Well this week was an interesting week. We knocked a lot of doors looking for more and new people to teach, cause the people that the elder before me was teaching were crazy and like apostasy. So I had to drop them real quick with Elder Leal. Everyone in this area is way catholic!!! And it’s really hard to talk to them. It is so annoying at times listening to the excuses that they have for us. And all the words we say go in one ear and out the other. It’s so dumb at times. And they try to tell me something about our religion and it is wrong and they tell me something about their religion and that is even more wrong. Just sad that I know more about their religion then they do about it. They don’t teach anything in the schools here about the history of the Catholic Church or anything. Just your dad’s dad’s dad’s dad was catholic so you are too!!! Then whatever apostasy thing the priest says in church they think is right. ahh!!!! They are crazy. But its ok we are doing alright.
Working with some members and getting some good stuff done. We are trying to work with these two kids who are of age to go on a mission but are kinda inactive so we are really working with them and president Lindahl received revelation about one of them in specific and so we are really working with him trying to get his confidence up and get him to do splits with us or something and have a good time with him and show him how fun the mission is and the blessing that comes from it. So we will see how that goes.
The baptism that we were going to have on Saturday fell through. She didn’t come so me and another elder in my district made the 45 minute walk from The chapel to her house and to get her and bring her and when we got there she just invited us in and talked for a second and said she was sick...but that’s the typical argentine. She did not want to leave the house cause it was cold. She claimed that her blood pressure had fallen...how do you even tell that or feel that????? Then we explained it was Satan working on her telling her these things and to say them. Then she got all offensive and said we didn’t kiss her the other day when we visited and told her that we can’t and that was wrong of us. And we didn’t call her the night before to say hi. And we came to her house at 8 one night and interrupted her getting ready for bed. And said all this stuff trying to blame it on us. haha so crazy. So I dunno, it was weird and then she didn’t come to church yesterday cause she was offended. just all sorts of weird stuff. And that’s not even half of some of the people here.
I went to do a baptismal interview for the other elders the other day and the lady was outside and just looked way scared when we got there and said she can’t be baptized and then said she was ready and do the interview right there. Then just said amen and walked inside the house.... it was crazy. Needless to say she did not get baptized.
Yesterday at church we had two return missionaries come to the branch. They served here 14 years ago and are back visiting. They were way cool. And in Priesthood, one brother talked about home teaching and some guys got way offended and it turned into a huge argument. Cause no one here does home teaching they just leave it to us missionaries to do it they think. But us and the other RM´S fixed it and calmed everyone down a bit. Wow it was crazy. This whole area is just crazy but fun.
So Lindsey moved out to Louisiana. Wow that is crazy!!! Well that was way random. But cool that will be fun. Letters I do love getting them. I especially love them from my friends. Just not many of them write anymore cause they are on missions and when they do write I then write all of you and send them with that letter cause it is way cheaper for me that way. But email from all you is fine and the occasional letter. Its not a big deal that is fine. As for the thermals, just whatever you want to send me I am good with garments for now maybe by Christmas or something would be good to send more. But I dunno. I just want something to keep me warm walking out here. It’s cold. haha well I miss you and I hope all is going well. Pray for this area and that we will find a family or two to teach and to baptize. It’s really dead and the past elders did some really dumb stuff. It’s like re-starting it. That’s all I need and the language. I hope everything is still going good for all of you and know that your always in my thoughts and prayers.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
ps anything about mike gagon? Do any of my friends still get this forwarded to them or is it just family now?
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Zacks new area
May 18, 2010
Family and friends
Well I am in my new area and it is really cool. Its in the middle of nowhere far south in the mission. The city really is like in the middle of like a desert in the middle of nowhere and is tiny and really old. But it’s really cool. My area is HUGE we walk for hours to get to a house. And it contains the edge of the city and beyond.... tons of campo. Walk on dirt roads for miles without seeing a person or a house. But we did really well this week for only teaching and being in the area for 4 days. We had the best numbers in the zone, and the district is tearing it up. We have a really nice chapel. It actually has benches to sit on!! And it is not a ward it’s a branch, but there are like 90 active members in it. For a while it had the most active members in the mission, but a few months ago it got out beat. And here it is freezing cold!!! I wear thermals, sweater, coat, gloves, it all and I still get cold cause it’s a humid cold and wind blowing is cold and goes straight through us. So maybe if you could, send those thermals and hand warmers for me. It’s really pretty though, lots of vineyards and green. But it’s dying cause of the cold.
