17 August 2011

Wed 8/17/2011 10:16 AM

Servicio, Traslados, Entrenando??

Buenos Dias de Sioux City!!!

         Well, I bet you are all wondering about the juicy transfers that are happening out here. So, Elder Noonchester is leaving and I am receiving a greenie. Weird. His name is Elder Vawdrey (or Bawdrey, i am not sure yet), he is from AF. And yeah, so looks like I get to teach a white kid how to be a Hispanic. It should be an interesting experience. I am excited for the challenge. I definitely think it will help me stay focused on my task at hand. I will miss Noony though. Although I had a hard time with him, the last month has really been good. I feel like I have grown and so has he. So it is good. I hope he continues to be just an awesome kid in his life. Elder Hoyt is also staying in Sioux city, which I am so pumped about. It’s his last transfer and I get to be by him. So that will help me with my training!
           I will first update you on Julian. He will be getting baptized this Saturday. Had his interview last night, and things are goooooood to go! Although, I am super stressed right now with it: Elder Noonchester is leaving, we need people to speak and what not, I am leaving tomorrow night until Friday late night to a leadership meeting, and I am getting a greenie (but only will be with him for like 3 hours before I leave), and then yeah. I will need to be doing everything, because without Elder  Noonchester, it will be quite difficult. So, please pray for me!!!! . And that the baptism will go alright. I really want him to have a good experience so that he keeps coming back to the church and what not. It seems like we have no one else we are really teaching right now, which I am fine with, because we are starting service up again!!! Woot Woot!! The majority of last week was spent taking down the sandbag walls. And people didn't even know it was us, we were like ninjas. It has been awesome!

            Last week we taught Julian on Monday and Wednesday! Bomb lessons, he is set to go. I also had a district meeting last week, it was alright. Afterward was the fun part. We ate at a member’s house in Norfolk, NE and, after the meal, everyone in the district grabbed a habanero pepper, and we ate it whole. Man o man, we had people crying, barfing, noses bleeding. It was hilarious! I will have to get copies because I forgot my camera. But, I was fine. It was really hot and all, but I was fine. So I won the award for being fine. It was sweet.
             After district meeting day, we just have been doing service in and out! It’s been fun. We have been able to drive trucks around a lot and it’s awesome. I really want like a small mid-sized truck....like a Chevy Colorado. Not too bad on gas, but it’s still a truck! Ya know? So except for Monday this week, we have been doing service.
            Monday. We had district meeting and district activity. Way good meeting, Elder Hoyt trained on humility and I trained on humbly listening. Afterwhich, we had a testimony meeting. I love being a DL. It really has opened my capacity to love other people a lot more. I love it. We then played dodgeball for like 3 hours. It was really fun. We played with the lights off for like 3 rounds. It was so fun! I miss playing dodgeball each week. That was really fun.
            All and All, I am doing really well. I am really excited for the next transfer, to train this new kid. I know it will be a test for me, but I am pretty confident and I trust the Lord that I can pass it. I love the mission so much. It really has changed my life forever. Lately, all of my friends from home and I sent a huge email out to all 16 of us committing each other to don't go back to who we were and to help each other out. I am so grateful for the wonderful friends I have. It helps to know that they are watching out for me. But more important, I am more grateful for the friendship we have in our family. I could do nothing without any of you. I am so grateful for you. You are in every prayer of mine. I love you so much! I hope you all have a great week with school starting and what not! Trust the Lord and he will help you out with anything you struggle with. I love you and miss you sooo much! Have a gran semana!!!

Con amor,

El Elder B. D. Rigby

8 August 2011

Mon 8/8/2011 10:40 AM

Ya Estamos En Agosto?? Que!!

Hola..................

