Note: this email is late because Samsung does not have an undo feature like IPhone does when you accidentally delete the three-page email you spent the entire day writing. Sorry for the delay :P
It's been a looooong week but I love it here. A lot of it was fun, some of it painful, most of it difficult but all of it good for me.
Anyways let's get into the meat of it. MTC (missionary training center) life is super busy but it's definitely manageable. Daily life basically consists of swimming through two three-hour classes plus an hour and a half of study time and coming up for air during meals, exercise, and the hour of free time we have in the evening. Let me tell ya, the dorms are a jungle at night. Missionaries or not, cram 100+ 18-21 year old guys into one building and its gonna sound like Rainforest Café. So it's a high-protein day for sure but like I said, physical drains for spiritual gains. Plus, every Monday I have a prep day (P-day) where I have time set aside to call my family, respond to emails, do laundry, and hang out with the other missionaries in my class.
Besides my companion Elder Andersen and I my district includes three sets of sisters and three other sets of elders for a total of 14 missionaries. I've loved finally getting to know them in person and they're all cool people that I like being around. Homies of the week include Elder Checketts for having the same favorite movies as me (Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä) and Elder Stone for quoting Bible verses as he did 50 pushups in like a minute (see Philippians 4:13.)
Elder Andersen got called as District Leader! As his senior companion I'm basically now secretary/voice of reason for my adorably ADHD new roommate. He's fresh out of high school and a little hyper but he's a really nice guy and I think being called as role models for the district is gonna be good for us both.
So much happened this week and I'd love to get to all of it but I wanna at least try to keep this shorter so I'll make another list. This week I:
- Played volleyball at the gym almost every day and kept running into into Aldstë Calder and Élder Stubbs
- Watched Stadium of Fire from a five-story building and a 日本人(Japanese) sister from McGarvin姉妹's district gave us all cinnamon rolls
- Got lost when we went to the Provo Temple (sort of)
- Sang next to a 6'5 Canadian dude at missionary choir practice
Thought:
1) God loves me.
2) He sees the complexities of my trials perfectly.
3) He knows exactly what He's asking me to do.
Knowing these three things has seriously gotten me through this week. The Lord knows perfectly how much I love learning Japanese. He knows how badly I wish I could be with the missionaries heading to serve in Japan and how badly it hurts to not be. But putting this dream of mine on the altar has only strengthened my faith in my Savior Jesus Christ. Ladies and gentlemen, The Lord is good at His job. He wants me in Bentonville, Arkansas so I can't wait to get there and get to work.
Mosiah 23: 21-22
21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.
If anyone has any questions about Jesus Christ, His Gospel, missionary life, or just life in general then send me an email or message and I'd love to talk sometime! I can only really respond on Mondays but seriously ask me whatever whenever.
Peace 
Elder Rigby
P.S. thank you so much to everyone who's sent me emails so far!! I had a super busy day yesterday but I'll try to write you back as soon as I can!
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