Sometimes He Says Yes

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

It's Sunday evening and I started thinking about our schedule for tomorrow, we have a very busy day so I thought this would be a great time to get our weekly letter off.

The past week was relatively calm.  We had a normal amount of medical calls (but no emergencies), no extra meetings and no special events.  I have to say it was the calm before the storm.  Tomorrow we will be welcoming a new couple to the mission (they will be helping with leadership and fellowshipping), Tuesday three Visa-waiters arrive (three Elders who are called to Australia but can't go until they get their Visas - they will serve in Long Beach in the meantime), Thursday and Friday we have training and will be feeding 50 missionaries lunch. It should be a great week.

Every once in awhile a sacrament meeting talk makes such an impression that not only do you remember it but you refer back to it over and over.  A couple of years ago Bishop Steve Anderson gave such a talk in our ward in West Bountiful.  He told about a family vacation at Lake Powell.  The family gathered included extended family, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, etc.  Because they were camping and not close to town they decided to hold an informal Sunday service as a family.  The person conducting asked does anyone have anything they would like to share.  Everyone was surprised when one of the youngest members of the group, one of Bishop Anderson's young nephews said he had something to share.  He then told the family that he had recently learned in Primary that Heavenly Father always answers prayer.  He said, "Sometimes He says yes, sometimes He says no, and sometimes He says yes, but not yet".  He then gave three very simple stories as examples.  

I have thought many times about this young boys wisdom and understanding of the nature of God.  He does hear our prayers, He always answers them and because of who He is, our perfect, loving, Heavenly Father, He will always answer them in the way that is ultimately best for us.

This week He said yes to our prayers for Mari.  She is doing much better in school and is feeling so much better, the improvement is truly dramatic.  I told Mari that our friends and family had been praying for her. She was so touched and appreciates everyone's faith and prayers. 

Yesterday we were able to talk to Grandma Camille on the phone while our family in Louisiana celebrated her 81st birthday.  A few weeks ago she was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack.  We prayed that she would get well and be able to return to her peaceful home.  Heavenly Father said, yes.

We have been praying for more opportunities to share the Gospel.  Today I noticed a young lady who was new to our Ward.  I asked if she was visiting.  She explained that she was looking for a Church to join and thought she would try ours.  Her name is Iris (love that name), she is from China and has lived in the States for three years but is new to California. She enjoyed the meetings, went home with a Book of Mormon and will soon be receiving the missionary lessons.  Heavenly Father said, yes.

Recently our dear friends lost their son-in-law, a young father to three darling boys to a terrible illness.  Many prayed for a miracle, great faith and hope were exercised.  Heavenly Father heard their many heart-felt prayers but the answer was no.    


As I have been thinking about the heartache our friends are feeling I thought of the words of Elder Oaks from April Conference, he said, "As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust. I felt that trust in a talk my cousin gave at the funeral of a teenage girl who had died of a serious illness. He spoke these words, which first astonished me and then edified me: “I know it was the will of the Lord that she die. She had good medical care. She was given priesthood blessings. Her name was on the prayer roll in the temple. She was the subject of hundreds of prayers for her restoration to health. And I know that there is enough faith in this family that she would have been healed unless it was the will of the Lord to take her home at this time.” I felt that same trust in the words of the father of another choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He declared, “Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes.” Those teachings ring true to me. We do all that we can for the healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome".



Often our Heavenly Father says yes, but not yet. Patience is an important part of showing our faith, we must wait on the Lord. The Lord’s time is not our time. Someone has said, "God does not always come when we call him, but He always comes on time.”



We appreciate your prayers for us and our missionaries. We pray for you too and are grateful that our loving Heavenly Father answers every prayer.



Love,

The Long Beach Buberts