        Well, thinking about the past week and what I am going to write to you today, I have no idea. It seems as if last week was quite the blur to me - we did some service, did some exchanges, taught some people, visited a lot of members, and had good times with some other missionaries. I completely feel like last week was a really, purposeful  week, although we didn't get "high numbers." I felt as if we did what the Lord would have wanted us to do, which always gives me a smile on my face! :) Last week we had the opportunity to do some "unsandbaggin" at a member’s house. Some members from the district came down and we did that all day. Afterwhich, we exchanged. The missionary I went with, Elder Miller, is just as old as me, so we had a really good talk about a lot of things. I feel as if I helped him out. I don't know why, but I do. It was actually quite funny, because while we were on the exchange itself, we went on exchanges with the ZL's. They were double booked for dinner, so I went with Elder Hoyt to Red Robin because the member canceled and just gave us some gift cards there. SCORE!  While we were there, our waitress just kept asking us questions about the church. It was really cool actually. We just were straight up with her on our beliefs. I think so many times as members, we just kind of get scared when people ask us about the church. But if we just feed them what’s up, how much easier it would be for them to ask more questions and then it turns into a discussion. So at the end, we didn't have any cash for a tip, so we left a mormon.org card as usual. :) 
         District Meeting was amazing this week!! I went in with the idea of doing something and what happened was completely opposite. It always happens! So I get up there, and something popped into my head to have like a district inventory. So we just all went around and shared what concerns and struggles we all had. And we sought insight from the rest of the district. It turned out to be something really useful. We learned how to minister to people, care about people's needs, and to listen to other people. So, in essence, we did a training (lesson), a role play, and a unity builder. I was really impressed with it, it helped all of us love each other more, and understand the needs of a person. This principle can be used in all aspects of life, ministering to people and listening, and discerning what to do. I am so grateful that the spirit told me what to do in that moment!
         The work pool of investigators is getting a little slim, but, we still have a lot of things to do. Right now we are really focusing on the members and helping them gain testimonies of the Atonement and how to apply themselves more to the work. I really think that it will benefit this place more in the future. If we can get the members completely on board with the work, that will improve the work tremendously. People will be reactivated and people will be baptized. I have faith! We do have Julian still set for baptism. He will be baptized on the 20th. He was set for the 13^th, but some scheduling conflicts occurred (which is sad because that is after transfers, so either Elder Noony or Myself could miss out on that). Nonetheless he is getting baptized! And whatever the Lord does, I am at ease with. Because it is His will, not mine. I am so excited for Julian though. He came to 4 hours of church yesterday and just loved it. He expressed to me his love for the Gospel and how it is helping him out so much. I love seeing the progress that people make in their lives. It is one of the most pleasing things to me! I love ministering to people as a Representative of Christ. I know that no better feeling comes to the soul than helping our fellow brothers and sisters. I am so grateful for all of you and the help that you give your fellow men back home. I know that each of you has an important part in the Masters plan! I am doing so well right now. I feel the spirit more and more in my life every day. And I can only smile because of it. I love you all so so so so much! I am so grateful for the loving support I have back home. There is nothing better in the world than love at home. We learn from the Prophets that family is the most important thing in these days. And it’s true. I have a testimony how love can change people and soften people's heart. And you soften mine each week with the prayers and the emails you send. I love you all so much and miss you just as much! Que tengan buena semana!

Con amor,

El Elder B. D. Rigby

1 August 2011

Mon 8/1/2011 11:38 AM

Ya Agosto???

Well hello you sunburnt beach bums!

I hope you had a great week at Redfish Lake. Sounds like you had a blast! I hope all is well in the family. I am sad I missed that grand reunion. But there will be more! I am glad that grandma is still up and driving the waverunner. Not many other people can say their grandma does that. But, for the record,....that is sad about our house and those punks. I believe that if I and my friends were home, that would not happen. I think they are scared of us. :) Not that I would do anything, everyone just knows not to mess with the best. I mean, profanity, toilet paper, and pulling up someone's shrubs. Messed up! I am sorry you had to deal that, it’s ok though, those who did so, their eternal soul might be at stake. ;) Sorry, you know how I am about people pranking our house.

Things are well here in ole Siouxland. We might be starting up some service again. Taking down all the stuff we built. So that will be way fun. Especially since yesterday, we saw that most of it is infested with beetles and cockroaches. And some of the holes we dug have dead moles in them because they drowned. So it will be fun and dirty! This last week we didn’t have the car, so we walked a whole bunch. I would say we walked a good 8 miles a day. It was really hot, but wasn't that bad. I feel like I lost a lot of weight doing so, that makes me happy. We did meet a bunch of people on the street that way too! It’s kind of weird, I actually like just going out and walking and talking to everyone. It’s fun. You never know what kind of person you will run into. So that’s really fun to see. You may get a basher that has no idea, or a person who just swears at you. Either way, I just laugh and know that the Lord is with me.
Julian, our baptismal set, is set for August 13th. He is awesome. We had three lessons with him this last week. He is such a sweet spirit. Hearing him pray is such an awesome experience. In essence, our prayers should be very personal because we are talking to our actual Father. And he does that, just pleads with Heavenly Father to help him on his way, to help him know more about him, and to do the things He wants him to do. So we had a good experience with teaching him. We had a couple members come with us as well, which helped us know the ward better, and for the ward to trust us. If there is one thing I have learned in my mission, the best way to work is by using members. In Spanish groups, it’s a little bit harder to do so. but I know when we do, it is definitely a lot easier to find and teach, plus, everyone is edified and feels the spirit. Things are getting better and better each week here. I am loving it more and more each day!

