24 January 2011

Mon 1/24/2011 10:37 AM

Entrenimiento Bautismal

Why Hello There from the Frozen Laketown!!

So this week went super great!!! It was kind of a slow week because of transfers and what not. Transfer week is always nerve wrecking, but I knew I would be staying so I didn't really worry too much! Nothing way too exciting happened this week though. We had some good lessons with our pool of investigators!! As always they are just cruising along. February should be a great month. We should have a baptism every weekend. Which is legit! The month of CHRIST like love. :)

Wally is progressing so wonderfully, he says he can feel a difference in his life and he notices the Spirit as well. And he is way pumped to be baptized in the lake on Feb 12. And it will happen. Yes, the air is frigid and the water is frozen, but the Lord will bless us. And it will happen, captain!! Also we have been doing baptism training, each morning. We go outside in bare feet and t-shirt and shorts, and just stand in the snow for like 5 minutes to train for the baptism. It’s way cold, but we are starting to get used to it. I have noticed a difference, because, yesterday, it was 15 degrees and we were burning up. The kids, Michael and Nicole, are also doing well. Their mom wants them to sincerely pray about being baptized, which is understandable, they know everything. I know they have felt the Spirit. We just think they need a witness for themselves. So on Saturday we asked them to sincerely pray about it. Which I think will go super well. Michael is so funny though. He always sings for us and does comedy, and he is so funny.  We asked him the baptismal questions and he was like, “I have never committed a crime!! - unless you think stealing candy from my sister is a crime, which it’s not!!!” Good Things going on! 

The Arreola familia came to church yesterday as well. Which was way legit, and we also had a chance to go over after church and talk to the daughter. Finally. We ended up setting her for baptism on the 26th of Feb. She was really excited for it and we are way happy for her. Her mom is very happy as well! Which is good. So we will be working a lot more with her now, if we can find a chance. She is way busy with school stuff as I said before. We might go watch one of her events, I guess, to try and show support. Our branch president wants us to go with their family. So we might do so! Now we just need to get the husband set! Francisco. That will take a little more effort, we have faith though!

We also received a new family this week. They just moved here and the two kids want to get baptized. They have been taught everything. But they had to move due to some unfortunate circumstances. So we are going to help them still get baptized. They need that blessing of being baptized into the Lord's Church. Other than that, everything is going great! The Branch President, Pres. Olson is awesome, his whole family is very missionary oriented and it’s great!

So the transfer was crazy for everyone else except us. We were the only people in the Zone that stayed the same. And also, transfers didn't even happen until Friday! because of the weather. I guess everywhere, but here, got like a foot of snow. And we got none. Which kind of made me mad! because I wanted some snow! Oh well. We are going to Sioux City today because we have a conference tomorrow. So that should be fun. I will get to see Elder Mcclain, who is now my ZL, and we will get to play some basketball with some other people!!!

I am just loving the mission right now. I spoke on the atonement yesterday in church and I really felt like the Spirit was just talking through me. I had some compliments, and I don't even remember what I said. It’s amazing how that happens, you are just doing what you are asked and Heavenly Father just says what He wants to say to those in the congregation. I am so grateful for that, it is amazing the things we can do if we just adhere to the Spirit of the Lord. We also taught tithing to Wally this week. And we shared a video from a conference talk about a Brazilian woman who paid her tithing and the rest of her schooling was paid when she expected to be dropped for not having enough money. I really enjoy the promise in Malachi that says "prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing." and it’s so true! He will pour us blessings and we definitely need those!!! I am just so excited to see all these wonderful people we are teaching receive the blessings. I love this work and I am so grateful for all the help I have received to be able to do so. I love you all and miss you just as much! Have a great week with an abundance of the Spirit!

Con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby
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The car outside temperature gage - yeah!

This is me outside a small Buddist Temple in Storm Lake. Very colorful.

