Birthday Boy Elder Tr3y!

Photo: Psych Pineapple!!

This week was totally crazy, flip-turned upside down but so good!!!!

 

So, it was crazy for 2 basic reasons. 1st we moved to another apartment and the 2nd we were moving while we had lessons and appointments to keep.

 

So as we were figuring out what we needed to bring, take, throw, burn, destroy, obliterate, and disposed of maliciously (only the 1st 3 are true) we also were planning praying bringing members to, and teaching lessons. I loved this week because we were so busy the whole week!!

 

One particular lesson I really enjoyed was with our investigator Cody. we brought a priest named brad with us and I was his 1st time coming out with the missionaries! so cool!!! So we gave a quick run-down of the restoration and how we will teach it and then prayed. Got to the lesson and we ended up talking about the priesthood and it's necessity for the whole 45 min we were there! The young man would pipe in here and there with great comments through out the lesson. At the end, he was asked, essentially how he gained a testimony of the priesthood. He bore a fervent testimony that touched each of us there. It was incredible!! He said in the ride home that he was nervous at first but it became more natural as it went on!

HAHA thank you for my Birthday collages and everyone for the song and bday videos, Ty showed so much enthusiasm!! ha ha! I love hearing from you and I clearly hear your voice speaking it as I read your letters! I love that talk by Elder funk mom!! It is such an inspiring and inspired message indeed! I am constantly in need for meekness and lowliness of heart. Learning what lowliness of heart truly means was a milestone for me! I used to think that meant to think less OF myself. but I was completely off base... it means to think less ABOUT yourself and more of others. Please keep praying for miracles becasue they happen everyday and I'm ready!

I love these people here in Medina and know that it is essential for me to be here with these people specifically. there have been many instances where i have been able to share about Toby, Lyme, and how we, as a family have gained a testimony that is "steadfast and imovable" in Christ our King. I hope to continue to improve as a missionary and a man becuase i have a ways to go still... quite a ways. I am doing my best and loving my companion! We are learning alot from each other and continue to grow.

Quick shout out to the Berrett and Schenk family!!! I so appreciate the LOVE you all sent :) Congratulations on the celestial marriage of Kelsey B! I loved being able to work in the temple and be able to hear those wonderful blessings that we are blessed with as we obey!! That is so cool for you Kelsey!!

 

I know that God lives and loves us to the end!! I love being able to see the Lords hand in peoples lives as they learn of Gods will and apply it to their lives!

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

Love,

Yo Boi Elda Trigga Trey

Elder Toolson

Fun to Find All the Time!

The subject is a line from the chorus of a song that talks about finding and how AWESOME IT IS!! Which I totally agree with! the reason being this past week. we will get to that in a bit... now actually :)

SO starts off with a cold snowy day and a sick companion so we didn't really go out unless we had a set appointment. 2 of those set appointments with the same investigator took place outside in 12 degree weather not taking into account wind chill. so needless to say elder luster REALLY didn't feel too good after that.  I had been super frustrated with myself for the past while because we haven't been able to find people to teach!! so elder luster and I talked it out and I felt better but still not quite where I wanted to be.

 

Wednesday was Zone conference with President Vellinga which was incredible and what was the focus on? FINDING PEOPLE!! just what i needed to hear! we practiced approaching with a card and getting the card in their hands and a desire to act on it in 3 seconds!!! SO HARD BUT SO DO-ABLE!!! we went home and again elder luster and then I wasn't feelin' too hot.

Thursday was not terrible but still not amazing.

 

This carries all they way to Friday at which point we drive down to the square to see an ICE SCULPTURE WALK ABOUT!!!! totally cool! they built a house of ice around a fire pit and lite the whole thing on fire and watched it melt SO COOL! Elder luster took some sweet pics and being the none photographer that i am, i didn't have very good pictures and... I left my camera at the apartment again so pictures, will be coming later... again. I will be better at picture taking and sending i promise! anyway we went contacting and as we notice that people think we are idiots for contacting we realize.... "today is valentines day...." NO WONDER people were so awkward!! so we didn't get anyone from that, at least not yet.  Saturday was not much different.

