Dear Family and Loved Ones,
We enjoyed a wonderful week, the highlights were a surprise visit from John (who drove nearly non-stop from Utah to California) and conference weekend.
John let me know he was coming but surprised his Dad with a big bear hug when Ted walked through the door of the mission home Friday night. It is wonderful to spend a few days with him here in the mission. He looks great but is recovering from a recent back injury from a car accident a couple of weeks ago. He has four bulging discs in his back but as usual has a nearly constant smile. Ben and Mari are loving every minute with their big brother, I am having a great time showing him some of the sights here in Long Beach and Ted was thrilled to have both of his sons with him at the Priesthood session of conference.
Last night we shared brownies and ice-cream with three incredible Elders, our Assistants and an Elder who served here for three weeks waiting for his visa. Usually those who are finishing their missions get a special meal and a testimony meeting, but the brownies had to do this time. The "visa waiter's" visa came and this morning he left for Cali, Colombia. It was fun to hear their stories of favorite foods, terrible foods, mission miracles and the joy of sharing the Gospel.
Conference was great! Most families here in California watch conference at home, we don't have cable so we got to watch conference at several different Stake Centers around the mission (we chose a different one for each session). It was fun to see how excited the missionaries were to be spiritually fed by living prophets and other general authorities, they were all taking notes in their study journals. Nearly every talk seemed to apply to missionary work but some favorite thoughts were:
Elder Holland, "Bringing salvation to other people is a sacred cause."
Elder Christopherson, "True success in this life will come as Church member consecrate their lives - their time and choices - to God's purposes."
President Uchtdorf, "Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus or lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship - the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace."
President Eyring, "If you go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you."
President Monson, "The Son of God beckons, 'Follow me'. He instructs, 'Go and do thou likewise'. He pleads, 'keep my commandments'. Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing we give Him the divine gift of gratitude."
Of course, the list could go on and on.
We are led by living prophets, the Gospel has been restored to the earth, with the priesthood authority that provides all of the ordinances necessary to return to our loving Heavenly Father. We are so blessed and it is wonderful to see the blessings of the Gospel being shared by our amazing missionaries.
All Our Love Always,
The Long Beach Buberts
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