Hey Mom! 

I can't believe they (Brother and Sister Fletcher) came! Looks like it was a ton of fun! I hope to see them soon again!  I'm so glad they got to meet everyone! I enjoyed all the pictures! 

Wow, what a week. So! We had a great week because it was Thanksgiving of course! We had 5 dinners. By the end I could not force anything else down. We also had the baptism of course so that went great. It was such a great experience and he was confirmed on Sunday. We are now working on getting him the Priesthood. I'm glad she sent those. So those were the highlights of the work for sure! We had a bit of American food, African food, and also Hispanic of course.  They were good! 

 We just had a great week. No one new this week but hopefully this upcoming week. We are working on finding some new people again. I love this area a lot so I was so happy when I found out I was staying. Elder Hillstead went back to Spring Garden in Philly where I started! He was there for 6 months before! We also had MLC again so I saw him and Elder Weisler. It was good to see them. It was a long day but we sat with President and Sister Anderson at lunch again so it was good just to talk with them. They are just such a wonderful couple. It will be so great to see his homecoming talk. 

 

We went to Philly today! He was the second member we ran in to lol. He said he had heard parents love when they get random pictures like that so he just pulled someone off the street to take it. He served his mission in Mississippi right after Katrina so he said lots of his mission was service. He is from Utah. Small world honestly! I have lots of pictures I still need to send. We took some great ones today so I'll send those next week. Lots of great Christmas decorations in Philly.

T is great! We are seeing him towards the end of the week. He will probably be the next baptism! We have to talk to him about his sister so we will see. I think just the most spiritual experience from this week was baptizing T (the other T). It's always a privilege to do so. We actually had a Thanksgiving dinner with them. Some interesting food! 

So since I got a new iPad I have to redownload everything so I'll have more stuff to you next week. I accidentally left it on top of the car. It was bad!

It has been kinda cold here but not too bad honestly. When we played football on Thanksgiving it was not nearly as cold as last year. 

I'll be looking forward to it (his goody box) for sure! Haven't had them (peanut butter balls) for a whole year! 

The tree looks awesome! 

 

I enjoy them (quotes I send him every week) and definitely have shared them. We use that video (new Christmas video). They give us special pass along cards for it actually so we have to track on how many we give out and how many people we show the video to. 

I'm so excited for SKYPE! It's coming up real quick. It'll be good to see everyone's faces. I won't be so heavy honestly! Well I'll send more pictures and everything next week but I love ya momma and hope you enjoy all the random pictures! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

                                      Pictures from the baptism.

           This is the random picture I received from the guy on the left.  He had someone do it for him when he was on his mission and had heard how much we moms enjoy getting random pictures of our missionaries!

Hey Mom!

So I will be staying another transfer! I am very happy about that because I did not want to leave before the holidays. So I will be staying Zone leader here.

So E did get baptized! I will have to get you some pictures. Hermano Salas who is one of the members baptized him. It was really good and I also gave another talk in the Spanish sacrament today. That went well I feel. I will be baptizing T though and that will be this Saturday. We are super excited! Things have been going super well here. T is doing awesome though! He is talking about how cool it would be to serve a mission like us. We will see him and hopefully his sister too this week. Elder Bowman in an English elder.  I use my spanish a lot actually. Even more so recently. So I do not feel like I have lost any really, but it could be much better so I am really trying to work hard. It was a great week for us though. Lots did cancel at the end of the week but that is ok because we had a baptism. Last night was good too because we went to Bishop from the Camden ward's home to have some food and a testimony meeting for one of the elders who is getting transferred. Only 2 out of our zone got transferred. I also have a really funny video to send you too if you have not already seen it from this past Wed. It is too funny. So I ended up getting a new ipad because the other one cracked really bad but it ended up not costing me anything thank goodness because there was a warranty. So that is some stuff that went on this week. 

 

It is starting to get even colder and I have seen there is already snow in some places.

I love going to Philly during the holidays because it is all decorated up. I cannot believe Christmas is so soon! I thought of a couple things. I do need a scarf, gloves, sweater, watch, maybe even some cleets. Just in case of football like on Thursday. Money and food. Maybe throw in some other things that I might like. Just things like that though. Oh! And a beanie. I think I should be good. 

That is crazy about Cody. I hope that everything will be ok and he does not have to leave there or something! Definitely praying for him.

That is so crazy about Abby! Wow. That will be an interesting mission for sure.

Well they are calling me to come play ball (some things never change), but I am very excited to SKYPE! Cannot believe it is here again. I love ya momma and talk to you again next week!

love, 

Elder McArthur

Yeah President Ramos who is the Pennsauken branch President and where we have dinners on Wed. told me (about the Paris attacks). I thought about Cody when he was saying that. That is super crazy! Well I hope they will not have to send them anywhere else for their missions. Definitely let me know what is going on with that. 

 

She (Kayla) sent me the talk so I'll have to read it. Haha she will be awesome. I did not know Abby put in hers. Wow! So crazy how many of us are gone now. But I know it is great for all the families! 

 

Well I'll tell you about my week first. It was super awesome! Things are going really well over here. So E is getting baptized on Sunday. T will be baptized the next! Exciting stuff. But I'll tell you about the best part about this week was definitely the lesson we had with 2 brand new investigators yesterday.  So Brother Hansen has a guy from work who was interested. It was that same guy that came last week and his sister is also interested so she came with him. Anyways, we taught them after and wow the spirit was there. He had claimed to be atheist and lived a pretty rough life and then he met Bro. Hansen and Bro. Wright who are members here because in that company there are tons. He just loved how kind they were and something about them that he wanted. So we started teaching him and he started to feel a lot of things he had never experienced before. We read the story of Alma the younger and he said that is literally like how he felt. The Spirit was so strong and at the end we invited both of them to be baptized and they said yes. So! We will see what comes from there. They will both be coming next week also. It was one of the most spiritual lessons in my mission for sure. But everyone is doing great! T is really progressing well and was at church again that was good. E is all ready to go so we just have to plan out the program and figure out who is baptizing him. I really love this area and would hate to leave for the holidays! We also did an exchange but I just stayed here with Elder Cornelius who is in our zone. We also had a fun ward party but on the Spanish side. That was on Friday so we drove out there with some members actually. I love the holidays out here. So me and a Elder Bowman are doing great! He is a great elder and we get along well.

