Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 5: 13


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.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Simple everyday basics that help us receive the Spirit stronger in our day!

09/25/2017

     It was a good week.  We got fed pretty well...on Wednesday we went over to Mario's house and that was dang good but man I felt like I was about to die after that. We had like 5 courses haha!  Then Sunday we went to the Camassa's house - they are awesome! We had a bomb meal with them, probably one of the best I've had on my mission.  Monday night after last pday we went over to the Dr. Vivo's house for dinner which was good then we had a good spiritual thought with them about gratitude.  They are a less active part member family in the church so we hope to be working with them more this transfer.  They are just such a nice family, so humble, just great people!
     
      We got to meet with Anna again this week and talked about reading and praying every day. It was pretty awesome to just go over the simple basics that we can do everyday to receive the spirit stronger in our days and therefore receive more power from Jesus Christ through his atonement.  As we were bearing testimony on the strength of prayer I was pondering on a past prayer experience and I was just over come with the spirit.  It's amazing how much power can come from a simple prayer!  I really know that God is always listening when we are sincere.

     Saturday we had Moses' baptism and that was really good.  We had a good show up.  We had Austin speak who is Moses' good friend that was baptized a couple of weeks ago, they read the book of Mormon together at night, it's awesome!  Austin gave a really good talk on baptism. Then Sunday was so cool...I got to give Moses the Gift of the Holy Ghost and confirm him a member of the church.  It was such an awesome experience!  Before that, Richard (recent convert that gave us Moses as a referral) got called as the assistant ward mission leader so that's just sweet and Peter who is the return missionary from Africa, got called to be the Branch 2nd counselor.  It so awesome to see the ward grow and see more unity between the Africans and the Italians.  I can't wait to see the church continue to grow here in Napoli!!

Vi voglio bene!!
Anziano Ruiz













Monday, September 18, 2017

It's just awesome to be able to teach and see the children that God is preparing

September 18, 2017

  This week was was great! It seems like we did so much but I don't remember anything. I saw my MTC companion Anziano Melling and that was awesome! It was pretty cool to see each other now that we both speak Italian! Also this Sunday Richard asked me to Ordain him to the office of an Elder and give him the Melchizedek priesthood. That was an amazing experience!
   I don't have much time but I'll make the most of this email!
  We had a sweet lesson with an investigator named Anna she's Russian. We talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ and how through it we can overcome all things. Christ's Atonement is a gift from God because he loves us, and because he loves us he prepared a way for us to utilize it in our everyday lives. It was one of the most powerful clear lessons I've taught. Anna told us that she's ready to do the small and simple things that will help lead her to baptism which is on of here desires. It's just awesome to be able to teach and see the children that God is preparing
  As we were finding this week I started talking to these kids my age and older they were from another church and were inviting people to an event, I took time to explain who I was and what I am doing here and tried to have a uplifting conversation with them. I succeeded so I was happy.  But towards the end one of them told me that I was " bravo" but that all I needed to do was take away my badge (that has the church's name on it) and the Book of Mormon. Two things that I hold very very close to my heart and that build my testimony on Jesus Christ. As a missionary and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we never want to take away your testimony, but only to add to the truths that you all already hold dear to your heart. I know that this church is true and I know that Jesus Christ is the savior of the word!
Vi voglio un sacco di bene!!

Anziano Ruiz 



MTC companion - Elder Melling.








Monday, September 11, 2017

We called and she picked up and said "did you hear my need for you?"

September 11, 2017 

Ciao tutti!!
  What a week! Monday night we got our transfer calls! It was so great to serve with Anziano Smith, we definitely have some good memories! Sadly he was transferred but some good news is that I get to stay another transfer here in Napoli!! Not only that but I'm training a new missionary again!!! That's what I wanted to do so I was so excited. 
  We had a good week of saying goodbyes till Thursday. Then Anziano Smith left and I found out that I'm training Anziano Wagstaff! He's from Holiday Utah, is 6'6" and is a basketball champ! Man we get along so well it's awesome! We are definitely the tallest in the mission and the Italians love it haha. I'm super pumped for these next 3 months serving with him. The past days have already been good.
Saturday was sweet, Anziano Wagstaff and I translated interviews  for two converts, Richard and Reginald to receive the Melchizedek priesthood, they both passed and that was sweet! Then Sunday we had stake conference in this sweet hotel it was awesome so see so many members and other missionaries. During conference we sustained Richard and Reginald that just made me so happy to see. After the conference we had a baptismal interview with one of our investigators named Moses, he will be baptized on the 23rd we are excited! Moses is pretty tall and we all took  a picture with President Pickerd, we looked like a basketball team haha President Pickerd has always given me tall companions, it's pretty sweet.
  We had a cool little miracle this last week during weekly planning. We decided to call an old investigator names Anna, she's Russian. We called and she picked up and said "did you hear my need for you?" I thought she was being sarcastic so I started explaining how I'm new to the area and what not. But it turns out she was being serious. She is going through a rough time in her life right now and was thinking about the missionaries and how we could help her so she was going to come to church. Good thing we called because church was in a different location! She came to stake conference and it was good. We'll be meeting with her now. I'm excited to see what God has in-store. 

  Anziano Wagstaff is awesome at opening his mouth and talking to people on the street. He's such a good example for me. Today for pday we were with other missionaries and we were just finishing up this tour of an underground city in Napoli and we saw this guys hand making a nativity. We watched him for a bit then ended up talking about the Gospel and the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was sweet we are meeting with him this Wednesday to give him a Book of Mormon!  We're excited!
 I love this scripture!  Alma 26:27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." It's such a blessing to be able to be converted be the Lord I know he doesn't give us any challenge in this life that we can't over come as we rely on the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ.
Vi voglio un sacco di bene!!
Anziano Ruiz

 Training a new companion, Elder Wagstaff.

























Monday, September 4, 2017

It is very important that we have a testimony centered on Jesus Christ. I know that he is our Savior and that he lives!!

September 4, 2017 

  Another transfer has flown by! It has been so awesome to serve here in Napoli and I really hope I get to stay! This week we received and contacted a referral from a member in Battipaglia this week and that was cool. His name is Emilio, we met with him to teach the restoration but then he had a few interesting questions so we weren't able to teach him everything but we ended with a point that the message we share is centered on Jesus Christ. And before we move forward that we must have a foundation or a testimony which is centered on Jesus Christ also. He came to church and liked it so that's sweet! We are excited to start meeting with Emilio some more to help him build his testimony.
Just this last Saturday we had Austin's baptism! It was so great! He was baptized in the Pozuoli church by Richard! Richard was just baptized about 5 months ago so that was awesome to see. Moses is Austin's friend and will be baptized not this Saturday but the next. So we are really excited for that!
  I don't have much time so this is a shorter letter. I love the scripture in Helaman chapter 5 verse 12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." I know that this verse is so true and that it is very important that we have a testimony centered on Jesus Christ. I know that he is our Savior and that he lives!!
Vi voglio bene!!
Anziano Ruiz 
More Pizza



Baptism!


A newer part of Napoli


The rest of these are from A neat little place called Pompeii!