Stake Conference in Birmingham

     Stake Conference was sent to several buildings electronically, so we didn't drive the hour to Sylacauga and attended in Birmingham.  It was really fun to enjoy the Stake President, his counselor's wife and President Sainsbury spoke(we had no idea!)
       He shared a wonderful story about two of our Elders at Christmas who felt inspired to visit a less active family on Christmas Eve.  There were no gifts under the families tree and when the elders commented on it, the family replied, "Oh, we are not getting Christmas this year, we are giving Christmas to our neighbors who have had some hard times.  We don't have any way to get them all these gifts, could you deliver them for us?"  The elders were thrilled to take the car load of prepared gifts, so the generous neighbors could remain anonymous.  The recipient neighbors were more than thrilled with all the surprises and were very happy to let the elders visit them later on.  They were anxious to learn about the restored Gospel and had other family and friends that were brought into the teaching.  Several are planning to be baptized!!  What a blessing for everyone for just being kind.
     The Counselor's wife gave a great talk on CS Lewis's quote from the "Screwtape Letters."
 "Active habits are strengthened by repetition, but passive ones are weakened.  The more often one feels without acting, the less able he will be able ever to act; and in the long run, the less he will be able to feel!"  She told how Satan controls us when we fail to act on the inspiration God gives us until we are immobile and ineffective.  Negative passive habits can cause us to weaken because easy, passive ways take our choices from us and allow us to be acted upon. Small and unimportant things that we spend our time in worldly pursuits create excuses for the more important things God asks of us. 
     We finally were able to meet Diane Bell's sister and her Aunt Betty at Conference.  It was really fun to visit with them both and plan on visiting their home.

     When we were doing apartment checks, all the missionaries had really cleaned most everything.  It was a delightful morning.  We enjoyed some missionary miracles from a set of sisters and a set of elders.
     The elders were planning to fellowship some ward members playing basketball, but no one showed up.  They chose to be obedient and sacrifice just playing themselves and do some tracking.  They were checking up on a less active member, but he wasn't home and they found five contacts that wanted them to come back.  They were so excited with their success, the sacrifice was worth it!!
     The sisters were checking out an area they had never been to before and went to some trailer homes contacting.  This lady saw them coming and told them, "I knew God sent you to me because my mother died and I need you." The sisters explained the plan of salvation and the women was so encouraged and invited them to come back and teach her again. They also have a baptism coming up with a lady they brought to Stake Conference. These sisters had the cleanest apartment and had meals for every day in December!!