Aw dang (Upon hearing that Brother Fletcher didn't make it to Texas to see us)! That's stinks! That would have been so awesome. I really do miss the Fletcher's a ton. They were so good to us there. Well hopefully he can make it back out there! 

Yeah I understand some Portuguese but I'd love to learn it. Yeah so the mini mission was for 4 days and with missionaries just in the mission. They had to live exactly as we do which means no phone or anything. They all did an awesome job. 

Yeah! I say lets do it (go to President Anderson's homecoming).  I think that would definitely be a great trip so I would say lets do it. There will probably be soooo many people there I'm sure. 

Well I'm a little low on time. I love you mom and talk to ya again soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

I saw all the zone leaders again yesterday cause we had a meeting in Philly with a seventy and President Faust's son which was super cool. 

I'm so excited (about Sister Drinkwater making his favorite meal)! That was really nice of her. We will be over there tonight actually to eat and help put their pool cover on. They are one of my favorite families here for sure. Bro. Drinkwater was actually the previous bishop of the ward. But yeah Teddy plays all the same positions (baseball positions, same as Adam played) and everything so it is so funny. He is a real athletic kid. 

I'm doing great! This was probably one of our best weeks! T finally came to church! E was not able to make it but we found a new Hispanic couple who we set with a date and they came to church also! Very good Sunday. We have not been in contact with D for a little while but we will be soon. We are seeing S and G this week actually. She is excited cause she has been reading a lot so we will see what happens, but things are going great because also Bro. Hansen in our ward brought this new guy to church who we are going to start teaching on Sunday. He says he really just sees something special in him and a couple other guys who are members that he just thinks is amazing.  So we will see what happens there. 

 

We went on a couple exchanges this week and I finally went over to Moorestown. I have not been there yet, but there are a ton of Brazilians, and they only speak Portuguese. I wanted to speak to them so bad but there was that barrier. I want to learn it too! They also did mini missions here so we went to that meeting to give a little bit of training. That was fun and fun to see all the people going and where they went because they gave them a call and everything. 

 

He (President Anderson) is a great man. It has been nice being able to work around him more as a leader in the mission. It would be cool to go to his home coming talk cause he goes home two weeks after I do. 

 

I just don't want a ton (for Christmas) since I'll be home in the summer which is weird to say. 

I have enjoyed just listening to all of the conference talks again and excited for the Christmas devotional. We just gotta stay firm in these days! Well I love you mom and I will try to send some pictures today for sure! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

A couple pics from his trip to Philly last week with his companion Elder Bowman and Elder Hillstead and his companion and the former Elder Kilpack in the bottom picture. 

 These are all pictures from the priesthood restoration site in Susquehanna.  Their mission president arranged for all the missionaries to get to go up and visit the site.  The picture above his Elder Hillstead on the left who was Adam's CCM companion and Elder Hopkin on the right. 

Well our trunk or treat on Wednesday was great. We had to be in early on Halloween which was nice though because we just went to bed super early plus got an extra hour of sleep because of the time change. We did not dress up though. We did not have any time at all ha.  We were actually running a little later to ours. 

 

MLC was great! Got to see everyone again and it was nice cause president sat with us at lunch so I got to talk to him. Everyone is doing good though. T still did not come to church, but we do not know why. He has to come to get baptized. He is doing everything else except that. We are going to probably stop by D tonight, but we will see. We are seeing S and G this week. We thought they were going to come to the trunk or treat, but they did not.  We set a baptismal date for E! In about 3 weeks. We have an appointment with him tonight actually. I'll keep you updated on him. We also have found a couple other people, but we will see how they go this week. We had a great week though! Just been struggling with getting people to church honestly. But trying! 

 

We already have a ton of invites to Thanksgiving so we will be eating good. I would be so upset if I got transferred! So hopefully I stay. Just the people here are great and lots is going on. There is a lot of potential in this area. I do miss the Fletcher's though! We will definitely have to visit them. I also went on an exchange the other day in Camden so that was fun. Ran into some interesting people. So I was there on Halloween and wow some creepy things! The fire department scared us bad haha because there was one of them who had on the creepiest wolf mask and hands. He started just coming after us! So that was funny. They were handing out candy. So it was an interesting week! 

Yeah there has been lots of blessing for him there. I saw him Friday and he is already talking about the game haha. So we will see who wins! 

 

(Upon asking him what did he learn at the Restoration site that he did not know before) Just certain things about Joseph and Emma and also during the translation how the words came in gold and below them was the translation in English which is crazy. So certain things like that. How Emma's dad was before. Just pretty hard hearted. But what softened him up was when he found her in the woods when she was very little praying for her dad. Yeah I loved going there for sure.  We just got back from Philly with Elder Hillstead and his comp. Also another elder who has finished his mission was with us. Elder Killpack. He is in Utah now at Utah State so he hung out with us. Elder Hillstead served around him for a while. 

Yeah me and Elder Hillstead are just shocked cause it feels like just yesterday we were in the CCM. So it is funny to see Kendall there cause I get her emails. Sounds like she is loving it. 

 

Well gotta run.  Love you mom!

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

I know! It is coming up quick. I will! I have an idea a a thing or two. That is so weird that it is here again. Doesn't feel like it. This time last year I was just being finished training by Elder Newbolf(Jeffrey) haha. She (Megan) is too young to be getting that (learners permit). Just doesn't seem right! 

 

Luckily we get fed basically every single night here haha. The calendar is completely full for this week. 

It (trip up to the Restoration site in Susquehanna) was super awesome! You can just really feel the spirit so strong there and it was so beautiful because of the time of year it is. I got to catch up a ton with Elder Hillstead and Elder Hopkin. We sat next to each other. It was just so much fun. We talked for forever but gosh were we tired when we got back home. The sisters do a great job with the tours up there. I learned a few things that I did not know before so that was cool. The chapel is beautiful. The carpet that is in it is the carpet they use in the temples. We will definitely have to visit it all when we all come. We really thanked president a lot cause he has to get permission from like the Presiding Bishopric or something like that. I think one of best parts was honestly the river. Just knowing that is where they were baptized and being in sites where there were angels. You really feel the spirit. 

