Week 46 - President Huntsman trusts me!

Hey Mom,

Sorry about the change in pday. It was a surprise for me too. So Saturday night Elder Snow got a call and was asked to be the new Assistant to the Mission President. So he left on Sunday afternoon and because transfers are this Thursday Elder Sanders came into my companionship so we had a three some. So Elder Sanders is still a zone leader. And they had a special leadership meeting on Monday in DC. So all the zone leaders changed their p days to Tuesday. And because we are companions with a zone leader we had to change our p day too. So that's why we changed. I hope that makes sense.

So transfers are this Thursday. And I am leaving Tall Cedars. I don't know where I am going yet. But I got a call last night saying I am going to be a zone leader and that I need to pack. So that is kinda a pain. I don't like packing and I really like this ward. But we will see what happens. It will all work out and it will be fun. We looked at all the options of places I could go. And they all seemed like chill guys. So that will be cool. I am excited for it. I didn't expect it. I thought I might be training. But I didn't know. But I am excited for this. It will be cool. It means that I am basically just over like 25 missionaries now. So it will be cool. And that President trusts me. So I am happy about that. 

Ray is still going to be baptized. I will come back for it. Hopefully, unless I have something going on. But he is still on track which is really good. Things have been really good. I will miss Elder Evans. We had a lot of fun. So that will be different. But it will be cool. 

The family reunion sounds super fun. Dad sent me a couple pictures from it. And it looked super fun. I love the beach and fishing. And just hanging out! That sounds great.  

These past couple days have been super weird with Elder Sanders in the companionship. And he is super nervous about transfer now. And it is weird going from two people to three. But things are getting a little more normal now. 

Last week was pretty normal. I will know tonight where I am headed. I am a little nervous. But not too much. More just surprised. But it will be cool! 

We had sushi night with this non member. We did a bunch of service for him. And he went and got us sushi. So he bought a ton of sushi. But it was super good. He is pretty cool. He is super nice. And funny.

Love, Elder Bigelow

(Mom note - We were notified last night that Elder Bigelow is headed to McLean, Virginia in a Young Single Adult ward.)

Week 45 - Bulls vs. The Jazz

Hey Mom,

I totally almost forgot it was the Bigelow family reunion. That sounds like a pretty crazy time. But that will be super cool! That is way cool that you will get to go fishing out in the ocean! That will be a blast! And that's cool that Noah will be baptized on the 16th. That's when Ray is going to be baptized. So that will be a cool day all around. 

Things are going better this week. We have been doing better at using our time wisely. So I am happy about that. And we have a guy we have been teaching a lot more. So that is good.  I don't know. Transfers are in like a week and a half. But it is pretty up in the air. Elder Evans is a good guy.  

This new guy Satish is cool. He is kinda crazy. We saw him Saturday night. We just ran into him. He was walking to the grocery story. And we went with him. He kept bringing up the Utah Jazz. And the 1997 NBA playoffs against the Bulls (game 6). And he was so mad about it. And then when we got back to his place he was trying to find the video of how the Bulls cheated. He loves the Jazz. And we left and told him we would be there tomorrow morning to pick him up for church. So we knock on his door at 9:45 for church. And he comes to the door. He says, "I just woke up and give me 5 min. and I will be ready." So we wait for him. And he comes out carrying his trash and he walks it down and throws it away and then is ready to go. It was funny. We were with the elder quorum president to pick him up. And he is a big hunter and has his big truck. 

He came to church and sacrament meeting was kinda long for him I think. But there were some good testimonies and I think they resonated with him. I gave him my I pad and he read the lesson and followed along. So it kinda worked out. And then Elders quorum was really good. We talked about choices and President Monson's talk about choices and he really connected with that. He was all there and he really liked that. And he saw how in his life he didn't have any direction. So that is why it didn't matter what he choose. And I think he liked church. There were some people that came up and talked with him. And we're really excited to see him here. And it was great! He is working on getting in with some good group of friends. And so I think the happiness of all the families stood out with him. He has a long way to go. But if he takes it seriously. I feel like he can be working and making it again in like 3 months. But he makes us laugh.