My comp is Elder Leal. He is from Chile. In the northern part. He is cool. Really into comics and Nintendo but that’s fine he is a good kid. He just hit 9 months and I will hit 8 next week so we are close to the same in the mish. He understands everything in English but refuses to speak it, which is fine. I talk to him in Spanish anyway. He makes figures out of clay and they are way good!!! Like he made Moroni, and Nephi, and venom from Spiderman. Its cool, and yeah I like it. Not so much alike as me and Giminez but still I love him and love workin with him.
In my pensh I live with the zone leaders to. One of them is going to play linebacker at BYU and is HUGE!!! His brother played this season there and is my age. Craig Bills is his name. He won Mr. football my senior year and his senior year to. But he is such a nice guy and has BYU in his family 2 of his older brothers played there and now he will be too after the mission. He went to Timpview High School so we talk football a lot and he wants me to play again but I dunno... he is making me work out with him and run with him. Wow I am so out of shape. I can walk for miles and not feel anything, but running sprints.... wow it hurts. Super cool and nice elder though. And said he will hook me up with tickets to the BYU Texas game. So yeah.
The other elder is a convert and ex gang member. He is awesome!!! Had dread locks and just looked scary before the mission. And has some of the most crazy stories ever. And just really made me open my eyes and know that anyone truly can change, if they have the desire. And he is way good at basketball. He is planning on walking on to BYU after the mission and playing there. He is from Puerto Rico, but more so from Ohio. He is awesome!!! Such a strong testimony.
This week was a good week had a few really cool experiences. On my first day we went to get lunch it was a hour walk there then an hour walk back and I prayed in the house for the member and after she started crying and asked how I knew she was sick and needed help from god to feel better. And wow it was a special experience. And another lady her daughter passed away and I was able to talk to her about the plan of salvation. It was really good experience for me and we will see how things go with her.
Next week we are doing an activity in the ward to see who can pass out the most Books of Mormon. The missionaries or the members.... and who ever wins, the loser buys an asado for the winner. So it will be good and the members are way excited and I am really excited too cause we will hopefully be getting a ton of references for us to work with. The members want us to make them into a ward so we told them they need to help us find people to teach and to baptize. I am so excited for this area and for all the things that we will be able to do. It will be really good and lots of fun. Cold... but fun.
Well I love you and miss you all hope it is going well and you are keeping up with everything.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
ps next package if you are sending one... hot chocolate, hand warmers, maple syrup(or extract), chocolate chips, brown sugar, candy bars, and poptarts..
pps what was the Book of Mormon challenge again that you have? Three times in how long with what colors and stuff?
Family and friends
Well I am in my new area and it is really cool. Its in the middle of nowhere far south in the mission. The city really is like in the middle of like a desert in the middle of nowhere and is tiny and really old. But it’s really cool. My area is HUGE we walk for hours to get to a house. And it contains the edge of the city and beyond.... tons of campo. Walk on dirt roads for miles without seeing a person or a house. But we did really well this week for only teaching and being in the area for 4 days. We had the best numbers in the zone, and the district is tearing it up. We have a really nice chapel. It actually has benches to sit on!! And it is not a ward it’s a branch, but there are like 90 active members in it. For a while it had the most active members in the mission, but a few months ago it got out beat. And here it is freezing cold!!! I wear thermals, sweater, coat, gloves, it all and I still get cold cause it’s a humid cold and wind blowing is cold and goes straight through us. So maybe if you could, send those thermals and hand warmers for me. It’s really pretty though, lots of vineyards and green. But it’s dying cause of the cold.
My comp is Elder Leal. He is from Chile. In the northern part. He is cool. Really into comics and Nintendo but that’s fine he is a good kid. He just hit 9 months and I will hit 8 next week so we are close to the same in the mish. He understands everything in English but refuses to speak it, which is fine. I talk to him in Spanish anyway. He makes figures out of clay and they are way good!!! Like he made Moroni, and Nephi, and venom from Spiderman. Its cool, and yeah I like it. Not so much alike as me and Giminez but still I love him and love workin with him.