So T is doing great! Still just got to get to church but they are coming to the Trunk or Treat. We are seeing S and G Friday but as far as we know they are great and still reading. We are trying to see D but his new job is keeping him pretty busy so we will see what happens there. We found some new people this past week for the up coming week that seem like they could be solid. Some Hispanics! Also we are about to start teaching a guy who just got out of prison for I believe a DUI or something. He did not pay that tickets or something like that. I am not really sure but he is a very good guy. We have dinner with him and his wife tonight so we will see how it goes. Things are going good though. The week was a little rough just with things that got cancelled but it happens. We have such a busy week though cause we go to Philly on Friday again for MLC. That's the  meeting we have for the ZL's and Sister training leaders. Also an exchange and then all the trunk or treats haha. 

(asked him if they were trunk or treating) Nah we are just helping handing out candy and all of that. We have invited some people so hopefully it is a good turn out. It should be. I'm excited for the holidays!  This area though is turning into one of my favorites by far. Time just keeps flying. I think it goes faster when you are in leadership. At least to me it does.

Today is in the 50's. I can live with that. Hopefully I do not go back up north for the winter! Haha but who knows. 

(Responding to Bama's win this weekend against Tennessee) Good good! I wore by Bama shirt today. I will be seeing him Friday so I know he will give me crap about it. We better win or I'll never live it down. 

I get Kendall's emails now. So crazy she is gone too! So many of us out it is crazy. Yeah I just heard from Annie recently. That's so weird! I feel like I was just with him (Jacob Crandall) before he was leaving. 

(about his Christmas list) I'm really trying to think. I'm going to make it my goal to write a list cause I'm not 100% sure on everything. But I will do it I promise! Well I love ya mom and I'll send some pictures! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

 

 

                                                               Restoration site

                                                          Restoration Site

                                                                  Restoration site

 

Hey Mom! 

Yeah so my new companion is Elder Bowman. He is from Alpine, Utah. He was a wrestler and is one of 7. The 3rd youngest. He also was in drama and played only football. He isn't really in to watching sports and all of that but he is a cool elder! Good hard worker.  Elder Riley stayed in the stake. So we are the Cherry Hill North zone and then there is a Cherry Hill South. So now he is down there and I will also see Elder Hopkin more often because he just became a zone leader in Cherry Hill South! Transfers were great! Got to see lots of elders I have not seen in a while. I was really hoping to serve with Elder Weisler but he said don't worry, next time lol. So that is transfers! We had a really great week honestly. Found some new people and an awesome couple. Their names are S and G. Really open and she is already reading a lot of the Book of Mormon. They should be at church next week! T is doing well. We will have to move his date back a little though and also D. We had lost contact with D for a little bit but just went by the other day and set up an appointment for tonight actually so we will see how it goes. So lots of good stuff going on for sure! Hopefully we can get a few baptisms soon. Oh! So tomorrow as a mission we are going up to a The restoration site! So tomorrow is our P-day and today was like a half p-day. So we are super excited! But we have to leave super early. At 4:15 a.m. 

 

I think it has just really grown from the Book of Mormon. I have read it all the way through a couple times now that I have been out and have a much bigger and stronger testimony of that for sure. And the power of the priesthood. Miracles still do happen. We have a great gospel principals teacher. His name is Bro. Tuvell and he speaks Spanish also. He served in the Arcadia mission like Sam. I really love this area though cause the Ward is awesome. We have a really good relationship with the ward here. We have two trunk or treats coming up next week which is weird that it is here! Hard to believe that next month is Thanksgiving! All of my last holidays in the mission. Bitter sweet for sure. 

Yeah it is getting pretty cold now. We walked outside this morning and I was actually pretty cold haha but I'm kind of glad it is here. There was some snow around! But not here. I don't know how cold it gets here but I don't think as cold as when I was in Hazleton. 

Yeah I'm still praying about it. I still have time but I'll figure it out. I have prayed about baseball and have a good feeling about really trying to pray cause I have prayed about whether I should pursue that or not so we shall see what happens. 

Well after being in a car and then taking the public transportation I prefer that over the car. Just because we have a limit on miles and also for being able to talk with more people. I do like a car but I like just walking outside. This area has got me back into shape for sure. Soccer every Saturday, basketball sometimes and I have done harder workouts in the morning so I'm like slightly under 185. I also cut back on my eating habits and what I eat. I never thought I'd gain weight in my life haha. 

Yeah she did give a great talk. I have been listening to them in Spanish actually. I like listening to Elder Christofferson because he translates some of his own talks. His Spanish is amazing. 

I did! It is super nice cause it's fitted. He measured me and everything before it was ordered. Probably the suit I will wear home cause my other ones are a little bit more worn out. My Mr. Mac one has held up pretty well though. We are going to go to Philly again because a Elder Bowman has never been or served there. 

Well I love ya momma and I will email you some pictures probably tomorrow also since that is our full p-day! Talk to you soon!

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

So I am staying but Elder Riley is getting transferred. I'm so bummed! He has been an awesome companion so it's pretty sad. So it will be interesting to see where he goes.

So this week was great too! We ended up setting T with a baptismal date also! So we have 2 for November 1st. He just has to really start coming out to church and reading the BOM though because if not then we will have to push it back. But he really opened up to us about how he is feeling about and just with stuff that has gone on in his life. Crazy stuff happens in Africa. So yeah I'm super excited! He also comes out to play soccer with us on Saturdays and he is super good. We did a training last night also with the 1st counselor I believe in the mission presidency. It was for the mission prep class that they have here so that went really well. It was fun and interesting to think that I was in that position before too. I thought my mission was so far away and now here I am 15 months in. That blows my mind! We also had a great lesson and dinner last night with a less active couple who is going to be reactivated. Just the best couple and they love the missionaries. I don't think they really have a reason for not coming just that they were not coming. It was interesting because she told us that she has been feeling a pull back to church recently because of this one family who are members and then she said, "And you guys showed up." So she knows that was her answer that she needs to come back along with her husband. They are probably both in their 60s I'm guessing. So we are excited because lots of less actives have been coming back that we are working with. Oh! We I also went to Camden this past week on an exchange with Elder Fowers. He is leaving also. It was good! We talked to lots of people and had a lesson or 2. I love going over there because it's a walking area. They also take the busses and a subway. So it reminds me of being in Philly. So those were some of the highlights from my week. 

Having couples go out teaching is the best. Sounds like we have some good missionaries there.

Yeah it was a great general conference. Now it is out so I'll have to go back to some of the talks and just see maybe if I missed anything. 

