My love for the Gospel and for all of you continues to grow each and every day! Yes, I have the privilege of being cheesy for a couple more months :)
As usual, SO MUCH has happened since my last email. These weeks have just been jam packed with spiritual experiences and I'm not complaining!
My testimony of the Gospel has been strengthened so much this week and it all started on Monday when we went to the Creation Museum (a Christian museum about the book of Genesis--the Creation of the world). One of our investigators works there and offered to get us free passes. We had heard a lot about it and were really excited! When we got there, he and his wife met us up front and told us one of the directors wanted to meet us and show us around. Wow, awesome! We met up with him and he was really nice and told us he wanted to explain what the museum was all about before we started. So, he starts in on his spiel and oh boy we had no idea what we were in for. He basically attacked us and everything we believe in. He kept saying things like, "some people believe this and that is just nonsense," "you don't believe everything Mormons believe do you?" "This teaching clearly goes against the Bible and would be ridiculous to believe."
We tried to remain cordial and non-confrontational. I was silently praying the whole time that I would know what to do and what to say and that I would be able to be kind and confident about my beliefs. He kept trying to trick us into saying certain things or trap us with our words, but with the help of Heavenly Father we were given exactly the right words to say. Finally, after an hour of this he ended by basically telling us we would be damned because we don't believe in the "right" Jesus. It was terrible. I kept thinking about Elder Holland and his talks about being backed up to the wall of your faith and how when you are being attacked you are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best life this world has ever seen, Jesus Christ. I know that although this hour was one of the most difficult I've yet experienced, I was no doubt standing shoulder to shoulder with my Savior. I felt his name on my badge in a very real way and knew that I was representing Him. I was able to share my testimony in a bold yet loving way and felt very good about how Sister Bowers and I were able to handle the situation because it definitely was not us, it was Heavenly Father. If we had been left alone in that moment we probably would have been in tears and left without the right words, but God will not and did not desert us.
As we left the museum and said a prayer, we let the tears flow. When we looked back at the building it reminded us of the great and spacious building from Lehi's vision where the people were "mocking and pointing their fingers" towards those who were holding fast to the rod. I know that I did not feel the Spirit when I was there, but that as I turned to Heavenly Father afterward, I was filled with the peace and calm assurance that the things I shared were indeed true.
I know that the Gospel has in fact been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that there has been a prophet on the Earth since that time, leading and guiding us through constant and continued revelation. I am eternally grateful for the peace and hope this knowledge has brought into my life. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will not falter in my faith. I have tasted of the "fruit" and I know the joy it brings and that is why, like Lehi, I am eager to share it with my brothers and sisters. I would encourage each of you to take time this week to read the Joseph Smith history, evaluate your own testimony of the Restoration, and pray about it once again. I know that you will receive the same peaceful assurance that I did and that your testimony will be even further strengthened.
On Wednesday, we had the wonderful blessing of attending the temple! My experience there was even sweeter because of the stark contrast to what I experienced at the beginning of the week. I found even more comfort and solace in my experiences there and seriously never wanted to leave. To make the experience even more special, President and Sister Porter came with us (they only come with one zone!) and the assistants. When it came time for the prayer circle, usually missionaries can't join for obvious reasons but there weren't enough couples so President chose Sister Bowers and I to join! It was such a sacred experience that I will never forget. It continued to get better as I entered the celestial room and was greeted by President and Sister Porter (who I love like my own parents) and then as we were led to a sealing room where the temple president and his wife spoke to our zone.
WOW.
All I can say is this:
NEVER STOP YOUR STEPS TO THE TEMPLE.
No matter what happens in your life, no matter how crazy things get, you will always find peace and joy there.
I love you all more than you know. Seriously.
xoxoxo
Sister Rolfe
Transfer Update!
We just got the call and...............
We're being doubled out! That means Sister Bowers and I are BOTH LEAVING. This hardly ever happens and we DID NOT see it coming! My mission never ceases to surprise me. Tomorrow I will be in some other part of Kentucky, Indiana, or Ohio-- hopefully still with my best friend Sister Bowers! Keep us in your prayers!
Oh and one last thought....
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is NOW!
Pictures:
At the Creation Museum
With Karuva at the temple (the member who took us)
Our zone at the Louisville temple
Hebron Ward Trunk or Treat!
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