Elder Bradley Rigby

Mon 12/13/2010 10:54 AM

Greetings from Iowa

Bueno a la mejor familia en el mundo!!!

So, basically, this last week has been so crazy! I went from loving life, in the nice 50 degree weather of my home away from home in Grand Island, to freezing my tail off in the middle of Iowa! haha. So first off, I know ya'll have a billion questions about Storm Lake. So the lake is frozen over, and yes, I want to go ice fishing, we will have to see about that. But it is a small (English) branch of about 40 active members. Basically, it takes like 10 minutes, tops, to get from one side of town to the other. You guys saw how small it is on Google Earth! There are a bunch of Mexicans that I have to activate. Basically, everyone we teach and talk to can speak Spanish. So yeah, I kind of teach alone, which is not fun at all! I wish they just had it full Spanish team here and we would teach in Spanish and in English. But oh well. I am stuck dealing with this right now.

But it is very cold here. Saturday we weren't allowed to go out at all because there was a blizzard, and if we walked and stuff, apparently, we would freeze. But you know me, that doesn't stop me! So we got all bundled up and walked to a member’s house down the street!
The apartment isn't too bad. The shower doesn’t work well and there is no dishwasher. But that’s about all the complaints I have. I am completely fine with coping with that stuff.
But the work here. So basically I came here and there is nothing going on at all. Like nothing. On a good week, they teach about 2 lessons a week because they couldn't speak to the Spanish people. So yeah, pretty low! So I am here to boost the area back up to speed so the branch has the Spirit and love to do stuff again! And yeah, we are doing that. We taught six lessons alone the last three days. I guess that shows you how many Hispanics there really are! But yeah.

Iowa is pretty weird. I am homesick for Nebraska! I miss my Huskers. All I see is the Cyclones and Hawkeyes stuff. EWWW! But this town is really small and I imagine it should be fine for me. It depends on how the next couple to three weeks go! But I feel like it’s just a place where I can really start over. I mean, it’s my second year, and I am in a new area. I think the Lord wants me to start it off strongly. I really have to trust in Him here. Because there is a lot to do! I am excited to do it though! My companion is Elder Friddle de Castledale, Utah. He is pretty new. But yeah. I feel bad for him because he just kind of sits there the whole time while I speaka da Spanish! Oh well! But he is a good kid and we are doing well. But yeah!
Things are going really well here. I had a chance to meet a family, who we are working with, and I see them getting baptized soon, if they get married. The mom is a member, but just barely got reactivated. And her brother-in-law just got baptized last transfer. So things in their family are going well. We have taught them twice. One time just about the Book of Mormon, and we answered some questions and last night about Mosiah 3:19. Today, we are going over again to watch The Testaments with them! So it should be good! We were supposed to have them at the church yesterday night for the Christmas Devotional, (yes, I am in the boonies and we had to wait a week to get the devotional,) but no one showed, except the branch mission leader. I even made brownies!!! Oh yeah, church was canceled yesterday because of the weather. Basically all the roads are just ice here - not too much. But I love driving in it! You know me! Things are going really good. This place is going to build my testimony a lot, and I have a really good feeling about it! And while I DO miss Grand Island a lot, it’s ok! I said bye to all the members on Wednesday in Grand Island and that was tough! I love them so much. I wish I could finish my mission there. I am praying for it and you should pray for me too. Because I love that place! But yes! Not too much else to talk about! I am still saving up, for in a couple weeks we talk! I can't wait!

So, basically, things are going really well. It all depends on your attitude on how your altitude is! So I have decided to take the attitude change and just be happy and serve all that I can. I cannot believe that I have been out a year. It is so crazy how fast the mission goes! but I love it so much. And I love the Lord. I have learned so much about myself and about the gospel and there is no other place in the world I would rather be right now than on the mission. I love you all so much and I miss you too! Love you all! Have a great last week of school and keep it cool!

Con amor siempre mis queridos!

Elder Bradley Rigby