Are You There?

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

Ben and Mari have started a new semester of school.  At Los Alamitos High they switch the students around a lot when there is a new semester so it's almost like starting over.  There are a lot of new kids in their classes and some new teachers.  It will be an adjustment but they will meet more new friends.

Scott and Cristy were able to spend a couple of days in the mission home on the way to and from their honeymoon cruise (which conveniently left from Long Beach).  It was so much fun to have them here and we were grateful that Ted was able to see them.  They enjoyed the ports and day trips but both had motion sickness on the cruise.  I guess it may be their first and last cruise together.  Despite being seasick and Scott catching a terrible cold they are happy. Johnny and Melissa Holmes also dropped by (they are living in San Diego for school) it was wonderful to have them in our home.

Ben and Mari went on a snow trip with the youth of the stake.  They went to a camp near Big Bear.  It was fun and cold but this year there wasn't much snow. Some years it has snowed during the trip and for many of the youth it is the first time they have seen snow.  They still had a great time.  We continue to be amazed and grateful for the wonderful youth programs they have here in Long Beach!

Friday we got news from Louisiana that Grandma Camille was in the hospital because she was having a hard time breathing. They found she had experienced a heart attack.  Minimal treatment was given (her wishes) and she was stabilized and able to return home Sunday. We have of course been thinking about her and praying for her since getting the news. We are so grateful for our amazing family in Louisiana who are caring for her around the clock!

The Sisters gathered at the mission home Saturday for a lunch, to make Valentine's Day cookies and to let everyone meet the new Sisters. Fresh strawberries are back in season so we made sure to include them on the menu.  They are almost too pretty to eat. We found out that our new sister from Laos is the first Laotian missionary to serve in the USA.  Her English is amazing after only three months of study. The Sisters LOVE to get together, they laugh, talk, hug, and giggle and talk some more.  We have amazing Sisters!

Yesterday in fast and testimony meeting one of the young men shared his testimony.  He said that he gained his testimony at last Summer's youth conference.  They were given an assignment by Sister Smith to find a secluded spot, open their scriptures and prepare themselves to pray, when they felt ready they were to ask two questions, "Father, are you there?" and "Father, do you love me?"  He said the first answer came slowly but powerfully and the second answer came immediately.  It has changed his life.  It is an experience that gives him strength and comfort.

In Relief Society we got to hear from Sister Smith.  She told about receiving the assignment to speak at the youth conference.  She wasn't too happy about it, she was so busy and felt like they should have asked someone else.  Her husband told her that it was alright to turn down the assignment but she should think about it and pray about it first.  When she took the time to ask the Lord she knew she could handle the assignment and she knew what she should ask the youth to do.  She had them pray and ask two simple, life altering, testimony building questions.  Many of the youth had similar experiences to the one we heard about in testimony meeting and many lives were touched and changed.

In Elder Gerald Lund's new book "Divine" he says, "To strengthen our faith and deepen our testimony to the point that we can successfully endure to the end, we must know for ourselves with a surety that:  God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His literal children, He and His Beloved Son want us to be happy and eventually come to a fullness of joy, they know us intimately and love us infinitely, they want to bless us, and they actually take great joy in doing so".

I know when we ask, "Heavenly Father, are you there?"  He will answer. He is there, He lives and loves each of His children - in fact He loves us so much that He sent His Son.  Our Savior in turn loves us so much that He gave His life for us.  What a comfort to know these simple truths.

We love you all!
The Long Beach Buberts