Hey Mom! 

It was good ha. Did not do too much just went to visit some people but Elder Park did buy me pizza and stuff from little Cesar's which was great. It is weird that I'll be 20 next year already. 

 

We had lots of lessons this week and no one new yet. We are trying to talk to people and see but they always say they work too much or some excuses. But R is progressing well! Also A who is the husband of a member. That real young couple. We had a pretty decent week. Just need to step it up a little bit. We are just trying to work on getting everyone to the temple and actually we spent some time with A finally. He is really struggling again right now. He fell pretty hard but we are really trying to help him. He just needs to get out of Philly. It's so bad here and hard for members with all the temptation. So I'll keep you updated on that. Also R gave his first talk this Sunday and it was great. So now him and A both have given talks. We just had a few appointments cancel last week but hopefully this week will be much better. So not a whole lot. Oh! Well we also met R's husband who is actually an Atheist. He's a very smart and cool guy. He was in the Marines. He has done a lot with that kind of stuff and he speaks English and Spanish perfect. However, we are going to try to teach him cause he did have a question about Adam and Eve. We will see! 

I enjoyed those cookies a lot. 

I actually just finished reading it the other day! It was great and so now I just started over and am reading a little bit of everything. The Bible, the BoM, D&C and all that. So all of that is going great. Also I listen to talks on my tablet at night before bed. Definitely learned more than I ever have that is for sure. That a good quote. I can definitely feel it rather than hearing a voice. 

I really enjoy those (again, the quotes I send him every week). All the members are missionaries. Everyone has to be doing missionary work and supporting each other. I have definitely seen the effects of what happens when we don't support each other. I've been listening to some talks from President Hinckley recently. He's so funny. I've really enjoyed it and learned a lot. The prophets are definitely men of God. 

That is crazy it has been that long ago (when he put his mission papers in a year ago February 1st) like wow that went by so fast! I'm already almost 7 months in now. Not so new anymore ha and my Spanish is coming along. Monday's are definitely nice. I'm really enjoying it but I will be very sad when I leave this area but I'll only grow more when I do. It'll be interesting. I hope I see Jake soon too so we can catch up hopefully a little bit. Well I'll keep you updates on everyone and I love you so much mom! I'll talk to you soon! 

I could not get up to the church today so next week hopefully.

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

 I did and thank you so much for all the stuff! I love the sweat pants and the others. The cookies are great and the watch is just fine! Cause the other like doesn't work anymore but I would still wear it just because. Oh I love the Samoias and the peanut butter ones. Those are the best to me. But the package was great! 

This past week was a super good week for us. Lots of lessons and good ones. We ended going to check on this one lady who hadn't been to church in awhile cause her mom died and I guess there was some other stuff going on there cause her and her husband were arguing a bit. She told us how things haven't been good but that she is going to start coming back to church and everything so we will see what happens. Cause she was coming all the time before and then stuff happened but we went over there with R and it went real good. Just staying busy. We are really working now on getting people to church and getting new investigators. I think this new guy A that we have been teaching has potential. He is the husband of a member. Young couple though and so we will see what happens with him. Also that lady is fine from what I know. Her brother got pretty sick though so we couldn't meet with her but Bloomfield is in contact with them. A and R are just fine actually. We still go over every week and they are actually signed up to feed us this Friday. A actually just gave her first talk and we are helping R do some home teaching now so it's awesome. It's so great to see how driven they are and also E. He just came teaching with us last night with a less active family. So we are loving it. I can't wait for you guys to meet A and R. 

 

Also, we had Zone Conference which was the best one yet. So spiritual and just awesome. All the departed missionaries gave their testimony so Elder Bloomfield was one of them and it was pretty sad honestly but he gave a great testimony. We were there so late and it is funny cause President actually ended up driving me, Elder Park, Bloomfield and Hopkin home, him and Sister Anderson. We had a great conversation with him. I asked him what he thought when he got called to be a mission president. He was quiet for a second and then said there are no words to describe it. That man is an inspired man and he goes through so much. We can't even imagine. He said it is a 24/7 calling. There was actually an Elder here who's dad just died and so President gets the call and has to go tell him. I can't even imagine.  It was a great conversation. It is those things I'll always remember. So this week was great and busy. 

I have now about 60 pages left so I'm getting there. I had some other stuff to do this week so I didn't get to read as much as I wanted but I read a lot this morning. I'll be getting a Facebook as soon as I finish and it will be a new one. It depends. More family members than anyone. Unless you guys are helping us teach because I believe you can. Yeah we just post a bunch of things from the church and it is a real good tool. We will see how it goes when I get it. 

 

Yeah I could definitely get transferred but who knows cause I could still stay probably one more. We shall see when transfers roll around.

Oh yeah I forgot to tell you! We also ended up doing something for A for his birthday cause it was this past week. We bought him some pizzas and drinks and stuff. We all went to his house and spent some time with him so that was very good. Trying to keep him focused on a mission. But he seems to be doing alright. Just a little distracted. R actually has him on his home teaching list. 

Those quotes are great. I've learned from reading the scriptures how important it is to follow the prophet that is for sure. I actually just learned a whole lot more about the three Nephites who are still here also. Cause I finished 3rd Nephi and just how righteous they are and how they were shown things in heaven that would happen. It was interesting too because Nephi was writing things and almost accidentally wrote their names but the Lord told him not to because no one could know their names. Just interesting and all the things Christ did when he came down to the Earth. Cause he also called disciples over here in the America's as well. So I'm loving it right now. I'm just excited to finish and start it again! Also continue the Bible and D&C. Things like that. Me and Elder Park also read Abraham the other day as well. If anything will blow your mind that will. Just know it's true that is for sure. 

