Dear Family and Loved Ones,
Spring has arrived in Long Beach. There are blossoms on the flowering trees, the magnolias, ornamental pears and cherry trees are especially beautiful. Soon the jacaranda trees will be flowering, the blossoms of the jacaranda are an amazing periwinkle color, the trees are planted in many of the parks and line many city streets here – they are gorgeous! Long Beach is always pretty but this is an extra beautiful, pleasant time of the year.
We had a busy week of training with our missionaries. Tuesday and Wednesday we met with our twenty newest missionaries and their companions for a “tune up”. Ted taught them the fundamentals, this is training on how to teach with the Spirit and how their investigators can have experiences where they will feel the Spirit. Ted did the hard part (teaching for hours). I did the easy part and brought lunch both days. Feeding the missionaries is always fun. As they walk into the cultural hall of the church building where we meet for our trainings they comment on how good it smells. There are no complaints and even if the food is very mediocre or simple they express genuine appreciation.
Friday was ZLC, more training but with our zone leaders. Our mission has lost so many of the older, more experienced missionaries so our current zone leaders seem young. They will catch on quickly and will be great leaders for our mission. One of the things we learned when we were trained at the MTC was the importance of our zone leaders, they set the standard for the mission. The rest of the missionaries pattern themselves after their peer leaders and adopt their attitudes about obedience and mission life. It’s important to make sure these leaders are well trained.
Friday night Ben went on the annual youth stake snow trip to the mountains of San Bernadino. Mari’s ankle is still very sore (we’re going to a specialist tomorrow) so she didn’t go this year. Today many of the youth mentioned in testimony meeting that they loved being close to nature and that they felt especially close to their creator while in the mountains. Because it’s been an extra mild year they had to drive even higher than normal to find some snow. The snow trip is the first time that many of the youth from our stake see snow.
Saturday I had many errands to do. As always when I’m out I was wearing my missionary tag. Our missionary tags always draw attention and comments, yesterday was no exception. Elder Warburton (our Senior office Elder) calls it the “magic of the badge”. Yesterday because of my badge I met a nice young dad and his little boy who are members of the Church, they saw my tag and said hello. I met a young mom and her darling girl whose sister is a member of the Church and lives in West Jordan, Utah. I also got a discount at Bath and Bodyworks (people love doing nice things for you when they see the Savior’s name on your badge). Most importantly I have MANY opportunities to tell people about the Church and invite them to learn more.
I like this story from the New Era: "One day while serving in the Texas Fort Worth Mission, my companion and I finished visiting some investigators and then realized we didn’t have a dinner appointment. We decided to stop at one of the many nearby fast-food restaurants."
"When I stepped to the cash register, an employee took my order and asked me my name so she could call me over the loudspeaker when my meal was ready. “Elder García,” I replied.
The woman did not seem to understand my English. Again she asked me my name. To avoid any further misunderstanding, I pointed to my name tag, which bore my name and the name of the Church in Spanish."
"As I turned to sit with my companion and wait for my order, I happened to notice the name she had written. Instead of writing my name, she had written, “Jesucristo.” Maybe she made the mistake because the Savior’s name stands out on the Church’s logo. Or maybe she just wasn’t paying attention."
"Each time I remember this simple experience, I feel a firm desire to have people think of Jesus Christ when they see me—not because of a name tag but because I am bearing His name by doing the things He taught us to do."
I’m grateful for the “magic of the name tag” and feel humbled to represent our Savior. In another New Era article I read this thought, “As I strive to follow the Savior’s example as I did on my mission, I have discovered that I really have no need for a name tag. When we have truly taken upon ourselves His name, others can know who we are and who it is we represent because they will sense His image in our countenances.”
We love you all!
The Long Beach Buberts
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