In my pensh I live with the zone leaders to. One of them is going to play linebacker at BYU and is HUGE!!! His brother played this season there and is my age. Craig Bills is his name. He won Mr. football my senior year and his senior year to. But he is such a nice guy and has BYU in his family 2 of his older brothers played there and now he will be too after the mission. He went to Timpview High School so we talk football a lot and he wants me to play again but I dunno... he is making me work out with him and run with him. Wow I am so out of shape. I can walk for miles and not feel anything, but running sprints.... wow it hurts. Super cool and nice elder though. And said he will hook me up with tickets to the BYU Texas game. So yeah.
The other elder is a convert and ex gang member. He is awesome!!! Had dread locks and just looked scary before the mission. And has some of the most crazy stories ever. And just really made me open my eyes and know that anyone truly can change, if they have the desire. And he is way good at basketball. He is planning on walking on to BYU after the mission and playing there. He is from Puerto Rico, but more so from Ohio. He is awesome!!! Such a strong testimony.
This week was a good week had a few really cool experiences. On my first day we went to get lunch it was a hour walk there then an hour walk back and I prayed in the house for the member and after she started crying and asked how I knew she was sick and needed help from god to feel better. And wow it was a special experience. And another lady her daughter passed away and I was able to talk to her about the plan of salvation. It was really good experience for me and we will see how things go with her.
Next week we are doing an activity in the ward to see who can pass out the most Books of Mormon. The missionaries or the members.... and who ever wins, the loser buys an asado for the winner. So it will be good and the members are way excited and I am really excited too cause we will hopefully be getting a ton of references for us to work with. The members want us to make them into a ward so we told them they need to help us find people to teach and to baptize. I am so excited for this area and for all the things that we will be able to do. It will be really good and lots of fun. Cold... but fun.
Well I love you and miss you all hope it is going well and you are keeping up with everything.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
ps next package if you are sending one... hot chocolate, hand warmers, maple syrup(or extract), chocolate chips, brown sugar, candy bars, and poptarts..
pps what was the Book of Mormon challenge again that you have? Three times in how long with what colors and stuff?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Zack is getting Transferred
May 10, 2010
Hey fam.
It was great to talk to you and everything yesterday. Everyone sounds great. And I got transferred. I am going to Avear. It's about two hours farther south then San Rafeal (my first area). And there is only one area farther south then it and it is one hour more. So wednesday I have a five hour bus ride to get there. Oh and I am now district leader. Love and miss you!!
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
Hey fam.
It was great to talk to you and everything yesterday. Everyone sounds great. And I got transferred. I am going to Avear. It's about two hours farther south then San Rafeal (my first area). And there is only one area farther south then it and it is one hour more. So wednesday I have a five hour bus ride to get there. Oh and I am now district leader. Love and miss you!!
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
Saturday, May 1, 2010
feliz dia de el trabajador
April 26, 2010
Family and friends
Well this week was really good and continued to get better everyday I think. Some days are hard and every single thing seems to fall through but the good outweighs the bad. We are still working with fanny and she is stopping smoking and has not smoked at all this week and is really excited about being baptized and is something special cause again this baptism will bring the family together more. She has not spoke to her daughter who is a member for 12 years but now they do and she wants to give a talk at the baptism so that will be really good. She is a way cool lady and is totally into everything. Reads a ton and loves it all, loves to learn new things.
This week I got letters from you all and it was really good to hear from you, especially cause it was the first time I have got a letter in about a month and a half. So this was such an energy booster and I loved it. Thank you so much for it. Very much so needed. I liked hearing about what everyone was up to and was a good family night activity I’m glad you are doing it more often now. Does the whole family do it and come over for it... cause that would be awesome and so much fun to do.
What real note from this week is one of the families we usually have lunch with every Sunday (one of the most awesome families you will meet) the mom passed away on Saturday and she was 46 years old. She had some sort of a disease for the past 27 years where she could die at any moment, but she trucked along and never let it get her down. She helps all the new gringo when they get here and stuff with there paper work so I got to know her quick and then I was in her ward. so it was cool. She has every elder from the beginning of time I swear that has been in this ward write in her journal and this week was my week to write in it cause I will probably be getting transferred and my Spanish I can write and feel alright comfortable with it and stuff. But she passed away Saturday evening. and has a 16 year old daughter who had a young women’s thing that night but her mom could not go cause she was in the hospital but wrote a letter to her daughter for her and her dad to read at the activity. And when it was over and they went back to the hospital she had passed away. It was really hard yesterday. It was missionary Sunday in the ward so I had to give another talk and they announced it to all those who didn’t know and it was a really depressing Sunday and was kinda hard for me to give my talk cause this family helped me so much and was so good to me. It was really sad for me... and brought back lots of memories from when I was thirteen. But its ok, I know things better now and have a stronger testimony. The funeral was yesterday as well cause they need to bury the body within 24 hours cause they don’t embalm them here.... so really fast before things got bad. it was really cool the dad and daughter in the last song it was families can be together forever and they stared each other right in the face the whole time and sang to each other with a huge smile on there faces. really cool to see that and was a really spiritual funeral service really well done. It was something that I won’t forget and really showed me the true love that I have gained for this people in the short time I have been here.