 I love you all so much. I am so grateful to have a family so loving and willing to help at all times. You are THE GREATEST!!! I pray for you often and hope the best for you always. I love you and miss you!

con amor,

Elder Bradley Rigby

25 July 2011

Mon 7/25/2011 10:52 AM

Bautismo y Intercambios

Pues. Hola.

          Well, I am sure you are all wondering how the baptism went! Well, it went just dandy, although the preparation for it was a little bit sketchy. All is well!!! So Saturday we had service starting at 7:30pm. People are starting to move back to their neighborhoods, so we helped out until about 1. Then we left so I could give Elder Hoyt a hair cut. Well, as we were there, a member invited us to lunch with them. So we were like, “We have an hour, we can do it.” Well, that was a bad decision! Afterward, we realized that our Ward Mission Leader was out of town and didn't make the baptismal program and none of the Hispanic members had a computer or a printer. So we were like, oh no..... So we rushed up to Wynstone to Bro. Mierzejewski's house to get it done. We get there, and I am not good with computers, nor is my companion. And yeah, we struggled. But we got it done, rushed to the chapel to find out that the other elders had taken the room, that we were going to use, for their baptism, and then I said, “Oh no” again. So we rushed, made copies, set up chairs, moved a piano into another room so we could get it done. Then we realized that the two speakers weren’t there, so we hurried and got them in there, just calling and rushing. The thing is, it was all good and ready to go on Friday, everything. Everyone knew their part and what to do. But,.....for some reason, we ended up doing it all on Saturday. I was stressed so much to the point where I just wanted to cry because I wanted Javier to feel the Spirit and love at his baptism. So once the service started, I just prayed and prayed that all would go well. And it did. All was well. After the baptism there was a ward party and a MoTab choir transmission and all was well. When I got home that night, the first thing I did was get on my knees and thank the Lord for the baptism and for everything that went well. I definitely received a confirmation that Heavenly Father was there and He helped Javier receive that ordinance! I am so happy for Javier, he is such a good man and an example to me, a lot. He changed his life around completely. He used to be an alcoholic and didn't care too much for his family, but now, all that matters to him is his family and the gospel, and he is not tempted to drink anymore. Seeing the change in a person like that is such a testimony builder. We may see people on the street everyday drinking, or not looking as if he is a very good person, but they are, and they can become a better person through the gospel. Our job is to bring that message to them.
           The rest of the week was pretty stressful as well. Tuesday, we had zone activity playing some sand volleyball, as I said, and what not. It was way fun! Afterward I went on exchanges with a new missionary, Elder Bown. He is a pretty cool kid. We know some of the same girls, so that was pretty funny to talk about. We did a lot of service while he was here, but we had a couple of teaching opportunities, which went well!!! After we exchanged back, like....the morning after, another member in the district was struggling hard core....and I didn't know what to do. As I prayed, the Lord made it clear to me that I should have that missionary go to another area for a day. So I did so, and as I have been talking to him and counseling him every day, he is doing a lot better! I am so grateful that the Lord helps me to discern what to do with people in my district. Such a powerful tool that we have, to use the Spirit as a guide to know what to do with other people!!
            I mentioned we had done some service this week, mostly just moving a lot of stuff. Well, Friday, we get a call from a member in a panic saying there is ton of water everywhere and they need help. So we heeded the call and went up to Wynstone. Well, there is like a 30 yard river just going across the road at the entrance, so we were like....that’s weird. So we drove through that and get to the first couple houses and hop out. And they say, “Well, we are building walls right there.” I look and it’s just like a huge pond being held by a small wall. So this meant, we would be getting in the water. So yep! We did. We were walking around in waste deep water for about 5 hours throwing sand bags. It was so coool!!!! It’s the closest thing I will get to swimming. But it was fun. There were a lot of nasty bugs everywhere and what not, but it was cool. We caught a ton of frogs and stuff. It was just a fun time while we worked. We got the walls built, and there is potential for us to do more and we will do it. I love doing service. I feel like I am a better server than a teacher, but better yet, to teach while we serve is something we should all strive for! It was a really good week for me, ups and downs, but the Lord was in it and he comforted me all week and I am so grateful!!! I hope you all enjoy vacationing at Redfish! Be safe and I will pray for you. I love you soooo much and miss ya!!!

Con amor,

Elder Swamp Rat Rigby!!!

