Mataró - Week 6...2 New Elders and Earaches

Hi all!!!

How are you doing?

I am trying to do my best. I try not to think about home too much. It kills me sometimes. It's the worst when we have a bad day and home is the only comfort I get and home is a million miles away. But I am trying to work my brain into being more in line with missionary work. Specifically, being a missionary. It is definitely difficult and sometimes my companion is the reason why. But I try to leave him and do my best. 

So, I just finished my first transfer. Wow! And Mataró is getting two more elders! They are Elder Mortensen and Elder Chin Ah You. They seem like really great elders. Elder Mortensen has been out a little over a year and the other elder has been out six months. And I have been out 3 months, technically. But the only problem is the neighbor downstairs. He does not like noise and we had an altercation with him yesterday. He threatened to punch my companions nose to the back of his throat and he swiped the glasses off of his face. I almost made the guy gargle on his teeth but I am trying to not be physical and remember that I am a representative of Christ and His church. So, we might have to start looking for a new piso. I will talk to President as well. 

I am getting more comfortable with contacting. I still have absolutely no idea what anyone says. But, I am not afraid to contact in the street. Also, the members here and some of the Elders have said that my Spanish has gotten a lot better than before! It’s hard to see that since I can't tell but I will have to take their word for it. I finished 1st Nephi in Spanish in the Book of Mormon. I would like to finish before I talk to you all on Christmas day. President Gordon B. Hinckley said that for all missionaries who read and finish the Book of Mormon in their mission language, they will be able to understand and speak when they are done. So that's my goal. I still study hard core as well.

I am really glad and happy for you all [and the move to Utah]. I am about to send a letter to Dad for his Birthday. That's right, I have not forgotten! I will do the same for the rest of the family as well. I love all your prayers for me. I feel them and I need them every day. Send my love to everyone. 

And the earaches, well I have been having them for about 3 weeks now. They were pretty minor so I thought, *no pasa nada, pero ahora, pueden ser muy malos para mi. Ellos fueron 2 o 3 on the pain scale but now they are 7-8, sometimes 9. I don't know what's up with it. I Remember on Sunday that I got 3 that day all an 8 and above. I hated that day. Right now my left ear feels clogged. I can hear about the same but it definitely feels clogged. I have an appointment this Thursday so we will hopefully know for sure what is going on. 

By the way. I have a talk next Sunday on how Seminary prepares you for a mission. Fitting topic huh? I am having to checked over by a native so that way it will make the most sense. I sadly forgot the pictures! We were coming back from transfers and picking up the Elders and I thought we were going to go back to piso but we want to the church to [do our] emails and I did not get the pictures. I am sorry. Wilt thou forgive me? I will send a picture of all of us at the end. 

I love you so much! Have fun in Utah and I can't wait to join you all! And I will be fluent in Spanish! (hopefully). I love you all so much with all my heart. Thank you for the mail!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 💌

I love you all so much! 

Con amor - Elder Maybury

Translation:

*...nothing happened, but now they are very bad for me.  They are a 2 or 3 (on the pain scale

Elder Mortensen, Elder Chin Ah You, Elder Maybury, and Elder Graham

Just us elders taking a moment to be goofy

Thank you for the mail!!!!!  I love it!!!! 

Well, I have to say, this week the email came a day late and waiting that 24 hours was VERY difficult!  I normally get an email on Monday, but Monday evening there was no email and I was very worried.  I knew that he was having bad earaches and I wondered if he was too sick to write to me.  I pondered calling the mission home.  I wondered, at what point is it okay to call the mission home and ask about my son?  Well, as it turns out, the reason he didn't email on Monday was because of the transfers that happened and them getting two new elders, so their P-day was Tuesday.  Whew!  Close one. 😁

As you can see, this week had some interesting challenges, including dealing with a neighbor that physically assaulted one of the elders.  What a challenge!  As a missionary, you are there to serve so many people and work very hard to become a part of the culture and to respect the country, community and culture that you are in and then to have these types of altercations can be unsettling.  I know that my son, in general, uses a lot of restraint before stepping into altercations and I am glad that he remembered that EVERYTHING he does is representation of the church and who he represents.  The Savior.  So, if I could ask everyone to say an extra prayer for my son, his companion and the other missionaries...not only for their safety, but for their opportunity to find a new "piso" (apartment).  🙏🏼 🙏🏼 🙏🏼

I am encouraged by my son's diligence in working so hard to read and study and learn the language.  Yes, he wishes he had paid more attention when I tried to teach him many years ago and yes, he wishes he had paid more attention in school.  However, I LOVE his determination and I LOVE his diligence in this area.  What a great example of not giving up because something is hard and not just putting in the minimum effort.  I am quite disappointed in so many that I see around me who could be great...but they put in the minimum effort because things are difficult or they are enjoying their comfort zone.  It's a problem that we have too much in our society, I think, and I am grateful for the example of my son that reminds me to stay diligent.  The rewards of hard work are far too precious than the relief of immediate comfort.  As I often tell my son in my emails to him - he is a warrior and I am thankful for the continued example that he is to me and all those around him of being brave and strong. 

As for his earaches - well, I don't know what they are from. I wondered if they are from any altitude changes, since he is on the coast.  I wondered if he has water in his ear.  However, for all of my friends out there who love and use Essential Oils, I did send him with the basics on his mission (Peppermint, Lemon, Lavender, Coconut, and Sports Oil).  I told him to use a few drops of lavender on a cotton ball and put it in his ear before bed and then again in the morning.  It has worked for all of my children in the past.  I hope that his earaches will be remedied by this and that it does not become a bigger issue.  We will wait to see what he tell us in this next week's email update.  So, once again, if I could ask you to add him to your prayers for his earaches, that would be wonderful!  🙏🏼 🙏🏼 🙏🏼

As always, thank you for supporting our son.  He is a world away - 8 hours ahead of us (9 for those in CA), but he can FEEL your love and your prayers.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  And if you would like to drop him a letter or a card, please do so.  ALL missionaries love to get mail.  It brightens their day in an instant (as you can see from his wonderful smile in the photo above).  

Please write to Elder Maybury at this address:

Elder Alexander J Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C / Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

All letters require an international stamp ($1.15) and will cover up to 1 ounce. This includes the weight of a greeting card. 

Have a great week!