Mataró – Week 16…Baptism this Saturday in the SEA!!!

Hey Momzee!!!!

How are you doing?! 

Well another Monday is gone. A lot of things have been done, and a lot of things to do of course! Mission life is always full of something. There is never time to NOT do anything. Probably the greatest thing for this past week was planning the baptism for Roberlando!!! It was so exciting! So, I have been asked to do the baptsim!!! Yay! And it will be in the sea too. (The Balearic Sea)  Oooooo! Special stuff! We have been working hard with Roberlando and he loves coming to Church and the meetings. And am so excited for him. What a great blessing it is to be a part of that. 

Today was pretty fun. We didn't do a whole lot but.... I DID SEND A PACKAGE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!🎆🎄✨🎁📨 That was pretty neat to be able to send you all something. Of course, they aren't expensive but it's the best I can do. I did send it with lots of love though! I bought a small backpack that is easier to carry things around in. We played some soccer today. I need to get better at juggling. It was always one of the harder things for me. But I have fun. I am doing better on my spending on groceries. I know what I need and what I don't need. I feel better afterwards haha! 

This past week was a bit hard for me. I haven't felt like my normal self lately. It has a lot to do with the language. I am tired of not understanding, not speaking, not being able to develop strong relationships with the members. It's all bums me out man. But, I have to keep going. Keep persevering because this is the work to which I have been called. I cannot turn back. There is work to be done and I know I can do it! I just need work harder. 

We now have some ward missionaries here in the ward. Sebastian and Rubi. Both are young adults. Well, both are 18. But it's nice to have them come along and work with them. It's always pretty fun and I enjoy it. I continue to enjoy working with Elder Dickson. We make it fun and we enjoy doing the work. He is teaching me a lot and I am trying to retain it all in. Sometimes I have good days and sometimes I have some not so good days. But I always look ahead because I know that my faith and my testimony in the Savior is stronger and more powerful than any doubt I could have! 

Mataró is definitely getting colder. I am wearing my jacket now with my sweater. I out my gloves on and I bought a scarf as well. I'm telling you that it gets COLD here. But I love Mataró all the same. Contacting is getting easier from time to time. It's funny. On our way to the place for mailing the package and mail, we asked people if they knew where it as. Well people thought that we were stopping them to share a message and they would shake their heads (no). But once we asked how to get to our destination, they were super nice and friendly. Haha. All well. 

Well, I will close up for now. Time flies by but it's always good to talk and read about how everything is doing. I love you all and I hope you can see the Lord's hand in your lives continually. Love you all, keep the faith. 

Love, Elder Maybury 

 Exchanges with Elder Chin Ah You. It was pretty cold that night.

 Out late waiting for our train.

A goofy picture while we study

Finally some hot chocolate here! 

Aww, my sweet son.  So many ups and downs this week.  It can't always be roses and parades.  We are so happy for him that he is getting his first baptism!  It is always an honor to be selected to baptize someone.  It means you have developed a relationship with them.  A repoire.  It means they trust you.  Many people always remember the name of the person who baptized them and this is my son's chance to really feel what it is like to help someone come full circle to Christ.  What a blessing.  

And even more so, to be able to do the baptism in the sea!!!  It's not an ocean.  It's the Balearic sea and because many of these small chapels in Spain don't have traditional baptismal fonts, this is where they get to do them.  What an amazing experience it will be for him.  Please pray for him.  The baptism is scheduled for this Saturday (11/18), but with the time difference of them being 8 hours ahead of us (Mountain time), I imagine it will be around 6am or 7am our time.  So, maybe just pray for him on Friday.  

He also sent another email to just his father and me talking about some of his concerns and worries.  This sweet young man is so worried that he is doing something wrong if he is not always on a spiritual high - or if his energies are not always "up", then he worries that he is not doing something right.  Both his father and I sent him emails to respond to his concerns and to help uplift him.  I will share just two pieces of counsel that I gave him.  

One was this: 

• Doubt your doubts, not your faith.  The Lord is not wrong.  

You cannot be expected to not have challenges.  We all have them.  Challenges compel us to turn to the Lord.  Challenges make us stronger.  Grow our testimony.  

It seems that is what it is doing.  

But DO NOT DOUBT the Lord and the faith HE has put in YOU.

The second counsel was this: 

• You cannot be expected to be full of energy all the time.  That is not how the Spirit works. The Spirit is a STILL SMALL VOICE.  So, sometimes YOU have to be still.

I share these two items of counsel because it is an example of how my son's service to the people of Spain is really a service to us as his family and to all those who are supporting him.  His struggles and his humility in asking for help with them, is an example to each of us - that we are not in this alone.  We can reach out for help.  Also, it gives us a chance to recalibrate our thinking and to remember that we should first and foremost doubt our doubts, especially when we have sought in faith, the answers to our questions.  And secondly, we each need to be reminded that we need to be still so we can hear and receive the whisperings and promptings of the Spirit.  Sometimes, we just keep going and going and doing and doing, that we forget to stop and listen.  The Lord does hear and answer prayers, but we cannot hear Him, if we are using the wrong measuring stick for His direction and for our worth.  

I am so proud of my son.  I am proud of his efforts.  I am proud of his desires to keep serving, even though it is really hard sometimes.  I am proud of his commitment to the Lord and His work, even in the face of rejection.  I am proud of his humility to reach out to his parents when he is having a difficult time.  What an honor to have our child seek us out for insights on his struggles.  And, while I am happy for him that he is able to baptize Roberlando, I am more happy for him that he is able to see the joy that Roberlando feels as he learns of Christ, accepts His gospel and takes upon himself the name of Christ.  The joy comes in seeing others find Christ and find the happiness that comes from following Christ.  I am excited to see my son's smiling face next to Roberlando's.  What a great picture that will be! 

As always, thank you for supporting our son.  Whether through a card, a letter, an email, or through your love and thoughts and prayers, they are all felt, appreciated and welcome.  

If you would like to write to Elder Maybury, please do so at the following address:

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Letters require one international stamp = $1.15

6 more weeks!!!!

40 more days!!!!

I can't wait to talk to my son! 

🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