Hey Mom! 

 

Now we have a baptismal date for A and R! Two Sunday's from now! We are going to their wedding and everything, and I'm so excited and just the happiness that I get from it. There is something about that that got me real motivated. I can not wait! We also have L slowly getting closer. We are going over tonight, and she is fixing us a very big meal and everything. So excited. Lots of little miracles have happened. Also A is working now to save up so he can go and move.  I reallllllly hope he can. He has such a desire and he is so knowledgeable about the gospel. He reads and prays all the time. Also comes teaching with us a lot. Also lots of less actives are coming back. J is now saying he is coming back along with his whole family who has been less active but now we have been working with all of them and we see the ward growing. It was crazy last night cause my Spanish is really improving I feel like. I was able to just talk for a few minutes on eternal families and I mentioned nanny and pawpaw. Just feel 1000 times better! 

 

My 4 month mark is coming up on the ninth which is super weird. That is what has been happening! 

Courtney would do that though! (Telling her parents that she and her companion were going to have to be Spanish speaking missionaries.) That would be so hard if someone had to and I know people have but wow you literally have to learn everything in the field. Idk what I would do! 

I'm super excited that Jake is coming here. He could easily get out here in Philly with me cause lots of people are ending their missions or should be getting transferred. So that would be like crazy. I just can not believe he got called here. We will see! 

I am so excited for the Holidays also, but Halloween being this week we have to be in early, at about 6 I believe. 

 

We are going down to center city today again so that should be fun and I'll have more pictures to send later and I made sure all my batteries were charged so I could take pictures! Well I love you very much mom.  So I'm so excited and be ready for baptism pictures from A and R!! 

 

I love you so much and Dad!! I will talk to you very soon! I just know that God is there helping me! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Momma! 

Wow 100 days ha that's actually really weird how fast that goes. Doesn't feel like it! Everything is going well here. Slowly working with all of our investigators and it's just frustrating sometimes when it takes so long or you feel like someone is totally going to accept it and they do not. However, A and R should be setting a date super soon! I'm so excited. They are like the best family ever. 

 

As well we are going to the temple soon with L who has been our investigator for a while. I've talked about her. We just have to wait till the L family gets back. I hope she will get a date very soon as well. Also just preparing lots of reactivated members to go to the temple. We have a lesson with one today. Her name is MV. Such an awesome lady. Well actually she is a recent convert but anyways. Lots of people have been coming to church and we see our ward growing. I know I have since I have been here. As well our less active A has totalllllly turned his life back around. He had been going through lots of struggles and didn't want to come to church or anything. So we continued to meet with him and then last Saturday night he was like, " so, I got a scheme about coming to church tomorrow." So we were like well all right let's see. He ended up coming, meeting with the bishop and now we see him every day for 3 weeks. The other day he came out with us. He is reading his scriptures a ton and praying all the time. He has such a strong testimony and is opening up so much more. He came yesterday to church clean shaven and in a white shirt and tie. The whole deal. I was like dude this is a first. I haven't a ever seen you clean shaven lol. And also he changed all his music as well as downloaded just about everything on gospel library. It's crazy to see the change in him of how he was when I first got here and how we have helped him now. I am actually sharing our lesson with him today about a change of heart. Other then those we are just trying to get more people progressing but we are getting closer and closer I feel. Super busy week again as well because we had about 22 lessons. 

 

Oh! Also I had two exchanges again this week and one I actually stayed here. It was scary cause I had to make sure I knew where we were going the whole time and when we needed to do certain things. Also ended up getting caught in the rain. Oh gosh and directing someone in Spanish is the hardest thing ever! Wow. But it ended up going well and we taught like 5 lessons that day. I stayed in my area with Elder Villaba, and the other transfer was with the zone leaders so I went with Elder Stubbs to his area. That kid is a true genius. So we had zone conference recently and President had a question on math and asked, "Who is the smartest guy here?" Everyone pointed and said Elder Stubbs lol. He went to BYU a year before actually. So it went well! 

 

Also, that is awesome that you were able to go out with them. We always need help sometimes to teach and the members are a huge help. That's good as well that she kept her commitment. That's when you know they are willing to actually do something. Getting them to church is one of the best things you can do. 

