Mataró – Week 13…Doritos, A New Haircut and 8 New Investigators!

Hi momzee! 

How’s everything going?!

Wow, what a week it has been! Lots of new things have happened so to say. Let's start with the best experience ever. So this past Sunday was conferencia de estaca (stake conference). And I didn’t fall asleep so that was good. This one flew by fast! Didn't feel as long as the ones back home. Anyway, about 15 minutes before it started, Sebastian asked if I would give him the Melchizedek priesthood and ordain him to the office of Elder. WOW! What an honor. Let me tell you I was stressing out! But I prayed for the words to say and I had an overwhelming peace that everything would be alright. And It Was! Yay! Let me tell you that I have never seen his mom more proud of him. It was a great moment in my life and theirs! 

This past week we met with Antonia and she feeds us a lot of snacks. She pulled out this huge bag of Dorito chips and just poured them on our plates. I ate about 1/3 of the bag with my companion and Sebastain ate the other 2/3 by himself. It was a lot! 

We have a new investigator who is really amazing! He can easily be baptized. We will invite him this Wednesday when we meet with him again. He is amazing. He offered to take our jackets, he gave us some water and read the entire pamphlet of the Restoration! WOW! We will be working with him a lot. 

This week has been a little frustrating because I just don't get why people reject the gospel?! It just blows my mind! And it frustrates me when they are rude and shut us down before we can say "excuse me" then I will say something rude or a snide remark and I will feel just terrible after because I had the spirit of contention with me. Don't ever be mean everyone! Always be nice! 

We climbed a hill today for preparation day. Took some sweet pictures! Got a rocking haircut like a native! Boom! Had some Taco bell and that ran through me like liquid! Maybe TMI. Ah well. It's fun working with my companion Elder Dickson.  So he is from Washington State. He has been on the mission for about 14 months and he is 22. He is the youngest of 7 children. WOW. He is really amazing though. He keeps me pumped and helps me with my Spanish. 

So, something about my pinkie toe. The right pinkie toenail looks like it's going to fall off half way. Yeah, it didn't look too good when I came to the area. Rather it was fine in the CCM, looking healthy and like a toenail, but now its loose. No! So, I am going to put someone on it. 

Catalunia is slowing down I guess, with the protests. There is a bunch of graffiti on side streets and everything about separation and what not. We have been protected though. All is well here. We found 8 investigators last week. Yay! We work hard and give thanks to the Lord. 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your constant prayers and support. I feel it every day. The Lord is always with us. Never forget it. 

I love you Mom. You mean the world to me! Until next time, 

I love you to the moon and back!

With love from Elder Maybury

I got a new haircut - Spain style! 

 Some pretty cool grafitti 

 Doritos...yummy

 Sebastian after his ordination

P-Day activities - climbing a hill and having fun

 Me and my companion, Elder Dickson

Elder Mortensen, Me, Elder Dickson

I love you!!!

What a wonderful report from my son.  As you can tell in his email, he is doing well and he is happy.  I can end this blog right here and that would be enough.  It would tell enough of the story to be complete.  All that a mother of a missionary needs to know is that her child is doing well and is happy.  What a blessing.  

The work is flourishing in Spain.  I belong to a couple of Facebook groups for missionary moms and one for moms and dads of Spain missions.  In the Spain mission blog, I am seeing a lot of people receiving their mission calls to serve in the Barcelona mission.   This tells me that the field is ready to harvest and there is plenty of missionary work to do to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Lord is sending his warriors to do His work.  I think that my son is feeling that the Lord is pleased with the field of Spain and is blessing the area with lots of warriors.  We are happy for the successes that he has, but mostly for the success that he feels. 

As for his Taco Bell - ahem - experience...well, we all have mission experiences where that is the result.  Hahaha!  But I thought for sure we had raised him to know that Taco Bell is a no-no.  Always and forever.  I think he has learned that lesson now.  😂 😂 😂

This week, for me, represents the beautiful blessings that come from service towards others and from being the benefactor of prayers given on one's behalf.  He can feel your prayers for him.  He truly feels them.  He feels your love for him.  He feels your support for him.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you for supporting our son with your prayers and your good wishes for him.  Every single missionary needs support.  They all need our prayers.  They are working hard every single day, far away from their families, away from all of the comforts that we may take for granted, and they are faced with difficult circumstances on a daily basis.  So a prayer and a letter is all they ask.  Try not to worry about if you get emails or letters from them - they are thinking of you, they love you, and they are praying for you.  I know that Alexander would love to spend his whole P-day writing to every person who has written to him; however, that is not his priority.  He is trying to be obedient and there are guidelines for how his time is spent on his P-day.  He feels pulled with feeling like he should write back to everyone.  I don't want him to feel that way.  I have counseled him to be obedient to his Mission President and to follow his counsel and to only do what he can and the rest will work itself out.  

