a Celestial week {7.28.14}

I've talked about being in missionary heaven before. Now I know I was only in the terrestial kingdom. This week I had a CELESTIAL experience.

Yes, that just happened. I can definitely be missionary cheesy for 4 and a half more months.. enjoy it! :)

 

So... the week was actually pretty intense. Baptism weeks ALWAYS are. Without fail. Here's the thing this time, though. Satan knows that London is SO strong and literally nothing was going to stand in the way of her becoming baptized, so he just decided to attack Sister Fox and I and ALL of our other investigators. So that was cool, but it was ALL WORTH IT (sorry other investigators...)

Thursday night at 10 o clock we found out that Tony would be able to baptize his sister on Friday. HALLELUJAH!! I thought I knew happiness in that moment, but I had no idea how I would feel when it actually happened.

 

Before we get there, though, let's back track a little bit. My second or third day in the mission field I met a recent convert, Tony. Sister Parker and I taught him every single week that I was trained and he came teaching with us at least once a week. As you can imagine, we got pretty close. The week before I left we were finally able to get into his home and teach his mom and sister. Well, mostly his mom. His sister usually hid in the back room whenever we came around. The night before we left we had a powerful lesson with their family and I was sure they would be baptized while I was gone.

I came back and they weren't-- not even being taught! What?! Sister Denison and I began teaching Tony's mom again and tried to talk to his sister, but she was pretty stand-offish with us. Tony's mom (Erica) became pretty busy with work and other things and gradually we stopped meeting. Then, just over a month ago, we started working with their family again. I don't even know how!! One day Tony wasn't home, but London let us in anyway!! London who usually wouldn't say 5 words to us. She showed us Tony's baptism pictures and we had an awesome discussion about how she has seen the Gospel change his life. That day was her turning point and from there we were teaching her multiple times a week. It just happened! Heavenly Father prepared her heart and everything just kind of fell into place.

Eventually we found out that London had secretly been reading the Book of Mormon all along. Heavenly Father had also prepared her by helping her quit smoking, get out of a bad relationship, and softening her heart in other ways. She was SO PREPARED. As we taught her, a visible light grew in her countenance. She became more kind and open and more patient with her children. She fell in love with the Book of Mormon and found herself waking up early before her children just to read.

I have seriously never seen someone so prepared or so excited to become baptized. I think the thing that strengthened her the most, though, was her focus on the temple. From the day she decided to be baptized she knew she wanted to go to the temple as soon as possible. She knew that baptism was a stepping stone to get to the temple-- not a finish line.

 

This past Friday night I had one of the most sacred and spiritual experiences of my mission-- of my life!-- watching Tony go down into the waters of baptism with his sister and enabling her to step onto the path toward eternal life as an eternal family. The ward was so supportive and really embraced and loved her. They gave beautiful talks and a beautiful musical number. It was the perfect night.

And it didn't end there! The next day London was able to go to the temple and be baptized for 11 others. She loved it and we're already planning our trip to go back together after my mission! :)

I can't express my love for this Gospel. I know that it changes my life every single day and it is truly beautiful to watch it change the lives of others. It is so true.

xoxox

Sister Rolfe

 

Pictures:

Slumber party with my daughter and great grandaughter! Every good grandmother has a car seat :)

 

Sister Spa Day!

Best Friends :)

 

London!

London and Tony!

 

Meanwhile in Ohio.. {7.21.14}

Yet another week has flown by!

The Eastgate Ward is ON FIRE! Spiritual fire that is. The work is undoubtedly hastening! We've been so blessed to be able to work closely with our members and our investigators. It is truly the friendships our investigators have developed in our ward family that have carried them through their conversions. For example, this week.....

We saw L1 just about every single day as she continues to prepare for her baptism this weekend-- each time with a different member! I have never seen someone so excited to become baptized. Seriously, L1's excitement is contagious and I wish all of our investigators could listen to her testimony! I have seen a night to day transformation in L1 that I will tell you more about next week with her baptism story. On Saturday, the Wilson family had us and L1 over for the afternoon so the kids could play and we could teach L1 in their home. The Spirit was so strong-- one of the most powerful lessons we've had yet! "If the right Spirit is present, the home can convert!" I fully believe this. We actually had 10 member present lessons this week and SEVEN of them were in member's homes. Can I stay in Eastgate forever?

