4th Letter: Father's Day, Crazy in Cleveland, and Krazy for Kirtland

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY PADRE, my 2 Gramps and All the Great Dads out there!   Someone says dad, I say stud! They say, "Your dad?" I say SUPER STUD! When I think of you, I think Superman!

 

I think of how you love us and protect us.

You've done it every day since we were born.

I think of my Heavenly Father. I think of Him, and I think of you. I think of how you want to give ALL that you have to each and every one of us and you have given us the opportunity to have it. You are my hero, my example, my role model, and my father. 

 

I love you dad.

I love you with all of my heart and I will do everything I can do to be just like you.

 

 

This photo was taken by a wonderful woman in our Cleveland Ward to send to Elder Houser's dad  and you DAD for Father's Day!  :) She's great.      CCCCRRRAAAAZZZYYYY WEEEEK!!! Many amazing experiences and stories are told everyday in meeting the people here. One wants to  "share her story with everyone" and her story.... is a great story, I guarantee it's a sad, rough, hard story, but this story should stay private... Trust Me! :) On a different note. things are going well! we caught up with a man named Chris who Elder Houser & I found while tracting... love it... When we were tracting we saw him in the garage while playing his guitar... he and I connected easily. I do not play well by any means but we both love music!! We 3 started talking and obviously he asked what we are doing out here. We talked about the church, our mission and brought in the Book of Mormon and he seemed interested so we gave him a copy after giving a brief background. When we saw him on Saturday he had HIGHLIGHTED and ANNOTATED everything that stood out to him all the way up to when Nephi had just finished building the ship. HE HAD THE BOOK FOR ONLY 3 DAYS!!! It was so cool!! We talked about it for a bit because he had to run off somewhere but he asked, "Do you have a service?"  Why Yes, we do Chris and you are welcome to come as you are! It was so cool!!! He didn't come this Sunday though, but we did have Paula and Rod there. Rod is a sponsored paintballer/mechanic and Paula is 20's with a child going through a divorce... They both know that the church is true and have dates to be baptized!   WE WENT TO KIRTLAND ON WEDNESDAY WITH PAULA!!! I love that place so much for one thing and one thing only, the "School of the Prophets." the sisters on the tour were awesome and hit the perfect points for Paula. The member that drove us all there, Sis Corgin, bore her testimony and cried. Then Paula cried and thanked us for being there for her at this time. Then I cried... then I bore my testimony with Elder Houser, and we all cried... it was amazing!! We have been called to serve in the place, where Christ our Savior has shown his face. We were in that room where the prophet Joseph once stood. We were in the place where our Savior stood. We too bore testimony, and felt his love in the very same room where concourses of angels have been seen. I love my mission. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. and I love my god! Hey, Thank you SO MUCH for my package! I needed the white pants and tie, the mouth wash and lint roller and that stuff too, i was a little confused but very grateful for it! :) love the pictures too! Thank Sister Hansen for me! fight the fight, stay the course, and keep the faith. Elder Trey Richard Toolson

3rd Letter from Ohio :) Elder Trey

Hello My Family and Friends,

Photos???  Well…my camera is crazy... it keeps malfunctioning so pictures are limited. and I don't think I have the cord to hook it up to the computer... you wanna kill me... Remember, I LOVE YOU  XO    and my slightly new address is:

6235 Stumph Dr
Parma Heights OH 44130

Im in Parma Heights... not Parma... haha
 
Kirtland was awesome with Brother Karl Anderson!! He kinda called me out in front of everyone and asked if I knew Drew Page because that's his son-in-law. He is hilarious! Loved the whole experience. The spirit was so strong in the School of the Prophets!! The "Community of Christ" does a good job keeping the place looking good, but the spirit wasn't as strong as it could've been because they were leading the tour pretty much and let Karl jump in whenever. Karl was talking about how Satan try's really hard to mess us up and then my MTC companion Elder Stucki leans over and whispers, "Satan can SUCK IT!" it was funny because that actually got me pumped for the work!! I also love Pres. Vellinga!!!! (and you pronounce that like a white person by the way) He will be a great mission Pres to work with and learn from.
 
