January 25th

So, I did not get my visa, and neither did any of the other missionaries that are going to Spain. There are actually a lot more going there than i originally thought. I know four, and two of those four know another six or eight. I guess they need a lot of missionaries over there, once we get our visas.

It finally started snowing, it's pretty nice because unlike Oklahoma, they have mountains here, so the snow collects on the mountain, and it looks really nice. Me and my companion talked with a returned missionary who went to Spain, and he said that it is going to snow in Spain, I thought that it was going to be a little warm for snow, but apparently not. He also said that it rains a lot in the spring and fall. So the weather doesn't sound too bad. He also said that they eat a lot of pork over there, so I'm going to be chowing down on quite a bit of pig while I'm there. He also said that the people in Spain are really nice, until you start talking about religion. They haven't had a very good experience with people who claim to do things in the name of the church, namely a dictator around the world war times. Also, if the people let you into their house at all, then you only have one chance to convince them why they need the gospel in their lives.

Anyway, the Spanish is coming great, we had a member of the seventy give a devotional last night, and his wife spoke in Spanish, I understood quite a bit more of the talk than I expected myself to. It was pretty neat. Anyway, I'm getting better at teaching, we have to teach "invetigators" all in Spanish, so there is a little bit of pressure to learning more, and we get to make mistakes and learn before we get into the field.

I'm getting a little tired of the food here, they have hamburgers almost twice every single day. So it gets kind of old after awhile. There are other options to eat, so I'm not stuck with those options every day, but just hamburgers as the main course so often is a little bit disappointing.

The schedule is pretty much the same as it is every week, so I'm not sure there is much to share... except I moved rooms this week, there was a companionship shift so me and me companion, Elder Levorsen, had to switch rooms to a room that is probably the coldest one in the MTC. It's pretty nice actually, since at least we aren't sweating under the covers.

P.S. I'm pretty sure that if anyone wants to send letters, the best way to get them to me right now would be to send them through the dear elder system. I'm not sure when I get my visa, but when I do, I think that I will be leaving for Spain the next day, so I am not sure what I would get if you sent it to me.

Also thank Julie for me, she has sent me four packages of food. So thank her for me please. So I love you!

Until next week.

Talon

January 12th - 18th

Dear Family,

So this week has generally been on the same schedule at last week. However, there was a change in companionships, so me and my companion, Elder Levorsen, changed rooms across the hall. The new room doesn't have a heater that works unfortunately, but it also means that I won't be sweating throughout the night.

Our Visas still haven't come in, I got my travel itenerary, but when me and my companion checked on it they said that they print out the itenerary even if you don't have your visa. We were supposed to be leaving on Tuesday, I kind of hope that we still get to, but I'm also going to miss my current district once I leave. But, if we stay here then there is obviously a reason for it.

I went to the temple again today, I really enjoy it's a great experience. The MTC is a lot of fun, and the spirit is great. My old belt broke on me at dinner a few days ago, it was rather dissapointing, and somewhat entertaining since it pretty much suggests that I am a fat person, and that is obviously not true. I don't think that I could even gain any weight with the meal portions they serve here. I would have to eat about three plates, but then I also need to leave some for all the other people as well.

Well the language is coming, somewhat slowly, but this is quite a bit faster than when I learned it at high school, I'm pretty sure that except for my vocabulary I already know more than I did before. I finished up the district 2 videos and now I don't want my mission to end. I am really enjoying it, and when I get into the field to teach people, I think that it will be all the better. Once you love the people it's amazing. I heard from a resource teacher that served his mission in spain that the mission is really hard. I will probably get only one or at least very few baptisms in my mission, if I get any at all. It's still gooing to be fun though, I'm excited. I really do think that this could be the best two years of my life. I am learning a lot already too, I started reading the New Testament along with the Book of Mormon, so now I learn quite a bit. I'm already about half way through Mark in about two weeks.

Also, we got new teachers on Monday. one of our old teachers had a schedule conflict, so the management decided to give us completely new teachers. They seem pretty good so far. The teachers are the investigators here too, so we got new "investigators" along with new teachers. We used to teach them almost every day, now it's about every other day. I'm not that good of a teacher unfortunately. I don't really feel like I can convey my thoughts very well in Spanish. And I feel like I only understand a small portion of what they say. I'm not sure why though, my vocab should incorporate most of what they say.

I've met a few people that I knew before too. I saw Patrick the first week I was here, but I think that he has already left for the field. I've also seen about three people from SVU here, it's been pretty neat to run into them.

I also get quite a package a week from Julie, its mostly food, I enjoy it!

I might have to send you some of my stuff in a package so you can send it to me in Spain. we can only have three suitcases total, including the carry on, so I'm not quite sure that everything will fit, ecspecially with the weight limit to worry about too. Don't send me anything else until I find out if I'm leaving this week.

Anyway, the week has been great, I am enjoying my time here and can't wait to get out into the field. Me and my companion still get along great, he's a great guy. For those who have asked, he is from Draper, Utah, so the same city as Uncle Dave, I think.  He is pretty great and he is pretty funny too, sometimes.

