January 26,2010
hola
Well this week was a pretty good week. We had a baptism and I got to talk to you dad. Don't think i am homesick i am not and i have not really been so dont worry. And i hope you dont think anything is wrong. Especially you Lisa in your email it seemed like you think i am struggling. I'm not things are awesome. It was a shocker that president had me call home. It was his idea and i said no and said it was ok but he insisted and i gave in. The only real thing is my comp is letting the others get ahold of him a little and is getting lazy but this week I am going to step up and be the senior comp and do everything and him follow me the zone leaders said to. so we will be working extremely hard this weeek. But i am totally fine please dont think i am down or having problems cause im not. and i hope president did not say anything like that to you on the phone either cuz
seriously all is well i just am going to be trying to straighten my comp out a bit. this last week was not the best with us, work wise. and the two leaving in my pensh have been bad and super lazy the whole time and he is starting to follow them. but no worries with me i am totally fine. and happy just a little stressful at times and need your prayers and help for patience humilidy love and the language to come more everyday and faster.
I met a guy that served here with pete acerman. he wants pete to email him. his name is jorge cabaña. and his email is ellamanita_2005(at)hotmail.com
i cant figure out how to do the at sign spanish keyboards are confusing.
tell the shurtz family i say hello and hope all is going well.
i love you all!!! and i promise everything is going excellent i am just learning to be alot more patient and humble and loving for everything. and my spanish is really taking off! its still needs alot more work but it is better then pretty much everyone i came with, already so yeah its doing good.
love
elder bigelow
ps i guess the pictures of the baptism will have to be sent another time i just got told this computer does not have the port even though my card fit and was working. but oh well next week i guess. with some sweet pictures of this statue of christ we are going to that is on the boarder of argentina and chile. the whole zone is going.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
New post with Pictures
January 18, 2010
Hello family
Well glad to hear all went well in Mexico and you were able to speak to people still. My area is awesome I love it in Godoy Cruz its super nice and pretty clean. But the people do not like Americans much or ¨jankee¨ as they like to call me. The other day a car drove by us as we were walking in the street and honked as it passed and I waved as it went by… bad idea!! The guy slammed on his breaks and skidded and screeched the tires and ripped it into reverse rolled down his window and just started screaming at me! All because I was American and I was in his country and I was here to rape the women and that all Americans are murders. I could not contain myself I thought it was so funny… I don’t know why but I was just smiling from ear to ear and thought it was hilarious. He then spit at me and drove away.
Later in the week i did divisions with the zone leaders and a woman was out in the street sweeping her dirt like an argentine and we asked if she wanted help. Then she turned and got on a little rampage for about ten minutes where she yelled at us for not helping any other country out when they need it and stealing argentines’ electricity, water, gas, and all essential supplies. That we are not here to preach about god but to preach the North Americans are to be worshipped as god by everyone in the World… its funny the racism people have against North Americans here. And its weird how they know we are Americans when pretty much everyone here is white and I cant tell if someone is Argentine or American… but whatever I love them anyway.
We had Anna Maria’s baptism this week on Wednesday that was super cool and a special experience in the water with her and just the amazing spirit that was felt and we confirmed her yesterday in sacrament. She will be active for a long time I think because she has member friends she comes with every week to church who have good callings and are very active. She already wants to go through the temple with the ward on their next trip to the Santiago Chile temple. She is awesome.
Saturday your birthday pappa? Viejo!! Te amo muchas gracias para todas para me en mi vida y en todas cosas en mi vida. Tu siempre tiene aquí para me en escuela y deportes en todos. Muchas gracias para todas y feliz cumple año. But yeah so on Saturday we ha one baptism instead of the two more we had planned and it was because when we went to give Diego the interview he did not want to have it because he had smoked that day. Wow when I heard that my heart sunk and I was so sad I felt sick… it was weird I have never felt so disappointed in my life. Like I have been hurt and sad after losing a game or a girl break my little heart but never like this. I really do love him and know he can get over this smoking problem.
Sicilia was baptized though and that was good I did not get in the water this time I almost had to though. She is kind of a big girl and my comp is small and we thought there would be problems and there almost was but it worked out. He almost slipped and fell but he kept his balance. It was good I loved it.
So here there are 5 curses they like to say that every missionary will get eventually while they are here for there two years.
