Can One Person Make a Difference? - 2/12/18

The final P-day!

Great friends.
Anziani Osmond, Ridd, Huntsman, and Anderl

Hometown buds: Anziani Huntsman & Ridd

Zone Conference
Photo Credit: pickerdsitalyromemission.blogspot

Hey Friends, Family, and Colleagues,

This week was splendid. We had a great zone conference and the part that stuck out to me the most was about the importance of the Restoration. Since that day, we have taught the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ about 15 times. It’s been awesome. 

I also had my final interview with President Pickerd. It was great. He truly is a great man and has been doing a wonderful job in being a mentor for me personally. I hope to carry with me much of the advice and lessons taught to me throughout my life. 

We saw some cool miracles, and I wanted to share one in specific. It goes to show that being in tune with the Spirit makes you a tool in hands of the Lord. Last week we took a bit of time to look at some old records and try and find less-actives. This time we enlisted the help of Facebook. As we found some members that used to be here, we contacted them through Facebook. MC was a man we contacted. In fact, his record was the first one I pulled because I remembered it from before, when we couldn’t find his address. We simply asked him if he was still in the area and if we could pass him. 

MC was the only one to respond. He said that later in the week we could meet and he still lived here. On Saturday morning we excitedly headed to his house. We met and introduced ourselves. Then MC explained a miracle. He had just arrived 2 days earlier from Ecuador, where he was living for the last 4 years. He was debating on coming back to Perugia, but was not wanting to, especially because he was afraid of flying. So last week, his sister told him to start praying so he could see what the Lord wanted him to do. The next day, he received a message from us. He could not believe it. So he told us he would be here, and came straight to Italy. I know God leads us on the path of life where we are needed most or where we need to be most for our growth and happiness. 

All this brings me to my last spiritual thought. Recently, I have been reflecting. I can’t believe this is my last week as a missionary. I can’t believe the joy and growth and relationships that have been had. They will last forever. But the thing on my mind is - can one person really make a difference in the world? 

Stupid question! Of course! Look at the list from the top of my head: Jesus Christ, Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Adam, the list goes on. But I guess the better question is if “I” can make a difference in the world. At this important part of my life, I have learned that "Yes, I can," but the most important difference is not to change THE world. It is to change SOMEONE’S world. To change their experience in this life to be more joyful and happy. To ensure that they look to the future and don’t just see hardships, trials, and death, but they see the joy of family, life, and progression. Jesus Christ changes us one by one. We can do his work by loving one another individually and personally. Jesus does not change the world alone. 

“Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” 3 Nephi 5:13

I love you all. Thanks so much for the prayers, love, and support you have given me during these two years. I am overwhelmed by all of it.

Love,

Anziano Ridd

PS - Massive Happy Birthday to my dad who gets younger looking every year! Love you, Dad!

 

The Last Fast Sunday - 2/5/18

Anziano Ridd with good friend, E, from Terni

Hey guys!

It’s been an extremely rainy week this week here in Perugia. One night we had a mad thunderstorm with a ton of hail. But it was pretty nice, because we slept like kings that night. 

Anyways, this week went okay. I recovered pretty well from my sickness and now only suffer from mild symptoms of sore throat and coughing. As for the work though, MP was invited to be baptized. She said she would give us a full answer next week, as she prayed and talked to her family about it. Well, her daughters informed us on Sunday that sadly, her husband is not as okay with it as we thought at the beginning. So we are going to do our best to help him understand why it is important for her to take the step and help him realize that we are here to do good. 

As for SN, he is now a member! We found his records and he will pretty soon have them all here in the ward. Pretty soon he will be helping out with the sacrament with us. 

This was the last Fast and Testimony meeting I will have in the mission. It was very surreal. I got the opportunity to help SM, the new convert, bless the Sacrament. Then I felt I should bear my testimony. As I did, the Holy Ghost filled me and I felt the confidence from the Lord. I know that the Holy Spirit guides us and prompts us - if we are willing to listen. 

Other than that, this week flew by. Anziano Anderl is a great guy and is fun to have around. I keep being blessed with companions and friends who are very musically talented, so I feel blessed to have another amazing singer with me.

Love you all!

