(Let me, his mom, preface this first paragraph for those who didn't know, Adam spent the night in the hospital on Friday night because they were worried he was having appendicitis!  Turned out not to be, but they kept him overnight for observation.  Getting those calls from the mission president is not fun!!)

 

I know! It was definitely not fun. I stayed over night but got no sleep because they come in about every hour checking on me and all that good stuff. I will be sure to give him (Elder Park)some (of the peanut butter balls) and everything! I'm sure he will love them very much. Yeah they said if it got worse or I had it again to come back in. I got the card of the doctor that took care of me. They were all great except one was a little odd and just something about her I didn't like too much. But plenty of people came to see me ha. The other elders came and also Bishop, our Ward mission leader and J who lives above us. Well taken care of for sure because then when I got home the L's brought some great soup and stuff. Hopefully everything will be fine! 

Yeah I'll check everything out on SKYPE and it should be good. I'm excited! 

Yeah so transfers again which is nice because I wanted to be here for Christmas and everything. Everyone is doing good! R was able to go back to work for now but is going to get something better soon which is awesome and also A is just working. He has been pretty busy with that so he can serve a mission so that is good. Also we have two dates for baptism! Their names are G and R, and it was funny. So R is like 21 or something and she loves the temples a lot and wants to go in so we were like well you have to be a member first and all that. Bishop was there too and he was so excited. So we invited them both, and R was like pues vámonos entonces! Which means like well let's go then! Haha so we are super excited for them. Everyone else is still progressing well. We will see what happens with H who is the husband of a member. His whole family are members and they even have a nephew names Nefi. Which is Nephi in Spanish haha. Also had another reactivation here as well! Her name is L and idk what happened but she just started coming every single Sunday. Idk exactly why she was less active. She actually served a mission and is awesome so it is good she is coming now. Also that is L (different person here)! She has been super busy and we are trying to get with her. We will see what happens. I hope she can get baptized sometime soon! But idk still. However, her other daughter is getting baptized next month! So we will see. But it is going well and Elder Park is awesome. We get along real well and he is hilarious. Really good at basketball. 

I'm excited for my packages but I'm thinking and idk how I am going to carry them haha. Also it is going to be a fun Christmas because we are having a sleepover with the other Elders. That will be interesting. It should be a good Christmas. Tonight we are actually having a big family night with the stake at the temple site. So I'll be taking pictures there and all of that. Really trying to get the gospel to everyone.  This is going to be a very good way cause it is right in the city. 

I can not believe Michael (Moon) is coming home so soon! I remember saying bye to him late at night hah. That's crazy. I'm sure the Moons are all excited about that.

 

I think we are getting together this coming Saturday but I doubt that I'll see Jake because he is so far north. Hah yeah it is going to be awesome when I see him for sure. I just can't believe he is here honestly. 

Always love good quotes. You never know whose life you are going to touch and the way you find people is funny. Just a few minutes ago as we were heading back here.  We were waiting for the bus and talking Spanish and this one girl about 25 was like who are you guys? She thought it was very interesting that we speak Spanish. She works at City Hall and is interested in us passing by. Awesome! So you never know and it has been great being able to see how people change. I just always look back at R and A and their lives now. From where they came from and now? Wow. You'd never think that could happen. But I just know this church is true and it is funny cause I have no issue now just telling someone they are wrong and just walking off because if they aren't ready to hear the gospel now then you just need to move on and search out for the elect but you do that by talking to people to find out. Well I can't wait to see everyone because it has been a while! Well I'll have pictures next week and everything so be looking forward to those and I love and miss ya mom! I'll talk to ya soon! Idk that I'll have time to email dad this week cause we were busy but tell him he can read this and that I love him too. Talk to ya soon!! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Well this week went alright. Had a few appointments that canceled and things but it still went ok. Yeah I thought I told you but it was great! Few dinner appointments (for Thanksgiving). One at Ronald McDonald, the church, then some members. It was real great but however I was sick so I did not eat too much. I still played football though because I could not miss that! (Of course he can't!)