Now comes the big guns... SUNDAY!! I love Sundays! so we go to meetings and church and as the meeting develops, we realize that this is a sister's farewell and there are at least 10-15 non-members in this room!! we try but are unsuccessful in talking to each of them, but we met a German exchange student named Kat, who INVITED HERSELF to church!!!!!!! she has a great spirit and wants to learn more! she knows something is different in this church and she didn't want to leave during a talk to use the restroom! we know there could be complications with the foreign exchange student program and be baptized but that is ok!! he wants to know, so we will teach. she can get baptized in Germany! I don't care for numbers!!  this is about bringing others to Christ. if I don't see the direct result then so be it!

 

Later, as we are about to start gospel principles class, a woman who is alone with a baby and is stressed out of her mind. she has been going through a very rough time because her father in-law doesn't like missionaries or going to church that much and she lives in his house. she wants to come but is being held back and restricted. she broke down in tears and explained how she wants to come and have missionaries over but she feels like it's not a good place. so she and her husband are moving. they are going north still in our ward. she has an amazing desire to become better and closer to God where she knows it's where she needs to be.

We were invited, later, to go to the open house thing for the sister who is leaving on her mission soon. as we met and talked with new people we found 7 non-members and 5 of them want to meet with us to learn about what their friend will be doing in Mexico for 18 months!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS AMAZIG!! we are shooting to meet with them this week!! so stoked!!

 

I love being a missionary! i love seeing people desire to learn the gospel! I love finding those who are prepared and I love bringing others to Christ. what makes someone "prepared to hear the gospel?" hearing it from YOU!! people need to hear YOUR testimony so they can grow their own!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

 

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith

Love Elder Trigga Trey


                                        Elder Toolson, Elder Luster with Pres & Sis Vellinga

Trey's Feb 10...Happy Vday and I got a new companion to LOVE!

HELLOOO ERYBODY!!  Happy <3 day coming up!

As stated in me last letter, this week was transfers! Elder Cummins is in Solon, OH biking. My new companion is Elder Luster! He has been out 16 months and we are excited for this new start! (See photo of last letter with Elder Luster)

 

We have received a new investigator who we are kind of concerned about.... so we finished a lesson with him and we were headed home for dinner. her texted us during dinner saying that he had just watched on of the movies we left him and said Word for word, "Just watched the restoration movie lover." promptly followed with a "loved it dearly." this young man has bleached hair and has been taking classes on-line for years... socially not there.... later, while setting up an appointment with him, he asked us to text a prayer to him.... we didn't and explained why prayer is important and left it at that. SUPER weird experience but, it's cool, I can roll with it.

 

We have not been able to get in contact with the investigator family until Sunday through the member friends who referred them. they are still reading the book of Mormon and the 14 year old daughter is reading it on the SCHOOL BUS!!!! IT IS SO COOL!! people are starting to stare at me as i type this because i am so pumped! (not really but it's a great thing to picture).

 

and that's it for me this week. mom hates 2 and a fraction paragraph letters but that's what i got at this point.

 

OH WAIT we helped a member pickup a piano that they got for free that was made in 1912 and move it to their house, shoveled our ward mission leaders driveway, and lots of semi -actives driveways, and someone who was sick in our ward needed shoveling also.... pretty COOL stuff.

I love the baptism for my birthday idea!! I'm shooting for it too but we'll let God decide :)  I am almost out of the On Guard capsules for flu season but the cold hasn't hit me yet! :) I'm still good! But send soon :)

Hey Chiou's...I am in Medina right now and am loving it but I hope I get to meet Tiffany! I'll be sure to keep an eye and ear out for her! Yes, Lymes has helped me connect with a few people here and has been an awesome talking point! Alena is turning 22 right? or 23? I can't remember! I miss and love you guys too!! tell Alena I say happy birthday! AND Happy Birthday to you too Mindy!

Tiara is awesome even though they beat themselves this week.
 