 

Here I've just noticed that all people do is work and nothing else like at all. Like lots of the lives of people here is just idk. They know nothing but here and go nowhere. Like A told us he wants to get out and try to move to Utah or somewhere so he can have a better opportunity and be around more people of the church.

 

I saw his (Jake Weisler) picture the other day at zone conference! I was like wow that's insane. He is going to love it. I can not believe that he will be going in so soon. 

Also, if the peanut balls are melted then I can just put them in the fridge or whatever when they get here. Oh I really like Baby Ruth's, also the watermelon sour patches are real good. Stuff like that.

I am super excited about Skype also! That'll be interesting. I'll have to talk in some Spanish to y'all. I'm trying to work on my accent still lol.

The members here always bring us food or want to feed us. Alllll the time lol it's crazy. Always rice and beans but super good. I love it! 

Again thank you for all of that and everything mom! I love you so much and love being out here! It's just crazy to see the gospel completely change a person for the better and bless them. Miracles happen. Also I believe I have some pictures so I'll get those out today! Love you so much and talk to ya soon!! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom!

So her papers went through! (This is the couple he has been working with since he's been there.) Things are going very well for them right now. Lots have changed just in the way both of them are and they are so close as a family. We went and saw them with the bishop, and he was like all right let's do the marriage now! Haha it was so funny. They are thinking do it on a Saturday and then that Sunday they will be baptized. 

 

Also, just got this new lady who is related to someone in the Ward who we set a baptismal date for. She accepted, and it was funny cause she said she wasn't going to come to church and ended up coming. Also bringing her husband which was like super surprising cause he had never been before. So we will see what happens there. 

 

Other than that nothing real new. We had like 20 lessons this week which was crazy. Most we have had yet. 

 

And wow so one of our less actives Angel is totally changing again. He got baptized about 5 years ago and was going strong then fell off. But just yesterday he had an interview with the bishop and we are going to be seeing him every day for about 3 weeks. He's really wanting to change. 

 

Also, the guy that lives above us who is inactive showed up out of nowhere, and we talked to him that night about it. He said he just felt good again especially being there. 

 

We had about 5 investigators at church. Also, we are going to the temple sight soon with Linka who is one and also with the Lopez family. We fasted for her this Sunday and broke it with them. Found out he served with my morning teacher from the MTC actually so that was cool. It was a pretty good week I'd say. 

 

As well it is starting to get colder here and the leaves are all changing so it's beautiful. I actually just bought a coat today that's real good. Double layer and everything. I'll need scarfs and all that cause it gets wayyyy cold here, and the humidity makes it worse. 

 

Yea! I've heard all about that (Ebola being here) cause people know I'm from there obviously, and they said to tell y'all to be careful and everything. Like that's crazy. 

 

I'm thinking I'll get to go to the temple with Awilda and Roy or maybe a less active sooner actually. We are working on getting less actives and active members to the temple to at least do baptisms for the dead and work towards being endowed. It's interesting the experiences that people have in temples though like things they feel and all. 

 

Time out here flies by honestly. I've been out over three months now.

. 

Yeah I can't wait for Christmas! I already can tell my Spanish is becoming more fluent. I just know that it takes time. Just have to be patient and it's hard sometimes cause understanding can be tough. Just gotta pray and have faith and it'll come I know. Was so great to listen to conference and all the talks. Just a big boost! Loved it!

Crazy that's everyone is all gone and on missions. So awesome! Can't wait to tell stories. I'll have more pictures next week! I love you so much!

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

That's actually really funny actually that you had that prompting because it was definitely a rough week. I had strep throat this week actually. Had to go to the doctor and all and it's been a slow week cause I've been sick pretty much. So Raul our Ward mission leader and Elder Villalba and Elder Bair came and gave me a blessing and brought food. So not fun! So that's why I went to Walgreens was to get the medicine. 

 

Yeah wow conference was super super awesome. I don't think I've ever been so excited actually. Thank goodness we did get to watch it in English and we went up to the church cause they had it all set up there. Although Sunday we did watch the morning session in Spanish and also those who spoke Spanish for their talks. But I understood. It's interesting being able to just know what they are saying and how your brain can make the switch of just knowing the word instead of trying to translate the whole thing in English always. Elder Bednar is always awesome. Lots of powerful messages. I really enjoyed President Uchtdorf's talk where he quoted saying, "Is it I Lord?" All great talks though and took some good notes as well. We also did have investigators watch it. We had about 6 I believe so that was super great. 