Anyways but the rest of the week went pretty well. Poor R though. He just lost his job but he is getting with the stake people or bishop to find something. But he told us he can come teaching with us hah which is nice. He came with us the other day and did awesome! We are also going to be able to go to the temple next month because they just changed a rule that we can go once a month to do baptisms for the dead if it is the persons first time that we have been working with. So excited! Also went on an exchange with Elder Hopkin and that went great. It was weird being with someone who knew less Spanish than me though hah but turned out great. He is a great missionary. So yeah! 

Haha we are so excited for Christmas here because we have so much coming up. It is a great time here and also J that lives above us surprised us by putting a little tree in our place! Haha we came in last night and were like um did we leave a light on? But turns out it was the tree haha so we have pictures. That is crazy about Jessey (killing his Thanksgiving turkey)! Poor Courtney (car in the ditch) lol and That is good for Ryan (all the good things going on and getting better in Germany)I'm sure! Good to hear all of that from them. I can already tell a difference in myself as well for sure. I'm excited to skype! 

I can't believe she (Kayla) is leaving and then she will be heading out on her mission! We are getting older hah! I'll be 19 soon! And when does Michael (Moon) come home? I've been out 5 months like that is weird. My 6 month mark is coming up already! Time flies out here that is for sure. 

Scripture study is coming. I was  just read about Ammon teaching the Lamanites.  And they were scared of him because of his strength that the Lord gave him. Then I'm reading about Abraham in the bible right now. So yeah it is going well. 

Also that He is the Gift video is getting everywhere! We got special pass along cards for it and everything and we have showed it to so many people. We are having a big thing at the temple site on the 15th about that and it's going to be a big great way to share the gospel. You never know who it will touch! I just see how it blesses people.  I just know it is true and the gift of tongues is sure real. I've seen it for sure! Well I have some pictures and I'll keep ya updated! I love you mom and I'll talk to ya soon! If ya need to know anything or need something let me know! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! It is crazy that it is December now. I am coming up on my 5 month mark which is so weird! Everything is going well except this past week stunk cause I got sick again but not just me. Like I was sick on Thanksgiving and stuff but it ended up to still be ok. We had three or four dinners set up with some members and it was great. I just realized though I did not get like any pictures! I'll have to get them from some of the families. I have plenty of pictures to send though from when we went into the city this past Monday. A and R are doing super great. We had a great lesson with them again this past week and everything is going good. They are going on the temple trip this weekend actually so I am super excited for them. Also, we are getting close with some investigators hopefully to a baptism date, and we do have one finally but I think I told you about N. Everything is still going well. We will see! It was definitely weird not being with any family this Thanksgiving for sure. Like it was just a little different but still good. But everything is good and we might be having another reactivation also.

Looks like it was a great Thanksgiving from all of the pictures! Did you guys not get a picture with the Borckis? Looks like everyone was there and the also running into the Ballingtons like what are the odds. Megan also said y'all saw Ariana there too. I would love to see all of them when I get back for sure.

Goodness all of the family was there! Well just about. Idk when we have ever had everyone like that, but I hope it went well. Sure looks like it. That is a very long trip! 

I'm already pushing a 6 month mark which is like super weird. I didn't know everyone was gonna be out there hah but good to see. 

Skype is coming up so soon! That is for sure. It's weird! Jordan and Daniel better be there. Also Matt! Hopefully I don't look chubby. It's weird that I have even been able to put on weight but it's cause I'm not nearly as active as I was that's for sure. Not playing basketball all the time and football. Oh! That reminds me. We had an awesome turkey bowl in center city at this awesome field. I'll have to get some pictures. And Kara's niece was there but I did not know it was her after until I was talking to our new AP Elder Watt and he told me. I'll see her soon enough though! But the turkey bowlwas so awesome and we played with another zone. Had a pretty good one hand snag lol. It was pretty cold though. So that was super awesome like the field was so sweet. 

