Mataró – Week 15…My camera died and a Christmas wish list!

Hi mommy! How are you doing today?! 

Well I am so glad that another Monday is here. This week took a little longer than usual but that's okay. It's not like I'm going anywhere right now. It took a little longer because last week I was talking to my piso (the other Elders) about how much longer they have left. And I was thinking about how much I have left and that I have been on my mission for longer than it's felt. So, then the Lord made this past week a little longer, haha! So, lessoned learned and I don't talk about my time left or how long I have been out here anymore. Haha! 

So, for Christmas, we have 45 minutes to talk to our family!!!! Yay!!!! It will be done over Skype since I have that. I will probably do it at the Church. I still have to finish this transfer so it's very possible that I will leave Mataró. Sad but I'll go where the Lord needs me to go. It's my mentality that I am trying to enhance. 

We have 3 people with a baptism date right now. Roberlando, Will, and Esther. Esther was the miracle of this week. Me and Elder Dickson were contacting in the streets and a young adult women just turned the corner. I wasn't going to contact her because she was about 7 feet away and for some reason I thought it was too far to contact. But Elder Dickson encouraged me to do it and, to make a long story short, she now has a fecha now for the 25th of November! Boom-yah! Will has a fecha for the same day, as well and Roberlando has a fecha for the 18th of November. Exciting things are happening!!!  The Lord blesses us when act upon the Spirit, or when our companion acts upon the Spirit as well. 

To answer your question, yes, I am still singing. I think I am getting worse when I am singing because no one else here really sings so I'm left to my own devices. But no worries. I keep on doing what I love.

Some ideas for me for Christmas: I need an SD card that will fit into my tablet. I need a flash drive to put photos on so I can have more space and things that that you know. I would love some ties as well. Dark blue socks would be a really big help so I can wear my blue slacks more often. ;) My CTR ring would be a nice Christmas gift. A picture of the Savior. A new journal. I write in my every day and so it lasts me about 6 months or a little longer, so I new one would be nice as well. 

Something to pray for me would be to find my priesthood line of authority. I cannot find it anywhere right now and it's stressing me out quite a bit. But I have faith that it will be found. So my camera situation. I think my trainer took my cord to charge my camera and plug it in. So I can’t charge my battery and my camera is dead. I don't know what to do. I knew I shouldn't have taken it out. Man, it's frustrating for me. I HATE my things being gone.

I was watching one of the videos that you sent me and I explained it to my companion what it was. And he said that is literally one of the most trunkiest things he has ever seen in his entire life. Psh! But I am not trunky. I just remember them. I am still here to stay. Whoo-hoo! 

*Trunky = ready to go home, as in sitting on your packed trunk/luggage

So my ear pains are coming back again. I am not sure what it is. I don't stick cotton swabs in my ears all the way. I dry them out well. I literally have no clue. Can you tell me again what oils to use?  I'm tired of the ear pains. 

Thank you so much for those pictures. I absolutely loved them. My family means the most to me and my friends are close under there. The gospel is on top of course. But anyways thank you for them. Thank you for the money you and other family sends to me.  I will do better about budgeting and taking care of the necessities. 

I have absolutely no doubt about your calling to the YW's. I believe that because of your amazing teaching experiences in the Hurley Ward, you will be better able to help the youth in this new ward. 

I think that is all I have for write now. I can't wait to email you again next week. I love you so much mother. I am proud of you and I am so honored to be your son. I love you a lot. Don't ever forget that. I'll talk you to next time, mom.

With love that last forever, Elder Maybury, your first son and missionary 

 Saturday night with some ward members! It was pouring!!!

Archery battle! We shot arrows at Each other! 

 We aren't your regular trick-or-treaters

 Halloween night relaxing cause they don't really do Halloween here.

District meeting on Halloween Day! Trick-or-Treat!!!

What a wonderful update from Elder Maybury.  As you can see, hard work pays off, especially as they work to share the gospel with others.  I am proud of the work that he and his companions have put into the area and I am grateful that he is able to see small miracles every week in the work there.  

There were parts of his letter that I edited out because they were personal just for me, but they continue to speak to his HUGE heart and love that he has for his family in trying to help them out.  I am so proud of him and his desire to serve, not only the people of Spain, but also continue to try to serve his family from so far away.  He is a sweet boy and he brings our family joy.

His humility also continues to impress me.  His Christmas list is so humble - compared to last year!  I love it!  Necessities only.  Socks, ties, and a picture of the Savior.  What a perfect focus for his mission of service to the Savior.  Another option, of course, is to put money into his account so that he can get what he needs, including blue socks. 😊  

It is such a beautiful thing to watch your child grow and develop.  No matter their age or their circumstance, it is nice to see them mature and become strong and happy human beings.  I am so grateful for my son's sacrifice of service.  It blesses our family in innumerable ways.  It is a beautiful example to his siblings and his family of being selfless, of letting go of the things of this world to try to help others.  Especially during this month of November, where the focus is on gratitude, I am thankful for my son and all missionaries because they answer a call to serve.  They rise to the challenge.  They learn to love others, even in the face of rejection and in the face of differences.  What a beautiful example to the world and society - loving others regardless of beliefs.  Loving others through service.  Loving others enough to sacrifice your comforts so that you can give to them.  The world would be a better place if we all could give just a little more to those around us and give up some of comforts so that others might have a little more of what they need. 

