90 Days

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     This was a quiet week for most of the family here in Long Beach but as usual it was a bit hectic for Ted. Monday he finished reading and responding to 140 e-mails in time to receive that many more, Tuesday he trained our new missionaries (those who have been here two or three transfers), Tuesday night he spent the night at the Emergency Room with one of our Elders, Wednesday was spent with follow up care for our injured missionary, Thursday he worked on transfers and Friday he started interviews (he interviewed twenty missionaries)!

     Training went very well. The newest missionaries who have arrived in the last four months are fantastic. They are really adjusting to mission life very quickly, especially those who have spent extra time in the MTC for language training. The Spanish speaking missionaries are in the MTC for about two months, it gives them a chance to get past their homesickness. The English speaking missionaries are still a little tender when they arrive in the field, sometimes they need a little help getting through their homesickness. As Ted puts it they just need to be encouraged every now and again to “get back up on their horse.”

     Tuesday night one of our Elders slipped in the shower. As he was falling his elbow went through the glass shower enclosure. We got a call from his companion saying that they had called 911 because of the amount of blood he was losing. Ted rushed to the hospital emergency room and spent the night there with our two Elders while our missionary was being treated. He ended up with a five inch laceration which will take a time and a plastic surgeon to get it looking good. Wednesday was spent cleaning glass and blood in the apartment and working out the follow up care for our missionary with the doctor. Throughout the time our Elder was being treated he continued being a missionary and made sure everyone caring for him heard his message.

     I can’t believe it’s time for interviews again, each transfer passes so quickly! Ted took a peanut butter sandwich with him yesterday for lunch but didn’t have time to eat it. Interviews are scheduled every ten minutes but it is really hard to stick to the schedule which means he usually ends up working through lunch.

     Mari and I went to the ankle specialist Monday. Dr. Augustus did a great job checking her injury and verified that there isn’t a break but that the sprain is serious and will take a couple of months to heal. Mari’s now wearing an air cast which she will have on for four weeks. Hopefully she will be able to start doing some exercises at that point. For now she had to withdraw from dance class at the high school and will be a Teacher’s Assistant for one of the Spanish teachers instead. She is disappointed but is trying to have a good attitude.

     Last night one of Ben’s friends from Utah stopped by the mission home with her Dad, it was so nice of him to drive her all the way from Los Angeles to Long Beach just so they could spend a bit of time together. While Ben and his friend visited we got to know her Dad. We were already impressed with him, when we had a chance to talk with him we were even more impressed. He asked such great questions about mission life, our missionaries and family. One question he asked was, “What is the best thing I can do to help my seventeen year old son prepare for a mission.” Ted responded by telling him about the invitation he gives each missionary when they arrive in Long Beach. The Book of Mormon was translated in about 90 days so he invites each missionary to read the entire Book of Mormon in 90 days.  It gives them a chance to really see how the stories flow, to realize the miracle of the Book of Mormon having been translated in such a short amount of time and it strengthens each missionary’s testimony. When he heard Ted’s words the man said, “I have chills. A couple of weeks ago when I was praying about how I could help my son gain his own testimony the thought came that I should get him to read the Book of Mormon.” He then said, “We are each reading on our own and charting our progress. Our goal is to read it in 90 days.” It was our turn to get chills! It was awesome to see and feel how aware our Father is of each of us. This valiant Dad was hoping to know how to help his son and the Spirit confirmed that he is on the right path.

     This is what Preach My Gospel says about the Book of Mormon; “The Book of Mormon is powerful evidence of the divinity of Christ. It is also proof of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. As a missionary, you must first have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true. This testimony can lead to a deep and abiding faith in the power of the Book of Mormon during the conversion process. Have confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to anyone who reads and ponders the Book of Mormon and asks God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ. This witness of the Holy Ghost should be a central focus of your teaching.”

We love you all!
The Long Beach Buberts