Leaving for the Mexico City Missionary Training Center - Tuesday, January 17, 2023

 After two weeks of Home MTC, the day finally arrived for Elder Barlow to leave behind his beloved dogs and home for two years as he headed with his family at a very early hour for the airport for a 5:30 a.m. flight to Mexico City and the Missionary Training Center there where he would be trained more extensively in the Spanish language, customs of the people of Dominican Republic, and further ways to teach of Christ and help in service projects there.  It is always so difficult to leave family members behind and there are always tears, but everyone knows the growth that will take place as their missionary devotes his or her life for these next two years in serving the Lord.

Saying goodbye to his two dogs, Frisco and Tebow (aka Baby).

And he had room to spare--only 46 pounds per suitcase!  That's some great packing!

Elder Barlow with his entire family there to say good-bye.

And he's off!  He will be gone for two years but is allowed to email home and call once a week while he is away, which will help a lot.

Already, he is being asked about his badge that he is wearing, which states he is a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  That badge will mean so much to him for the next two years, and he will definitely find difficult to take off when he returns.

Best wishes to Elder Barlow as he starts this wonderful calling in his life.  We all we praying for him and know he will be a fantastic ambassador of the Lord.