August 24, Happy to be Busy!

This was a good week! We had quite a few big meetings, so in some ways it feels like we didn't do much this week, but on the other hand, the meeting were all so insightful and were a testimony to me, once again, that God really does know us and He can speak to us according to our needs through the Spirit. 

In accordance with the meetings, we had lots of travel as well. After the comings and goings and meetings in between, we were pretty tired. I am still amazed at how tiring it can be just to be sitting down... Nonetheless, it was a great week!!

One thing that I think I realize ever single week is how much I love the scriptures. They are the best. No joke. One of the favorite things I read this week was about the fullness of joy that Ammon felt after their incredible mission to the Lamanites. In Alma 26:11 where Ammon says "my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God." I think that we often feel joy and that we all have happy days, but how often can we say our "joy is full" or that our "heart is brim with joy?" That kind of joy doesn't come from anything the world has to offer and I don't think it is even something we can ever find alone. Ammon expressed it this way in verse 37: "we see that God is mindful of ever people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." That joy comes from realizing that God cares about each and every single one of us, that He knows us by name, and that He wants nothing more than for us each to return to Him. We experience that joy most when we share that message with others. A fullness of joy can never be experienced alone. I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us every reason to have joy! I'm so grateful to be a missionary and to be able to witness the power of Christ and His atonement as that joy fills and brightens souls and families! We are so blessed! ^^

I hope you all have a wonderful joyful week and do everything you can to make your joy and the joy of those around you full! I'll be working on doing the same! I love you all!

Love, Elder Tolman

August 10, Tramsfer Week!

This week is transfers!! My companion, Elder Paskett will be transferring. To America.... He has been such a good support and is such a good example! I am so grateful I had the opportunity to serve with him and learn from him! My new companion will be Elder 권동엽 (Dong-Yup Kwon)! We were actually companions just a couple transfers ago, but I guess God needs us back together! He was an amazing companion then, so I'm excited to be serving with him again!! Also, Elder Dursteler, my greenie will be serving in the same ward as me, so it will be fun to see him often! 

Last Saturday 김윤현 (Yoon-Hyun Kim) had a baptismal date, but his work schedule is so unpredictable and we had to cancel a couple days before because he just didn't have time. Elder Paskett really wants to see him be baptized before he goes home, so we are trying to find a way to make that happen... We also met with Jacob (정희철) a couple times and he's doing great! He is really sincere about listening and he's willing to at least try acting on the message. I think he will be baptized soon. He said that he feels he is going in a good direction and he is even going to the Young Single Adults conference this weekend. He'll make it for sure.

We saw a cool little miracle this week. There is a lady who works at a convenience store that really likes missionaries but has a hard time really agreeing to come to church or keep any commitments. Last time we visited, her husband politely but very directly said that they have absolutely no interest at all in religion and that they only like us as good people (pretty much implying to just not waste time coming back). But this past week we were in the area and decided to drop by one more time before Elder Paskett leaves. As we were heading in, we had the thought that it would be fun to buy them some ice cream from their own store, so we grabbed a few from the little freezer outside and headed in. We were pretty worried because the husband was the one at the counter and I was sure he would just get frustrated and tell us to leave. But we went for it anyway and headed up to the counter to buy the ice-cream bars. When we said that one of them was for him, he tried to give us back the money and say he would buy it, but we insisted. He then began to talk a little, gave us some advice about not getting discouraged when people rejected, and the conversation kept going from there. Little by little, he began to open up his heart and by the end of a 10-15 minute conversation, he admitted that he had told us they had no interest but that he rashly judged us and that he was wrong. He said that he was impressed that there were pretty who were teaching about religion that actually lived what they preached. We didn't have much time to talk, but it was amazing how he completely dropped his guard in all of 20 minutes or so. 

I learned two lessons. First, the spirit really has power to soften hearts, especially when we follow Christ's command to let our light shine. Second, small and simple acts of service can bring about great things. I'm almost positive that if we hadn't bought him a 50 cent ice-cream bar we would never have had the opportunity to talk with him and change his entire perspective of us and our church. The small things make all the difference. 

I'm so grateful to serve as a missionary and to preach the restored gospel! I know that God lives and that He loves us! I'm grateful for each one of you and I love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Tolman

August 4, Another Great Week!

This has been another great week! Our investigator 김윤현 (Yoon-Hyun Kim) is doing well and has a baptismal date for this Saturday. He has come a long way and he has lots of room to grow in the gospel (Don't we all?) He said he wants to change his life and he recognizes that this gospel is the way to do it. He also had a difficult family situation and I'm so happy that he will be able to learn the principles of a righteous, gospel-centered, eternal family here. There really is nothing more valuable!