Bit by a dog
Kissed by a girl
Pooped on by a bird
Crap your pants
Fall in an accecia, or argentine gutter. Which are like three feet deep.
I have had three of the five happen to me while I have been here. Guess which three so far……………………………………….well I have been kissed you know that, also I got pooped on last week, and yesterday I got bit by a bull dog. Haha did not break skin but freak I was about to kick that thing so hard in the face but the owners were outside and did nothing and would have done something if I did kick it. So I didn’t but it hurt and I swear they sent it after me but whatever. So I have had three so far. Crazy huh.
Thank you for answering my questions dad. Glad to hear my Money is in something that it can grow while I am here. And I am glad to hear the car Is good even though I don’t care to much. I want it sold maybe and the Money saved away. I know I can talk in tu to you guys but I kinda like the vos that they use here. It’s like tu but it’s not, its beautiful. As you can tell I don’t know tu very well right know but I will learn. I only really know usted as of now but in time I will learn the others. Vos especially.
The Latin’s are doing good in my pensh. I am learning to be patient and more humble. I have come along long long ways since before. I think but I still need more with them because a few are not with me. My comp is but the rest not to much. And I have two other sister missionaries in my district from Buenos Aires who are total jerks to me and I strongly dislike them from some of the comments they have made and jestures towards me. But its ok, things this week have gotten a lot better as the week has gone on.
these are the pictures. i have a few other pictures of it but these are the best ones that i had. it really was a great time and amazing spirit.
dont you love the background of anna maria with her son and her sons girlfriend. neither are members or really have any interest. but they all insisted on taking the picture in front of the poster of a video for members to watch on how to clean the chapels...
we have a huge chapel its two floors and sacrament is upstairs it has an elevator for all the old ladies to go up with. its nuts! there is one other that is nicer in the other elders area. its brand new and looks just like one in the states. so i am lucky to have a chapel. other areas in the mission the chapel is a house and the baptismal font is a like little kids pool... so yeah.
con amor
elder bigelow(for the first email, i forgot)
otro vez
con amor
elder bigelow
Hello family
Well glad to hear all went well in Mexico and you were able to speak to people still. My area is awesome I love it in Godoy Cruz its super nice and pretty clean. But the people do not like Americans much or ¨jankee¨ as they like to call me. The other day a car drove by us as we were walking in the street and honked as it passed and I waved as it went by… bad idea!! The guy slammed on his breaks and skidded and screeched the tires and ripped it into reverse rolled down his window and just started screaming at me! All because I was American and I was in his country and I was here to rape the women and that all Americans are murders. I could not contain myself I thought it was so funny… I don’t know why but I was just smiling from ear to ear and thought it was hilarious. He then spit at me and drove away.
Later in the week i did divisions with the zone leaders and a woman was out in the street sweeping her dirt like an argentine and we asked if she wanted help. Then she turned and got on a little rampage for about ten minutes where she yelled at us for not helping any other country out when they need it and stealing argentines’ electricity, water, gas, and all essential supplies. That we are not here to preach about god but to preach the North Americans are to be worshipped as god by everyone in the World… its funny the racism people have against North Americans here. And its weird how they know we are Americans when pretty much everyone here is white and I cant tell if someone is Argentine or American… but whatever I love them anyway.
We had Anna Maria’s baptism this week on Wednesday that was super cool and a special experience in the water with her and just the amazing spirit that was felt and we confirmed her yesterday in sacrament. She will be active for a long time I think because she has member friends she comes with every week to church who have good callings and are very active. She already wants to go through the temple with the ward on their next trip to the Santiago Chile temple. She is awesome.
Saturday your birthday pappa? Viejo!! Te amo muchas gracias para todas para me en mi vida y en todas cosas en mi vida. Tu siempre tiene aquí para me en escuela y deportes en todos. Muchas gracias para todas y feliz cumple año. But yeah so on Saturday we ha one baptism instead of the two more we had planned and it was because when we went to give Diego the interview he did not want to have it because he had smoked that day. Wow when I heard that my heart sunk and I was so sad I felt sick… it was weird I have never felt so disappointed in my life. Like I have been hurt and sad after losing a game or a girl break my little heart but never like this. I really do love him and know he can get over this smoking problem.
