Dear Family and Loved Ones,
It is hard to believe that today is the last day of February! We have had cooler than normal weather recently - which means that it is still a very pleasant 60 degrees :) Warmer weather is expected by the weekend. There are blossoms everywhere and song birds have returned (why would you need to go further South than Southern California?).
We welcomed 14 new AMAZING missionaries to the mission Tuesday. They really seem extra special. Some have overcome incredible challenges to be here: one Elder is deaf, several have health challenges, another overcame abuse, two are the only members in their families. They are all ready to go to work and within six hours of arriving in Long Beach they had met their trainers and were off to their first area.
One of the things we are still learning is the unique way that missionaries keep track of their "geneology" in the mission. We had our own way of expressing things in our mission - foggy meant that you were an airhead, fallared (from the Spanish word for fail) meant that an appointment fell through, etc. This generation of missionaries has a way of keeping track of where they start and end their mission and who their trainers are.
We learned about some of this unique language when we first arrived to Long Beach. One of the Sisters commented in her weekly letter to Ted, "please don't let me die in this area". Ted didn't know if she was concerned for her saftey or health so he asked the assistants about her comment. They patiently explained that she meant that she didn't want to complete her mission in that area. They went on to explain that your first area is where you are "born" in the mission. Your last area is where you "die" in the mission. Your first trainer is your Dad, your trainer's, trainer is your Grandpa, etc.
This can get quite complicated, as you can imagine. If someone trains early in the mission and those they train become trainers you soon have someone who is a Grandpa to many and may even become a Great grandpa. One of our recent Assistants was trained to be an Assistant by one of the Elders he trained, so his son became his Dad - see what I mean . . . very complicated.
About six months ago we were attending Stake Conference. We were on the stand sitting next to the Borquist. I may have already told you about the Borquists, they are amazing, He is the temple President and she is the Matron of the Newport Beach Temple. One of the reasons we feel especially close to them is that they served in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was the Mission President there. As we were looking over the congregation they noticed some of our Elders. One in particular caught their attention. They asked, "is that Elder alright, he looks miserable." We explained he had less than a week in the mission and was probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. Just this week that same Elder said in his weekly e-mail that he was feeling extremely emotional, he was being transferred from his first area (where we saw him in Stake Conference). He had grown to love the members and investigators so much that leaving them was harder than leaving home! Great love develops between the missionaries and those they serve. They begin to understand the love that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us. As President Eyring has said, "the Savior will let you feel the love He feels for those you serve".
Last night we attended a fireside for the youth on texting and driving. It was very dramatic and had a big impact on all of us. They showed clips from a TV special, many young people talked about the "last text" - the text that was being sent right before a fatal or life altering crash. The point was well taken, you are more than 200% more likely to be in an accident while texting. Everyone took a pledge to not test and drive.
Mari could use a few extra prayers, she is feeling very overwhelmed at school and has fallen behind. Hopefully she can get caught up this week and will feel much better.
We love and appreciate each of you!
The Long Beach Buberts
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