We also met a couple other cool investigators this week. One is a Russian named Dmitry who is studying business here for a while. He is a really solid Christian and asked a lot of great sincere questions. I hope he will open his heart enough to at least "plant the word!"  We also met 정희철 (Hee-Cheol Jung), and he also has a lot of potential. He said that he's tried attending church a couple times and is curious about finding if God really exists, but said that each time he tried, he failed. He agreed to try one more time with us and seems really open just to learn and try everything we are inviting him to do. We had our first lesson on Saturday night and he came out to church the next day! He's pretty amazing.

We also had a fun little ward activity yesterday. We all drove out to the outskirts of town with our members, investigators, etc. to one of our member's chicken farm. We had fresh chicken soup and rice porridge boiled over a fire in their yard. We felt like we had traveled a few decades back in time and really had a pretty traditional meal from scratch. It was a neat experience.

I had an opportunity to attend the very end of a youth camp nearby as they were closing the meeting and had their final testimony meeting and it was so fun to see how amazing God's children really are! We really are the children of God! We are often asked to do things that seem out of our reach or seek to do things that other people might consider silly or impossible, but God truly can qualify those whom He calls. He is the head of this church and He is leading this, the work of salvation in these latter days. The most exciting part is that every single one of us is a part of it! But we have to be humble enough to turn to Him so that weak things can be made strong. We are each different and have our unique weaknesses, struggles, and experiences, but I know that God, as the Creator, can guide us, shape us, and help us to become more than we can imagine of becoming on our own. And it's all possible because the fullness of the gospel has been restored and it is found here in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!!! 

I am so grateful to live at such an exciting time and to have so many tool and opportunities to reach out and change lives!! I challenge you to ask God what He is seeking to do through you and then to do it! It probably won't be easy but it will definitely be worth it! Give it a shot!! 

Have a wonderful week!! I love you all!!!

Love, Elder Tolman

July 28, A Fasting Miracle

This weekend we had a pretty cool experience with the power of fasting and prayer. In our district, there are 3 or 4 investigators who are approaching baptism but are all struggling to make the progression they need to prepare for baptism. The one that we are teaching is 김윤현 (Yoon-Hyun Kim). I think I mentioned last week how he said he wants to be baptized. A few days, ago, however, he gave us a call and seemed a lot less certain that he was going to make the necessary changes and he keeps talking about how he's totally booked and just doesn't really have lots of time to meet, go to church consistently, or be baptized, so we've been worried about him. So, as a district, we fasted from Saturday to Sunday for these investigators to come to church and make the necessary changes. Then on Sunday morning, we got an unexpected call from our investigator and - guess what?! - he was in front of the church!! We didn't think he was really going to be able to come, but he did and I think he'll be able to make it before Elder Paskett goes home! God really answers prayers!

That was probably the most exciting part of the week. This transfer has seemed to be a gift from God to be more humble and learn how I can improve. One way that we can be humble that has come to mind often recently is by opening our hearts. In Mosiah 2:9 it talks about the importance of "opening" and says that ought to open our hearts that we may understand. I think I am coming to realized that there are often more things that I "know" than things that I really "understand." But as we open our hearts to God, I know that He can helps us come to not only know that we are children of God but to really understand what it means and how it ought to change our every thought and deed. We can come to understand how much He really loves us, our family, and all the strangers we pass on the street. We can come to understand how deep His love really is and that often He loves us enough to let us struggle and grow. I think there is so little that we really understand, but I know that as we open our hearts, God can fill them with His strength, love, peace, and understanding. I am so grateful for the gospel in a world of confusion and insecurity and I am even more grateful to be a missionary in this incredible work! 

I hope we can all seek this week to open our hearts enough to understand the importance of this sacred work and our personal role in inviting others to come unto Christ!

I love you and am so grateful for each one of you!! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Tolman

July 21, A Miracle

This has been a tiring but good week. We saw a pretty cool miracle this past Saturday. We have an investigator that we've talked about baptism quite a bit with but he has always been pretty flaky and doesn't really like to give a straight answer and he's pretty busy so we can't meet very often. As we were saying the prayer for our dinner, my companion, Elder Paskett, was about to close the prayer, but then remembered to pray to be able to meet with this investigator 김윤현 (Yoon-Hyun Kim) who we had been hoping/planning to meet. Within seconds of ending the prayer, he called us to confirm his appointment! Then 20 minutes later or so when he came to the appointment the first thing he said when we sat down was "So what if I just go ahead and get baptized this weekend? That's ok right?" We actually had to say no because he needs a little more preparation, but I think he'll be baptized in the next couple weeks! Wow! Miracles happen.

