Dear Family and Friends,
I think that this has been one of the best weeks here so far. I have been healthy and happy. I have been a bit less tired in general. I also think that my companion and I have been a bit more effective. I was getting annoyed that we weren't very effective or organized in our planning and preparing for lessons, so we have been working on making our own pre- and post-lesson review sheets that we fill out to keep us focused on what's most important and to keep a good, organized, detailed record of the progress of our investigators and their lessons. I don't know if we have really perfected it yet, but it really seems to be helping so that we have specific things to focus on every time rather than being up in the air for forever for every single lesson. It has been really good.
My Korean is going well. It's beginning to be harder to notice distinct changes in my progress since last week, mostly because I don't feel like I've learned much new grammar or big changes, so I've just been focusing on vocabulary and becoming faster at thinking of and comprehending the things I already do know. I've made it a goal to memorize at least 10 new words every day so that by the time I leave the MTC, I should have anywhere from 700 - 1000 Korean words memorized. It has been going well so far. I am just grateful that I have been blessed with the ability to memorize fairly easily. That has really helped me a lot in learning a new language.
Probably the biggest thing that happened this week, is that because the older group of Korean missionaries is leaving next week, they released all the leaders and called new ones. So this Sunday I was called to be one of the two zone leaders for the Korean Branch. I'm really excited for the opportunity, but at the same time it is pretty intimidating to be responsible for the progress and well-being of so many missionaries. It's going to be difficult, but I also think it will be an incredible opportunity to learn, to grow, and to hopefully help others to do the same. I don't really know much of what I'm doing yet, but I'll do my best to keep learning and doing my best to magnify the calling. If any of the brothers have any specific advice about missionary leadership, then I would be happy to hear from them!
We also had a great fireside by Brother Shane Littlefield this Sunday and I was wondering if that is the same Littlefield family we are related to... He was a great speaker, he was really funny, and he really testified of the divinity of this calling. I was just wondering. As for the musical number that I auditioned for, we haven't been assigned to perform yet. We were getting pretty worried because 3 of the 5 performers are leaving on Monday, so we didn't know if we'd be able to perform or not. So to clear things up, I went and talked to the people in charge of musical numbers yesterday and they said the we have been penciled in ahead of time to be singing on Sunday, which is a good sign. They usually decided on musical numbers each Thursday, so the fact that it is already penciled in for next Sunday is a really good sign. It doesn't guarantee anything, but I'm pretty sure we will get a chance to sing, and hopefully at the MTC Sunday devotional. I'll let you know next week how it goes.
The MTC is getting so packed! It was fairly busy the first week we got here, but over the span of 4 weeks, I can see it getting busier and busier. I think there are about 3200 missionaries here right now and I have heard that they are planning on having about 7000 by mid-summer. The crazy part is that I think the MTC is designed to accommodate about 3000 missionaries. It is crazy. For example, I came to do my laundry this morning and it was completely full by about 7 am with most of the washers already claimed to be used when the first load was finished. And for devotionals, the whole auditorium is pretty much filled 30 - 45 minutes before it starts. They have 2 or 3 overflows to hold the rest of missionaries. You have to go about 45 minutes early if you want a seat. And for the choir, they have had to make a new rule that if you want to be in the choir it's first come, first serve because they don't have room. They will fill one whole half of the bleachers and then you're out of luck if you don't get a seat. The meals can get pretty crazy too. Luckily I have a bit earlier meal time, so the lines aren't too bad, but sometimes the lines are all the way out the door and even almost outside at times. It really is pretty crazy, but at the same time it's an amazing problem to have to have. It's exciting to be a part of this tidal wave of new missionaries.
That is pretty much it for this week. I appreciate all of your love and support in everything you do. I have begun to realize more and more how much this work is really so much bigger than me or any one of this. This really is the Lord's work. That means that we really must do it the Lord's way and we can't do it without His help. It's not possible. It can be overwhelming, but I know that the Lord trust me enough to let me represent Him, so if I give my very best, I know He will magnify my efforts. The same applies to all of us as we seek to do our best and share His gospel and His love. He will always support and deliver His covenant people.
Thank you so much for your letters, your prayers, and your love! Have a wonderful week!
-Elder Tolman

-Finish musical number
-MTC is packed!!!