18 July 2011

Mon 7/18/2011 10:44 AM

Color Color Color

Buenos Dias Mis Queridos!!!

           Well, to start off my email, I would like to tell you that IT’S SO HOT!!!!!! So I keep forgetting to tell you this, but, we are in a car share, which means, we get the car every other week. It doesn't make sense to me at all because we cover all the wards here, and have a bigger area than both the other sets of missionaries. But we have to share. Oh well. Not important. So, this means when we don't have the car, we get to walk everywhere, and take the bus. Only problem is, the bus stops running at 5, and doesn't go on Sundays. So we get stuck in far off areas and have to walk home. And let me tell you, it is hot...... We come home completely drenched in sweat from head to toe. It’s quite gross. I do not like the heat for one, I like the cold more. I don't like humidity for two. I like being dry. So to answer your question, I enjoy the freezing winters more than the disgusting summers! With the cold, you can just put more clothes on. In the heat...you can only strip down so far! And for a missionary, that’s dark pants, shoes, socks, white shirt, tie, and garments. So it’s quite hot!!! I have been drinking a ton of water and what not, so I am being kept quite regulated on that sight. So I hope that it gets cold real soon. But we get the car this week, and I hear that it’s supposed to be in the hundreds. So hurray for me!
            The work is going completely great! So this week was a good one. We really buckled down and taught Javier every day that we could get over to South Sioux. But we did it. It is now what I like to call "crunch time." He is getting baptized this Saturday, and I have faith that he is ready to do so. He brought up a concern last week of smoking, and as I was discerning what to tell him, the spirit really spoke unto me and said to give him a blessing after the lesson and that he will make it to his date. So we did so! I know that through the priesthood and his faith, he will be able to drop this habit! During the blessing, another prompting came to me to see a specific person after the lesson. It was 8:50pm, and I was like, but.....we will be home late? Never-the-less we followed the prompting and went to the home to find no one there. So we left a note inviting them to church. I do not know why the Lord wanted us to go there at that time, but I know that by us following what He said, something good will come of it! I love being able to use the spirit to do the work; it is by far, the MOST effective way to be a missionary. We also got in contact with some other people, and they all came to church yesterday! So it was a really good week for us. I am more excited for this week to come. We have zone activity (I planned it, they call me the master planner and schemer). So we have the baptism, after the baptism we have a pioneer activity for the stake, and after that, we are watching a broadcast! So good things to come!
              I just want to testify to you, that the Lord really does work through each of us to do different things and having the spirit always to guide us, even for the little things, like your sunglasses, mom! He really does care about His children a lot. I remember a story from last year's Ensign and it has stuck with me my whole mission. It talks about a little boy who got his hand caught in the door at church, and if he opened or closed the door it hurt his hand and it was stuck. Well, a man, earlier that morning, right before going to church had the prompting to grab a wrench, and he was like, “What? A wrench?,” But he followed the prompting and put a wrench in his pocket. Well when he got to church he noticed the little boy with his hand stuck and no one else was around, and pulled the wrench out of his pocket and was able to wedge the door open enough to get the child's hand out. And then he realized what that prompting meant. So at times, we don't know what a prompting means, but we should always follow it, because we could save a life, or help a little child out. I know that the Lord loves us each so much. He cares for us by sending us promptings to help others out or for them to help us. I love you all so much! I hope you all have a grand vacation at Redfish Lake! Tell everyone in the family “hello” and that I love them so much! Give Risa my congrats to finishing! That’s awesome! I love you and miss you so much! Have a great week!!!

Con amor,

El Elder B. "Master Planner" Rigby

11 July 2011

Mon 7/11/2011 10:59 AM

Estoy Vivo!

Bueno Familia!!!!

            Well, first things first. Sister Kunz called me...thanks mom!!!  She said she heard that I was sick and that I am not trying to see a doctor my whole mission. So yeah....ha. I was like.... “umm, yes, but I am fine!!” I slept on Thursday and Friday for quite some time. And I am feeling better each day. I am taking the necessary precautions to get over my sickness! And they are working. I bought a pack of oranges, I have been taking some Advil, and I have been drinking a lot of fluid. I am feeling tons better. I can actually talk now, so I think that is a definite improvement!  But you're right, if it does elevate, I will see a doctor. But we have some doctors in the English ward here, so they gave me some amoxicillin to make sure I don't have strep!  So I am good. No worries. I kind of laughed when Sister Kunz said that she heard I was sick and that I was avoiding the doctor, she is such a sweetheart. I love her!  So I am good for now. I will let you know if it progresses or anything. But I am on the mend I believe!  
             So, this week,....I will be honest, was very, very hard. Saying goodbye to some of my really good friends such as Elder Hudspeth and Payne was pretty hard. But I will see them again. It was kind of funny. Every time Elder Hudspeth and I would say goodbye to each other, we would run into one another again. It was funny. I am glad you went to his homecoming and met him. He is a good kid and I am excited to see him again. But I still need to finish strong! I will miss him, he helped me out a lot!!! So I hope he comes to dinner wit ya'll. That would be good.