I am so grateful for you all and the letters and support. The best family ever. I miss you all and love you. I am excited to talk to ya soon. Tell everyone I say hi and tell Mike to write me or email me, so I can keep in contact with him along with Brad and Kyle, If you can. And I have not seen the president’s daughter or got the package yet. But the chances are I will get the package and never even see her. But I look forward to it and thank you so much for all you do.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
ps. Saturday is the day of the worker. What a joke.... haha no one here works. The hours are like 10 to 1 then 5 to 7. Or usually just one of the two. haha so Saturday may 1st happy day of the worker.
pps so Lindsey is moving now for 5 yrs or what. I didn’t really get that.
Family and friends
Well this week was really good and continued to get better everyday I think. Some days are hard and every single thing seems to fall through but the good outweighs the bad. We are still working with fanny and she is stopping smoking and has not smoked at all this week and is really excited about being baptized and is something special cause again this baptism will bring the family together more. She has not spoke to her daughter who is a member for 12 years but now they do and she wants to give a talk at the baptism so that will be really good. She is a way cool lady and is totally into everything. Reads a ton and loves it all, loves to learn new things.
This week I got letters from you all and it was really good to hear from you, especially cause it was the first time I have got a letter in about a month and a half. So this was such an energy booster and I loved it. Thank you so much for it. Very much so needed. I liked hearing about what everyone was up to and was a good family night activity I’m glad you are doing it more often now. Does the whole family do it and come over for it... cause that would be awesome and so much fun to do.
What real note from this week is one of the families we usually have lunch with every Sunday (one of the most awesome families you will meet) the mom passed away on Saturday and she was 46 years old. She had some sort of a disease for the past 27 years where she could die at any moment, but she trucked along and never let it get her down. She helps all the new gringo when they get here and stuff with there paper work so I got to know her quick and then I was in her ward. so it was cool. She has every elder from the beginning of time I swear that has been in this ward write in her journal and this week was my week to write in it cause I will probably be getting transferred and my Spanish I can write and feel alright comfortable with it and stuff. But she passed away Saturday evening. and has a 16 year old daughter who had a young women’s thing that night but her mom could not go cause she was in the hospital but wrote a letter to her daughter for her and her dad to read at the activity. And when it was over and they went back to the hospital she had passed away. It was really hard yesterday. It was missionary Sunday in the ward so I had to give another talk and they announced it to all those who didn’t know and it was a really depressing Sunday and was kinda hard for me to give my talk cause this family helped me so much and was so good to me. It was really sad for me... and brought back lots of memories from when I was thirteen. But its ok, I know things better now and have a stronger testimony. The funeral was yesterday as well cause they need to bury the body within 24 hours cause they don’t embalm them here.... so really fast before things got bad. it was really cool the dad and daughter in the last song it was families can be together forever and they stared each other right in the face the whole time and sang to each other with a huge smile on there faces. really cool to see that and was a really spiritual funeral service really well done. It was something that I won’t forget and really showed me the true love that I have gained for this people in the short time I have been here.
I am so grateful for you all and the letters and support. The best family ever. I miss you all and love you. I am excited to talk to ya soon. Tell everyone I say hi and tell Mike to write me or email me, so I can keep in contact with him along with Brad and Kyle, If you can. And I have not seen the president’s daughter or got the package yet. But the chances are I will get the package and never even see her. But I look forward to it and thank you so much for all you do.
Con Amor
Elder Bigelow
ps. Saturday is the day of the worker. What a joke.... haha no one here works. The hours are like 10 to 1 then 5 to 7. Or usually just one of the two. haha so Saturday may 1st happy day of the worker.
pps so Lindsey is moving now for 5 yrs or what. I didn’t really get that.
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