MTC - Sat 3/14/09

Dear Family and Friends,

It is Saturday morning and we finally got our heads off the pillow in time to catch the last of breakfast being served. It has been an exhausting week, but oh so wonderful. The Spirit here is so strong and the people so great, and the purpose so important that we are so glad we are having this experience. We have had the challenge of teaching three discussions to community volunteers, and role playing less active/teaching less active, and listening to instruction from wonderful returned missionary teachers. Another very meaningful part has been listening to senior couples who have served several missions tell their experiences as they served. We have really enjoyed meeting all the other couples and single sisters who are here to be trained, just as we are. In our group there are 11 couples and 2 single sisters. There are 6 couples going to serve in the temple, some will serve in the office, one in the Polynesian Cultural Center, one to Nauvoo, others to Australia, U.S. and other places.

When we taught our first discussion, we really didn't do too well. The second was better as we had prayed before for the help of the Spirit and we really felt it. We found it is best to just have an outline and talk from our hearts and experience and bear testimony. The "Preach My Gospel" lessons are designed to be given that way. It is so much better than the old discussions.

Next week we will be in the temple all week, being instructed by Elder Rex Pineger and his wife. We are looking forward to that time. Since we already know the verbage it will not be so pressured and we can really enjoy it.Last night we had our first 2 hour session with Sister Stacia Svedi, who just a year ago, returned from a mission in the Philippines. She is trying to teach us Tagalog. We spent part of the time asking questions about the country, food, customs, etc. The language will not be that hard to pronounce, but to remember, speak and understand is a whole new ballgame. Sis Svedi is so cute and patient with us and we are so glad. Please pray for us that we can remember what we are taught and start using it now or we will not get anywhere with it later.

We will be doing our laundry this morning, then after lunch, going to Janice's house and spending some time with her. We love all of you and appreciate your support of us serving this mission. We know you will be blessed.

Love, Brother and Sister Barfuss

PS The food here is always so good that I'm sure that we are gaining weight. They especially make great speciality salads. On Wednesdays and Sundays (we are told) are ice cream days. They serve these big bowls of BYU Dairy ice cream. Of course we have to enjoy that also. We walk alot between buildings and between sessions, but that is not enough.

- This Picture was taken the night before we left and the picture at the top of the post was taken the morning we left for the MTC