 

Also been finding some really great investigators recently which has been nice. Also, I am so excited for Awilda and Roy. So we had a great lesson with them the other day.  They want to go and be sealed in the temple a year and will just have all of that then and have a party then. That's what he told us and they have been seeing blessings with better job opportunities and everything in their lives. So I would get to go with them next year which would be so awesome. They have come a long way that's for sure. And they both want their kids to grow up in this gospel. They are all young. No older than 6. 

 

Then we have this one referral who we are seeing tonight from Sister G. in our ward who has been so prepared. We talked to him last week and just hearing his story about him and his family he is way prepared. Very excited. It's funny I could see Sister G. and Aunt Anna getting along very well for some reason. Every time I see her that's who I think about. 

 

I am sooo excited to see Jake! As long as he takes care of himself! That's crazy that he got called here like wow. 

 

And Christmas is so soon. The weeks fly here honestly. 

 

As for winter stuff if maybe you could even take Jordan with you to get me some scarves and maybe a couple more sweaters. I actually might use this brand new mister Mac jacket that is here in our apartment. Very nice and specifically for missionaries. As well I might need gloves and I'll have to get my boots. I'll get those here still. Also I need a beanie! Ha maybe I'll just find that here as well. Cause it's supposed to be bad weather. I'm already wearing my sweaters now actually. And I wouldn't mind another pair of casual pants because of yeah they fade for sure no matter what but it's fine. Everything is holding up great. Especially the shoes. I'm still thinking of maybe stuff I want or need so I'll write them down and let you know as well! 

 

Dang it! Alabama better make it to the playoffs. They can't lose then. He (Elder Milligan, the LSU fan) probably won't let me live it down. lol. You'll definitely have to meet him after. He's so funny and it's funny cause I haven't heard a yes ma'am or no ma'am in so long until he said it the other day. So funny. Cause we actually had tons of food in between sessions from our ward and they were feeding him and he would say it. 

 

Hard to believe Christmas is so soon honestly! I hear Christmas here is an awesome time but very very cold always. This winter is supposed to be so bad haha like it feels like negatives a lot. So we will see! 

 

It's crazy it has been about 3 months! After this transfer my training is over and anything can happen. That's so weird. I can't remember if I told you Elder Mask was getting transferred. Kinda bummed cause he was awesome but he did stay the night here as well as two others that got transferred as well. But now he is training! He was excited. I could have to train down the road of course which is so weird ha like idk if I could handle that. I see how hard it is but who knows. 

 

Oh well, as for Center City! So awesome. Saw everything. Liberty bell, Rocky steps, all of it. We actually raced up lol. We went with our zone leaders. They are so funny. It's Elder Stubbs and Elder Lundberg. So we did that and ate at this awesomeeee place. Idk why I can't think of the name but food galore. Every place. Adam from Man vs. Food went there, and I actually got exactly what he did. I can't remember what is it caledl but I took a picture and wow it was amazing. As we ate we actually talked to this couple from Australia. Tried to talk about the church but they wanted nothing at all to do with us. I even told them to check out the temple site but they said they wouldn't be doing that. Anyways still talked to them though just getting to know them a bit and a little about Australia. It was so funny. 

 

So it was a good time for sure. I'll be able to go again that's for sure. But anyways yeah I enjoyed all the talks.  It's true that they are called of God. They are some of just the greatest people and hearing their powerful words is just a huge boost. Can't wait for it in another six months from now. Who knows where I'll be then! Ha well I love you mom so much and I'll keep ya updated and send pictures a little later! Love you!! Christmas will be so exciting and Jordan and Daniel better be there! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

                               He and Elder Newbold in downtown Philly seeing the sites!!

                                                      The Liberty Bell!

                                                         Food place!

                                               Elder Stubbs, one of his zone leaders.

                                                     Something yummy he was eating!

                                                            He just liked the view!

                                                            Independence Hall!

                                              The Philadelphia temple under construction!

                                  At the top of the "Rocky Steps" after they had raced up.

                                                      The library at the top of the steps!