Tobias' chat with his mission president from 2019/2020

 

Conversations That Touch the Heart: Tobias’s Connection with the Past


Hello, dear readers of Tobias’s Comeback, 😍

As we navigate the winding paths of life, there are moments that remind us how deeply connected we are to the people who have shaped our journey. For Tobias, one of these moments came in the past few weeks during a heartfelt conversation with his mission president and his wife, the Bentlys. Now retired and enjoying life on their peaceful farm, they spoke with Tobias over the phone, creating an exchange that was equal parts fun, touching, and inspiring.


A Mission Full of Challenges—and Love

As parents, we always wonder how our children are truly doing during their missions (in our case, the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints). Are they happy? Are they safe? Tobias’s mission in Santiago, Chile, was not an easy one. From facing a gun pointed at him just two weeks after arriving in Chile—Santiago—to enduring riots with fires breaking out in stores and ATMs, Tobias’s experiences were marked by challenges while the country became a bit restless. That tested his resolve. The Church did everything in its power to ensure the missionaries’ safety, often requiring them to stay indoors for extended periods. After a moment of normality, COVID-19 started, layering another set of challenges on an already intense situation.

Despite these difficulties, Tobias forged bonds that would last a lifetime. Among the many relationships he built, his connection with his mission president, a man he deeply respected for both his medical profession and his dedication to service, stood out. For three years, the Bentlys provided guidance, love, and strength to their missionaries, including Tobias, who has always admired hardworking and kind individuals. He did not mind people who had humor—the kind of people he could engage with and be himself. 


A Conversation Full of Love and Connection

Speaking with the Bentlys was a reminder of the joy and love Tobias experienced during his mission. The conversation, conducted partly in Spanish, was lively and engaging. The Bentlys asked many questions, drawing Tobias out and bringing back memories of his time in Chile. Despite the challenges of short-term memory that Tobias continues to face, their interaction highlighted the depth of the relationships he built and the mutual respect and care they share. Often only we experience the short-term memory challenge unless Tobias starts asking the same questions. 😂 He slowly is aware of his problem but loves about it. As parents, it’s heartwarming to see how much he tries not to worry to much about it and how much he trusts in God. The other day he answered a question with, "God will not leave me in the dust!" In my head, I responded, "I hope so." I spoke out loud: YES, you are right!

Tobias values the connections he has made. He has done the same even as a little boy. Tobias has always been a pretty loyal friend. Since we moved often during our children's childhood, it took more time for him to connect to people, but when he connected, he got attached to his new friends as a loyal person. 

Watching him light up while speaking with the Bentlys was a powerful reminder of the love that binds us to those who walk alongside us during pivotal moments in life. His mission wasn’t just about helping people to find Christ in their lives or helping people to connect to their Father in Heaven again; it was also about enduring hardships, as well as about creating meaningful relationships and touching lives. 

Finding Joy in the Small Moments

Life after a brain bleed isn’t always easy. Short-term memory issues, in particular, can be rough. Tobias works hard to relearn and regain what was temporarily lost, and we hold onto hope that this will improve over time. Still, we’ve learned an important lesson: life is about living in the now.

Whether it’s watching Ted Talks about biotechnology and cancer, savoring a delicious dish Tyler cooked, or sharing a laugh over a stuck piece of chicken—these small moments are treasures. Just the other day, Tobias’s newfound sensation on his left side allowed him to feel and try to remove a piece of chicken from between his teeth. It was a little thing, but for us, it was huge. I laughed, kissed him, and said a quiet prayer of gratitude to Heavenly Father.

Life is good, even when it’s not perfect. These moments ground us, reminding us to focus not on what we’ve lost or what’s uncertain in the future, but on the beauty of the present.

The True Spirit of Christmas

As the holiday season approaches, let us remember what truly matters. It’s not the gifts under the tree; it is the people gathered around it. If you’re feeling alone this Christmas, know that you’re not. Tobias and I, along with this incredible community, are with you in spirit. God never leaves us alone. Trials are a part of life, but they’re also an opportunity to grow and to connect with others who might need our help.

So, as you celebrate the season, cherish the moments with loved ones, be present, and remember the joy of giving—not just gifts, but your time, your love, and your support.

