August 12, 2013 - Matola

Hey guys,

    Transfers were super crazy again!! Me and Elder Fontes have been asking to stay together at least one more but we had like 15 new elders arrive last week. I am training here in my area Elder Ebmeyer from Provo and Elder Fontes is staying here in the same house but is training in a different area. Also elder Ensaldo is training here in our house so we have 3 new missionaries in our house I am pumped. I have never even lived in the same house as a brand new elder so it is pretty funny seeing what they think about things. It feels like just last transfer I was in their shoes up in Nampula. 

   Dondo opened back up!! 2 elders went up there. This week was district conference and Elder Cook from the seventy came Saturday and I saw Fatima. Sunday I saw a lot of people from Maputo and President showed that video of Elder Anderson and all the couples. I almost started crying! It helped our investigators a ton. I have the coolest mission in the world! Our 2 families are doing awesome if it wasn’t for stupid marriage documents they would already be baptized, but we are still waiting for documents to show up. It was awesome last night, me and Elder Ebmeyer went to teach Andre and Maria the 10 comandments and they asked about tithing and said they wanted to know how to pay so they could start. So we taught them and they were super happy and said they want to start now to get the blessings. Also Samuel and Maria asked us about tithing this week and said they want to start paying. We need to find a lot of new families - we have been finding and dropping a lot.

     Monday I got to be the cobrador in our chapa (the guy who collects the money and calls out the stops). Our chapa didn’t have one so I went up to the front and I knew everybody was going to start laughing and they always say stuff in dialect and do weird things so I started calling the stops and saying stop and go in dialect and everybody was just bustin’ up. It’s so funny how chapas are such a part of culture and everyday life here. I was hoping to get our ride for free for collecting but the driver still made us pay!!

    That is super crazy Colton and Brandon are comps!! Well everything is going great. I finished my journal this week so I am starting another and trying to do better writing all the stuff that I don’t email home so  don’t ever forgot all the crazy stuff about this place.

    Well, love ya guys!

  Elder Bigelow

August 5, 2013 - Matola

This week has been busy busy,

   We were running around all week trying to get everything ready for the wedding of Ricardo and Lina and their baptism with their daughter Dercia, trying to do wedding documents for 2 other families and going to and from Maputo because my companion was sick.

    The wedding was super nice!! I honestly want to invite a bunch of members from here to come to the states when I get married and throw my party and dance and sing. It is probably one of the funniest things to watch. I can’t even explain it but I took some videos. The funniest part is the ceremony they do to give their gifts to the couple afterwards! I was like on the ground laughing the whole time! They go in families and everyone starts singing and they all dance their way to the couple to give them the gift and scream and yell and then put the couple in chairs and lift them up and throw them around - it’s crazy. Ricardo’s parents are super old and speak mostly dialect like the picture perfect old Mozambican couple and they were party animals! The videos I have of them dancing are super funny. They got married at the church and sang and signed the documents and then went to their house and had a huge party afterwards. Then at like 7:00 that night they were baptized.

  Their baptism was pretty crazy: so the zone leaders called and told us the font was slowly draining and they couldn’t stop it and there was no more water in the chapel. The water was already super low and it was like 40 minutes til their baptism. They like to show up late for everything so we stopped by their party again which was still in full swing and told them we had to go quick because next week is district conference, so their baptism was now or in two weeks. Anyways we get there right on time but there was only a little bit of water, so we had to do the baptism on our knees. So my companion tries to baptize her first,  but even on their knees there wasn’t enough water. So I went in and held down her legs while she was baptized sitting down! And then my companion baptized him sitting down. I baptized Dercia, who is only 8 so she could do it kneeling down, but it was pretty crazy.

    On Sunday I had to translate for a couple from the Philipines who just moved into our branch - super hard to listen and talk at the same time.

    Hey did you guys get an email from President Kretley? You have to watch the video on his blog. (presidentandsisterkretly.blogspot.com) I can’t watch it for some reason, but the couple we baptized in Maputo, Aderito and Fatima are in it!!

    This week is going to be crazy. Transfers are next week, we are getting 16 new missionaries this week, and district conference is next weekend. We are opening the marriage processes of the two couples this week - I know I said that last week but we worked super hard and didn’t quite get it all last week.

    Well, love ya guys! Tell Anne and Wes congrats for me, I am super excited for them and Hyrum.

 Elder Bigelow

July 29, 2013 - Matola

This week was nice,

     Yesterday President Kretly dedicated the new chapel and we had 4 complete families and in total 16 investigators at church! We are trying super hard to open 2 marriage processes this week and we have a family getting baptized this weekend. Our area is going super nice. We also have 30 references to contact this week and we just got one from a member that his sister and brother-in- law are super interested, have no church, are married in the register, and loved the open house! I love Matola!

