Welcome Home, Rex and Kathy Tobler

Rex and Kathy Tobler arrived home to St. George and into the waiting arms of their five children and fifteen "grands" on February 2, 2016 after 18-months of service as fulltime missionaries in the Mexico Mexico City West Mission, one of 7 missions in the world’s 5^th largest city with more than 20 million residents and one of 34 missions in Mexico. 

Elder Rex, who served a Spanish-speaking mission as a young missionary in Texas, had to “brush up on his language skills” before entering the MTC on August 4, 2014  with his eternal companion.  In Mexico City, he served as mission secretary with responsibilities for ordering supplies (Books of Mormon, pamphlets, replacement missionary badges) and fellowshipped less active members at night with the missionaries.  

Sister Kathy Tobler was responsible for new member paperwork including entering information on baptisms and confirmations – about 150-200 per month – into the Church website.  She also enjoyed the opportunity to “feed the missionaries” on a regular basis and exploring Mexico City with its many sites and wonders, traveling by bus or taxi, metro train or walking. 

Together they enjoyed the company of 9 other missionary couples serving in the mission office – including Mission President George and Sister Dixie Whitehead from St. George - with whom they regularly socialized for game nights, movie nights and sightseeing.  “We had so much fun I often wondered if it counted toward our exaltation,” she said in her Sacrament meeting talk.  They dined at familiar places such as Chili’s, Olive Garden or the Cheesecake Factory, walked 5 minutes from their apartment on the top floor of a 5-story hotel and 15 minutes to Church to attend a Spanish-speaking ward.

Their assigned temple was the Mexico City Temple, but it was closed for remodeling for most of their mission.  However, they did get to participate in the temple rededication on September 13, 2015, an event Sister Tobler calls “a big deal.”   In the meantime, they took the opportunity to attend the Vera Cruz Temple – 6 hours from their apartment – and the temple in Guadalajara – 6 hours in the other direction. 

Both are happy to be home but call this an experience they will never forget and are both grateful for this opportunity to serve together.