9/15/2014
hi guys!!!! things are awesome here :)
my first area is Altameda Medellin. it is up on the side of the mountain so everything is up hill aaaaand is the druggie hideout. there's loud music and parties going on every night! but the members are sooo awesome. and they feed us so stinking much. i am NEVER hungry, but im loosing weight from walking so much haha. AND I BOUGHT A GUITAR :D i am sooooo happy!!! it was only 90 bucks including the case capo and tuner :)
its sooo dang hot here. I'm actually glad we only have cold showers. our apartment is tiny tho. me and my comp Elder Alvarado (he is 23, been in the mission for 19 months, and from honduras.. he kinda reminds me of dylan haha) share the apartment with elderes sanchez and condoroi. so i am the only one who speaks english... haha i have learned more in the last 6 days than i did in my first 6 weeks..
all the members cant believe i didn't know Spanish before my mission. they all talk about how when elder toronto was in altameda for his first area he didn't say a word for the first month. but i can speak spanish. i don't know how.. but i just can. my comp says my level of Spanish is better than most elders who have been out for 6 months. i am not bragging. i just want all of you to know that God lives, this is his work, and he has blessed me with the gift of tongues to further it here in the altameda area in medellin. talking gets easier every day.
thank you dad for your blessing before i left and please thank pres metcaff for me.
i love all of you. and encourage you to read Ether 12:27. pray for help cada dia.
also... my investigadors are AWESOME! haha just wanted to say that... we are teaching a 15 year old named lenny and he came to church this Sunday. he likes learning English haha
aaaaand it cost 25 bucks to send a letter here... soooo....
oh yeah and they asked me to talk in sacrament in 2 weeks haha whoooo!
k, love you all
Elder Bigelow
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
9/5/2014
alright guys... sit down...
my comp.. elder XXXXX.. 20 years old.. from Venezuela.. he know absolutely no English... he doesn't know the meaning of personal space.. or personal hygiene... and he gets bloody noses everyday, because he wont stop picking his nose... and eating it.... i need help.. hahaha I AM GOING CRAZY!!! hahaha its a good thing he is only my comp for 3 more days.. hes not even foto worthy
aaaaaand there's more.... i cried a lot this week... do you guys remember how there was only one other elder with me on the flight to Bogota? elder XXXXX, from California going to Bolivia for his mission.... well me and him got really close these past 5 weeks... and this Tuesday he announced to everyone that he would be flying back home Wednesday morning. WORST NIGHT SO FAR. he said he goofed up and needed to go back for a while... we gave him a blessing that night and the spirit was sooooo strong. i loved it. but i hated it. everything inside me was so mixed up. i got so homesick, and then felt really bad for everything I've ever done wrong.. i questioned whether i should go home too.... but guys, this is where i am, the lord knows me and can make my weaknesses strengths. and I'm not going home for 22 months 1 week and 3 days. okay?
whooooo! got that outta the way!!!
I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!! i am so happy to have heard from everyone and see pictures! and see the pigs and stuff!! haha that's super cool!!
went to the temple 2 times this week and i pretty much understand everything. my Spanish comprehension is great... just hard to speak. but having to talk to elder XXXXX makes it come quicker
well... the field is in 3 days. I AM SO PSYCHED!! you guys will see me on the missions facebook page!! haha sweet!!
and guess what!! i finished the book of mormon in 31 days!!!!!! i was so happy! that's an amazing book.... i got a challenge for you guys!! look for all 6 times it says the phrase "on by one"in the book of mormon. and then ponder on why that's significant :)
thank you for everything guys. i am so glad for this opportunity to be a missionary. keep preparing kade! read the book of mormon! its wonderful! and i wrote you a letter about a cool story i hope you get it
you're all in my prayers!
