Burmingham Alabama Mission

      Zone Conference Theme "Faith to Find the Elect" was inspirational.  President and Sister Sainsbury taught to 1. Align ourselves with Christ and Heavenly Father 2.  Faith to generate positive thoughts and work as assigned  3.  Become Master Teachers of Preach My Gospel, Keep it Simple, Beautiful. Be humble, prayerful, obedient, abide in His word, keep the commandments, follow the Spirit.      Missionary Miracles -Two sisters  were texting a lady whose husband had passed away this past year.  As they taught the Restoration and read with her in the Book of Mormon, she cried great big tears and the knowledge changed her whole world!! She wants to be baptized and come to church.  The lady referred a friend who invited another friend!  The sisters said, "Put these principles to the test, apply it and testify and it changes lives!!      One Elder said he taught a women who said she would read the Book of Mormon and was transferred.  The next thing he heard at a famil

Elder and Sister Barfuss enjoyed an outing on Saturday Preparation Day to the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum, downtown Birmingham.  The Baptist Church across the street was bombed five times and rebuilt!! The statue commemorates four girls who were killed in the 1963 bombing!  Our hearts went out to the struggles that Birmingham and surrounding areas experienced when we were children growing up in Idaho.  Jim Crow laws and discrimination was so bad it fueled racial tensions.      This monument was a beautiful showpiece at the entrance of a lovely city park full of people.                    The Civil Rights Museum showed conflicts from all over the world still happening!!      Baptist and other Church leaders led the civil rights movement and were the target of crime and bombings. The lack of fair housing, employment and equal funded schools put the African American in a subordinate position that lingers today.  The saying was "Separate, but equal." Nothing was equal

Elder and Sister Barfuss drove a loop of 650 miles in two days.  Stayed in a Hotel in Sheffield, enjoyed seeing a ship lock and a few minutes at a lake.  Also visiting Elvis Presley's birth place Park in Tupelo, MS was a fun diversion.  Enjoyed taking a set of stalwart Elders to an early dinner and visiting, giving them rides since they are on bicycles.  Most of the Elders and Sisters keep really clean apartments and are receiving blessings for their obedience. A few others startle us!! This sign made us laugh!! State Law!! Elvis Presley birth place, two room home that was restored with period furniture donations Elvis Presley car on display in His Park in Tupelo, Mississippi Haileyville Church where we picked up the Elders, took them to check their apartment, then to dinner and back to church. It is a real joy to visit many of the apartments and find the missionaries in good spirits, dressed and ready to serve, clean and obedient.  Elder Barfuss loves to

The nurses began interviewing the new missionaries the evening before orientation, at the Sainsbury's home, so there is adequate time to review histories and obtain medical information.  It is nice to enjoy dinner with the new missionaries prepared by Sister Morris (cooking these dinners 15 years).  This time Annie Sainsbury was home, their youngest daughter and a joy to meet and visit with.  She served a South America mission, shared her testimony, explained the siblings order and some photos. Several of our missionaries couldn't remember their medical information and Sister Barfuss had to call mothers to verify.  One Mom asked if we were related to President George Andrew Barfuss? Sister B, replied, "We are related to Andy Barfuss, he is Elder B's cousin."  The Mom replied, "Well he goes by Andy and is our Stake President and my husband is his physician!!" Both Elder and Sister Barfuss enjoyed visiting with her.  Steve really enjoyed sending an unsi

 Dave and Diane Bell visited from Boise and we enjoyed dinner at "The Cheese Cake Factory."  They drove us on a tour of her childhood church and her sister's mansion home now for sale. It was great to enjoy them and spent some time together!! Diane's Aunt Betty has helped activate and been great influence with one of our Sylacauga branch members writing her monthly sharing/praying letters!! Elder Buck won a race, but because he didn't pay the entry fee the prize went to the next person.  He traded companions for another runner who developed a kidney stone after this race.  Elder Buck runs in his pros clothes and has a goal to run several more races on his mission and end doing a marathon!  He is from Emmett, ID and Elder Barfuss loves feeding and teasing him because he is a good sport!!