me to even think about complaining. Sure, I have trials difficulties
and necessities, but if I am genuinely grateful in my circumstances, I
become happy. So if I ever start complaining about anything pull out
this email and tell me to get over myself and focus on the good.

Some of the particular wonderful things of this week are as follows...
-Elizabeth and Melisa were baptized! It has been a quick intense
journey for us all to get here. That was the most beautiful part about
the service. There really was so much relaxed joy that afternoon, even
though I know how many questions and doubts were deeply complicated
and studied out before they choose to take the step of faith. They are
committed to live he gospel. It is just a good feeling to see that.
Here is a quick pic with them before the baptism with their aunt.


Good Morning

Today is a good day. I have found in the past little while that
focusing on the positive and happy rather than all I have to do and ho
 much I need to accomplish and change while still recognizing those
things and addressing them I am, believe it or not so much more happy
and positive all the time. I love good. I think that is one of the
largest reasons I love the Gospel these days, it makes me feel good.
It is a type of good that keeps on giving, it doesn't just run out. It
is a secure and stable place I can go for answers. Those answers and
that peace always takes work on my part but it is always there.

As I focus on those things my life become exponentially better.

Some of the highlights of this week include the following:

-All of our hard work is finally starting to pay off. The first fruits
are Melissa and Elizabeth. They are two girls from Spain visiting
their family. They are so great and have learned so much. It has been
a little bit of a rocky road but they are ready to be baptized. They
will be baptized on this coming saturday. We are so excited! I will
send you pictures of us next week. The most interesting part is they
are goign back to Spain on August 22nd, right after they are baptized
so we are going to do all sorts of coordinating to make sure they find
their Bishop.

-I got a new Colombian companion! His name is Elder Sepulveda, and I
tell people he is from Provo, Hawaii, Colombia. He has lived in all
those place for a decent amount of time. He is a stellar missioanry
and we are both so excited to work so hard!

-We met a guy by insisting that we were going to help him take in his
huge Costco trip. He was reluctant at first but then told us that we
could come in to talk to him for a moment. We taught him about the
Book of Mormon and what it could add to his life. He actually has
friends who are members and loves to read and loves god. He has even
spoken with missionaries before, but he said they never offered him
any material or tried to teach him, just talked to him so he wasn't
interested. But now, he is. Woo!

I feel that I still have so much to do and so much to grow. I want so
badly o influence more peoples lives for good, in bigger ways. That
effects me greatly now and for the rest of my life. mMany of my goals
and desires have morphed and developed into better things, and more my
own.

Something that very recently has been powerful to me the classic
"through small and simple things are great things brought to pass." It
is okay if I am a little small and simple. With consistency,
diligence, desire, passion direction I can accomplish great things. I
will be keeping that it mind, especially over the next few months.

Thank you for all the love. SO MANY PICTURES, and so many good ones.

I love you all!

Love//

Elder Bigelow

 Here is my new Colombian Companion


Monday, September 1, 2014

Red, White and Blue

I am going to D.C. Today and will try to get some good pictures for
you guys. It should be a good time. It is going to be PACKED.

This past week was great though. Here are some of the highlights that
keep me pumped.

-We in our companionship have seen many miracles this past week
including finding an amazing American military family with 3 kids who
let us in and we had a beautiful impromptu lesson. We are going back
to give them to the Arlington English Sisters on Tuesday. I really
feel in my bones that they will be baptized. And when we invited them
they said they would be if they feel they develop a relationship as
they learn more and read the Book of Mormon. How cool is that! Really,
if that were all that I caused on my mission I think it would be worth
it. Now our goal is make a "story worth telling" happen every day. I
just want to see miracles and be able to remember them forever.

-I got to wear a luchador mask. It is straight out of Mexico and I
look. GOOD. pictures are included below



-I have found happiness in my diligence. Hard work brings me
satisfaction. I am just waiting for that clause of, "how much greater
will be your joy if ye bring many souls into me!"

-This week I had pollo a la brasa (Peruvian rotisserie chicken) three
days in a row. That is less of a highlight and more of an overload
because the flavor is so strong i have grown a little tired of it. My
abundance has caused me to become picky. I still, however, am always
enormously grateful for when members feed us.

I have felt this week my confidence in God and his will, whatever it
is, has grown greatly. I don't know exactly why, but I have a greater
sense of security. Maybe it comes from my continual experience, great
knowledge and understanding or something different all together--we
had a conversation with a guy named Chris last night that really made
me think about that. He was a previous Christian and had explored
deeply in all sorts of religions. He did this truly, genuinely,
sincerely searching for the origins of truth. Or at least that is what
I got from what he told us. The interesting part is that through this
process he has become a very "spiritual person" but still really has
no ground to stand on in security; even though he is so well studied
and has spent so much time thinking. He still believes in a great
creator and engineer of this world and some sort of messiah figure.
After thinking, I think his lack of security comes from a
lack of spiritual answers. All he wanted from us was, "proof, proof
where is your proof?" Of course there are things that I feel
indicate the veracity of living prophets and the Book of Mormon.
Really though, the thing I have learned to hold on to and continually
search for is spiritual guidance and feelings. I just feel secure as I
go through the steps of the gospel of Christ and I enjoy life so much
more on so many levels when I live the commandments and bust my behind
to become a better person. I will continue in my journey for further
knowledge and understanding. I have changed a lot in the past year and
a half and need to continue that process as well. I feel I can say now
that I know God lives and directs and loves us. Much of that direction
can be found through the living prophets and leaders of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But there is still so much I don't
know nor comprehend, and that is okay. I am here to learn.

Thank you so much for all your love. I love you all! Please spread It
where it needs to go

Love//

Elder Bigelow