Well, that's about all the time I have to type today, so I look forward to more of your letters, it's an awesome experience so far.

p.s. I haven't received any letters from anyone except you guys on dearelder and Julie.  (*Mom's note - we know other people have written him and we have sent a package and letters snail mail.  There is obviously a problem.  I recommend sending letters through free dearelder.com while he is in the Provo MTC.)

Well, until your next letter..

love,

Talon

January 4th - 11th

*Mom's note: Talon sent this first email last week, but it bounced back to him.  He didn't find out about it until the next Wednesday when he logged on.

Dear Family,

The MTC has been great so far, I am having fun and learning a lot. I feel like I already know more than I did than when I took Spanish in high school. I can already say quite a bit in Spanish, and soon I think that I will be able to go an entire day without speaking any English. I don't have much time to write, so this letter may not be the most transitional, and I may jump from topic to topic quickly. I have already taught our first "investigator" today we will be teaching them for the fourth time. Also, he only speaks Spanish, and he isn't really an investigator, I have heard that he is our teacher. My district is great they are great people with firm and strong testimonies. Me and my companion are the only two going to Spain, five of the other people in my district are going to Chile, and the other five are going to Texas, everyone is Spanish speaking. I met another elder who is going to Spain on my first day here, it was actually while I was walking into the main building and I heard him mention it when he was walking behind me. There are quite a few resource teachers from Spain here, I didn't expect so many people from Spain to be here.

My companion is great, we get along really well. Our roommates are also really great. So far I get along with everyone. I was able to attend the temple today and do an endowment session. It was really great, and I felt the Spirit really strongly. My companion's name is Elder Levorsen. Me and Elder Levorsen got our checkout lists yesterday. It still is two weeks, but now it feels like it is just around the corner. I guess it really is though.

Thank you for all of your letters so far, they have been really great. also, enjoy the cold weather in Massachusetts, I'm glad that I could get here before that came in, although I would enjoy "skating" around on a frozen pool.

I listened to an apostle yesterday, it was a really great meeting, and from what I hear, very unique as well. He filled the entire hour with doctrine about the Abrahamic Covenant, I never realized how much it is involved with missionary work. I play volleyball at the gym almost every day and run around the track for at least a mile. Julie sent me an entire box of candy and goodies so I have been eating those. I am really excited to go to Spain and the Spain MTC, although I really hope that our visas get here on time. One of the resource teachers here had to spend six months in Baltimore because his visa didn't come on time, so he forgot the language before he got to Madrid. The food isn´t too bad, occasionally there is a meal that is really good, but for the most part its better than SVU's was, at least it isn't as greasy. You'll have to tell the girls that I won't be able to answer their many questions until later, at least not until I hand write a letter, and I'm not sure I'll have that time until I get into the field. I am always kept busy at the MTC. Last night my district had to take down all the chairs and the stands as well as the mats in the gym where we had our devotional. It's our assigned service project to do it every Tuesday and Sunday, it's not too bad considering most people have to clean bathrooms, I think. Anyway, the girls' questions made me laugh and I enjoyed them. Though I don't believe Breanna's letter, there is no way that I think that she would be skipping and singing by herself.

Well, my letter time is almost up, I love you all and I look forward to seeing you guys in two years, by then you'll finally be used to me being gone though. I hope Arya isn't too upset, otherwise its going to be a long two years for you guys.

P.S. I am not sure how the mail system is here, I get your dear elder letters, but that's it, I also heard about someone who sent a letter, but it just got sent back, if you have sent me any letters in the mail I haven't gotten them, just FYI. Hopefully it will be different in the field. Sorry about all the mistakes in my letter, I hope you enjoy it regardless.

Sincerely,

 

Elder Talon Johnson

MTC First Day

Talon has arrived at the MTC.  He left our home on Tuesday afternoon, and after long check-in and security lines, made it to his flight on time.  He arrived in Provo late Tues evening and spent the night with Uncle Dave & Aunt Stacy in Draper.  Wednesday morning he hung out at their place and played with his nephew.  

That's the kind of nice that Talon is!!

 Then it was time to go.  

A quick photo op with Uncle Dave...

 ...a stop by the Provo Temple for a picture...

 ...then he pulled into the line and unloaded his things.

 It begins.

The first day of the next two years!

We can't wait to hear what comes next!

Setting Apart

Talon was set apart to serve as a missionary on January 1, 2012.

A fantastic way to start a new year!!

Our stake president, Maurice Hiers, came to the house and shared a wonderful evening with our family.

Pres. Hiers will be leaving town in the morning, so Talon will spend about 40 hours as a missionary before he gets on the plane on Tuesday afternoon.  We'll have to make good choices at our house for the next two days.  The reality of Talon going is getting very close.

Congratulating the new Elder Johnson!

Temple Trip

On Saturday, December 17th, Talon went to the Boston temple for his own endowment.  Nana and Papa Lines were able to come from Arizona to share that day.  Of course, Mom & Dad came along.  We shared a meal at Linguine's afterward to celebrate the occasion.

Talon, Mom & Dad spoke in sacrament meeting on the 18th for his missionary farewell.  With house guests - Nana, Papa, Michael, Lexi, Raymond & Josh - it was a busy weekend, but a great celebration of Talon's decisions.  We are so pleased to have a worthy son!