17 January 2011

Mon 1/17/2011 10:53 AM


Que Rapido El Tiempos

Bueno Bueno Bueno Bueno,

Well how is everyone? Doing good I suppose? This week blew by. I can't believe it is Monday again. The time is going too fast. Someone needs to go tell Father Time to knock it off! So things were great this week! I can't even remember much of what we did, but I think out of the 7 days we were with the Sotelo Highnote Gore family for like 4 days. Their family is so awesome. We just always teach them, and they feed us. It’s legit. Wally and Michael are progressing greatly! They have such good testimonies. Wally was telling us out of all the churches he has been to, this one he likes the most and it makes the most sense to him. And he believes it and can't wait to be baptized! We are so excited for him. We are working a little more on the kids because we want them to know what they are doing exactly before they get baptized. Which is good, ya know, because we don't want them going inactive right after. So they are doing fantastic. They didn't come to church on Sunday because they were sick. But we went over there last night to check on them and they are doing great, they told us that they have been reading at least once a day and praying, and that it’s been really helping them. It’s so great to see how much they have grown since I have been here.

The Arreola's Tambien are also doing good. We had a little fellowshipping party at President Olsen's home on Friday and I think it went super well. We just had Hispanos there and I think they liked it a lot. Lou Lou told the Olsen boys that her mom and dad really liked the party a lot. So that’s good. They came to church on Sunday and stayed for Sunday school. And we did it in Spanish. I was so happy. My Spanish is getting kind of shakey. But I am good. The speaking part just kind of goes away but then, once I get going, I'm gone! I taught on prayer and I think it went really well. Lou Lou was paying attention, and I could tell that she sincerely wants to pray. So that is always good for an investigator to have desires. I think she will be baptized in Feb. She is hard to get a hold of. But she has really good reasons, she is a cheerleader, on dance team, and in student government. So she is very involved!!! Which is good to hear. She went sledding with the branch on Saturday and I guess it went well. With Francisco, the dad, he is a really nice and humble man. I think he will take a little longer, but I think he is doing well. He didn't come to church because he had to work, other than that, he is doing great.

Overall, things are going fantastic here, the work is good, the weather is terrible, and I am happy!! I had a good interview with President Kunz this last week and he said I am doing great. And I would have to agree, I am doing great! This last week I have really focused on doing my studies well and studying when I have a chance to study. I love reading now. Most people hearing me say that would think I am crazy. But I do. I love it. If I could just study all day, I would. Study the Gospel, that is. Anything else? Naaah. The scripture studies and the prayers we say every day really do help the day to be better. So I urge ya'll to read and pray every morning! It will help the day go by better and you will find your faith will be strengthened, and an abundance of the spirit will be with you! I hope and pray for each of you every day. I love you all so much! and I hope you have a very spirit filled week!!!

con amor siempre!!

El Elder B. Rigby

10 January 2011

Mon 1/10/2011 12:09 PM


Milagros les digo, Milagros!

Que tal familia!?

So hello there. At this moment there is about 10 inches of snow on the ground and it is freezing. We walked here to the library because the car was stuck and it was a lovely walk, might I tell you. No sarcasm - I love the snow, and these boots and socks I have, oh man, I am quite comfy! So I loved just walking in the snow! It was nice really. People think I am crazy, which I am, but how can you not love it? It’s great! I am sure our car will be fine when we walk back. It’s not too far to walk, just like 5 blocks. So don't worry, I won't be getting frostbite! But all is well in ole Storm Drink! Things are just going super-dee-duper well here. The work is progressing fantastically and we have a lot more members excited about things!

So I put my title as miracles, because some small miracles happened this week!! First off. The Wally Highnote and Michelle Gore family, are doing super grrrrrrreat!! So at the beginning of the week, we just kept in contact with them and what not, and had a birthday party for their brother-in-law Mario (recent convert) and it was good! Then Saturday rolled around and we were teaching them the Commandments and everything, and it was super good. The kids were involved, except Nicole, because she went to the stake dance, which is awesome! But that night we committed them to be baptized on Feb. 12! and married on Feb. 2! Wally said, “Ok, but.....only if I get baptized in the frozen over lake!” So yeah, we are going to do it! We are going to cut out a font in the ice and baptize him! Cool huh? I cannot wait for that, not only because it’s cool, but because we get to see this wonderful family receive the blessings of the gospel! So good things with them. And they came to all three hours of church on Sunday. Which is huge!!

