Straight neck

During the Dewey ward sacrament meeting, we had quite the fun experience. The Prescott Valley Stake President got up to end our sacrament meeting. Right as he began speaking, the power went out! He ended up shouting from the pulpit to end the sacrament meeting in the dark. The rest of church got cancelled, due to the fact that half the classrooms didn't have light, and the bathrooms were pitch black.

This week I spent a day in Glendale. I went on exchanges with the Assistants to the Mission President. It was a fun day. I spent the day with Elder Byington. We went around Glendale street contacting and knocking doors like crazy. It was a lot of fun. People are a lot more open to that type of contact there than they are up here. It's always nice to see a happy person on the other side of a random door.

This week I chopped all my hair off. The sides are way short and so is the top. I took off 21/2 inches of hair from the top of my head, and an inch from the sides. I got a nice summer cut I suppose. I wasn't intending on that happening, but the lady cutting my hair decided for me haha. I was shocked at first, but now I really like it!

Well it turns out that there is an explanation to all my neck pain and headaches! I got an X-ray of my neck, and it's perfectly straight. This is apparently a bad thing. A normal, heathy neck has a curve. This allows it to act as a spring to rest your head on. It allows everything to flow naturally and take impact easier. With a natural curve, your neck is only carrying 10 pounds. My neck with the straightness of it, it is carrying 40 pounds. So this explains a lot. I now get to undergo a fun process of putting a curve back in my neck. It's painful and uncomfortable, but it'll be worth it in the end.

We had a lesson with our investigator couple who are in their 80s this week. We finally got to the bottom of the reason of why they don't want to be baptized. He feels that he won't be able to help like would be expected of him. We insured him that nothing would be expected of him that he couldn't do. She is just waiting for him. Hopefully they'll be able to accept a baptismal date and make that promise with God and receive all the blessings that He has in store for them.

As a mission we have the opportunity to have Elder Holland come speak to us this week. As I have been preparing for this, I have been able to go over his talk from this last General Conference. This quote was one that I loved, "His divine love and unfailing help will be with us even when we struggle--no, will be with us especially when we struggle." I know this is so true. Heavenly Father's love will always be there for us. No matter what we do. He loves us. I love this fact. It helps me move forward and be better every day.

I love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Toph Tribe

It's great to be busy!

This week has been quite an long week. It's been a week full of
missionary work. We had a baptism in our ward for a deaf individual
this week. It was so great to see. It was fun to work along side the
ASL elders.

Today was Elder Bradshaw's birthday. We threw him a party! We played
volley ball and had a member bring lots of treats. It was super fun!

I'm so busy right now. It's fantastic! I love it. We are teaching a
lot of people regularly, which is so nice. I'm so glad to be in this
area at this time. I'm so glad that I have such a great companion that
I get along with so well. It really is a huge blessing.

This week I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting. I was given the assignment to speak on Elder Arnold's talk, "To
The Rescue: We Can Do It!" It was a pleasure to speak on this subject,
because it relates directly to missionary work. As with all talks I
give, I told stories of my mother and how great she is. I talked of
how she rescued me and was such a wonderful influence in my life for
good. I had dozens of members come up and thank me for my talk. Then
they asked for me to personally thank my mom. So Mom, you're the best!
Everyone in Prescott Valley now knows it!

I have been blessed so greatly. I'm so glad I have is time in my life
to reflect on everything good that I have. It's so clear that God
loves me. As each of us take time to reflect on our lives, we can
always find something good if we choose to. God wants us to be happy
and will help us be happy as we reach out to Him in prayer. I know
this to be true!

I love you all! I hope all is well and you have a blessed week!

-Elder Toph Tribe

Transfers...

We are moving forward towards another transfer. Elder Hedrick and I will
be staying together. We are so excited! We get along great and we
teach super well together. It's a dandy time here in the Stonerigde,
Dewey, Bagdad wards, and the Kirkland branch!

This week we got to see lots of cows. I love cows! This time here in
the Prescott/Prescott Valley zone has built up in me a strong desire to be
around these large animals. My dad has always told me that he wants to
be a cowboy when he grows up, now I'm understanding why. This city boy
is turning country.

We started teaching someone new this week. When I was serving in
Kirkland I saw this young woman named Aeriel 3 times a week. She works
at the only gas station, so we frequently were going there. I tried to
get her interested in the gospel for 3 months. The week I leave, she
goes to church. Now we are teaching her the lessons and she loves it!
She told us that she thought my first name was elder the whole 3
months I was there. Now she understands that it's just a title haha.
I'm so excited that she's wanting to learn more now though! When I
first met her I had a really strong feeling that I was suppose to
teach her the gospel. When I was getting transferred I got bummed out
that I didn't get that chance, but now here it is! It's been a
testimony building experience for me. I have learned that as I have
faith in the Lord, He will bless me with the opportunities that He
promises me. The Holy Ghost really does give us promises and direction
for God!

This week is the week that all the Sister missionaries I came out with
are going home. It's crazy to see those strong missionaries leaving
the field after completing their whole mission. I've been doing this
for over 18 months now! It's hard to believe. I feel like I've just
started some days. Other days it feels like it's been way over 18
months though haha. Time is such a weird thing. I'm so excited to be
serving until the end of September though! I have so much more I need
to accomplish and more people I need to invite to come closer to
Christ before I can go home!

Well I love you all! I hope all is peaceful. Remember that there can
always be peace even if times look bleak. I've learned this quite a
bit on my mission. Even when I'm down, or the situation doesn't turn
out positively, I know that we can find peace from our Father in
Heaven as we reach out to Him in prayer. He loves us all and will send
the Holy Ghost to comfort us and guide us.

-Elder Toph Tribe

Pics: Cows that I got to play with! Then 4 of the Sisters I came out
with that are going home with 4 of the Elders who came out at the same
time. Then Elder Hedrick pondering Mosiah chapters 1 and 2 haha.

Come listen to a prophets voice!

Well we had quite the week here in Prescott Valley! The highlight of
the week was the crowning event of General Conference. We had the
opportunity it listen to the general authorities of the church give us
guidance and council. It was wonderful! Such a inspirational and
uplifting message. My favorite is the opportunity that I have to feel
of the Holy Ghost telling me the things in my personal life that I
need to improve. It is so nice to have that direction to be able to
move forward and come closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

We had the chance to go to a machine shop owned by a member. We flew a
flight simulator that was so much fun!

We did a lot of service this week. We moved rock, dirt, and lots of
tree debris. Physical labor was such a nice thing. It's been far too
long. It's definitely a satisfying work.

John, the man who was baptized on the 18th, is on fire. He has such a
strong testimony of this gospel. This week we started teaching his
kids. He was so excited that he set a date for his 2 sons to be
baptized on the 30th of this month. The boys were so excited because
their dad was. The Spirit was so strong in the lesson!

Thank you all for the love and support! Everyone should go back and
read over the conference talks when they come out. They were such
motivating and inspiring messages. As you prayerfully read them, you
will receive the guidance you need in your life. I love you all! Have
a great week!!

-Elder Toph Tribe