The weather here is just very inconsistent. Today it is over 70 and also tomorrow. Then it will drop. So idk! Cause when it is over 70 we don't have to wear sweaters. So I saw a belt the other day but it was like 40 bucks so I did not know if I should get it. It was in Philly last week cause we went. I was just looking around at ties, belts, etc. 

Coming up so quick! Last Christmas was so much fun and I imagine it will be another great one as well. But I don't think it can't beat last year just because of the awesome Elders I was with. Me, Elder Park, Bloomfield, Hopkin, Hillstead and Villalba. Too much fun haha. I'm super excited for the holidays because it is just a great time in the mission. But these are the last ones so I will be soaking it all in. 

Me and Elder Riley have been watching things on LDS.org about all of the prophets and it is interesting to see their background. They were all such great men honestly. 

That's exciting. So many missionaries out from our ward! It's so crazy but exciting for lots of families. Especially the Hill's since Alex is the first. She will be speaking some very different Spanish of what I speak though. It has been cool to see my Spanish come so far and I know the Lord has blessed me. Now when me and Elder Hillstead are together all we do is speak Spanish to each other. Rather than when we were in the MTC and could not speak anything! Haha. Exciting times but gosh time just flies. Love you mom! And talk to ya soon. 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

Yeah Conference was definitely awesome. It was cool to see President Durrant up there and having met him before. Gave a great talk! I think I'm going to try to do that whole "Ponderizing." I think Priesthood session was my favorite. Just excellent talks given. I took some notes and one of the talks that really stuck out to me was Elder Larry R. Lawrence on asking ourselves "what is keeping me from progressing?" Just how can I be better and asking the Lord and he will give me that customized answer. So I enjoyed his a lot. Poor President Monson though. I was so scared for him and honestly thought he was going to give out but I just felt that spirit very strong as he testified. He ended up being ok. I don't know what happened to him but I know he is just getting older. The new apostles are awesome. I'm super excited to hear them really speak in the next conference. I really liked Elder Renlund. I don't know if you read how they are called but definitely read it. It was real interesting. We ended up just watching it at the church which was totally fine. I can't believe this is my third one in the mission though. Goes by too quick! 

So D now has a baptismal date for November 1st! He is awesome and really understanding. So he is or was at least a practicing Muslim but ever since he met with us he said he has felt something way different that he has not felt before and that things are really going well for him in his life. We told him it was the spirit and the Lord is pleased that he is taking this step. He said I've always been in with the Muslims but he said when you have a feeling like this you can't deny it and have to go with it. So that was a big boost to me and Elder Riley. T is really turning around also. He is going to teach me how to play soccer better also haha. So things are going good. We dropped a lot of people and are starting off fresh basically because we can't waste our time when people are not ready. So it was a much better week. We had an awesome zone conference. I got to see Elder Hillstead again cause he was there so that was sweet haha. He's such a goof. So lots happened this week and one of the talks that really hit me too was by President Utchdorf on overcoming certain things especially laziness. It has not been easy. It is just that "natural man" inside us that just says come on, lay down and relax. When you know you have things to do that are more important and gosh it's hard but I feel I have been able to overcome it more and be better. I'm not perfect at it no but I try. So we really had a much better week thank goodness. This transfer flew though! I feel me and Elder Riley might stay together one more honestly but ya never know and no one is going home from our zone. So that was that! 

(On asking him about his monthly meetings he has with all the Zone leaders and sister training leaders) Just training on what we are going to be training on and then we have a council also. That is for if there are any issues we are seeing as a mission and what we can do to help them and things like that. President A really gives some excellent training. Him and Sister Anderson both. So Zone training is every 1st Thursday of the month so the way this transfer went we have 2. 

Megan sent me some pictures. I love the fair! Sounds like you had some great food. All that stuff will just clog you arteries.

We did get a ton of rain though the other day. It is definitely cooling off here again. So crazy summer is gone! Fall is here.

Well I love you mom! And hope everyone learned something from conference cause I know I did! I'll let you know if I need anything. Oh! I have a picture of two. So we had dinner with the younger couple from Boise who are just out here while he is going to P.A school and they live is a very nice apartment place. I saw a beautiful Rolls-Royce out front so I'll send that. Love ya momma! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

Hey Mom! 

Yeah it is cooling down out this way. It is getting close to sweater season again. The leaves already are changing.

It was good week, just busy. Lots of service and running all over the place honestly. We also had a meeting in Philly again on Friday. That is MLC. It's only for Zone leaders and a Sister training leaders. But it was a good week. Our battery died in our car though on Tuesday after we did service haha so we had to go to Pep boys to get a new one. Oh and I got a haircut. Sister Heal is her name and she did an awesome job. She is very precise. So that got done. I've also changed up my hair style a little which I almost like better. I'll send some pictures. There were also some baptisms but just of kids whose parents are members that we had to help out with. Honestly it was not a super eventful week. Just was good to see Elder Weisler, Kelley and Hillstead on Friday at our meeting. I'm just excited for conference. Hard to believe this is my 3rd one. Every week goes quicker and quicker. I know I say that but it seriously does. I don't know if it goes by fast for all of you but it does for me. Our investigators are doing well but nothing super big to talk about right now. D who was the Muslim had an emergency or something so he had to go into Philly. I think he is back now so we are going to try to meet with him. 

 

That's also a long time since 3 apostles have been vacant.  We also have zone conference coming up on Wednesday so I'm excited about that. 

 

Yeah I can't believe it (Christmas) is coming up so fast. I actually might would like some money to get stuff. Only certain stuff though cause I do like packages also. I wanna maybe buy a candle or two cause that smell in the mall really made me want to get one haha. So I'll still be thinking. I can't believe my mission is almost winding down. Me and Elder Hillstead were talking about that the other day. Just that it is hard to believe me and him were in the MTC together that long ago. We want to serve together or at least around each other again so hopefully that'll happen. 

 

Well let me know how the fair and everything goes and I'll talk to ya again next week! It'll be here so quick! Love ya momma! 

Hey Mom! 

