Dear Family and Loved Ones,
We had a great missionary week along with some family challenges – both have brought us closer to the Lord and have reminded us how blessed we are to know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over us.
Tuesday we had ZLC (zone leader council). Following their training the newest missionaries arrived with their trainers for lunch, the zone leaders joined us too. We served taco salads and everyone seemed to enjoy visiting and meeting each other. After lunch the zone leaders went out to work and the rest of the missionaries stayed for more training.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday were spent in our bi-annual mission president’s seminar. It was held at Pacific Palms Resort (any of you who golf would have loved it) in the City of Industry. The resort was very nice and we were very well fed, physically and spiritually.
Our new Area President is Elder Maynes, he presided and did most of the teaching. He and his wife have lived and served in Mexico, South America and the Philippines, they are amazing teachers and so dedicated to their calling. Elder and Sister Kearon were there, they will soon be going to Germany for their next assignment in the European Area Presidency. Elder and Sister Alonso also were in attendance, their new assignment is to serve in Mexico where Elder Alonso will be in the Mexico Area Presidency. Sister Alonso is so sweet, she will be happy to return to Mexico to be near their two sons and five grandchildren who all live in Mexico. The local area seventies and their wives joined us for the last day of our seminar.
The Mission Presidents and their wives from California and Hawaii were all there too, we really love spending time together and learning from one another. They are all great examples. Many have had incredible challenges during their missions, from serious health issues, to family difficulties. Many have had loved ones pass away while they have been serving. Of course almost all of them have also enjoyed great family events as well such as marriages, graduations and new grandbabies. A lot can and does happen in three years!
Friday during the seminar we received word from home that my Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital because he was having chest pains. Shortly after arriving in the ER they determined he had suffered a heart attack and they detected a blood clot traveling to his heart. They quickly preformed surgery, removed the blood clot and placed a stint so his heart would function properly. The doctor said later that if he would have hesitated to call 911 the outcome would have been very different and he would have most likely lost his life. We of course felt helpless being far away from the hospital and unable to be with my Dad and the rest of the family. Ted and I found a quiet place to pray together, we immediately felt very calm knowing that my Dad was in the good hands of the doctors, nurses, medical staff and family. It was especially reassuring knowing that our Heavenly Father would be watching over him. We have visited with my Dad by phone, he is tired and weak (which the doctors said is normal following surgery) but anxious to get home. Hopefully he will soon be resting in his very own bed and it won’t be long until he will be feeling much better. We of course continue to pray for his quick recovery and that he will feel our love and prayers from Long Beach.
The seminar began with a reminder that everything in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is centered on the Love of our Heavenly Father for His children. Because of our relationship as His children we are all brothers and sisters. This knowledge should motivate us to love and care for each other and especially to share Heavenly Father’s plan with as many of our brothers and sisters as we can – this is what missionary work is all about!
Other topics in the seminar included: Tithing, Repentance, Obedience, Finding, etc. We went away with a lot of information to share with our missionaries in upcoming zone conferences and leadership training.
As always there seems to be a moment for me during our meetings when a particular scripture or thought really strikes me. In this conference I learned so much but was particularly touched by two very simple and related scriptures which were shared, one at the beginning of the conference and the other at the end. Elder Alonso taught us that what motivated Nephi was his testimony. In the scripture we all know so well found in I Nephi 3:7 Nephi said, “I will go and do . . . because I know”. Sister Bunker, who completes her mission in July, also shared words from Nephi in her final testimony. She said she feels like Nephi whose final words recorded in the Book of Mormon were, “I must obey” (II Nephi 33:15). Sister Bunker has been an amazing example to us. She battled cancer during her mission, not only is she obedient, she is steadfast and an inspiration to all of us.
After all was said and done I felt like we returned to where we began. Elder Maynes concluded by saying, “We need to keep the first two commandments (love God and our fellowmen) because everything hangs on it.” When it comes to the Gospel it really is all about love; Our Father’s love for us, the love of His Son for us, and our love for them and our brothers and sisters. This is what motivates us to serve Him here in Long Beach despite the challenges of life.
Last night we attended a very sweet baptismal service where brotherly love was expressed. The brother who was baptized is African American and many of those in attendance were as well. One of the men stood to share his testimony and to show his love for this new brother he said, “Not only are we brothers we are full brothers.” Sister Blickenstaff, one of our senior missionaries followed with her testimony. She stood and said, “You are my brother too.” There were a lot of chuckles, sister Blickenstaff may not look like she is related to this new member of the Church but there was no doubt she loves him as her brother. She loved him enough to share the Gospel with him and to help him on his way back home to our Heavenly Father – that is true love.
We love each of you,
The Long Beach Buberts
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