The Transfer Board

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

I had to look at the calendar twice to make sure I had the right date - I can't believe that October is nearly over.

Last week was extremely emotional.  It was difficult to see so many GREAT missionaries leave.  It was also exciting to welcome our nine newest missionaries into the "best mission in the Church".  They are each unique and all have the potential to be amazing.  We saw several of the new missionaries in the last few days.  They still look a bit unsure of themselves and say they are tired.  They work hard, many are on bikes and they run each morning for at least twenty minutes.  It will be fun to see how they adjust to mission life and become the representatives of the Savior we know they can be.

Each transfer is six weeks long and as soon as a new transfer begins Ted begins to think and pray about the next one.  It is so important to have the Lord's direction in where to place each missionary and who their companion should be.  Some of the first decisions he makes are about who will be the trainers for the new missionaries arriving, the trainer will have the biggest influence on the new missionary and so much of what the new missionary becomes.  Leaders are prayerfully selected and many other needs and concerns are taken into consideration.  Slowly the transfers come together.

Ted has a transfer board in his office with a photo of each missionary on a card.  The card has the missionaries name, where he has served and with which companion.  Some cards have a smiley sticker on them - this means they are able to drive.  If you have an accident or get a ticket the smiley sticker is taken away :(  Ted likes to invite the missionaries to look at the transfer board.  It is really cool to see which missionaries are serving together and where they are serving.  The Elders and Sisters will stand in front of the board in awe at first and then they begin to make comments about former companions they love and miss and areas they have served in.  When he is in the final process of making  transfers (which takes days) the board is covered with two wooden doors and can be locked but usually is secured with a post it that says "no peeking, work in process".

When Elder Bowen visited the mission Ted said, "would you like to see the transfer board"?  Elder Bowen's eyes began to glisten and he got very emotional as the doors were opened revealing the photos of our missionaries.  He said that he had many sacred experiences making transfers in Spain.  The Lord knows who the missionaries should serve with and where.  As you put the pieces together each transfer it is like a puzzle, when it fits and feels right then you know it is complete.

One of our newest missionaries had mentioned that he was a bit disappointed that he hadn't been called to serve in Italy, the land of his ancestors.  The Bishop in his first area in Mexican - Italian and very proud of his Italian heritage.  Ted didn't know that would be important to our new Elder but the Lord did.

I have no doubt the Lord is aware of each of us, our desires, potential and the areas we need to grow in.  He guides us and others in our sphere of influence, to be in the right place at the right time.  He has a plan for each of us and desires that we do our best, wherever He has placed us and wants us to reach out and help our brothers and sisters in their journey as well.

Our Our Love,
The Long Beach Buberts