Well this week is transfers. Both Elder Wilcox and I are getting
transferred out of this area. We went around and had quite a few sad
goodbyes to say. Elder Wilcox is asking a million questions about
getting transferred and going to a new area, because this is the first
time that he has been transferred. While it's going to be very sad to
leave this area, we both look forward to the adventures that are ahead
of us in our next areas.
We had interviews with our mission president this past week. President
Griffin is a wonderful mission president. I'm so grateful for the fact
that he'll be my mission president for my whole mission. In my
interview, we talked a lot about my area. We discussed the pros and
cons of taking both Elder Wilcox and myself out of the area. The
conclusion is evident in the fact that we're both leaving.
The thing that I'll always be glad for that I gained from this area is,
the love of the Book of Mormon that it inspired. This area presented
many trials and challenges. It tested my patience and my perseverance.
The Book of Mormon has helped me work through these. It has been my
support to lean on. It has brought me peace through the mentally hard
times. It's brought the Spirit greater into my life. I've learned how
to better recognize, understand, and follow the promptings that I
receive from the Holy Ghost. I'll be forever thankful for these
lessons and experiences.
President Griffin called this morning and told me where I'm going. I'm
going to the Prescott Valley Stake. I'm going to be taking over as the
lead zone leader. This zone covers the Prescott Valley and Prescott
Stakes. So I'll be in the same zone that I'm in now, just a different
stake. My companion will be Elder Hedrick. We came out together, so
that'll be fun! We are going to be in the Stoneridge and Dewey Wards.
I'm excited for that adventure! (Fun fact: My first companion, Elder
Burbank, started out in these wards that I'm going to.)
I love you all and hope all is great!
-Elder Toph Tribe
Miracles do happen. This week we had an awesome experience. This
literally caused me to be awestruck. Elder Wilcox and I had been
getting frustrated that we can't seem to find someone who is willing
to listen to more than one lesson with us. We couldn't find someone who
wanted to learn about the gospel and progress towards baptism. This
was especially daunting because of the very real possibility that our
area could be getting shut down. It was clearly evident that we
couldn't do this on our own power, so we hit our knees. We prayed and
told Heavenly Father that we were willing to work as hard as we can to
just be able to find one new investigator who will be willing to
progress. We got up and went to work. We knocked doors, contacted
everyone we saw, and got rejected every time. I was determined though.
I knew that we were going to find someone. As we were making our way
back home, we noticed a car outside our neighbor's house that we'd
never seen. They were nice people, so we knocked on the door. They
invited us in to eat with them. The food was good, but the
conversation was better. Their granddaughter was over with her
boyfriend. We answered questions about the church and about
missionaries. She was very intrigued. She told us that she wants to
learn more and come to church. She also said her dad is looking for a
church to go to as well. She promised us that they would both be there
on Sunday. We left, went home, and hit our knees again. We thanked
Heavenly Father graciously for the miraculous blessing he gave us.
This was only the beginning though. The next day, we hit the streets
again. We felt the need to go visit a family that is on the ward
roster, but we've never seen them there. We called their home teacher
and asked if he could go with us to go meet them. He agreed. We got
there and they welcomed us in. As we talked to the single mother, a
daughter came out from the back room. Well it turns out that she is
over the age of 8 and not baptized. The mother said that she and her
daughter would be at church on Sunday as well. Yet again, we gave
thanks to Heavenly Father. It is amazing what prayer, faith, and hard
work can accomplish through the blessings of heaven.
Unfortunately they didn't come to church.... But this taught us to
stay humble and have faith in the Lord continually. Everyone has their
right to choose. We were still successful missionaries because we
invited them and allowed them to feel the Spirit. We can just pray
that we will be able to meet with them and they will be able to begin to
progress in the gospel.
"You Mormons aren't allowed to read any books that aren't written by
your church, huh?"
"Actually we can, and we are encouraged to. We believe in being well
educated and well read."
"No, no, no. Don't lie to me. I know your church."
....oh well thank you for telling me what my church believes....
This was a fun encounter I had while talking to a man on the street.
He wasn't interested in learning more about the gospel, but he did
provide some entertainment for the day.
"What if God is a woman?"
"What if God has a wife that He wants to keep safe by not allowing
acknowledgment of Her in scriptures? If you look at how many mock and
take God's name in vain, He would most certainly not want this to
happen to His wife."
"Hmmm. I've never thought of it that way."
This was a door contact of a guy who was trying to 'make us think
deeply about what truth is'. It was also pretty entertaining and was a
good conversation. He wasn't interested about learning more about the
gospel unfortunately.
This week will be Valentine's Day. Let us all remember who is the
source of all love this week as we celebrate.
1 John 4:7-9
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one
that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God
sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through
him.
I love you all and pray that all is delightful!
-Elder Toph Tribe
