18th Letter: Share the Gospel Neighbor!

FHE at the Cargills

 

 

 
Hello My Dear Family and Friends Out There!

 

SO...This week was really good!! We have had great food and fun family nights but, We found 2 new investigators!! Our recent convert Rod has been stepping it up!! he has been talking with his neighbor about the gospel and the NEIGHBOR asked if he could sit in on our lessons!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SO PUMPED!!!! He has been preparing for such a long time. This is huge!! We are so excited!! His name is Ryan, he has been divorced and remarried, but has used drugs & alcohol and has been doing his best to get those things out of his life!! One side of his family is NOT religious at all and he sees the contrast and knows that the Lord blesses lives and wants to see what we teach!

 

The other investigator is a little different. He claims to have been baptized as a Mormon but it was "behind closed doors" and took place in a evangelical church..... and the church has "shunned" him. This is obviously something that was weighing on my mind, and I was thinking that I have been preparing for my mission these past 19 years, there are important parts missing here and we will find them as we pick up the pieces. So we need to take a very different approach with Stan but we are definitely seeing some potential for something great! 

 

I know that the Lord is in this.... not just his hand. This is His work and His glory, would you then say after hearing that statement that just his HAND is in it? THIS IS HIS EVERYTHING! I was struck with the power that comes with my job and His! This was the purpose for creating the earth, for this plan he has made, for us to become like him!!

 

We also had stake conference this week SO GOOD!! They were talking about how there are some of our siblings (children of god) who weren't getting home taught. The first thing that came to my mind, NO EMPTY CHAIRS!!! I WANT MY WHOLE FAMILY TO BE THERE WHEN I DIE!!! When we are all sitting at the giant dinner table in heaven, and we see that your brother didn't make it because he was never taught. ... indeed that would be devastating!!

 

NO_EMPTY_CHAIRS!!!

This week is short but I gotta go!! Love you

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

Love,
Elder Toolson III

 

 

Letter 17: Da'gum Good!

Photos:  Throwback to June of time spent with Paula, the amazing one that bore her testimony at the Mission Pres. Fireside in last weeks letter? She's Awesome!!
I Love serving so close to Kirtland!

 

This week was da'gum good! We had chicken and waffles for the first time!!
 

 It was actually AMAZING!! it was so good! I was weirded out by the thought of putting fried chicken on waffles but it was AWESOME! We had this dinner with a part member family and the husband is the non-member. He said that he has been investigating for 19 YEARS and says he hasn't been baptized because he is "pushing for equality" until women can hold the priesthood. his daughters and wife who are SOLID members have explained it SO MANY TIMES but he wont get it. so we are going to do like Elder Holland does, "get in their face a little, like a good coach, just enough fire to singe the eye-brows." but do it with the spirit and all will go well. I'm looking forward to this lesson!! :)

We have been trying to get a hold of this investigator Ronny for the past 3 weeks and we FINALLY got a hold of him again! we stopped by and he was just chilling at home but couldn't hear the knock for some reason. we went in and he has an old, out of tune, piano. he had to run to the back for a little so we were sitting in the living room on the couch. I wanted to play the piano last time we were there but I didn't want to intrude and he came out and remembered that I played the piano (use of term is very loose) and said he wanted to hear sometime, so this time I JUMPED on that!!! I started playing and he came in so much quieter and was feeling the spirit. it was awesome! that lesson went better then the others because we had the spirit there. He did not smoke during the lesson, and he was asking questions that PERTAINED TO THE LESSON!!!! OH HOW SWEET THE SPIRIT IS!!! He said he really wanted to come to church but he needed a ride. We got him one but he wasn't there. Ughhh... he is getting so close!! COME TO CHURCH!!