Anziano Ridd

Baps and Naps - 1/29/18

We played zone calcio today.

Our friend "D" was baptized on Saturday!

Hey guys!

So this week was crazy! We tried to work as hard as we could, but I sadly came down with some kind of sinus infection monster. So we had some recovery naps mixed with the fact that allllll of our toilet paper was converted into tissues and we have gone through it very fast. Who knew I had so much crud in my head. 

Anyways there were also some baptisms! One was D from Perugia. I did his interview last week and he was baptized this last Saturday. He is clearly a convert and is excited to be able to baptize his daughter soon. How great a blessing we have to have another convert to build the church with us. Then we also had EZ from Terni, who was baptized. Anziano Huntsman baptized him and afterward EZ bear-hugged him. The Spirit was strong there.

Also this week we found out that SN had never gotten confirmed nor received the gift of the Holy Ghost. So this next week we will prepare him for baptism so he can be baptized the 10th of February. Because just like Joseph Smith said, “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half--that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

So that’s kinda it for this week. Sorella P and family are being awesome and making super great progress. We are hopeful for her to set a baptismal date this week with us. 

I love you all!

Anziano Ridd

Perugia Priesthood - 1/22/18

Church in Todi

Hi again!

This week we had some fun experiences. We went on Friday morning to go serve a member that lives 30 minutes south of us. He is an older guy and burned his hands really badly, and because he is a widower right now, he has to everything on his own. We came and gave him a blessing and then helped him bring in his wood so he can keep his house warm. He also lives in a beautiful place, so we got plenty of pictures while we were in the area. 

Perugia is poppin’ right now. You can bet by summer this place will be a BIG branch. I’ll give the thanks to the fact that we have correct vision and have been working so hard. I love being with the awesome guys that are serving up here with me. This week we had 36 people in church. That’s a pretty big deal. We have really grown, even if some of those people were guests.

Then after church on Sunday, SM, the amazing new convert, asked me to be the one to confer the Aaronic priesthood to him and ordain him to be a priest. As always, it was a very great spiritual experience and I know that SM will be a great instrument in the hand of God. 

Furthermore, I did the baptismal interview for D. He will be baptized next Saturday as he is very much converted to the gospel and cannot wait to get to the temple with his family. With more friends and family to follow him, including his newly 8-year old daughter, he is going to be a great leader to his loved ones. 

With all this, we could say that Perugia is growing. I would say that maybe the missionaries are growing more, however. We learn new things everyday and our vigor and zeal for the edification of God’s kingdom on earth keeps growing. What a tender mercy to be able to serve Him and gain such a love for the saints of Italy.

I love you all, and hope you have a great week!

Anziano Ridd

One of my favorite families here in Perugia,

featuring D (soon to be convert) and his 8-year old daughter 

Todi

Anziano Anderl and Anziano Ridd

Cathedral in Todi, where we traveled to help bring in firewood
for a member who burned his hands.

4th Quarter - 1/15/18

Anziano Ridd with his new companion, Anziano Anderl

Hey guys!

The last transfer calls are in. The results are as follows:

• I remain in Perugia and get Anziano Anderl from Holladay, Utah as my companion. Anziano Hughes went to Lecce.
• Anziano Osmond is now in Rome and is replaced by Anziano Wagstaff from Holladay, Utah and he will be with Anziano Allred.
• Anziano Huntsman and Becker remain.
• Anziano Daniels is down to Cosenza and Anziano Smith has come to replace him. 
• Sorella Holmes came up to Terni.

This week was lit. I love my new companion. He is a stud and is in the same group as Anziano McConkie. I also like Anziano Wagstaff. He is a beast and plays basketball. Anyways, I’m very excited for this last transfer of the mission. 

The way I look at things, this is the fourth quarter…the last part of the game. Just as many basketball legends, we make (Michael Jordan) or break (LeBron James) the game based on how we work in the fourth quarter. If I give it my all till the end and perform like I need to, then the joy of victory will be had. I know that there is a purpose the Lord has me in Perugia at this time. I also know that it only can be accomplished if I decide to put it all on the line and serve with all my heart and mind. I love the mission. 

Love you all. I hope you have a great week!

Anziano Ridd