Their Babies

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     We’ve had another wonderful week in Long Beach. There has been lots of sunshine but they are forecasting a cooler week. John posted a weather map comparing the forecast of Los Alamitos and Woods Cross. It was amazing to see nearly identical temperatures in both places predicted for the coming days :) We will be having cooler than normal temperatures and the Wasatch front will be having warmer days so we will all be enjoying the 60’s!

     Ben and Mari made it through another week of school. They are really ready for spring break but will have to wait until April. They also started registration last week for classes for their Junior year of High School. They both agree that time is passing quickly.

     Our Sunday meetings were really great. We have such an amazing ward and can always count on being uplifted and encouraged each week. The topic in Sacrament Meeting was repentance and forgiveness. All of the talks were inspired and I know I left feeling a greater need to use the priceless gift of the Atonement.

     We are breathing a little easier now that our eighteen new missionaries have all arrived and are settled with their trainers. With thirty eight new missionaries in the last three months we wondered if there would be enough great, experienced missionaries to train but as always everything worked out. Of course it helped that Ted started thinking about this transfer many months ago and planned ahead to have the right trainers in the right areas.

     Our new missionaries are really outstanding. Despite having just a few hours of sleep they were very attentive during our orientation and were ready to get to work by Tuesday night. We will bring them back to the mission office, with their trainers, for more training this week. We have found they don’t get a lot out of orientation (most of them stay up late packing at the MTC and wake up at 4:00 a.m. to head from Provo to the SLC airport) so it is good to follow up with them soon after their arrival to the mission. With such big groups it’s also a great chance for us to get to know them better.

     Shortly before our missionaries arrive our office secretary sends a “getting to know you” form to the parents of the missionaries who will be coming to the mission. The form is filled out by the parents and asks questions about the missionary’s likes and dislikes, health concerns, their talents and special qualities. We love receiving the parent’s responses and read the forms many times so we feel like we know our missionaries when they arrive. I like to look at the picture from their application as I read about each one and imagine what it will be like when I see them walking off the plane at the Long Beach Airport. Sometimes I am surprised by how tall or short they are but usually their pictures really do them justice. I’m also very impressed by the insights the parents share, especially when it comes to the missionary’s personality and characteristics.

     A couple of weeks ago one of these letters was returned to us. The missionary’s mother also included an adorable baby photo of her now grown missionary son. Our Elder is about two years old in the photo, he’s wearing little red overalls, his head is tilted to the side, his big brown eyes are so sweet and his smile is very tentative. The Mom said, “I wanted to share this photo with you but please don’t tell my son.” This precious little photo immediately brought tears to my eyes as I contemplated the incredible sacrifice of parents who send their babies off on missions. They trust us to care for them, to guide them and protect them. The baby picture now sits on the mirror of the dresser in our bedroom. It has become a symbol of each of our missionaries and a reminder that they are children who are loved and cherished by their families. They have entrusted them to our care, it is a very big responsibility. We are grateful to not be in this work alone. We know these special families are praying for their sons and daughters and for us. We also know our Heavenly Father works alongside us as we guide His sons and daughters through their journeys here in the mission.

We love each of you,

The Long Beach Buberts