August 27, 2012 - Nampula

Hey,

     Well I guess I will start out with the bad news first: My camera is broken. I had it in my backpack and it must have gotten wet or I must have dropped it or something because it turns on and everything but everything is super super blurry when I try to take pictures! I'm pretty sad about that.
     This week has been crazy. I have never been rejected and set up or talked to so many people before in my life. We worked so hard but this week our stats were terrible. It's crazy. I'm happy because I felt like I worked the hardest I ever had but seen the least amount of success. Last week we had 122 people at church and I thought it would go up - but it dropped down to 80 this week. You can't leave the tree of life to save others and bring them to the tree you can only invite others to join you.
     We have been really trying to focus on the areas close to the church finding new investigator families. We called so many of our contacts and honestly had 8 lessons a day set up. We don't know where most of them live so we set up to meet them places and then they could show us their house. Time after time we would get stood up. We only had 16 total lessons this week including reacts.
     Crazy story this week - so there was this super wasted guy outside our house Thursday night. I think just making everyone mad. But he finally got in these girls' face and this huge muslum guy went at him. And then the girls beat him up! I have never seen a fight like that. I felt bad but we couldn't really do anything.
     Friday we did divisions and I walked with Elder Paxman in our area it was a lot of fun. There was a huge line at the ATM and so we acted like we were in line and talked to like 5 guys and got numbers and then left.
     So excited to go to Beirra - it will be amazing!
     Mom, I wish I could get packages so you could send me some of the donuts you make, but I bet packages would never make it all the way up here to Nampula.
     David, seminary is awesome man! I wish I would have paid more attention. For real - and done all of my reading. The mission is crazy you are always super busy studying or visiting and there are always like 100 things you have to do but when you do it for others you feel good. That is one thing I really had to look at this week - I feel like I was doing a lot of stuff because I felt like I had to and so I really tried to not be selfish and to do things for others and it has helped so much. Always work your hardest and have faith in the Atonement of Christ and in the gospel.

Elder Bigelow

Note from the Osborns, a senior missionary couple

Day of Service Africa Style

     Saturday, August 18, was the official day of service for church members throughout Africa.  
Branches through out many countries had been preparing service projects and alerting local media 
to these projects.  Our group in Quelimane is small and we were not able to do a project.
But this was our weekend in Nampula, up north, and we were so excited to meet at the church at 7am 
on Saturday to help with the service project cleaning at a local hospital. There were about 55 members 
working on Saturday.We were so impressed with the organization of the project.  The branch had 
ordered a chapa (mini-bus) that was, in true Africa form, quite late.  So Elder Osborn took a truck 
load of youth and supplies over first and then another car load went with the YW president and then 
the chapa came.  We sent a youth to the market to buy a bunch of hand brooms for 5mt. each to 
sweep the dust in front of the hospital.  That is about 20cents per broom.
     We cleaned outside the entire hospital, sweeping, edging, weeding flower boxes, picking up trash 
and washing the floor in the chapel.  Some of the more interesting things found in the clean-up were a 
melted hearing aid, tons of peppermint wrappers (hospital treats) whiskey bottles, prescription forms,
 insulin bottles, hospital dressings and a mighty big syringe!  Everyone was in a great mood and the 
administrator gave a little thank-you talk to us when we were done.  A local reporter had received the 
news announcement from the church and came over to talk to the leaders about the project. 
When we were back at the church having some light refreshments, a radio show reporter came 
and interviewed Elder Osborn, which was a surprise, but quite fun.  We praised the branch members 
high and low for their participation in the great day of service that was held through out Africa.

The branch members brought the mops and brooms used to clean the church to this project.

The trash brigade.

These brethren were working hard, but wanted to pose for the camera.  Africans
just love to have their picture taken!!

Everyday in Mozambique you see people sweeping dirt.  It does make things
cleaner, but I marvel at doing the same thing over and over again with the same dirt.

We brought our zone leaders, Elder Steel and Elder Gibson with us.  The Nampula Elders
are Elder Bradford, Elder D'Olivera, Elder Paxman and Elder Bigelow.

The whole group inside the foyer of the hospital; it used to be a Catholic church.

At church on Sunday

The Nampula Chapel

August 20, 2012 - Nampula

Dear family,

It seems like last week I was getting ready to graduate high
school and to be honest I didn't really want to go on a mission. That
would have been the single biggest mistake of my life! Then I went to
college and really started praying about what I wanted and needed to
do in life. I know this is it! This is where I am supposed to be!

