Week of July 21

One of the highlights of this week is that while we were in one of the
more run down neighborhoods of our area we came across a gold
convertible mustang with a large body kit. It was just one of "those
cars." We were kind of chuckling on the way past it, and then we saw
it. There is this specific passalong card with the resurrected Christ
on them that missionaries use a lot and that Hispanics seem to love.
The owner of this ghetto mustang had one taped to their dashboard
right next to the speedometer, we lost it. It was too good to be true.
We ended up writing him a little note offering him a new card and told
him we would love to help him come closer to Christ. We lifted up his
rag top and slid it in to the cabin. I really hope he calls us.

We have been working really hard to day and finally are on our way up.
We are finally progressing. We talked to tons of people this week and
desperately tried to work with, through, and serve members.

I have been working as hard as I can to be diligent in my studies and
work ethic so that I can continue to progress personally even if those
around me don't want to accept it. That is the interesting thing about
missionary work. Agency is everything. First comes mine, which is
whether or not I am obedient, study like crazy and am diligent in my
work and then there comes whether or not people want to accept what I
have to say. I have learned a lot recently about how faith or belief
is justified by works. I knew that before, but I really get it more.
The way I pray with more faith is how I act on what I say I will do
and how I show God that I am ready for the answers or the specific
things I ask for or need. I have become a much better doer of the word
as opposed to just a hearer of the word. I have realized that I will
be a doer for the rest of my life.

I know that God is aware of us and our efforts. I think that he really
does have a specific knowledge and concern for all of our struggles
and desires. I receive answers to my prayers and I know if others pray
with faith they will receive the same.

You guys are amazing!

Love//

Elder Bigelow

PS This is what my morning looks like:

Week of July 14

Sorry if the amount of writing is below normal. I spent a lot of time
reading and reflecting about what you sent me dad. Thanks for that, it
was great to think. I spend A LOT of time thinking and studying, but
getting some new meat to chew on was helpful. It is wonderful to see
how faith can wax unbreakable while room for exploring concerns and
doubts is allowed. It seems my journey of faith throughout this life
will be an interesting one.

But, adventures are great.

We have had many successes and many failures; both to be learned from.
It feels like we are in that one scene in Star Wars where our giddy
group of heroes are thrown in to the trash compactor and it slowly
collapses while the fight the weird worm thing. They tried everything
they could but nothing could stop their imminent death. I kind of feel
like I am kicking at a slowly collapsing wall of steel whose force
cannot be stopped. The good news is I know I have divine help. All
that needs to happen is for us to be lead to that one prepared person
whose prepared family is waiting for the gospel. There is power in
one. I just have forget about collapsing walls and work. One person
outside my predicament can stop the machinery that's eagerly trying to
stop me. (I don't exactly remember how the get out in Star Wars, will
you let me know)

I will let you know who we find this next week.

I love all the pictures from Jackson. Is Julia at girls camp now? It
looks like they both loved their horse riding time. Are you guys home
from Jackson yet though? If not, when is the date? I seriously get
more and more pumped to spend more time there with every picture I
see.

I will continue working hard and share the belief I have in my father
and in Jesus as the Christ. I will talk to as many people as I can to
try and find the one. You guys keep sharing what you got!


Love//

Elder Bigelow

PS Loving my sandwich

A local Elder headed for the MTC

Week of July 7

I have loved hearing about all the friends, family, food and
adventures in a familiar home away from home. It looks like this trip
is shaping up to be one of the best ones yet. I hope that next year
you stay for three weeks again, then maybe I can come up and visit
twice. Whatever happens I am coming with.

-This week it POURED RAIN. We said as we got out of the car, "lets go
get persecuted in the rain!" because that is what Elder Ballard said
is the best response when he visited our mission a little while ago.
We went and tracted for about an hour and everything that was not
waterproof became completely saturated with water. Even with the rain
we were not able to get into anyones house which was unfortunate, but
soon we will find our family that is ready to be baptized. That is
what I pray for all the time. I want to find, teach and baptize a
family. I have not been able to do that in my mission yet. It has only
even been parts, or loose ends of families. I want to bring an entire
family the Gospel.

-The chocolate bar you sent is quite delish. The whole coconut thing
going on is a great compliment to the dark chocolate. I will love
trying to be a foodie guy when I get home. Here I do the best I can,
but compared to everyone that we eat a variety to vegetables is a
weird things. While on exchanges Elder Macias and I went to a
greek-american fusion restaurant which was way good. I think I like
Mediterranean food, well it makes me feel really good at least. I need
to get over this milk allergy thing I have got going, it ruins
everything.

