"God Be with You Till we Meet Again"

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

   We’ve had another great week but the highlight was definitely our Departing Missionary Fireside last night.  Last transfer Ben, Mari and I attended our Stake Trek Fireside so we missed out on being at our first Departing Missionary Meeting.  Everyone told us how much they enjoyed it so we were really looking forward to last night’s event. We have nine missionaries returning home but all of our missionaries were invited to attend the meeting if they brought an investigator or a new member.  Those who are finishing their missions could invite anyone they had worked with during the two years they were in Long Beach to be there.  We ended up with nearly half of our mission in attendance and at least 100 new members and investigators – it was great! 

     The program consisted of testimonies given by the departing missionaries and Ted, his counselor President Devereaux and me, and special musical numbers, all preformed by the missionaries.  There were two piano solos, a quartet, a duet (the two Elders played guitar and sang “I Need Thee Every Hour” in Spanish and English) and a couple of songs with all of the missionaries singing.

     To conclude the meeting all of the missionaries came to the front to sing “God Be With You Till We Meet Again”.  I was sitting at the back of the room, getting ready to go and set out the traditional cookies and was able to look into the beautiful faces of over seventy missionaries as they sang with emotion the familiar words: 

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

     One of the many blessings of being a missionary are the wonderful friendships that are formed between the missionaries as they serve together in their companionships, districts and zones as well as the friendships between the missionaries with the members in the wards where they serve.  Some of the most profound friendships are between the missionaries and those they teach.  Those who receive the Gospel feel gratitude to those who have introduced them to the Gospel plan.  A member of our Stake Presidency, President Hale, shared an experience he had when he returned to Germany where he had served his full time mission.  He called a sister he had taught, who had become a member of the church.  He asked if he could come by to see her, she enthusiastically said that she would be waiting for him.  As their car approached the sister’s home he could see this dear sister standing in the middle of the road jumping up and down for joy.  He parked the car and as they embraced, with tears streaming down her face she repeated, “Bruder Hale, Bruder Hale”.  She considered him an angel and had treasured the heavenly gift he had shared with her many years earlier. 
     Our missionaries are building those kinds of special relationships.  They may see these dear friends again in this life but if not they will have a joyous reunion as they meet at Jesus’ feet.

All Our Love,
The Long Beach Buberts