I also had the most powerful dinner appointment I've had yet on my mission this week. The Robinson family had the A family (their across the street neighbors who we're teaching) over for dinner! We had just about the most delicious meal I've ever eaten and all enjoyed talking and catching up. After dinner, we gathered again around the table for a lesson about the Book of Mormon. Sister Fox and I were SO NERVOUS because these are both VERY intelligent, well to do families. So, we prayed hard and started teaching. The Spirit took over and both mothers (member and non member) ended up crying. The Robinsons each bore their testimony of the Book of Mormon and the power it had had in their home and in their family. I, 17, asked a question about the Book and HIS dad (not a member) said, "Well son, you should probably read it." WOW! Ditto to what I said about the Spirit in the home before.

Cars can also be converting! Haha. Seriously though. We're teaching L2, who's 9 (and makes me think of my niece every time!!). She went to activity days at the Blackham's this week so Sister Fox and I rushed over there to join them and have a little lesson but they were already leaving. Thank goodness she was in the angel, Martha Van de Merwe's, car, who pulled over right away and let us in. We taught L2, a less active, and a recent convert (in their soaking wet swim suits) in Martha's car. And I promise, the Spirit was even there! The girls have been memorizing I Am a Child of God and were so excited to show us. Heart melted! It is these moments that make me 1. never want to end my mission 2. can't wait to be a mom 3. hope and pray that they are the ones these girls remember

We had another spiritual dinner appointment at the Bradfords this week with A who is really struggling with the decision to be baptized. It was with the help of the Bradford's and the Spirit of their home that she realized just how much she has learned and is decided to seriously pray about this decision. She told us after that getting to know the members has been what has really boosted her testimony. She has been learning for over a year and just recently started really progressing after finally developing strong bonds with the members. 

Your testimony is more powerful than you know!! The way you live your life is a HUGE testament to non members of the blessings of the Gospel. Two encouraging sentences from a member often mean more to our investigators than an hour lesson from us.

The hastening is about members AND missionaries working together! I have no doubt about that. The work can't move forward without us working together. Thank you for the wonderful examples I'm sure you all are in each of your wards. I would encourage you to pray for and actively seek out a missionary opportunity this week... talk to your missionaries about it!! They will love you, I promise! 

I couldn't be happier to call you my loved ones. It is the Spirit of each of you and your homes that truly converted me. I love you more than you know!

xoxoxox

Sister Rolfe 

Pictures: 

ONE YEAR older and wiser too! {7.14.14}

I've said it once, I'll say it a million times....

Time is the craziest thing!!!

I CANNOT believe I have been a missionary for an entire year. As I look back, though, it has without a doubt been the best year for my life. I can't wait to see what the next 6 months have in store! I can't thank you enough for your love and support this past year. My love for every one of you grows every single day!

So to sum up my celebratory mission birthday week, I:

x. Had a dinner date with one of my favorite investigators :) She even sent us home with a bouquet of flowers and a bag of food! Aren't we supposed to be serving her??

x. Softened a families hearts through service! They were a referral, so when we contacted them we asked if there was any service we could do. Most people think we're crazy and turn us away (if only they knew that we were actually willing to do anything for them.. for free!). This man actually accepted our offer and asked us to clean out his rain gutters! We told him we would be back with a ladder the next day :)  We asked if we could leave him with a prayer and he was not the least bit interested. The next day Brother B came back with us and cleaned out all of their gutters while we talked with the couple about the Gospel. In the middle of this, it started downpouring! Bro. B is such a saint and we were so grateful for his selfless service. By the end of the night they were asking us if they could go to church with us!! They told us we were two of the most Godly people they had met (haha I don't know about that) and that they were SO impressed they wanted to learn more about the church! Wow! I can't say enough about SERVICE!!! (my theme of the week, you'll see)

x. Had the craziest/ best missionary night of my life. Tuesday, Foxy and I spent our last 3 hours of the day at the church because we had friends coming to the family history center--woo! We ended up filling up the fhc and not having enough room for everyone!!! The hastening is happening :) Anyway, we ended up getting there early with A so we were able to give her a chapel tour beforehand and she committed to pray about baptism. Then she went and had an AWESOME experience doing family history. Then Al showed up, but there wasn't room for her so she was really depressed. We took her into the chapel to talk and found out her life was basically falling apart. we sang hymns to her an the spirit was so strong. One of her friendshippers came in and literally read my mind by asking Al if she wanted a blessing. She accepted and had one of the most powerful spiritual experiences of her life. She is a very skeptical person, but after the blessing she looked at Bro. P and said, "I have to ask you something. How did you know that I was thinking about not wanting to be alone? Exactly when I thought that, you blessed me that I wouldn't be alone!" He was able to explain to her that he wasn't giving the blessing, Heavenly Father was. Powerful!!! Then to top off the night, a random lady showed up to do family history and we were able to give her a chapel tour and she became a new investigator. Missionary heaven!!

