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
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