Pack rats are gross...

Pack rats are gross. We were helping an elderly lady, who is very ill,
clean her house. As we were moving some boxes we started noticing
signs of these little critters. As we moved furniture to vacuum
underneath it, we noticed even more signs. We set some rat traps for
her and actually started catching them! Now it's an every other day
activity to go and check her rat traps. There is usually at least one.
It's gross, but I'm glad we are getting them out of there for her.

We got to go and do some more service on a ranch this week. We got to
deworm, detick, and put ear tags on baby heifers and bulls! It was a
lot of fun! They told me I need to be a cowboy. So I guess I figured
out my career path for the rest of my life ;)

We actually have some leads of people who might be interested in the
church! We pray that these people will work out and we'll be able to
begin teaching them. The cool thing is that these people were referred
to us by non members who we've done service for! They weren't
interested, but we found out that they have a friend who might be. They
trusted us enough to give us the names and address of those
individuals. It's amazing what small acts of service can do to soften
hearts.

This week I finished the Book of Mormon. My mission president
challenged all of the missionaries in my mission to read the Book of
Mormon from cover to cover before the end of the year. This week I
finished it. I reached the back cover. Once I closed the book, I had
the most overwhelming feeling of peace. It was such an incredible
feeling of assurance and calmness that I can't describe. My thoughts
were so clear and focused. It allowed me to effectively set goals for
this upcoming year. I know this year is going to be great because I have
direction. I have the Spirit of God with me to guide me in my life.
That is such an amazing gift that my loving Heavenly Father has
blessed me with. I know that the Book of Mormon has brought me closer
to Him. I am so grateful for that! If you haven't already, make some
goals that you want to accomplish this year. As you do so, make a goal
for Book of Mormon reading. I know that you'll be blessed as you do
so. I have done this and I can't wait to see what the astounding
amounts of good that it will bring into my life!

-Elder Toph Tribe