4 April 2011

Mon 4/4/2011 11:53 AM


Conferencia General!!!

Hello everyone-
So my message this week is that WE HAVE A TRUE PROPHET ON THE EARTH!! What a great way to start off the month of April. Conference. I love it i love it i love it!! I seriously felt the spirit so much - much more than any other time. And I believe it is because I focused really hard. NO distractions. I enjoy watching it at the church. There are no distractions. So the spirit is always very strong. Maybe back home I will watch it at the church. One family here proclaims, "Conference isn't conference unless you're at the church" and I think it’s true. Man, were there some great messages for all of us in that conference. I can't really say I had a favorite. They all spoke to me. I wish I would've brought my notes and I could tell you which ones! But I didn't. I did enjoy Elder Uchtdorf's "Road to Damascus" that was really good. And the doctor guy, about pain. That was good! Everything was just really good to hear. I earnestly know that our Father in Heaven sends these messages to us so that we can be edified and strengthened. Like Elder Holland talked about, that these talks are for us, and that they go by the spirit to prepare them and present them. They are as Angels speaking unto us. It’s just so awesome to see it. I just had wonderful chills of the spirit the whole meeting. Even a couple tears here and there because the spirit was so strong. I think, when the Choir sang The Spirit of God, all of those who were in the church had a couple of tears! Amazing!! .

Anyway, the work. So this week we had some really good lessons! We finally taught Mary and Marietta. They are from Micronesia and speak the language of Ponpei. It’s really cool. The Olsons set it up for us and we taught them in their house. Well I did. Elder Friddle went to Cherokee to contact some referrals with another member. But it was a good night! They committed to reading and praying about the Book of Mormon - which is the number one thing to conversion! Prayer. I hope they do so. They came to one conference session at the church, which was good. A lot of our investigators watched it at home, which is still good. But at the Church it is so much better! We also had a chance to teach Tayler that day. It was awesome to hear him say, "I have been in my church for 16 years and they never told me that i had agency to choose or that faith is more than just believing? I am glad you guys are here." This coming from a 16 year old boy! We have another lesson with him this week and his youth leader will be there. Hope we don't get into a bible bash!! ugh!!

Spanish wise. The work is growing little by little. I taught Ganeli this week. And I focused a lot on baptism with her. She keeps saying she is not ready. Which is an excuse for something else, but she hasn't really told us what it is. So we will keep trying with her. We are focusing on the less-actives a lot right now. If we can get a small group of Hispanos coming, then we will have support there for when others come to church. So that’s what we are struggling with right now! But I know the Lord will help us out and help me out that I can stay fluent with my Spanish!

Interview with the president was good. I had a really good talk with him, and we set some goals for me for these last 8 months. He said that I need to lead people in the right direction. Not that I am doing the contrary, but he knows I know a lot of people and am friends with a lot. But he wants me to help him out by helping them be more obedient and focused. How am I going to do that? I don't know. I just talk to people, I guess. I have always had a talent of making friends. So I guess I will use that to help others out!

One fun thing we did this week was we taught Michael how to play baseball! Man has it been a long time since I have picked up a glove and ball. I miss it. And my arm is straight up rubber right now. Obviously, it is not in shape. But it was fun helping him learn how to throw and bat and what not. It brought me back to my coaching days! He got really good at hitting. So yeah! It’s always fun to teach people things. Teaching baseball is a lot like teaching the gospel. You have certain tools you must use - a glove, a bat, a ball. With the gospel, the scriptures, prayer, the spirit. So they essentially go hand in hand. We need to be very basic and simple with the things we teach. Be specific, but not confusing. Be loving and understanding. The gospel can be related to everything. And that’s why I love it. It’s everything, it’s everywhere, it’s part of me. Every day is a learning experience. Our leaders and our prophet are the coaches. They are helping us, so that we can make it safely home! And that’s the goal, to get safely home! I love you all and I hope that each of you will learn how to bat at the plate of life and make it safely home. I miss you and I pray for you often! Have a most wonderful April week! Hopefully, not full of snow!!!


Con amor,
Elder Bradley Rigby