Pamplona – Week 5…A Baptism and a little Treasure

Hi everybody!!!!! Wow, it's been some time. How are we all doing today!  

The miracle this week was that we had 5 investigators at church today!  [Our new investigator] was able to come even though she lives really far. We just got in contact with her again. It has been pretty hard, but we were able to meet with her, teach her, and invite her to the baptism we had on Saturday and church and she came to both. She does have a fecha (date) for the 31^st  of March for baptism!  [Our other investigator] was also able to come. It has been a little hard for him because he has been moving and was out of town, but we invited him, and he was able to come. 

We also had the baptism of Victoria!!!!! Yay!!!! Wow, this has been a long time coming. I am very happy for her because it is something that she needs in her life right now. She needed to let go of all of her cargas (loads) from her previous life. It was so good to see her get baptized and be in the confirmation circle for her. 

We are still trying to teach all the rest of our investigators. Let’s just say it’s a work in progress, haha.  I’m a little nervous for transfers (coming April 3^rd). Elder Eiguren has been her for now his 3rd transfer. So, he can leave after this transfer. That will make It my 4th one transfer companion. Sigh. All well. It all happens by the will of the Lord. So, if I get a new companion, it's because it is for the work of the Lord to go forth. So, one must have confidence of course. 

Respuestas a sus preguntas... 

1. Si, mi carta de cumpleaños era fantástico. Me alegré muchismo! 

2. Puede hacer cualquier cosa que quiera. No he cobrado mis dólares ya. Pero, pude hacerlo en un día de preparación. 

3. Tengo muchos sellos. Necesito ser mejor en enviar más cartas. 

4. Tengo bastante dentrífico. 

5. Pienso que el mejor cosa que ha hecho para mi es enviar mi paquetes, y correos electrónicos. Pienso yo que tengo suerte en mi vida con usted y mi familia. 

6. Creo que llevé algo verde. Mis calcetines probablemente. Lol. 

7. Ahora, lo sé.  

Truth be told, I am getting trunky…kinda. Not because of anything that home has sent me or told me, it's just that I miss it. I look at a car driving by at night and think of myself before the mission, with some music and the windows down, coming back from grabbing some food. So, it's not even me, it's my mind. But it's okay. I'm out of it.  It’s just thoughts but I move on pretty quickly.

For preparation Day, we went to Vitoria to do our Zone Activity. We went to a giant gymnasium and played basketball, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and volleyball. Let’s just say Elder Maybury can still pull a move or two. Wow, now that made me trunky, just remembering the good old days, playing soccer, and church ball. Super fun stuff. I am so blessed. Really, I am. I have no reason to complain whatsoever. Always count your blessings. We then came to the church and the hermanas cooked hotdogs for us. Super good. I even put some ketchup on my dogs. Not a normal thing for me by the way. 

This week has been interesting. We do not play monopoly anymore because we are sick and tired of it. We have probably played it a total of 10 or more times I would like to think. Haha. Now, we just relax, write in our journals and charlar (chat). Oh, by the way, I now weigh 177 pounds. I used to be 185 pounds. I did this diet thing. No extra sugar, no eating after 10:00 pm except for one orange, and only two slices of bread a day. And I do P90X every other day. But, I'm not sure how much I weigh now with all the food that I got for my birthday and promptly ate. I think it's necessary weight because it's birthday food. Whoo-hoo!!!! 

Well, I think that's it for now. It comes to a close, but it will open up again next Monday! Hahaha! But I can't wait for it! I love this work and I love the Lord, I will forever keep the faith. I pray you all will as well. I love you all!!!! 

Love Elder Maybury 

Elder Eiguren, Victoria and myself.  Very happy for her!

Playing some volleyball on P-day!  My mom would be so proud.

After P-day activities – eating some hot dogs

Vitoria / Bilbao Zone Conference Pictures (March 9^th)

We send him questions every week.  This week, these were the questions he was asked and answered above.  So proud of his Spanish! 

QUESTIONS:

1. Did you get your birthday card from me with stamps and money?
2. Is it okay that I sent you US money?  Can you exchange it easily or is it too hard?
3. How are you doing on stamps?
4. How is your supply of toothpaste?
5. What is the best/your favorite thing we have done for you while on your mission?
6. Did you wear green on Saturday?
7. 50 Pushups every night will help your core muscles, mmkay? (see how I made it a question? Hee hee!)

