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WENO, Micronesia — A missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has died after a fall in Micronesia.
"Elder Miller Edward Toa, age 20, from Layton, Utah, serving in the Micronesia Guam Mission, died on Thursday, March 13, from injuries resulting from a fall," church spokesman Cody Craynor said in a statement.
Kaiser Toa, Elder Miller Toa's father, said they got the news from an ecclesiastical leader that their son was killed after falling during a service project.
Elder Toa had been in Micronesia since April 2013, and he was most recently assigned to the island of Weno, one of the Chuuk Islands that are part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Kaiser, who is legally blind, said his son always wanted to serve a mission. He described Elder Toa as always cheerful, helpful and respectful to his parents and siblings.
"How I was blessed with this young boy. He was just a valiant and humble and obedient boy. He was always trying to help anybody he could, Kaiser said.
Elder Toa was an Eagle Scout and an athlete, and he graduated summa cum laude from Layton High School.
Elder Toa and his friends all decided together to serve missions. And the parents of those friends came to visit the Toa's today.
"They don't know how they're going to tell their kids that their friend is not going to be there at the end of their journey," Kaiser said.
Elder Toa was thrilled when he learned he would serve in Micronesia... But his first baptism was at home when he baptized his sister, Eliza.
Kaiser said Elder Toas spent a great deal of his time working in service projects, which is how he lost his life.
But Kaiser said his family has faith that they will see their son and brother again.
"In the church, in the gospel, we have a belief and a hope in Jesus Christ. And that helps us from being totally devastated," Kaiser said.
The Toa family said funeral plans are on hold until they learn when Elder Toa's body will arrive in Utah. They have learned that the people where Elder Toa was serving will hold a memorial service as well.
Contributing: Tad Walch
