Week 16 - Elder Bigelow, Pick your head up!

Hey everyone,

      I hope you have had a good week. It is getting closer and closer
to Christmas. And I am so excited. It is easier to share the gospel at
this time when people are a little more open towards the gospel.
And they are thinking of Jesus Christ a little more. This week has
been awesome. Cool story. So this week was going kinda rough. We were
going into an appointment for a lady that we mostly just visit. We
teach her a little. But she doesn't really remember what we say. She
just remembers that we bring her happiness. Any ways, we go in and her
husband comes out and yelled at us and told us never to come back
because we were causing problems. And our other investigator has been
out of contact for the last couple weeks. So we were like dang. But
then at church we have been watching this kid named Nick. He is ten
but hasn't been baptized yet. We are supposed to get him into
primary. But then this week we decided to have a lesson with him. And
just teach him. So we sat him down. And talked to him about the
importance of baptism. And we taught him the first lesson. And it went
really well. And we talked about what the importance of baptism. And we
talked about how he will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And he
was confused about what that was. So we talked to him about it.  And
then I was like have you felt it?  And he sat for a second and thought
about it. And he didn't really answer. So I asked him. Do you want to?
Because one of the times that I feel the Holy Ghost the most is when
I receive a blessing, would you like one? And he said sure. So we asked
if his cousin (who was sitting in on the lesson and just got back from
his mission) if he would give him a blessing and he did.  And the
spirit was so strong. And we told Nick that he could feel this same
feeling every day for the rest of his life! And then we asked him if he
would be baptized. We said. Hey you could get baptized the day after
Christmas!  How would that feel?  And he said Yes! I am so excited
for him. Sometimes he is a little punk but hey we are getting there.
And this was a super cool testimony builder that the Lord watches out
for us. We have a lot to teach him between now and then. And we have a
lot to figure out. But I am happy right now. The Lord knew when I was
having a rough time. But he was there for me the whole time. And he
showed me. Elder Bigelow, There are prepared people right in front of
you!  Pick your head up. And it was so great! And I love it out here!
      I am doing great out here. Thanks for all your love and prayers.
I really appreciate it. The work is moving and I am having a good
time. Love you all.
Love, Elder Bigelow

"Hey Mom, we found some ugly sweaters at Walmart so we wore them to the ward Christmas party.  Everyone loved them!" (Mom note: he hasn't changed too much!)

Our zone!

Falls Church Missionaries - Elder?, Elder Sanders, Elder Timothy and Elder Bigelow

Elder Timothy and Elder Bigelow

Our District

   

Week 15 - Simplify and Plan

Hey everyone,
 
       I can't believe it is almost Christmas time.  I am so excited.
I love sharing the Christmas videos and Christmas pass along cards.
It is awesome. It is easier to start a conversation about Jesus Christ
when it is Christmas time.  This week has been pretty great. We have
been busy. Not a ton of progression which kinda stinks. But hey, it
will come.

     I learned this week to simplify.  It makes a huge difference when
teaching to just go to the basics.  It's hard.  We figured out that I
have been to over 6,000 hours of church education. And I want to share
everything I have learned. But that doesn't work. You need to
simplify.  For some people this is the first time learning about
church. They don't want to hear about something complex. But rather,
simplify, and tell the basics. And it will make sense and they will be
able to listen to the spirit and not be confused.
 
     This week I also learned that planning helps to be a better
missionary.  We had a big meeting on it.  It took like 9 hours.  But
hey it works.  When you plan for real you get more accomplished. It is
sweet. And it helps you to reach your goals.  And it works.  Not a ton
of stuff has happened this week. But I have learned a lot. I can't
wait for Christmas.  I hope you all had a good week.  I will write
more next week.