   This week me and Elder Fontes started something called a 40 day attitude or behavior fast. So you fast for one day about things you can do or change to have the spirit more. Then you write a list - we did personal lists and one as a companionship - and every morning you promise to try your best to do or avoid all the things on your lists in your prayers and ask for help. Then every night you go over your list and report on how you did and how you can change and thank for the help the Lord gave you. It is super hard, but I am already feeling a difference.

   Samuel and Maria - we found them like 2 weeks ago but they are super prepared - we talked about documents and marriage with them and then we were super busy with the open house and lost our phone and didn’t get to visit them for like days and when we went back they had all of their documents sitting on their table asking what they needed to do next!! I was blown away! Getting documents is a lot of work.

    Well I love you guys and am glad everything went well at the reunion. Tell Anne to send me tons of pics of my new nephew when he comes. Did they decide on Hyrum as a name?

    Elder Bigelow

July 22, 2013 - Matola

Hey ,

    Well the open house is going great. It will last all week. We are just doing tons of contacts and inviting them to come with us to see the church but it’s not as easy as it sounds haha. We have been walking to our area from the church which is like 20 minutes walking and then hitch-hiking and inviting whoever takes us to come in and it’s been working. The first car that took us were all Muslim so you can guess how that went, but the second car was a super nice couple who came with us. There are about 10 big banners inside and we take the people around and show them all the banners that are about the restoration. It’s really awesome and the spirit is super strong.

     Also Bobo, the guy I baptized in Inhamizua, remember how I told you guys the week after he was baptized and confirmed he left to Nampula and I was sad because he will make an awesome leader? Well he went up there and never really went to church. I can understand it would be super hard not knowing anybody and him and the missionaries could never meet up. Then he changed phones and so I couldn’t even call him and I was super sad because I thought for sure I would never be able to get a hold of him again and he would just stay inactive. But then I remembered that we taught his friend in Inhamizua as well so I called Inhamizua Elders and they got me his friend’s number from the area book and he had Bobo’s new number. So last week I called him and he didn’t really seem too excited and had not been to church, so I invited him but it was kinda iffy. So later I felt like I should text him 2nd Nephi 31 to read, and he texted me back and told me he read it and was going back to church on Sunday. So I called the missionaries and had it all set up and he went and he called me afterwards super excited. The missionaries are going to help him get the priesthood and are super excited because they think he will make a great leader as well. And his family is moving up to live with him as well in Nampula so they can be taught by the missionaries.

    Things are going great. We should get tons of references from the open house and we have 3 families who are doing great. I am super excited. Today we played soccer with a bunch of youth from the Matola branches. It was way fun. Well sorry I don’t have a ton of time to write but tell everyone hi for me at the reunion. Love ya guys!

 Elder Bigelow

 Matola Chapel

President Kretly at open house

Bunch of goofy Elders!

July 15, 2013 - Matola

This week has flown by yet was so long and jam packed,

   I guess I will start out with the guy we gave the Book of Mormon to that I was telling you about last week - Vincent. So we went by and it was only him at home because his wife flew to Atlanta this week. I couldn't believe it but he was kind of busy and didn't really want to sit with us. Too bad but we got 15 minutes out of him. So we taught the restoration in like 10 minutes and the spirit was super strong - like probably one of the strongest times I have felt it but he said his wife had told him not to make any commitments to us before we even started. But I thought for sure he would read and pray and we invited him super boldly and he says “No! I will not read or pray about the Book of Mormon. Maybe come back next week when my wife and kids are here.” Normally we would never go back to someone who just said no like that - one of the few times it has happened. But we both feel we should go back again this week and try to sit with the whole family, so we will see. They are Catholic but not active and they are married.

     Also this week we found some really cool new families. One was a reference from a recent convert family. All of our lessons fell through on Saturday - honestly like 10.  Saturdays are like magic - marking lessons - but they never go through. So we call this family, Samuel and Maria and they are awesome. We sat with them Saturday and went back yesterday and they read and prayed and think they have an answer and accepted baptism!

    We are teaching 2 families that should get baptized this transfer. Ricardo and Lina and her sister, Nucha., who already have marriage process open and are super awesome. They never miss church, they read and everything and are getting married and baptized on the 3^rd.  And Andre and Maria who have 3 kids, Jr and Shelton and baby Camila, who are getting baptized. This week was crazy with them. They have been coming to church but we talked about the law of chastity last week and they were super iffy about marriage. So this week we went by and talked about prayer again and getting answers. They were having trouble getting along with each other. I am going to be a certified marriage counselor by the time I get home – haha - but we had them read 3rd Nephi 14. I looked in the front of my scriptures because I have a glue-in about ‘the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul’ and one was how can I improve my marriage relationship with that chapter. So the next day we go back and they had read and they were telling us they want to get married next year because their parents want to come who live in Lachinga way north. Then my comp talks about just legalizing and have the party later and they were all over it! It was a miracle. So later in the week we read the family proclamation and it helped a ton!! They asked for a copy and the spirit was super strong. We went by the next morning to help with documents and he was washing clothes outside instead of her!! So we are just waiting for documents this week - his family has to send his birth certificate from Lachinga. But I am super excited for them.

