Family!
SO MUCH to be grateful for this Thanksgiving season. Wow. Let me share just one experience with you that has made my heart brim with gratitude.
Sister Huber and I have been teaching Greg since the first night we were together (a little before for her). He is one of the most sincere people I've ever taught and we both have grown to care about him very much. As we've taught him, he's struggled with accepting the Book of Mormon because he's been very devoted to the Bible all of his life, but he has sensed the goodness of the Gospel and has sincerely sought answers. 2 Saturdays ago Greg agreed to join us at a baptism! However, he called us a few hours before and informed us he wouldn't be at the baptism or at church the next day. He told us a lot had changed since the night before (when we had an awesome lesson) and he realized he just couldn't accept the Book of Mormon. We were heart broken. He is so sweet and felt so bad and told us that we could come over one last time to talk.
As you can imagine, we prayed our little hearts out to know what to share with him. It was put on both of our hearts to talk to Greg about fasting. Interesting.... The inspiration was pretty clear though, so we decided that is what we would do. Just before we went into Greg's appointment, I had the thought to bring my hymn book. When we got there I asked if we could start with a hymn, something we had never done with him before. I flipped through and stopped at Nearer My God to Thee. As we sang, Greg's eyes filled with tears. The Spirit was so strong. We proceeded to talk to him about fasting and acted like he had never said anything about not meeting anymore. He readily agreed to fast for an answer! He texted us the next day and told us he studied fasting and prayer on
lds.organd felt prepared for his fast. We all fasted together the next day. The following evening we visited Greg and he shared his fasting experience with us and informed us that he received the clear answer that he needs to be baptized in December! He said that everything changed when we sang the hymn. That was one of the few times in his life he can remember feeling the Spirit so strongly and the hymn we chose happened to be one of his favorites from childhood. He concluded after the hymn that nothing that made him feel so good could be from the devil, so it must be from God. This led him to have an open heart during his fast. Wow. Greg went from dropping us
on Saturday to telling us he wants to be baptized
on Friday.
After sacrament
on Sunday, he met with our Bishop. Our bishop is amazing and took him on a behind the scenes tour down into the font (we had no idea this was going to happen but were thrilled). As we talked with Bishop after church he told us that Greg is without a doubt converted and they had a wonderful meeting. He then proceeded to tell our entire ward council how sincere Greg is and that he will be a wonderful member of the congregation he would like them all to get to know. The ward was a buzz with this news because SO MANY of them have been involved in teaching him.
I am just so filled with gratitude and love for our Heavenly Father. He truly can change hearts and works mighty miracles according to our faith. In my Book of Mormon reading this morning I read this:
19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need.
Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.
Miracles haven't ceased! DOUBT NOT, BUT BE BELIEVING.
I know that my Redeemer lives and that He works miracles in my life each and every day. For that, my heart is filled with Thanksgiving!
I am so grateful for a loving family who not only support me and my testimony, but strengthen my by your own. I love you more than you know!
Can't wait to hear about what you're grateful for this Thanksgiving! :)
xoxox
Sister Rolfe
Pictures:
Our dishwasher exploded!
We got stuck in the mud by a scary forest and members had to come dig us out!
My camera died and I lost the charger so these are the only pictures for the week :(
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