The First Area

A week ago, Spencer got on a plane in Salt Lake and headed to Colorado. While he was at the airport, he was able to call home. I was sad that Maddie was already at school and Jeff was out of town for work, but I sure did love to hear his voice. I was really proud of myself for holding back the tears until the call ended.  I know it had only been 3 weeks, but  I sure missed that boy. It was amazing to have a great conversation with him.

His mission president's wife posted this picture on Facebook from the airport:

Spencer was assigned to Parker, Colorado for his first area. His companion is Elder Burt and they are living with a sweet family who has texted me a few pictures this past weekend.

 Yard work and Chipotle - what a great Saturday with service and yummy food

His first Sunday - On Monday, we got a message from a friend who used to be in our ward. She said her brother and sister-in-law are in the ward Spencer is assigned too. They said he bore a great testimony in sacrament meeting.

Here was his first email from Parker:

Hello! 6 days into the mission field... It already feels like it's been so long. I am emailing today because yesterday was a holiday and the library was closed so I am emailing today. The traveling was rough to the mission field but it is really nice here. Everyone is so nice! The first day I was here, some non-member gave Elder Burt, my companion, and I $20. It was so cool! I am currently in the Parker area serving in the parker south stake. I really enjoy it here. My companion is really funny. We are going to ask this week to this investigator, Becca, to be baptized. She believes everything we tell her so I think it will be good. I am looking forward to it. 

     Three days ago, we were visiting this one investigator and on our way back to the car, this lady was looking for her dog. We asked to help her find it and we started looking. I said a pray in my mind asking that we will find the dog. A minute later, not only did we find the dog but the dog came to us! Prayers do work if we truly ask for help in that which is good. So that small miracle already happened.

     I am doing great here. Some non-member said that she would buy me groceries if I ever needed it. They also took my companion and I to California Pizza Kitchen Saturday night. I love it here and can't wait to find more people to teach. I will email you all next week and hoping to here from you!

   -Elder Toomer

While he was at the library emailing us, he met the son of a girl Jeff grew up with. Elder Reynolds has been in Colorado for a year. We are so excited they met. What a small world!

Today in the mail, we received a card from Spencer. He started it by, "Dear Toomer Family." Apparently we are not Mom and Dad anymore. Haha! He included a picture of him and his Mission President and Wife, The Mendenhall's. We know he is well taken care of.

The MTC

Spencer spent 3 weeks in the Missionary Training Center in Provo. He had a lot of fun getting to know a ton of other missionaries. He said the classes were long, but the company was great. He really enjoyed getting packages of snacks to share with everyone around him (thanks to Amazon Pantry).

He was able to go to the temple twice while there with his zone. The second time, they all ate breakfast at the temple afterwards. He really enjoyed eating food at someplace other than the MTC.

His second week there, Spencer was made a Zone Leader. He really didn't tell us much about it, other than he loved getting to know even more missionaries.

Spencer had 2 sister missionaries that were able to go to Salt Lake to sing in the choir at General Conference. He loved listening to the talks while having questions he wanted answered. He testified that when you listen with real intent to find answers, the Lord will always respond. After the last session of conference, the singing group, Vocal Point, came and spoke and sang to the missionaries. He said, "that was really cool."

He truly loved his time at the MTC, but was very excited to get to Colorado and serve the people there.

The first week

Spencer had a great first week. He absolutely loves the MTC. He was able to see one of his best friend from Bakersfield on his first day. We are so happy they found each other!

Elder Van Dyke and Elder Toomer

Elder Hassell - Spencer's MTC Companion

The Zone

 Studying - or posing?

 Spencer's Zone was able to go to the Provo temple one day. It is so great that the temple is across the street from him for a few weeks.

