Home M.T.C.

Missionary training happened at our house for two weeks before Marcus flew out to Brazil.  Getting a visa for Brazil is hard stuff and naturally, Marcus's visa came at the last possible second as we received an email that his visa was approved at the same time we got his updated travel plans to the Provo MTC because he didn't have his visa yet.  After a few phone calls we got things straightened out and Marcus was set to go to the MTC in Brazil.

Marcus spoke in church on Sunday and got set apart as a missionary Sunday evening, after we hosted an open house.  It was busy right up until the last possible second and then he became a missionary and the calm descended like a blanket over our home. 

Marcus was set apart by our friend Mark Nelson and we were so happy the Johnson's were here for it!

Home MTC life was fun and hard all at the same time. Marcus had to get up early to exercise and study, then he had online classes until noon, a lunch break, and then more classes until 5pm.  Getting to bed at 10:30pm was a big adjustment so lunch break was often accompanied with a nap.  Marcus went from having a phone to no phone and no TV.  He happily binge-watched The Chosen series, played basketball at the church with some friends, and had a few visits from friends while I chaperoned.  We had a good time as a family enjoying having Marcus around so much but the second week got rough when Randy, Ethan, and Landon left for Young Men's Camp.  Marcus was left with me and the little boys for all his fun and social life.  Very sub-par.

Henry couldn't believe Marcus was willing to go to the nearby splash pad with us

We went miniature golfing for Parker's birthday celebration

Here we are bushwhacking our way through a shortcut so we could get ahead of the crowds of people waiting at each hole.  I laughed so hard I almost cried at the lengths we were willing to go do to put us out of our golfing misery!

Marcus and his companion got creative on Facebook as they bore their testimonies of the Book fo Mormon :)

Marcus's priest quorum advisor gave him a ride to church in style that day.  The missionary life is a good one!

Marcus went for a run while I followed behind on my e-bike.

homemade hamburger buns are incredibly delicious!

I used a gift card from my dad to treat us to dinner a couple of times just so we had somewhere to go and something to do.  But the house was definitely quiet!

Cruble Cookies opened up and they gave us free cookies because of Marcus!  

P-Day was our last big outing together.  We ate at Din Tai Fung for his "last supper"

We ate so many dumplings at 9:30pm.  Worth waiting for and even Henry ate some!

Marcus had a great MTC experience even though the hours on screen brought back a little of the PTSD we all had from doing a year and a half of remote learning.  He made some good friends with his MTC district and was so excited to meet them all in person in Brazil.  One of the elders is our good friends' son so it's pretty fun to reconnect with them and see pictures of our boys together.  Randy and I really have made some great friends through the years who continue to influence our lives all these years later.