As always, I am super proud of my son and all of his efforts to not only serve the people of Spain, but also to work through his own weaknesses.  We all have them.  I am proud of him for admitting them and then working through them.  One thing that I absolutely love about my boy is that he is determined.  He sets his mind on something and even though he hits some obstacles, he focuses on meeting his goal ‘no matter what’.  I have seen him make some impressive progress in his life with this determined spirit.  He gets it from his father. 

Being “trunky” is a term that is related to the idea of having your trunk (luggage) packed and ready to go home.  It is a common lingo used amongst missionaries – even all the way back when I served my mission.  Of course, I don’t believe that he is really “trunky”.  I think he just thinks of things at home that he misses, which is normal.  It is easy to see that he is happy and working hard. 

“Transfers” are when missionaries are transferred into or out of their areas of assigned work.  There are 6 weeks in-between transfers. Elders are often transferred more often than sisters simply because there are often double the number of elders to sisters.  Being transferred helps the work in each area to stay fresh and active by bringing in new missionaries who will have new ways of connecting with people, etc. 

Finally, the greatest gift that I received this week was a video from my son.  Well, actually I received two of them.  One of them he recorded when I graduated back in August.  He just now figured out how to send videos…hahaha!  So that one is personal.  BUT, he sent this other video below and I have to tell you…I have watched it multiple times and have cried many times.  I cry because my heart is full.  I cry because I love seeing my son.  I cry because I absolutely LOVE his voice.  I cry because I can see his growth and development over these past 9 months.  It’s a priceless gift that we, as families, get to have for the sacrifice of sending our children out into the mission field.  It is a gift I gladly accept. 

Enjoy!

My duet at the Baptism: Fuente de la Vida Eterna

(Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

Wasn't that wonderful!!!!

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Please note, this link will send you to YouTube

Lyrics to the song:

Fuente de la vida eterna

Y de toda bendicion

Ensalzar tu gracia tierna,

Debe cada corazon.

Tu piedad inagotable, 

Abundante en perdonar,

Unico ser adorable,

Gloria a ti debemos dar.

Toma nuestros corazones,

Llénalos de tu verdad;

De tu Espíritu los dones,

Y de toda santidad.

Guíanos en obediencia,

Humildad, amor y fe;

Nos ampare tu clemencia;
Salvador, propicio sé.

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

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Each letter will require one international stamp = $1.15 / up to one ounce.

Emailed: March 19

Pamplona – Week 4… A "thank you", A Zone Conference, and Lots 'o Fotos

How are you all doing today?! 

Wow, what a week it has been! First of all, thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes that I received. It was truly great. You know, it was a little different. I felt pretty alone because I had no one around me to celebrate it with like normal. But my companion helped me feel good and I enjoyed it. So, a little about my birthday. We enjoyed ice-cream and Burger King. The elders bought some Napolitanas filled with chocolate and sang happy birthday to me with 20 candles. Super sweet! I also won monopoly that day. Hahaha! It was super great. Zone conference was amazing. So powerful and spiritually enriching. I also received the biggest package EVER with all sorts of mail and what not! Wow, it was amazing!  One hermana asked if there was a food drive going on! Hahaha! Nope, that's all my food.  As soon as I saw it all, I knew it was from my mom.  Thank you everyone, and a big shoutout to my mom for celebrating my birthday even though we are 5000 miles apart! 

Regarding my package and presents, yes, I did get all of it. And I loved all of it as well. Thank you for my “My Little Pony” pen.  I used it to write in my journal this week, switching colors every line.  All of it was amazing and I kept the Valentine card that Isabella sent me with a picture of myself. I loved all of it. Thank you so much!!! I love you all.

Stake Conference was fantastic as well. I was able to see everyone from Logroño since Logroño and Pamplona are in the same stake! Wow, it was like a home coming!  [Investigator] came to the conference as well and was able to talk to the Mission President for her baptism interview. Prayers for her. The conference was really good. The bishop from the Pamplona barrio 2 was called to be the new Stake President. So that's twice in which I have served in the same building as the Stake President. Not the same ward this time, but still it's something. Oh, and also Gary Sabens of the Seventy was there to reorganize the Stake of Vitoria. Powerful. 

