Gearing up for Gladys!!

Hello Dear Family and Friends,

We are getting ready for a Tsunami of the Spirit here and we need it!

So the good news, GOT MY PACKAGE!!! XO   And bad news, Sorry... no photos to send you all. I know I need to do better at that and I just have to try harder. This week will be a chance to take a few because I'm not too insanely busy yet, but the week after that and the one after that will be INSANE!!!!!!! 

There is Gladys Knight and Saints Unified Voices Choir (Grammy Award winning) coming to Cleveland and Akron for 4 sessions of spirit and testimony along with some Southern gospel music. (I know you are thinking "Great Photo Op" but my hands will be setting up, serving and greeting the people and problem solving of course. I need a photographer ;) At each session there should be about 1200 people and half of them being non members at least. Within 2 days after the presentation we as missionaries will be stopping by everyone who fills out this request card and following up with their experience with a gift basket consisting of a CD from the Choir, a BofM and a Restoration of the gospel DVD. How Sweet is that! And elder Michael John U. Teh will be coming to the mission the Friday after that... it will be insanely Busy again!! Our ward alone has invited and expects around 278 people to attend at least one of the sessions of Saints Unified Voices. We are so excited and I am anticipating a very stressful but good week as a leader right now. but, as stated by 2 stake presidents here in the mission, "This is the best missionary opportunity in this area since Sidney Rigdon shared the gospel with his congregation." This has great spiritual power to be released, we just have to be the ones to help others know what to do with the release. So that's the basic gist of things :) IT IS CRAZY!! but I wouldn't have it any other way!

The youth will be key. I'm pretty sure the youth of the church don't realize that they are the real force for missionary work!! Their examples, choices and influence on friends members and non-members alike have a lasting impression. I have seen this in OHIO.  The work only goes as well as we are worthy. I know this to be true and have seen some effects from unworthy service. I know that i am worthy to be here, and that I can serve these people with my whole self and then some because that is what I was raised to do, I love to give to God, He makes me better and that is what I am doing my very best to do. The blessings of the gospel are not worth losing... and yes you CAN lose blessings. Just as quickly as you gained it you can loose it. I plead with each member of the church and each person who lives or everyone who can read this to search ponder and pray for the things that we must do to return to our Father in Heaven. Repentance is real and it requires action. The atonements is beautiful when we redeem ourselves with our REDEEMER! I love you dad, mom, family, teachers, past bishops and leaders. I thank you for all that you have done for me.

I love the church. it is true!! I have this poem that another elder sent me and I rather enjoyed it!! Miracles galore for me to still share but I need to go!!I cannot be late for Dinner with Stake Pres.... I know this Gospel of Jesus Christ is true because it changes lives, especially mine!! Love to you all!   

My son, the time has come. You must go.

You must now descend to earth down below.

Remember me, you will not.

But you must remember what you have been taught. 

Of this plan, you can be sure. 

It is perfect, the Author pure.

Your elder brother Jesus has fulfilled His role.

All the pieces have been set that you may reach the eternal goal.

It will be difficult, at times it may appear that it is too much.

But if you seek it, you will feel my touch.

I will be close always, though I may be out of view

Your much awaited time now here, it is time to go and do.

My son, I send you with all my love.

Know this, you are not of that world. You are from Heaven above.

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

Elder Tr3y Toolson

Elder Tr3y's looking for miracles

AHH Hello My Friends and Family!

I LOVE THOSE PHOTOS OF MACK'S AND ESPECIALLY THE TETONS! I can hear them singing from here!