Sicilia was baptized though and that was good I did not get in the water this time I almost had to though. She is kind of a big girl and my comp is small and we thought there would be problems and there almost was but it worked out. He almost slipped and fell but he kept his balance. It was good I loved it.
So here there are 5 curses they like to say that every missionary will get eventually while they are here for there two years.
Bit by a dog
Kissed by a girl
Pooped on by a bird
Crap your pants
Fall in an accecia, or argentine gutter. Which are like three feet deep.
I have had three of the five happen to me while I have been here. Guess which three so far……………………………………….well I have been kissed you know that, also I got pooped on last week, and yesterday I got bit by a bull dog. Haha did not break skin but freak I was about to kick that thing so hard in the face but the owners were outside and did nothing and would have done something if I did kick it. So I didn’t but it hurt and I swear they sent it after me but whatever. So I have had three so far. Crazy huh.
Thank you for answering my questions dad. Glad to hear my Money is in something that it can grow while I am here. And I am glad to hear the car Is good even though I don’t care to much. I want it sold maybe and the Money saved away. I know I can talk in tu to you guys but I kinda like the vos that they use here. It’s like tu but it’s not, its beautiful. As you can tell I don’t know tu very well right know but I will learn. I only really know usted as of now but in time I will learn the others. Vos especially.
The Latin’s are doing good in my pensh. I am learning to be patient and more humble. I have come along long long ways since before. I think but I still need more with them because a few are not with me. My comp is but the rest not to much. And I have two other sister missionaries in my district from Buenos Aires who are total jerks to me and I strongly dislike them from some of the comments they have made and jestures towards me. But its ok, things this week have gotten a lot better as the week has gone on.
these are the pictures. i have a few other pictures of it but these are the best ones that i had. it really was a great time and amazing spirit.
dont you love the background of anna maria with her son and her sons girlfriend. neither are members or really have any interest. but they all insisted on taking the picture in front of the poster of a video for members to watch on how to clean the chapels...
we have a huge chapel its two floors and sacrament is upstairs it has an elevator for all the old ladies to go up with. its nuts! there is one other that is nicer in the other elders area. its brand new and looks just like one in the states. so i am lucky to have a chapel. other areas in the mission the chapel is a house and the baptismal font is a like little kids pool... so yeah.
con amor
elder bigelow(for the first email, i forgot)
otro vez
con amor
elder bigelow
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Letter from Zack
January 13, 2010
hola hola
Well... I got transferred... I now have a Latin comp his name is Elder Gutierrez from Columbia. And I live with two other Latin’s. Three in all. None of them speak English. It is tough but I am learning a ton and it is amazing the gift of tongues I have already received a little bit. I am able to talk to them and to understand for the most part. It is really cool and the investigators and members understand me and don’t just ignore me but rather talk to me. They all thought I had a lot more time in the mission then one month they were all shocked when I told them. I love it here. The members are amazing and the whole area is great. The area is called TRAPICHE, in Godoy Cruz, which is in Mendoza. So I am really close to the offices and right next to down town Mendoza. It’s a nice area. I love it and the people are a lot nicer here then in San Rafael. My area in San Rafael got closed both me and Ayer left. It was hard to say goodbye to the members especially on such short notice. But I love it in my new area I am learning so much and it is great.
We had 4 in church yesterday!!! And... We have 3 baptisms this week!!! In which I am getting in the water for two of them. I am way excited they are such awesome people. One is on Wednesday her name in Anna Maria and is awesome, always such good questions and she loves church and has a great testimony. She asked if I would get in the water and baptize her. I was shocked and said yes. I am so excited. She is about 50 years old and had a lot of trials in her life but the church has helped her realize why and what comes of life. I bore my testimony to her about my trials and she was tearing up and that was when she knew I was to baptize her she had a dream that night about the baptism and I was in the water with her. The next day was when she asked me if I would do the honors. Wow, yeah what an honor... ha I cant believe how things are going now. The other I am baptizing is on Saturday with a woman that Gutierrez is baptizing cuz he found her and stuff and yeah. But this guy has a sister who is a member and was looking to change his life and she said to talk to us so he did. He has changed big time!!! About 45 years old and smoked 60 cigarettes a day now Saturday he had 3 it is amazing the change he has had since feeling the spirit and love of god in his life.
Your prayers have been felt and answered thank you so much for your thoughts and your prayers. It is amazing to see the blessings that come from sincere prayer and love for God and obeying his commandments. This work is so awesome and I love it so much!!!
