17 February 2010

On February 16th at 4:30am, Brad called us from the SLC airport. is was great to finally talk to him. The whole family was on the phone (although I think Tanner was still half asleep). He sounded really good and he was excited to finally be going to Omaha. he was a little anxious about it too, but that's normal. I remember that I was very nervous while traveling to the mission field. He said a little someething in Spanish for us. It sounded pretty good.

It will be strange not having him just down the road from us, but it also takes away the temptation of trying to see him or meet him somewhere by the MTC.

We received the following letter (edited) and pictures from his mission president. He sounds like a very nice man. Enjoy.

-Don

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17 February 2010


Dear Brother and Sister Rigby,

What a delight it was to greet your Missionary, Elder Brad Rigby, at the airport. He was excited to have finally arrived in the mission field. The MTC is a wonderful place, but nothing like being in your field of labor.

We are impressed with his goodness and desire to serve the Lord. His presence will lift the overall strength of the mission. We can tell that his training at the MTC in Preach My Gospel has been effective. This will be a great blessing since the Omaha Nebraska Mission is a Preach My Gospel mission. It is our focus to help your son fulfill his purpose as a missionary, which is to, “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”

Elder Rigby has been assigned to serve in the Omaha Spanish Ward of the Omaha Zone. His Trainer will be Elder Curisinche.

We will do our very best to keep your missionary safe and healthy. We are grateful to have Elder Rigby here with us in the Nebraska Omaha Mission. We love him already! We look forward to growing close as we are yoked together in the service of the Lord.

We have enclosed a picture of your missionary that was taken shortly after arriving in the mission.

Warmest regards,

President Milan Kunz Sister Leslie Kunz

This is a picture taken outside of the Winter Quarter's Temple (left to right)

President Kunz and Sister Kunz, Sister Hale, Elder Bartolomei, Sister Stranger, Elder Bahlmann, Sister Itri, Elder Rigby, Elder DeWitt

 

This was taken at the Winter Quarters Visitor's Center

(left to right)

Elder Rigby, Elder DeWitt, Elder Bartolomei, Elder Bahlmann, Sister Itri, Sister Stranger, and Sister Hale

This is a picture of Brad with President and Sister Kunz outside the Temple.