So, take the time to say a prayer every day for a missionary 🙏🏼 and to write them a letter or send them a card once a month.  It brings in the sunshine to perhaps a difficult day. 💌

If you would like to write, please do so at the below address:

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Letters and cards require a single international stamp = $1.15

Have a great week! 

Mataró – Week 12 … A new companion!

Hello parents!!!!

How are you both doing?! 

Another week has passed by. I can hardly believe it. A lot of things have happened. So let me just bet this out of the way and say that I HAVE A NEW COMPANION!!!! Yep, I am officially done with training. I am now in my “breaker” which is only for one transfer. His name is Elder Dickson and from what I have heard and seen, he is an amazing person. He trained one of my friends in the CCM and now he is breaking me.  Honestly, I can't tell you how excited I am. My mission is moving forward but by bit. Although now that I am in my breaking it still feels like I have forever to go, but I am not worried about that. I am sure that these 6 weeks will fly by fast. 

*breaking = no longer needing a “trainer” as a companion, but transitioning to having a senior companion and taking on more leadership responsibility

Elder Graham went to Zaragoza to finish up someone else's training. This makes it his 3rd trainee! I will miss him. I am not good at goodbyes. I feel that after all this time, I leave someone who has helped form me and taught me so much. It hasn't been easy, but it's been a good time. And now I have to get readjusted and take the lead. Another thing I'm not good at. So I do feel out of my comfort zone. I do feel weird. I do feel doubtful and in part that I can't make it. But I know that the harder I try, the more blessings I will receive. God has never forgotten me. And he won't forget me know. If anything, he will bless me more. 

So, the miracle is with Roberto. He is progressing quite well. We invited him to pray and he said he didnt know how. Wow! We taught him and he was taking notes. He wants to pray after he has read the whole book I believe. But that's fine since he reads a lot. When he said the closing prayer to end our lesson, I could just feel Heavenly Father being so proud and happy that one of His sons is talking with Him again. It was truly remarkable. We are going to bless their bar today since it is, in part, where they live at times (like their home) and the bishop said it was ok. This will be the second "house" that I have blessed. The first one was with some recent converts. It was nice. It felt good. 

So, I received some lovely mail this past week! I got your amazing Amazon package! Thank you so much for it! It's really nice looking. And I needed those things as well! And I bought solution right before you told me not to so now I am set for quite a while. Haha! Isabella’s letters are adorable!!! I love them so much!!! I sent her 2 letters for her birthday. One of them has unicorns in the picture! I hope she likes it. 

I am in Alma right now in the Book of Mormon. It's difficult sometimes. Sometimes I read and I am like I have no idea what it's saying. Other times I don't know what I read, but the next verse males sense with words that I see so then I know where I am and what it's talking about. 

I just have to say, that when I saw that you emailed me in the week because you felt you needed too, I almost fell out of my chair. In the middle of the week, one of the days was pretty rough for me and I remember thinking that I wonder if my mom knows I feel this way. Maybe she will write me. And sure enough, you did. Simply amazing. Thank you so much for knowing me and always being in tune with the Spirit. Although I could not check it or look at it, seeing it today was heart warming beyond compare. 

Mom, I knowing you are doing your all and that you feel discouraged about not getting jobs that we both know you should get. If you apply for one and get that feeling like you did to move to Utah and that this Job is good, take it. Because that feeling and opportunity has got to have come from the Lord. But please know, that I grew most to you when you were home with me. I was most comforted when I knew that I could come home and you would be waiting for me. That as soon as I opened the door, I would hear "Hi mijo!", and that was the best for me. And to have you home helping me improve continually. You mean so much to me. I just want you to know that. Love you! 

So, me and Elder Dickson are getting used to each other. It’s been smooth so far. We now buy groceries separately, instead of together like with Elder Graham. So just some small changes. But it's a new step in my life. Please pray for me. I really need them. Change is hard for me and I am trying to smile all the way through you know, like you taught me. But I can't do it alone. We are probably never supposed to do it alone. It's what our Father is there for. Thank you for raising me up in the Church.

I am so glad to hear about Joshua. He is so smart. Freshman year and he has 3 A's! That's incredible. Tell him I said "Way to go!!!” He is so smart. Easily smarter than me. He will do great things in the future, both far and near. And Isabella as well. I am sure that she will be at the top of any of her classes throughout her schooling. In elementary, middle school, high school, college and much farther beyond. Wish I did more. Regrets they are, both lessons they have become. 

