Unbelievable week!  I am chalking this week up to one liken unto returning family members back to our Loving Heavenly Father, having the home burn down and scratching my way through grad school.  So hard but so wonderful!  We put in about 16 hour days and I attempted to read more than I have since grad school.  Image the thrill of getting through the heart attacks and then having my baby's here and alive-but with nothing but positive, helpful and loving supportive teammates.  Never an angry word, or a negative comment, no one even frustrated or irritated and hundreds of people learning new languages and in an environment of complete love and happiness.  Only like heaven could this be comparable to.  After 4 days we can now pray, bear testimony-which is stating our understanding of how we feel about our Savior, Jesus Christ and his life and how his love influences us, making purchases and getting the basics of communication with transportation all in Tagolog.  We had about 6 natives from the Philippines come and communicate with us on top of our private tutors who were absolutely incredible!  I know that this was nothing we did on our own, we felt the prayers of our family and dear friends who promised to pray for us and the assistance of spirit of the Lord sustaining us.  As we left the MTC, I could feel spirit of peace change in the environment of the world.  Then after this incredible experience we went and watched Max and Charma in Vegas where we observed the most loving care giving  of them caring for her parents, as they struggle with Dementia and kidney failure.  Never a frustrating word of a job that is 24/7. Charna's attitude making them feel like she wants to be one where but there caring for them was so inspiring.  I kept thinking of the Savior caring for the sick and afflicted only because He wanted nothing more than to love and serve them.  How grateful I am for a family of members who set this example for Jeff and I always!  I love this experience and thank you all for your prayers and love!!

Sharing our testimonies

Elders French, Johnson, Horsley, Sister French

 A common occurrence around the MTC campus is missionaries sharing their testimonies to other missionaries. Marcia and I were put on the spot and challenged by both of our primary tutors to do so in Tagalog. Marcia's vocabulary and understanding is much better than where I'm at, but I was able to stammer through.

One set of missionaries we ran into had a Fisher's 1st ward connection. As we conversed with Elders Johnson and Horsley we found out that they were going to Columbus Ohio. We mentioned that used to be the temple that we attended since we were from Indianapolis. Elder Johnson than told us he had an aunt and uncle in Indianapolis- somewhere. Since Indy is soooo small we asked what their names were. He wasn't sure about the last name but was definite that the first names were Dan and Allyn. Marcia and I told him that his Aunt's last name is Baker and that we did know them. It is a small world....

Brian Buchner (tutor), Sister French, Elders Lyybert, Bliss going to  Romania

 For those not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), our church sends missionaries to about 160 some countries. Before they go into the "mission field" they are sent to a Mission Training Center (MTC) to learn how to share the gospel and also a language if they are leaving their home country. While Marcia and I are at the MTC we will try and post pictures, names and where they are headed....  jsf

Hermanas Chavez and May

Hermanas Folland and Whitaker- Guatamala

Sister Belnap and Dolan- Japan

Soeur Garrett and Stahly-France

Old friends and new friends

Sister French and Elder Kirkeiner

 Another exciting day here at the MTC. Our language skills continue to increase with the help of the Spirit. Our focus for the entire week has been learning Tagalog. During lunch and dinner we have been able to talk with other Senior Missionaries who have a variety of assignments to which they have been called. Each training is a little different as it focuses on what those missionaries will be doing.

At lunch a young Elder recognized us and came up to us as we were looking for a place to sit. That Elder is pictured to the right. Yes, for those who may not recognize him it is Elder Philip Kerkeiner from the Fisher's 2nd Ward. Marcia wanted to hug him but rules are rules- I, on the other hand, did get a hug!

Sister French with Hermanas Chavez(l) and May

 A common thing to see around the MTC campus is missionaries testifying to other missionaries in the language that they are learning. Today our primary tutor, Brian Buchner, challenged us to go out and bare our testimony to two sets of missionaries. The first set that we encountered were Hermana Chavez and Hermana May. They listened intently as Marcia bore her testimony to them in Tagalog and they were very patient as I stammered through mine. These Hermanas will be going to Ecuador in a few weeks.

Elder Mock (l), Elder Goodwin (c), and Brother Beck (r) with Sister French

 The next set of Elders we found sitting on a bench and were eager to listen to us as we shared our testimony with them. Elder Mock and Elder Goodwin will be leaving in a few weeks to go to Bulgaria. They are sitting with one of their tutors, Brother Beck.