So with a few other updates going on I'm going to be super fast!! we had not been able to meet with our less active Ace for about a month! he is awesome but has found himself caught between a rock and a hard spot! he is really working on getting back! i love this church and the power of the atonement that is accessed as we do and live the commandments of God!! 

no one was able to make it church this week but we are feeling the excitement from the members and their missionary work is really starting to roll!! we invited a member to retake the missionary lessons and invited on of his friends to come and let their son Mark prepare for his mission as he teaches the lessons with us. THEY ACCEPTED!! there are so many small miracles surrounding us! we just need to take the precious time to look around and recognize what a miracle really is and how many of them occur every day! this is such an amazing thing that has helped me look for and see the positive more in all things. i would like to invite you to look for and write down the small miracles that you have seen throughout the day, at the close of you day. i promise that as you do you will come to truly thank God for this wonderful world, and for the opportunity to be living at this time in this place where you are now!

I LOVE THIS WORK!! AND I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Keep the faith, stay the course, fight the fight

With much love

Elder Toolson III

OH has got RIBS!

Sweet Shirts

Primary Crowned us as Kings!

Alright to start let me first speak on the subject that is on everyone's mind since last week's letter.... The ribs were INCREDIBLE!!! :D baked beans and potato salad too!!! I have been here in Solon the entire summer and this is the first time of me getting baked beans.... it tasted so good :) now onto the miracle that happened during that dinner.

We got there and the ribs were still cooking on their brand new smoker and so we met a few of the family that was coming in and out. and then everyone ended up in the backyard before we ate. Their neighbors came over and started to talk too. I don't have a ton of time but to make a long story short, Elder Oberst ended up talking with Marvin his wife and their son and daughter in-law, and I ended up talking with the neighbors. My conversation started by addressing their questions on polygamy. Sister wives came up (I do hate that TV show). After using biblical examples and speaking about it a bit, the conversation ended with everyone involved saying that it is OK ONLY if and when God commands it out of need. Which is true according to the bible and God's teachings. And Polygamy has been commanded by God to be ended until he sees fit. The conversation was great and spirit filled instead of tense.We are going back to meet with them (both families) this week :)
All during Dinner we spoke about missions and what we do and how things kind of work.... which lead quite nicely into doing what we said we did :) We ended up teaching the Restoration to Marvin and his wife and left them with a copy of the Book of Mormon. She seemed curious about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and Marvin asked why there are so many churches before we started. After having addressed that concern and testifying with the Spirit that this church is the true church and the Kingdom of God once again established on the Earth, they both committed to pray about it. Great!!
I know that Christ is my living Savior and because of him I may live with him and my Father in Heaven again... a quote by brad Wilcox puts it nicely, "Easter is the day that Christ slapped YOLO in the face." Right you are Brother Willcox, right you are.
This Church is the gospel of Jesus Christ and His gospel is all true or it is all false, and I wouldn't come all the way out here to tell a lie. THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!!
Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the Faith
Love
Elder Trey Toolson

Trey's Week July 24!

Holy Chupacabra this week was crazy once again and miracles are just flying! 2 quick sorties again then i gotta dash.

 

Elder Oberst and i have been doing our best to find those that are ready to hear the gospel and accept it. specifically we have been praying for a family to teach and a couple. As we have been talking with people have been trying to listen to the spirit for those who are ready for the next step in their relationship with Jesus Christ. After about 5 weeks of praying, searching and discerning, we got in contact with a less active sister who has a non-member husband and 2 kids ages 13 and 11. we helped them clean out their garage and oraganize it (like how we do at home) and set things up the way the mother told us (not like home). she expressed how she wants to come to church and takes us coming back into her life is a sign. her husband has missed the open friendly culture or Africa and is searching for somthing like that. he felt a connection with us as missionaries and memebr of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. we taught the restoration and on our way out, they committed themselves to come to church, read the book of mormon and the pamphlet we left them, and to have questions next time we meet. the son said that he was going to start reading as soon as we leave and the daughter was involved and asking questions the whole time!! THIS GOSPEL IS TRUE!!

 

Then there is this man Marvin. we have helped paint his house with him and he had a group of guys that were supposed to come but never did. we were the only ones who showed up to help. as we were moving furniture his wife expressed her thanks (they are black by the way) and she asked us the golden question, "Do ya'll eat ribs?" :D YES WE EAT RIBS!!! we are going over on saturday!!! Marvin said we are welcome to come over anytime!! so we are going to see waht we can do in sharing the gospel and they share their smoked beef BBQ ribs :)

 

Love you all!!

