My First Area and Training Companion

After 6 weeks in the MTC learning the lessons and some of the language, the missionaries are sent to their respective missions.  In Spain, there are 3 missions: Barcelona, Malaga, and Madrid.  

Elder Maybury with President and Sister Dalton of the Spain Barcelona Mission

Day 1: They left the MTC on Tuesday morning and after a 3 hour train ride, arrived in Barcelona where the Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Dalton, greeted them along with the two Assistant's to the President.

Elder Maybury is in the far back on the left-hand side

From the train station, they went to the Mission Home, where they had a quick meeting to introduce the new missionaries to their new home in the Spain Barcelona mission. Then, a nice lunch of enchiladas with corn and salad.  And for dessert?  Yummy brownies and ice cream.

After lunch we went to Mont Juïc. This is always a special trip for the new missionaries. They had the opportunity to look over the entirety of Barcelona and take a moment reflect on the special experiences that they are about to have.

Later that day, they went to do missionary work out in the city with some missionaries from that area up until bedtime (around 9:30pm).




Day 2: This is an exciting day because each of the new missionaries will be paired with a new companion.  This companion will be their trainer.  This is a missionary who has been out in the field for a while, who is obedient and who has demonstrated some level of leadership.  For almost all missionaries, their trainers become eternal friends that they cherish forever.  A bond is made when you are new to the field, are scared about the new language and are trying to find your sea legs, so-to-speak.  So, finding out who your training companion is going to be is always exciting.

Aside from that, the new missionaries will find out their first area of assignment.  The area of a mission is made of several cities.  The Barcelona mission goes all the way to the border of France (see pic).

Area map of the Spain Barcelona mission, including the island of Palmas

This new group of missionaries is truly spectacular! This morning the new missionaries came to the Barcelona 2nd Ward Chapel where they met up with their yet unassigned trainers. After a delicious lunch of barbecue pork sandwiches with a salad on the side, they took a group picture then moved into the final training meeting. They heard messages about the Vision of the Mission, What we do in El Faro, and a presentation entailing many aspects of the missionary work here in Spain.

Notice Elder Maybury in the direct center of all of the Elders.

Elder Maybury's new companion is Elder Graham and they will be serving in the city of Mataró.  

Elder Maybury and Elder Graham

This is a city on the coast of Spain just a little north of Barcelona.  There will be a lot of work for them to do there.  One thing to know is that missionary work keeps you busy and so you are tired by the end of the day.  But that is a great sign.  No missionary wants to come home after 18 months or 2 years feeling like they had a good long rest.  They want to come home feeling exhausted.  Knowing that they used every day to its fullest to serve the people of their mission.  

Mataró enjoys a nice climate of low to mid 80's throughout August and into the mid 70's for September.  There is some great history associated with this city, that dates back to the Roman times, including the recent discovery of one of the first Roman bath houses, which is now an area that can be visited.  

In this picture you can see the entire area of the CITY of Mataró.  That is a lot of walking!  Of course, they will be able to ride the bus, but most of the mission is walking.  It's a good thing he is athletic!

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Alexander's new P-day will be on Mondays, so the blog will be updated on that day.  It will be hard to not hear from him on Thursday, but I can look at his smiling face in these pictures and know that he is working hard and that makes me happy.

Please know that there will be moments for almost all missionaries where they experience some down times.  Sometimes it's just because you put so much love and energy into teaching people that you feel worn out and then feel some disappointment if the work is not progressing.  This is why, as family and friends, we can continue to send him positive messages.  Write to him.  Once he gives me permission to share his email address, I will do that, but for now, please use the mailing address below.  It will take 7-10 days for him to receive a letter.

As always, thank you for supporting our son.  He feels your prayers.  He feels your love.  He feels uplifted and supported by all of us back home.


Mailing address:
Elder Alexander Maybury
Spain Barcelona Mission
c/Calatrava 10-12, bajos
08017 Barcelona
Spain