09 August 2010

Mon 8/9/2010 12:15 PM


Grand Island Estoy Aqui

Buenos Tardes Personas que lea eso!

So what’s up? I’m now in the good old, small town of Grand Island. It’s a little bit bigger than Kearney. And yah! My companion is Elder Stephenson now. He is about like 5 ft 5 and kind of looks Hispanic but isn't. We drive a Dodge Caravan and we live in the basement of our Branch President’s house. The members are way sweet here though. They are very hospitable and they are definitely a good group of people. They are like a family; it’s really great for the investigators that we bring in! What else....hmmm not much. Oh so I was a little sad to be transferred again. This is my 6th area. But it’s all good! So I'll get started on my weekly updated for ya'll! But since I can't really remember anything before Wednesday, that’s where I will start.

Wednesday - We found out about transfers so I just went and visited a bunch of families, of course! And I made sure I saw Guillermo and bore my testimony to him! I hope he gets baptized! He's such a good guy and needs the gospel in his life! But yeah, we just visited people all day, pretty much. It ended at the Rivera's - my favorite family here. And we had a good little chat, so it’s good. But then I just packed until like 2 am! I woke up at 4:30 am the next morning.

Thursday – We met at the transfer point, and yeah, took pictures with people I may not see again - such as Elder Moore and Elder Ozmun (he is home already, was my ZL and helped me a ton) and yeah. Then we went down to Lincoln! I saw everyone down there again too. I got to see Elder Hudspeth, it was way good to see my p-town (Provo Town) homie again. He's going up to Sioux City to be a ZL. Maybe I'll see him again. We'll see! Then yeah we left and it was only Elder Cahoon (AP) and in the car we had a really good talk. I told him I didn't want to get transferred. He really helped me realize a lot of things. It was a way good talk. So I decided to set some goals for myself! I'm going to make these next 16 months the most Spirit filled months ever. I’ve just decided that I need to get to work harder and just push myself even when I have nothing left to give. I have to give more! So yeah! We showed up in Grand Island. I saw Elder Stevens. Oh man, it was so good to see him before he went home. We had to wait at transfer spot like another 2 hours for the other people to drive back through. So we all just chilled. Then, yeah, they needed to leave. I seriously cried when Elder Stevens left. I love that guy. He was, seriously, my best friend out here. But, oh well! So then it was just Elder Stephenson and I. The first thing we did was go visit members and such, and then when there was no more, that’s right, we tracted a trailer park. It was so hot, and I was so tired. But I just kept going. At the end of the day, we had about 5 new people to teach - one of which, Vanessa, was a 16 year old girl who we taught on the doorstep. It was a good spiritual lesson. She started out kind of rejecting us, but as we started asking some good questions, man, she really opened up! It was great! After that, we went home and passed out at like 9:30.

Friday - We tracted all day again! We had no set appointments until the evening! But, oh well. I just kept going and going and thinking, “It’s probably gonna be the last door we knock on because it always is.” And, of course, it was! It was the last person before our set appointment. They were home and we made a return appointment. But he didn't show the next day.  But then that night, I met our baptismal set. Lorenzo y Solidad! They are great. I really clicked with them because I'm just a fun goofball and so is Lorenzo. It went really well, but we found out that they are not married. Boo. So we have to get that going! Anyway, nothing big happened that day except that!

Saturday - We woke up and we built a house. No joke when I say that. The coolest family in the ward,. the Catalan's, are getting a house from Habitat for Humanity. So every Saturday from 8-2 we go and build their house for service. It was so fun. I spent most of my time building this shed! It was really fun. And we actually made 3 appointments with some people there who were interested in our message. So it worked out! After that, we tried knocking at some of our set appointments, but it didn't work out. So we went to our ward activity, that they have every Saturday night. They play basketball, soccer, and such after they have a little gospel study. We invited all the investigators and they came. They had a blast. Some left early, but it really worked out! I even balled it up. All the people were like, “You are so good.” And I said, “Not really....you guys are just used to playing soccer.” I think they were just amazed that someone could touch the rim. It was funny! But yeah, afterward, we placed two copies of LDM (Book of Mormon) and ate some tres leche! It was such a long fulfilling day! I loved it. I got a pretty good tan because of it too.

Sunday – We had a correlation meeting. Then 3 investigators showed up for church! Lorenzo, Solidad, y Sajid! So good. Elder Stephenson and I taught Priesthood meeting. It was really good. It was about faith. and Lorenzo and Sajid were just commenting so much. Alberto, a member for like 3 months, was just bearing his testimony like crazy. It was really good! I think they all had a good time. Then in la santa cena (Sacrament Meeting), my companion spoke. (apparently we speak every other Sunday.) Oh well, good for my Spanish! Then we went home and ate some din din and after, we went and taught Sergio. He's a less active. But yeah, good times already. It just because I have just been more focused on the work and everything! It’s so great!

Monday – Today, we have been just doing laundry, came here, and a member is taking us bowling! Then we'll go shopping. Then we have a dinner appointment with Lilia, a person we met on Saturday from service. After that, we are taking our investigators to Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) that the members of the ward put on every Monday night! So yeah! I'm excited for this transfer. I mean, I'm sure it will be tough because I know more Spanish than my companion, but, oh well. It’s a good opportunidad for me to learn and to grow in Spanish and in the Gospel! I'm really excited for it! I can't believe it’s already August. Where does the time go?

Welllll. I gotta get going, but I just want to thank everyone for all that they do for me and for this wonderful work of the Lord. It really is an important work. And if we just submit ourselves to it, we will have more happiness than any other thing can give us! I love you all so so so so so much! Have a great week!

Love always,

Elder Brad Rigby