Just a quick note to Dad

Elder Bigelow sent this short but sweet email to his Dad who loves to send him pictures.

Hey thanks for your email Dad. I love emails from you. You always send
pictures and it is sweet. I sent a bunch of pictures to Mom. You can
see them. But I have one for you you might like...

Only in Washington DC....

Week Four - Falls Church - Splits, Sick Companion and P-Day at Great Falls

To everyone!!!
 
This last week has been great!  It feels like it has been 7 weeks.
Every day is packed with enough things to last a week! But it has been
great out here. My companion Elder Richards has been sick for a couple
days. So we took it easy for the first part of the week which was
nice. But once he got better we were back at it! The work here is
kinda slow but we are still moving forward. We found a couple of
potentials this week. Which is awesome. And I have learned the benefit
of making goals. When you make small attainable goals you will be
blessed with success. We were walking to a house for a dinner
appointment and I said. "We will find one potential by the time we make
it there." So we started knocking. We got rejected time and time again.
It was getting rough. Our spirits were getting weighed down a little
but we kept moving forward. Finally, the last house before our
appointment a man about 26 answered the door and sounded interested.
We taught home like whole story of the Book of Mormon. And he said he
would read it. We asked him to pray about it as he would for the bible
and he was like sure. I know that it was the Lord looking out for us.
I will let you know what comes form that. But I just want you all to
know I am doing great and loving it out here!
 
Love, Elder Bigelow
 
132 Chanel terrace apt. 104
Falls Church, VA 22046

Today Elder Bigelow, his companion and the other two missionaries from 

their ward got to go to Great Falls.  He sent some pictures! 

Yay for pictures! 

In Between Weeks 3&4 - Service Day Picture and Letters Home

One of the great things about a stateside mission (this mom will be saying that more than once!!!) is the fact that we can send letters and Elder Bigelow can send hand written letters home also.  Oh man, those are the best.  This week the family got a great letter from Elder Bigelow.  The quote of the letter was after he told us of a wonderful day last Tuesday (9.22) going on splits and he finished it by saying, "I know the Lord blesses you when you are exactly obedient and work your hardest.  Days like that make missions great."  What a great attitude. 

Here are some pictures that were sent to me also throughout the week... I love pictures!!

Service Day!  And Elder Bigelow is wearing his BYU shirt that Mark sent him from the white out game against Boise State!

Elder Leishman, Elder ?, Elder Bigelow and Elder Richards

Week Three - Falls Church, Virginia

Haha. I love that you got a puppy. I am a little sad that I am missing the crazy. But it's ok. I tell everyone that my family got a puppy right after I left and they don't think that it is that crazy. I am glad you are feeling the blessings. It helps me keep going. 

Not going to lie, the field is way different then I expected. You are accountable to yourself. There are a lot of lazy missionaries out here. It makes me mad. It is killing me.  

But I have been working on getting our act together. We got a list of a bunch of less active families. And some part member families that we will start to explore.  We get fed some of the time. Not all the time, but it's cool. A sister took us and the other missionaries in our ward to Cheesecake Factory. And it was awesome. A bunch of the members love the missionaries. I don't know if you got a face book picture of me at a house. If you did that was from the Jardine's. And they are super nice. We have been getting to know some families and asking for referrals. That's the best way to find people. But we have also already gone tracting.  That's an adventure. You never know who is behind the door. Or what they are wearing. We had a guy answer the door without any pants on . But it was funny. I just have to make sure we get a plan and get out to work. 

I am in the Falls Church Ward. Kinda by Mclean. But it is sweet! It is super pretty here. I love it!...

I am starting to be myself again. I got really intimated when I got out here and was really quiet. But I am getting better now which is nice. I got really scared it would change my personality. But it is coming back. 

I am doing well out here though. Getting along and working hard. It is super pretty here and hasn't been too hot yet. So that is nice that you keep an eye on everyone for me. I love you. And miss you. 

Love, Elder Bigelow

Tender Mercies for Mom!