It is interesting for things to be a little bit on repeat as far as
the mission goes. I just had my second and last Fourth of July. I am
walking around in the hot outdoors daily, for the second and last
time. The most odd of all, is that even though it is many months away,
I quickly and surely close in on the time I have left here on my
mission. I will be ready for it to end when it comes(i think). But I
sure do not want it to be over tomorrow, nor next month. I have to
much to become and to much to learn to just be done now. I want to
bust my butt to keep changing. I am pretty sure I have said it before,
but I will say it again. I think the biggest way I have changed is
that I want to be more like Christ. I want to become a better person,
I see in a much more achievable vision of who I want to become. Before
that wasn't always apparent in my life, but now I think it will be
forever.

That is one of the things I love about the pureness of the Gospel. It
paints the vision for what is ahead of us. It then often shows us what
to do to get there.

peace out, enjoy the great out doors and do stupid things.

Love//

Elder Jonny Bigelow

Week of June 30

You are off!! I am pumped you are on your way to Jackson, boy do I
miss those mountains, all mountains really. I was showing a family
pictures of mountains and the snow from June. They were firstly
flabbergasted at the prospect that it could have snowed in summer and
secondly at the enormity of our little Rockies. It is always to swap
memories with people who are also so far away from their real home. It
seems to me everyone makes sacrifices for things they love. We talked.
Lot about that this past Sunday. I had the opportunity  of teaching
gospel principles  this week. The teacher was going to be out of town
so who do you call? The missionaries! It was good, though kind of
scary to start. The lesson was on tithing, and paying a full honest
one to boot. The part that made it a little sketchy was that right out
of the gates is a rather recent convert asked, "so are you saying that
because I am a single mom of 3 children with limited work
opportunities and I pay what I can I am not honest with God?" In my
mind I said, shoot, I'm dead. I told her that we are going to talk
about the importance of exercising faith in god through exact
obedience and that she should think about her question and that we
will discuss it later. It was most certainly a panicky run on sentence
when I said it. She said okay and we moved into a actually very
powerful "platica" about exercise faith through the paying of tithing,
and how really it is more a principle of faith as opposed to something
just concerned with finances. The most impressive part was that many
of the most impactful experiences and testimonies were from converts
who had many of the same questions. On top of everything, one of our
investigators whose largest obstacles was tithing came to me three
times throughout the day to tell us how good the lesson was. That was
great.

This past week has been a breakthrough for me in a couple of ways. One
of the main ones has been my ability to recognize the spirit. I have
seen a noticeable difference in how I feel while I teach and when I
pray. Before I felt like I was I was grappling at smoke with slippery
hands, but now I catch hold to something now and again, and it is
consistent. That is the best part. Before it was now and again, now it
is every few days. That is the best divine help I could imagine. I
deeply appreciate the hand of God in my life.

I think that writing has helped me A LOT. I have been writing in my
journal again, and consistently. Reflecting on my experience through
deep thought has changed how I remember things. The more I think about
that it reminds me of how often the scriptures tell us to remember.
This life is all about remembering what we have received. I think that
is why God hasn't given me more, I would just forget. Ha, funny how
things work. I love where I am and where in am and where I am going.

I am struggling in many aspects as you would expect, because who
wouldn't be. I, however, am confident in who guides me.

Love//

Elder Bigelow

week of June 23

I love hearing about summer preparations, and I am so excited to hear
all about Jackson hole again. I think I will be even more excited to
go with you all next year. I am stoked to go camping and wander around
in the outdoors on my own schedule.

We have continued to escalate in our success and that is fantastic.
Seeing work pay off is always gratifying. I would like to say that I
would be able to continue without it but I do love to see it. I have
finally counted, and now want to know how long I have left. I have
been working hard but now knowing that I have 10 months left is a
little jarring. I really realize know that I need to work so much
harder. I am giving a lot of myself but I need to give more of myself.
I really need to wear myself out in the service of my god, because he
is my god, and I have learned to really love him. That has been one of
the biggest changes for me as I have served a mission. I have a
personal relationship with god. It used to be casual, with only
occasional though about how our relationship was doing but now it is
an active part of my life. I like it that way and I am happy for it to
continue growing.

I have been using like every spare minute I have to study recently. I
want to know the gospel so much more thoroughly and profoundly. I
often think of how much the gospel has and will direct and change my
life. I see so many scenarios, SO MANY, further on in my life when I
am going to have to really figure stuff out and try and reconcile all
the thoughts in my head and and what I think god wants. That is going
to be an interesting thing to go through. Not because I will becoming
a robot, but that I will develop through my own processes of coming to
conclusions while enlarging my knowledge and understanding of this
world that we live in.

We are off to play soccer right now. Our p day ours are often filled
with soccer or basketball now. My current companion isn't really into
any sort of historical or cultural exhibitions and or museums. So I
guess I will do that later. I think though this transfer is going to
be my last one here. I don't really want it to be but that's what. Lot
of people keep saying, and it is what I am feeling. I wasn't feeling
it last transfer but I am now.

I love my mission. I love you guys. I love this world. I love my
potential. I love everyone I see.

week of June 16

How is everything going at home now that everything is back to normal?
 When do you all get on the move again for Jackson? Will you be
leaving at the very end of June like so often happens? I am trying to
gauge birthday presents... Speaking of that you should be receiving a
package for Father's Day, I tried to time it right but it might be
arriving today or tomorrow. It is a book, believe it or not. But I
hope a good one (i didn't read it). You can borrow it too.

