Burmingham Alabama Mission

 Elders Manass and Allen were following their car GPS in the dark right into a farmer's field in Starkville, MS, 2 1/2 hours away. They thought if they could keep going they could get traction, but ended up driving 100 yards until landing right in a ditch!! They traded back and forth pushing and driving until covered in mud and were able to get a ride home from some ward members, leaving the stuck vehicle with Elder Barker's phone number on the center of the steering wheel!!  The next morning when the farmer discovered the car, he called Elder Barker's phone number yelling, "Why is your car in my field?" Elder Barker finally got to the bottom of the story and set up a date with Elder Ensign and Elder Barfuss to go dig out the vehicle and repair the road.  Steve bought 3 shovels, 3 rakes, a tow strap and all of them met the Elders for a day of labor.(Elders wanted to invite other Elders to help, but Elder Baker refused telling them, "It's not day of play, ...

We enjoyed training Martins to fill our roles during "Changing of the Guard."  Steve trained Sister Martin and I trained Elder Martin in their living room on our computers over 4 days.  We stayed 5 nights in Sainsbury's basement during this transition in twin beds!!  When we opened the door to the "Missionary apartment" on our Anniversary, February 21st, I just started laughing.  On our wedding night 43 years ago, the hotel tried to give us twins and Steve changed it for a DB bed.  I quipped "the twin beds finally caught up with us!" Final dinner with President and Sister Sainsbury enjoying seafood and wonderful conversation our final evening in the Alabama Birmingham Mission.  They gave excellent leadership in love to all. Gift basket with candy and veggie tray were taken to MedHelp  as a thank you. Dr. Vaughn, Dr. McFadden and Dr. Perry all gave excellent care Carol Rose we enjoyed visiting in a care center. She was de...

      Elder Barfuss and Elder Barker took a little walk through Peach Park. Afterwards we all had some peach ice cream waffle cones. Really amazing yum!!       One Saturday in the rain, both seniors went peach picking and shared them throughout the mission.  They came back soaked, muddy and happy!!      Clanton has a beauty festival and honors some young ladies as Peach Queen and Princesses each year.  Clanton is the Peach Capital of Alabama and even has a Peach water tower. The peaches come on early in the year as compared to the west.  They harvest several varieties in sequence. Almost looks real!!      There are three ice cream parlors just off the freeway that also have gift shops and lunch food.  It is a fun little trip to Clanton taking about 40 minutes from Hoover.       There is also St. Vincent's Hospital in Clanton that has been a great resource for one of o...

     Johnnie Giddings funeral was held after church so the "Linger Longer" was cancelled.  The same people put on a nice dinner for the family. We took two vegetable trays from Costco and attended with the Martins, who replaced us.  They will be serving also in Sylacauga each Sunday.      We loved Johnnie and Brenda and enjoyed visiting them on Sunday afternoons with the young missionaries.  Twice we took the Sacrament to them and once met one of Johnnie's sons who served as a Mission President and one of the Seventy.  He gave a wonderful talk during the funeral about how his father loved the Savior and lovingly challenged all of us to evaluate our lives and repent.  His brother also spoke and his grand daughter and daughter in law took care of the music. Some of the Sylacauga Branch Members at Johnnie Giddings Funeral

Blooms everywhere in Alabama Sister Barker loves this "Hobbit House" Barkers treated us to Outback dinner for both our Anniversaries We will miss Barkers and plan to get together after our missions. They live in Malad and are on the way to visit some of our kids and grand kids.  Elder Barker made a whole batch of popcorn balls he sent with us. On the way to Montgomery!! Japanese Magnolia-"Tulip Tree"

 President Sainsbury asked Elder and Sister Barfuss to bear their testimonies at the end of the conference.  Every one of the missionaries bore a short testimony prior to ours.  The spirit was strong and the veil seemed thin.  Sister Barfuss shared the story about Grandfather LeRoy Fairbanks serving as an old man in the Southern States Mission with Uncle Joe Barfuss as a young man. Rosie found a missionary card cleaning her father's den and called uncle Joe, who remembered him. Aunt Sally sent a photo of them serving together.  This story was told at Blair's mission farewell because we had just learned the details. Rosie could feel her father's presence and asked Blair after the meeting, "Was there any one at your mission farewell that you didn't expect?" Blair's immediate response was, "Grandpa Fairbanks!" When discussing this later, two sisters in law saw Grandpa Fairbank's face just above Blair's as he was speaking!      Elder Bar...

Flannel quilt given to a new convert and her daughter These Sisters were playing Charades on phones waiting for transfers to begin. Really fun to watch!! Sister Paul headed home, Sister B knows Portuguese, Sister H made poster Sister Scott headed home, Sister W and Sister B Elder B and new Elder Elder F and Elder D both went to Dr this week What a process this is!! Organized pandemonium. Sister K impersonates voices, with Sister D, new Elders Love these girls Great Elders Bless These Boys Dances are headed home, great couple from ID Falls Owens hauling bikes with missionaries to Demopolis Last picture with Dances