Good
afternoon everyone! How are you all doing?!
Well it
has been an interesting week. We have been visiting some less-actives and
trying to pass by them. It's come to some success. I meet a less-active named
Alex. He is a good person. He is 19 and is from Paraguay, I believe. He does
what we invite him today. I am hoping to meet with him again this week and get
him to come to church with us.
The bishop’s
son came home this week. We had a homecoming for him this past Friday. It was
really great. You can just look at him and see that he has changed. We put a
little musical number together. My companion and myself along with the sister
missionaries sang "Soy un Hijo de Dios" (I am a child of God) It went
really well. My companion played the piano and boy can he play! He is really
good at it so be expecting some musical performances soon! Hahaha!
We had
sports on Saturday and that was pretty fun. We meet with a man who is a good
friend of a member and wanting to get baptized. His situation though is very
tough for him, so we are all praying for him.
Sunday
was amazing. We were able to introduce ourselves, but I forgot to say my name!
What a klutz I am, haha! I was so busy and preoccupied with what I was going to
say that I forgot to say the most I portent thing (besides my testimony), MY
NAME! All well. We got to eat with Roberlando and Marco Antonio on Sunday. It
was like coming home for a moment, at least in Mataró. Haha! Apparently, I am
known to them for eating a ton. When Elder Newman was still with Elder Patey
here, they came by to eat with them. Well, Elder Newman was eating a lot and
Roberlando told him that he eats like Elder Maybury. Lol. What a compliment he received!
🤣
We met
with our ward mission leader and he is a great fellow. He just got out of the
hospital for kidney stones. Still has them. But after he left, he was already
asking about when we can meet to have coordination meeting. Wow, what a man.
There will be a talent show on October 12th! I get to be a part of another one,
yay! We are also planning an activity of what life is like in the CCM (MTC). It
should be really fun! Wow, this area is so good. I love it here. The members
are really nice. There's good young men and young women here which I love
because I love being with the youth. It's my favorite thing actually.
Answers to questions...
How was it seeing
Roberlando again?
Getting
to see Roberlando was amazing! I took a before and after picture
How was it meeting your
new ward members?
The ward
is great. I love all of them already. It will take some time remembering their
names but I nothing that I can't handle.
How are things different
in Sabadell versus Marraxtí?
We work a
lot more with members and visit them a lot more as well. And there are more
people to contact.
What do you all do for
service opportunities?
So for
service opportunities here, on Wednesdays we help a couple build their
restaurant. I haven't gone yet but we will go this week for sure. We also got
to an old persons place and take them on walks in their wheelchairs or hold
their hands. It's super fun!
If the Savior walked
beside you, what would He say, do you think, about your efforts as a
missionary?
I think
he would be happy with my efforts. I really tried hard to be focused completely
in the work. Can I do better? Yes, but I will get there.
Is there anything
specific that we can pray for for you?
I would
ask prayers for our investigators. To help them in their situations and to get
in contact with a couple. As well as the some less actives to come back to
church.
Well,
that's about it for this week. I can't wait to see what happens this week! Keep
the faith and do your best! And the Lord will take care of the rest!
Love Elder Maybury
Umm, I think I need a haircut!
Post hair cut (my companion too!)
(yes, my mom still gives me non-subtle messages about getting my hair cut LOL!)
A few more pictures from Marraxti
A Surprise Birthday Celebration for Sister Turner
Meeting Roberlando again!
(Left: Sabadell / Right: Mataro on his baptism day)
I was so fulfilled by
this report from my son this week. Most
other mothers will understand what I mean (and some dads, too), but my son’s
JOY and HAPPINESS eek through in his words and in his pictures. There is a lightheartedness to him that is
not inappropriate, but rather an ability to see the good in each situation and
hold reverence for other situations.
To see my son
standing again with the man who was his first baptism in Spain…well, it brought
a rush of emotions to my heart for my son.
I believe that we are meant to meet certain people in our lives and the
reasons for meeting them vary wildly, but usually it’s that they will uplift
our life in some way. I still think
about and remember the faces of those that I met and taught on my mission. I remember their names and I remember their
faces and to have the chance to see them again and hug them would be a
priceless gift. The sweet people that I
taught and help to come unto Christ while I served felt so familiar to me, it’s
like I had always known them. Many are
still in Ecuador and I have heard bits and pieces about them and my heart
swells with love for them to know that they are doing well and remember Hermana
Juarez who served them for such a short time.
This is why I feel overwhelmed with emotion for my son. He gets to be a part of another chapter of
Roberlando’s life and I know that it is a gift that he didn’t know he
needed.
Additionally, many of
you know that my son loves to sing. He
didn’t know he loved to sing until I started teaching him. I then had him join the choir in our
ward. He didn’t know how to find his
note just by listening, but we worked on it.
On a trip a few years ago, he and I drove from California to BYU, so he
could attend Rugby camp. I played a lot
of the Eagles (my favorite band). I taught him how to harmonize using the Eagles’
songs and he learned how to find his note while others were singing. Over time, you could always hear Alexander
singing. Always. In the car, in the house, in the shower,
walking up to the door, playing with his sister, doing his chores…he just loved
to sing. It is one of the things that I miss the most about him being gone.
So when he left on his mission,
I prayed for him to have opportunities to sing and share his love for
music. Well he has been blessed magnificently
with opportunities. He has sung at
almost every single Zone Conference since the start of his mission. In his last area (on the islands), he was
able to join up with 3 other missionaries who also love music – singing and
performing. They have perfected their
harmonies together. They prepared a
variety of songs to sing for the members in each of their wards. These were the four who did the beautiful
medley of Disney songs that I posted a couple weeks ago.
Well, for Elder
Maybury’s last Sunday, they were set to perform one more time. This time, they really stepped it up. They sang to the melody of “Come Thou Fount”
but used the words from the hymn, “Joseph’s First Prayer”. They had solos, duets, crescendos,
diminuendos and sang one verse acapella.
That verse, the final verse, the most powerful, was my favorite. Of course, I teared up. In part for the power of the song/message,
but also in seeing live and in technicolor the fulfillment of the blessings of
my prayer for my son. I am in awe of his
courage and blessing.
Please enjoy the
song. I have watched it 25 times
already. LOL!
If you would like to
write a card or letter to Elder Maybury, you may do so at the following addres:
Elder Alexander J.
Maybury
Spain
Barcelona Mission
C/
Calatrava 10-12, bajos
08017
Barcelona
Spain
All
letters will require one international stamp = $1.15 / up to one ounce
Emailed: Sept 24th