Yeah! This was a great week. We had kind of a lot of stuff cancel but it still went great. We got a few new investigators actually this one.  His name is D. He was previously Muslim but very open to seeing what we are about. His mom is an active member in our Ward actually. They are African as well. Yeah that food is so spicy! But I did not get any this week cause we went on a few exchanges. I brought Elder Foster for one of them here who is new to our zone and Elder Riley went to their area. We had an awesome just super busy day. But it was a great exchange. Just running around everywhere that day. We did another one with the Camden Spanish Elders. I went there with Elder Padilla and Elder Knuth came to our area with Elder Riley. It was a good exchange,  I've really been able to get over the fear and just talk with people so I try to help other missionaries get over it. We had a great week and especially with getting people out with us. The Ward is very supportive and awesome. This past Sunday I went to Camden for church because we had Ward conference. So me and Elder Riley did an exchange with the Camden English Elders so that way one of us could go to Cherry Hill and the other to Camden. It was a great Sunday there but so different going. It's been a pretty long week though. We also went to help out with another huge "Sweet 16" party. We served some food and all that good stuff. It was all Hispanics. Every week is just flying. I'm excited for General Conference and just the holidays. We went to the mall today and it smelled like the holidays because of all the stuff they have put out. Sister S is reactivated and just fine. 

We do call it a Spanish twig because it is not a branch. They are still part of the Camden Ward until they build the building over in Camden. It will be done in 2017. President Sikahema talked about it in Ward conference. 

We are going to Philly the Monday after the Pope leaves. 

Christmas is around the corner! We gotta get through Halloween and the Thanksgiving though first. I wonder where I will be. I could be here but I could go somewhere else between then and now. I'd like to be here! 

Well everything is going good here and hard to believe September is just about over. Love ya mom! Talk to you again next week! 

 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

 

                                                My Spanish missionary!! 

Hey Mom! 

Yeah they definitely do (weeks fly by). I have less than 10 months now which blows my mind.

 I'm doing great! We had such an awesome week. We have changed some things and really working with the ward and Spanish twig more. We have been getting people out with us more and having much better success. It's been a really great week. That couple is doing great. We are going back again on Tuesday to help him. Little by little things are coming along with them so we will see what happens. They are just the nicest couple honestly and have great morals already so it would not be too hard to convert. The Rs are doing ok. We might have to just drop them for a bit though because they will not come to church. But that's ok. T is doing well. His wife and kids finally came yesterday! But he was not able to make it. Turns out he plays professional soccer! Did not know that one so I thought that was real good. They fed us some African food the other night actually and it was dang spicy and had a pretty interesting taste haha. We had a great lesson with them. They are progressing well. This past week was just great. We found lots of new people and have lots of return appointments with them so we are hoping the hold. We already have members out with us cause of the way we are starting to get members to go with us.  He (referring to Elder Riley who is an English speaking missionary about visiting with the Spanish people) loves working with them and tries his best to understand and communicate but it still goes fine because we bring members out with us who help a ton. We were able to bring a few out people out this week and have some great lessons. We have been able to help this one lady already get reactivated now. Her name is Sister S, and she loves us. She wants to feed us soon. We taught her last night with a new young married couple in the ward. The O. They are from Utah and came with us to see her. Awesome couple and we also ate at their house the other night. They are great at feeding us. Oh! And for Labor Day we went over to our Ward mission leaders home actually and they had some people from the ward over. Sister T who is a member is a Cherry Hill, her husband is Catholic but comes to church with them a lot and is supportive so we have been trying to just fellowship him and see what happens cause he is awesome. Hopefully something good comes from it cause it has been years. Oh! And Sister H who is our ward mission leaders wife is going to start cutting our hair. She had a studio back is Utah but she doesn't right now so that will be nice. Haven't had it cut like that in forever! So yeah I'm loving this area a lot. That is cool you have a brand new missionary there. They are always the best! Yeah I hope we (he and Elder Hillstead) serve together! We were both so excited haha and just talked for forever. President Nelson is coming and a bunch of the 70 I believe. So that will be cool! It will be broadcasted on Lds.org. I know a few of the sisters up there cause well one of them was in our zone until she went up there. 

 

Wow! Sounds like BYU is doing great. Elder Riley is a BYU fan so he is loving hearing about that haha. Good to hear Alabama is doing great. I figured they would be. Who is 1st? We ate at Olive Garden today and the Bama game was on! I had to look away though of course.

Well I love ya mom and talk to ya again soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur  

 

 This is the view from the missionaries' apartment in Camden during the daytime.  Philly in the background.

Hey Mom! 

I can't believe it has come around again already. I am so excited though. Next month is already Halloween! Goodness.

Well we had a wonderful week! Full of service. So that one family we have been doing service for wants to have us over for a dinner now. The husband started asking questions. This is the Dominican lady and the Puerto Rican guy. Wonderful couple and have a couple kids. Anyways, so we helped this past Tuesday and the fed us lunch but we could not stay for dinner. She thought we were! So we felt bad but this Tuesday we are and just getting to know them better and all that. We are super excited. Little by little! The Lord works. We just had a week of service and some lessons as well. We also had MLC(Missionary leadership council) with all the Zone leaders and Sister Training leaders. Elder Hillstead is now a Zone leader and Elder Kelley! I was not surprised. Elder Weisler is still one as well! So it is so great seeing them every month. We have Zone training twice this month so I'll see them again this transfer and we also have Zone Conference. So we have this R family and we just had a great lesson with them tonight with our Ward mission leader from the Spanish side of course. I think they are going to start progressing better. At least I hope! We shall see. So the sisters got it (the smurf from last week) from some members because they were with them when they did it. It was crazy! T is doing well. We are going to visit him tomorrow with Bro. H who is our English Ward mission leader. Nothing too big there yet. But things are going real well. Just trying to work on baptisms! It has been a while but I found out that the guy in my last area I told you about is getting baptized! I knew he would! I just wish I was there for it. It has been a busy and great week in all. Just been doing lots of service for people which is fine. They just keep feeding us. I found out Elder Wasden also went to serve with Elder Kelley's boy(trainee) in South Philly! Elder Kelley is in Spring Garden where I started. So some cool changes. We also got a new assistant Elder Hunter who will also go home with me. He is awesome. I don't think too much more went on this week that I can remember right now. 

All we did today (Labor Day) was make some pancakes actually and played some basketball with the other elders in our Zone. Nothing special. Last year our P-day was on Tuesday but it was not this time. 

 

We have gotten like 0 rain. Nothing at all which is shocking to me cause it is humid here. 

(Upon asking him if he would prefer us come and pick him up from the mission or not.)  I thought about that and I definitely want to fly home. It would be cool and it does not matter at all to President. But I want to fly home. I want that feeling of getting off the plane and walking to see everyone. We can always come back. 

