The time has come! I'm leaving for Vancouver TOMORROW! I can't believe how quickly my time at the MTC went. It feels like I've been here for 3 years but also 3 days at the same time. Saying goodbye to my district was one of the saddest things I've had to do. After our last class on Saturday night I got to my room and just started crying. And then I'd stop crying. And then I'd start crying again. It went like that for about 2 hours. Every time Sister Williams would walk into the room she'd go, "You're still crying?!" hahah I think everybody knows I'm a little emotional...
Sunday night we had to say goodbye to Elder Wood because he was leaving for England so I cried some more Sunday night and when he wasn't with his companion at breakfast, I started crying again. Then at noon seven more from my district left for Australia. I cried lots more all day. And then I cried that night again. So clearly what I have learned from this experience is that I get attached too easily and cry a little too much haha. But I know the real reason I was crying so much... I have been praying constantly that I would be able to feel Christlike love for the people I meet, especially the people I teach and my district. I've had to put in a lot of effort to make it happen, but I have grown to love so much more. I've been able to see past things that may have bothered me and just truly loved them like a family. So seeing them go and knowing that I wouldn't see them for a long time- or possibly not see them ever again- was so difficult.
That whole experience has put into perspective for me how much our Savior loves us. I would do anything to make the people I love happy, but Christ can and has done everything to make us happy. Why would we not use His Atonement in our lives? I know that through loving Him and using His Atonement your life will be full of so much joy! I would also like to challenge you all to start praying to love others like Christ loves and then do everything you can to make that happen. It will change your life and your perspective. Take it from someone who has spent the past 3 days crying over people she just met 3 weeks ago!
As sad as it was to say goodbye to everybody, I am so pumped to be getting out of here and into the field! I was a little nervous about it on Sunday but we had a devotional for all the departing missionaries and one of the speakers said, "A ship is safe and comfortable in the harbor, but that's not what ships are for." She taught that the seas will be rough but we have no need to fear because we have Christ who calms the seas (Mark 4:39-41). The MTC has become comfortable to me, but that's not my purpose as a missionary. It is time to leave the harbor!
I can't wait to get to BC and meet all the people, especially the members! We did a few workshops this week about working with members. We learned that in the US and Canada baptism rates for people who the missionaries found on their own were only at about 25% while the baptism rates where the members were involved were at 59%! So for everybody back home thinking you can't do missionary work until you are on your mission, you're wrong! The missionaries need you to be successful and Heavenly Father wants you to help him in His work!
Read your scriptures, say your prayers, God loves you, Christ loves you, and I love you! Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Rigby
PICTURES!!
1. Sister Solomon and I hating on Australia for taking our friends.
2. PANTS DAY!
3. Last day with our district (from left to right- our teacher Sister Siebach, Sister Hill, Sister Williams, Sister Memmott, Sister Danielson, Sister Solomon, me, Elder Hrabik, Elder Prusse, Elder Wood, Elder Ison, Elder Hopeau, and Elder Wilkerson).
4. 3 sisters that I went to high school with (Hermana Zerkle, Hermana Hafen, and Sister Weaver).
5. Our favorite gym outfit.
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