Burmingham Alabama Mission

     We really enjoyed having a Senior field trip to Huntsville and visiting Space Camp!!  Elder Barfuss had to deliver a large parcel of medical supplies to an elder, so he missed out on some of it.  All of us enjoyed an IMAX movie about our Universe and some rode in the flight similater. Others rode on the sky rocket and the ride featuring centrifugal force!! All of us had a guided tour of Saturn 5 and the Gemini astronautical displays. We spent time in the museum and toured all the fun interactive stations. The docents were so knowledgeable and answered all our questions.  One guide had worked on creating the code that ran the brain of Saturn 5 and explained how IBM programmed it and they ran the tests over and over to make sure the programs were flawless. He had a programming team of 15 people and explained how not one person had the knowledge of the whole space ship.  They all worked together on their expertise and the three stages of the rocket were made by three different compan

     Nurse Rosie met a missionary for an ENT appointment with a specialist at St. Vincent's Hospital and was so impressed with the doctor's diagnostics, CT scan right in his office and microscopic assessment.  Our missionary was ruled out right there for infections, masses, anomalies and given a clean bill of health from the doctor's discipline.      After wards, a pond and pathway beckoned for a quick walk enjoying the retirement community grounds.  This was just prior to Mother's Day so the joy was doubled!!         Mathew 23:27 "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"          When we visit the missionaries on apartment checks, we like to ask them to share their favorite Book of Mormon scripture and any missionary miracles.       There were two Sisters who reported being saved from a dog when some members drove their car between them and the d

          We have driven past beautiful Aldredge Gardens many times on the way to and from the Mission Office for over eight months now!!  One Sunday evening, Elder Barfuss drove there for a nice evening walk! It started out as the Aldredge's personal home and acreage and has since been turned into a destination for weddings, photos and open to the public for enjoyment.  The immaculate grounds are lovely and maintained by endowment from companies and individuals. It's a wonderful, peaceful place to reflect and enjoy nature's beauties!!                       This building was the entree to a floating dock showing off a darling little water wheel!!                                                             "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow..." Mathew 6:28       We enjoyed the help of four Elders moving everything out of Johnson's senior apartment since they finished their mission. The next couple will b

      Five Zone Conferences in Birmingham, Inverness, Mongomery, Tupelo and Huntsville happening over the next eight days.  Elder and Sister Barfuss enjoyed the Birmingham Zone Conference and were spiritually fed.       Missionary miracles shared by the young missionaries is always one of the favorite parts of the training.      Two Elders had a Sunday afternoon appointment cancellation and after consulting their area book, biked up and down tough hills to deliver a Book of Mormon to an investigator.  She had a dream the night before that her Book of Mormon would arrive and it happened!!  They were able to set up appointments to teach her and were excited about the opportunity!!      A "ministering angel" brother asked the missionaries to visit a less active family 10 miles away!  The Elders were only allowed 9 miles a day to keep within their mileage allotment after figuring in all the other meetings and service they had to drive to. The angel brother drove them and accom

     Most of the senior missionaries met at the mission office and piled into the van for a trip to Hanceville, AL where we visited "Our Lady of the Angels Monastery" and "Ave Marie Grotto" in Cullman, AL.      Our tour guide had grown up for part of her life in Buhl, ID and was a delightful college girl who answered our questions and showed us through the Monastery and surrounding grounds and castle gift shop.  Five anonymous families donated fifty million dollars to make Catholic Mother Angelica's dream a reality. "The nuns invite all people of all walks of life and faith to join them in prayer and see  what the Lord has accomplished here."  Only the nun's cloistered quarters were off limits.  In a basement room there were life size photos and negatives of the "Shroud of Turin" the Savior's burial cloth.  The inside of the Sanctuary was really beautiful art, intricate woodwork,  multiple statues, with real gold ornamentation, and