It is frustrating when you beat yourself because you then turn and beat ON yourself and ask "Why aren't you better self?" I have been going through that recently and it is exhausting. I have been in need of some divine assistance but i was just not willing to step aside. I want to grab the wheel and get people going! Get people doing what they know or don't know they need to be doing. I still have a ton to learn and one of them right now is how to truly and honestly let God take control and let his dictates be done. I am in need of humility. I love you momma and am grateful for you always making sure that I knew that you loved me. Especially when I got down on myself! I DO know God loves me and am working on giving my all to God and put everything on the table of sacrifices.

 

I know that the book of Mormon is true and that success as a missionary simply means that we invite others to come unto Christ. I know that god love us and is asking us to follow his council as given through his servants the apostles. I would like to invite you to read elder oaks talk from this last conference. I send my love to the world and hope and pray that we each as a society will remember the god who has blessed us all with so much. I know Thomas S. Monson is the prophet that leads and guides His church today. i leave you with this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

fight the fight, stay the course, keep the faith.

love from a servant of God

Elder Trey Tooslon

Ohio Hot Topics

Hello to all!

This week is transfers and I am sad to say that I'm loosing my companion Elder Cummins. :'( but I am excited to work with my next companion who right now is unknown. Change is hard but always good to grow.

 
Last week was great! 1st off, we weren't allowed to leave our apartment AGAIN on Tuesday due to the bitter cold!! So that was a little frustrating but the members take great care of us! So we were good there. Then we later found a new investigator!! so pumped!! It's the woman who took and read the book of Mormon earlier! now it's official as a new investigator! so excited!

 

Then there was the Super Bowl and it was like tracting on Christmas. So that was alright but we were again fed and taken care of by the members! These guys are great!

I have been spending a lot of time thinking and talking about family history and I want to get on that and learn how to do it so I can then help others! I will definitely be getting on that with bishop and our ward mission leader! That is an awesome story about our ancestors! I have been blessed with a great heritage of faith and I am so glad, and proud of my forefathers! I have much to live up to and will give it my utmost! however strong I am dad, I owe it to those who surround me and lifted me higher to their level. like OUR FAMILY!

So it is raining in CA! Keep it comin'... The weather seems to be a "hot topic" across the US, there has been some crazy things in the past few months. Texas was colder then Alaska, "the great northern is getting dumped on and out west there is an insane drought! I was grateful for the lesson in gospel principles class last week because it was on the signs of the second coming!! So many things were coming to mind and it's no wonder that the work has been hastened. the army is growing on the other side of the veil and therefore so must we! I've been told the work goes the same pace here as it does there, so we need to step it up!! KICK IT UP A FEW!! Mom, I loved that you said at the end of your letter to "express love and disappointments then encourage and lead the way! We practically spent the whole district meeting yesterday talking about how we can improve and be more what the Lord wants. We went over our notes from when we all went to the Kirtland Temple and were each reminded of how much of a spiritual experience it was to be there. Almost all speakers (we had a 70, Elder Seldon, Carl Anderson, Pres. Vellinga, and 3 Stake Presidents speak to us there. 100% through the spirit!! it was incredible!) said something along the lines of, "There is nothing more sacred happening, other then the temples, then what is happening right here with the missionaries." We were asked to write down the date of December 3, 2013 and mark it as a day of great importance to us and the Lord. It was very motivating. 

I love you momma, pops, bros, sis and the whole mess of ya! Thank you so much for all of the support that you give me and others. We need to remind the world that God is here and we need to turn to him! I love that THAT is my job right now!!  

That Just Dance YW video is awesome!! I love Tiaras face! ha ha, Everyone looks bigger and happier, that is awesome! However is that all the young women right now? I didn't see any visitors there! ha ha Tell the young women to INVITE more...all the time every activity, there will be a wave coming up pretty quick! Prepare the young women's leaders for a bunch of new girls. Do the girls feel it?  There is a great work instore there!

 

I honestly have to say that I "Can't wait to go work!" Wednesday and Saturday should be pretty cold and we have been informed that we can expect about a minimum of 10 inches and a max of 22 inches of new snow with the fate of staying inside again... so we'll see how that goes! LOL...more service shovel events I'm sure! Those hand/feet warmers are lifesavers!!!

I love you and love this gospel!! The church is true and it's always a great day to be a Mormon!

Serve with all your hearts. So love you and I pray for you each!

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

Love,

Elder Trey T3