This week has been crazy-busy!! We were contacting on a little trail and we were passing out cards for free Books of Mormon with a picture of Jesus on the front. people love Jesus here so when we say "want a FREE picture of Jesus?" most the time people are like "I LOVE JESUS!!" then we talk about mormon.org and how they can find out more about us as a religion and people will answer your questions.... key word, MOST people. we were having an awesome day, good weather, just positive energy everywhere, so I know we were smiling and we asked this stone faced young man, "Would you like a picture of Jesus?" and he has this walk that is like, "I hate you because you hate me and I am miserable because everyone else is happy" so we thought, "perfect opportunity!" after we asked this question he half smiles and says, "*F* you and *f* Jesus" and continues on his un-merry little way in his unpleasant little world... me and Elder Houser were stunned to say the
least and it literally took a couple minutes for us to realize what he just said!  Gasp! And then… We couldn't help but burst out in laughter, while we felt sorry for the guy,  what he doesn't know is that all of the happiness that he is seriously looking for is what our whole purpose is as a missionary!! So Ironic and Hilarious :D
 
We met this young man Manny who wants to study religions and go to college for it. PERFECT!!! We have met with him twice and he has similar beliefs but slight differences. He respects us and we have more appointments to come. He didn't read any of the Book of Mormon last time but we are comparing our Bibles because his is a different version, the NIV version, and he is starting to feel it, the difference is evident. Elder Houser and I both bore our testimonies about the Book of Mormon and how we have come to know of it's truth, power, and divinity!! The spirit was so strong in that Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop it was incredible!! I Love my Job!
 
Our mission has a song and I love it so much too!! It goes to the tune of the song that goes, "We'll Bring the World His Truth" … first line, "We have been born as Nephi of old..." The first verse is the same then the last 2 are different. One of the lines is my favorite towards the end. "We have been called to serve in the place, where Christ our Savior has shown his face." I know that my Redeemer lives and I stand all amazed at the love Jesus profers me. I am reminded everyday of his power, love, mercy and selflessness. I am in prayer constantly thanking my Father in Heaven for this opportunity to serve in this mission.
 
I don't have too much time left but let me end with this,  I know this work is GODS WORK and I am humbled to know, and still question why, why is it that he does trust ME to share this gospel with these people?
 
Keep the faith, fight the fight, and endure to the end!!
 
Love Always,
 
Elder Trey Toolson

2nd Letter but first From OHIO :) June 3, 2013

TUCK IS TRAINING!?! Finally!! I think imagining my trainer, Elder Houser, as Tucker is a great idea. my camera has been malfunctioning so I haven't taken many pictures but my MTC Comp has a ton!!! he will email them to me and I will get them to you asap!   My p-day's are Monday here... and I got in the field on Wednesday.... so in a whole month, i will have had all of 2 p-days. I was running low on clothing to say the least.    So day 1- We get to our house... yes, I said house. It's a cruddy house, but great for missionaries, and I dropped  my bags and we headed out to work without unpacking, just the way I wanted to do it. what's funny though is how in the MTC they talked everyday about how ineffective tracting is... and then I go tracting everyday that I've been here. referrals are zip, zero, Nada, zilch!! There are maybe 3 family's that are helping in the ward with missionary work. I have gained a greater appreciation for families who help the missionaries through referrals. anyway, so we're tracting, and it starts to drizzle, I count to 4 and it starts raining golf balls!! seriously this rain was HUGE!! then I count to 10 and it stops.... are you serious!? it's sunny raining, PPOOOOUUURRRRIIIINNNGGG then sunny within 37 seconds. whatever. the whole front of me, SOAKED, the whole backside of me, dryer than a raisin. it was an awesome first day.   day 2- More tracting, more angry people, and more tracting.   day 3... I don't know why I'm doing this day # thing, I don't even remember what I did Saturday... probably some tracting. I don't know.   IT CAN BE SO HOT HERE!!!! Humidity is insane Cleveland. In the MTC I would sneeze and get a nose bleed, now the air is so thick and wet!! the change was huge but I am getting used to it :)   Investigators- so we have Rod, Victoria, Amanda, Manny who we found Saturday I think at the park :) then Edward, Wal, nana and quay... and some more I think but I don't know if I remembered anymore names :). All of whom were found by tracting... That's just ridiculous.   Amanda is bugged by spirits in her house and life because of a card reader in 7th grade.... she's more mature now but... we asked her to obey the Word of Wisdom for obvious reasons, and to study a little bit about family history again, for obvious reasons.   Richard, a recent convert, started smoking and drinking coffee and alcohol again. we went over and talked with him and elder Houser was almost in tears/put his fist through the wall. what was amazig though, was I felt the same way. I just met him that day and I already felt so much love for him. The Charity of a missionary is a gift. We discussed his wants, his desires, where he was, where he is, and where he'd like to be! He asked for a blessing to help and guide him through his hard times and with his family seemingly not wanting to spend any time with him. We then proceeded into his garage where the trash cans were, RICHARD STOMPPED HIS CIGGARETS!! AND DUMPED HIS COFFEE!!!  I was so proud of him!! We are seeing him tomorrow I believe to talk about repentance and the need to talk to bishop. I sooo love this work already!!   Sacrament meeting was good... but different. VERY different. Although it was supposed to be "the most normal" Elder Houser has attended while being in this area. The spirit was still there. Gospel Principles was WAAAY DIFF... a little weird!!!! Some people's questions were crazy questions... Wow! I am grateful for this opportunity to learn patience, tolerance and how to love someone that I would normally not take the time to know otherwise.   We were talking about the spirit world/prison part of the plan of salvation and the teacher just took these questions with AMAZING patience and kindness. I applaud her and told her that after class.   This work is amazing and wonderful and fantasmagicallystupendous!! No it's not a word but it works. Anyway, if you would like to write me... actual mail.... hintidy hint hint...I'd Love it!!   Keep the faith, Fight the Fight, and Endure to the End!!! Elder Trey Toolson