Love, Elder Bigelow

Week 44 - Focusing on the finding

Hey mom,

 
Man it is getting hot out here. We were really sweating a couple days this week! We have been walking a lot and knocking a lot. And sweating a lot. But we have found a couple of cool people this week that we started to teach. This week as a mission we wanted to find 300 new investigators. And so we were really focused on finding. It was super cool. We found this new guy named Satish. He is pretty cool. He is Indian, but born in DC. And while he was growing up in DC he loved the Jazz. And everyone would make fun of him. But it was funny. And we were walking by an apartment complex and he was like on the porch and he stopped us and started talking to us. It was super cool! And then we met with him again on Sunday. He missed church but we went over after and he is still going good. 

I am doing a lot better this week. I think that finding a couple new people helped. 

Ray is still progressing. He is ready and excited! 

On Saturday morning we went on a hike with Brother Smith. It was cool! We actually found some mountains which was super nice! And then we had lunch at his place and we stopped and got ribs and smoked chicken with some beans and collared greens. It was super good. It is kinda like a mini farmers market. Like super mini. It is at this round about and they have the rib guy, a salsa guy, a kettle corn guy and a pastry guy. And they are come here every Friday and Sunday. But the rib's guy is the best. He makes some dang good ribs. There is usually a huge line for them! But it was dang good. Dad would be all over it. And it was the first time I have ever had collard greens. Well I think it's collard greens. It was like boiled kale. Anyways it was pretty good!

We went to Mananas Battlefield today. Which was pretty cool. It was where Stonewall Jackson got his name. It was pretty cool. And now we are going to pick up elder Evans.

It was a good day. I sure love you! Thanks for all you do! And thanks for your prayers for me. They really help. And I can feel them help keep me motivated and patient and for the people I teach. That's so fun that Emily and Audrey got to stay. They are super cute. And that's funny that you had the missionaries talk with them. That's super Funny!

I hope you feel better. I sure love you!

Love, Elder Bigelow

Week 43 - Ray is on date!

Hey mom! 

This week has been good. It has been kinda long. But good. We put Ray on date for July 16th. So that's really exciting. He is super excited about it! And I think that he will pull through! So this will be great. We are going to really try to get his wife in on the lessons too. We will see how that goes! I am super excited about him! 

This week we did a lot of moving! We helped this family move Thursday most of the day Friday most of the day. And then all of Saturday! But hey we finally got it. I think we might be going over there on Tuesday to help move some stuff around. She is super nice. And funny. And it is like a happy family that nobody would have expected. While we were helping them move I learned a lot about her heart of the east coast. Not like the busy life but the deep roots east coast. And southern lifestyle. Something they all do is laugh at there own jokes. Super hard. And most of the time they are the only ones laughing. Hearing all these ladies go back and forth about crazy road trips they had and stuff was super funny! So that's kinda how moving went! Just to give you a little idea.

But I am super excited to go golfing today. It should be pretty fun! It will be a nice break. And something we haven't done. I am doing well though. I will grab something for Mark and Dad today to send home. They will like that I think. I sure love you mom. You are the best! 

Love, Elder Bigelow

Week 42 - It is hot here!

Hey mom!

It was great to see you on Thursday! I had a blast! It was fun to see some of the old ahs people. And some of the cousins. It was my favorite part of the week too! I think she will really like more pictures!

The rest of the week has been good. It has been pretty hot! It was 100 or 103 on Saturday! It was dang hot! We walked so much. I think I walked like 18 miles on Friday and Saturday. I was pretty worn out this weekend!

Elder Evans and I are getting along well. And I think I am helping him a bunch. Everyone says he is a lot happier now then he has been before!

Today we are going to go play sports with the zone. We might do some soccer which would be nice. I miss that! So I am excited about that!

I am doing great! My legs are a little sore in the mornings from walking. But hey it's all good. It helps me to not get fat!

I sure love you! Hope you have a great day!

Love, Elder Bigelow