Elder Bigelow
alright guys... sit down...
my comp.. elder XXXXX.. 20 years old.. from Venezuela.. he know absolutely no English... he doesn't know the meaning of personal space.. or personal hygiene... and he gets bloody noses everyday, because he wont stop picking his nose... and eating it.... i need help.. hahaha I AM GOING CRAZY!!! hahaha its a good thing he is only my comp for 3 more days.. hes not even foto worthy
aaaaaand there's more.... i cried a lot this week... do you guys remember how there was only one other elder with me on the flight to Bogota? elder XXXXX, from California going to Bolivia for his mission.... well me and him got really close these past 5 weeks... and this Tuesday he announced to everyone that he would be flying back home Wednesday morning. WORST NIGHT SO FAR. he said he goofed up and needed to go back for a while... we gave him a blessing that night and the spirit was sooooo strong. i loved it. but i hated it. everything inside me was so mixed up. i got so homesick, and then felt really bad for everything I've ever done wrong.. i questioned whether i should go home too.... but guys, this is where i am, the lord knows me and can make my weaknesses strengths. and I'm not going home for 22 months 1 week and 3 days. okay?
whooooo! got that outta the way!!!
I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!! i am so happy to have heard from everyone and see pictures! and see the pigs and stuff!! haha that's super cool!!
went to the temple 2 times this week and i pretty much understand everything. my Spanish comprehension is great... just hard to speak. but having to talk to elder XXXXX makes it come quicker
well... the field is in 3 days. I AM SO PSYCHED!! you guys will see me on the missions facebook page!! haha sweet!!
and guess what!! i finished the book of mormon in 31 days!!!!!! i was so happy! that's an amazing book.... i got a challenge for you guys!! look for all 6 times it says the phrase "on by one"in the book of mormon. and then ponder on why that's significant :)
thank you for everything guys. i am so glad for this opportunity to be a missionary. keep preparing kade! read the book of mormon! its wonderful! and i wrote you a letter about a cool story i hope you get it
you're all in my prayers!
Elder Bigelow
Thursday, August 28, 2014
8/27/14
okay, i know what the subject of my email says.. but i will get to that in a min.. first, lets start with last Wednesday:
we went to the temple in the morning and i was able to understand a lot! i loved it! i got to read my patriarchal blessing in the celestial room. waaaay cool experience... but it gets better... as me and elder peck were walkin out of the celestial room, pres dyer stopped me and said "elder bigelow, i am very impressed with you Spanish. its hard to believe you have no Spanish background at all" SOOOOOO COOL :) made me confident... cause i was down on myself about it :)
then, on Thursday we went proselyting WAAY on the other side of Bogota.... me and alder pecked stopped some guy in the park and started talking to him.. he asked me why the book of mormon is needed and i told him about how Christ came to America and established his church here with the fullness of the gospel and its all recorded in the bom.. he wanted one sooooo bad! and asked us to go to lunch with him but we had already given out book away so we got his info for the missionaries in the field.. super cool :)
i got pretty sunburned while proselyting.. LOVE IT!!
okay, now the best day! so yesterday we went to the temple. and i swear to you guys i understood every word :) i couldn't believe it but i was so happy :) the temple is just an amazing place :) then, after the temple we switched rooms (ill tell you about my new room and comp in a min) and despues, vamos a tour de Bogota!!! soooooo sweeet!!! haha we rode a freaky old tram up a mountain to a castle churchy with a giant statue of christ. then we went to a musem full of lamanite artifacts and nephite armor!!! sooooo sick!! hahaha i was lovin it!!1 then, after wards we went to a store and bought fútbol jerseys! i got two Colombia ones and a Mexico jersey :) I MISS AUTUMN!!!!!! okay... algun veses, yo lloro in la noche.... perro todos es bien. soy muy feliz. yo amo mi mision y mi compañero :) OH thats right! haha companions!!
