Well how
is everyone doing today?!
It's been
another great week here in Spain. There are miracles all around us, we just have to train our eyes to see them.
So, the
miracle of this week was that [Investigator J] who was baptized two weeks ago
was able to be sustained a member today and receive the Aaronic priesthood
today as well. I ordained him to the office of priest with the Aaronic
priesthood. It was very humbling that he asked me to do it. I have felt my
strong purpose to be here in Spain this past week. There has been something
growing inside me which I believe is the ability to be a leader. It has been
something that I have been desiring for a long time and it seems that through
all the constant prayer, fasting, and working, I can be able to feel it or at
least something working inside me. It gives me the desire to work after the
desire left for a while. It gives me the strength to push on and do my best for
the Lord. It helps me take my mind away, put up with it, and do something about
and not let it distract me. It is truly a blessing and a miracle.
So, it's
been kind of difficult with my companion. As you said mom, he is a very hard
worker. The thing is, is that I feel and have seen him changing everything to
how he does the work, "correcting" me in things and telling me things
that I already know how to do correctly. So, it's a bit frustrating. But I
remind myself that I will not be the elder who backs down when it gets tough.
Not again, not anymore. I do not care if I don't like it. I don't do this for
me, I do it for the Lord because He has asked ME to do it, He has REQUIRED ME
to do it. And after all the so many great and glorious blessings that I have received,
witnessed and been a part of, how can I turn my back? How can I lie down? How
can I go forward each day knowing that I am in debt to Him and not even trying
to repay Him back? I cannot go on like this. I will go forward each day with my
purpose implanted in my mind. With the Spirit of the Lord in my heart and with
a chapa (nametag) on my chest.
Answers
to Questions:
Did you get a chance to
see the Priesthood session of conference?
I was
able to see the Priesthood session. Very interesting, but I like it because it
seems that the church is taking a more unified and loving role in checking on
everyone in their perspective areas. I think it is a great way of having
unity.
Was last week Holy Week
in Spain? Any celebrations?
Holy Week
was normal. I didn't see any celebrations really so no pictures of that's
stuff.
How many investigators do
you have?
We have a
normal pool of investigators, from 3 - 15. Always on the lookout for more
though! Hahaha!
Did you see yourself in
the video of missionaries opening their mission calls?
I loved
the video. But I should have listened to you more when you told me not to read
the date and address of where it came from. Feel like a fool for that. Shout
out to Moms! They always know what's best!
Are you at a point where
you think you need to send some things home?
Yeah, I
can send some things. I'll gather them all together soon, so they are
ready.
You did buy a Ukulele,
right? And a case? Is that going to travel okay with you?
I did get
a ukulele and a case. I also got an iron-on sticker for it. It will travel well
with me I think.
The next Zone Conference
is May 1st. Will this be your
last one with President Dayton?
Zone
Conference is in May. I think I will have 1 more with them after this. They
have 2 transfers left in total, so I will probably have 1 more. I sure hope so
though!
How long has Elder Vargas
been on the mission?
Elder
Vargas will have 6 months left after this transfer. He is a pretty old
fella!
P-Day Activities
We went
to the outskirts of Pamplona to do a little climbing and go to the lake. The
thing is that it was raining on and off, but when it did rain, it rained pretty
constantly and then it just stopped. So, we got pretty wet. I liked the
pictures that I took. It reminded me of how much I like the hills and countryside.
It's a special part of nature and beauty that God has on the earth that isn't
fully appreciated. I enjoy the long walks along the road. It's a time of
reflection and beauty.
After the
pictures by the lake, we walked back to the bus stations and ate at KFC with
the Hermanas. It was pretty fun. Sitting next to Hermana Vance felt like
breaking some code since we sat on the same bench/seat. But it was all good. We
are figuring out a ward mission plan for the ward. We have to have it done by
next week. I have received some inspiration on how we can move forward with
this and what ideas would work well. We are eating a lot with the members now.
Which is great because we are able to meet with them, talk with them, and
understand them better while strengthening our relationship together as well.
So, all good things.
I have
been gaining some decent size on the arms again. We have a pull up bar which I
love because it gets the triceps, back, and abs. I'm not expecting to look
marvelous or anything, rather far from it. I'm just trying to stay in shape
that's all.
I have
been able to learn the song Hallelujah on the ukulele. It's pretty fun. I took
a video and I'll send it to the family for you all. It's not super good, but
it's not super bad either. I hope you all enjoy it!
Well
that's it for right now. I love you all a ton and I pray for you all every
night! Stay safe, be strong and Keep the Faith! Love you!!!!
Love
Elder Maybury
Elder
Maybury sent a video of himself playing the Ukulele and singing “Hallelujah”. He bought the ukulele with his birthday money
and so he has learned to play and sing this song in less than a month. I’m super proud of him.
This
week certainly had its challenges as I felt that they would, thus my specific
counsel to him about how to work with certain people. But I absolutely LOVE his attitude. He has a great attitude about his call to
serve, about facing specific challenges, and particularly about being a
leader. This has been something that I
have been writing to him about for a few weeks and I am glad to see that he is
now embracing the gifts that he has been blessed with. As amazing as Elder Maybury is, he still had
some struggles with shyness, but I can see him BLOSSOMING!!! It is glorious to see!!!
I am
also so proud of him for learning to play a new instrument. His last year of high school, he took piano
lessons and he did okay with them. He
finally caught the vision of the blessing that it is to be able to read music
and play an instrument. So now to see
him embracing that talent and learning a new instrument just brings me great
joy. And I love his singing voice. I can tell that he is making lots of
strides. Just before he left, I was
teaching him how to vary the harmony within a song and I was glad to see him try it along with a different singing style (and range). I am SO PROUD of him.
And
more than that, I love that he SHARES HIS TALENT! When he sent this video, he said that “it’s
not too good, but it’s not too bad”. I
love that. What a great lesson for all
of us. The lesson is to learn to share
the talents you have even if they are not our version of “perfect”. Share them to bring joy to others. It certainly brightened my day to receive the
video of him.
Please
know that one of the greatest challenges any parent faces is the challenge to
let your kids soar on their own. You
never want them to be hurt or sad or fall, but one of the greatest acts of love
that we do as parents is to let our children fly and stretch their wings. I miss my son like crazy, but he is learning
more than I could ever teach him on my own.
He is learning at the side of the Savior, walking in His ways, teaching
as He would, and learning to find joy in all things and love all those whom he
serves. And the amazing thing is, my son’s
service uplifts and brightens our little family, as well. Blessings abound and we are grateful.
Thank
you for supporting our son. Thank you
for your prayers and your letters.
Please, feel free to take a minute and send him a card. 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: April 9
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