What a wonderful week and weekend it has been! So much has happened this week and it has been great. Conference was just the best as always. We have been teaching a lot and helping so many people! Life is great. The week started out with an awesome P-day! Our District went and played Laser Tag and then we went out and got ice cream together. I love being part of a District that gets along and helps each other and can relate and share experiences. We also had exchanges this week and I got to relive the glory days with Sister Ramsey! We had the best exchange in our area and had so much fun! The best part is, we got permission to call our old investigator J! I guess he has been struggling, so we called him and got to talk to him. It was amazing. He did admit that he had struggled and fallen off the path a little bit. We talked him through all of it and re-committed him to read the Book of Mormon and to find the Missionaries so he could get baptized. Ahhh, it was awesome!
We also had a zone training this week. The Focus for this month is: "Talking to Everyone." And that is something that I struggle with so it was great! It is really quite scary to talk to random strangers on the street especially when they turn their cheek and don't want to listen to what they have to say. But we talked about how our accountability is to the Lord, and that we should fear Him and not man. So true! We have an obligation to share the Gospel and to open our mouths at all times and to all people, not just some! It was really the kick in the pants I needed to get over my fears and selfishness. Also, these past few weeks we have been trying to get back into the swing of things after I have been so sick. And it has been A LOT harder than I thought it would be. It was almost like starting my mission all over again. I have found myself easily discouraged and sometimes not wanting to do anything. But Sister Pohahau and I have really been talking about and discussing ways and making goals of how we can become more consecrated even in the little things. And it has been amazing to see the miracles that happen when we try just that much harder and put just that much more effort into it everyday. Becoming consecrated isn't something that will happen overnight, but it is something that comes as we work on little things each day and just keep trying. Satan's biggest tool is to discourage us, but we won't let him! We are working harder each day and becoming the consecrated missionaries we know we can be. Pride is a huge setback, but when we are truly humble, the windows of Heaven are opened and we can be so much more successful when we have the help of the Lord. :)
We are getting ready for a baptism in 3 weeks! Our investigator L has decided to make the change and be baptized. We have watched as he has quit smoking and changed his life and it has been incredible to witness. We are so excited for him and his girlfriend who is a member is even more happy! We are working with a ton of other people and we are working on trying to help them progress to the point of baptism as well. Another rewarding thing, it to be able to work with less-active members and to watch them come back in to the fold. It is truly a blessing to be a part of these people's lives and to help them come unto Christ. Most rewarding job I have ever had!
So General Conference was my favorite. We weren't really able to watch it with investigators this time, because most of them are single males, but we did get the opportunity to watch it with and spend time with a lot of our members. We watched it with the Robinson's, the Christiansen's, the Thiriots, and the Dobbins, who are actually a Part-Member family and we are teaching the husband! One of my favorite talks was from Elder Neil A. Anderson about the prophet Joseph Smith and gaining your own testimony of him and defending your beliefs. I loved what he said, because we all need that testimony, and we have heard it our whole lives, that he was a true prophet, but do we really know for ourselves? Do we have a strong conviction that he is the prophet of the Restoration? He said, "If you do not, ask of God." Such simple words, but so powerful. I also loved how the Sunday morning session was so focused on following and sustaining the prophet. He has the right to receive revelation for all of us, and whatever counsel he gives us is really the words of God. "Weather it is by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the SAME." Another favorite was Elder Richard G. Scott. He talked about doing the "little things" such as prayer, scripture study, Family home evening, and attending the temple. He talked about the immense peace that will fill our lives when we set our priorities straight and make time for the little things. I think that is Satan's biggest tool is time. We become so busy in our lives, the most important things become unimportant. I love how bold he was and how he said, "Do it!" Also, gotta love Elder Bednar's missionary talk. I loved how he talked about us working together with members and how we are all missionaries. I really loved all of the talks and they were all my favorite, but those are the ones that stood out the most. I now cherish the opportunity we have to hear the words of our prophet twice a year. I know that they are truly inspired and they know what we need to hear:)
Other than that, nothing else is new! Just being a missionary and working hard and getting back into the swing of missionary life. I am so grateful to be here and to be serving God and His children. There really is no greater calling than the work of salvation. Thank you all so much for your love and prayers. I hope you have a wonderful and ponder what you learned this weekend and apply it:) Love you all!
Love, Sister Bigelow
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