Hard to believe conference is here again! I feel like I just watched it. Time really does fly in the mission. Well I'm a little short on time but I love you mom and I'll talk to ya again next week!

Love, 

Elder McArthur.

Hey Mom! 

So I am staying with Elder Riley. Hard to believe how fast this transfer went by. It flew! There are only two people leaving out of our Zone and it is as companionship. It is a double out. The rest are all staying which is cool! I'm excited to see where everyone goes though. Yea it is hard to leave an area always. I've hated leaving every area I've been in.

We had a pretty good week! Found a few new people and I guess our main focus would be this African guy named T. He is super awesome. His wife and daughters are members and he just got here from Africa about 3 weeks ago. We will see what happens with him! We had exchanges this week too. I went to Camden again but with the English elders and also brought Elder Cortes who is a golden here with me. They were both awesome exchanges and I just want to serve in Camden! This guy actually ended up driving us home there. He is a Spanish teacher and knows someone in the Cherry Hill 2nd Ward who is also a teacher. We found him later at night by just street contacting. We walked by him but I just felt strongly we needed to talk to him so we turned around and had a great chat with him. He is pretty set in his ways but the nicest guy. We talked about his daughter as well who is in stage 3 of her cancer. But she is fighting. It is just sad cause he said she is so young and doesn't even really know what is going on. I brought Elder Cotes here to our area and we had an awesome day. Taught 3 lessons that day. It was a pretty good week. Oh! So we also had a huge prank pulled on us with a giant smurf. Basically it went all the way to President to figure out who did it but we finally figured it out. It was some sisters in our zone! So we called our whole zone to see if they did it and all of them said no. But! The Sisters that pulled the prank were the only ones who did not answer the whole day. The craziest thing is is that it ended up in our apartment. They said they left it outside and everything but we figured out how it got in. Some maintenance guys had to come and must have just put it inside because it was out there! It's a long story but I don't feel like writing it all right now haha. But crazy. We are staying healthy thank goodness. We have been doing a good amount of service actually. Nothing consistently every week but things here and there. We chopped a ton of wood this past week and are going back tomorrow to help this couple who are friends of some members in the English Ward. But they are Hispanics haha. Both speak English and Spanish perfectly though. So we will see what happens there if we can start teaching them or not. But everything is going well! I'm excited to stay here for a while and not be gone after just one transfer. 

 

I also gave a talk on missionary in the Spanish one. It went real well I think.

We are actually getting Facebook back this coming transfer so I'll have to do that! Cause those are really great. I could use them.Well I love you mom and I'll talk to you again soon!

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

                                             The Smurf that the sisters left for him and Elder Riley.

Hey Mom! 

Well it was a real great week. Our lessons are going up and finding a ton of people as well which has been great. It was just a great week. I will have to send you the video if you have not seen it of all of us missionaries getting caked. It is a tradition they have done for a long time with missionaries. Bishop really gets me! We also went on exchanges with the Assistants. I went with Elder Hansen. He is a lot like me actually. I went to his area which is in Philly. The whole YSA there and also in Valley Forge. We taught one of the most awesome guys who is a convert of like 2 months. His name is D.  He goes to Temple University here and is just awesome. He is preparing to receive his Patriarchal blessing. My singing has improved!  Well we sing every morning as a companionship and so it was always nice.  We had lots of great lessons this past one. Not really one particular person to keep updated on but just multiple who we have just found. We are getting lots of referrals because we have really just gained a great relationship with the ward. Our Bishop is awesome,  well on both (Spanish and English) sides. We are really trying to just find a good medium between the wards. Oh!  But everything here is great. Hopefully we can get some baptisms set up! It is funny I feel I have been able to improve at soccer haha. The bishop from the Camden ward comes and plays. Like I said he is a young guy so he is darn good. We are having lots of success with getting less actives and investigators to come. 

Yeah this transfer flew! I can not believe it at all. Too fast! I'm pushing the 14 months now. Just too hard to believe. 

I'm loving it in this area. Well I love you mom and talk to ya again real soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

                                                                   Getting caked!! 

                                                             Part of his zone. 

                                                           Philly temple as of August 24th

Hey Mom! 

Yeah I was thinking about that as well. In 2 days it will be a full year in the field. I am! So the oldest Spanish missionary now is Elder King and then me and Elder Hillstead are behind him. Well I guess Elder Morgan is until he goes home this transfer. That is so weird! Me and Elder Hillstead talked about that when we saw each other at transfers. Does not feel like it! I know Saryn will do awesome.  Tanner is going to have a very interesting experience for sure. Im excited for all of them because then I'll come home and here about all that is going on with them. Weird to think ill be home in less than a year though.

No! Ha we had a great week actually. Got 2 new investigators on both sides. One Spanish and another English. The English one is from Africa and he just got here a couple days ago. His wife and two daughters are members. He only knows a little about the church but is very interested so we are going to be working with him now, and also he is coming to play soccer on Saturday because we play Saturday's. Then this other girl is part of a Hispanic family that we are working with so we will see what happens there as well. Just finding lots of people and the ward has been great. We went Monday night to go visit this less active D who is in the hospital. He has actually only half of his foot amputated and so we went and sang a hymn to him and just talked. Well Bishop actually brought his whole family haha so it was great. Bishop Z is the bishop of the English and Sister Z told me I had a good voice and for Bishop to remember haha. I told her I really am not that great. I have improved on my mission though because I have served with two singers and one who is a professional. So that helps! Haha. We have also started basketball Wed. nights because there is this family the D's who bring a bunch of less active and non member kids to play. It is Bro. D and his son T. T is a pitcher and 1st baseman in baseball. He actually just went to Cooperstown and did all that! Awesome family. And then they have 2 older daughters my age and one Lizzy's age I believe. Great family. So we are excited for that. We did have one exchange this past week. I went with Elder Bjerrgaard is his name. You say it like Bear and then Guard haha. He is a good missionary.  We went out with an awesome member who I talked to for forever and he took us to Chick-Fil-A actually. I have had that like 3 times this week. So I would say it has been a good week. We also had a ward activity on the Spanish side, and it didn't turn out as well as we hoped with the amount of people that came but it still was ok. Yeah the Bishop there does feed us every Wed. We have not gone yet but he invited us as well. He is so awesome. Very young bishop though. He is like barely 30 and loves soccer. He is very good. We might go to Philly today or next week. Oh and also the Bishops daughter took us to this super awesome ice cream place called Sundaes. She had a guy friend with her so we were able to go. I'm trying to think if there is anything else. Just has been a great week. 

