Elder Daniel Tolman: Chapter 1 : So It Begins

Hwah!

Hello all! My Home MTC experience is complete and training at the Provo MTC has begun as of last Wednesday. I neglected to email on my first P-day since I let myself get preoccupied with last-minute mission preparations, so here's a blurb about my time online.

MTC at home was a bit of an awkward phase. After being set apart, I had to do some mental and emotional gymnastics to accept the new life I'll have for the next 2 years, and to a certain extent let go of the people, places, and pastimes I've been accustomed to. But, after that whole process as I began training, I found myself still at home, surrounded by some of the things I was trying to let go of. I really began wondering why the MTC has held onto doing an online portion, especially because virtual meetings grind against my soul (the technical difficulties, accidental muting and unmuting, trying to talk at the same time...ugh). But, one of my first classes, with all four to five hundred missionaries starting at the same time as me, happened to discuss this. They gave 3 reasons.

1. It provides a more comfortable transition into mission life.

2. It allows us to enter to physical MTC already knowing several other missionaries.

3. It give us the opportunity to share what we're learning with our families.

I also eventually discovered a fourth benefit. My first interactions with my district were solely centered around sharing our testimonies and learning the gospel. The virtual class setting may not have been the best way to socialize, but I do think it meant we started off focused on the right things.

Each day varied in home MTC, but in general we followed the schedule of a lively morning routine (exercise, breakfast, personal study, companion study), then a morning large class or workshop, and 3-hour district classes in the afternoon and evening. I met my MTC companion, Elder Hansen, who I would describe as the district's lovable little brother. He's very smiley and energetic, and will sing a great variety of songs in pretty much any given moment. My MTC teachers are Brother Baker and Sister Urey, and they are fantastic. Brother Baker's a cool guy with a strong love for the gospel. In good humor, we liked to give him a hard time because he struggled to work zoom breakout rooms and there were some pretty hilarious mix-ups in our classes. Once, he spent a few minutes trying to get them figured out and a fellow Elder unmuted and blasted jeopardy music, to which we danced as we waited (a picture of Brother Baker's expression as we did this is enclosed). Sister Urey has a gift for inviting the spirit, and an impressive mastery of running classes and discussions, both online and in person. So the two are great counterparts.

Despite the rougher parts, I'd say the highlights of the online experience were studying the Book of Mormon with my district and seeing them engaged in discussing the gospel, as well as the opportunity to prepare a lesson for a woman named Zoe, and just feeling pure excitement about teaching someone what prayer can do for them. The lesson itself was pretty rough, being me and Elder Hansen's first one, but nevertheless XD.

The Provo MTC has likewise been a mixed experience. The campus is absolutely incredible, and President Porter kicked us off with a powerful devotional, in which two converts gave their life stories and we watched clips of a devotional from Elder Bednar focusing on the character of Christ. He gave simple and powerful insights. To sum them up, Christ alone had the proper character to perform the atonement, and that character comes down to the fact that wherever the natural man would turn inward, whether due to exhaustion, or selfishness, or difficulty, Christ would instead turn outward every time. President Porter also demanded a hug from every single Elder, and to those who thought they were too cool to hug him, he said "I will hunt you down....and I will kick you."

It's definitely been an adjustment sticking with a companion at all times, and I've had a hard time connecting with my district in person. They're all fresh out of high school and pretty rambunctious whereas I'm the older 20 year old with a different sense of humor and pretty uncommon interests. This made the first couple days mostly gloomy and lonely aside from in classes, but then I had a great one-on-one discussion with Sister Urey, which helped me see how I can use these circumstances to practice being a missionary.

Ok, one last story! We were walking across campus when a grasshopper presented himself to us. I took a picture of the little fellow and began to move along when another Elder caught it, and on a bet for a single quarter, nonchalantly popped the poor thing into his mouth and began to chew. After like 10 seconds he spat the remains out....but he did swallow the next one he came across. So...my goodness.

Today's been general conference, so I haven't had much of a P-day, but it's been a unique experience watching it alongside hundreds of other missionaries. I had a great time pointing out my wonderful mother singing in the choir to some of my district. I hope you all can discern the messages God has prepared for you this weekend.

God be with you,

Elder Tolman