He Lives!

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     It’s April 1st and I feel like I should have some great April Fool’s Day joke but I don’t so I’ll just report on our last week here in Long Beach.

     Tuesday was a busy day for us; I got Ben and Mari off to early morning Seminary then took our Niece, Nika, to the Long Beach Airport for her return flight to Utah. Ten minutes later we welcomed a new Elder to the mission. Our new Elder was born in California but grew up in Oklahoma. His parents are from Mexico, they spoke Spanish in their home so our Elder didn’t need to spend any more time in the MTC. The timing was perfect since Wednesday one of our visa waiters left from LAX for Peru so his companion was able to train our new Elder – it’s amazing how everything works out!

     After picking up our new Elder we went to the mission office for his orientation and then had lunch (24 Costco pizzas, salad and root beer floats) with our 37 newest missionaries and their trainers. Following lunch the new missionaries, including the one who arrived that morning, spent a few hours with Ted and the Assistants for a “tune up”. Ted said the training went very well and that he is so impressed with these new, young, eager missionaries.

     Ted spent a lot of time during the week working with some of our missionaries who are home sick and others who are working through a variety of difficulties. We are very blessed to have a great mission nurse, counselors, amazing local members and supportive families and priesthood leaders who will do anything to help these Elders and Sisters. It really is a team effort!

     Friday was ZLC, I made enchiladas and bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the Zone Leaders. They are always grateful to be fed and make my job very easy. Ted had the Zone Leaders come up with a list of the top ten trainings (lesson outlines) they had seen in their District Meetings. Ted and the Assistants had already done this and their lists were nearly identical. The Assistants had copied the training outlines that they thought might be considered and had copies for each of the Zone Leaders to take back to their zones. They worked together to determine which trainings were most needed right now to help our young missionaries and to prepare the mission for the new Mission President. They came up with some great plans.

     Ben and Mari had a great week and were very happy when they finished school Friday because this week is their Spring Break which means:  sleeping in past 5:10 a.m, no school/homework, relaxing, seeing friends from Utah who are in Cali for Spring Break, etc. We are looking forward to a great Spring Break!

     Saturday Mari represented the family at the ward Easter breakfast (she was hoping there would be some cute boys there) and Ben went to visit some friends at their family barbeque. Ted continued to read letters and answer phone calls throughout the day. Saturday night Mari and I went to the Young Women’s Broadcast, it was AMAZING! I love the positive, uplifting messages and the beautiful music from all of the conference sessions and can’t wait for more this weekend.

     Our Sunday meetings were perfect for Easter Sunday. The talks were all centered on Christ’s Atonement and the music from the ward choir was beautiful. I really felt uplifted by all the messages but a statement from a young man who leaves next week for his mission to Korea really hit me. He said that he recently went through the temple for the first time and that he learned that the creation and our Heavenly Father’s plan would all be for nothing if it weren’t for the Atonement!

     I have focused my personal studies the past month on the New Testament and specifically the last week of the Savior’s life. I love learning about Jesus Christ and find that the more I learn of Him the closer He is to me. I know He is always there and is waiting for us to draw near to Him which is the natural result of keeping Him in our thoughts, studying His words and following His example.

     I read and watched many Easter messages this past week but this beautiful, simple message from the First Presidency seemed to bring the Easter message home to me:  “Of all the tests we face, none hurts more than the death of a loved one. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ all are delivered from death, and all will rise in the Resurrection. And by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all may gain peace in this life washed clean from the sorrows of sin and have hope of a glorious resurrection with the just.”

     “At this Easter season we give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of all mankind. Because of His atoning sacrifice, He stands as our Advocate and Savior. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit.”

     I am so grateful for our Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection and for the peace and comfort they bring to me. What a blessing it is to know that through Christ’s gifts we can be made clean and be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.



We love each of you,

The Long Beach Buberts