Sometimes moms need a little tender mercy to get them through the long weeks of missing their little boys!  Heavenly Father knows that.  And he always finds a way to help.  The top picture is Elder Bigelow and Elder Richards at the Jardine's home in Falls Church, Virginia.  Sister Jardine messaged me with this picture!  The second picture is Elder Richards and Elder Bigelow, it was posted on Elder Richards' facebook page. 

Arrival in Washington DC

President and Sister Huntsman with Elder Bigelow on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

I don't think I could have been happier than when I opened my email tonight to this picture.  The short but sweet email included said, "We have your son, and we LOVE him." This mother's heart smiled!!  We got to chat with Elder Bigelow for a couple minutes at 4:00am this morning from the Salt Lake City airport and then again for 20 minutes while he was on a layover in Minneapolis.  It was heavenly to hear his voice and especially his laugh.  He is happy, sounds grown up all of a sudden, and eager to get to work. 

MTC - Week 2

Hey family.  This is crazy I am here. But I love it. It is definitely hard. Probably the hardest thing I have done. But it is good. It keeps me busy. And you want embarrassing stories? I probably have like five so far. It kills me. But it is funny. I can role with it a lot better now :). 

I love my district though. They are fun. We could stay up all night laughing. I wish I could tell you about all of them. I have so much I could say. But I just want to say that I love you and miss you. And want you to know that Jesus loves you. And that everything I have done to get here helps so much. Even our family situation and trials. Because I have come from that I am able to be a better DL and to help my comp. 

Love, Elder Bigelow 

Elder Murdock and Elder Bigelow

Elder Bigelow's Zone - Zone 26

From left to right. Me. Sister Evans, Elder Murdock, Elder Yeager, Sister Blackmun, Elder Soderquist, Elder Elya, Sister Goodwin, Elder Dixon, Sister Hansen, Elder Burt, and Elder Lucas

Laundry Room at the MTC... have you ever seen anything like it??

MTC - Week 1

Mission life is crazy. They keep you on your toes. But you still have
time to laugh a little. Thank goodness. Other wise this would never
end. My companion is super cool. I am glad he is. He is from Boise,
Idaho and is way smart with computers. This helps so much with my Ipad.
 
The spirit here is always so strong. I love it. I know this is where I
need to be. I am not sure what to write. There has already been so
much. But it's great!  The guys in my room are so awesome. They keep
me laughing all the time. We have 6 guys in my room. We are all a
little different but we all have stuff in common. We played basketball
yesterday as our room. And it was actually fun. Probably because we
are all just playing to have fun:).
 
I got called as the district leader for my district. It is cool. I get
to get the mail. I love mail, it is one of the best parts of the day.
My district it sweet. We have two sister companionships. And they are
fun. And then we have four elder companionships. The food here is
pretty yummy. But it always makes my stomach feel weird. I am ready to
have real food. No more of this cafeteria food. I feel like I need to
run every day to feel good.
 
I miss all you guys. But I love it here too. I know this is where I
need to be!  Can't wait to hear how you are doing. I will send more
next week. Love you!
 
Love, Elder Bigelow

Breakfast at Kneaders, See's Candy for snacks, the Temple for Pictures...then the drop off

What a day... 12:30 was the time Elder Bigelow was to be dropped off at the Provo Missionary Training Center!  We started the day with Breakfast at Kneaders so he could have all you can eat French Toast.  Then, with a little time to spare, we stopped at See's Candy so we could fill his already full suitcases with treats.  Then to the Provo Temple Parking Lot, where it might be so exciting for missionaries, but is a bit tough for mothers (this mother for sure!).  Once we finished there, we all climbed back in the Excursion, Elder Bigelow said a final family prayer and then we drove into the MTC parking lot.  After a quick minute, fast hugs, and lots of tears, he was off... on his adventure!!!  The rest of us cried all the way home... we let ourselves do that, now we have our own adventures to get to! 

 

 

And Elder Bigelow's favorite scripture will get us through our adventures while he is out having his grand adventure.  Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Today is the day!

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”