Last Week In August!

Hey there! 

  Wow, time flies!  Well, this week was really good.  We are starting to back into the swing of things now that Ferragosto is finished.  We also got some new investigators this week.  Both have been taught before, but we are gonna try again. 

  I have been learning recently a little more about missionary work, and I have started to do it differently.  Missionary work is teaching principles of the Gospel simply and effectively.  How did Christ do it?  He would talk and give discourses, He would teach people, but most of all He was a light and a strength for others. And when he talked with someone, He could discern their thoughts and He would help them feel peace. That is what I am beginning to see - that Missionary work is not so much the looking for people to baptize, but finding and helping people who are looking for and/or need to change their lives.  It's about being a light and an anchor point for others. Then they will follow you.  But only if you invite. "People will seldom change unless invited to do so." PMG

   I have been reading a book called 'Teaching, No Greater Call." It is really good!  Also 'Jesus The Christ."  What a blessing it is to have this Gospel!  It brings peace into my life that I can't find anywhere else!  Even if things are not going too well, I don't have to worry.  Life is good. 

   I don't have anything to say!  Haha, I am writing a letter that will hopefully give you some more "insight" into my life.  Haha, until then, know that I love you and I am thinking about and praying for you.  Take care!

   Love always, Anziano Rigby

   

P-Day in Rome a few weeks ago.

Hey Y'all! 

   Man, you guys are just so cool!  Haha, I'm serious!  I'm sorry I don't have time to write a ton today. Ecco perchè I'm just writing one. ..... :)

   Well this week we had Ferragosto.  It was something else!  Everybody went crazy!  There were riots in the streets and people were setting cars on fire.  Haha we even got to light one!  Hahahaha jk, not even close!  Ferragosto is tranquillissimo.  There is no one on the streets and all the stores are closed so we stayed in and did deep cleaning. 

   Also all our appointments fell through so we did a lot of finding.  But it was good. We made a lot of friends!  Haha, that is the best way to do finding…make friends, and then you can ask them to meet. They are more likely to do so.  I really don't have anything to say. Haha, right now I'm gonna try and send some pics…sooo, I love you all and I hope you are doing well!  It looks like you are!  Ciao! Until next week!

   Love, Anziano Rigby

Me and Joyce again (in Rome)!!!  Haha, we always seem to run into each other!

Ferragosto

Hey there Fam,

  Well, well, well.  This week has been a good one.  Nothing big has happened, but it's been good.  Last Monday we went to Rome for P-day! The Zone Leaders gave us one day to go. It was really fun. We went in the Roman Forum and the Colosseum!  Haha, it was pretty cool. We just sat in the Colosseum for 3 hours talking and relaxing.  Not every day that you get to do that!  Then for the first half of the week Anziano Stout was with us because of transfers so we were in a threesome.  It was actually pretty fun. I'm not sure I'd like it for an entire transfer, but for half a week it was okay. 

   We taught David finally.  He likes to dominate the conversation.  He also likes to ask a lot of questions that don't really make sense as far as the lesson goes.  I'm trying to figure out why he asks them and I haven't really found a solid answer yet.  He speculates about the Book of Mormon, and he always asks us questions about why we don't have the original plates, and if it all depends on the answer we receive from God then why are there the testimonies of the witnesses. We answer his questions but he never seems to take it as an answer.  As we were teaching him this week it reminded me of something I have heard over and over -  If you are looking for the faults or reasons why the Book isn't true, you will find nothing but faults. You will never receive an answer that it is true because you are not looking for that. 

   Other than that, this week there was a Gypsy lady who was carrying a box of stuff she had just found in the dumpster.  She was carrying it on her head. As we came up to her I was debating if I should ask her if we could help, when Anziano Mika stepped up and did so. We then carried this box for quite a ways.  Meanwhile I got to talk with her in Italian/ Romanian.  She talked about how she had come here to Italy with her son who was 25 years old (where was he at this time? not helping his mom!).  Anyway, she said they used all their money to come here and now they are living on the street.  It was a wonderful experience to help her.  She was so grateful and that really makes the difference.  …  I was taught, and reminded that they are sons and daughters of God too.  And they are someone's mom, dad, brother, sister, you name it.  I thought about if it was my mom out on the street, I would be eternally grateful if someone helped her. 

   The last thing...I just ran across a Mormon message called "Hope ya know, we had a hard time," by Quentin L Cook.  It is really good.  Just about how we have hard times, but in the midst of our trials we should look for those who are having a harder time than us and then we should help them.  You should watch it. :)

   Well, I love you guys!  I hope you are having a good week and I'll talk to you later!  :)

   Love, Anziano Rigby 

   Hey Mom! 

   Haha, yeah I am super happy about Franco!  He is way cool :) 

   Yes it is pretty hot. ….very humid!  But it's okay, I'm still alive.  On the bright side, I think it's good for my skin?  :)  

    Oh my gosh, I love the Atonement!  I have been studying that for the last year and I have learned and grown leaps and bounds in my knowledge and understanding, and yet I still cannot fathom the depth of love, compassion, or mercy that he has for us.  Or even how it was done.  I will study that for the rest of my life and yet I will never fully understand.  It is true.  He loves us so very much.  And he knows us not as another person, but as his brother or sister. crazy. 

   Love, Anziano Rigby

August, Baby!

Hey Y'all!

   Wow, it's been a weird week!  Haha, it has been really hot and really humid.  It's kind of funny that you mentioned that, mom, because I have been dying!  Haha, not really, but kind of, in a small way.  :) Everything sticks to your skin, and it's just....there.  Haha!  Eew.

Anyway, it's been good!  I can hardly believe that it's already August again.  It feels like the year just started. Time flys when you're having fun! 

   So this week we did a lot of finding.  Everyone is starting to go down south for Ferragosto, sooo... the city is starting to empty out.  Anyone who is still here is on the beach and we are stuck in the city with no one to talk to.  Hahaha, that's not true.  There are still people to talk to.  But we are doing a lot more finding because of it.  All of our simps are gone for the month.  It's weird because I haven't done a lot of it lately and I need to get back into it.  It feels good to talk with people on the street! I like it a lot, and I feel like I haven't done enough of it these past couple transfers. 

   So for the transfer, me and Mika are staying here, woo-hoo!  Not really a surprise but you never know.  Man, I forgot to say this last week, but for my birthday, he surprised me by standing up in the bus on the way home and asking everyone to sing happy birthday to me!  It was the coolest thing ever! Seriously it was awesome :)

   On Wednesday we went to Rome for a zone blitz which was good.  I got to play my guitar in a piazza for a while. Haha, good stuff.

   Oh my gosh!  Thank you so much for the birthday gifts!  They are seriously so awesome!  I feel bad 'cause I know it wasn't cheap.  But I am really grateful, so thank you.

   Well, that's about all for this week, nothing special.  I love you guys!  I hope you have a good week, and I'll talk to you next week!

   Love always, Anziano Rigby