MY new companion is Elder Gil from Venezuela! i haven't met him yet! he will be here in a couple hours!! wooo! but it gets cooler! in my room, there is me and elder evens, hes from Utah.. mas our companions who only speak Spanish, they are from Venezuela y Bolivia, AND we have 2 elders from Mozambique who only speak Portuguese!!!! ahhhh! hahahaha so cool but minimal communication hahaha
also, last night a ton of new white elders came in last night... and i convinced them that i only speak Spanish!!! hahaha that also boosted my confidence ;)
alright guys! i love you. i am finishing this email so i can send pics!!
also, try this... i am in 3rd nephi and i started reading while picture each event in my mind as if i was there... and in my head i was a little child, as he knelt with me and all the other nephite children to pray. then blessed us one by one. i listened to his teachings and learned so much. DO NOT DOUBT. and DO Not go a DAY without reading the most true book on this earth. read and learn of our Savior. its all so true and wonderful. i love this work and i love my family and i love this language and i love the book of mormon, and i love my Savior JesuCristo.
Elder Bigelow
okay, i know what the subject of my email says.. but i will get to that in a min.. first, lets start with last Wednesday:
we went to the temple in the morning and i was able to understand a lot! i loved it! i got to read my patriarchal blessing in the celestial room. waaaay cool experience... but it gets better... as me and elder peck were walkin out of the celestial room, pres dyer stopped me and said "elder bigelow, i am very impressed with you Spanish. its hard to believe you have no Spanish background at all" SOOOOOO COOL :) made me confident... cause i was down on myself about it :)
then, on Thursday we went proselyting WAAY on the other side of Bogota.... me and alder pecked stopped some guy in the park and started talking to him.. he asked me why the book of mormon is needed and i told him about how Christ came to America and established his church here with the fullness of the gospel and its all recorded in the bom.. he wanted one sooooo bad! and asked us to go to lunch with him but we had already given out book away so we got his info for the missionaries in the field.. super cool :)
i got pretty sunburned while proselyting.. LOVE IT!!
okay, now the best day! so yesterday we went to the temple. and i swear to you guys i understood every word :) i couldn't believe it but i was so happy :) the temple is just an amazing place :) then, after the temple we switched rooms (ill tell you about my new room and comp in a min) and despues, vamos a tour de Bogota!!! soooooo sweeet!!! haha we rode a freaky old tram up a mountain to a castle churchy with a giant statue of christ. then we went to a musem full of lamanite artifacts and nephite armor!!! sooooo sick!! hahaha i was lovin it!!1 then, after wards we went to a store and bought fútbol jerseys! i got two Colombia ones and a Mexico jersey :) I MISS AUTUMN!!!!!! okay... algun veses, yo lloro in la noche.... perro todos es bien. soy muy feliz. yo amo mi mision y mi compañero :) OH thats right! haha companions!!
MY new companion is Elder Gil from Venezuela! i haven't met him yet! he will be here in a couple hours!! wooo! but it gets cooler! in my room, there is me and elder evens, hes from Utah.. mas our companions who only speak Spanish, they are from Venezuela y Bolivia, AND we have 2 elders from Mozambique who only speak Portuguese!!!! ahhhh! hahahaha so cool but minimal communication hahaha
also, last night a ton of new white elders came in last night... and i convinced them that i only speak Spanish!!! hahaha that also boosted my confidence ;)
alright guys! i love you. i am finishing this email so i can send pics!!
also, try this... i am in 3rd nephi and i started reading while picture each event in my mind as if i was there... and in my head i was a little child, as he knelt with me and all the other nephite children to pray. then blessed us one by one. i listened to his teachings and learned so much. DO NOT DOUBT. and DO Not go a DAY without reading the most true book on this earth. read and learn of our Savior. its all so true and wonderful. i love this work and i love my family and i love this language and i love the book of mormon, and i love my Savior JesuCristo.