Next awesome miracle. So we went over to the Arreola home to teach them with Mario, so I could have a partner to help teach in Spanish. It turned out to be really good because, I guess, they are from like the same city in Chihuahua, which was awesome. The husband isn't a member nor is the daughter, but the mom has been inactive for years because she got offended. But that night, right there, it was wonderful! I just lead the lesson and Mario taught the rest. (He has only been a member for 2 months, mind you) It was so spiritual and I believe the family really felt the Spirit, as I did. All I did was start the lesson and end it and it was perfect. We committed them to coming to church on Sunday, and we called that morning to see if they were coming, and the dad said, “I don't know.” So we were all bummed. But they showed up right before the service started! The daughter was way excited to be there. She has 17 years of age and is such a nice girl. She shook everyone's hand with a smile. And said she can't wait to come back next week! But the mom was kind of like crying the whole service, I noticed. I guess she loved it. The only thing that she had been missing in her life was the constant comfort of the gospel. So getting this family activated, I think, will start a chain reaction with all the Hispanics in the community, and this area will be great! So great things are going on!

So that’s about the area. With myself, I am doing great. I am sick right now – kind of a cold, which feels like bronchitis coming on. I hope not! But oh well. Other than that, things are going well for us here! We have interviews tomorrow with president, so that should be good. And district meeting, later this week, in which I will be giving a training for an hour! It should be really fun. And the great thing about this week, we have a dinner appointment every day this week. :) I’m getting nice and fat here, yup yup I am!
Well, I gotta get going. But I love you all and miss you and hope you have a great spirit filled week!!!
Con amor siempre!
Elder B. Rigby

03 January 2011

Mon 1/3/2011 11:44 AM


Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Feliz 2011!! Que extrano!

So I can't believe that it is 2011 that is so crazy. Life goes by way too fast. But oh well, asi es la vida! So the last two weeks have been kind of weird, to be honest. They have been just a huge blur. Really!!! But things are going super well in Storm Drink, Iowa. So since I talked to you on Christmas, not much has really happened. I mean Wally and the kids are progressing along! We just need to set a date with them and get it done with. I think their main concern is that things are going too fast. But we have been teaching them for about a month now. So I mean, c'mon. This last week though, we really got the kids to listen in and now they have started asking us tons of questions, which is super awesome because if we can get the kids more interested and liking church and what not, I think the parents will come around as well!! We also have talked to Bonnie again and we managed to get the marriage counseling classes going. So as soon as they are done with that course and what not, they should get married and then baptized. So we have some good stuff coming up here. People just need to really put their faith in Christ and do the things that we commit them to do. Finally we got in contact with an inactive member who has kids that aren't baptized! They promised me that they would come to church, but they didn't. Sad! But they did leave us a note at their door explaining that they went to Sioux City! So I guess they had the thought to leave us something eh? But I think things will go well with her. She said she hasn't been to the church since Mexico and she really wants to come back. The daughter does as well! So I am hopeful with them. And to top the week off - after many times of contacting people on the inactive list and what not, we tracted. Now I have never needed to tract to find new people all day before. Maybe for like an hour, because we have always had people to see in other areas and we had a bunch of referrals. But we did. Now Spanish tracting is the best though. BECAUSE everyone lets us in. Elder Friddle did not know this. So the first door in the trailer park, let us in and we taught a lesson, second door, same story and third door same story. He was so amazed at the fact that people let us in. But the difference is, will they actually do the things that we ask? hmmm. We will see! So yeah! That’s good stuff.

