MTC beginning

September 11, 2017
Our son, Bryce flew into Salt Lake City from his Guatemala 10 day Dental Mission to help see Steve and Rosie off to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, UT. He rented a car and followed us to the gate and took some photos.  Definite role reversal from 22 years ago when we dropped him off and Blair three weeks before him.

Missionaries helped us with our luggage and lead us to our dorm room.  Steve and I attended orientation with Elder Breathwaite on “Preach My Gospel.” Steve met Ron Bowman who graduated with Steve from Capital High over 45 years ago and will be serving with his wife in South Korea/North Korea border with military personnel!!   Elder Hafen is a grand nephew of the temple artist that painted murals with John B. Fairbanks. We enjoyed cafeteria lunch, more classes and dinner.  Steve was chosen to be a district leader of 8 people. Our district has Elder and Sister Thackery who are serving in Trinadad as Financial Support(he dated Steve’s cousin Julie Barfuss who is now serving in Russia with her husband). Elder and Sister Phillips who will be serving in London ENG as Self Reliance, Elder and Sister Smith; who will be serving in Sao Palo, Brazil (He is a brother to Jim Smith in our old ward) and us.

Monday night was a special rebroadcast of Elder Bednar’s talk on “The Character of Christ” (Putting off the Natural Man) It was a powerful address we both enjoyed about being more like the Savior.

Sept 12--Tuesday Evening Devotional-Presidency of the Seventy, Patrick Kearon(trials and MTC experience) and his wife, (spoke on prayer). Rosie sang in the choir of over 400 people in the MTC Choir, an arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee” and it was a powerful spiritual experience to sing with so many. It was also wonderful to sing hymns, primary songs and prelude hymns with such a large group.  The choir director was hilarious and also bore a powerful testimony of overcoming trials through enduring faith, during the rehearsal.  
  "But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."  Alma 17:3

                                                   Before the MTC, we spent the night with Blair and Emily and                                                                                                                              girls(Katahryn, Anna and Evie)
                                Sister Rosie Barfuss, Elder Steve Barfuss being dropped off by son Bryce                                                                                                                                           Barfuss at the MTC
                                                  Pointing to Burmingham Alabama on the famous MTC map
                                                              Grandma Rosie gave Evie her YW quilt she made

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