Thank you for those pictures!!! So adorable!!! I love all of them. The mail is fantastic. I would love letters from all of you. I need to buy more stamps. I'm all out! It shows how much I love you all! I will send a list of things I would like as well. 

This has been a pretty long letter! Wow! I hope you all enjoy it. I miss you all so much and wish I could be with you all. But I signed up for this mission. And I plan on returning with honor. But know that I think about you all daily, and love you ever so much more. I will send some pictures as well. Love you all forever!!! Keep up the good work! Keep the faith! Know that I miss you all but I am growing as well. 

With love forever, Elder Maybury  

Last Zone Conference with Elder Graham - I will miss him

 Packages and mail received!!!!  Yay! 

Mom, this package was heavier than I thought it would be.  Gracias! 

On splits with Sebastian who is a member

 My Halloween decoration and treats! 🎃

 My new companion - Elder Dickson

Badalona / Barcelona Zone Conference 

(can you find me?) 

So our last lesson with Elder Graham, we taught Silvia and Sebastian. The topic was the idea if you were on a plane and the Captain said that we are crashing and going to die, and you have 10 minutes to write to your loved ones. So we asked who would you write to and what would you say. It's in relation to when Lehi was on his death bed and blessing his sons and giving them council. Here was my note. This stuff always gets to me. I hope you all lime it. I love you forever!!! 

My final words* if I was in this situation:

*If you cannot read Spanish, I'll update later with a translation 

At the time of these emails, we were online at the same time, which allowed me to have a short back-and-forth email exchange.  In part of that exchange, Elder Maybury asked:

A quick question for you. How can I turn my thoughts from home to the work? Sometimes I catch myself. Other times I don't. And it's usually not a problem for me but some of these thoughts make me want to be with you all and it's so much harder when I know I can't. But other than that. I have no problems with anything.

My response to him included 3 ideas and a couple expanded thoughts:

• My best response for you is to do what you are doing in loving and serving because STAYING BUSY helps the most 
• Second…keep singing!  Singing makes you happy and brings the Spirit.  When you have the Spirit, you will be anxiously engaged in the work that you need to do.
• Third…it’s okay to think of us.  It’s okay to enjoy what we are doing and be happy for us.  Just don’t spend all your time there.  Begin to think of each thing you are doing on the mission instead of what you will do when you get home.  

We think of you all the time and there is nothing going on here that is more important than what you are doing.  We miss you, yes, but this is the BEST EXPERIENCE for US too!

You will notice that your time of thinking about us gets shorter and shorter and that is as it should be.  Again, it’s okay to think of us, but get excited about what you want to share with us each week - which means you go out and have the experiences so you can share them with us. 

Thank you mom. You are the best mom ever. I love all of those responses. I think a part of me is still trying to think that if I only knew Spanish that I would have a much better time. And maybe that's true, but I will say that I know a whole lot more than I did before. Maybe I am not where I want to be and others are ahead of me. I hate falling behind, being last, and not very good at something, but I trust in you completely. I will never doubt you. Thank you for everything. I am trying to stop comparing myself and let the Lord do what he needs to do. A bit easier said than done but will do it because it's what you want, it's what I want, and it's what the Lord wants.  Know that I love you, know that I care. Love you!!! Kisses and hugs!!!!

It is so beautiful to read his words.  To be able to see his growth and to see him able to make connections, to be humble enough to seek help, to acknowledge the progress he has made, and to have hope for the future.   I think those are things that any parent wants for their child. 

Beyond this, it was overwhelmingly powerful to know that my son and I are so connected at this time.  To know that he was having a difficult day and wondered if I knew and if I would write to him, only to find out that I did, indeed, know...well, it is an indescribable peace that settles in my heart.  To me, it is a priceless blessing to know that even 1000's of miles away, I can still feel my son and I can know when he needs me.  Powerful. 💕

I could not be more grateful for this experience for my son and our family.  There have been many intangible yet very perceptible blessings laid at our feet and a comfort in knowing that our son is doing well and is serving so many.

I could not miss him anymore than I do.  I still cry every Sunday.  And then, on Mondays, when I get him emails, I cry and laugh and I find a new level of happiness which gets me through the week.  In 9 more Sundays, I will get to talk to him and I could not be more excited! 

If you would like to send a letter to Elder Maybury, he would love it.  Letters from home instantly brighten a missionary’s day.  Please write to him at the below address:

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Each letter requires one international stamp = $1.15