Prayer is nourishment for our souls!

Ciera is so ready for the gospel its ridiculous! She's the girl who is
on date to be baptized September 12th. This week we taught her the
commandments. We knew she loved tea and coffee. So when we informed
her that God has asked us to not drink these things, she look at us
and said, "Well if that's what God says then who am I to argue with
him? He has the perfect body, not me." She then got up and threw away
the iced tea she was drinking, and she threw away all of her tea and
coffee. It was the best I've seen anyone take that! She's already
telling all of her friends to come to her baptism. She's told some of
her friends, "Hey if you don't get baptized and you die before me,
don't worry I will totally do baptisms for the dead for you. Then you
can choose to accept it or not on the other side." She's on fire! It's
so much fun to teach her.

Sunday night we went to dinner at the house of one of our YSAs. He's
Chilean. His mom doesn't speak English, and his dad speaks very little
English. Trying to communicate with them was pretty funny. Our YSA,
Julio, just sat and laughed at us and his parents trying to carry on a
conversation instead of helping us. It was broken Spanish from us and
broken English from them. They were so incredibly nice though. Some of
the kindest people. They made delicious empanadas. Julio then informed
us he has 3 friends that live in the ward boundaries that he said are
ready to take the missionary lessons!!! We're going to meet them all
one by one this week. Julio already has the appointments set up! Julio
is the man!

Keith is probably one of the funniest investigators I've ever had.
He's 21 and metro. He loves to learn about the gospel. We have to
teach him very slowly though. He thinks very deeply about everything
and asks questions from different perspectives on everything. It's
pretty fun because we have to have answers for everything. It makes us
study harder about what we're going to teach him because of his
questions. We meet with him every Monday morning. We eat breakfast,
read a chapter from the Book of Mormon, share the next couple of
gospel principles, then answer what ever question he comes up with.
It's a good time!

This week I was able to see how vital prayer is to our spiritual
nourishment. Just like when our body gets weak without food, our
spirit gets weak without prayer. One of our investigators, who is
usually on fire, was really questioning things this week. We were
trying to help her through her questioning, and Elder Bunn asked her
if she had prayed about it. She admitted that she hadn't prayed in a
few days. Daily prayer is one of the most important things you can do!
It'll keep you spiritually strong and allow you to find those answers
to your questions.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!


-Elder Toph Tribe

Great missionary week!

"I wish Eminem would write a gentle rap song about Jesus." -Elder Bunn

This statement was the quote of the week. Elder Bunn and I were discussing music preferences pre-mission. We were talking about the restrictiveness of the music choices we have as missionaries. He then proceeded to make that statement. It was pretty great and caused a lot of laughter.

This week was great by means of missionary work. We were able to find a new person interested in learning about the gospel in our YSA ward! We were able to filter through some people who we've been kind of meeting with and finding out their commitment level. Some were ready to progress in the gospel and others weren't. It was a good thing to find out now instead of later though!

I was able to be with 2 different missionaries in my area this past week. We had exchanges with a companionship in our zone and one with the assistants to the mission president. Both went extremely well! We had productive days and got a lot accomplished

This week I was asked to give the lesson in gospel principles. I was also asked to give a talk in sacrament. So those people who went to both got to hear me a lot on Sunday. Both went really well though! I really enjoy being able to teach and testify of Christ. It's definitely one of my favorite things as a missionary.

My talk in sacrament was on charity. It made me think a lot. I was really humbled at the charity Christ had for all around Him, and even for all of us! He is truly our perfect example to look up to and to try to emulate. We'll never reach perfection in this life, but we sure can try as hard as we possibly can!

I love you all!

-Elder Toph Tribe

This week was grand!

Hey family & friends,

We got 2 new investigators. One is already on date to be baptized the 12th of September! The other is a family that we're meeting this
week to begin the lessons with! So more new investigators! It's a
great time to be here in Peoria :)

We went to a place called Eve's Treasures this week to do service. It
is a thrift shop that raises money for a battered women's shelter. We
got to move a bunch of boxes and TVs for them. It was actually a
really fun time!

We have lots of fun on P-Day! Our whole zone comes to the same church
and we have a blast! The amount of zone unity is incredible! This
really helps because you know and trust those around you doing the
same thing you are. That helps the work take off. It's so great to
see. I love being apart of this work in this place at this time with
these people!

This scripture really hit me hard this week. It literally brought me to tears.
Alma 7:11-13
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled
which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his
people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of
death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to
the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his
people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God
suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins
of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according
to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony
which is in me."
I have read this scripture several times in my life. It has never hit
me as hard as it did this week. I know without a doubt that Jesus
Christ loves me. He loves all of us. That is my ultimate source of
happiness.

I love you all and hope all is just wonderful!

-Elder Toph Tribe

A delightful week as a missionary!

We had zone meeting. I conducted it and we had an enjoyable time. It was full of spiritual uplifting and fun times. I really love my zone!

We had a productive week of missionary work! We visited lots of people and are continually finding more people to teach. It's going great here in Peoria!

Today we bought 2 dozen racquet balls and used them to play an intense game of dodgeball. We set up tables as barricades in the gym and went all out. Then we played a bunch of basketball. Needless to say it was a fun day!

Leviticus 19:34 "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself;"

This has hit me hard moving to this new area. I'm a stranger in this place right now. Everyone has loved me regardless. It has caused me to want to be more loving. When we love others, it makes us more happy. It spreads an infectious positivity no one can deny!

I love you all and hope all is great!

-Elder Toph Tribe

Still in the heat!

Well here I am. I've continually moved west my whole mission. I started in Phoenix. Moved to Glendale. Now I'm in Peoria. I'm a zone leader over the Peoria and Peoria North Stakes. I cover the Rio Vista YSA ward and the Sun Valley ward. Both wards are extremely missionary minded and I'm very excited to be here!

My companion's name is Elder Bunn. He hails from Caldwell, Idaho. I already love him! He's such a great guy and a fantastic missionary. We have a lot of fun together! He's been out for 13 months, so not too much longer than me. We have a truck! I've actually gotten to drive twice. He's technically the designated driver, so I don't have the opportunity to drive very often. But he's had 2 problems with his contacts so far so I got to take the helm! I haven't driven in 10 1/2 months, but I picked it back up like I hadn't missed a day. It was very nice!

This week was full of meeting people. It's weird but so nice how quickly everyone welcomes the new missionary into the ward. Everyone is wonderfully friendly and nice!

The work has been slow here. I came into an area where there isn't too much going on right away. This week we were able to contact 5 people who said they're ready to take the lessons! Crazy exciting! Elder Bunn and I are taking the spark that is here and making a fire! I just can't express how excited I am to be in this situation and with these people!

Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." God gives us each and every day. We need to realize how blessed we truly are for that fact alone. Not to mention all the other numerous ways He blesses us. This should bring joy into our hearts and we should celebrate each and every day we are given on this earth! Life is a beautiful thing. So often is it taken for granted. I know that as we look at the fantastic things we are blessed with on a daily bases, we will find more happiness in this life and it will be more worthwhile!

I love you all! Keep doing great things!

-Elder Toph Tribe