And that's ok (I didn't have any quotes for him this week). It's been pretty cool because I have been reading in Alma and actually found a scripture I wanted to share with Jordan and Daniel but I can't recall exactly where. I just know it talks about being grateful with all you have and stuff. Also it's funny cause I just always talk with people who know so much about the bible and I just kept thinking how I don't know enough about it. So! I'm reading both. I'm about finished with Genesis and getting closer to finishing the Book of Mormon. I love reading them. And I've learned a lot about Noah and stuff and it's super interesting about the ark and how big it was and everything. Just stuff I want to learn more about that I underline and everything. I just know it's true. Just the feeling while I'm reading it is just you know it is all true. I would love to go to General Conference! Anyways well I'm trying to make sure I don't forget anything but I don't think I did. Well I love you! Glad it was a good trip! I'll talk to ya soon again! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

 

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                

Hey Mom!

We (he and his companion) are getting along great. He is awesome! We are getting lots of work
done for sure. The area is only getting better, and we are really
trying to work with everyone. We had a couple of exchanges with the
district leader and also with the zone leaders so that went real well.
I went to our district leaders area who is Elder Bloomfield and then
Elder Park took over hear with Elder Hopkin who is brand new! I think
one of the best lessons we had this week was with A and R the
other night, and I just had an impression to have them bare their
testimonies so we had a little testimony meeting after the lesson of
The Restoration. They are truly amazing. R is actually now the
second counselor in the young men's presidency and also blessed the
sacrament for the first time yesterday! I was so excited for him. It
was just such a great thing to see. I just think back on where he was
and how far they have come. Also I think the best and funniest thing
this week was a lesson with N. So we have been working with her
for quite some time now and lately she has been acting more and she
actually just came to church again yesterday for the second time this
month which is awesome. She loves it. So anyways we were in a lesson
and we have had this goal set for the end of the transfer to have a
"white night." We want to have people being baptized then and so I was
really feeling the spirit after and invited her and told her we know
she can make it if she does all she can. She really stepped back and
was like wow well you dropped the bomb on me today! I was like yup!
And talked and she was really getting emotional and said she wants to
but she wants to have her family support her and all be there. So she
is going to talk to them all and let us know. We already know they
will and it is funny because she has this son and man he is
interesting and is super cool. 

Anyways so he never everrrr would sit in on a prayer or lesson but the
other day he sat in and listened! I was like idk if something is
softening in the kids heart or what but who knows! We shall see. So it
was a great week. Just flies by!

I need more pictures when ya get them! Sounds like it is going to be a
very good trip. 

We are going to members houses all day and also for breakfast we are going to
the Ronald McDonald House because the lady really wants us to come so
it'll be good to hopefully get to talk to some people there. We will
definitely have to go up there when I get back! I can not believe I am
getting closer to being 5 months in. Getting close to that 6 month
mark.

Wow he (Jake, best friend from Georgia aka Elder Weisler) is wayyyy up North. Well that sucks! 

I am not sure when I willget to see him cause he is like over 3 hours away from me so that
sucks. Now Kara's niece I will definitely see because she is like 20
minutes away from me so probably soon. But I could still maybe see
Jake at Christmas conference.

Everything is keeping me pretty warm for sure! I appreciate them very
much. It is only going to be getting colder and colder here that it a
fact. It has been a little bit warmer though the past couple of days
which was nice. 

One thing I am doing is reading lots of talks and also I actually just started reading the
Bible from Gensis. I am going to be finishing the Book of Mormon
before this transfer. I am in Alma now and once I start reading I do
not want to stop. I have found though when I read it out loud or in
more of a whisper that I retain more and things stand out more. So I
do that every day. Also I write down things that really stood out and
some crazy revelation I have received. So I am enjoying that!

