Dear Family and Loved Ones,
We had an extra busy and extra special week. Tuesday I took a p-day to visit San Juan Capistrano, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were zone conferences, Saturday and Sunday were wonder days to celebrate Easter.
Sometimes after general conference I feel a bit of a let-down, I’m always sad that we have to wait six months for the next general conference. This year we just seemed to stay on a spiritual high with so much going on in the mission and a wonderful Easter weekend.
Tuesday Ben took a break from school and met his friend in San Clemente (she was visiting with her family). I decided that since I was so close to San Juan Capistrano I would stop at the mission for a tour. My mom used to sing the song “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” when I was young so I’ve always been curious about the town and the Catholic Mission. It was fun imagining my mom enjoying the day with me. It is a beautiful spot with many old adobe structures including a cathedral. The mission was established in 1776 and most of the original cathedral was destroyed in an earthquake. The grounds are amazing! I had a great time walking around listening to a self-guided tour and taking photos. There were a few swallows nests and I was surprised to learn that they fly south to Argentina each winter and return to San Juan Capistrano each March.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we enjoyed zone conferences. We divided the mission up into thirds (more or less) so there were about 45 missionaries at each conference. Looking out over our missionaries at each conference it is evident that we are a very, very young mission. Most of our missionaries have been serving less than six months. The zone leaders, assistants, Ted and I gave the “trainings”. We focused mostly on effective studies, making lesson plans and Preach My Gospel principles. Three different ward Relief Societies fed us and did such a great job. We really enjoy spending that time with the Elders and Sisters from our mission and getting to know them better. It’s especially rewarding to see how much they grow, how quickly they adapt and how really great they are.
Saturday our stake presented a beautiful Easter Concert – it was amazing! We have an incredibly talented ward and stake. The quality of their music is really unbelievable. More importantly all of their performances are done with so much passion and the Spirit.
Today Ted and I spoke in our sacrament meeting. We were asked several weeks ago to speak, the thought and the pressure of speaking on Easter Sunday has been intense. I rarely get anxious about speaking now, I guess repetition does make it easier. This assignment however was very humbling. I remember telling my dear friend Carol (who has been called on to talk on Easter Sunday three times), “I hope I’m never asked to speak on Easter that would be the hardest assignment.” :) I loved preparing for my talk as did Ted. I learned so much as I focused my personal studies on the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior these past few weeks but I have never felt more inadequate about a topic ever. It seemed the more I studied the more I felt incapable of measuring up to our assignment. Shelly happened to share a thought with me yesterday which was just what I needed to hear. She said, “Satan loves to make us feel inadequate so we hesitate to share our testimonies of Jesus Christ.” Like I said, just what I needed! I wouldn’t say our talks were flawless (Ted did a GREAT job) but we got through them, we grew and hopefully we were able to strengthen our ward family on this beautiful Easter Sunday.
We came home to a delicious leg of lamb for our Easter lunch, thanks to my Dad who delivered a lamb for our freezer when he visited us last Thanksgiving! Our house and lunch were very quiet, Shelly, Ben and Mari are visiting Utah for Spring Break.
To introduce my talk I shared an observation I made in the garden of the mission home. We moved into the mission home in November and I was excited to see what was growing in the flower beds and planters. Most of the flowers were still in bloom but there were about two dozen plants with broad green leaves that didn’t have any flowers on them. Obviously at one time they produced blossoms of some kind but I wasn’t sure what kind of plant they were. I was excited last spring to find out what type of beautiful flowers we would have in our yard. The plants became almost three feet tall and soon had large buds at the top of each strong stem. When the first blossom opened I was a little surprised and disappointed to see a red lily. I thought maybe the other blossoms would provide some variety and hopefully many traditional white Easter lilies but one by one the buds opened, all were very large, red lilies.
This year, with the lilies now in full bloom, my attitude has changed. As I have been thinking about and focusing my studies on the Savior’s Atonement I feel like the red blossoms provide a beautiful reminder of the blood he shed for each of us, they are the perfect Easter lilies. Jesus Christ said, “Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:4–5).
I’m grateful for our Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. I know He suffered all things for us so we can repent and be made clean. I know He lives and because of His Resurrection so will we. Happy Easter!
We love each of you,
The Long Beach Buberts
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