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
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