 

Fight the fight, stay the course, keep the faith

 

Love again...

Elder Toolson

Super Short & Marks of a Man

HELLLOOOOO!
THANKS FOR ALL THE PHOTOS VIDEOS AND LETTERS FAMILY & FRIENDS! Keep them comin' :) 

This will be SUPER SHORT!!

We gotta get running right now so I am throwing this together real quick! ZL (zone leader) is busy and it's a good kind of crazy! But please know I love you all!! Keep the prayers up and look for times to "Let your light so Shine"!

That sounds like an awesome week back home! I always hear great things about girls camp when my friends would tell me about it and the things they seem to remember most would be the Bishop firesides.  Tiara is AWESOME!! We all know this (ha ha) but it doesn't hurt to restate! Way to go T for volleyball too!! That is awesome! Way to play! And way NOT to play on Sunday!! I'm sure the pressure is great but you have the faith that obedience to the Lord's commandments will bless you :)

Tucker is a stud too! Knockin' doors in AZ 110 degrees keeps him close to my heart knockin' doors in Ohio, our family is boss awesome in work! I love each and everyone of you! I sent you a photo showing off part of my missionary tan...ha ha...the marks of a man! :)

the gospel is so true! There was an awesome experience with a less active sister in our ward that let us in and said that she normally is too busy to answer which is true according to our sources. When she answered the door AND let us in, which alone is a miracle and spoke with us about her husband and son and how concerned she is for them. They have fallen on some bad health times... nothing we can't relate too right!! :D lol... I have come to see how all of the so-called "hard times", "issues" and "problems" in my life are actually tools to help those around me feel loved, accepted, and welcomed into something that they didn't know they were looking for. I thank my God everyday for those experiences of Lyme, pain and the loneliness that accompanies it! Thank you mom & dad for helping me through those times so I may be able to help others now. I truly thank my Savior for making it possible to change and better ourselves each day. What he suffered is unfathomable!

We felt the spirit so strong with this Sister as she was talking with us and gave great spiritual experiences that she knows God is there with her and expressed her concern for her husband and son. We are meeting with her this Wednesday! I know this church is true and just like this dear sister I know that God answers prayers. This church is God's kingdom once again established on the earth and it is my testimony to say that the Lord's authority is and can only be found in, the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints. I know this is true!!

Love you dad! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Keep the fire blazing in the Cardiff Ward! They need a good Bishop Brent Toolson to do it and I'm so glad I have you as a dad and a Bishop! :)

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

Love

Elder Trey Toolson

BAPTISM LAST WEEK +Bonus :)

 

HELLO ALL!

 

So you know how we had a baptism last week? I didn't mention quite possibly one of the greatest things that I have ever before heard or seen happen ever in my life. Alex's mother-in-law was there and saw her son-in-law whom she despised and wanted to throw out, get baptized. The spirit was so incredibly strong and Alex was so excited. after the service Jeanne, Alex's mother-in-law, who has taken missionary lessons before said, "I'm next." SHE WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED!!! In fact she committed HERSELF to be baptized into this church because she felt the spirit testify to her that this way is the right way that God has prepared for the whole of human kind to return to God. When an investigator commits themselves to baptism... THE LORD HAS BEEN IN THE WORK LONG BEFORE!!! I know that is true!!

This has been such an amazing week!!! President Vellinga came out teaching with us on Wednesday night and all of the lessons just went so incredibly well and the spirit in every single one of them was so strong!! But I want to tell about the one lesson that President Vellinga wasn't there for first.

Sister Lisa Shell. This is the lady who had missionaries about a year ago contact her and give her the phone number for this area. we met with her this last week and we absolutely, totally and completely without a doubt had the assistance from the holy spirit as we taught and spoke. We read the Introduction with her and NEVER have I EVER heard of anybody read the Introduction with such wonder and fascination. We will be talking about the Plan of Salvation next visit which will be incredible!! I know this Church is true!! I wish I could talk about everything that ever happened this week but I just don't have the time. 

