Memories of our Senior Couple Mission in the Ogden Utah Mission

Serving in Layton Utah Legacy Stake

D&C 4

2  Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3  Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4  For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layette up in store that he perisheth not, but bright salvation to his soul.

On Sunday afternoon Paul and I went to the stake offices and met with the Stake President Daren Stevenson and his 1st counselor Mitchell Pendleton.  After some talk, President Stevenson laid his hands on our heads and set us apart as disciples of Christ.  I would like to believe that I am always a disciple but I know that I am lacking in that area.  I hope to be able to fulfill this calling in a manner that will please my Heavenly Father.  

Monday morning Paul and I left for the MTC for our week of training to learn how to be better missionaries.  We were lead to several stations to get ourselves checked in and then we were lead to a large room where we would be several times this week.  We were welcomed and given our first instruction.  Sister Snow, wife of the MTC Mission Presidency said, "Will the Lord ask you to do the impossible?...absolutely.  Will you do the impossible?...absolutely.  She went on to tell us that with the spirit we can do the impossible.  

This week was a very spiritual and uplifting week.  We were instructed on the basic elements of teaching and were also given opportunity to experience it in a near normal situation where we would roll play teaching.  Even though we were roll playing we were able to invoke the spirit of the Lord and feel his presence as we taught our pretend investigators.  We also were able to do roll playing with those in our District group.  It's hard to put into words the feelings and impressions that I had during this week.  

We loved our trainers that we had this week.  Brother Larsen and Sister Vance. I love the testimonies and the ability to teach that these young people possess. They are so comfortable teaching people that are 3 times their age.  We all became good friends.  They were both very organized.  

Elder Nelson      Elder Prior      Sister Koster      Elder Jay      Brother Larsen

Sister Nelson        Sister Prior          Sister Pfau        Sister Jay

In between classes we would all go outside to get some exercise.  It seemed that we just would sit in class and then go eat, sit in class and go eat, etc.  The food in the cafeteria is so good that it is hard to resist eating too much.  We did eat a lot of salads though.   They were all really good.  Paul even got his bacon and eggs a few mornings.

We made wonderful friends and saw some others.  My brother, Robert's, son and daughter were both at the MTC which I did not know about until Spencer came up to me and said Hi.  It was so fun to see him.  He was a little boy the last time I saw him.  Then I saw Christine.  She was coming into the restroom with a tissue in her nose.  When I saw her I thought she looks familiar but I couldn't see her badge.  But she recognized me and after she got her bloody nose under control she came and said Hi to me.  So fun to see these too.  Of course, I took a bunch of pictures with each of them.  On Thursday at lunch time we all met at the big map and had our picture taken as we pointed to our mission areas.  

Sister Christine Barlow and Elder Spencer Barlow (my cute niece and nephew)

Elder Spencer Barlow - Nephew

Sister Christine Barlow-niece

Elder Isaac Baker