      I know I have done a terrible job explaining this place to you guys 

but it's so hard to describe.
Nampula is the 3rd biggest city population-wise but it is way more
developed than Beira I hear. I have heard Beira looks just like 'I am
Legend'. There is trash everywhere. But I hear Nampula is actually clean
compared to some places. There is a city-city part with stores and
things and then the outskirts. Tons and tons of people live in the
outskirts. The city is divided up into about 20 different zones that
have names. So when you ask someone where they live they just tell you
the zone. We are really trying to focus on the areas close to the
church since most people have to walk to church.
Our goal right now is to get 35 qualified contacts a week -
which is a man with a family, married in the register or would like to
be, who believes in Jesus Christ. There are a ton of Muslims - especially
here in the North but we talk to everyone! This is something we didn't
really do my 1st transfer but this mission is changing fast!  President
Kretley is getting things done and changing everything - a Master
Inspirer. President Spendlove destroyed all the old bad traditions and
got this place ready to take off and now we are going into full swing!
My companion showed me this to help explain so I will show you guys:
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These lines represent the finding teaching and baptizing process of the old
way. It was find teach teach teach teach baptize and start again.
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These lines are the new way. They represent the finding teaching and
baptizing process again but now we are always finding teaching and
baptizing. This way we will eventually be having baptisms very
regularly and have investigators in all different areas of the
process. The hard part is switching over - which is where Elder
Bradford and I are right now. I started off in the old way and now I'm
learning the new way. I love the investigators I had my 1st transfer
but a lot of them are not really progressing. It's hard for me to move
on because I am a very blue person - very emotional - but I know I need to
be able to move on and I see why. We are still trying to help them but we need

to spend our time doing other things too. I have never been so stressed out and
I try so hard to focus on what really matters but sometimes the little
things really get to me. I am a perfectionist in some areas and things
really worry me - but I'm learning. I have seen so many amazing things
since I have been here and have been so blessed!
     On the 30th of this month Elders Bradford, De Oliveirra, Paxman
and I are flying down to Beira for a mission conference there with
Elder Renland of the Seventy. I think about half the mission will be there.
Most of the missionaries here are in Beira or Maputo so I have not
met hardly any of them. I'm so excited! The goal is to get stakes in
these two cities by the end of a year! I guess Elder Nelson has come
here before and he said someday Mozambique will be the strength of the
church here in Africa! This place has potential and now we are trying
our best to really get things done.
     I have a really cool story about one of our investigators though. 

Elder Leake and I contacted his wife - or actually she
asked us to come teach her one day when we were walking to a house.
Super nice lady. We never met him though until we were teaching her
and her kids about the Plan of Salvation. He came and sat down in the
middle of the lesson and looked so mad at the world.  But then he
started asking questions and smiling and showed up to church the next
week and has been reading the Book of Mormon. They are doing awesome
and working towards marriage right now. But that's not even the cool
part - So last week we went to help him build a shed thing - maybe it's a
house - I'm not sure - but he told us that when me and Elder Leake first
met him he had been super addicted to drugs and drinking for 16
years!! But since that 1st time we met him he hasn't drank or
done drugs once!! We had not even talked about the word of wisdom.
I know the Gospel is the way to be truly happy. It doesn't matter
where you have been or really even where you are but what matters is
where you are going! That's the cool thing about the gospel is hope!
There is always hope.
     David man, do whatever you can to come out and serve. Be a
good example to your friends and all our cousins because good examples
are one of the biggest reasons I was able to come and serve.
Dad, save up your money so you and Mom can go on a mission. You
guys can go to Jamaica or something. Senior missionaries make a huge
difference! I wish we had some in Nampula.

     Well hopefully this email explained a little bit
about what is going on here. I love you guys!!