Friday we had a wedding we were invited to so we went and it was weird. It was in a shopping center and the pictures were in the parking lot.... but they got married that’s what is important. The guy was converted last transfer and is awesome.
I love you all and you’re in my prayers.
Love
Elder Bigelow
hola hola
Well... I got transferred... I now have a Latin comp his name is Elder Gutierrez from Columbia. And I live with two other Latin’s. Three in all. None of them speak English. It is tough but I am learning a ton and it is amazing the gift of tongues I have already received a little bit. I am able to talk to them and to understand for the most part. It is really cool and the investigators and members understand me and don’t just ignore me but rather talk to me. They all thought I had a lot more time in the mission then one month they were all shocked when I told them. I love it here. The members are amazing and the whole area is great. The area is called TRAPICHE, in Godoy Cruz, which is in Mendoza. So I am really close to the offices and right next to down town Mendoza. It’s a nice area. I love it and the people are a lot nicer here then in San Rafael. My area in San Rafael got closed both me and Ayer left. It was hard to say goodbye to the members especially on such short notice. But I love it in my new area I am learning so much and it is great.
We had 4 in church yesterday!!! And... We have 3 baptisms this week!!! In which I am getting in the water for two of them. I am way excited they are such awesome people. One is on Wednesday her name in Anna Maria and is awesome, always such good questions and she loves church and has a great testimony. She asked if I would get in the water and baptize her. I was shocked and said yes. I am so excited. She is about 50 years old and had a lot of trials in her life but the church has helped her realize why and what comes of life. I bore my testimony to her about my trials and she was tearing up and that was when she knew I was to baptize her she had a dream that night about the baptism and I was in the water with her. The next day was when she asked me if I would do the honors. Wow, yeah what an honor... ha I cant believe how things are going now. The other I am baptizing is on Saturday with a woman that Gutierrez is baptizing cuz he found her and stuff and yeah. But this guy has a sister who is a member and was looking to change his life and she said to talk to us so he did. He has changed big time!!! About 45 years old and smoked 60 cigarettes a day now Saturday he had 3 it is amazing the change he has had since feeling the spirit and love of god in his life.
Your prayers have been felt and answered thank you so much for your thoughts and your prayers. It is amazing to see the blessings that come from sincere prayer and love for God and obeying his commandments. This work is so awesome and I love it so much!!!
Friday we had a wedding we were invited to so we went and it was weird. It was in a shopping center and the pictures were in the parking lot.... but they got married that’s what is important. The guy was converted last transfer and is awesome.
I love you all and you’re in my prayers.
Love
Elder Bigelow
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
uno mas ano nuevo... ha ha
January 4, 2010
Hola hola hola
Well we are in 2010 now. That’s cool! I welcomed it in with loving arms before you all did though so its all good don’t worry. The world did not end…yet. We went to a members house and ate and chatted then at midnight they did the countdown on the radio and then fireworks went off and everyone hugged and kissed and stuff. It was weird shaking all the girls hands for new years….. Never done that before. Really is kinda awkward especially when everyone is hugging and kissing. And the culture is to hug and kiss each other on the cheek. We can’t do it with the girls but it most definitely happens guy to guy all the time so we have to do it with them… little weird but I have got used to it. New people we teach and stuff kiss us to we just tell them after that we don’t do that and not to do it to us anymore sorry its mission rules. So, I have been kissed by a lot of, worms (little girls all over missionaries), snakes (teen age girls and a little older), and dragons (old women) that is how they are classified here by the missionaries. But back to new years. Its kinda weird the fireworks at 12 not so good, But then at 1:30 it is crazy and just way good. Not sure why it happens an hour and a half after but whatever its argentine and that’s just the way it is. It was good all and all I liked it.
So the other night I had another weird food with our landlord and his family…. I had cow tongue, and cow brain empanadas…. The cow tongue had like deviled eggs on it and it was super vinegary. The empanadas they were alright just… chewy… but it is both a real delicacy here I guess so it was EXTREMELY nice of them to have us over to eat that with them.