The last two weeks I have had the opportunity to teach the Gospel Principals class. And it has really been so awesome! Each week I don't prepare anything, the lessons turn out the best. Yesterday I decided that my topic would be the atonement. But at the beginning of the class I ask the people to share any fun or cool experiences they had the past week. And yesterday someone told an experience on how their holiday travels they got a little bit lost and the radio came on and the first thing the person said is "I am here with you" and I was like. Holy Cow, I need to teach about God's Love for Us. And I did. And it turned out to be a very spiritual experience for all of us in that tiny room. Even Wally said that he now knows that God loves him. Now I did nothing. Most of the time the people were just telling stories and I told some stories of my own and tied some things together with scripture. But I honestly believe that Our Heavenly Father wanted the people in that room at that exact moment that He loved them, and I am very grateful that I could be that tool at that moment. I have noticed a difference in myself lately. I decided to get rid of a lot of old habits, and I have noticed an abundance of the Spirit as I go throughout the week. I feel as I have consecrated myself even more. And I have learned about true consecration when we watched the John Tanner story, if you don't know who John Tanner is. You should find out! His story is very amazing, and also John Rowe Moyle. They are some amazing saints from the pioneer times. I urge each of you to read about them. It will change your outlook on some things as well as it has for me!! The last two weeks have been greatly filled with holiday fun and I have really enjoyed it. But as we all must do, we must get back to work!!! :)

Well, I want you all to know that I love you and I miss you so much. But the work I am doing is making my life so awesome right now, I am the happiest I have ever been and I thank our Savior and Father in Heaven for that. The work is true, and all things that we do within the church are true, it is the only thing that will give us true happiness. I have gained a huge testimony that God loves each of us, and He blesses us so much. We need to put more trust in Him. I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful 2011! Have a great week!

con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby

20 December 2010

Mon 12/20/2010 12:33 PM


Invierno en Iowa

Bueno Familia!! Feliz Navidad!!!

FIRST OFFF!!! CONGRATS MOM FOR PASSING YOUR PRAXIS!!! THAT’S AWESOME. I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!!!! Ok, normal lettering now. So basically, I am not really going to write anything this week. [Because he will talk to us on the phone on Christmas].

Tuesday, we went to Cherokee and saw some people, one of which included a toothless old lady and a guy with a shedding dog, which got hair all over my coat. That was super enjoyable. Then we went up to Sioux City for Zone Conference. We stayed with the Spanish Elders. Their apartamento is soooo huge! It’s awesome. Next morning, we drove down to Council Bluffs and had zone conference. It was really enjoyable! We learned about having effective studies. It was really good. Then we had like a Christmas program thingy! It was fun. We did a white elephant gift, I got some Farty Putty. It’s pretty fun for like 15 minutes. I gave a workout scooter deal that I found at Goodwill. It’s pretty legit! But yeah! Then we drove back in like 4 inches of snow!! It took forever! We got to Sioux city at like 7 and had zone activity! - basketball and tim tam slammies!! Twas good. I haven't played basketball forever!!! Because I serve where there is no one to play with!! But yeah! Things are going well!! We had a good lesson with an Hispanic woman. She basically told me that Americans are racista [racists], and that our church will turn her into la migra [a migrant]. Which is NOT true, so I assured her on that fact. She just opened up to me. And no one knows what’s going on but me, everyone else speaks English, and she starts crying, and it was really good. I bore her my testimony and promised her that she would be ok if she follows Christ. It was a way spiritual lesson. We left, and my companion was like. WHAT HAPPENED? Why was she crying? Oh man, good times when I can speak Spanish and others can't! I can't wait to use that tool when I get home. Ha ha. But I also had church for the first time in this area! It was really good. I fasted and prayed for Wally and their family to come to church and set a date for marriage. Guess what? They came, and right after Santa Cena [Sacrament], they asked us if we would be witnesses at their wedding this week. CRAZY!!! The Lord blesses us so much; it is just awesome!

