I went to downtown Cleveland a few weeks ago to see if I could get a souvenir and I saw a shirt... "Welcome to Sunny Cleveland" .... needless to say, I was thoroughly disgusted. That's not a knock off of anywhere dear.... AND to add insult to injury, we got snow, Lake Effect temperatures are REAL people!!!
So on to the real world, which is the mission ;) This mission has been changing me and helping me become more like who I was in the pre-mortal life before this and better yet who I need to become in the future. My companion is an awesome missionary and an example to me in many ways. Being a good companionship is tough and even more important is both of us becoming great missionaries together. It is hard, rough, tough, difficult, and frustrating, BUT THAT'S THE POINT!!!!! This is such an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Elder Jarvis hates sitting still, always is looking to better himself, and hates talking about his feelings. all things remind me of DAD in his early years! He is always planning things down to the T and hates when something doesn't go according to plan. He was a guide in the rocky mountains of Alberta Canada and northern Brittish Columbia in the yukon territories for bear, deer, moose, caribou, geese, stone sheep, mountain goats, fishing, etc. (still reminds me of dad. I on the other hand haven't been the best at planning or leading in the way that I usually see a leader. I have always known how to follow a well made plan. Here's my life's experience: Dad tells TJ and Tucker, then they tell me and Ty. We were the grunt men and we knew how to follow the lead of good leaders and get it done. With Elder Jarvis' and my combination we have been able to strengthen each others weaknesses. I know that the Lord inspired President Vellinga who knew to pair us together and where we need to be. He is always GO GO GO and I help him calm down, see the picture and just find JOY as we do important little things!! We REALLY CONNECT IN THESE WAYS: Elder Jarvis said he wants to blow up all video games...DAD! He Loves UFC...TJ! Played football as a middle linebacker...Tucker! He's hilarious... TY! This has been and will continue to be an amazing experience.
I have felt the Saviors love for others and I get to represent Him as I help and serve them, and in turn I feel His love for me. I know that this gospel and church is the church that god has restored through a prophet. it's not true for me, it's not true for anyone SPECIFICALLY, because it is just true PERIOD!!! THIS IS IT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
Weather changes here have really only changed one thing... now, I REALLY don't want to run. Running is TERRIBLE!!!! but I need to. Elder Jarvis and I were running this morning and on our way back up the long, slow, steep accent on satan's hill number 2 (the reason why I don't like running) I heard and saw Elder Jarvis scream like a 12 year old boy as he struggles through puberty and leap over something in a manor that reminded me of a gazelle. Turns our there were 3 baby racoons and one hissed at him like the racoon on "Elf"!! it was HILARIOUS!!! I was too out of breath to really laugh then, but now that I have regained full capacity, Ha ha, soooo funny. LOL!! It made running today worthwhile!
As we have been biking and the temperature has been dropping fast, we have gone from short sleeve shirts to 4 layers in a matter of 6 or so days. and regrettably..... I have had to resort to wearing the ear warmers! A brother who is coming back to activity made fun of them and immediately asked if my mom got them for me. My reply was in the affirmative and then he said, "You gotta promise me that you will wear everything that your mothers send you! They do it because they love you!" What a guy!! Meeting with him is a blast! We have been running around meeting with a ton of Less-Actives (LA's) and have made that our main focus for right now! We have 350ish families in our Stake and only 32% are active...... my compaion and I are determined to change that as much as the Lord wills us by the time we leave. In doing so we have almost crashed 6 times.... it's become a regular occurrence.
Anyway, this week was so sad and exciting! Sad because our investigator Paula is moving to Idaho Falls!! She is engaged to Blaine Pack and he is baptizing her there pretty sure. She is awesome and I'm really going to miss her but I get to visit her when I'm back at school in Idaho!! Exciting because... I am happy to announce that I have gained 20 pounds and am holding steady at 170 lbs. this is a huge accomplishment. don't worry it's healthy :) I'm not fat.... yet!!!
Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith!
Love Ya!
Elder Trey Toolson
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