Burmingham Alabama Mission

     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....

     Elder and Sister Barfuss enjoyed wonderful entertainment for an early Anniversary gift.   The Chinese classical ballet really was amazing with acrobatics never before seen.  There was an integrative backdrop with performers being transformed electronically on the screen flying through the air to heaven. The orchestra and performers were excellent and the finest of clean choreography! We also enjoyed Kymulga covered bridge and working Grist Mill tour and DeSoto Caverns tour and lazer-water light show!!  This was such a great day for both of us visiting  Historic Childersburg!!

     The nurses interview all the new missionaries and fill out release of information and become case managers for some of the missionaries with pre-existing conditions.  It turns into a great deal of work sometimes, but helps the medical and mental health care flow well later.  All four nurses have been really busy facilitating missionaries, insurance cards, IDs, previous doctor notes and making appointments.      Sister Barfuss handed out bookmarks to the new missionaires and told them each knot represents a trial that they learn something from.  At the end of their mission, they will have a beautiful part of their life to look back on.  Rosie helped Sister Dillard with nursing orientation.  Sister Sainsbury's cook became ill, so Rosie enjoyed helping with the dinner for the missionaries headed home at the Sainsbury 's home.      During the Mongomery Zone Conference, one of our Elders sat at the lunch table with ...

     Sullivan's Mission is finished  helping the military at Maxwell AFB and the ABM, so we took the truck and trailer to Montgomery 2 hours away. With the help of 8 missionaries, we loaded up.  Everyone worked hard stacking furniture and loading everything left after Sullivan's packed.  We loved the Sullivans and were inspired by them. They held FHE and Sunday services on the base for the trainees. They were so good to the missionaries and shampooed carpets and fed them meals.  They did housing clean apartment checks and were so thorough and helpful.  We enjoyed visiting with them, Sister Vicki's amazing quilts and Elder Sullivan's humor.  We will miss them a lot.      Elder Barfuss asked all the 8 of their impressions of meeting the Apostle, Elder Neil Anderson.  Each of them liked something different, like how congenial and down to earth he was.  Some remembered being called to repentance and were impressed with h...

     Last Sunday Birmingham was apart of a Southern Conference of 108 Stakes where the first part was a local talk and then a SLC broadcast was sent via satellite.  The Stake President spoke about his experience of respectful sharing the Gospel with a Muslin consultant who reciprocated.  Later he told Steve and I about his father, a Baptist minister and his mother, a strong Catholic, who joined the church when they saw a TV show that peeked their interest.  The missionaries taught them and united the family.       During the broadcast Sister Nel Marriot spoke about patiently waiting to share the Gospel with her mother for over 47 years.  She wrote her testimony for a publication and mailed it to her mother, who was completely receptive in her 90's.  She spoke about the virtue of patience and it's lessons.      Elder Bednar spoke about growing closer to the Savior by repentance.  Taking inventory of o...

Real scary around here, the Governor of the State of Alabama declared a State of Emergency last night because if extreme weather conditions. All the milk's gone from the Walmart, most places are closed, there's all kinds of talk about snow and ice and such. But it's about like the light, gentle first snow of the season back home in Utah. Just a brisk light wind, a few flakes that barely make it to the ground before melting, and overcast skies. I don't see what all the trouble is about. Seems fine to me. (from an Elder's letter home)         Elder Barfuss and I had a great laugh because he explains it perfectly from an Idaho point of view too!!    As we were traveling to the most southern point of the mission, Thomasville, we did encounter ice and snow on Snow hill.  We went through Selma, Montgomery, Watumpka checking missionary apartments.  Elder Barfuss is on a deep cleaning crusade and tells the Elders, "I'm your Dad! Cleanse the...

We are amazed how the entire state of Alabama supports their Tuscaloosa Team of football at the University of Alabama. Auburn University gets some attention, but not as much. Elder Barfuss was able to get streaming games through his computer and for the longest time, the sound came through all splotchy.  After hiring a tech, calling the provider company several times and changing servers, the sound now comes in clear.  He was rooting for Georgia at the playoffs, but AL won and the whole town was happy.  Everywhere we went, missionaries, store clerks, gas stations, people were game talking!!  I love to shop during game time, because the whole town shuts down and no one is out of their homes.   The missionaries are advised to not bother people in their homes during game time or it makes them upset.  We've never seen loyalty like it.  Even people who don't particularly love football, join in wearing gear and getting together for the games and decorat...