This week was spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausting. But boy, was it good. All the sisters in the PPM spent the week preparing for the temple open house!
Wednesday and Thursday were our training's/dress rehearsals. Basically we practiced what we will be doing for the next month and a half. We woke up at 4:30 and drove to the temple, role played introducing videos, and role played answering question after question. We were a little disappointed when we were told we would have to wait until Sunday to go through the temple. Or so we thought!
Saturday, all the people who had helped to build the temple had the opportunity to go through and so did we! Having the opportunity to walk through the temple with the men and women that spent so much time and put so much care into building this beautiful place was very special. I couldn't hold back the tears as we walked through. This temple is the most unique and incredible temple that I've ever seen. It was built to replicate the Colonial style between the Revolutionary War and the Restoration of the Gospel. There are a number of paintings inside that aren't found anywhere else because they were specifically done for this temple. There's one in particular of the founding fathers signing the Declaration of Independence. As I looked at it I remembered what Sister Anderson had said at our last Zone Conference. "Founding Fathers have been waiting such a long time for this temple." I felt the spirit testify to me that those words were true. In the baptistery there is a mural on the wall of Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith being baptized. I couldn't help but think how wonderful it is that there is finally a temple near the place where the Priesthood was restored to the earth!
Our tour ended in the Sealing Room where a couple stood and bore their testimonies of eternal families. They expressed their gratitude for those that had helped build the temple. The spirit was so strong as the construction workers that we were experiencing the tour with started crying without really knowing why. You could see that their hearts were being touched as the spirit testified to them of the sacred work that goes on in temples. I am so thankful to the effort and care that was put into this holy building. Ah! I love it!
On Sunday Lois and Francess were confirmed as members of the church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost! They received the coolest blessings! They have such strong testimonies and I am so excited for them. We also had the opportunity to take our investigator Chris to the temple! He is working toward baptism and has a lot to do but I know that the spirit he felt in the temple will help him to get there!
I feel so privileged to be a missionary here in Philadelphia at this time! There is finally a temple in the city where the nation was founded and the state where the Priesthood was restored! I am so blessed! The church is true! The book is blue!
I love you all! God bless!
Sister B
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| I love to see the Temple... |
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| Me and my companions at training for the open house. |
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| Here we are, the Sisters that do the morning shift for the open house. |
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| We catch the train every morning at 5 AM. |
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| Sister Fuelling and I starting tours off! |
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| Philly life! The skyline. |
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| Widener ward missionaries and our investigators! |
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| This temple is so beautiful... |
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| I can't stop taking pictures of it! |
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