21 February 2011

Mon 2/21/2011 10:49 AM


Bautismos en La Pila?? Si! Bautismos en La Pila!!

hola!!! Feliz Dia de Presidentes hoy!

How is everyone? I am doing great. Super Tired. Spiritually and Physically. This week was so so so so so super busy. But that’s good!!! We had the three baptisms, but, before that, we had their interviews, a branch party, a funeral which lasted all day and at which we had to speak, plus all of the other normal missionary things! So it’s been a fulfilling week which I have thoroughly enjoyed. But yesterday, after all the meetings and baptisms and confirmations, we were indeed tired! That’s good though right?

So first off, the funeral. It was for a Micronesian man, Gordon Liphai. He was an awesome guy. He had liver cancer and looked worse and worse every week we saw him. So while it’s sad that he left, he is in a better place now. We had the opportunity to speak at the funeral. It was kind of hard, because well, none of them speak English very well. But I tried to get my point across as basic as I could. It went well though. What was different culturally, at the cemetery, is the family buries the casket. So it was different to see the casket go into the ground and all of them burying it.

Saturday, Nicole and Michael got baptized! It was a very spiritual experience for us, especially because Wally did the baptizing! Michael was so funny. He got in the water and just starting swimming around, and when he came up he said, “WHOA!!! That was cool,” haha, and he sat on the steps and said, “I am not getting’ out!.” Then he watched his sister get baptized. It was so amazing to see this wonderful family completed in the gospel. They can only go up from here!! Up, up, up! (Shania Twain) They are doing great! I had the opportunity to confirm Nicole as a member of the church it was a very spiritual experience. A lot of priesthood was used this weekend. The Gospel is such a blessing in the lives of those we teach. It’s so awesome to see people and feel of the spirit and change.

Sunday. Lulu (Lourdes) was baptized yesterday after church. The baptism went well. I only had to dunk her once, and she came up and said, “Wow!!! Are we done? Is there more?” I was like, “No, you stayed under!” (she was worried that would come up). Then she said, “That was amazing thank you.” So another miracle, I was very grateful to perform the ordinance for her. It went well. And she is off and running. It’s funny, you teach all these investigators and then baptize them. You have this bond with them that will never go away. And once I leave this area, it will be sad! And I will worry for these wonderful people I have taught. Worries like, I hope they stay active, or did I teach them enough? And every worry goes away with the confidence I have in the Church and the blessings that Christ will give each person. We should still be helping them all we can. But I know, without a doubt in my mind, that they will be fine as long as they trust in God!

Wonderful things have happened here in Storm Lake and it makes me feel so good. I feel like I am home right now, at least a home on the mission. I feel like this is where I need to be. And I wouldn't change that for the world. We have more work to do, because there is always people who need the gospel, but I just feel so good right now. The members are awesome right now. I have seen this area go from nothing to something. And that is all because of our Father in Heaven. And the members are so missionary oriented now. Before, they wouldn't really even talk to us. Now they want to have us over. They have friends they want us to visit. It’s just so wonderful to see what a couple exciting baptisms can do to change a branch!

I am LOVING the mission right now, I wouldn't change it in any way! I wish I could stay here in Storm Lake for the rest of my mission. It’s THAT good. I love you all so much! and I miss you just as much! Thanks for the prayers, the love, and the constant support you give me. I pray for each of you every day! I love you and I hope you have a wonderful week!!

con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby

14 February 2011

Mon 2/14/2011 11:04 AM


Bautismo en el Lago? SI BAUTISMO EN EL LAGO!!!!

Feliz Dia de Amor!! ¿Quieren ser mis San Valentíns?

So I am sure you are all wondering how the week was! Well, can I tell you it was the busiest week ever!!! I will give you just a few sweet highlights! First off we went to Sioux City and then to Council Bluffs on Tuesday for a zone conference. It took forever and we got home way late on Tuesday! Then Wednesday, Wally got his baptismal interview and he passed!!!! So yeah!!! Then Thursday and Friday, were just preparing things for the baptism and what not! Finally the weekend, the story of the week!!! duh du du dud dudh (trumpet sounding) THE BAPTISM IN THE LAKE!!!

Wally Hinote was baptized in the lake on Saturday! It was a beautiful service, first in the morning, Elder Friddle and myself went and shoveled out the site of the baptism. It was covered in snow! Then we prepared the program and got everything ready. Then finally the service began after taking pictures! So we had songs, and a talk and then we drove to the site! Put the ladder down, and I got into the frigid water first, and helped everyone down, then we took some pictures before the ordinance began. And then he was baptized!! He said he felt an unbelievable weight off his shoulders! He said that someone helped him out of the water, but it wasn’t me! So I know for a fact that angels were there helping us bring this wonderful man unto Christ. So we got out, dried off, warmed up and got dressed! Then yesterday, I had the opportunity to confirm him as a member of our church! Then later, he received the priesthood so he can baptize the kids on Saturday!!! Good stuff going on here!! We are way excited to complete the family this Saturday!!!