So we fasted yesterday for our investigators to come to church. And guess what FOUR came!!! But the fast needed to be done more specifically… they came when the sacrament song was playing and were not aloud in by the brother sitting at the door. And the sacrament does not go out into the hall here and they hold the door shut during the song and until the priesthood is dismissed to sit with their families. No one is allowed in or out during that time. So our investigators got very upset and left… so we ran down the street after them when we were allowed out. Literally ran after them but could not find them. They were very mad. Especially one guy who came to our church last week just seeking a blessing from us because we have given so many blessings here already and we told him he is always welcome to join us for sacrament. But apparently not to him cuz he was shut out. I was so mad…. Needless to say we talked to the ward leaders and things are being changed a little bit especially for investigators cuz they don’t know why it is sacred and stuff or what we are doing. So thankfully it is getting changed up.
This week is transfers. I am still not sure if I am getting changed or not, But I am thinking and feeling like I am going to be here for one more transfer and with my comp for one more, but I do not know. We will find out by today or tomorrow at the latest.
Lisa you asked if the cigarettes and alcohol are more expensive here then in the states… and that is an overwhelming NO it is a ton cheaper here. Everything is a TON cheaper except for cars.
My accent is better then my speaking right now. I don’t know why but it is coming along I learn more everyday.
That is way cool president carter remembered me and involved that in your blessing that means a lot to me. A lot of people truly do remember and have that love for this work.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
Ps. what is my blog info I want to look at it sometime. And I was with the Ortiz family on new years and Christmas. They really are so amazing. When I do get transferred it will be hard to say goodbye to them.
Hola hola hola
Well we are in 2010 now. That’s cool! I welcomed it in with loving arms before you all did though so its all good don’t worry. The world did not end…yet. We went to a members house and ate and chatted then at midnight they did the countdown on the radio and then fireworks went off and everyone hugged and kissed and stuff. It was weird shaking all the girls hands for new years….. Never done that before. Really is kinda awkward especially when everyone is hugging and kissing. And the culture is to hug and kiss each other on the cheek. We can’t do it with the girls but it most definitely happens guy to guy all the time so we have to do it with them… little weird but I have got used to it. New people we teach and stuff kiss us to we just tell them after that we don’t do that and not to do it to us anymore sorry its mission rules. So, I have been kissed by a lot of, worms (little girls all over missionaries), snakes (teen age girls and a little older), and dragons (old women) that is how they are classified here by the missionaries. But back to new years. Its kinda weird the fireworks at 12 not so good, But then at 1:30 it is crazy and just way good. Not sure why it happens an hour and a half after but whatever its argentine and that’s just the way it is. It was good all and all I liked it.
So the other night I had another weird food with our landlord and his family…. I had cow tongue, and cow brain empanadas…. The cow tongue had like deviled eggs on it and it was super vinegary. The empanadas they were alright just… chewy… but it is both a real delicacy here I guess so it was EXTREMELY nice of them to have us over to eat that with them.
So we fasted yesterday for our investigators to come to church. And guess what FOUR came!!! But the fast needed to be done more specifically… they came when the sacrament song was playing and were not aloud in by the brother sitting at the door. And the sacrament does not go out into the hall here and they hold the door shut during the song and until the priesthood is dismissed to sit with their families. No one is allowed in or out during that time. So our investigators got very upset and left… so we ran down the street after them when we were allowed out. Literally ran after them but could not find them. They were very mad. Especially one guy who came to our church last week just seeking a blessing from us because we have given so many blessings here already and we told him he is always welcome to join us for sacrament. But apparently not to him cuz he was shut out. I was so mad…. Needless to say we talked to the ward leaders and things are being changed a little bit especially for investigators cuz they don’t know why it is sacred and stuff or what we are doing. So thankfully it is getting changed up.
This week is transfers. I am still not sure if I am getting changed or not, But I am thinking and feeling like I am going to be here for one more transfer and with my comp for one more, but I do not know. We will find out by today or tomorrow at the latest.
Lisa you asked if the cigarettes and alcohol are more expensive here then in the states… and that is an overwhelming NO it is a ton cheaper here. Everything is a TON cheaper except for cars.
My accent is better then my speaking right now. I don’t know why but it is coming along I learn more everyday.
That is way cool president carter remembered me and involved that in your blessing that means a lot to me. A lot of people truly do remember and have that love for this work.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
Ps. what is my blog info I want to look at it sometime. And I was with the Ortiz family on new years and Christmas. They really are so amazing. When I do get transferred it will be hard to say goodbye to them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