It is an honor to support my son on his mission.  Thank you all for supporting him, as well.

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

Elder Alexander J. Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

 All letters/cards require one international stamp = $1.15

And yes, I am looking forward to our 45 minute phone call in just 7 weeks!!!!!

Mataró – Week 14…Basketball skills and I love you all!

Hi mom!

How are you and everyone doing?! 

This week has flown by so fast and I can't believe that it's time to email again! What joy! So, the miracle of this week was that we were able to set another baptismal date. Our investigator is named Will. He has a baptismal date for the 25th of November. So exciting. And we invited him on the first lesson as well! Whoo-hoo! So I want to quickly say “Thank You” to every one for you prayers. I have heard about some of the politics stuff but none of the demonstrations have really reached Mataró which is about 45 minutes away from Barcelona so I am safe and all is well. It's definitely been a blessing to work with Elder Dickson. I love him as my companion. I think we work well together and we get done what needs to be done. We both like to enjoy ourselves but also like to see progress as well. 

I am not sure what really happens here for Halloween but I buy some candy from time to time to be in the Spirit and remind me of home. Not enough to make me want to go back, but enough to remember you all. So, HUGS AND KISSES COMING YOUR WAY!!! Thank you to everyone who sent me letters. I got 5 of them so it was definitely the highlight of my day. I will be sending some back as well, don't you all worry. I've got enough love for the world. 

Wow, Isabella looks so much more bigger and grown! That's not the little sister that I left when I came to my mission. I miss her so much but if feels my heart with joy to know that Our Father in Heaven is watching over her and my family. The Father knows what we ask of Him before we even ask it. It doesn't mean that we should stop asking. If we do, then we show that we don't need to pray to Him and rely on Him for our benefit and blessings. It is a commandment to pray. But because he knows, it reaffirms our faith that the Father knows all of our needs and wants and He knows how to bless us accordingly. 

We played basketball today and let's just say that I still got it! Whoo-hoo! The elders were asking if I played basketball before and I told them that I dabbled. Elder Chin Ah You said, " Dabble meaning enough to kill us in basketball." Haha! I just like to play basketball, that’s all. I haven’t really shot a ball in 6 weeks so I guess it's just muscle memory. It's interesting being in my training. I feel more that I am a companion now than a sidekick. We teach and plan equally and together. We trust each other and we guide and uplift each other. My training with my trainer was great but the breaking brings new things to the table so I am glad that I am progressing. 

I have 2 hours to read emails. Boom! I finish most of them by 30 minutes so, Pops, email me. I need to do better about emailing you as well. I am still trying to figure it all out. Oh! Something exciting that is happening is that Barcelona is moving into the stage 3 of technology. So what does that mean? Well that's the same question that I had. It means that 1) Each companionship will trade out their old phones for a Smartphone! 2) We will be getting Facebook, Facebook Messenger and What's App. 3) Online Proselyting will now be starting so we can reach out to others we want to hear and accept the gospel but are having a hard time meeting face to face. 

That is so exciting! We will be having our Facebook accounts. You have 2 options. The first is to delete your old one (If you had one) and make a new one. The second option is to use the one you have and change it to a missionary profile. That means to you get rid of anything that would embarrass you as a missionary of the Church. Smart. 

This past week we got to set our clocks back an hour. So we got one extra hour of sleep. I think my body woke up after 8 hours because it wasn't use to getting 9 hours, haha! 

So transfers are the 20th of November. So I will be here until then or maybe for another six weeks. We will see what the Lord needs. So I need some more money on my card if you can. I have some American money that I will send so you can put that in there as well. Something special I want for Christmas is something personal from all of you. Like a craft. Also, I have heard that anything that goes through customs, I have to pay for. Not sure though. Thanks for anything and everything you do for me!

Well I love everyone and pray for you all daily. Never forget the Savior because He has never forgotten you. Love and honor your parents. Raising you wasn't easy. Always keep the faith. I love you all so much!

With love that last enough for this life and the next, Love Elder Maybury  

Balling with my companion Elder Dickson!!! 

P.S. sorry for the lack of pictures. I will do better this week. Love ya!!!

What a sweet young man.  Although this was a short letter this week, it was full of my son!  His happiness, his humility, his love for others just jumps off the page of his emails home.  That makes me happy.  I know there are still down moments or moments where he struggles, but he picks himself back up and that is the key.  That is typical Alexander.  He has such an energy and zest for life.  There was a period of time where we had to keep directing him to what he needed to do - like a rabbit to a carrot - but the thing that I love the most about him is his dedication.  Once he commits, he is committed 100% and that shows in his personality, his demeanor, his energy, his actions, his love for others, and his dedication to service.  He is an example to me of how I need to be better in so many areas of my life.  

I thought it was interesting that when I asked him what he wanted to for Christmas, he asked for personal items from each person, like a handmade craft.  I love that! He has some other needs, too, of course, but I love that he asked for something so simple.

I am very happy to see his progress and to know that he is benefitting from the lessons that he is experiencing there.  A mother wants nothing more for her child than to be happy and successful and engaged in good things.  I am a happy mother this week! 

As always, thank you for supporting my son, whether through cards, letters or prayers, he appreciates it all.

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

Elder Alexander J Maybury

Spain Barcelona Mission

C/ Calatrava, 10-12 bajos

08017 Barcelona

Spain

All letters require an international stamp = $1.15