First & Only Letter from MTC: May 22, 2013

I HAVE ALMOST NO TIME TO RESPOND!!!  I'm a very slow reader,  anyway. When I got on the plane the flight attendant... who was a dude (male), had a voice EXACTLY like the guy from the movie "the help" who owns the Local Newspaper Office.. I almost lost it. That was so funny, then met up with everyone at the airport. Shout out to Aunt Mick, Heather Malachi and Sienna! That food made fast friends :)    Here at the MTC My companion is Elder Stucki (stooky) he is a stud!! So many similarities! We love the series Psych!! He and I have been called to serve as the zone leaders and it has been crazy busy but awesome experience to lead!! We helped a guy from London England get through a hard time who is in our zone. He is also AWESOME! He's only been a member for a year and through the entire 3 hour drive to the airport his family was telling him how against him serving a mission they were.  And he said that he knows what he is doing is right! He loves his family but will do what he knows is right. Good guy!    Then on top of everything else that's good, me and Stucki can't stop speaking in Brittish, Scottish and Syd the sloth accents. I LOVE MY COMPANION!! no homo....   THERE ARE 3 MISSIONARIES THAT WERE IN MY DISTRICT GOING TO CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA MISSION!!!!! Elders  Van Quickenback, Jensen, and Lomu. they are going to do so well and learn so much!!! I told them if they get to be in any Ward with any Toolson family, they will be blessed mightily with amazing food!!!   Speaking of family, I saw COOPER!! well... Elder Ainge... but we ate lunch together and hung out at his dorm during "personal time" (free time) and had a blast with Stucki, me and Coop. I love that we have all gotten so close so fast! I even saw Sister Dorian too!! Becca Dorian is Jordan Smith's cousin. It was weird not giving her a hug, but I composed myself.   My P-day is on Wednesday! We got here on Wednesday... which means I get  1, yes, one p-day at the MTC... TODAY because we are leaving on Tuesday for the field... kinda crazy. But so looking forward to DO IT in OHIO!   My district is my family from family and we all have great times with each other!! Anyways...times almost up... gotta go.   Elder Stucki wants to say a few things:   Elder Toolson is the BOMB!!!!! You guys have no idea how much he is blessing me in my stay at the MTC. I feel so so so lucky to be his companion. I couldn't have asked for a better companion! Props to you for raising such a stud. We're best friends and it's only been six days. We knew it right when we saw each other on day one! Anyways, thank you for all you do in strengthening him, and making him the person he is. He really appreciates you and loves you all. The gospel is true!! - Elder Stucki Keep the faith, fight the fight, and endure to the end!!   Love All You, Elder Trey Toolson