Coming Home
We traveled to the town of Toppenish... where the west still lives... and drove down a quiet lane to a worn out house with an old truck parked out front- it was here Seleck truly became Elder Rigby and his love of God became greater than his love for himself. It's funny how God does that- takes our weaknesses, molds us, shapes us, and then let's us go. That little house surrounded by overgrowth of trees, roses, and weeds is sacred ground to him. We all need a Toppenish!
We learned what real joy looked like after visiting Ricardo and his family in Moses Lake. Since Elder Rigby's service there, Ricardo has been baptized and has been sealed to his family in the temple. We saw the Mighty Columbia River, watched Kite surfing along the Hood River, and dipped our toes in Moses Lake.
We enjoyed Mexican Food like nothing we have back home, we dined with Peruvian descendants of the first members in Peru, and we ate the best Mexican Popsicles ever!
And then after meeting Elicia Poe and her Daughter Maddie in Hood River, we knew Seleck (Elder Rigby) was called by God to serve in The Yakima Washington Mission. There are so many stories to share, but they are Elder Rigby's, we are just lucky enough that he let us take part of the bittersweet ending.
There is one hug I will always remember- you would think it was the hug Seleck gave me after two long years of being a part? Nope, nice guess though. It was actually the hug that Sister Ann Lewis gave me as she greeted me in the mission home. For me, it was as if she read every emotion I had felt over the past two years and absorbed it all in a beautiful reunion between two women that had never met before.
I could never find the words express to her the gratitude I felt for her at that moment, but I hope she felt it. Thank you President and Sister Lewis for your unending sacrifice to our missionary to so many more over the past three years. We will love and appreciate you forever!
And many thanks to the Yakima Washington Mission for loving our missionary, Elder Rigby.
"And if men come unto me, I will show unto them weaknesses. I give unto men weaknesses unto men that they may be humble. And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me;for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then behold will I make weak things become strong unto them."
Ether 12:27, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
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| The Famous Door |
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| The Garage, every Elder's name |
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| The transfer board |
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| We love you, President and Sister Lewis |
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| Saying good-bye to MTC Companion, Elder Horsely |
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| The Church in Yakima |
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| El Puente |
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| Visiting With Sherman Mumpower |
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| view from Elder Rigby's front yard- neighbors Frank and Jackie |
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| House in Bridgeport |
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| Landlord- Sister Thorne |
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| Mailbox in Bridgeport |
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| Investigator Robert's trailer in Bridgeport |
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| Church in Bridgeport |
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| Visiting with Ruby Britt and son Gabriel |
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| Visiting with Elder Polacio and Melling and Brother Sister Oman in Bridgeport |
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| Visiting with Sister Weddle in Bridgeport |
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| Visiting with Sister Vickie |
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| neighbors Frank and Jackie |
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| Visiting with Bryan and Alex Aguilar |
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| View of Columbia River |
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| Dinner Camperos and the Schonwald family |
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| Breakfast with the Anna and Zach - Connor, Owen, Ty, Logan, and baby |
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| The Mighty Columbia River |
Moses Lake- my first area
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| First Apartment in Moses Lake |
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| 2nd apartment in Moses Lake |
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| The first door I ever knocked on as a missionary |
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| Sister De Leon |
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| Visiting Oscar's Home |
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| Oscar and David Martinez |
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| Visiting Mitch Poth, the branch mission leader |
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| Dinner with Luna and Riojas families |
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| descendants of the first pioneers in Peru |
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| Elder Owen and Elder Beaumont in Moses Lake Toppenish my 3rd area |
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| Church in Toppenish |
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| My home in Toppenish |
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| The road where I learned to love to run |
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| The Jesus card I posted on my running route |
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| The house I gave the "last gift of Christmas" a cute little girl |
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| Lunch at Noe Noe in Toppenish |
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| Brother and Sister Lott in Toppenish |
Final Area- Selah, Washington
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| My last apartment in Selah |
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| The Sanchez Family with aunt Juan parents- Jesus and Griselda- children- Jesus Jr., Abel, Arturo, and Gabriel |
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| With Serjio and Mariah Sanchez with children Anthony, Ajay, Serjio Jr. and Vida |
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| With the Toppenish team- Left to right- Brother Evans, David, Bubba (winterhawk) , Brother Dave Simmons and Brother and Sister Barney |
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| My apartment in Hood River |
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| The might road I ran with Elder Najarian |
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| Elicia Poe and her daughter Maddie |
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| Checking out kite boarding in Hood river |
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| Cherry orchard with Mt. Hood in the background, Hood River Oregon |
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| Family picture in Hood River |
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| Welcome Home from Grandma and Grandpa Weaver |
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| Clyde Madison |
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| Cousins Kinzi, Bosten, Dream,me, Japrix, Easton, Alex, Mara, Bradyk, Javlyn, and Tia |
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| Uncle Bruce, Aunt Tina, Cousins, Kylee, Christina, Paige, Me, Grandma and Grandpa Rigby and Cousins, Danny, Liz and Aurora |
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| Leaving the Washington Yakima Mission in Good Hands- Good Luck cousin Bosten! |
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