Just know that this church is true, it is "Gods kingdom once again restored to the earth preparatory to the second coming of the messiah," and live the teachings found in the word of God both revealed anciently and contemporaneously and you will have eternal life. baptism by someone holding the authority of God is essential to returning to him. That authority is found ONLY in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I KNOW IT!! and that will never change. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

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

Love,

Elder Trigga Trey Toolson III (which is not my name but we'll roll with it)

Fathers of Faith

I love my Father in Heaven and I love my Father here. I love my Father here, because he loves our Father who is in heaven. I want to be like my father here because he wants to be like his father in heaven. I want to be like my Father in Heaven so I will follow my Father here. Thank you dad for your great example to me! Thank you for leaving behind such clear footsteps behind so that i might follow you so closely in a righteous path. i will follow you because you follow Him. In following your example I follow the example of the Savior. thank you for your service and thank you for your love. To my Grandpas as well...I have a rich legacy to follow in.

This week was absolutely incredible!!! guess what.... WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! "What? he never talked about a baptism..." i know because we kept pushing it back.... but he did it!!! he is prepared to recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is ready to hold the priesthood of God. He understands what that all means and the promises he has made to the Creator. i know this church is true and so does Alexander. He knows the saviors atonement is real, and that he has fully accessed the power of it in cleansing himself and his life. I know it, he knows it, we know it.


Quick story that has shown me who's work this really is. We recieved a call from a woman who spoke with the missionaries about a year ago and they left their number. She called asking for some helping with digging a ditch.... I can do that!!!  Heck I've done that my whole LIFE, I'm a Toolson!! So we were pumped! She went on to explain that she didn't know anyone that she could trust because the people that she would hire would give the price over the phone then jack it up x4 when they went to do the job and just make her unload and drain her funds. The ONLY people that she KNEW she could trust were the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The only number that she had that had anything to do with that church was ours.... what are the odds? What are the chances? The lord has used so many people to prepare her for the messages as we dug and got dirty (which was AWESOME) she was asking what we believed and we had an incredible discussion. She then took us to Burger King and we got onto the "sealing power" that was given to Elijah. As we spoke about the temple, the restoration of that power and priesthood, the spirit was testifying to each of our hearts that it was TRUE. She felt the spirit and we are meeting again this week.


I know this church is true with all of heart! This is His work and this is his glory. I love my Savior and his atoning sacrifice! This is true for eternity, In the name of Jesus Christ amen.


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


Love,
Elder Tr3y Toolson


This poem is awesome!! Read the left column, then the right column, and then together from left to right.

Of the Great God                                One was Chosen

I´m a son                                           From the start

He prepared a plan                              He pledged His whole life      

So that His will be done                       To play His vital part

I lived with Him                                   He lived on High

Once before                                       As a God

From His courts I came                      He left behind all

To gain life evermore                           To leave the plan unflawed

I came to earth                                  A child is born

I am here                                          Christ Jesus

Though God may be far                      He came to save all

I feel Him ever near                            To rise all from the dust

To be tested                                      The Father´s will

I am tried                                          Not His own

I trust in my God                               Completely faithful

In His love I abide                              His obedience shown

The trials hard                                   He suffered all

the way rough                                   Pains He bore

Sometimes I stumble                        That all creation

Is my effort enough                           would not suffer evermore

I feel His love                                    His love He gave

A great light                                     Crucified

It fills my whole soul                         He hung on the cross

I continue the fight                            For man the Savior died

On the Lord´s path                           The bands broken

I endure                                           ByHim cast

Following the Plan                            No more to bind men

Remaining ever sure                         The foe vanquished at last

¨Well done my son¨                         ¨This is my Son¨

He will say                                      His test ceased

Wrapping me in His arms                 He lives in Glory

¨You found the prepared Way¨          ¨In whom I am well pleased¨