We met with a few less-actives again this week. One brother we saw while we were service tracting (we go out in service clothes JUST offer service, BRILLIANT!! Elder Jarvis' idea) was smoking a rather large cigarette and tried to hide it when we biked over too him. All we said was, Hey! How's it going? and he says, "you got me!" as he holds up the smoking stick of death (cigarette). He went on to say that he was at an AA meeting and one lady said that the "higher power is drunk people." and that ticked him off... so in order too cool down and relax he gets a cigarette... ? so Elder Jarvis said, you got mad because you love God right? and God loves you right? Would God want you to show your love for him through smoking? The brother said "No, he wouldn't!" and he threw it down the sewer!! We offered any help we could and told him we love him. He lit up and said that he felt a lot better. We met with him later that day too for added support. Great learning opportunities for all of us!

I love being a missionary. I really do. It is hard, it is FREAKIN hard, but it is the only thing that I would want to be doing at this point in life! I know this is the work of the Lord. Moses 1:39 "this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the eternal life and immortality of man." that is my calling... to bring these people in the Cleveland Ohio mission and for the next few months Parma Ohio in specific. I have been preparing for my whole life for this purpose. I know this is true. I have so much fun and so much joy and this is because of the sorrows and pains we also must feel. Salvation is going to cost all of us something. This is amazing what the Lord is doing. I love this gospel because I live it, I live this gospel because I love it!! unitl next week!! :D

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

Love,

Elder Trey3 Toolson

 

 

 

Elder Toolson is just Wearing out his Companion!!!

Letter 16: Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Small, Mad World!

First off I want to talk about how small the world of "Mormonism" is... while I was at our mission president's fireside last night I was going around mingling and I introduced my self this gentleman and says, "Toolson, do you have any relation to..." at this point I'm thinking, "He's going to ask about Andy Toolson like the rest of the nation" but then he finishes his question with,"...James Richard Toolson?" I respond saying Yes, I am related to him! He is my Grandfather! He smiles and say's, "He was my mission president in Trinidad, Tobago. I was one of the AP's when he went home." Issac Eddington!!!!! We talked about how grandma would give lessons on dinner table eticate and that grandpa was a super stud!! Of course I expected nothing less, this is Grandpa Dick and Grandma Weezy we're talking about here!!! Oh how I love them. It was so funny, mad crazy and AWESOME to run into him!!

Staying on the topic of the mission president's fireside, Paula our not investigator/investigator bore her testimony at a mission President fireside last night and brought all to tears!! She says she hates crying when she bares her testimony but then she remembers that that's what Elder Toolson does!! So she doesn't feel bad anymore :) haha she has grown and learned so much!! I had a miniscule part in it . . . I have witnessed miracles in her life and in mine in doing so.

It hit me this week just how hard it will be to leave when I was at a training meeting with me and my boy (missionary term for the Elder I'm training). President was talking to us about what kind of missionary we want to be when we get home. He said that he has a missionary say a kneeling prayer right after they take off their name tag and are released. When those words escaped his lips my heart sank. I just told myself, "You still have time, you are still a missionary, SERVE the people you are called to and you will be the missionary you will become the missionary He needs you to be." THE NAME OF MY SAVIOR IS STILL ON MY CHEST!!!! I WILL GIVE MY ALL, BECAUSE HE GAVE ME HIS!! I love this mission, I love my investigator, I love those that I teach, I truly love as the savior loves. I have to potential to see and feel as the lord sees and feels especially while serving his sons and daughters, my family. This is the best experience and there is none other that could replace it. I am witnessing myself become the man that God needs me to be in order to accomplish his purposes, and I LOVE IT!!!! But the best part is, that you are realizing that too. The fact that you are feeling his hand in your life is testimony that He lives, that He loves you, and that you have a purpose in life! ISN'T THAT AMAZING!!?!?! I love it so much!! haha I'm such a weird kid but I guess that's okay... right? :)