x. SERVING SERVING SERVING my heart out. Wednesday we had not one but TWO service projects. We mulched a sweet catholic family's yard then we weeded a member's yard. I love to serve!!

x. Had the best interview with President Porter that I have had yet. Interviews actually just happened to fall on my one year mark. Yes, Heavenly Father knows and loves me!! He knew I would being feeling very sentimental/reminiscent/emotional and blessed me to be able to talk it out with President. He told me Sister Fox and I are magic :) (when we're together). I was also able to read my setting apart blessing and my journal entry from the first day of my mission. I just can't believe that was a year ago, but it was so neat to see how many promised blessings have been fulfilled and HOW MUCH I have learned and grown! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS YEAR.

x. Had a ward party!!! We had a dessert competition and played old fashioned games (for pioneer day). The Eastgate ward is my family!

And.....

dun dun dun dun dun!

CONNIE WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I am serious. Connie who I have taught since FEBRUARY. Who I have cried over on multiple occasions! Connie is so special and holds such a special place in my heart. She was absolutely glowing at her baptism and it was such a spiritual experience. I am so proud of this beautiful daughter of God! :)

I love you all! I hope you've had just as good of a year as I have :) I've missed you incredibly but I wouldn't trade this year for anything in the world. I am so grateful for the privilege and blessing I have had to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with my brothers and sisters. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not just a church but the Lord's kingdom and family here on the Earth. Learning to teach and more importantly LIVE the Doctrine of Christ has changed me. 

With all of the love in the world, 

Sister Kayla Rolfe
xoxoxoxo

Pictures:

Happy Birthday to America! {7.7.14}

Let me start by wishing a big Happy Birthday to my favorite country!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!

I am so beyond grateful to be serving in this wonderful country that I love so dearly.

I also want to wish a happy birthday to my favorite 10 year old niece!! I love you Hailey! :)

Let me tell you how I spent my week celebrating the land of the free:

1. Spilling OJ all over President's kitchen

2.Getting slapped by an 85 year old woman

3. Getting the man

4. Celebrating Camels

5. Copying baptism calendars at Staples

6. Getting poison ivy

7. Brushing up on my chalk art skills

8. Living the holy half

9. At a private firework show

10. At a 12 step program

11. Teaching the Gospel while being serenaded by Stevie Nicks

12. Cleaning someone else's house in a dress

13. Sabotaging Sacrament

14. With my favorite person in Ohio

1. Tuesday was mission leadership council... yay!!! We were talking in the kitchen, eating COSTCO muffins and drinking OJ, before the meeting when President walked in and I started telling him a story. Well, you all know I can't talk without my hands so I knocked Sister Fox's OJ out of her hand and it flew all over the kitchen. There are some things a mission just can't cure you of-- like clumsiness.

2. We're teaching the sweetest woman who I love to pieces! She checks up on one of our less active members who is 85, under 5 feet tall, and the SPUNKIEST thing you will ever meet (so we teach her there). Our spunky member gets pretty into her stories and slapped me so hard it left a mark last time we were over there!  

3. Thursday was zone meeting! Sister Fox and I gave a training on having a vision for our investigators and "getting the man" :) The man of the household, that is. We want to teach complete families so they can be together forever! My favorite part of zone meeting was a comment made by one of the elders describing when we send random members over to pick up investigators for church,

"Hi! I'm a Mormon and I'm going to kidnap you for a few hours!" Sorry if that was not funny at all-- I have a hard time judging what is missionary funny and what is actually funny anymore.

4. Wednesday was... SISTER FOX'S HALF WAY MARK!!! Or, hump day! WOO!!! Can you believe it?? I can't. We celebrated with United Dairy Farmers ice cream and taking pregnant pictures (9 months, get it?). 

5. L is getting baptized at the end of the month!! So, we made a baptism calendar for her to be able to prepare and visualize. We had to get it copied at Staples and could only imagine what they must have been thinking... 

6. Spent Independence day morning doing yard work. Sister C and I started getting really itchy and she broke out in hives! We thought we had poison ivy! Thank goodness Mama B was there to Google it and found out it was just an allergic reaction and we were fine. Whew!

7. Remember our Memorial Day Chalk art extravaganza? We had an Independence Day one! This time we drew a family history fan chart as well as the plan of salvation. Unfortunately, no one came to the park on the 4th of July.

