Nueva Record

August 16, 2010

Well this week was a really good week it went by fast and with bumps here and there but it was good. This coming week we have zone conference. That will be fun and I will be directing it all and taking care of things for it. We also have a baptism on this coming Saturday. His name is Alberto, he is a cool guy. Really is nice and respectful and a relaxing guy.

So big news, we broke a record in the mission the zone did. We had 48 investigators in church yesterday in total. And 20 will be baptized on Saturday. That is a ton a ton a ton of people!!! It was awesome. It was fun to hear that all from the district leaders when we were verifying with them. And the assistants were shocked and couldn’t believe it when we verified with them and told them of all of it. There is a competition every month in all the zones in the mission to see who has the highest pro-medio baptisms. And the winner gets their name engraved on a huge trophy president has and picture holding it up. And San Juan has not one in a while cause they had 9 companionships now they have 10 so it is harder cause some zones have 5 companionships and can win with 10 baptisms and we could baptize 19 and still lose. But we might win this transfer.... maybe... I don’t want to jinx us. But we could do it. And break more records and accomplish much more goals. It will be interesting.

So I am in the biggest zone in the mission. There is 10 companionships. So 20 elders, and we have to do divisions with the elders, have to call them at night and verify with them for there day and there numbers that they have. Then we have to have meetings with the zone every week. Plan pdays. Work in our own area. Talk to the assistants all the time, president and his wife. And we also have to have meetings with the bishop and stake president and ward mission leader. And we still have to work in our area, help our members, and get perfect numbers to be the example of the zone. And we put more pressure on ourselves cause we started a competition with the zone, with lessons and things its complicated to explain, but we have to verify more for that and add up all the points, find a winner and get them a prize every week. It’s a lot and is stressful at times. Some days I swear the phone never ever stops ringing. But I am getting the hang of it. It is good.

My companion has a year in a half in the mission and is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is a really cool kid. But is just like all the people from Buenos Aires. He is really, really prideful and cocky. But its ok, that is just their culture. It is really funny at times and gets old at others but I don’t mind. I am used to it and have gained a lot of patience. But he is really a good guy. Comes from a pretty wealthy family as well and is pretty well off. But all that is very typical of people from the capital of Argentina.

Well that is way weird that Sean is going into high school. Make sure that he is in seminary and graduates. That was one of my regrets I now have is how big of a slacker I was at times. I feel like I am so much farther behind some missionaries’ just cause of seminary. But I am doing my best and that is all I can do. But make sure he goes and does it all. It is really important. Tell him to that I want him to go and say hi to some teachers for me and that he needs to get into their classes. Well time is wearing down as a zone leader I have no time to do anything anymore, not even email the family. The phone is ringing and the assistants are in town and want to go buy food for the week so they can live here and see what we are doing and help the other zones in the mission to have this success as well. But I love you and miss you all very much. I hope you are doing well and I am excited to hear that prayers are being answered and blessings received. I really do love hearing it. Take care and nos vemos.

Con Amor

Elder Bigelow

Carta inspirada

Thanks dad. That was the letter and email that I needed. It was a little tough week for me. Lots of changes. Really, really, tough goodbyes and everything. But now I feel a sense of happiness and relaxation. Thanks dad.

Well this week I said bye to the families in Alvear. That was tough and with tears. But it was good and with lots of surprises. One family, the Ditoto family, that we taught and baptized the kids and the dad and mom were tough and a interesting experience told me that they are going to be getting married and baptized and they want me to go with them in a year from now when I am ending my mission through the temple so that they can be sealed as a family for time and eternity. It was probably the most special spiritual experience I have had in my mission. It was so overwhelming it brought tears to my eyes and I felt such a sense of gratitude that I had done the Lords work and that he is happy with me. It is so special cause I knocked this door and found this family and did all I could and more for them. Now we have a goal to be able to go through the temple together next September. How amazing and special... I truly loved it and I hope with all my heart that everything works out and I can have that opportunity to go with them.

I came to San Juan on Wednesday and it is up north and a lot hotter area. But I got here and it was a blizzard. Then today I got sunburned playing soccer. It is crazy weather. But gorgeous. There are mountains all around us and it is just so great. The people are super nice and have a totally different accent. All the R´s have the SH... sound too. Instead of terrible its teshible. haha it is so interesting. and the wards are huge. We had over 80 people in church yesterday. It is so nice. And the members are really cool. One family we have lunch with every Sunday is the best and we have an asado at there house every week. Which is bomb!!! I am really loving it here. It is a little hard I am in charge of the biggest zone in the whole mission and have a lot expected of me and it’s kinda stressful and I have been stressing out a little bit this week and my patience has been tested a lot. So if you could pray for me in that aspect and I know I will be strengthened and helped. I am really feeling tired everyday while working and my nerves get tested a little bit. So, for my patience and my happiness, so that I can have the spirit more, and be more of a help, and learn more, would really help me.

We are having a lot of success and hope to continue to have it. Our zone is awesome. And we have great potential. I am really excited to see what comes and how things will go. I miss you all a lot and love you so much. Sorry this is so short. We had a lot of things to do and did not have much time to email. But I love you and miss you and am so thankful for all you do and the love you have. Hope all is well and talk next week.

Con Amor

Elder Bigelow

Me Voy (I'm leaving)

August 2, 2010

Well this week was really good. We had two more baptisms on Saturday and they were super good and I confirmed them a member of the church and gave them the Holy Ghost. It was really cool and a special experience. We had four others in church and all is going really well. I will miss this area a lot, but am really excited to be going.

I am going to San Juan. It is a different province then Mendoza, in the north. I am way excited. I will be the new zone leader there and it historically has been one of the most successful areas in the mission so I am really looking forward to that and bringing that back to the glory. I am really excited and can’t wait. It will be a good learning experience for me and totally different accent in the Spanish. It is 7 and a half hours from where I am to get there, and I believe a time change so that will be fun and another really, really early trip!! haha but I cant wait and I know the lord has something in store for me and will bless me with his ways.

If you could I would really like to hear and have the conversion story of our family. When and where and how it all started? Please ahah

But this week was awesome. I loved it and we had some really good success

I will miss it a lot and be leaving some baptisms behind for another Missionary but I will be going to help others and it will be a new and amazing experience. I can’t wait. I miss you all and love you very much. Thank you for all you do and all you help me with.

Con Amor

Elder Bigelow