Growing Pains

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

Can't believe another week has come and gone so quickly. Each day is filled and our to do list keeps getting longer. Our missionaries have p-day on Tuesday, but that seems to be one our our busiest days because of transfers, so I think I'll try to stick with Monday for our letter writing.

Ted has spent the past week getting to know the missionaries by interviewing each one. He is finding that we have wonderful missionaries.  Most of them are consecrated and giving their all to the Lord's work.  Some are struggling with health issues, with doubts and with companions. We are all growing and learning together.

One of our Elders called because he was having a pain in his chest.  He said it isn't my heart because it's on the right side and it's happened before, then he asked, "do you think it is growing pains"?  I assured him he would be alright, told him to take some Advil and get some sleep.  After he hung up I thought about his question and about all of the growing that happens on a mission.  Most of the growth is spiritual and emotional and there definitely will be "growing pains" from time to time.  I thought about how cool it would be if we could measure each missionary's growth in the mission, we could  have a growth chart that we would mark upon their arrival, we could chart their progress from the time they arrive until they complete their mission. Because they are growing gradually they don't even realize how far they have come but as far as we are concerned they are off the charts!

We had our first new Elder arrive in the mission, Elder Flory, from Canton Ohio.  We are still the greenest missionaries in our mission since he spent three months in the MTC learning to speak Khmer (Cambodian).  A couple sitting behind Elder Flory on the plane from SLC to Long Beach told us that he taught the Gospel for two hours to the person next to him on the plane and that they were so impressed with his great answers.  He gave the closing prayer in our orientation meeting in Khmer, very impressive. We took Elder Flory to Signal Hill on the way home from the airport.  It is the highest point in our mission and was used by Native Americans to send smoke signals to Catalina Island.  From the top of Signal Hill you can see the entire mission (on clear day), we could see to LA, Catalina, Whittier and the coast - AMAZING!

Ben, Mari and I took a drive to Newport Beach Friday. Ben met some friends from Bountiful there and had a great time at the beach.  Mari and I walked around and ate at the Balboa Pier.  We certainly have a beautiful mission!

Yesterday we had a couple of families join us for lunch following our church meetings.  One sister was baptized in April, the other grew up in an active family but has been less active but is now coming back to church.  It was wonderful to see how the gospel blesses each of our Father's children who embrace it.  The Gospel certainly is a blessing to us and we want to share it with our brothers and sisters here in Long Beach.

Thanks for your love, prayers and support!

Love Always,
The Long Beach Buberts