9th Letter: The Ohio Eldear

Hello My Fabulous Family and Friends!

 

Once again, we are trying to find new investigators. that's the hardest thing to do. We have 2 potential investigators but we'll see how that goes. We did meet this guy Tony at church!! A member of the Spanish branch who lives in our area (like almost all of the white members of the Spanish branch) brought him to church. Tony has met with missionaries before and had 2 lessons with them. I don't know if I have mentioned this before but the majority of the members of the ward here are students, and Tony is a student as well from Southern Ohio. He seemed really cool. He asked us if he had to stop being a catholic if he joined our church. I was hesitant which was stupid of me. I need to just be bold with it, but his member friend answered the question after I fumbled for words to say it "nicely". He said, "the answer to your question is yes." and then talked about how we do have different beliefs. JUST BOLD WITH IT.

 

I don't know why but I have had trouble doing that. And it really bugs me! I am working on that. Among many other things :) I am learning so much about myself every day. My brother TJ described the mission like this, "Your mission is a time when God takes all of your flaws, puts them in a pillow case, and smacks you over the head with it until you get it." I am definitely seeing that right now and hope I will continue to feel it. I need some refining, so I need the refiner's fire. Bring it On!!!

 

That was pretty scatter-brained. but whatever :)

 

I had another opportunity to play the piano!! The missionaries in our ward for the Cleveland north area had a baptism and had nobody for a "half time show" (have no idea what else to call it) so I played the same song that I did before. The Come Come Ye Saints with Come Thou Fount. when I was almost finished with the song I realized they weren't done yet! So I had no idea what to do, so I did the only thing I could... just kept playing, I don't know what i played, but it worked nicely! They came in with a smile and we continued with the meeting. I don't have very many opportunities to play the piano, or any instrument for that matter, but I was so glad I got to just play. Many said Thank You, but I don't know if anyone else felt the spirit as strong as I did during that time. I could feel Toby, my younger brother who passed away at birth, just sitting next to me, feeling his arms around me was beautiful.

 

I had an interview with President Vellinga this week and he asked how things are with the family at home and my relationship with my family. I told him how close we are in years and in strength and how there will be a "trifecta" of Toolson missionaries out at the same time. he started to get a little emotional. He told me his parents at 4 different times had 2 out on missions at the same time. he knows and has seen how hard it can be. Mom, Dad, President Vellinga loves you and thanks you for raising us boys righteously. "You tell your parents they are amazing." I am so very grateful for and aware of my heritage of faith that have raised me and my family in righteous ways and in a warm and loving environment. I have heard people say that they don't believe that families can be happy. My heart sank when I heard that. I testify that families are forever! I am proud to be a member of the Toolson family. I love my family, my extended family, and my eternal family. All who have participated in raising me, first I want to apologize for the mayhem I may have caused, and now thank you with all that I posses for teaching me all the wonderful things that you have.

Fight the fight, stay the course, and keep the faith!

Love,
Elder Trey Richard Toolson

 

 

8th letter - First Things First

Alright, first things first!! For my entire life, I have never been able to break 150 pounds. The only time I was able to do that was when I was fully dressed and soaking wet. I am proud to announce that I have officially broken 150 pounds. in fact I now weigh in at 158.5. it's close enough to 160 so that's what I tell people. STOKED!!! now the real question... is it healthy weight? Excellent question indeed!! I have noticed growth in the muscle department. so Imma sayin', Healthy! This is so exciting, you have no idea!

Great week but not too much went on this week besides transfers. I of course didn't go anywhere because I'm still being "raised" (trained). A couple elders left the Zone I'm in. Elders Kay and Mizzell. Kay is AWESOME!! He is from Snowflake Arizona and loves the Celtics!!! what!? we got matching Celtics jackets and took a picture with his camera. he's going to email it to me and I'll forward it. I miss Elder Kay already, not as much as my MTC comp Elder Stucki, who writes me letters!!! I LOVE THAT KID!!

On a more positive note, ROD GOT THE PRIESTHOOD!!! What!? *fist bump* (tv show "psych") it was awesome!! We asked him what he wanted to learn about and he asked about the temple and baptisms for the dead. HE ALREADY IS THINKING ABOUT THE TEMPLE!!! I keep saying this but I can't stress this enough, HE IS A STUD!! Paula isn't sure if she wants to wait to go back to Idaho again so her fiance's family can be there or just get her baptism done here. She said, "I'm so torn." but Bro Farnsworth said, "JUST DO IT HERE!" DANG STRAIGHT BROTHER FARNSWORTH!! I wasn't going to say it so I'm glad he did! but I know for a fact that she wants to get baptized soon! You can see her get so frustrated that she isn't baptized yet and wants to have the gift of the holy ghost!! She is awesome!! by the way mom, Paula said she requested to be friends on fb and no one has accepted it for me.... I have full confidence that this will be resolved by my secretaries Stacy and Tiara Toolson.