And here is what he wrote:

I love the MTC. I already had the chance to teach a real investigator.His name is Jose. He is a boxer from Los Angeles. We taught him about how families can be together forever. My companion, Elder Hassell is cool. My whole district is cool. I had the opportunity to be apart in two blessings already for sisters in our district. It was a really neat experience. I also had the opportunity to watch this talk by Bednar. It can only be seen in the MTC. People said it is life-changing but I didn't really believe them at first. But wow! It was. What a talk. One part in his talk, he talked about this Relief Society President who just found out her only daughter died. The daughter was in a really bad car accident and the mom is single. She called Bednar up when he was a bishop and asked if he could identify the 3 girls in the car accident not knowing at the time that her daughter was dead. When Bednar found out, He told the Mom of the deceased daughter. Instead of crying and complaining, she asked if the other moms were ok. Then on the day of her daughters funeral, an angry young woman complained she didn't get food when she was sick. on the way to her daughters funeral, the mother stopped at the angry womans house and gave her food. How Christlike is that! There is way more to the talk and it would take hours for me to explain it. But anyways, I just went to the temple this morning to do initiatories.

He also emailed about his IV (he thinks its strange to have to do it in front of so many people, but it has to be done) and he asked for treats (typical Spencer). I feel so much better about him being away after hearing from him.

The First 2 Emails

Any missionary mom will tell you that those weekly emails are the best thing ever! We actually got 3 emails from Spencer in the first week. We know it will only be weekly from now on, but I love that we were blessed with some extra words from our missionary.

The first one we received was just a couple of hours after we dropped Spencer off. What a relief to hear from him:

Hey! I'm here at the MTC as you know. I love you guys so much and will keep in touch as much as I can. Talk to you

soon.

-Elder Toomer

The second was a couple of days later:

Hey! The MTC is great! am learning so much and am very comfortable in teaching investigators. We literally start

teaching investigators the second day. My companion is Elder Hassell. We are very good at teaching investigators.

My companion and I have already taught two investigators. They are just our teachers but they feel real. It isn't that

hard then I thought to teach a 30 minute lesson. Tomorrow we teach real investigators. I can't wait for that. I have

met so many Elders and Sisters and have made friends with so many. I will send pictures later and I want to let you

guys know that I love you! I will talk to you soon. 

- Elder Toomer

Saying Goodbye for Two Years

I am not going to lie - dropping Spencer off at the MTC was one of THE hardest, yet most rewarding things I have ever done. It is really difficult to say goodbye, knowing we won't see each other for such a long time, but, I could also see how happy and excited Spencer was to be leaving to serve the Lord in Denver. I am so grateful for this wonderful young man and his incredible testimony of the Gospel. And I am grateful we were able to snag some last pictures of this cute guy for awhile.

Pepper is 14 years old. Watching Spencer say goodbye to her was really hard knowing she might not be here when he comes home.

 We stopped at BYU to say goodbye to Kaylee,

and Sam,

and Luke,

and Brother Schafer (one of THE best Young Men's Presidents around).

 We were able to spend the night at Chris and Christy's. So glad we could see all of them.

Christy wanted to give Spencer a proper send off with bubbles in the front yard

 We spent a little time across the street from the MTC at the Provo temple grounds.

And then the goodbye's at the curb. It was probably a good thing that they only give you a few minutes before the missionaries are off. 

Open House

September 3rd was a crazy, busy day, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Spencer gave his farewell talk in sacrament meeting (Maddie also spoke). Right after church, he was set apart as a missionary and that evening, we held an open house in his honor. We are so very grateful for all the support from family and friends who made this time so special for our missionary!

Cousins - at least the ones I remembered to take pictures of

Spencer and Colby - the 2 oldest Toomer cousins

The Open House - It was a packed house! We love the many people who came to say goodbye for 2 years to Spencer and those who were there in spirit.We had cakes, avalanche bars, brookies, Costco cookies, and tie shaped sugar cookies.

Anyone who knows my dad, knows this is the best picture I could get (he does NOT like the camera)

Soccer friends - Randy, Russell, and Bradley

Jeff and Chad - typical picture of them together

The Phippens came from Visalia on the right night to see Spencer off