This week I had a interesting experience with the Atonement I will
tell you all briefly about. I think for the first time I have really
experienced the Atonement as a supporting power. That I have
recognized at at least, I am sure it has supported me in the past.

I was having some doubts as I often do and I really need help figuring
stuff out. I became a little bit frantic in my search doing every
thing I could think of to gain the knowledge and peace I needed. After
lots of my own efforts and a lot of help from the other side I figured
out what I needed. In retrospect I realized that all I did was
exercise faith in Christ through Prayer and study as well as my own
sacrifice. I repented of my short-comings, remembered the promises I
made to follow Jesus Christ the last time I took the sacrament and
then bam, I felt the support of the spirit. It was a really fantastic
opportunity for me to experience the Atonement again. I know how I can
conquer all my doubts as they can continue to come for the rest of my
life, because I know they will. And, until I die, I won't have it all
figured out.

I am grateful for the power of the atonement in my life. I will
continue to use it and continue to share it.

Thank you for being great!

I Love You All//

Elder Jonny Bigelow

What are your summer goals girls?(evelyn and julia)
I hear that you are doing all sorts of good things in the mornings
before playing. You are going to be so much smarter than I was when I
a kid!

Mom, do you have a milage goal for your bike riding this year? That
could be a cool thing to accomplish.

week of June 9

This past week was another good one of progress. I still like
progress, but i still want BIGGER, FASTER, MORE. I don't know if I
will ever really be satisfied. I guess that is a good/bad thing. I
will figure that our later when we really are succeeding. The biggest
thing for me to gauge that though i think are my own personal goals.
As long as they always stretch me and I achieve them to perfection now
and again then I can be satisfied with the effort I put in. If I know
I am really giving everything I can at something then I should be
satisfied I guess. Anyway, enough about that.

This coming week we are a little bit in limbo because transfers are
this coming Thursday. Even though I have only been here for six weeks
I still could get transferred. That chance is higher this time around
for a number of reasons, so I am crossing my fingers I get to stay. We
really are finally rolling. We have a number of really cool
investigator families we just need to capitalize on. I want to see
them change! I am though happy to go wherever I am needed to do
whatever is asked. That is the whole point of this mission experience.

On Sunday we had a cool "charla foganera"(fireside) with many of the
recent converts. Every six weeks we have one of these, where the
recently baptized members get to bear their testimonies and share
their own conversion stories. They are pretty much always fun, and a
little enlightening because president Burton always speaks (have a
mentioned that I love him before?). But this time was special. A lot
of people were baptized in the past few weeks and there experiences
were so powerful. It was definitely a step above as far as firesides
go, extra cool part is that 3 kids of a part member families who
recently moved here from Honduras were there and loved it too. Carlos,
Nicole, and Gabriela are there names. They are one of the biggest
reasons I want to stay. Our whole mission is just stepping up there
game in all aspects. We are truly becoming powerful. It reminds me of
something I was studying recently. In the stories of Ammon and
Aaron--which we study all the time as missionaries-- they do all this
great stuff like do service, ask inspired questions and simply teach
doctrine etc etc but as I was studying them again I realized that the
thing that made everything happen was the "power" of the spirit. It
refers to power many times in both cases without explicitly saying, of
the spirit. But that is what it is, and that is what I personally am
gaining and what we as a mission are gaining.

I have realized even though I don't do this mission for myself, nor do
I do it for my own recognition and glory it really is for me. This is
not my work, and it would be done without me. I am asked to, and given
the opportunity to be apart of it so I can be changed. I have changed
a lot--but I think that is a good thing. In some ways I haven't
changed though, I almost bought some new expensive shoes today...I
however did buy the cheap ones because my green ones are kind of
starting to disintegrate.

.my desk is clean
.i am using the keyboard you guys got for me THANKYOU
.i really really really want to go on a  good proper bike ride right now
.yesterday i ate a weird/yummy thing called salchipapas it is got dogs
and french fries cut up with lettuce and tons of condiments. It is
apparently a tradition peruvian dish.
.me and the members here are finally tight
.i think when i get home one of the first things i will do is go camping
.last thing---new goal--finish the Book of Mormon as fast as I can, as
slow as I can. I am in alma 22 but I really want to finish soon. I am
reading very carefully and slowly. Ask me where I am next week

I have a lot left to go but I feel it is just around the corner.

Love//

Elder Jonathan Bigelow

ps. I got evelyns letter, it is great. I already hung up one of the paintings
pps. para terminar,pienso que voy a mandar algo en español para que
puedas practicar el tuyo también. He mejorado muchísimo en los últimos
seis semanas y estoy animado para continuar avanzando en mi español.
En un año más, seré pretty good.

My desk these days: