Saturday, August 28, 2010

Next Stop...Grand Junction!

It's hard to believe but Courtney is at her half way point in her mission! Now on her 3rd transfer and 8 companions, I think, (includes the MTC), she is doing very well and happy.
He companions are amazing! They have been from Hawaii, Nevada, Virginia, Utah, to name a few.
Thanks for your continued support with prayers and letters! She can't begin to tell you how much they mean to her.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Sweet Victory!

"We had zone conference yesterday. It was a good and guess what? Sister Ferons and I won the golden hub-cap award which is a hundred extra miles. Thank goodness, we really needed it. What that means is that our car was the cleanest out of the cars present. We cleaned the car inside and out including door jams and the engine. And just to throw us over the top we made brownies and wrote a sweet little poem. It said, "Roses are red, violets are blue, oh look how at how our car looks brand new, and these brownies are for you." We laid them on the driver's seat nicely. Some of the elders were jealous that they didn't think of that. Lol! Sweet victory!
Funny story! So after we won golden hub-cap award and conference was over we wandered out to our cars. We get to ours and it is not working. I thought someone was playing a joke on us cuz there were some elders that we thought and they are jokers. Bless their hearts! Anyway. I am trying and trying to see whats wrong. I make sure the keys match up and they do. Then I open the hood, (since i know what to look for....lol! Yeah, right.) Well I have a guess but I didn't know for sure. Anyway, soon we have elders all around us and they laugh at us saying, "Didn't you just win the cleanest car and now your car isn't working? Funny!" Sadly, yes that is what happened. I didn't know who to go to but Elder Quetel walks by and I ask him if he knows anything about cars. He says he knows some but my first problem was that the car is a Ford. I said, "What?!" Fords are the best and he starts laughing. It turns out our car was dead so the elders jumped our car for us. So sweet of them!
My companion and I get along great! The work here is a little slower but we have some promising investigators. The area we serve in is huge. We border Capital Hill which is the heart of Denver. It's different but i have a feeling I'm going to love it. I do miss the country. I miss that life and all the smells that go along with it. But the change will help me grow."

Thanks everyone! Courtney's new address has been posted.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

You can take the girl out of the city but can't take the city out of the girl!

Courtney went from country to city on her first transfer and it is definitely an eye opener. Courtney is such a country pumpkin. I can't wait for to her about her adventures.

Although she misses the incredible people of Montrose, she is looking forward to the challenges and growth that await her. The ward members in Montrose love the missionaries and take good care of them. She knew she was blessed to have been sent there for a long as she had. ( 5 1/2 months.)

Where has the time gone? From my last post until now, Courtney has experienced much on her mission. Everything from being stuck on a mountain pass to being chased by Thomas the Goose. Courtney finds adventure or I should say adventure finds Courtney. They have been fun to read but most important and touching have been reading about her spiritual growth and the opportunity to preach the Gospel. She has a firm testimony and love for our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is evident as she teaches and the Spirit is there to witness to those they teach.

Companions are a blessing! Courtney loved her MTC companions Sisters Hydrick and Burgoyne. She loves them and learned from them. Her first companion in Colorado was Sister Andrus and Courtney wrote about how wonderful she was too! Sister Andrus helped Courtney transition right in and Courtney loved her. Especially her fun, outgoing, and positive personality. She was an example of dedicated missionary. Courtney also liked the fact they both love trucks! Next was Sister Egbert. The blessings of wonderful companions kept coming. "She is totally amazing and wise", were some of Courtney's comments. The taught many people, laughed and enjoyed serving.
After over 4 months, Courtney was now a trainer to Sister Searle. She doubted herself but with faith and guidance she gained a lot from the opportunity. She wrote, "I was thinking during personal study that I am so grateful for the opportunity to train. I have really, really, really, felt the mantle that I have placed upon me. If it wasn't for training I wouldn't have felt it like I have now. I have been so blessed to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost that allows me to teach and tract."
Edgewater is now home! Keep posted to hear about more missionary life in the city! (Lol)

Thank you for all your support! Courtney LOVES hearing from her friends and family. She can't express enough gratitude for your time to write and prayers. They mean more than you know.

HEr new address is:
Sister Bigelow
1722 Depew St.
Edgewater, CO 80215

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Happy Girls Day!

Happy Girls Day! My companion is always looking at the calendar and noticed it is Girls Day. Weird huh?! (This was sent yesterday on the 3rd.)
My companion and I are going to Black Canyon today with the Cranes, the family we live with. We are going to do a little hike. Its about 13 miles away. Most of it is closed off because of the snow. I can't wait! It will be my first big outing. I will take lots of pics.
On the 27th of this month there is a couple, Kramers who will be taking us to Telluride. I am so excited because I hear it's prettier than Aspen. We will be riding the huge Gondola up there as it takes you through the mountain side. So I really hope I don't get transferred.
Transfers are March 11th. I hope I will be staying. I don't feel my work is done here but maybe I will never feel that way.
Our teaching pool is full! I just pray that they will all keep in contact. Most of the investigators are doing well. We have 3 set baptismal dates set. Two are March 27th and one for April 6th. Please pray for them. They need it. Satan always works on them right before because he knows what is going to happen and what a big step this is, coming closer to Christ.
I got my first mission scar on my pointer finger on my right hand. A dog bit me! It was a small dog but don't tell anybody I said that. If they ask, it was a huge pit bull! (Lol!) Anyways, we were tracting and we knocked on this one door. The man opens the door and 5 small dogs come running out. They started jumping on my leg. The man said they don't bite so i bent down and pet it. Then the dog bit my finger and wouldn't let go. I pulled my finger our of his mouth and it cut my finger open. It really hurt but I didn't know I was bleeding. When we walked away I took my finger our of my pocket to tell my companion what happened and it was dripping blood. Lol! We didn't have a first aid kit in the car and I don't have one so I took an old tissue and a rubber band and tied it around my finger. Anyways, now I have a scar. I took pics to show you. Lol! I tell people, "Well there goes my career. I was going to be a finger model."

Love,
Sister Bigelow


Monday, March 1, 2010

SNOW!!!!

We finally have snow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am loving it! We had to tract in it the other day when it was coming down hard and it was really wet. We still have a lot of snow right now because it hasn't melted off yet. They usually say the snow melts off fast but it hasn't. We are expecting more this Friday. I'm keeping warm with my wool socks. :) Toasty!
Sister Egbert and I are teaching many investigators right now. At least four of the families we found from tracting. Exciting! I never thought that was going to happen. Did you know that President Eyring came here years ago and prophesied that this area will boom with missionary work? I was told that by the Bishop of the Spring Creek Ward. Now my companion and I can see that prophecy going forth today. I am so blessed to be a part of it!
Thanks for all the letters everyone! They truly help me through my low points.
Take care.

Sister Bigelow

(Eventually more pictures will be posted. :) )

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Problem Solved and Busy in Montrose!

Courtney's email is up and running! (Whew!) I have a few updates and hope to add some pictures by next week or so. :) Great pictures so keep checking back!

We're busy here in Montrose! I'm here with my new companion Sister Egbert. She is a lot of fun and "by the rules" which is nice. She is from Las Vegas and done with her mission is April. She was actually MTC companions with Sister Andrus. (last companion) She is totally amazing and very wise. She has taught me a lot and she loves to talk. :) We are always laughing together.

This past week we have been very busy. We have got a lot more referrals, return appointments, and tracting in. Tracting is so hard for me! Imagine going up to a strangers door not knowing anything about them and talking to them about the gospel. Sister Egbert is teaching me a lot about tracting. We are suppose to get at least 20 hours of tracting in each week and 20 lessons! Yikes!
We have two more baptismal dates coming up. One of Feb 27th and the other April 6th. We are excited for them. It's a miracle what the Spirit can do.
Our past zone conference was in Grand Junction. It was amazing. It was really nice getting to talk to President. The main focus was on attitude.

This next part is from a letter Courtney sent her Dad. I loved it and felt it would be appropriate to share.

Remember how you taught us to shake hands firmly and not like a limp noodle? So I do shake hands firmly and get so many comments like, "Wow, you have got quite the handshake." I smile and say, "Thank you." But the other day I shook an elderly man's hand and it cracked. (Oh no.) So now I'm wondering if I shake too hard. :0
Thanks for feeding the missionaries. It really helps the missionaries when they are fed and supported by the members. So many of the members down here feed us and I am so grateful for them!
We are tracting 20 hours a week and it's been hard for me. We get ejected and yelled at which is discouraging but when you knock on that one door where the family is ready to hear about the gospel it makes your whole day worth it. :) That happened to us yesterday. It was amazing! I love being able to share my testimony and since I'm a missionary I always get the opportunity. I know that when testimonies are born, the Spirit is there. I know that testimonies are recorded in Heaven. I also know we can be forgiven of our sins when we share our testimony. (D&C 62:3). Testimonies don't have to be long and fancy. It's better when it's simple and from the heart.
Thanks for your support!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Technical Difficulties

Due to a new email account and server problems, the last two emails have been very short. She hasn't received any of our emails but hopefully this will be fixed by next week. :) Thanks for following along! Courtney is very appreciative too!


I am still here in Montrose of another transfer. I still love it here. I have a new companion, Sister Egbert who is from Las Vegas. She will be going home in April and was MTC companions with my last companion Sister Andrus.
We had our first baptism on the 27th. It was such a blessing to teach her. The light of Christ within her became brighter and brighter. She knows so much about the church! Alexis is shy but has a strong testimony and a huge example to her family. Her mom told us Monday that she will be coming to church with her this Sunday. My heart leaped for joy. I never thought this was going to happen.
The missionary support here is so amazing. We are so so so spoiled. There never has been a night when we didn't have a home -made dinner or at least an offer.
Has anyone come across really good articles or conference talks? I would love reading them too. I could use them in lessons and when I have to give a talk. Also, if there are any object lessons about any subjects you thought was neat please let me know. Object lessons go a long way when it comes to teaching.
I'm behind on letters. (sorry) This P-day and last P-day we haven't had much time to write. P-days are relaxing. They are go, go, go, go.

Love you all. Thanks for your prayers. I know they are helping me.

Sister Bigelow