The traveling was super crazy this week. We left Thursday afternoon to go to Bilboa, then on Friday after Zone Conference, we went to Vitoria because we had our interviews with President Dayton on Saturday. Then after that, we went back to Pamplona and worked there the rest of the day. On Sunday, we went on the ward bus to go Back to Bilbao for Stake Conference and then came back. And for Preparation Day (Monday) we went to San Sebastian and now we are back in Pamplona. So yeah, lots of traveling. We missed the bus to Bilboa and Vitoria because we thought we could buy tickets there. My companion and Elder Mortensen already bought theirs, so we ran because we were late. Turns out you couldn't buy tickets on the bus. We were feed some false doctrine. So, me and Elder Loveland stayed for and extra 40 minutes. I had my big package that I carried everywhere with me. Haha, I looked funny. 

San Sebastian was a lot of fun. I destroyed my fingernail though, so I clipped some of it off and put a band-aid on it. I got sprayed with water as the waves crashed against the barrier. Oh, and I also fell in McDonalds with my tray full of food. The ice-cream was more intact than the drink. So yep, Elder Maybury just couldn't keep himself together today. Lol. We got some nice pictures though. 

So, mom, I heard that you talked to Cantidio, a member form Logroño. And he talked about what I did for them? You got to tell me how that went. From what I now know, his daughter is doing so much better now. We really tried to work hard with that family and keep them spiritually strong.

My jaw is doing fine. Sometimes I feel like the retainers restrict me more than help me but, who knows.  When I go to bed and I forget them, I immediately get back up and put them in, so, I am trying my best to not forget them, lol, because we both know that I forget them sometimes. Haha!  And, yes, I am washing my sheets each week.

Wow, who is going to baptize Isabella? Here is my two cents and I hope that they carry some worth here. I do not want her getting baptized by any other person other than dad. Can I do it sure, but everyone is baptized by pops and I don't think Isa should be an exception. 

You know tomorrow (March 13), I hit 9 months in the mission. Wow, it's so crazy. It has blown by so fast. I would like to know everything, but I don't. Pray for me on this. I am trying to study the best way that I know how. But I never lose hope or faith. I have been blessed too much doubt.  

The miracle of this week was being able to get in contact with one of our investigators. She works at Mercadona and received a lot more work hours, so we haven't been able to meet with her at all. But, on one of our days we decided to give her a pass by (call). As we did, she picked up! We scheduled a visit, so we are going to meet with her this week on Wednesday. Yay! Good miracles abound in the work of the Lord! 

Wow, I am so blessed to be here in Pamplona. Elder Eiguren thinks he is leaving this transfer and that I am going to train. I really have no idea what is going to happen. Hermana Dayton told me in our interview that she and President Dayton have seen such a big change in me from the beginning of the mission. I look and feel more confident, my in-tone fluctuation is so much better as well with my eye-contact. I don't have a problem with talking to other people and being involved at all. And other things like that. So, I guess I am doing better. 

Well, I love you all and I can't wait to talk to you again. Keep the faith and stay safe! 

Love Elder Maybury 

These are pictures from my birthday!  Thanks for the package!  It was HEAVY!

We had ice cream (my favorite) and Burger King on my birthday day.

Some pictures from Zone and Stake Conference

(Why am I the only one awake and studying on the bus?)

The Pamplona Elders

The Elders in the Zone

Most of our missionaries from our Zone

(I was kinda caught off guard)

Our P-Day in San Sebastián

My Chapa (name tag)

What a wonderful email from our son this week!  It is so good to know that he was remembered by others and that he enjoyed the packages and letters that his family sent to him.  It had the intended reaction/response that I wanted.  Mainly, a smile and him feeling loved by his family.  We sent him a package by Amazon Pantry which was SO FUN to put together!  We only send him packages for special occasions because it gets so expensive, but it sure is fun to work with grandma to put them together and hear of his happiness at receiving them. 

I am glad to know he is happy and doing well.  I know he still has moments of struggles, but he is able to see past those moments and look for the good.  That is one thing that I try to teach all of my children…”Look for the good”.  I think it makes all the difference in a given day. 

I can also tell that his companions and the members in Spain truly do love and appreciate him and his service.  You know, as a parent, it takes A LOT to send your child on an airplane halfway across the world to take care of himself and to hope that others watch over him.  But, each and every week I feel the amazing blessing of comfort and peace in knowing that my son is being watched over.  People are good and kind and beyond that, I know that angels walk with the missionaries in the service that they do on behalf of the Lord.  It does my heart good. 

Thank you for supporting my son and thank you for wishing him well on his birthday and sending him cards.  If you would like to write to him, please do so at the following address:

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

Each letter will require one international stamp = $1.15 / up to one ounce.

Emailed: March 12