Hi!!!!!
Well, another week has come and gone in Mataró.
Some of the days were killing me like ‘when will it end’? But other days it was really enjoyable. I am
doing my best to work hard. I just finished 2nd Nephi in the Book of Morman,
Spanish version. I am picking up and recognizing some new ways of saying
things. Or how and in what ways things are said and how sentences are formed.
Blessings!
I am so glad you got my letter in the mail. I
wasn't sure if you already got it or I forgot to put it in or something. All of
your letters are blessings and comfort to me.
So here in Mataró, my Spanish is getting better
I think. I can follow along in a conversation much more. I can get gospel
phrases across pretty well. I am now trying to extend my vocabulary in the
lessons so I can say new things so I don't repeat the same things over and over
again. We have 2 good investigators who can get baptized. We just need to ask them! Haha! The other two
elders here are working hard. They seem to be getting investigators and setting
baptismal dates fast. And to be honest, it frustrated me at first because I
want that success. I know this area and I can't get someone to even stop and
talk to me. I was jealous and angry and frustrated with myself and other people
and discouraged. But as a missionary, I try to exemplify Christ every single
day. So, I prayed to God for forgiveness and promised I wouldn't let it get me
down. I started to tell myself to take joy in the other Elders success. Why
should I be angry? I have no reason to. If anything, their success just makes
me want to work harder to be better so I can do good as well. It's not a
competition but rather a reminder of what hard work can do. And we are all helping people no matter what.
It is getting a lot cooler in Mataró. It has
rained several times in the week. It's chilly enough to wear sweaters. Sweater
weather! But it's beautiful none-the-less. I enjoy being here. I do my best to
focus on the work and to improve each day.
As for the earaches, they are better. Not as
frequent or painful. The tooth isn't bothering me but I brush and floss very
well every day and I use mouth wash often. I don’t want it spreading. It hurts
at times and I try to not eat any junk food and if I do then I eat very
little.
I had an amazing miracle this week. The
miracle that I saw this week was on Sunday. We do an English fast on Sundays
and so when I was studying in the morning, I prayed to Father in Heaven that
instead of reading Preach My Gospel in English, I would read it in Spanish and
that I would understand what I was reading. So, when I prayed I made sure I was
doing so and asking in faith. And when I started reading I was understanding
it! There were a couple words that I didn't understand but I got the general
idea of the section if not completely understanding the sentences. It was
amazing. Then I asked if the same thing could happen in church as well. And
this Sunday, while I didnt understand most of it, I understood a whole lot more
than any other Sunday. I was getting just general ideas of what people were saying.
And although it wasn’t all of it, I did understand some things and I know that
that was because of the Lord. It was truly remarkable. I was very humbled by
the experience. And then when I was reading emails, in three separate emails it
talked about being preordained to come here and speak Spanish. About being fore
ordained for this task. I was blown away. So, I know what the message is this
week, and what I need to remember. Haha!
My companion, Elder Graham, is the
District leader so I see him planning some lessons for district meeting. I have
given a lesson twice and one of them was when he asked me on the train to
prepare one as we were heading to Girona. A little late but I rocked it. But of
course, the Spirit guides me in the topic to choose and the words to say. So, I
have to praise God every day because he blesses me and my family every day.
I love the long emails! I love hearing about
everything. I miss everyone and I love them greatly. I am glad everyone is
doing well and there are a lot of good experiences happening with major
blessings. I pray for you all every day and night! I love you all a super lotta
much!!!
With love, Elder Maybury.
Hello family! I love you all and miss you!
"What do you mean you haven't sent me a letter yet? Tsk Tsk."
(caption added by mom)
These are pictures from our piso.
Ah! What a great way to
start the week! Someone must have been
paying attention to the pleas of missionary mothers across the world when they
set the P-days as Mondays. I absolutely
LOVE Mondays!
It is so good to hear from our son and to see that this week saw
much improvement for him in his earaches, his toothache and his language. For him, getting the language down is so important. I have had to counsel him just a little bit
on not being too hard on himself. He is
expecting to be like a native speaker in a relatively short period of time, and
while I understand the desire, I am encouraging him to take off some of the
pressure. As you can tell in his
letters, he is a hard worker, he studies a lot and he is very determined. I love that about him. It is a trait that he shares with his father
and it is one of the things that I love about his father, as well.
When he first sent the email, I guess I didn’t scroll all the
way down because I didn’t see the pictures.
Then when my husband pointed them out to me, I scrolled down and there
on my screen was the LARGE picture of my son’s face just staring back at
me. Instant tears. It was like I had him right in front of me
for a brief moment. I love it!
When I saw the pictures of his piso (apartment), I was impressed
by how clean it was. So, I sent him a
quick response to him email – knowing that he was still online – and I
commented on how clean things looked and wondered if he would be bringing some
of those skills home. He responded. He said:
“Thank
you momzee. I am definitely glad for all the cleaning I did back home because I
am definitely the best at cleaning dishes. I can't stand a sink full of dishes
especially when there are none left it use. Lol!”
Well, it looks like I
did something right in raising him. That
made me so happy to hear.
In one of my emails to
him I reminded him that Christmas is only 98 days away! 🎄In 98 days I will get to hear my son’s
voice. I am SO EXCITED for that
day. Reading his letters is
wonderful. It helps me to feel connected
to him. Seeing his pictures and his face
is FaBuLoUs!!!! I miss that face so much and it’s like he is here with me. But hearing his voice…! That is gonna be the thing that warms my
heart. Especially if I can hear his
laugh. And if he can manage to get out a
My Little Pony scream…It will make my day for sure. (For those who don’t know…Alexander has the
best high-pitched ‘girl’ scream out there and he is a major fan of My Little
Pony, so he does that scream when it comes on.
Hahaha!)
As you can tell from
his words, he loves the letters. All
missionaries do. By this time next week,
we will have 3 elders out from our ward (neighborhood church group), so take
the time to write to a missionary this week.
All it takes is a card and a stamp and it will make their entire week
bright! Every missionary has low moments.
Every one of them has days that seem to drag on. Every one of them longs for a letter in the mail. So, make a missionay’s day and drop a letter
in the mail.
If you would like to
write to my son, please do so at this address:
Elder Alexander J. Maybury
Spain Barcelona Mission
C / Calatrava 10-12, bajos
08017 Barcelona
Spain
All letters up to one ounce will cost one international stamp =
$1.15. (Note: a card will be covered by
one stamp)
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