Elder Bigelow
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
8/19/2014
Guys! I'm 3 weeks in and it seriously feels like 3 months haha
not a very eventful week tho. just classes... but we did have the new guys come in last week. the 2 new guys in mine and pecks room are Elder Patton from SC and Elder Mcgee from Springfield Missouri. they are both the coolest guys.. the 4 of us get along really awesome. i am making such good friends at the mtc... to bad none of them are coming to Medellin!!!
so cool news!! Elder Strong (from another distrito) got a package from his mom last week and it on took 2 DAYS to get here! we are pretty sure she overnighted but still haha
ALSO! i got granny and Jeni's letter on the 14 and i got mom and makenlis on the 17th!! thank you guys!! i love getting letters!! everyone write me :D
so do you guys know the old apostle LeGrand Richards?? that's my ccm presidents grandfather! isn't that sweet? i was impressed. i swear pres dyer is gonna be an apostle someday. grandpa baker would LOVE talking to him.
wanna know something weird?? apparently in Colombia it is very presentable for men to paint their nails with a clear gloss. bahahahaha all our guy teachers do it so they brought some for us to try. we were like "in estados unidas, es muy GAY!" haha some of the guys teachers did agree with us but we tried it anyways... got bored i guess... i immediately scratched mine off lol
last night we got super bored and started playing pranks on each other... it ended when we stole a kids bed... but he swore vengeance... so its all begun... ill fill you in next week.... ;)
well, tomorrow we go to the temple, Thursday is proselyting for 4 hours, and Friday is pday. :) fun week ahead.
you guys, i love you all. this work is hard but amazing and i cannot wait to get out in the field. kade, prepare. learn as much as you can and STUDY pmg. its da bayst!! haha
i hope all is well and you guys are having fun! has school started yet?
my scripture is mosiah 4:9-10. thas what its all about. its so simple.
i LOVE the book of mormon and its amazing stories and teachings! read it! I've been reading for on hour every morning since July 31st and im in helaman. its hard to put down hahaha
LOVE YOU GUYS :)
Élder Bigelow
Guys! I'm 3 weeks in and it seriously feels like 3 months haha
not a very eventful week tho. just classes... but we did have the new guys come in last week. the 2 new guys in mine and pecks room are Elder Patton from SC and Elder Mcgee from Springfield Missouri. they are both the coolest guys.. the 4 of us get along really awesome. i am making such good friends at the mtc... to bad none of them are coming to Medellin!!!
so cool news!! Elder Strong (from another distrito) got a package from his mom last week and it on took 2 DAYS to get here! we are pretty sure she overnighted but still haha
ALSO! i got granny and Jeni's letter on the 14 and i got mom and makenlis on the 17th!! thank you guys!! i love getting letters!! everyone write me :D
so do you guys know the old apostle LeGrand Richards?? that's my ccm presidents grandfather! isn't that sweet? i was impressed. i swear pres dyer is gonna be an apostle someday. grandpa baker would LOVE talking to him.
wanna know something weird?? apparently in Colombia it is very presentable for men to paint their nails with a clear gloss. bahahahaha all our guy teachers do it so they brought some for us to try. we were like "in estados unidas, es muy GAY!" haha some of the guys teachers did agree with us but we tried it anyways... got bored i guess... i immediately scratched mine off lol
last night we got super bored and started playing pranks on each other... it ended when we stole a kids bed... but he swore vengeance... so its all begun... ill fill you in next week.... ;)
well, tomorrow we go to the temple, Thursday is proselyting for 4 hours, and Friday is pday. :) fun week ahead.
you guys, i love you all. this work is hard but amazing and i cannot wait to get out in the field. kade, prepare. learn as much as you can and STUDY pmg. its da bayst!! haha
i hope all is well and you guys are having fun! has school started yet?
my scripture is mosiah 4:9-10. thas what its all about. its so simple.
i LOVE the book of mormon and its amazing stories and teachings! read it! I've been reading for on hour every morning since July 31st and im in helaman. its hard to put down hahaha
LOVE YOU GUYS :)
Élder Bigelow
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