Hey all!
I'm short on time today so I'll be more brief this week. I'm determined to email every single week until my mission ends, though. Only missed a couple weeks so far 
Marvin's doing awesome! Since we've met him last Monday, he's come to three lessons, two scripture studies, church, and a baptismal service out in Joplin. Who says 80-year-olds can't change? Marvin is all about learning and is determined to be reunited with his wife in the next life. His last big hurdle besides a couple of cups of coffee (yup, the rumors are true - we avoid coffee and all other addictive and/or destructive substances in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you're curious about why, feel free to ask me!) is gaining a witness that the Lord truly has restored His kingdom to the earth again preparatory to the Second Coming. Lucky for him and for all of us, this Saturday and Sunday is the Church's semiannual General Conference! A common question our friends have when we tell them we believe in modern prophets is, "Well...what do they say?" Throughout this special conference, we get to find out.
Lots of coffee talk this week. Our 96-year-old friend Hazel (my little sister Hazel turned 18 this week by the way 
) had immediately decided to drop coffee for a week when we first taught her the Word of Wisdom, but...uh...it kinda backfired. She's so old now that her system physically can't handle caffeine withdrawals and she was super ill all weekend, so her doctor told her if she doesn't want to actually die she had to keep drinking coffee. One morning and five cups later, she was pretty much back to normal. Guess she gets a doctor's note on this one 
Our friend Richard, the lost recent convert from Idaho who we went to a Chinese buffet with a few weeks ago, has come to church every single week since then! He's become buddies with the two other members we ate lunch with that day and they hang out all the time. He describes their group as "basically those two grumpy old Muppets who make fun of Kermit from the audience." He's a lot nicer than he gives himself credit for, though. 
Goodness gracious, they really are making a Minecraft movie. I'll miss it in theaters, but at least I can buy the Minecraft movie collectible meal at McDonald's. Worth. Song of the week: "Spies" by Coldplay
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Our mission president, President Hathaway, has a vision vision that this mission is capable of baptizing and confirming hundreds of souls each month. And, for the first time in mission history, we broke the one-hundred mark with 108 baptisms in the month of March! Now, we didn't end up having any convert baptisms this month, but we worked hard and saw miraculous success in other ways. Besides, a win for one is a win for us all. Sharing the restored gospel is the ultimate team sport. Check it:
But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi. Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward! Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.
- Alma 29:14-16
So go share the good news! Millions of the elect of God are waiting to hear it and the Lord is "hastening His work." I promise you that inviting others to "come and see" is worth it. If every single one of you reading this email prayerfully invites as many friends and family members as the Lord will put into our hearts and only one person out of all those we invited comes to know that Jesus Christ's kingdom is back and it's back for good, then we will all have collectively helped bring a child of God to the path back home to Him. Wouldn't that be amazing?
Love,
Elder Oliver Rigby
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