From Elder F.
"I received a notice on Friday that I am leaving for the Madrid Missionary Training Center on Monday, July 5. I leave from the MTC here at 5 am and will be in Spain by about 7:30 Tuesday morning. The mailing address there is:

ELDER JOSEPH OWEN FAGERSTEN
4A. PLANTA
CALLE DEL TEMPLO NO. 2
MADRID 28030
SPAIN


From www.mormonwiki.com/
One measure of the Church growth was the announcement of the Madrid Spain Temple to be built in the suburb of Mortalez in 1996. This temple would be the centerpiece of a complex built on more than three acres of land and would include a missionary training center, an institute, temple patron housing, a distribution center, a family history library, and underground parking.

From Elder F
"I want to encourage you to read the talk "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!" by Elder Richard G. Scott from the April General Conference. Thanks for the letters that have been sent and everything else. Every day I am learning more and every day I feel closer to the Savior. His sacrifice was so pure, so perfect, and so selfless. It's amazing. "

Here's the link to that talk. Enjoy! www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7567b73f64838210Vgn
VCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010Vgn
VCM1000004d82620aRCRD

The first letter...and a correction

A few snipits from Elder Fagersten's first letter...
"First, I want to tell you that I love you! It is great to feel supported and loved while I am here preparing to go to Spain. My estimated departure date is July 6, but we will see what happens with the visa. My companion is Elder Bradley Joseph Hilton from Tempe, Arizona. Time goes quickly here, especially when you're getting used to the schedule and when there are so many things you try to accomplish. We are learning the language well and try to practice whenever we can.There are also workshops and lots of other resources that we have which help us develop our language skills, our teaching skills, our knowledge of the gospel, our faith in Jesus Christ, our unity as a companionship, and many more things. The Spirit has taught me many new things and helped me make connections to other principles of the gospel, as well as real life experiences. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Continually striving to draw closer to Him has humbled me and helped me recognize how much I really do need Him! I love you all. Talk to you next week!"

OK, so this is the updated address to send letters to. As Elder F reminded us in his letter, he can only write once a week, but he can RECEIVE letters every day ;)
Elder Joseph Owen Fagersten
MTC Mailbox # 120
SPA-MAL 0706
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

You can also go to www.dearelder.com and select the tab on top "write a letter". In the drop down menu, choose Provo MTC. Then hit "write a letter". Type in Elder Joseph Fagersten. The MTC Box # is 120, and the mission code is 0706. His estimated MTC departure date is July 6. Type in your email address and if you want it delivered to Joe as a letter as well as an email (which is what Joe would prefer so he can spend his time writing emails rather than reading them) type in HIS email address which is joseph.fagersten@myldsmail.net. Then you type your letter and the email you send will be printed off and delivered to Elder Fagersten in the MTC the same day (as long as it is submitted before noon!). Did you get all of that? (this makes it sound much more difficult than it really is)

It's Official

Elder Fagersten entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday the 16th. Our Uncle Pat, who lives in Provo, dropped him off. I think he was excited. :)

Chick Post

Here is Elder Fagersten's snail mail address from June 16 - July 7th.
Elder Joseph Owen Fagersten
Spain Malaga Mission
PO BOX 120
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604
You can send letters and packages. When my hubby Lars served his mission in South Africa, any letter from a girl was called "chick post". Hopefully when Elder F gets his mail, he will seem like a mother hen.

Aaaaaaand He's off!

Tonight Joe officially became Elder Fagersten and tomorrow he gets on an airplane for the first time in his life (yikes!).

Elder Fagersten will be in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah for three weeks reading, studying, attending classes and learning Spanish. He will follow a strict schedule beginning at 6 am and ending at 10:30 pm. To read more about what he's going to be doing there, follow this link. http://lds.about.com/od/programs3foldmission/tp/missionary_training_center.htm

As Elder F writes about his experiences, I will post parts of his letters and let him fill us in on all the details because let's be honest, otherwise I would just have to make it all up.