       Also yesterday I got super sad news. So that picture I sent with Joao and his parents, Candido and Elsa from Inhamizua, right? So after I left he travelled and they have not been able to sit with them a lot, but he got back this week so they went by and she was super sick. And Elder Awbry called me yesterday and told me she passed away! I am super sad! I love that family. I have been thinking a lot about that the gospel comes into our lives when we really need it. I just think how hard this is for him and then how hard it would be if we hadn't contacted him and taught their family. Please pray for them this week.

     Also an old couple, Carvalho and Albertina from Inhamizua are getting married and baptized!! They were eternal investigators - honestly like 3 years. I thought they were members until like 3rd transfer there. But when I found out they weren't we helped them with documents to get married and finally, on Saturday, they will get married!

   Next week will be the open house for our new chapel so I will write on Tuesday instead of Monday I think. I love Matola and my comp. I hope I stay here for a while. Well love ya guys!

   Elder Bigelow.

  (Can you send me Holden's emails? Thanks.)

July 8, 2013 - Matola

 This week has been super nice. Matola is really close to Maputo – like 30 minutes – and tons of rich people.  There are a lot of poor people, too, but I went into some houses this week and I thought I was back in the States! Our area is like a 20 minute chapa ride from our house, but it’s super nice.  I helped train the sisters, and then more came and took over Maputo.

    Matola just has tons of sand roads and big houses.  I don’t really know how else to describe it.  A lot of people have cars. There is a KFC about 2 minutes from our house.  Our house is awesome.  Six people and they are all super cool.  So I told you Augustinho, the ward mission leader in Nampula, is here waiting for his visa for England, and also there is an Elder from Manga, Elder Domingos, who is waiting to go to Angola, that I knew when I was serving in Inhamizua.  He was the ward mission leader in Manga 3, so when I would do divisions with the Manga 3 Elders in my house he would walk with us.  I was actually there when he opened his call.  He had a cookie stand and was trying to save up enough money to serve.  They are super funny together.

    I am learning a ton from my companion especially with Portuguese. He doesn't speak English but I am going to start helping him because he wants to learn. He is from Sao Paulo, so in 2014 I am going to go to the world cup and stay at his house. We made a goal to baptize 4 families this transfer which is going to be way tough but I know we can do it. We already dropped a lot of families this week but we have 1 who has the marriage process open getting married on August 3^rd, and 1 more who we are trying to help get documents. This week we are going to find tons of new people to be able to meet our goal

    Matola just had a brand new church built chapel constructed!! It looks super nice it is actually getting dedicated on the 28th of this month so the whole week before they are doing a huge open house and we have been giving out invites to seriously everybody we saw this week. Super nice and an easy way to start conversations. Elder Lake and Elder Williams who were in the MTC with me are my zone leaders. We went to church in T3 which also has a branch about 30 minutes from here by bus this week and will have to do it for about 3 more until our new chapel opens. So Matola 1, Matola 2, and T3 are all meeting together - it is pretty crazy. Tonight we have a super nice lesson set up. So we were doing contacts and we pass this house but I felt we should go back and call and finally their son comes out and his parents are not there so we ask him if they have a church and he says ‘no.’ So my companion feels like he should leave a Book of Mormon and we got the guys number and he marked with us for tonight but I've got a good feeling about this family. I will tell you what happens next week. Well, thanks for the letters!

     kanimambo

                       Elder Bigelow

July 1, 2013 - Maputo

Transferred again!!!

   So there have been a ton of changes this transfer. 8 new elders and 2 sisters came. 6 elders left.  2 more sisters came and some areas opened up so me and my companion both left Maputo 2. The office elders will stay here with the sisters. I really feel so blessed to have served here though, and helped Aderito and Fatima get married and baptized. We also found a really cool family last week, Lucas and Marta, who came to church yesterday. We will give them to the office elders to teach. I am going to Matola - about 30 or 40 minutes out of Maputo - to be with Elder Fontes from Brazil. I will learn super good Portuguese and am way excited. This week’s zone conference was amazing! This weekend I walked with Elder Hamrick, one of the new elders from California. It was awesome. I love walking with new missionaries. I think working in the city was a great experience for me and I have learned a lot. Also cool thing our branch mission leader from Nampula, Augustinho, got his call to England but is serving in my Matola house until he gets his visa! I walked with him a lot in my 1st two transfers in Nampula and he is the one who actually found Joseph a place to live when he got kicked out of his house. I talked to him during zone conference and it was awesome. I also saw another kid who we were teaching his family but he was the only one who ever really came to church in Nampula on the street this week who lives in Matola.

   Does David have his own email yet?  Tell him I say happy birthday and that I love him. I can’t believe he is 17!! And I hope he is having fun in Kansas. I am super happy that you guys got to go to Utah to see Morris be blessed. Tell everybody hi for me!

   Elder Bigelow