Searching for a Cell Phone (by Bree Toone)

I had the opportunity to visit Yellowstone this week and enjoy the beautiful sights and wildlife.  While I was waiting in line at one of the lovely outhouses (gross) I noticed a girl about my age come running up to get in line.  She was after me, but when it was my turn she quickly jumped ahead and asked if she could go in first. Then she explained that she had left her cell phone in there earlier and wanted to check to see if it was there. Of course I let her go in.  Unfortunately, the phone wasn't there and she left with a sad look on her face.  After I took my turn in the outhouse and was meeting up with my family, I noticed this same girl pacing back and forth near the outhouses.  She did not speak English very well and that presented another difficulty in her situation.  While my family began walking towards the trailhead, I asked the girl if I could help in some way.  She still couldn't find her phone and she was a little panicky.  I told her we could try to call it and see if someone answered.  Maybe someone took if out of the bathroom with the intention to contact her and give it to her?  My phone didn't have service so I asked my dad if we could use his phone to call this girl's number. She slowly told me the numbers and I tried calling but my dad's phone didn't have good service.

He had his other work phone in the car and suggested maybe that service would be better.  So the 3 of us walked to the other end of the parking lot in hopes of calling her phone and finding a solution to her problem.  I called and called again but it only went straight to voice mail-- probably because her phone didn't have good service there either.  I tried to explain in simple, clear words that we were unable to reach her phone and didn't know how else to help.  She thanked us with a huge smile on her face and was very grateful for our help-- even though we really didn't do much to get the phone back.  I prayed and prayed and thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if suddenly I just saw the phone on the ground or something?"  Well, that didn't happen... and I don't know if the girl ever found her phone.  But I recognized the opportunity to serve by simply showing concern and letting her know she wasn't alone.  This experience taught me that I can definitely find ways to do 100 acts of service in the next 4 months.

--Bree Toone, 3rd ward, 2nd counselor Stake Young Women