February 20, 2022 I love teaching

Hey everyone, 

This week was nice.  We met some awesome people and taught a lesson with our Stake President, which was great. Although they were really the ones teaching. It was the Plan of Happiness which is probably my favorite lesson to teach because I love seeing the Happiness and joy I see when we teach it to people. 

Also, just a minor thing but we put our friend Anthony on date!! Which is awesome. We are excited to see him prepare for his Baptism. He is a big guy though so we might need to find a really big jump suit. 

But other than that amazing event the rest of the weeks been pretty quiet all the things considered. We had District P-Day today which was fun.  We played volleyball and ate at Cookout which is an awesome fast-food place (mostly because it's cheap as dirt) I mean 8 bucks for a burger, side of Cajun fries and a large drink is definitely a good deal!!

Also, we fed ducks which is super fun because the ducks just jump on you and don't leave until all the bread is gone. 

Anyway, that's been my week but I'm excited to see were this week leads wish me luck guys.

-Elder Toma

February 14, 2022 Good Self Reflection

 Hey everyone,

This week was interesting I did a lot of self-reflection and pondering for the District. But it’s all been good things that have not only improved me but also my District. 

The District is awesome. We have two sets of sisters. Sister Walton and Sister Garrison in Blacksburg YSA and Sister Burt and Sister Latouche in Christiansburg. We also have the Christiansburg Elders: Elder Tuft and Elder Adcox.  They are all awesome people who truly loves the Lord’s work. 

I'm doing well as a DL but I'm also trying to do better each day. I hope to live up to my Heavenly Father's standards, my mission president’s standards and just as importantly, my own. I'm making sure to grow each day.  

But enough with the boring stuff you guys probably want to hear about my Comp. He's awesome and he love the work very much. He has been out for 4 months and has already taught me a lot about diligence and respect for others. He loves football, hunting, fishing and just about anything outdoors. He is a big guy sitting at 6’4” and weighing 260. But his also a really funny guy who likes to joke around as well which is always good. 

Anyway, hope you guys have an awesome Valentine’s Day and I hope Elijah has an amazing Birthday with loves of cake and gifts. Love you all and happy birthday Elijah.

-Elder Toma

February 19, 2022 Letter from Stake President of Pembroke Stake

Devin:  I received a very kind letter from President Quinn Warnick, President of the Virginia Pembroke Stake.  His home ward is the Blacksburg Ward where Elder Toma is now serving.  I met President Warnick at a leadership meeting a week ago:

I just wanted to send a quick note to tell you about a great experience I had with Elder Toma this week. On Wednesday evening, he and Elder Brittain came to our house for dinner and a new-member lesson with Fannie Lewis, an older sister who got baptized in December. My wife has been working with Fannie since the missionaries found her, and she rides to church with our family each week.

After dinner, we helped the elders teach the new-member lesson on the plan of salvation, and Elder Toma was so good — a natural teacher and able to meet Fannie at her level of understanding and experience. He bore a simple and powerful testimony that brought the Spirit into our home and rekindled my own missionary spirit. 

I’m sure you already know how good your son is, but I thought it might be nice to hear another witness. He is doing outstanding work in the Blacksburg Ward, and we are grateful to have him here! 

Sincerely,

Quinn Warnick

February 7, 2022 Loving Blacksburg!!

 Hello everyone. 

Sorry for not emailing for a bit it's been pretty busy here in Blacksburg. But that's good because that means the work is going well. We found two new people. A friend named Dennis and his wife Sonya. They are an older couple who love the Lord and they were willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. They are really nice people and Dennis actually wrote a version of the Bible that involves math. So that's pretty cool. 

Also, we had a friend attend church this week.  His name Is Meshack and he's an awesome guy who is progressing really well. My companion’s pretty awesome.  He's from Orem Utah and his name is Elder Brittian. He's been out for 4 months and he's doing great. 

I'm enjoying the city of Blacksburg a lot and I've met a lot of familiarr faces as well like Alex a friend of mine from high school. But I'm just exited to experience all the people I can reach out to with the gospel. 

One of my favorite scriptures that I found today actually is in 2 Nephi 22:2

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

Anyways love you all and keep being awesome!

Elder Toma

Ps. DL is awesome, and I'm just exited to serve and be a friend to my district. And a leader too.

My dad warmed me about this! He and my mission president met at a training meeting.

January 31, 2022 Blacksburg, Virginia

 

I spoke in Church this last Sunday.  Feel free to listen!

Brother Kurtis Larsen & Elder Toma

Bro. Larsen is the Institute Director in Blacksburg, VA at Virginia Tech.  Dad taught him in seminary back in Utah (before I was born!)