A Living Apostle

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     This past week was a whirlwind:   Monday I returned to Utah for John and Sam’s wedding, Wednesday we celebrated their marriage, Friday I was back in Long Beach. Saturday Elder and Sister Ballard visited the great California Long Beach Mission.

     John and Sam picked me up at the SLC airport Monday evening and shortly after we went to a fun groom’s shower for John given by our family. It was held at Sam and Mindy Wilson’s (we have a lot of Sams in the family) since it was FHE everyone was included. It was so much fun to have lots of children at the party. The food was outstanding; we enjoyed delicious salads, chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, chips, drinks and dessert – yum! The theme of the shower was tools and John was so excited about getting a nice start on his supply of tools to take care of their new home. It was so great to visit with our family and to look forward to the upcoming wedding.

     Tuesday after a family business meeting I enjoyed some time with Pearl, Violet and Stacey at Arctic Circle. We had so much fun. I also enjoyed visiting with the rest of the family and had an especially fun visit with Sam and John. They were very excited about their wedding plans and ready for their big day.

     Wednesday we took care of a few last minute wedding details and arrived early in the afternoon at Wheeler Farm (where the wedding and reception took place) to decorate and set up for the ceremony and reception. Everything turned out great. Sam, John and Sam’s Mom spent hours planning and preparing for their special day. They are very creative and resourceful and made the best of the fun setting at the farm. Sam wanted everyone to come, relax and to feel at home – she really achieved her goal.

We had great support from some of our special friends (from our home ward) who spent many hours helping us with the set up and serving. We are so blessed with great friends and family! Two of Ted’s sisters and one of our nieces traveled long distances to be there, another planned on coming but her car didn’t cooperate for the long drive from Louisiana. We appreciate all who came!

It was a great night and a wonderful celebration for this new family, John and Samantha Bubert :)

     Thursday morning I cleaned my Dad’s basement apartment in preparation for Scott and Cristy’s move (they moved in over the weekend). It will be nice to have them there looking after things. We also got to spend some more precious family time together at a movie with the cousins and at a sleepover with Pearl.

     I woke up Thursday night with terrible stomach pains. I assumed it was food poisoning so I pushed through to get on my flight to Long Beach Friday morning. By the time I got to the mission home I realized how really sick I was and felt terrible about exposing so many people (my family and a plane full of people) to the stomach virus. I am finally feeling much better today, it has been a long time since I have been so sick.

     While I was enjoying family and celebrating in Utah Ted was very busy holding down the fort here in the mission. He met with many missionaries and kept the mission running smoothly.

     Saturday Elder and Sister Ballard arrived in our mission for a quick visit. Fortunately Ted was so organized and everything went really smoothly even though I wasn’t able to participate (a great disappointment for me!). Ted and the assistants picked up the Ballard’s at the airport. Our little Long Beach Airport is so small and we are there so often that many of the workers greet us and ask, “Are you picking up new missionaries?” Saturday Ted responded to their question, “Yes, he’s a missionary and he’s also a living Apostle.” There happened to be quite a few members of the Church at the airport on Saturday as well as on the Elder and Sister Ballard’s flight. A little league baseball team came off of the plane with Elder Ballard and many of them were excited to shake the hand of an apostle. Elder and Sister Ballard were very congenial and happy to take a few minutes with anyone who approached them. I’m sure they will always remember meeting him and having that brief moment to interact with a special representative of Jesus Christ.

     Our assistants were excited and nervous about driving Elder and Sister Ballard in the mission van. Of course it didn’t help their nerves to have Ted remind them in the days leading up to the Ballard’s arrival that they would be responsible for very precious cargo. Our missionaries gathered at the chapel next to our mission office waiting for the Ballards. We were so excited that some of our youth (from the seven stakes in our mission) who are on mini missions were able to attend the meeting, as well as a couple of children and grandchildren of one of our senior couples. Ted had also invited an elderly couple who was baptized yesterday, he is 93 and she is 86, to come and see one of our apostles. Before the meeting Ted let Elder Ballard know that one of our senior missionaries served with him as a young missionary in England many years ago. Elder Ballard remembered our missionary very well and made sure to make a fuss over him when he spoke. He joked about how old our senior missionary is and about how very long ago it was that they had been young missionaries together in England. Elder Ballard is 84, it is remarkable that he is so energetic and continues to serve so faithfully (as do all of our amazing general authorities).

     One of our very enthusiastic Samoan Elders led the mission in D&C: 4 and “Our Purpose” – he made sure to shake the Ballard’s hands on the way to and from the podium. Two other Elders presented a Preach My Gospel Principle then Ted spoke on “What’s in a Name?” (wish I could have been there, I’m sure it was amazing).

     Elder Ballard spoke about the “nuts and bolts” of missionary work. He invited our missionaries to become Preach my Gospel experts. He told them that they should especially focus on chapter three of PMG (it contains the lessons they use to teach their investigators). Elder Ballard was on the executive missionary committee when PMG was written, he said he couldn’t emphasize enough how much inspiration, thought and prayer went into writing chapter three. Every living apostle (alive at the time it was written) was involved in verifying each scripture and the doctrine to be taught. He also invited our missionaries to be “fearless finders”. Elder Ballard said he always seeks some inspiration for each mission he visits and that he felt inspired to ask our missionaries how many of them always end their conversations with investigators, contacts and members by asking, “Do you know anyone else who needs our message?” Ted wished he would have had a trap door when only two of our missionaries raised their hands! Of course I have only heard him teach and train on that principle a couple of dozen times but I have a feeling they will never forget hearing it from Elder Ballard and they will soon be experts in asking that question to everyone they meet :) The meeting ended with everyone standing and singing “We’ll Bring the World His Truth”.

     Before I left for Utah one of the senior missionary sisters offered to organize    lunch for the Ballards since she knew I wouldn’t have much time between the wedding and their visit. I’m so grateful everything was in place and went so smoothly because of her thoughtful and inspired planning. The senior couples, Ted’s counselor and his wife, along with the Ballards all came to the mission home for lunch. Ted and the assistants set up tables the night before. Everyone brought delicious salads, watermelon and sandwiches. Ted said it was just perfect. Elder Ballard had each couple share what they do in the mission. Ted said Elder Ballard is very genuine and Sister Ballard is sweet and would make a perfect Mrs. Claus with her beautiful white hair, angelic round face and glasses.

     Following the lunch Ted drove the Ballards to Laguna Beach where they will be relaxing for a few days with some friends. July is the month when our general authorities don’t have assignments so they have a chance to spend some time with family and friends. On the ride to Laguna Beach Ted and the Ballards enjoyed visiting about our mission and our plans following the mission. He said everyone has already told you how fast the last year of your mission will go by but what will really surprise you is how fast the last six months passes!

     It was so thoughtful of the Ballards to give up some of their precious vacation time to be with our missionaries. Our Elders and Sisters will never forget meeting a living apostle, shaking his hand (yes, he took the time to shake over 160 hands) and hearing him testify that Jesus Christ lives and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth. Elder Ballard told them that as they come to know these things for themselves they will find great joy in their work.



We love and appreciate each of you more each day!

The Long Beach Buberts