I only know missionary life now. The feeling of sitting down and watching TV is foreign to me now and listening to normal music. Colton seems like he is really preparing well to go on a mission. I'm sure he will be great just like Ryan. It is too hard for me to believe that Megan is going to be a freshmen. She is still like 10 years old to me. I hope her and Lizzy do great which I know they will.

I do like just listening to a talk. I have read so much though in my mission because I enjoy it a lot more now I feel. That is it is the only thing I can really do haha. But I've learned a lot that is for sure.

Well I definitely wrote a lot earlier! I have lots of pictures I need to send you off of my camera so I will have to figure out when today that I can do that. This transfer has flown by! Just so crazy. The weeks are coming and going. It is getting close to October again! Last Halloween I was with Elder Newbold and now he is home. Hard to believe. We definitely do have a lot of sisters and we just got one more from the Philippines actually. She was waiting on a VISA but finally made it here.  Well love you mom and I'll talk to ha again real soon! School started up just too quick I bet! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

Hey Mom! 

I know! Just flies. It's crazy how quick is has gone. Yesterday was that 13 month mark which is super weird. 

 

Well! Haha there is not much to tell. We both came down with a pretty bad bug and were in for a few days. It was not good. So we are ready for this week because we are both better. But it was still an ok week. Our Zone did super great this week! We did have Zone training this past Thursday which was our first time giving that. We have it every month once a month and the whole zone comes together and the Zone leaders give the training. It is always good and we felt real good about it. We got lots of real good feedback and everything, and I actually have some pictures to send from it. So I will send you those. We also had a really good end of the week cause we helped out 2nd counselor in the bishopric move as well. Bishop drove us and we are really getting to know the ward and help out a lot as well. So lots that is going on for sure. On both sides. Spanish and English. We are just trying to meet with everyone to see what all we can do and so far it is going well. We also have a few exchanges coming up again. Those are always the best. But it hasn't been too bad because there are lots of Hispanics here. We do seek out both. We also had a Priesthood Stake meeting last night. I ended up doing some of the translating but there was another guy there who spoke very very well and did a lot of it which helped. We talk so fast in English! We think that Hispanics speak fast but we really do. I was trying to translate this one kid and gosh he was just ripping through his talk. Then when they start reading scriptures is where it all goes downhill. We also visited this man who is a less active in the hospital. He is actually going to lose one of his legs from diabetes. It is really sad actually but we had a great message with him and we are going to see him tonight with Bishop and his family. Our bishop is awesome. His name is Bishop Z. He is actually a convert of 28 years I believe as well. So that is what we are going to do. But that is all that has kind of gone on! 

 That is so awesome that he (Elder White aka Ryan) is a Zone leader too. I am sure he is an awesome missionary. No doubt. A very big missionary. Haha we have a kid though in our mission who plays basketball for BYU. He is 6'11". His name is Elder Andrus. Funny! But so huge. 

 

Sorry these are short but we played basketball today! 

Well happy late anniversary!

Well I gotta get going momma but I love you! I'll send a couple pictures! Love you! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur  

 

                                              Camden, NJ missionaries view of Philly.

                                                    A zone selfie!

Hey Mom! 

Well P-day has rolled around again. That is crazy.

It has been busier for sure haha. Just more responsibility and meeting. We are hanging in there!  Yea of course we still proselyte a lot. We do go about 6 hours or so. It is long but I enjoy it for sure! Yea so Elder Riley is a cool guy and likes to water ski and all that stuff haha which he has the feet for it! I told him that. He is a little shorter than me but wears a size 15 shoe! Bigger than Ryan. We get along just fine. He is the oldest I believe in his family and a great missionary. He went to BYUI before coming out and worked. He actually goes home 1 transfer before me because he came out 2 transfers before me.  Everything is going well. We had a good week. Found a couple new people and trying to get things set up. No main focus right now on anyone per se, but it is getting there. We had a great Conference Call with all the Cherry Hill stake the other night on how we can better do missionary work basically. We gave some training on it. The mission Presidency was on it and everything. It went real well. Also, the exchange in Camden was so much fun! I want to serve there so bad. The members are so wonderful, and we do work with part of them so I'll definitely be back over that way. It was a great exchange. I went with a Elder Knuth. He is from San Fran and came in in the same group as Elder Wasden. He is a good Elder for sure. I would love to serve with him. We did have that dinner at Bishops and the Branch President of the English Branch even though he is Puerto Rican. But he speaks English without an accent cause he has been here since he was 8. Awesome guys. They married twin sisters actually haha. So it has been a real good week. I got to get to know them better. Then we had a ward BBQ this past Saturday which went well. We got some investigators and people brought lots of friends. It was a great turnout but I think I got food poisoning or something. So today we are taking it easy cause Elder Riley has it as well. MLC which is missionary leadership council was Friday which went awesome as well. That is just for the Zone leaders and Sister trainer leaders so I saw Elder Weisler(Jake) again. They miss having me in their Zone. That was real long. It is cool cause we cross the Benjamin Franklin bridge and drive through Philly. So that is always fun. So a lot went on this past week! I'm excited to be here, and hope I stay a while. They feed us pretty well here as well. But that is what is going on! I have a cools picture to send you as well because the Camden Elders live in a nice apartment and you have a view of the Philly Skykine from it.

Yeah! It was so much fun. We talked to some very interesting people. The drug scene there is so bad. There are actually two apartment complexes where we are basically not allowed to go. Supposedly the life expectancy if you live in them is 5-6 months. I can't remember the name right now of them but it is a scary place for sure.

 

Well I'm excited for all of them (all his friends leaving on their missions in the next few months). The mission has been great.  Next time I'll see everyone will be at the end of my mission! It's hard to believe it is less than a year though and that it is August. I do not know where the time goes! 

I feel like summer just started for everyone! Now it is coming to an end. Goodness! I am even not wanting it to end for them haha. I feel I will do so much better next year fore sure. 