Funny story: Elder Jarvis and I were biking to a less active Sister Toothman, she's awesome! While on our merry way, we encounter another "sketchy dude". He tore through some shrubbery and walked toward us at a VERY quick pace yelling at us while we are 7 feet away, "I AM THE FIRE!! I AM THE SPIRIT!! YOU WANT TO PRAY TO JESUS!? YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PRAY TO THE RIGHT JESUS!!" as he is waving cash in our faces. the guy then BOOKS IT to the other side of the street without looking almost get's demolished by a car, "yellow ones don't stop" then proceeds to run into the parking lot of rite aid by charging through a rather large hedge even though there was a perfectly good walk-way about 17 inches to the right of "the bush" as we call it. Then immediately after that, Elder Jarvis snaps his head at me and says, "did a bird just poop on me?" and sure enough there was a fresh one on there!!! a bird on the telephone wires just chillin'!!! It was hilarious!! So Random and freaky chaos happening for about 2 mins...ending in just laughter!

Sorry this is so long... but I have one short stroy from yesterday (Sunday) so we were asked to teach the 12 year-old's to 15 year-old's about commandments. These kids are NOTABLE for being the most annoying, frustrating, rowdy and distracting kids ever. So we were optimistic about our lesson because they also respect missionaries on top of all of this. So the lesson begins and ipods and phones are out.... that's 1. Elder Jarvis and I ask them to be put them away. they go away and then somehow end up back in their hands..... that's 2. They took everything we said and took it way off topic and expected us to be okay with it......... THAT'S 3!!!! The teacher we were subbing for had 2 kids in that class and she and I have gotten pretty close. I know she has talked with these kids before about this exact thing. Soooo I didn't hold back. I did my best to be guided by the spirit as I rebuked these kids. It was pretty heavy. I made one of them cry. I feel bad about that, but some of the times I learned the most was when I was rebuked in Sunday School. So I get to check that one off the list! freakin' Deacons.

Yep, so that's the week :) it was AWESOME!! I really loved every minute of it!!

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

Elder Trey Toolson

 

 

Letter 15: I Labor in OH, and I Glory in it!

 

Hello to My Fam and Friends!

This week was incredible!! Oh the spirit was so strong in multiple ways  on so many occasions. We went to a less actives home and as we were riding up it felt like we were arriving at a pivotal time. We walked in and sat down and there was severe sorrow and frustration in the air. I looked at the youngest son and he was red in and around the eyes from tears. Jeramiah was sitting in a chair in his football pants, and Jennifer was on her way out the door saying that she's running a way.... sound familiar?  We apologized for coming at a bad time and the father said, "you probably came at the best time." Those words were music to my ears. I could cry... which I eventually ended up doing. we talked and elder Jarvis and I related some stories from our childhood. how we had to sit in a corner and "hug it out" by doing just that. I remember sitting with TJ and Ty and tucker all on seperate occasions and sitting there with our arms around each other for 20 minutes until we loved each other again. that got us ready for the lesson which was on listening to the spirit by paying attention to the "still small voice" by playing the broom sniffing game. Elder Jarvis being a seasoned hunter could smell which section of the broom someone had touched after leaving the room. they were awestruck by his abilities!! HAHA It  was so FUN! We needed to be there and it felt GOOD!

Sacrament meeting was incredible!! Sister Anderson bore her testimony which was incredible! I love her and her family!! There was a gap in the line for baring testimony and I felt like I should go up there. So I jumped up and bore testimony of "Why would I ever leave San Diego for Cleveland Ohio?" simple. The gospel is true. I want to share it. I love these people. nothing more, nothing less. It felt good to testify!  Rod blessed the sacrament for the first time and Brother Holt came for the first time in years and Brother Light brought his son Joshua. I was so happy for them and they could feel the Lord's love as they entered. You could see it work in them.

I need to tell you about Paula!!! she is an investigator but not really. She is a dry mormon and is waiting until she moves to.... IDAHO FALLS to get baptized!! We could totally hangout and go to B-Dubs (buffalo wild wings)! Her fiance's dad is performing the ordinance! We had a lesson about families being sealed together. it was one of the best lessons that I have ever had the privilege of being a part of. we went to an AWESOME members home and had the lesson there. The spirit was so strong. and to say the least. we cried... it wasn't just me :) We were both, she and I in tears and so was sister Anderson. Brother Anderson is a UFC trainer and elder Jarvis is a cowboy from Alberta Canada so they don't show that emotion, ever... but I know they felt it!! it was such a good lesson. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! and sacrament meeting was incredible!!
 

