Opposition In All Things

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

This message is a little late - we finally got our computers up and going.  Our move has gone smoothly even though it has felt a bit overwhelming at times.  We have been in the new mission home a week tomorrow and we are feeling right at home!  It will be awhile before everything is in it's place but in the meantime we are able to function.

Elder and Sister Zwick arrive tomorrow for a mission tour.  We are really looking forward to their visit and being able to meet with all of our missionaries and some of the local leaders.

We have had great news from home and also some sad news.  Cristy called to tell us that she is engaged to the wonderful Scott Smith! (He actually flew to Long Beach to visit with Ted two weeks ago without Cristy knowing it.  We were so impressed with him making such an effort to talk with us).  We also got the exciting news of our nephew CJ Edgington's mission call to the Washington D.C. South Mission.  Today we learned the sad news that Grandpa Edgington passed away suddenly.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Edgington family.  Grandpa Edgington was a very special man and has been a great influence in the lives of so many!

Here in the mission there have also been highs and lows.  We had an emergency room visit and a tonsillectomy.  Three of our Elders left an amazing lesson - they were practically floating the Spirit was so strong.  They looked for their bikes and found that all three of their bikes had been stolen. 

One of the highlights this week was a special baptism of a sister who is in a wheelchair.  The Elders were concerned about how to get her into the font.  She is a large sister and cannot walk at all, so they needed to find a way to lower her into the font.  The Bishop, a faithful Samoan brother, said this is a priesthood assignment - I will take care of getting her into the font and you will take care of performing the ordinance.  He assigned four of their strongest Samoan men (think BYU lineman) to dress in white, they got the sister on a white blanket and carried her into the font.  The prayer was offered by our Elder and she was immersed in the water.  After the baptism she shared her testimony and said she felt like the men who made her baptism possible were angels.  We have amazing missionaries and amazing members here in Long Beach!

"For it must need be, that there is an opposition in all things."  Having hard times definitely makes the good times that much sweeter.

This is the Lord's work.  He is in the details and guides his servants.

Thanks for your love, faith and support!
The Long Beach Buberts