 Elder Bigelow

August 13, 2012 - Nampula

       They call your 1st comp on your mission your dad and the 2nd your breaker because he breaks all the bad habits from your 1st transfer.  This week was hard but I learned a lot.  I feel like we did good work last transfer but now I see how much better it can and should be. We spent a lot of time with the same investigators who are good people but have just been being taught forever and are not really progressing. We have some that are and it's great - but we really need to just start finding! President Kretley has really been stressing this and now I see why. I don't know the area as well as I should or where all the members live so this transfer is going to be a lot of work - but I'm excited. This week I was pretty down on myself  and I spent a lot time worrying and praying, but now I know what I need to change. I'm just going to my hardest to have fun with it and be myself.              We had some pretty cool lessons this week!  I know there are people who are honestly ready and prepared for the gospel here - we just have to find them. I feel bad for Elder Bradford because I should know the area better but guess we are going to learn it together. Our area is huge and the 'roads' are so confusing.  I don't really know how to explain it but some places are just alley ways and trails between behind and in front of houses and there are a thousand ways to get places and a thousand ways to get lost.  I thought people's directions in Eagar were bad - but not even! We ask people 'Where do they live?' and honestly - no joke - they just say stuff like 'you just go to that mango tree la (and point in a direction which means like way out there) and turn right at the 3rd banana tree follow that one path and it's that one on the left behind some others.'   At first I thought they were joking but they are serious. Addresses don't exist.
          David man, good luck at school! Just have fun, dude, high school was the best! Pay attention in seminary and read your scriptures and things will go a lot better for you - I promise. You will have to write me and tell me about all the crazy stuff you did this summer. Plus you only have a 4 day week that's awesome!
         Dad, good luck with your powerplant class. How has work been going with Glen?
I love you guys and will try to send pictures home this week . Tell Anne and Wes and Rans and Katie 'hi' for me. I wrote Emily an email already today.
          I just read the whole talk by President Uchtdorf you sent me! Super true. Some other really awesome talks you guys should look up are 'Remember Lot's Wife' a BYU devotional by President Holland and 'Come what may and love it' - it was a confernce talk a couple of years ago but super good too.   

          These pictures are from Mozambique Island last week! I feel like Nampula is it's own mission. There are 4 of us and I hear all this stuff about the rest of the mission but we are so isolated! But pics are loading fast so I can try so send a lot. The one with the fire is here in Nampula but I never found out what burnt down - that is in the other companionship's area a couple of weeks ago.

Elder Bigelow

August 6, 2012 - Nampula / Mozambique Island

Dear Americanos,

     This week has been super crazy! My trainer, Elder Leake got transfered to T3 which is right next to Maputo and so I got a new companion - Elder Bradford. Elder Leake left Saturday but he was super sick all week so we weren't able to leave the house much at all.  So boring!  But I had a lot of time to study.
     With my new companion being new to the area I have to show him around and talk to everybody and kind of lead things out for a while. My Portuguese is still terrible, too, haha, and our area is half of Nampula!  It's going to be super tough, but my Portuguese should get a lot better (I hope).
     Today we went to Mozambique Island!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was legit!! I took a bunch of photos I will try to send in this email. We went with the Boninis who are a missionary couple from Brazil. It was alot of fun - super beautiful - and we walked around on the beaches and then ate at a super nice hotel. Day vacation!
    Happy Birthday Shima!
    Thank you for the recipes. I will take pictures if I get to make any.  It looks like I'm not going to be able to send many pics home today they won't really load.
     We have some super good investigators but I really need to learn this language! - it's killing me! But I know the gospel is true and I was called here to share it with these people. Mozambique is so ready for it. Hope you guys all had a good week.
    Today was awesome and this week will be an adventure for sure!

                       ate logo
                       Elder Bigelow

July 30, 2012 - Nampula

Amigos,

          This week was pretty crazy. it rained a couple of times. Monday we ate at sister Milas house who is from the Philipines. She isn't very active but she only speaks English so it would kinda be hard to be in a Portuguese branch. (I know how she feels!) But we had a super good lesson with her and she cooked us a bunch of Philipino food - so good! She lives with some other Philipinos and they work and then send money back home  Our lessons with Joseph are in English too, which is pretty cool.
        I got a haircut today and it was a terrible experience - haha! They only use the razor thing and no scissors and they aren't good at it. When they are done they just throw on a bunch of window cleaner and it cost extra because we are white and we don't have the same hair as everyone else!
     Our baptism didn't happen because they were having a huge political party at the pool we use so it got moved to next Saturday.
     I cooked super good chicken this week and I'm going to make Chinese food this week. I'm getting better!
     Elder Nascimento went home and Elder Olivera from Brazil got here and he is super cool. My comp, Elder Leake, is most likely getting transfered this week but we don't know till Wednesday for sure. He has malaria but he caught it pretty early and took the stuff to help it but he was pretty much a zombie for a while. He is starting to feel better and will live (haha). You don't have to worry. Oh, and I'm taking larium which is the once a week pill for malaria but the it's supposed to give you crazy dreams. The first couple of weeks I didn't really notice because I dream all the time anyway, but this week was crazy! So many weird dreams! But it's better than the other pills and so far they haven't been too scary.  'They are like movies in my eyes!'
     I missed summer camp but that's awesome that everything worked out great.
     We had some intersting lessons come from our contacts again and we had 11 investigators at church!

                                     Elder Bigelow

Most of these pictures are from when I was in Luaha, but the sunset picture I took here in Nampula.