I know this is the work of the Lord. I know that I am where I need to be in the time I need to be here. This is the Lords work and glory and I glory in it! (sorry Tucker, I stole your line today!)

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

Love always,

Elder Trey Toolson

 

 

Elder Trey Toolson, Jenni Cargill and Elder Jarvis

Thanks to Jenni for sending us the first photo of Trey and his son :)

He's excited to be training!!! Catch the Wave! 

Thanks for the yummy food Sister Cargill!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter 14: ME AND MY BOY! :)

This week was full with some of the most incredibly spiritual and the most incredibly frustrating week I've had thus far!!

Starts off with Elder Houser and I having to say goodbye after him training me for 2 transfers. we had really gotten close the last 2 weeks and it was rough. but then I saw .... ELDER STUCKI!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so good seeing him again!! it turns out we are both training!! he will do amazing things throughout his mission. then as we are going into the room where we meet the new kids coming in, i felt a hand on my shoulder i turn around and it's PRESIDENT PAGE AND HIS FAMILY!!!! WHAT!?!?  it was so nice seeing familiar faces from home.. a little weird bit still so awesome!! then me and Elder Stucki are sitting in the room and all of the new missionaries come in and sit down. they all have pictures of their trainers but we have no idea of who we are getting. when president tells them to find their trainer, I knew exactly who I was getting. When he came in he just stood out and it felt familiar. Elder Jarvis is from Alberta Canada and he was a hunting guide for his dads company "3 River Adventures". name something... he's hunted it. It is SO COOL!! after he came in we have been running into all of these people that "coincidentally" are huge hunters too!! These people have been waiting for him to come!

Now we can get into the week. It was awesome having this new energy come in with Elder Jarvis!! So we are working out tails off and wearing down the pavement. We have been tracting and contacting like it's our JOB... because it is!! Elder Jarvis reminds me of my dad. hates sitting still, and is always doing something. I'm more of a chill guy and he is a GET IT DONE guy, so we balance extremely well!! FINALLY WE ARE GETTING WORK DONE!! We got a referral from a member out of our ward boundaries saying that this family would like a home blessing. we tried and failed a few time to get a hold of them at a good time but after a few days we were able to go over and meet the Cox family. they are AWESOME!! Of course... HUGE HUNTERS!! The daughter who is 14 has already shot 3 dear!!! One with a 12 gauge slug, one with a rifle and the last one... A CROSS BOW!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!? That is so cool!! So me and the mom and the daughter were talking while Elder Jarvis was going OFF with the dad about hunting. We knelt and blessed the home. The spirit was so strong during that blessing. after words we stayed and talked for a while and then headed out. as we were leaving they said that they have an open door policy that is now officially extended to us!! YES!! They are awesome and have such an amazing desire to find what it is that makes "you guys so different". I think we can help with that... :)

The next day we went to help someone move and these guys had no idea how to pack a truck.... none. there were 2 members and both are well over 55 years old and we are moving a single man who has mental problems. so we helped them pack up and after a few frustrating hours when we thought we were done they said, "So just follow us over the his apartment and unload it." ..... Okay. so we go and are unloading and all of these old ladies are complaining because we are using the elevator... OF COURSE WE ARE USING THE ELEVATOR!!!! THE GUY LIVES ON THE 7TH FLOOR!!!! I was frustrated to say the least. so we just took all of the stuff up the elevator first then take it to the room then the guy who's stuff all this crap is tells us that him and the other 2 will be back in 15 minutes... so we threw everything into his room and bailed... after taking some candy bars of course. I was upset but the Twix and Snickers made me feel better :)

There were other experiences but I gotta run and this is long.... sorry. "Anyway have a good one." (despicable me)

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the faith

Love Elder Trey Toolson