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