28 September 2011

Wed 9/28/2011 12:56 PM

Me Voy

Well,

I do not have too much time to talk because I have to go and pack. But I am going to be transferred to Lexington, Nebraska with Elder Carias - basically, the middle of nowhere. I am really surprised I am leaving, but, oh well. The Lord has more work for me to do in other places. I am grateful I got to serve here in Siouxland and I will miss it a lot. I think this is the closest I have been with any members and missionaries. President Kunz called me and told me about it, he said he didn't want me to leave here, until yesterday morning, he had me staying here with Vawdrey. But he had a distinct feeling that I could help Elder Carias out. So, I am peacing out of my beloved castle, my Siouxland, out to western Nebraska again. I am very sad. But I know that it’s what the Lord would want me to do. I have 2 transfers left and I am going to work my little booty off to help whomever out, wherever I go.

I love you all soooooo much! Thank you sooo much for all that you've done for me. I love the letters and I miss you all so much! Have a great week! I hope to write more this coming week. 

con amor,

Elder B. Rigby

19 September 2011

Mon 9/19/2011 11:14 AM Proposito Nuevo

Ello there peeps,

Pertaneer crazy times it seems. I feel that this week has been one of the craziest weeks of my mission, but definitely one of the ones that is the most worth it as well. Once again it was not one of your particular weeks in the mission. Nothing is ever "normal" here in Sioux City. I think that’s why I love it here so much. It is so different than the rest of the mission! Anyway, it has changed my outlook a lot on life and on my mission. I feel as if I am more converted to the Gospel than I ever have been. I feel like I know where I am going, and I know what to do. I feel an abundance of the spirit around me and I know how to use it to appropriately help people. I know what my purpose here in the mission is. I know that Heavenly Father has put me through the refiner’s fire for a specific reason, and I am beginning to know what that reason is. I know the Lord has specific people in my life for specific reasons. He prepares us and prepares us for people so that we can help them out. We hold certain keys that unlock people's minds and hearts, and the Lord has prepared and given us these keys. It’s really quite interesting and intriguing to think about.  Anywho, the reason I have found this out is because my mind is always moving as you know, and I feel like my whole mission, my whole life, I have been trying to figure out this intricate puzzle. And key people have been placing pieces here and there. The majority of those pieces have been placed by you, family. I am so grateful for the help you have been to me in my life. I love that I can make dumb decisions my whole life and still be loved and have someone to talk to. I am nothing without you. Anyway, a key piece was put into my intricate, intense, insane mind this week, and that was Elder Hoyt. And I, as well, put a key piece into his puzzle. We ministered to each other, we both realize that we needed something more and didn't know where else to get it. Anyway, we ended up talking forever! And it was the most spiritual experience I have had on my mission. I feel that now....now, I know what I am really doing. I understand that I need to minister more, I need to love everyone more, I need to discern the concerns, needs, and interests of others. So that’s what we did. After this experience with Elder Hoyt, which lasted until the quite a long while, I taught my district how to minister to people. One of the best district meetings I have had by far. It was completely guided by the spirit, on the drive down to district meeting I had no idea what I was going to train on. Then it hit me, I just need to minister to the district, and by ministering to them, the spirit in turn will teach them how to minister to others. But not just anyone, a person that the Lord has prepared.  You are all probably thinking who is this philosopher of a son/brother I have. Well, Hi. It’s me.  But I have been thinking so much lately. The most important rule on the mission is follow the spirit of the Lord. And that is exactly what I will do the rest of my mission. I love the example of the Savior, He was the most perfect minister there ever was or ever will be. Did the Savior baptize anyone while on the earth? Scripturally the answer is no, but, He ministered to the people, He discerned their concerns, interests, and needs. And He chose to act and help them. That is my purpose for the rest of my mission. Whether it be missionaries, members, investigators, etc. Whomever the spirit directs me to, I will have instant love and concern for them. That is the doctrine of Christ. "True Doctrine understood, changes behavior" I understand it now. And I am grateful for the Lord to leading me to this point. I feel like I am so set for life now that I have learned what I learned. I still have a ton to learn, and I will humbly accept anything I can take. I am just so excited for things now. This last week, changed my mission, changed my life, just being able to more fully understand things by talking to other missionaries and finding out the true purpose of the mission. I love it!

Alrighty, now you're thinking, hmmmmmm......and I want to say to you. I love you. Thanks for the letters! It hit the spot, I knew I was inspired when I asked for them. Still waiting on the siblings.....but I am patient and I love you no matter what! Things are going so great. We are still doing service here and there, but for the most part we are back to the work, but with an eternal perspective in mind. Today we will be going to Council Bluffs for a zone conference tomorrow with a zone activity afterward. So the next couple three days should be pretty fun. I get to see some old companions and minister to them! I am loving life right now, although time is going fast, the Lord is directing me in the way I need to go. I love you all so much and I miss you just as much! I hope you have a great week!!!

Con amor,

Elder Bradley "found himself finally" Rigby

6 September 2011

Tue 9/6/2011 11:50 AM

Siento Flojo Hoy

Well, this week was another week of service basically. And I am feeling really lazy right now, because I have a lot of other stuffs on my mind, so this will be a short and sweet email. So we had a normal Monday last week, except we went to a football game for P-day. it was fun! Then we ate with the Faldmoe's  and yeah.

Then Tuesday and Wednesday we did service for some non-members. It was pretty fun. We tracted, I guess you could say, but we just knocked on doors that didn't have their walls done and then just took down their walls for them. So that was pretty cool.