We found 3 more people that have expressed interest in learning more about the church but this 4th guy..... ooooo buddy... here it is. this guy calls and asks for a book of mormon 40 minutes from when church is about to start and says he'll be at the church in 20 min. awesome!! so he shows up and is super enthusiastic about learning mre about the mormons because he just saw the play the Book of Mormon. cool something positive can come from something that is not accurate about the church!! so we go to some classroom and start getting to know him. and he starts saying how many different religions he has studied! Great he has a solid background and is looking for more!! we start with the restoration... VERY FIRST POINT "god is our loving heavenly father" he cuts us off right there and says,"now hold on, you can't just state that as fact. how do you know there is a god? if you want to tell me there is a god then you better bring him. i can't see him. i believe in science." AAARRREEE    YYYYOOOOOUUUU        FFFRREEEAAAKIKKKIIIINNNNGGG        KKKIIIDDDIIINNNNGGG MMMMEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? he GOES OFF for the entire 20 minutes!! i wanted to say SO BALDLY, "Sir, prove to me you have a brain." GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE!!!!! I wanted to do pres. packers thing with tasting salt and I think I will if we see him again. he doesn't want to learn at all. he thinks he knows everything wants to teach us what he knows.  I know what I know. my heavenly father lives. his son, jesus christ came to earth and suffered my sins so that I my be forgiven and live with him for time and all eternity. he did this for one reason. HE LOVES ME. His everlasting atonement made it possible for ALL people to be forgiven and live with him again. he has a plan for us. and has given us prophets and scripture to guide us. the Book of Mormon is the word of god. I know that everyone everywhere can come to this knowledge if you ask god, the divine being who created you in his own image, if these things that I bare testimony of are not true, with a humble heart, real intent to change if it be true, and faith to know that god will answer your prayers. I know this to be true. NO ONE can take this from me. What I know, I know because He has answered my prayers. Why not yours?

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith!

Love,

Elder Trey Toolson

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

 

7th letter, July 4th Cookin' in Cleveland, OH

Hello Everyone!

Start off with my man Griffin A!! Welcome to the Ohio!! It is so..... different. In Cleveland, every male, doesn't matter how old or over-weight you are, if you are outside, you have your shirt off! Every female... I can confidently say if they are over 55 has facial hair. It's just so totally different then the west coast, not only in the weather, that's a real switch too!! And with all of these things in mind, I can also say that I LOVE it here!!! Obviously there are things that make me love home a little (lot) more, but it is amazing here in a different way. I don't know how Columbus mission is but,  you are going to love it!! Cameron Monahan says great things about it too. Congrats!

Ok, so this week went by so fast!! I have no idea what I did last week but good things happened and that's all I can really tell ya :)

First, I want to talk about Rod. WHAT A GUY!! he's not the outspoken type but he kept saying, "I feel good." "It just feels so good." "I want to call my dad and say it feels good." (because his dad was baptized the weekend before) it was incredible!! We wanted us as missionaries to do the least amount possible for the actual baptism service and have others involved. Elder Houser did the dunking, and I happily witnessed. A recent convert Desmond who is black and from West-side of Cleveland talked on baptism and just bore his testimony on how it has changed his life (so cool). I had the opportunity to play my song for part of half- time (I don't know what else to call it... when those who are baptized are changing and the rest of us are waiting). I played my Come, Come Ye Saints and Come Thou Fount piano compilation and I feel like it went pretty well, especially because people couldn't tell when I made a mistake... Benefits when it's an original composition!! I could feel the spirit and my Saviors love during the entire service! The important thing was that Rod felt it. He knows it. And he is living it to the fullest! He is a great example to me and others who are around him. He is already talking about inviting a co-worker to church and you can feel the spirit burn in him!!