Merry Christmas to all, and may the coming year be filled with love, hope, and gratitude for the blessings we have.

With love and faith,

Katja, Tyler and Family
Tobias’s Comeback

Comments

  1. Ryan ClayDecember 20, 2024 at 5:58 PM

    Thank you for the update! I was a close friend of Toby in college. He was my first friend I met at BYU and he lived across the hall from me. He helped me get into lifting and we would go to the BYU gym together. I still use the skills that he taught me and remembering the motivation he had motivates me to keep going. We kept in touch after the mission too. Hope I can visit him one day if the chance arises. The last visit was in the hospital at the U of Utah three years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WifeDecember 21, 2024 at 1:33 AM

      Thank you, Ryan! Tobias still remembers you, of course. I did not know how you met, but I remember the visit in the hospital. Thanks for leaving this message. I will read it to him later (again ...:) LOL) He would love you to visit him someday; we always have a spare room with a bed :). Merry Christmas

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment. We appreciate and enjoy your well wish and the thoughts you are sharing with us. Love, The Dunn's

Popular posts from this blog

"Embracing Change: Finding Strength and Hope with Tobias

Image
"Embracing Change: Finding Strength and Hope with Tobias One of those days which is filled with Emotions, planning, or just the busyness. But I’m learning to accept that it’s okay. Sometimes, life doesn't go as planned, and that’s perfectly fine. I recently hired a neighbor, who has been a source of joy and support for many years, to help with Tobias for 9 hours a week. She’s been faithfully writing her own blog every single day for over 12 years! Her consistency is admirable, and I’d love for you to check out her inspiring journey at Unendlich Geliebt. A great example.  As for Tobias, he’s doing well, and I feel blessed to see the progress he’s made. Has he reached all the milestones I initially envisioned? Not exactly, but what matters is that we’re moving forward. He faces physical limitations, and his body doesn’t always cooperate with what his mind desires, but he’s still here with us, full of life and love. That’s something to celebrate every day. His journey: Through th...
Read more

Im Heute im Jetzt - unser tägliches Leben :)

Image
Leben im Moment: Lektionen aus dem Alltag Die tägliche Pflege eines geliebten Menschen kann sich anfühlen wie eine einsame Achterbahnfahrt - man muss immer präsent sein, Krankenscheine gibt es nicht und Urlaub ist ein Fremdwort. Wie gehen pflegende Angehörige damit um? Aus meiner eigenen Erfahrung kann ich sagen, dass die Motivation ständig schwankt. Selbstpflege spielt dabei eine entscheidende Rolle. Sie lehrt uns, wieder auf uns selbst zu achten, um Kraft und Energie zu finden, unsere Aufgaben zu erfüllen. Als junge Mutter von drei Kindern fand ich kaum Zeit für mich selbst. Wo liegt der Unterschied? Diese Frage führt mich zu einer Schriftstelle aus der Bibel: "Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, lieben mit ganzem Herzen, mit ganzer Seele und mit all deinen Gedanken. Das ist das wichtigste und erste Gebot. Ebenso wichtig ist das Zweite: Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst." (Matthäus 22,34–40) Wer Verstand erwirbt, liebt sich selbst. Wer Einsicht bewahrt, findet ...
Read more

" A Journey of emotional changes while healing a brain"

Image
Nurturing Love Through Adversity: " A Journey of emotional changes while healing a brain"   DEUTSCHE VERSION UNTEN :) A Heartwarming Beginning Tobi has not cried once since day X. Not that I have seen him, at least. One of his very first sentence was spoken in October 2021. It happened with the strongest emotions of our son, he would only be able to communicate, when guided by emotions. Two full month without a word of Tobias, but then one afternoon. Tyler said "Tobias, I love you" - suddenly, Tobias answered: "I love you, too". Crazy, we could not believe our ears. He was not able to repeat it again for a long time. He must have been trying so hard to talk to us day in day out. From that moment on, I went to him all the time and said: Hey, Tobias, I love you, too!!!! ;)   I got eye movements instead. It made me still happy and grateful to know, Tobias is in there and working hard to communicate. Lots has changed since then. Many miracles have been placed ...
Read more