8. So^^^^ we had found no new investigators by 830 when we had planned on spending the whole day finding. Yikes! We could have easily gone home, but decided to go to one last park, even if it was only for ten minutes. We pulled up and it looked pretty dead. So, I looked at Sister C and told her we were going to pray then go talk to the only people there walking there dog. We took our plan to Heavenly Father and acted on it and... ended up getting 4 new investigators in 15 minutes!!! Hooray for the holy half! (last half our of the night) It truly is after ALL we can do that grace steps in.

9. The members the other sisters live with put on a private firework show for us in their backyard. I was IN HEAVEN.

10. We went to our investigator's 12 step program with her. I loved it. We went in a circle and shared our thoughts.. they told me I could pass when it got to me, but no way was I goign to pass up an opportunity to bear my testimony! I shared a few gospel truths and noticed a couple people jotting down and Uchtdorf quote (little did they know) :) Always planting seeds!

11. We had our investigator come to dinner with us in a member's home. We sat out back because it was the perfect night and the Spirit was SO strong as we talked. Not even the neighbor's Stevie Nicks music in the background could drown it out.  Member missionary work is the best missionary work!!

12. We spent the last hour and a half of our night cleaning out investigators house so she could come to church in the morning. Then she didn't come. Sometimes agency is a real bummer, but it's okay because it's impossible to regret doing service!

13. Sacrament was powerful. We invited members to share their testimonies of missionary work and they came through and brought the Spirit with them. And L (who is preparing for baptism) was able to be there despite all of the MANY stumbling blocks the adversary put in her path! HOORAY!

14. I got to spend so much time with my favorite person, Pookie, this week. Seriously, she makes my day every time I see her. Pookie is basically the best member missionary ever and comes teaching with Sister Fox and I at least once a week. It is the best part of our week!! Her testimony is so strong and she is such a good example to us of true faith. Love ya Pook! :)

xoxoxox

Sister Rolfe

Sunshine and the Spirit {6.30.14}

Hello Sunshines!

Good morning from sunny Cincy where the work of the Lord continues to move forward!

What's your weather like? What fun summer activities are you up to? I'm doing my best not to jump in the Blackham's tempting pool :) 

So, on the missionary front this week, I have learned SO much. I do every day! Sometimes it's hard to see though. You hope that you change a lot on your mission, but when you're with yourself every day it's just hard to really tell! Then this week Mom sent me some picture books from my old Instagram account. Oh my goodness! I loved looking through them, but I am honestly a different person. My life before my mission feels like a dream! It was so surreal. Strange. But good :)

Let me share an insight I had this week. It may not make sense written out, but it does in my head so here it goes... 

We make (or at least I do) following the Spirit so complicated! I know that it is a still, small voice that we feel more than we hear, but I think sometimes I still expect to receive a crystal clear answer. The other day I read Moroni 7:13

 "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to dogood continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth andenticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspiredof God."

And I realized this: If it feels good (or sometimes, if it doesn't feel bad), Move Forward! Heavenly Father won't let you get too far without warning you if it wasn't the right choice. But really, if you are honestly trying to follow the Spirit you're probably not going to make a really bad decision and Heavenly Father will consecrate your efforts for good. That is why we're here after all-- to learn and grow! We study things out for ourself, then ask, then ACT! Here's an experience from my week...

First of all, I really feel like I've been called to serve as a sister training leader so that I have the opportunity to learn from all of the amazing sisters around me. I learn so much from them! This week I had the privilege of going on an exchange with Sister S. Her and her companion were struggling with finding people to teach in their area, so that was the focus of our exchange.  As Sister S and I prayerfully decided where to spend each hour of our day we were led by Heavenly Father to His children who He had truly prepared for us. At the end of the night we decided to stop in one last neighborhood we had felt prompted to visit. We only had about 10 minutes left so we earnestly prayed that we would be able to quickly find our purpose and promised to talk to anyone placed in our path. We got out of the car and looked both ways-- trying to decided which direction to go. There were people to the left but we felt we needed to go right. So that is what we did! After we walked past the first house a woman stepped out and began watering her flowers. We looked at each other and turned back, even though we felt a little awkward since we had just walked past her house. She was the one!! We offered to do service for her and she was so touched that we genuinely wanted to help. We came to find out that her and her husband own a small set of apartments and they have been struggling to keep up with everything. We were an answer to her prayer that night and she recognized us as servants of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father will guide you, if you trust in Him AND yourself. 

I love you all!

xoxoxo

Sister Rolfe

Pictures:

                             With my mini missionary, Sister G, and an investigator!

                   With Sister S! (from the story I shared) sorry Its a terrible picture!

                                              Famous Ohio blue moo ice cream!