Logroño – Week 13 … A tough week

 Hi mom! How are you doing today?! 

Wow, what a week it has been. It has been a very tough week. Our investigators are dropping us, some have lost their fechas (baptismal dates) so there will be no baptisms this week, unfortunately. Sigh. We haven't been feeling very good in the beginning of the week and we aren't finding any one to teach. So yeah, it's been a hard one. Not to mention that transfers are next week and I have no idea if I am staying or leaving and it's killing me! 

So today for Preparation Day, we went to Vitoria to do a zone activity. What a flop it was. It was just the Vitoria District and the Logroño/Burgos district. About ten in total. We were going the play soccer, but some people didn't want to play, the elders from Burgos missed their bus and so we didn't really play at all. We did all get together for Dominoes Pizza so that was fun. Wow I am stuffed from that. Always do. Played a little ping pong so that was good. We will have District Meeting here so we can turn in our tickets (for travel) and get them reimbursed. Our bus leaves at 9:15 from Vitoria so when we get to Logroño at 10:45 we will have to run home. All well, it is what it is. 

I made a little Valentine's day card for Isabella. I made one and lost it which got me super frustrated, but I made another one. That was actually one of my miracles, which was that I didn't break my hand from punching something or someone. I was so mad. But I said a silent prayer, asked for forgiveness and help to recover my composure and the Spirit. And the anger went away little by little, not all at once. It just goes to show you that God requires effort on our part. Yes, he can give it to us immediately, but there would be no lessons that needed to be learned if He did it that way. And I needed to learn a lesson. To work on my patience and not be so messy. So, miracle occurred this week as always. 

We are working with this one family to get baptized and the two times that I have gone, they have given me besos! It comes too quick for me to stop and next thing I know, I just bumped cheeks with some Spanish lady. I'm so disobedient, haha! So, I am working on that, but don’t worry, she was much older.  I have been so tired. I am trying to do my best, and some days I feel good, and the other days not so much. I want to do the best I can, but sometimes it gets so hard and the energy is just drained from your body. It just goes to show how much imperfection there is in me and us and why we need the help of the Lord with us. 

My companion hit a year on his mission with me, so he burned his shirt and I burned a tie since I forgot to do it at my six month mark. It is a tradition for all missionaries, I think that when you hit your 6-month mark in the mission field, you burn a tie.  When you hit the 1-year mark, you burn a shirt.  I don’t know where or when it started, but I have heard all missionaries do it.  But I don’t think the sisters do.  But it was fun and interesting. Made me super trunky but I'm in the process of getting over it. It's tough though. But I'm trying.

Well that's it for right now, my brain is just fried from the week. By the way, I need to learn piano again. I was such a nincompoop for stopping. My desire to play has been reinvigorated or rather the fire is burning stronger than before. Anyway, I love you all, keep the faith and I can wait to talk to you next time. Love you!!!! 

Love Elder Maybury 

Elder Chin Ah You and me burning our clothes to mark our anniversary in the mission field

Me burning the tie - it's one I found in the apartment, so I didn't burn any that my family gave me.  

Our district with an investigator from the other Elders in our district.  He is cool!

Aw, sweet Elder Maybury.  He had a tough week, but as you can tell through the majority of his letter, he finds the good.  He is quick to notice is areas of weakness and works to repent to change them.  I love that about him.  

He also sent home a homemade Valentine card (photo collage) that I sent to all of the family members.  He sure is thoughtful.  Always thinking of others before himself.  I think that is one of the things that I am the most impressed with about him.  He is so thoughtful of others.  He is never stingy.  He shares of his excess easily and he gives without thought of what he could get back.  What a beautiful Christ-like attribute that I wish could be multiplied across the world.

As he mentioned, next week is "Transfers" week and so he gets pretty nervous about it because he doesn't love change...but he adapts to it well.  Funny.  

Thank you for supporting our son in the ways that you do.  Most especially, through your prayers.  

If you would like to write him a letter or send him a card, please do so at the following address:

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Each letter uses one international stamp = $1.15 (up to one ounce)

Email sent on: February 12, 2018