Burmingham Alabama Mission

     Sullivan's Mission is finished  helping the military at Maxwell AFB and the ABM, so we took the truck and trailer to Montgomery 2 hours away. With the help of 8 missionaries, we loaded up.  Everyone worked hard stacking furniture and loading everything left after Sullivan's packed.  We loved the Sullivans and were inspired by them. They held FHE and Sunday services on the base for the trainees. They were so good to the missionaries and shampooed carpets and fed them meals.  They did housing clean apartment checks and were so thorough and helpful.  We enjoyed visiting with them, Sister Vicki's amazing quilts and Elder Sullivan's humor.  We will miss them a lot.      Elder Barfuss asked all the 8 of their impressions of meeting the Apostle, Elder Neil Anderson.  Each of them liked something different, like how congenial and down to earth he was.  Some remembered being called to repentance and were impressed with h...

     Last Sunday Birmingham was apart of a Southern Conference of 108 Stakes where the first part was a local talk and then a SLC broadcast was sent via satellite.  The Stake President spoke about his experience of respectful sharing the Gospel with a Muslin consultant who reciprocated.  Later he told Steve and I about his father, a Baptist minister and his mother, a strong Catholic, who joined the church when they saw a TV show that peeked their interest.  The missionaries taught them and united the family.       During the broadcast Sister Nel Marriot spoke about patiently waiting to share the Gospel with her mother for over 47 years.  She wrote her testimony for a publication and mailed it to her mother, who was completely receptive in her 90's.  She spoke about the virtue of patience and it's lessons.      Elder Bednar spoke about growing closer to the Savior by repentance.  Taking inventory of o...

Real scary around here, the Governor of the State of Alabama declared a State of Emergency last night because if extreme weather conditions. All the milk's gone from the Walmart, most places are closed, there's all kinds of talk about snow and ice and such. But it's about like the light, gentle first snow of the season back home in Utah. Just a brisk light wind, a few flakes that barely make it to the ground before melting, and overcast skies. I don't see what all the trouble is about. Seems fine to me. (from an Elder's letter home)         Elder Barfuss and I had a great laugh because he explains it perfectly from an Idaho point of view too!!    As we were traveling to the most southern point of the mission, Thomasville, we did encounter ice and snow on Snow hill.  We went through Selma, Montgomery, Watumpka checking missionary apartments.  Elder Barfuss is on a deep cleaning crusade and tells the Elders, "I'm your Dad! Cleanse the...

We are amazed how the entire state of Alabama supports their Tuscaloosa Team of football at the University of Alabama. Auburn University gets some attention, but not as much. Elder Barfuss was able to get streaming games through his computer and for the longest time, the sound came through all splotchy.  After hiring a tech, calling the provider company several times and changing servers, the sound now comes in clear.  He was rooting for Georgia at the playoffs, but AL won and the whole town was happy.  Everywhere we went, missionaries, store clerks, gas stations, people were game talking!!  I love to shop during game time, because the whole town shuts down and no one is out of their homes.   The missionaries are advised to not bother people in their homes during game time or it makes them upset.  We've never seen loyalty like it.  Even people who don't particularly love football, join in wearing gear and getting together for the games and decorat...

Two Senior Couples came in time for the Christmas Celebrations and we are enjoying getting to know them.  All three couples have gone to Saturday movies together: "The Man Who Invented Christmas" about Charles Dicken's "Christmas Carol" and "The Greatest Showman" about PT Barnum, both great movies.  I loved "The Greatest Showman the best because it was a musical with great tunes and amazing dancing!! We are planning a Temple trip together and some other outings.                                                                    Sister and Elder Ensigns from  Draper, Utah                                                                 She is the...

I shed some tears while reading President Uchtdorf's tribute to President Monson on the church website.  It was a relief to me that he did not have to struggle with the fallout from diabetes any longer and he is united with his dear wife and extended generations of his family.  President Sainsbury wrote a wonderful letter to the missionaries about the process of changing the leadership mantle of the Prophet and the First Presidency that follows: President Monson and The Living Christ Recipients: Alabama Birmingham Mission 08 Jan 2018 President Sainsbury Dear Missionaries, We have all been saddened with the death of President Monson. What a wonderful Prophet and leader! I will forever remember his example, his optimism, his stories, and his call to come to the rescue of Heavenly Father's children. He is the prophet who approved all of our mission calls. You will always have a fond place in your heart for this great prophet of your youth who has influen...

       Elder Barfuss and Sister Barfuss have cleaned out three apartments in that past ten days. We worked scrubbing and hauling for almost five hours in the last apartment and didn't have any missionary help because they were in President interviews.   Elder Barfuss is on a New Year's crusade to have the missionaries de-junk the accumulations of inherited stuff when missionaries go home.  When the missionaries ask us if "there is anything they can do for us", they get an Elder Barfuss lecture.  He wants them to treat their apartments after the pattern of the "House of the Lord." Cleansing the inner vessel like our own souls will help them become more effective missionaries.           Elder Childs and Elder Mueller showing off their clean apartment and Christmas decor                 Funny Sign at the last apartment closure.  How would you like an address like that? ...

                                                                          Halle, Josie and Kaitlin all smiles Our Children sent in some wonderful photos of our grandchildren during the Christmas Season.                                                Anna, Kathryn and Evie showing their Christmas excitement!!                                                          Christian, Josiah, Dawson (holding Anne Liesa) Ewan                                  ...

Mission Miracles In one of the missions in the Philippines, there is a nurse who was a former OR nurse.  She was definitely in the right place at the right time.  An Elder had abdominal pain and the Surgeon wanted to operate.  The nurse asked him to do an exploratory laparoscopy instead of opening his abdomen.  He replied he would if they had gas for the insufflator.  The nurse prayed hard for the necessary equipment so he could have the least invasive procedure and they had it just for the one day.  As Sister Rollins sat outside waiting, a member of the OR crew came and invited her into the operating room.  He knew she was a former OR nurse.  The surgeon showed her the situation, explained what he needed to do, called her back a 2 nd time to see the end results of the surgery.  The room was small, the equipment very old, but the surgeon did a great job and within a week the Elder was back in the mission field.  This nurse knew wha...

Years ago Steve was entertaining the kids on a Sunday afternoon playing Monopoly and it turned into a yelling match.  Rosie went downstairs and flipped the game board together and threw it out in the trash.  It has been a family joke all these years!! Blair sent a Christmas text to the family with the above picture!!                                  Next Byron sent this as his "Christmas Card" to the family!!                                          Rosie sent this one saying, "Peace on Earth"      President and Sister Sainsbury invited all the Senior missionaries to the mission home for a Christmas Party.  Each couple chose to bring something Savory or Sweet.  They had a snack type of offering where there were a lot of Christmas dishes and treats to try...