 

I'm excited to hear who they (new apostles) will be! Elder Hopkin definitely has the updates on him (Elder Scott) cause well it's his great uncle haha. Well I love you mom and talk to ya again soon! If you get pictures please send them! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

Another week already flew. As all of them do. That is an amazing story. Just reading it I can feel the spirit because I have heard of many experiences like that. Elder Bednar talks about it. He said in his experience being an Apostle that any time he goes someone it is always for that one. He said that of course they do all the big events such as a temple dedication but people never see the behind the scenes. The Lord sends his servants to find the 1 lost sheep. So I think that is a wonderful experience. Of course she will miss him because that is so hard but I am sure she does feel much better. David is definitely there with her. It is like they talk about how us as missionaries have other family members on the other side of the veil who are preparing our path and protecting us. 

Sounds like that was a really great trip! I am excited to go see everyone next summer. It will be so hard to leave here though. My mission has definitely been crazy and I have seen things in my patriarchal blessing come to pass for sure. If you have pictures please send them as well. Poor Isaac! Not fun. Well I hope everyone else is doing well there. I do not believe I have been to Destin. 

So we are what is called a Zebra companionship and that is with one English Elder and a Spanish. And we work with both. There is is actually a small group of Spanish people here. I would say 30 to 40 who meet every week so we go to church twice. One is English and the other in Spanish. So as a Zone leader we just go on exchanges with all the district leaders and if we want to with other companionships. So we are actually doing an exchange with each companionship of the Elders this transfer and we also go on exchanges with the Assistants. So he (Elder Hillstead) is actually in the Cherry Hill South zone. It would have been awesome though if I did go there! But I'm super close to him and will see him I am sure at a Zone conference. It was so good to see him though and also Elder Hopkin. He is training! Which is awesome. Lots of things have been going on and we have gotten lots of new missionaries. It is crazy! But transfers was awesome and huge. It was sad to leave Elder Morgan but Elder Riley is also awesome! Me and him were both district leaders in the Wilmington Zone and now they put us together to be zone leaders. He has been out a transfer longer than me. We are close in mission age. But he is a great missionary! He is from Pocatella, ID. I told him to tell his parents to look out for Sister Moreland(Courtney). We are learning together how to be Zone Leaders, and this is now my second double in. The ward is super awesome and so is the Stake Presidency. We had ward conference yesterday and the Stake President is kind of like a Steve Eager. He played pro football and now is on TV haha. Great guy. I was a little surprised but also excited. I loved my last district a lot so it was sad to leave everyone. But I also saw Elder Parker again at transfers because he came with his parents which was cool. This week went well though. We did some contacting and got some return appointments. Oh! Nice thing is that we have a gym here at the apartments which is so nice because now I can actually do a good workout. Oh and did you know you cannot pump your own gas here? It is illegal and you will get fined if you do. I thought that was interesting. But so far so good! Oh I will also be on an exchange in Camden this week if you have ever heard of there. It will be so cool! 

Yeah Stubbs had given me a call last Monday just to give me some pointers before I left so that was real nice. I have his email and number so I'll be in contact with him. As well as Elder Parker. Two great missionaries! 

I can't believe all the people leaving on missions from our ward. So crazy! I'm so excited for them. I know they will be great. I do not know where this month went though. Every month just gets quicker I feel like. 

 

Well they (Saryn and Kayla) better enjoy that 1 day! They will both be great missionaries. I need to email Shelley! 

We will definitely always need missionaries! 

Poor Colton. Always something! Haha I bet he enjoyed that trip. But he didn't get to go with his grandpa! Love them. I have some more that I will be sending! I finished this one early this time! Haha.  Well I love you mom and will talk to ya again real soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur  

 

                                         Adam with the Fletchers and Elder Morgan

                                        This is his new companion Elder Riley.  He is from Pocatello, Idaho.  

                               Adam  told him to tell his parents to look out for Sister Moreland (aka Courtney).

Hey Mom! 

So President actually called me to be a Zone leader now which I am actually super excited. Definitely a lot more responsibility now. I am very sad to be leaving but I kind of had the feeling I wouldn't be here super long either. I don't know why. I really wanted to be! I love it a lot. I'll miss the Fletchers!

Things are going great! So J actually ended up dropping us for a bit but R came to church! He is progressing very well and also we just found a new couple who are awesome as well. E and E. So it's exciting but sad I won't be here to really see what happens. Yeah Elder Morgan will be fine. I know he will. And the less actives not as much anymore. Turns out that one of them had back surgery to we are helping him out and stuff because he can't do anything really. R is our best progressing investigator. He actually read the intro to the BOM and also the Plan of Salvation pamphlet. He just had lots of questions about why he is here and where is he going. So we get a txt one day from him saying I understand now thank you so much is what he said. We will set him with a baptismal date tomorrow which is super exciting. But everything is going well here. That couple we found last night should really start progressing. They live right above some members but who are less actives. They are slowly coming back so that is good. Not a whole lot happened this week except I was so shocked about getting transferred but looks like there are other things in plan for me. Being a Zone leader will be way different and much more busy. 

Yeah I am trying to get started on it. I have just never really set goals until my mission like none. I have loved speaking Spanish. Ha yeah we had such a great lesson with that less active family. It was great. He (Elder Weisler, aka Jake) was so excited that I got called to be a Zone leader because I will see him at lots of meetings and stuff. He is a great missionary. It has been great to serve with him.

I do not think it (the temple) is actually going to be finished but I want to come back for it. So something cool! I can't remember if I told you but we are having 3 apostles through the mission within the next 3 months and President is going to try to set up a mission meeting with one of them which would be super cool. So I am excited about that. There is lots going on here in our mission. I always feel like there is. But I would love to come back and go through it for sure.

Yeah I know he (Elder Nelson) was called. It is just weird cause President Packer was President for so long I feel like. He was such a great man but I know Elder Nelson will do awesome. I feel like he will definitely be the next Prophet. I am excited to hear who they (new apostles) will be. 

I hope you enjoyed those pictures and I will have more next week for sure. I love you mom and tell everyone there as well! I will talk to ya again real soon and see where I will be Zone leader! I'm super excited for the opportunity. Elder Parker sat me down before he left and talked to me about it and I had a great chat with Stubbs about it and just my mission and how he has seen a big change in me from when I started until now. I got his email and number so I'll be in contact with him for sure. Well hope the trip will be great! Love ya again mom! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

 This is the former Elder Stubbs. He was Adam's zone leader when Adam first arrived in the mission. 

                                           A family from the ward.  The dad is an investigator.