The Blessing of Work - 3/6/17

GOOD MORNING!!!

This week was soooo full. 

So to start it right off, on Tuesday we did a scambio with the Anziani serving in Ostia. We had a district meeting with them and then Anziano Perfili and I went to Rome. He is a stud from Orange County, California. He and I did some good work finding. Then we saw a cool miracle. While we were doing house, we found a family who wanted to learn some more. We now are teaching a super awesome family of 4 and we are so excited to see them again next week. 

Then on Friday we did another scambio with the Anziani in Rome 1. Once again I stayed in our area, and Anziano Burgos came over with me. He is from the Philippines and is a guy who is very in touch with the Spirit. We got the opportunity to visit a member's house who is Filipino, and that was really cool because they all connected so well as fellow countrymen. The next day we got let in to a couple homes, but had no success finding anyone wanting to learn more. 

After that, we had good success with finding new people during the week. I am really excited to see if some of our potentials will be real investigators. Our work is going well though. O has a baptismal date of 25th of March. He and GD came to church. In fact, GD received the priesthood this week by Anziano Allen. 

Next week is Zone Conference, and Anziano Allen and I are prepping to teach. So we’ve got a busy week coming up. 

One thing I have been studying this week have been work. Work is a gospel principle that is not often talked about, but I think it is probably the most important principle of life. Things take work. The Gospel Principles manual says, "There is no real division between spiritual, mental, and physical work. Work is essential to each of us for growth, character development, and many satisfactions that the idle never know."

For us to grow we need to work, but we can enjoy any kind of work we are doing. In fact, President David O. McKay said, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success." 
(​Pathways to Happiness​ [1957], 381).  I know this is true and I hope all of us can start to go about our work with a different attitude. If we are surviving through life, we will probably survive...but we shouldn't expect to get more than that. If we raise our visions to a higher goal, we are likely to achieve that goal or at least get close.

I love you all! 

Anziano Ridd

PS - We played basketball again for Pday. We love sports and we don't care who knows. Also - I stink.