Meanwhile at the cafeteria more people that we knew came up to us and said hi. One such person was Lindsey (Baer) Miller. Those who have been in the Fishers area more than 12 years ago would recognize the name as
she is the daughter of Neal and Cindy Baer who were in our ward when we moved into Fishers 14 years ago. Another person that we saw was Sister Bushman. She is probably not familiar to most who read this blog. Marcia and I met her at our daughter's wedding in May. She was in Bri and Kasi's ward and is now finishing her time in the MTC leaving for the Philippines on Monday. I am sure that we will see her again after we get to the Philippines.

The time is flying as we study Tagalog. The Spirit continues to lighten our minds as we study our language. Marcia and I are having fun and will continue to share our experience with you....  

jsf

Sister French with Lindsey (Baer) Miller

Where in the world is Elder and Sister....?

Study Buddy- Joti Shepard

 Today was another study day. We met new missionaries serving for the church around the world. We also met new people who are assisting us in learning Tagalog.

The morning started off with a "study buddy." This is a volunteer from the community who is either a native speaker or is a return missionary. Our first study buddy is a native speaker, Joti Shepard. Our session is an hour long (from 8-9) and it is self directed by either Marcia or myself. Not only is Joti a very effective tutor but is impressive with a number of additional languages. In total she speaks 10 languages, most of them fluently. She is also in the process of learning Dutch as her 11th language. Now that is impressive!

During the course of the day we had another study buddy, Jimmy Brady. We also had a new tutor who came home from his mission a year ago. His name is Oliver Am Hu.

Tutor Oliver Am Hu with Marcia (don't quite know where the diet coke came from)

 Not all people employed or volunteering at the MTC are native Utahans. One of the senior missionary coordinators, Holly Anderson, is from Appleton, Wisconsin. For those cheese-heads who are in our home stake of Indianapolis, North, they will be glad to know that there are Packer Backers in Provo.

Holly Anderson

Jeff in missionary uniform

I find that one of the highlights of the day is sitting down in the cafeteria with other senior couples. At lunch we met a couple from Oregon who will be serving in the newly formed Salt Lake West mission. The other couple we sat next to at lunch, Dennis and Susan Jordan, are from Salt Lake and headed to Western Samoa.  Sister Jordan and I hit it off quickly as she is a retired Facilities Manager for the church. Having worked for the church for nine years we had some common background. One of the interesting things that some (most?) may not be aware of is that President Monson raises homing pigeons. The interesting things people learn while eating lunch.

During dinner we sat with two other couples. Both couples have been called to serve CES missions. Elder and Sister Vargas are from Las Angelas and have been called to serve on the island of Cyprus. Elder and Sister Noel are from Bountiful, Utah (if I remember correctly) and have been called to serve in Siberia.

Marcia and I thought that we had a ways to travel when it came to getting to our mission. We aren't even close to the farthest to travel! After talking with the Elder and Sister Vargas and Noel we have come to appreciate the short time that it will take us to get to Manila- about 20 hours of travel time just under 24 hours total. Elder and Sister Noel are leaving next week after their CES training. They will take a 5 hour, or so, flight to JFK in New York City. From there they fly 10 hours to Moscow. In Moscow they will have a 10 hour layover as they have to go to the US Embassy to apply and attain a visa. Apparently that is something that has to be done in Moscow. From Moscow they fly 5 hours to some city in Siberia that I cannot pronounce. The city that they fly to is where the mission president is at. They will spend the night at the mission home. From their they will board a train on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and travel 12 hours to their final destination. I got exhausted just trying to add those numbers together!!

As I proofed the above I realized how complacent that I may have become. By no means should the above be read as a complaint against the time that is needed to travel. As I re-read it my thoughts went to the pioneers who struggled to go west. In those struggles what they couldn't put in a wagon or a handcart had to be left behind. There leaving their homes wasn't on their terms but was dictated to them by the mobs that were surrounding Nauvoo, Far West, and Kirkland. Marcia and I have truly been blessed to have been able to leave on a mission at this time in our lives and at this period of time during this last dispensation. We are thankful to serve.

Tomorrow will be another great day to meet new people and share with them their excitement to serve the Lord around the world. We can't wait!!

jsf