Thursday was like the most normal day of the week though. We had a district meeting, It wasn't as good as normal though, because I just had to give a Powerpoint presentation on mormon.org. I mean it was good, but I had already seen it like twice before, so I wasn't so enthused about it. But I know the members of the district liked it. After that, I gave a baptismal interview.....and the guy didn't pass. Sad. But he will hopefully be baptized this next Saturday! So that should be really cool for him!!! After that, we went and had dinner with the Fernando's (non-members that we helped) and it was way fun. He is way open with us and just talks to us about everything. It will be cool to see them progress in the gospel even more. A lot of people that we helped have so much potential. They just have to give up a couple three things.

Friday and Saturday we did service as well....but it was different. We had to help people move....and let me tell you my pet peeve...when you go to help someone move and they have not packed anything at all and have done no prep. Well....that’s how it was on Friday and Saturday. We had to pack everything up for them, load it all up, and unpack it. Man....ridiculous. So I was in quite the angry mood, I will be honest, but I tried being positive and it all worked out. 

Sunday was a very special day though!!! We got made into a Spanish branch! It was pretty cool to be a part of! And to know that the two people that I helped bring into the church, helped it happen as well. So that was pretty sweet to see it grow into an actual Spanish branch. So, now we are the Sioux City Spanish Branch! It’s legit. So yep, yep.  Now, we just have to get all the people their callings and to make this grow and grow into a Spanish Ward. That would be so sweet! So yeah!

Anywho, then Monday, was yesterday, of course, and we had like a half P-day. But it consisted of all the people who we served -  they threw us a huge BBQ. There was like 100 people there. It was really a blessing to see all these people we helped out and how grateful they were for us. It was pretty fun. We had a BBQ and we played a lot of football too. (That made me realize how out of shape I am!) But yeah. it was a pretty good week. But this week we will be back into the normal swing of things! So that will be good.

Sorry, I didn’t have too much to talk about, I know I will this week! But I love you all so, so, so, so, so much! and I miss you just as much! Have a great week!!!

Con amor,

El Elder Bradley Rigby

29 August 2011

Mon 8/29/2011 10:43 AM

Servicio y bautismo!! Woot Woot

Que transa!!!

Well, this week there is not too much to talk about, to be honest. It has been a week of service. It’s been really fun to serve Non-Members. Literally, one of the most rewarding things I have done on my mission. Before we kind of served non-members, but not like now. Everyday, last week, we were with non members all day. Just us and them. How cool is that? We really showed them that we are real people and they asked sooo many questions. It was very nice to just sit and have a normal conversation with them. I really love preaching the gospel that way. It honestly beats tracting or anything. I think serving people and just getting to know them, they trust us more, they feel our love for them, and they feel comfortable enough to just talk with us. It’s not like we are teaching lessons in a formal manner and what not. We teach by our character. Here is a quote I like a lot, "Preach the Gospel at all times in your life, and seldomly use words" I think that is so important.
We worked on one house alone for like 4 days. It was the largest wall besides Dan's. It was 14 ft wide, 9 feet tall, and 200 feet long. The guy told us, after moving his wall out, that we moved like 400 tons of sandbags.  And that was just one house. We have worked on like 20 houses, so I think about how much sand I have moved total. It’s insane! We also got fed really well by the non-members. As we would say, "Eating like kings, working like slaves". It’s been really fun. I have driven a tractor, bobcat, skidloader, polaris ranger, and a huge truck with a dump trailer on the back. It’s been pretty fun. I have learned some neat skills while being out here - a lot of skills that I will use the rest of my life. I am grateful for the people who teach us how to use the equipment and in turn let us use it! It’s been so much fun and so rewarding for me. I love it so, so, so much. I wish I could just be a service missionary the rest of my mission. So at the end of the week (Friday), the non-member invited us over for a nice sit down dinner. We took pictures and a he works at a meat plant as a developer and researcher. So he ordered us 2 inch thick ribeye steaks. They were the BEST steaks I have ever eaten in my life. It was so delicious!!! I feel like I have eaten so much fat this week, but I have been working so hard, I have been breaking even. But not only has it been physically and tastefully satisfying, it was been spiritually rewarding! I love it so much. I really wish I could show you everything, it would be awesome, but, these dumb computers won’t let me do anything. But the guy who gave us steak, took a bunch of pictures and he said he is going to send all of them to ya'll. He's a huge family man and wants ya'll to know what we are doing. Really nice people out here!
And to finish the week off, Julian was baptized! The service went so perfect. Everything went as planned and even a former missionary, that actually was the first one to teach Julian last year, came. I didn't even know he had been taught at all. The RM came and visited and came to the baptism. It was so awesome. The bishop baptized him, and I confirmed him. Just a wonderful experience. Once Julian came out of the water, he was grinning from ear to ear. He was so happy. He said to me, "Elder, I feel so happy, i feel so clean." It was just an awesome experience to see this humble man partake of the wonderful fruit of the gospel and its infinite atonement!! I love it. And even yesterday after I got done confirming him in Spanish, he was again grinning from ear to ear! Such a rewarding experience for me. I love the mission, and I love the fact that I get to see people change lives and see the happiness on their faces. I had the opportunity to teach the YW yesterday and one of the girls asked what my most favorite thing about the mission is. It’s definitely being able to see lives changed. See people change themselves and become ultimately happy in their lives!!! I love it sooooooo much! I can't believe, at the same time, how fast it is going, here it is almost September. And I don't even know where August went! Training this new guy is good. He has a lot, and I mean a lot, of energy.  And so much desire to serve the Lord. It’s been great that I get to help him be the most effective missionary possible. I am so grateful for the opportunity to even have this chance to train him. I know it’s a sacred trust that the Lord has in me. And I am definitely taking that to heart! I am so grateful for all of you and the work that you do and the love you have for me. I feel it every day. I think about you in my prayers and pray for your happiness. I love you all sooooo much and I hope you have a great week!!!

Love you all so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so much!!!

Con amor,

Elder Bradley Rigby

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