(Testimony of la obra misional [missionary work] for the ward) I cannot believe I have been out over a year now. The time flies when we are doing the work of the Lord. Being a missionary has changed my life so much. It has opened up my mind so much, and has built my testimony even stronger of Christ. First off, the mission is HARD!! Whether it is staying focused or being sad. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. The blessings that the Lord gives us and the spiritual uplifting that we feel, while we are out, is so edifying and amazing. I don't think I would have learned Spanish without the help of the Lord. And sometimes I can't speak Spanish, but as the scriptures say, if you but open your mouth, I will fill it! I can't count on my hands how many times I have been lost and not knowing what to say, or how to say it, and I just start talking and it is exactly what that person needed at that moment. Our Heavenly Father loves us SO much that He knows what each person needs at that exact second in time. And just being that specific tool to share the love from our Father is so beautiful. Nothing out here can be done without the Lord. Nothing. This work is lead by Him, and I feel of His love and presence everyday as I go out to preach the word. I know that this is an important work and what I am doing, what we are doing, is the greatest gift our Father gives us. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be here where I am at today. And I am so blessed to have the Spirit with me so I can discern the things that the Lord would want to happen if He were here. I love the Lord and I am grateful for His servants that He has sent to help us on our path back to Him. We must never give up on the work of the Lord, whether we be a nursery leader, or a bishop, we must always do what we have been called to do, because we never know whose heart we will touch and what blessings or plans the Lord has in store. I love you all and I am grateful to be serving the Lord out here. I hope that you all can feel of the Spirit of Christ as I do everyday - especially at this time of Christmas. May you all be showered with happiness and joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I just want you all to know that I love this season where we can remember Christ our Savior. He really did live and He really did bless everyone for the eternities to come. I know, as we are more Christlike at this time of year, we will have the Best Christmas that we can all remember. I love you all and miss you all as well! Have a Merry Merry Christmas!!! love you!!!
con amor siempre,
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


Raking leaves in Grand Island - a lot of leaves.



Bundled up for icy cold weather

It's really cold here. Just check out the temperature on my car dash below.

6 December 2010

Mon 12/6/2010 1:30 PM


Cosas Pasaron

Why hello there all ya'll!!

So this week nothing special happened at all! It was kind of a weird week. But a lot of people weren't home, but we did contact some inactives who I have never seen in my life! - which was super- deee-duper good! I love Grand Island, but I think I am leaving. I have grown a lot here and I love the people so much! But we will see what happens with the transfer this Thursday. There are 3 new Spanish speaking missionaries coming in,so we will have to see where there go and what not. I will let you guys know next Monday, I guess!

So this week we really tried to find some new investigators and it didn't work out too well...We taught a lot of people and got some referrals, but it just didn't work out! Norberto is kind of falling off the map and what not, so that kind of stinks. But Sajid and Lorenzo are always there. Sunday, they both expressed to me that they would like to be baptized next month and I am like, “Great! Finally!” So I hope they go through with it, with or without me! We did see a lot of inactives this week. In one person's case, we set an appointment with her, went back and she wasn't there. Which was weird. Two days later we get a call from her, and she tells us to come over. So we go over and she has this huge growth on her neck that I didn't notice before. She asked for a blessing, so we gave her one. Now I think, that if we had gone there the first time, maybe she wouldn't have even asked for a blessing. And maybe that blessing will be a miracle and change her life back to the church! I hope so. The surgery went well we hear. So we will see!

We, as always, had the pot luck yesterday, which was super awesome. We had tons of food!! but no one came....:( We made a mountain man breakfast and deviled eggs...it was really good. It was sad because we had knocked on so many doors and invited so many people to come, and like only 20 people were at church! :( Oh well. They have their agency. I just can't wait until the veil is lifted from all of our eyes, and the people are like "Oh no, what did I do by sending those missionaries away?" haha. Then they can receive the fullness of the gospel and enjoy the blessings, just as we do! But all in all, it wasn't that bad of week! It was just a long week of no one really home. Which is really weird, usually, we contact a lot of people! Oh well.

Well, seems as if it is wrap up time. This week I read some pretty sweet stuff about Elijah and how in Malachi it talks about him coming again and what not. It’s so awesome how they already came to the temple and restored the keys. I just think it’s such a beautiful thing to know that we have all the restored keys to the earth hoy en dia. And that we can enjoy them all we want, as long as we do what the Lord says. Because "I the Lord am Obligated when ye do what I say" and it’s true. When we do what He says, He will immediately shower the blessing upon us. I love you all and I am so grateful to have your sustaining support in my life. I pray for you all daily and pray for the spirit of the Lord to be upon you. I urge you to think of the Savior every day, and do something for someone else during this time of year, just as the Savior would do for His children. I love you and miss you. Vayan con Dios siempre!

Con amor siempre,

Elder Bradley Rigby