So last week it got to the point where I asked for a blessing from Elder Hoyt because I was just so down and sick. And I can testify to you that the priesthood is real! And that God really does speak through it. Once I received that blessing, it was just like an instant comfort, and ever since then I have been feeling a ton better. I am very grateful for everything He has done for me, and I am just thankful for you guys to be honest. Your sustaining support always has helped me a ton. And I love you so much! I know it’s just a short time for me to be gone, but I am happy to do it. While I was in bed, just wallowing in my sickness, I realized that I have 4 transfers left. Not too much time. So while sitting there I wrote down some goals that I have for myself for the next 5 months. I am really going to get down, and focus everything on the work. And just completely shut everything else out. I am going to work the hardest I have ever worked to become the missionary the Lord wants me to be. These next 4 tranfers are so crucial, not only for the work, but for the rest of my life. So I know it is hard. But please don't talk about coming home. I am really trying to focus, and not get trunky. I won't mind when I have like 2 months left because we will need to get stuff ready and what not. But until then, just help me stay focused, unless it is something we need to talk about. I hope that I am not offending anyone, but I am just really, really, really trying to gun it to the end! It will take a load off of me if you will help me out in that respect!!!

I love you all so, so, so, so, so much and I pray for you each day and night. I miss you a load and I am grateful for your love and support you give me. So please just tell me to keep going and to finish strong! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!!

Con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby

6 July 2011

Wed 7/6/2011 1:13 PM

Viajando la mision!

Buenos Dias Mis Queridos!!

           Pues.....I bet you are all so anxious to hear what is going on transfer-wise with me. Well, I am staying with Elder Noonchester here in Sioux City another one. As DL again. So yeah, not too much of a change...just going to work really hard this transfer. I am pretty happy I stayed. I felt like there was a ton more for me to do here. And now I have the opportunity to do so, which I am so grateful for the Lord for allowing me to do so. He really does love us soooooo much!

          Well, this week I was traveling a lot. It was insaneo! We had district meeting in Vermillion on Tuesday, that went really well. I trained on being positive and what not. Afterward we had a district activity. We played Frisbee-golf and climbed a rock wall. I wish I could send you pictures, but these dang computers won't allow me to do so.

Wednesday. Elder Noonchester was sick....but mid day, I went with the ZLs down to Omaha for a leadership conference. And I had the opportunity to stay with Elder Payne and Werrett in Cottonwood. It was sooo fun. I was there until Friday. So I got to see a bunch of people from the ward that I knew, and I got to have fun times with former companions. I can't believe Elder Payne is going home! So we came back.. and yeah, I honestly can't remember what I did the other days. I know Monday was a fun day. We went to member’s houses and what not and played some soccer with the Hispanics. And at night, we went to Wynstone (service place) and had a big ole BBQ with all the people we helped. And they lit of some fireworks. South Dakota is legit....they light off whatever they want whenever. So it was stadium of fire here -  except we called it "FourthFloodFire 2011".  It was really fun. We were there a little bit late, and we found out that Elder Wilkey was going AP, so we made sure to fatten him up and send him off Sioux City style. He will make a great AP.

Yesterday morning, we went to their apartment, picked up Elder Hoyt to go with us to district meeting in Yankton. I saw Elder Hudspeth for the last time until I get home. That was pretty sad. I will miss him a ton. We have become really good friends and have grown up a lot together. I can't wait for ya'll to meet him. He is excited to meet ya'll. And he will visit for sure. He said that for sure you need to come to his homecoming! It’s not too far away. So yeah. That is my week update. I think next week’s email will be a little more interesting. We did a lot of driving and what not this week. So yeah!

           I just want you all to know I love you! I spoke on Love yesterday. Love is such a pure subject to speak on, and really, this gospel is a gospel of Love. I just wish I could better at loving more. I am trying to do so more and more, becoming as Christ would and really ministering for those in my stewardship. I pray that you all will do the same! Love everything we have, and love the opportunity we have to be here on this earth and serve, and especially in this great nation that we can be free! I love you all so, so, so, so, much! And miss ya just as much! Have a great semana!

con amor,

El Elder Rubi