Love, Elder Bigelow

Week 14 - Happy Thanksgiving

Hey everyone,

     Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have had a great week. My week has
been pretty good!  Two thanksgiving dinners in one day! No big deal.
Just felt like my stomach was about to explode.  But hey it's all
good.  Our first one was super good. It was at the Cannons in our
ward. And it was super yummy.  She is a dang good cook. And it was
super fancy.  And then we went to our second one.  It was super
random.  We got a call on Tuesday night and a lady told us that she
has the missionaries over every year for Thanksgiving and that she wanted

us to come over and read the Mormon Bible with her.  We were like, "sweet". Like we may have just received a potential!  So let's go check it out. So we were super excited!  It is a little out of our area but hey. Let's go teach them. So we show up and she was super excited to see us. And
we are like "sweet".  Thanksgiving 2.0. So we go in and sit down while we are waiting for her to finish getting everything ready. And we get
to sit down at the dinner table and it was the most creative Thanksgiving dinner I have ever eaten. There was some macaroni and cheese casserole. 

And the food was almost good.  And we were already pretty full. And it was crazy. I have never had to pray for the strength in my stomach to make it 

though a meal, but hey the Lord really does answer prayers.  And we all ended up making it out alive! They were great people and I loved sharing 

the gospel.  But it was an adventure to say the least.
     And then on Friday we had dinner with a family from Turkey that
moved in right above us. They were super cool. And they cooked some
yummy food. They are awesome and want to learn more about the gospel
and come to church!  I am so excited. They are probably my favorite
investigators right now.  While we were at dinner we got offered wine,
coffee and tea.  We happily declined and we told them about how we
don't drink them. And why we don't. And they were super understanding.
And were like "yea that totally makes sense". We see them all the time
because they live in our complex. And they are the best.
    And it was Elder Sanders birthday this week.  He is another elder
in our ward.  And we had a cake and everything. And he wanted to go out to dinner.  He kept telling us that all he wanted was just a big steak. So we decided to go to Outback Steakhouse. Dad you will probably get a kick out of it.  But yea all four of us missionaries walked into Outback Steakhouse on Saturday night.  It was so fun.  And we were giving pass along cards to the waiter and stuff so we still did missionary work. And Elder Sanders got his steak. We probably won't be able to go out to eat for at least the next month. But hey it was worth it.
     This week has been awesome. I am thankful that I am a missionary.
Until next week!
 
Love, Elder Bigelow

Week 13 - "Let the deacons be the husbands"

Hey everyone,
 
This week has been great! We have been working with our ward mission leader on praying specifically. And to "weary the Lord". And to pray every day for at least one meaningful conversation about the gospel. And when you believe it can happen it does. It is a beautiful thing. It happened this week. Every day without fail. When you believe and ask for help from the Lord,He is there for you.  This week we have found a lot more people to teach. We were walking into the store to use the restroom and a man stopped us and told us that he needs religion in his life. And he was willing to listen. He is awesome. Then we just had a potential investigator call us back and is meeting with us this week. It's sweet!  We also had a couple members bring friends to church on Sunday. It was awesome.
    Ok so now kinda a funny story. So last night we went to this open house for a missionary who just got home from his mission. There were a bunch of non members there so it was a great missionary opportunity. The missionary's little brother was kinda joking around with us. He is 10 almost 11. And we were kinda teasing him about all his little girlfriends we see him running around with. I teasingly told him when he turns 12 and becomes a deacon he can get married.  And I told him about this scripture 1 Timothy 3:12 "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well." And he was so confused. And so he took my iPad and show his mom and this returned elder's girlfriend who just barley got home from a mission too. His girlfriend was so unimpressed that I showed him that. She said, "We usually as missionaries try to share scriptures that uplift and bring the spirit." And I was dying laughing. It was so funny. The little guy was so embarrassed. And it was so funny. He is a Champ. He loves joking around with us.  And his mom was laughing too. She thought it was pretty funny. I guess some people don't get my excellent sense of humor. 

       Anyways this week has been great! I love the work out here. And
can't wait for Christmas. 

Until next week! 

Love,

Elder Bigelow