I don't really have much time left, but I am so grateful for each one of you and especially for the opportunity to learn and grow in this work. I feel like I have had a chance this week to refocus on the importance of humility and I'm so grateful that God loves us each enough to allow us to have experiences that make us better. Life is often difficult, stressful, strenuous, and uncomfortable, but when we trust in God and proactively learn from our trials, that is when God can fulfill the promise that He will make weak things become strong. It's so important to really believe that and understand how much it really can and does apply to our daily lives. I know that God lives! I know that He really did send His Son. I know that because of Him we can repent, repair, renew, and rejoice! I love my Savior and am humbled to be His missionary. 

Thanks for all your wonderful examples and for your support through letters, thoughts, prayers, etc. I love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Tolman

July 14, 2014 Hooray For Missionary Work!

I just have to say that I love being a missionary! There was an Elder that extended a couple weeks and so he went home this past weekend and it just makes me so grateful for the precious time that I have to serve as a missionary. Time goes fast, so we better make the most of it!

I feel really bad that I forgot to mention about my companion last week... I am now serving with Elder Paskett and he's just a stud. He's from Utah, he played rugby at Utah State, and he is studying Mechanical Engineering. He goes home after this transfer, but he's such a good example of just focusing on the work and giving his all up to the end. He works hard, he's patient, and he just has a good attitude all of the time. I really look up to him and feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve with him. He's also helping me stay in shape/get in better shape. He's worried he won't be in shape when he goes back to play rugby, so we wake up a little early and run for about 40 minutes most mornings. He's pretty fast, so it's tough, but I love it! I've been so blessed with amazing companions.

I don't have a ton of specific stories this week, but as we visited a few of the zone conferences this week, there were a couple cool things I noticed/ was reminded of. The first is that the Book of Mormon is absolutely amazing and can truly become such an abundant source of revelation! President Shin held some scripture study time at each of the conferences and every time he studied 2 Nephi 33. It's a pretty short chapter, but it's full of amazing things. The thing that amazed me the most, however, was that every time we went over the same chapter, I learned something new! I know that book is truly the word of God.

The second thing that was interesting to me was the influence that people can have on those with whom they associate. As we visited the zones, you could literally sense the "feel" or the "atmosphere" that the leaders there had sought to create and it made such a difference in the way the missionaries acted and responded as a group. I think few of us really recognize how much we influence and affect others. I also think that few of us realize how many opportunities are awaiting us every single day to reach out, to make that influence, and to change lives! I know that as we follow the gospel of Jesus Christ and invite others (members and non-members) to come unto Him through our words, actions, and example, we truly can "change the world" even if it's just one precious soul at a time.

I am so grateful for each one of you and the influence every single one of you have had in my life. Thanks for making all the difference to me!! Keep doing the same for others!! Have a wonderful day! 

Love, Elder Tolman

response to Mom's questions

Dear Mom,

It sounds like you had such a fun week!! I'm glad that you all enjoyed yourselves! I hope you took some good pictures of the "air chair." That sounds pretty exciting. 

I'm pretty impressed with Trinsica making big decisions like that on her own. I've thought a lot about the importance of being proactive and learning to act for ourselves and it seems like Trinsica is a good example of being able to do that.

As for your questions...

Along with my companion, Elder Paskett, our main responsibility prepare and give trainings and help President Shin with any other projects or tasks that he needs. There are 4 Elders total in the office. The other 2 Elders are more in charge of ordering materials, helping with financial, translating, etc. President Shin has a hard time traveling alone and isn’t super fond of driving a lot, so we almost always go with President to Zone Conferences, Firesides, interviews, etc. I’ll be getting my Korean driver’s license within probably a week or so. On normal days, we are in the office until 6 and then we go out and do “normal” missionary work. But this past week was super busy with incoming missionaries, outgoing missionaries, our Mission Leadership Council, and preparing for the Zone Conferences that start tomorrow. The mission home and the mission office are right next to each other inside the same fenced plot of land, but we live on the 2^nd floor of the mission office, not in the mission home. We usually eat meals at our home, but this past week was full of events and special situations where we had quite a few meals with President Shin in their home. It is definitely different, but it’s lots of fun. In lots of ways, I feel like a student, which isn’t really a bad thing because I love being a student.

And just so you know, I found some deodorant and will probably have enough to last me until I go home, so you don’t have to worry about sending it anymore… Thanks for being prepared though! Packages are great just because they are fun, but I know how expensive they are and there isn’t really anything else that I need that I can’t get here, so I will be happy if you don’t worry about sending a package at all. You can just save the goodies for me when I get back instead. ;)

I love you and am so happy to hear you are doing well!! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love Elder Tolman