"No Effort is Wasted"

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     We survived the first week of early morning seminary, Ben and Mari did great waking up early and they enjoy their class.  It’s amazing how easy it is to get to bed early when you wake up early   :)

     Some highlights from this past week were:  our temple trip to Newport Beach Temple with our six departing missionaries, Shelly’s visit, Ben’s football game, Ted’s birthday, Stake Conference in Huntington Beach, Ted finished interviews (yeah!) and our departure fireside.

Attending the temple is always wonderful and a temple session is a great way for our departing missionaries to begin their last week in the mission. Most of them will be returning home to places where the temple won’t be so close (we have two here within 40 minutes of the mission home).  They are also reminded of the covenants they have made which are easier to keep in the mission than they will be when they return to their normal routines.  President Brimhall, Los Angeles Temple President, gave us and a group of our returning missionaries very wise counsel, he told us that as long as we keep our covenants we will stay safely on the Gospel path.

     Shelly planned a trip to Long Beach to watch Ben play football, to celebrate Ted’s birthday and to soak up a little sun – the football game didn’t disappoint (Ben had a great open field tackle), we celebrated Ted’s birthday with a movie (“Seven Days in Utopia”) and lunch but the sun didn’t cooperate as much as we would have hoped for. The movie was rated “G”,  so it was worth supporting and had a great message.  Golf fans should especially take the time to go see it.  We loved Shelly’s visit and only wished she could stay longer.

     Ted’s birthday was also celebrated by speaking at Huntington Beach Stake Conference.  We always love spending time with the members and leaders of the Stakes in our mission.  Everyone is very welcoming and supportive.  One of the speakers at the conference was a brother who was recently baptized.  He and his wife have been married for forty years.  When he first met her she told him she was a Mormon and he asked, “How does that happen to somebody?” They were married and as he put it he took her away from her religion.  About six years ago Mormon missionaries knocked on their door, this brother told them, “My wife is a Mormon.”  The missionaries began visiting them and invited them to attend Church services.  At first the couple declined but one Sunday morning the brother asked his wife if she would like to go to Church that day.  She said yes and they have attended regularly ever since. Six years later and after many, many sets of missionaries the brother was finally baptized – his two regrets are that since it took so long for him to make the commitment he, his wife and their children have missed out on many blessings and that the many missionaries who taught him over the years have no idea how much they blessed his life.  He has great respect for the missionaries who taught him, he said it is a miracle to see the amazing young men and young women the Church produces.  I would agree missionary work is one of the greatest miracles!

     In Preach My Gospel is says, “When people choose not to investigate the restored gospel, your work is not wasted.  Your consistent efforts in serving and teaching as many people as you can is one way God prepares His children to eventually receive His servants.  He often reaches out to His children through you.  Even when people do not accept the opportunity to learn the gospel, your service and words are evidence of God’s love for them and may plant seeds that future missionaries and members of the Church will harvest.” Many missionaries never see the fruit of their labors but the Lord of the Harvest is aware of their diligence and work and will reward them for their efforts.

     We are looking forward to a very busy week since tomorrow begins a new transfer, which means six missionaries return home, seven arrive, some move to new areas and others have new assignments as leaders in the mission. 

     Keep up your prayers, they are always needed, felt and appreciated!


We love you all!

The Long Beach Buberts