Second, we had a Zone Training Meeting where the main discussion turned into a slightly heated discussion about our goal and how we need to set reasonable goals with the argument of how we need to act on Faith. Just talked and discussed and disagreed...through all of this we were all thinking that we needed to pray about it, but nobody would say it. Then a Sister (of course) just came out with it saying, "We just haven't prayed about it!" And then I said that we have discussed and thought about it in every way except for asking the Lord. (Sorry ONLY FAMILY WILL GET THIS) Of course I was thinking of  It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World... "We figured it 17 different ways, and everytime we figured it, someone don't like the way we figured it, so there's only one way to figure it, and that's every man... including the old bag, FOR HIMSELF!" but it was directed by the spirit I'm sure :) then an elder said, "Well, there's no time like the present," and we prayed right then and there about it. It was absolutely amazing! After Amen, we wrote down our thoughts in silence for about 5 minutes and had a quick sharing of what we had revealed to us. The spirit was so strong!! I love the power of prayer! We came to an easy consensus.

The Last thing I want you all to know, is... that I have officially become a missionary :) this is how I know.... I can not talk to girls! I feel awkward when the conversation turns casual, my speech just falls apart. Now if you know me, I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE MISSION! I could talk to almost any female anytime, anywhere! Well, I still can, but it needs to be about the gospel... it's already been a blessing in disguise looking back at it!!

So there's the week!! I love you, this gospel, my Savior, and the people of Cleveland Ohio :)

Fight the fight, Stay the course, and Keep the faith!

Love,
Elder Trey Toolson

 

 

 

 

 

6th letter-June 31, Treybien in service

Not too much went on last week. We have been doing a ton of service though! Which will bring so many blessings!!

 

First there was Dragisa, he and his wife are from ugo-slovia, he is 88 years old and she is 86, and speak very broken english but know well enough. We are painting their garage which is a shed in the back. We have easily spent over 15 hours just scrapping paint off and it's still not done. This paint is tough. but he gave me and Elder Houser one tie each from his own closet! How sweet is that! He tells us everytime he sees us how much he loves us, and we truly love him back!! Yes, he is a little off his rocker.... he was digging a hole with a chain saw.... after he spent 1 our and a half on trying to figure out how to work it. He wouldn't let me help, but he wouldn't let me leave his side either.. :)  I didn't know what to do!! I'm starting to get like dad in that I have to be doing something at all times...but he wouldn't let me do anything!!! It was a great opportunity to learn patience... hahaha.

 

Really not too much happened last week... but this next week.... WE ARE HAVING A BAPTISM!! His name is Rodney from Kentucky!! The professional paintballer I told you about!!! He is an absolute stud!!! His dad got baptised on Saturday and his mom has been a member for about a year now I think... We are trying to get his dad to come perform the baptism which would be AMAZING for both of them!! The lord is preparing people to hear the word. I am so humbled to be a part of this work. I love it and will continue to do my best and to be my best.

 

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith.

 

Love,

Elder Trey Toolson

5th Letter, Broadcast and Member Missionaries!

 

Great Mission Broadcast, eh?!?

 

So... we can go on facebook soon! We have to be trained first of course, but haha that's so cool!! What was cooler was I know one of the elders on the clip that Elder Nelson showed at the end of his talk!!! The one with 20 lessons with a member present for each week!! Shout out...DALLIN CUTLER!! I went to sophomore prom in his group. That was so cool seeing him with so much success!

 

Honestly I can't remember what I did this week besides sleep study and work. so this letter might be short. But I did go shopping! Sister Cargill takes very good care of us, shopping at Sam's Club and dinners galore... Awesome!

 

Our investigator Rod is still progressing!! We taught him a lesson that I feel flowed really well! We have our ward mission leader teach wiith us in his home after dinner which was amazing!! The spirit is so much stronger and is much more previlant in homes where the spirit can dwell rather then just visit. MEMBERS, OPEN YOUR HOMES FOR LESSONS!!! There is nearly nothing more effective then members who love the gospel opening thier homes for investigators. BECOME INVOLVED IN THE WORK!!

 

We as missionaries are, in the grand scheme of things, the temporary missionaries, we are there for 2 years, then gone. YOU are the ones who will be there for them, YOU are the ones who bring the fold in to be taught. I am so greateful for those who have accepted the challenge to obey the Lord our God in hasteniong his work!! I would like to extend "the Rivera challenge". Invite the first non-member you come in contact with to church. Simple as that. Act in love as Elder Nelson put it in this last mission president broadcast. Your invitation is an expression of your love for whomever you are inviting and your love for that thing that has brought you so much joy and "happy"ness, that thing being the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Love is the center of the plan that our father has for us. Love is what we feel through this gospel. My only plea is that you share it. I love this gospel with all that I am. I am humbled to know that my Lord and Redeemer has entrusted me to serve and teach His children in Cleveland Ohio about His eternal and everlasting love.

 

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith!

 

Love

Elder Trey Toolson