Burmingham Alabama Mission

Grand kid's artwork makes our day!!           Elder Barfuss always jokes with the young missionaries when they aren't quite keeping up with clean apartments with the reply. "We are so busy!"  He laughs and says, "You don't know what busy is yet,  you have the same hours in the day that I do!! Wait until you have a family and work life!"      Sister Barker and I were tempted to buy Elder Barfuss this mug, but it didn't come in Blue!! Around the top of the container the words, "Sip-Sip-Sip x 8"  Gifts for senior couples Airplanes for Branch linger longer Seniors made tootsie roll planes for missionary Stocking stuffers     Love these Sisters Given to B.M., Holiday weekend with family Sister Barker  crocheted 4 afghans for Ensley 2nd "Star Farm" sewn for some more kids and Grands Given to Cordeners for new G-baby Star Farm, designed by Diane Brinton, Sewn by Sister Barfuss for Grand

President and Sister Sainsbury were very inspired as they taught the young missionaries about discipleship in our thinking.  Sister Sainsbury focused on quotes and scriptures that help understanding that we are always in choice and agency.  Even if it is an unconscious choice!!          "Thoughts lead to habits, habits lead to character--and our character will determine our eternal destiny."  Ezra Taft Benson      "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23:7 "Be cheerful in all you do. Live joyfully, live happily, live enthusiastically.  Knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love." Ezra Taft Benson Elders D, G, Y, L Sisters N, H, H, F Seen on Hoover Highway We toured the decorated Montgomery Capital Building during Christmas holiday

 Bedbugs, Cockroaches, lice, ticks, fleas, infestations of squirrels, rats, mice all contribute to the mental and physical illness of our missionaries and we have seen it all!! The most difficult case of bedbugs took 7 treatments to eradicate.  Sisters were visiting other apartments for exchanges and somehow carrying bedbugs and infesting other apartments.  Three of them were effected,  sprayed and now none are infested!!      Clean apartments go hand in hand with mental and physical health.  If the apartments are kept clean there are many less companionship problems, less health issues and overall obedience.  Elder Barfuss is inspecting every single apartment himself for the New Year and challenging the missionaries to "return and report" a purified environment!!           Sister Barfuss had three sprained ankles in one week, requiring a CAM boot walker to off load and a lace up brace for sleeping. (We were running lots of miles getting these braces delivered)      

                           Sign on church that made us laugh..."God answers Knee mail!"    Our Sylacauga Elders have needed us to drive them around to appointments after Sunday Meetings to save miles on their car.  It has been a pleasure getting to know Elder Wilkinson and Elder Stanger. Elder Conner prior and Elder Morley new companion with Elder Stanger.      We drove Elder Wilkinson and Elder Stanger on Preparation Day to see the Talledega Raceway and car Museum and they both enjoyed it.  The drive over was an hour, then 35 minutes to Talledega and 35 minutes back to Sylacauga.      After dropping them back at the church, Elder and Sister Barfuss took Grandma Henderson to Taco Bell for an early dinner.  Childersburg Taco Bell is 30 minutes from Sylacauga and Sister Henderson had asked earlier to be treated to tacos for the holiday.  It was raining and we all enjoyed the meal together.  We drove Grandma Henderson back to her home and then drove the hour home to Hoover. (

 The Seniors enjoyed a small train tour of the Hyundai factory, but were not allowed to take pictures.  The robotics and amazing technology were mind blowing.  They can make three different model of cars on the assembly line, just by programming which car they want in what order. There are huge buildings and quite a work force that makes 1030 cars a day!! They use 'just in time" processes where parts are delivered right when they are needed!!  Before the tour, we all were able to sit in several brand new cars on the show floor.  Steve said I could buy one!! We were checking on discounts!!                                            Sister Barfuss and Elder Barfuss in front of the main building                                                      Owens, Ensigns, Hursts, Dances, Barfuss's and Barkers