Burmingham Alabama Mission

The Senior Couples become family away from home and provide great support and enjoyment to one another. Some Saturdays we take short trips and see nature's beauties together.  Other times we get together for dinners out or a movie, pot lucks and a game night. Barkers and Ensigns are office couples we see the most, but we see the Dances, Hursts, Owens, Turnbows and Hoopes for senior outings, transfers and Zone Conferences.  All of the seniors add dimension and charm to the mission experiences.  We have grown to love them all.      Barkers took us to visit Oak Mountain last October to enjoy the beautiful Fall colors. It was so peaceful with breath taking beauties.      There was an area for horses, boarding and an arena, as well as another area where cabins were for rent.  The main attraction was a developed swimming area on the lake with sandy beaches, huge restrooms/changing area made from stone.      At the end of o...

AL only building by FLW On a 700 mile apartment check loop, historical architecture Elder M and Elder S, serving in Sylacauga with Elder Barfuss "fine tuning" their apartment Sunday's after church we drive the Sylacauga Elders to give the Sacrament to shut ins, follow up on new move ins and ward members.  As we stopped by one home, the Elders were directed to go quickly across the street. (Sister Barfuss watching from pick up, saw all three run across the street)  The gentleman they wanted to visit with, received a phone call that his neighbor lady had fallen and no one had the strength to help her up.  In a matter of minutes, the Elders and Elder Barfuss lifted her up and it saved them a call to emergency personnel!  (Right place at the right time, what a blessing) Rolls of cotton from the field harvest Driving behind Childersburg Sweet L, on the move in her finery!! Love these Saint George Grand girls Byron voted Jr. CGO ...

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 Barf...

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 r...