Dear Family and Loved Ones,
When we looked at our December calendar we knew we would have a busy and enjoyable month with zone conferences, a transfer and our mission Christmas conference, not to mention a few holiday celebrations with our ward and family and December is proving to hold up to our expectations.
Monday we received an amazing sister missionary who is waiting for her visa, she is assigned to serve in the Philippines. She is a very special, well adjusted missionary. We are grateful she is able to serve a short time with us because it allows us to keep one of our areas open that we would have needed to close otherwise. The number of sister missionaries we have will more than double in the next few months but this transfer we were going to be short one sister so her arrival was very helpful. We told our visa waiter that we had a surprise for her – when we arrived at the mission office we introduced her to her companions. One of the sisters is from Tremonton the other is from the Philippines! She was so excited that she would have a chance to practice her language while in Long Beach. We had our own surprise when we found out that our Philippine Sister is from exact mission where our visa waiter will serve (there are 16 missions in the Philippines so it’s amazing that she is going to the very same mission her companion is from).
Tuesday we went to the temple with our four missionaries who finish this transfer. It is a very sweet group of missionaries and we will really miss them. There are three Elders leaving and one Sister. The Sister is from Guatemala, she is an absolute angel! She is so shy but has been able to overcome being timid (she’s still very soft spoken) because she has a strong testimony of the blessings that come from being a member of Christ’s Church. After going to the temple together we came back to the mission office and enjoyed visiting and a simple lunch. When we have a small group of missionaries together it is fun to find out about their families and plans for the future. I wish we had more time to spend with individual missionaries but I’m grateful for our routine which allows us to gather our mission often and provides with opportunities to get to know our missionaries.
Wednesday transfers needed to be finalized so Ted could make leadership calls Wednesday night. Many of our zone leaders had been serving for many months so it was time to give some of our younger Elders a chance to serve. Just like everything else in the mission leadership calls are made through revelation. It’s really important that each missionary be in the right place, with the right companion. Having the right leaders in place sets the tone for our mission, the missionaries look to their peers to figure out the mission culture. I am always amazed at how well these young, inexperienced missionaries take on very big responsibilities to teach, train and motivate the other missionaries! Friday was leadership training at the mission office for the trainers, district leaders and zone leaders.
Saturday we had six missionaries join us for dinner in the mission home. It’s hard to get a turn to have the Elders and Sisters from our ward eat with us – the ward takes such good care of them. We finally got a turn :) We also noticed that the office Elders didn’t have anyone signed up to feed them on Saturday so they came too. We really enjoyed having them spend an hour with us. As always the highlight was having them share a spiritual message with us. One of the sister missionaries was the one to give the thought. We asked how did you all decide who would be the lucky one to give the message, they said they “cast lots”. I’m not sure if the sister considered herself the winner or the looser but either way she taught a great mini-lesson on moving forward with faith even when we feel unsure.
Sunday was our departure fireside. The testimonies from the departing missionaries were simple, pure and powerful – Ted did a GREAT job as well. One of our amazing office couples leaves in January so they also had a chance to share their testimonies as well. They are such an important part of our mission, they have been here for twenty-three months and it will be very hard to see them go!
The musical numbers were excellent as well. I especially loved that there was so much Christmas music. We have some very talented missionaries and now that they have an outlet to share their musical talents we are finding more and more of them who can help at our firesides.
Everyone’s hearts are so tender after the tragic events in Connecticut. I was really looking forward to all of our Church meetings today because I knew that the talks, testimonies and prayers would all bring comfort. What I didn’t count on was that it would be the music that would touch me and bring peace to my heart the most. All of the songs that we sang together or that were performed were beautiful but the two that really hit home were “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and Away in a Manger”. Here are a few of the words to these beautiful songs:
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side
'Til morning is nigh
Be near me, Lord Jesus
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to Heaven
To live with Thee there
Elder Jay Jenson taught, hymns are “an essential part of our church meetings. [They] invite the Spirit of the Lord. They often do this quicker than anything else we may do.” President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, “We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.”
In the preface to our book of hymns, the First Presidency has provided this statement:
“Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.”
“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.”
I’m so grateful for beautiful, uplifting music and during this special season I especially love the feeling of peace and joy I get as I listen to Christmas music.
We love each of you,
The Long Beach Buberts
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