Wow! Another jam packed spiritual week. Where to start? What to say?
The week started off a little crazy because Monday was sisters conference and Tuesday was preparation day so we basically had two full days taken away from proselyting. Of course, that only means the rest of the week was FULL of grace :)
Friday I got to spend the day in downtown Cincy on an exchange. We stopped by a members house in the morning to leave a note on her door because she wasn't feeling well. Her husband happened to be outside when we pulled up and he invited us in. She's been on bedrest but decided to come out and visit for a minute. I asked about her conversion story and she got very emotional as she talked about it. Then she said... and the missionary who found and baptized me was Travis Johnson.
WHAT?!?! Travis Johnson is the 1st counselor to the bishop in the Hebron ward!!!!!! I told her I know him and she just started bawling uncontrollably. She was literally jumping up and down and hugging me so hard I could breath. (please remember this woman was just on bed rest). She was crying, hugging, and praising the Lord for a good ten minutes. Finally she calmed a little and held onto me and looked me in the eyes and said....
"Travis Johnson was the first Mormon I ever met. He told me to read the Book of Mormon every day. He told me to pray every day. He taught me that I am a daughter of God. He baptized me and he CHANGED MY LIFE."
Then she said something I will never forget,
"You NEVER KNOW the good you're doing or the lives you're changing."
By this point I was crying to and everything was just crazy.
Travis Johnson is just living his life in Northern Kentucky, raising 4 kids, doing the best he can, and has no idea this woman is just a half hour away in Cincinnati still thinking about him and still being impacted by the things he taught her.
What a blessing to be a tool in the Lord's hands. My love for my mission increased ten fold from this experience-- if that is even possible. Keep doing those little acts of kindness and planting seeds of Gospel truth as I know each and every one of you do every day... you never know the good you're really doing!
Later on that exchange we cleaned out a hoarder's bed bug ridden garage..... I now know why they call it the "nasty nati". Don't worry, I took MANY precautions and have had no signs of bugs in my apartment ;)
Now onto Saturday.... Grace day!
We started off the day teaching Katrina in the Lighthall's home. We talked about the Atonement and Sister Lighthall shared a very personal experience about the atonement and the Spirit was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Then we told Katrina she can fully access the atonement through becoming baptized and she said.... "Of course I want to be baptized! I was just waiting for you guys to tell me I was ready!" She's ready :)
Next, we headed to Dave's to sit on camp chairs outside his house in the rain and read the Book of Mormon together :) He is SO excited for his baptism this Saturday! Keep him in your prayers!! Dave is one of a kind. Although his family is VERY against his baptism, he's not letting anything get in his way because "he feels it in his heart."
We had a few other powerful member present lessons and ended the night at the Ginn's where brother Ginn showed us his HUGE train set. The boys would have died. I took pictures :)
Sunday was also wonderful. It was ward conference! Our stake president talked about "walking uprightly before God." Although sometimes our path isn't clear, if we have a goal we're working toward with God, we will be able to find the way.
Brother Le Wall (who's british!!) talked in Sunday School about taking risks. Why risk it, even if it seems like a small thing, if it's going to have eternal consequences?
Last night I told Sister Bowers that my heart was just SO FULL of love for the Gospel. It is my life. It is EVERYTHING.
Oh and.........
I'M GOING TO THE TEMPLE WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could not be happier for anything in my life.
I love you all SO much!
xoxoxox
Sister Rolfe
Pictures:
Best water tower I've ever seen
Exchanges! :)
Us and our zone leaders!
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