Here's the letter from last week 07/30/14

 

 While you guys are there the Andrus' are in California:p lol. Well I hope it has been a fun trip so far and honestly the weeks are flying by like it is crazy. Me and Elder Hillstead are so excited to get to Philly and oh! His Dad served in London as well! We thought that was crazy and that we are companions. I can't believe that Ryan left today! That is awesome for him and I know he will enjoy it. We basically have the same routine of getting up, breakfast, language class, practice teaching, lunch, study time, gym time, dinner, then night class. It is pretty fun but I just can not wait to go to Philly. And no talk on Sunday! Would have been scary too cause President and Sister Pratt were in our sacrament meeting. I actually always am getting up easy like I normally wake up before the alarm. The spanish is coming great actually like I will be praying in English in my head but I will find myself like saying it in spanish instead so that is weird actually. It is funny cause i find my prayers being really long cause of all the things that I pray for out here. (this is when I told him about his Aunt Kara's niece going to Philly as well)Oh wow! Well that is super cool. I will be looking out for her for sure then and also excited to see Jake! That is going to be great. I cannot believe Spencer is already coming home and Sam will be in two weeks! Crazy story so we were studying right and this guy comes in and was like, "is there an elder McArthur?" I said what's up? Then he was like Sam Morrell wanted me to tell you what's up and everything! Turns out the guy was Sam's trainer and he works here now! So cool! I have had lots of stuff happen like there was also this one guy who I kept having to take a double take cause he looks just like Uncle Brian it is crazyyyy. Just been some boosts this week and oh so we got to go to the temple today! Couldn't go in cause the foundation is all messed up but it was cool cause we toured the visitors center and guess who I found on the I am a mormon thing? Nomdi! idk how to spell it but it was super cool! He told all about himself and his sculpting. It has been a great week. Everything else has been routine but just some cool things that happened this week! Well send pictures and I hope yall have a fun time in Florida! I love you! 

Love, Elder McArthur

 

 

 

 

 

 This is from this week 08/06/14:

 

I can not believe everyone that is leaving every week like that is just crazy. When all of them leave it will be very quiet. Yeah and then Courtney! Oh it started to hit me pretty good but now that I am out here I would hate to have to come home or anything like some of these Elders have had to. We taught our first lesson with no notes at all the other day and it went real well. I find myself understanding things a lot better now also which helps a ton. Yeah plenty of things that I have learned that I did not know language wise. I am learning so much more though since I am reading the Book of Mormon and also Jesus the Christ which is great. Just felt the spirit a lot here which has really been helping me if I am having a tough day. I will not because I just do not have enough time in the day to read as much as I would need to for both english and spanish. But I am getting into it for sure.  Also my district has been wanting me and hermana walton in our district to teach them to actually play volleyball because we play a lot here. It is fun. So all the other guys like elder wrigley are going to Panama. But one is going to El Salvador and Belize. The Hermanas are going to Dallas and Tampa so I am getting there emails so they can send me pictures of where they are. (talking about the guy that Sam Morell knew here) Yeah that was so cool that I just randomly ran into him like that. but it was super cool. He has also helped me. I can not believe he comes home so soon! Hate that I had to miss him but I can not wait to visit with him when I get back. I remember when Spencer was just leaving also and now he comes home. Lol that is great. I am sure he had an awesome mission there. Then he can talk to his mom. (talking about Nnamdi Okonkwo here)Yeah that was so cool to see! Good to see him in that and see his story.

(talking about his testimony) Yeah I can tell that mine has grown since being here and remembering things that Thurgood said and everyone else. Well i love you too mom!! I am having a great time being out here more and more every day. (talking about my e-mails because his dad made fun of me for writing such a long one) No i like that they are long cause it keeps me up on everything! Nope! No talk! Oh one cool thing this week was actually elder taylor in our district had an itch and then we got to the casa and he took off his shirt and had completely broken out in hives. It was so bad so he asked if we could give him a blessing so we all got to the casa and elder halls gave the blessing and right after it was about completely gone. It was such a cool experience. Well I will send more pictures and i love you again so much mom!

Love, 

Elder McArthur