Also either this Saturday or Sunday, LuLu will also be baptized! She is way excited and she has a very strong testimony of the gospel, we teach her everything, and she just says, “I understand, I will do it!” So I told her she is like Nephi, I will go I will do the things the Lord commands. And she was happy about that. But yeah! So four baptisms within 8 days! WE are so excited for all these people we are working with. We still have to find some new people to keep building the kingdom, its building my testimony even more on how the Gospel really does bless the lives of everyone. It took me 20 years to figure it out, but I figured it out! And I hope all of you have the same feeling I have every day.

On a personal level, I am doing great. I’m just really enjoying the mission right now. I can't believe how fast the time goes. I know I say that every week, but every week it’s like a blur and I am here at the computer writing ya'll again. So yeah. I don't know what else to say except, Will ya'll be my valentine?? :) I hope so! Either you all or Elder Friddle, and that’s kind of weird. hahaha. So yes!!! I love you all so much and I pray for you daily! have a great week!!!

con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby

7 February 2011

Mon 2/7/2011 10:13 AM


La Boda

Buenos Dias mis queridos!
How great is it to be alive, eh? I am sure you are thinking,”Oh now, Brad almost died or something.” But no! I am talking about you guys and your little fire fighter extravaganza. Lucky it was just a scare! Our fire alarm goes off a lot too, but it’s because of me cooking things! Not burning them, don't worry, just cooking! Plus, if I ever want to wake Elder Friddle up, I just push the button and say "Fire, fire, fire!!!!!" I need to video it one time! We shall see. So today we are going to Sioux City again. We have to go there weekly now. Which kind of stinks because it blows away our miles, oh well. I always need to walk more.

So! The wedding happened this week! It was on Wednesday and it was super great! We celebrated afterward by making them some cake and ice cream. It was a small wedding, but good! So now, we just have to do the baptismal interview and the service, which is Saturday. We found a spot in the lake that we don't have to cut the ice out and it will be fine. It's supposed to be like in the 30's on Saturday,which is super warm! So everything is pretty much set to go. I am so excited for him. It’s going to be great. And then the kids next week and maybe even one more child of the Gore's. He is 8 and is their cousin. So it should be a good month of February!!! We also taught LuLu twice this week, and she is progressing like none other. She just loves reading and praying. She told us that she feels different and she feels comforted when she prays. We told her that’s the Holy Ghost and after she is baptized she will have that as a constant companion. Things are just going super great here. It’s snowing a lot, and being cold, but I am used to it now. I don't think it’s that cold.

Tuesday, it was like a blizzard, and it was -35ish, so guess what we did? We walked around and shoveled driveways for people. It was so fun. I got so hot. I was just chilling without a coat and what not. But yeah. So we just walked around a lot this week, and people are mean! Here we are freezing outside, and we know everything is closed in town, school is out, so people have to be home right? Well, apparently they just park their cars and pretend not to be home. How rude!! They hear a knock and think it’s too cold to answer. So they don't. So we walked to Wally and Michelle's for dinner, and actually got stuck there until like 12 at night because of a blizzard, which was bad!!! Finally, it stopped snowing and blowing, so we could see enough to have Wally drive us home! So that was quite an adventure. Also my favorite little puppy of our investigator, named Boni, got hit by a car this last week. She was a shih-tzu also. I was sad. I am happy Mimi is alright and kicking. I decided I want to buy a husky for a dog when I get back. They are big, cool looking, and they don't shed. How perfect! So watch out! There is a guy here that we know that breeds them and sells them for like 200 bucks. DEAL! We also got to travel to Sioux City last week for district meeting, then right when we got back, we went and helped some lady move in about an hour away with some people in the branch. They are an adventurous family. She has guns and all sorts of outdoorsy things. Then I also decided then, that I want to become more outdoorsy when I get home. Go hunting and fishing more, be a mountain man (no mom I am not trunky, or thinking of home, just had the thought when we were moving stuff in). Kind of like Grandpa Bingham was. So yeah. Then we drove home, it was a fun evening!

Overall things are just going great in the mission. I am loving it here in Storm Lake. The people are great, and the branch is just wonderful. We filled all the pews yesterday, and it’s just so great to see all the smiling faces there. I love teaching the gospel and I love all that it does for me personally. I have grown so much in the last 14 months. (has it really been that long? wow!!!) and I just know, this is where I need to be right now, teaching the Spanish and English people of Storm Lake!!! I know the Lord needs each of us in the specific places we are and that we must do all that we can to fulfill His will. I read a quote by President Uchtdorf, and he says "No calling is beneath us. Every calling provides an opportunity to serve and to grow. The Lord organized the Church in a way that offers each member an opportunity for service, which, in turn, leads to personal spiritual growth. Whatever your calling, I urge you to see it as an opportunity not only to strengthen and bless others but also to become what Heavenly Father wants you to become." I love that. I know it to be true.

I love all of you so much, and I often pray for your safety and success. I hope you all have a great week full of the spirit of Christ in your hearts, and become more like Him. He needs us to be constant vessels in this work, and the best way to do that is to be more like Him. I love you all and miss you just as much. I hope you have a great week!!
con amor y carino,
Elder Bradley Rigby