I am very excited to skype. I will talk in some Spanish or something
lol. J who is the member that lives above us told me how much it
has improved. I sat next to him in church yesterday, and he said he was
not singing because he was listening to me and said it is great which
really made me feel good. It is funny though cause he does not really
speak like any English. He is about 26 or so. He was just reactivated
too but I think I told you that. He said it was funny cause he
remembers when I first came in the first day and met him and how I
spoke like nothing. But now I can carry a conversation with him. The
Gift of Tongues is real, and the Lord will bless you but only if you
put forth your effort. Just let me know when it is all set up and it
is getting closer and closer! Well I love you mom and tell everyone
hey there and that I love them and miss them! Be sure to take pictures
and send them! Talk to ya soon!

Love,
Elder McArthur

Well my first week through taking over the area! Man it has been pretty stressful, but I am getting into the swing of things. I do honestly miss Elder Newbold. He is a super good missionary and just knows what he is doing, but my new companion's name is Elder Park. He is a big tall guy too and played basketball out at BYU Hawaii for a year before. He is from Mesa, Arizona. He just finished being a zone leader and now is with me. Lots of changes were made. We now have three sets of missionaries in our ward and so we split the area a little. I was a little scared about losing some investigators to them, but it turned out fine. He is a chill guy and a hard worker also though. I'm excited to see how it goes! 

 

I did not see Jake (his best friend from Georgia who just got to the mission) however so I was pretty bummed but hopefully soon! At least he is here now. 

 

Also, A and R just got confirmed, and I was talking to them afterwards about how they felt. She said she was a little scared, and they both felt just a very warm feeling in there shoulders and everything. It was powerful. I told them it was the Holy Ghost for sure just maybe letting them know it was there. 

 

I forgot to send the pictures for that 5k cause there are plenty. We went into the Phillies stadium and everything. It was super cool. 

 

All of our other investigators are doing great. We have one guy H who is the husband of a member who should definitely be getting baptized soon. All their family is mormon, and he just got back from his trip from being in El Salvador, and while he was there he went to see the temple, went to church and read a lot of the Book of Mormon. He is totally ready! So we will see.

It is definitely colder. It snowed the other night and is supposed to later today I believe. Also, we had freezing rain last night so that was so fun. I can't believe y'all got snow there already! Well looks like it is going to be a cold winter. You should see the leaves here! All the colors are gorgeous.

I loved it(package I sent)! I eat it too quick lol I mean I haven't eaten it all but the hi chews and stuff. Um just anything you see that might be real good. I did like the sour patch a lot and stuff so yeah. Also all the clothes are great and I think those socks work pretty well actually. You can always just send some thermals as well. That might just be easier. 

Some of the couples that work here in the mission made us a Thanksgiving lunch for our new zone and it was soooooooo good. Turkey and all. 

I remember watching that same talk (from Elder Holland that Ryan talked about in his e-mail last week). He is so powerful, and I love hearing all of them speak that is for sure. I am excited for the temple here! It is going to be an awesome experience for sure. Hopefully I will be here but not positive! 

Sounds like you might be hitting some snow up there for sure! But it'll probably be alright. Better bundle up though! 

Well I am sure it is nice to have a little relief and just relax a little bit (since being released as YW president). I definitely understand the stress now! There is soooooo much that goes into missionary work that is for sure, but it just teaches you. I heard there was one missionary that President Andersen told us about the other day in our district meeting. He said that this missionary would pray and pray everyday saying, "I don't want to plan, I don't want to go out, I don't want to study, or anything. Lord please help me." Everyday he would pray but ended up being one of the best missionaries. I thought that was interesting. 

Well I think and hope I am doing an ok job now! Seems like it. I'm excited for the holidays and to skype! But for now everything is going great. I guess some big testimonies I would say recently to me is thinking about Joseph Smith how he wouldn't deny what he saw no matter what and I was just reading about Abinidah and how he would not deny what he knew no matter what King Noah was going to do. I mean he ended up being burned and everything. It's just they can't deny it cause it's true. Well I'm doing good and I love you so much mom!

Love, 

Elder McArthur

 

                                             Subway with Elder Villaba and Elder Tyler

                                          Elder Taylor heading home.  Elder Story photobombing.

                                             Elder Mower headed home too.