Well I love ya mom and thank you again for the package! Keep me updated on things and I'll talk to ya soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom!  

Everything is going great here. We did have a good amount of snow the other and it was pretty darn cold but oh well. Had to be out.  Me and Elder Park are doing great.  Just trying to work harder and find more people to teach. Also my personal study is coming along great. I only have 100 pages left of the Book of Mormon. After that I get a facebook. It's been great and praying before really makes a big difference for sure. We have 1 or 2 who hopefully could progress soon to baptism. We actually will be having a baptism soon I'm positive. So the big miracle this week. So this week was a big deal cause we had like a Ward conference of something and so all the stake people were there. So we were going to be calling all the less actives and investigators and really trying to get everyone out. So Bloomfield and Hopkin were calling there people and going through their list when all of a sudden a name popped up. They called it and invited her to church. But when the lady answered and heard all of that she thought it was a complete lie. She thought that because she had been praying the night before and all that morning that someone would call her and invite her to church and that it would be the true church to go to. That they would call her before twelve o'clock. Well Bloomfield and Hopkin called at 10. So she was not sure if she could go but decided she is going. So they went out there with Hermano Pacheco and picked her and her special needs older brother that she takes care of. He has the most humble spirit and is just this quiet older Spanish guy. They are actually in our area and we are visiting them tomorrow and going to extend a baptismal date to them. That was just so crazy to hear and apparently they grew up right next to one of the members in our Ward down in Puerto Rico. I was just like wow. So we are super excited for them for sure. So that is what is going on right now. Also I went on my last exchange with Elder Bloomfield this week. It has definitely hit him now that he is leaving in like 3 weeks. He is just like in shock of how quick it was over. So it was good. We actually just got back from giving him a blessing though cause he is sick throwing up and all that stuff. 

I've already been out just a little over 6 months. Time is just different on a mission I feel like. Idk where last week went. The weeks come up quick.

Yeah the temple is coming along really great that is for sure. They are like putting all that granite on and stuff. I hope I'll be here! I'd be pretty upset if not. We would have to come back for sure and go through. 

I love those (quotes I send him every week). I still need to find some as well. But the one with Ryan is so true. Patience is key in being a successful missionary. You gotta realize that it is on the Lord's time and not ours. He has a plan for everything. It is just always great when you find those people who just do everything and get baptized right away. It is better to prepare ourselves now rather than in the life to come. 

I'm just excited as well to do more when I return and just keep continuing doing missionary work. I'll be helping the missionaries out a lot more that is for sure. Cause I know they need it. Well I love you too very much mom!

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

Hey Mom! 

The new year has already kicked off great. The work is slowly picking up. This past week started a little slow but really picked up with our lessons. There was one day where our Ward Mission leader ended up coming out with us the whole day and we got to see a bunch of people. Also I think one miracle from this week was the N ended up staying with us. So we had this thing we came up with for our investigators who are progressing well that we would make them a weekly chart of scriptures to read each day. So we went to teach her and she told us she was thinking about stop taking the lessons. Then we ended up reading what we had down for her on the schedule and she ended up saying this is exactly what she needed and she was just amazed because we looked ahead on the calendar and their is one about service on Friday and that's what she will be doing some of that day. So we were all just like that is an answer to our prayers. It was super cool. Everyone else is still going alright and found a couple that might have potential but we will see later. Yeah we could not stay cause the party went late and started late but Bishop did buy us dinner. Everything is going good though and just idk where the time is going. 

Yeah we just stopped by a few people on New Years and New Year's Eve so it was fun. I feel like being here for the holidays though is not the same like it was a different feeling but still great of course. I guess maybe cause I'm not as focused on it.  

 

Yeah tomorrow we should be getting snow! We will see if it happens. 

Our ward has definitely grown a lot. We have consistently about 125-130. It is a pretty decent size I guess. It is a ward. Having three has only helped our ward for sure because Elder Bloomfield and a Elder Hopkin are doing work for sure. Yeah we still have a huge area and that is crazy that they (our sister missionaries) are covering three wards. That's interesting how that works but that's nice.

It's about to be freezing! Hopefully not too bad but we shall see. 

 

I appreciate the quotes every week. I'll have to find some to send back as well for sure. Or from the scriptures. I'm actually in Heleman right now. It's been so great to read it all the way through and just learn so much. It's super awesome. After I finish it in English then I'll read in all in Spanish I think. But this week was great and I'm just loving it now but gosh time flies. Well I'll keep ya updated on this week and I love and miss ya mom! Talk to ya soon! 

Love, 

Elder McArthur 

Hey Mom! 

Yeah I am not too focused on my money although it is always nice to have hah like I thought we were actually going to get more money this week but turns out we didn't sooo we have nothing hah. But it was really great for me to be able to talk with everyone and being able to see you guys. The mission has been a blessing so far and some days are tough but recently I feel I have had such a spiritual boost to just share it with everyone. I'll tell a story at the end. 

I can not believe he (Michael Moon) is home! It seriously feels like just the other day we were all over playing that and wow now here I am 6 months in my mission. That's super awesome. I know that had to be such a blessing to have him (President Kendrick) as a mission president. 

 

Gosh I haven't had any normal meal like that in foreverrrr. Haha rice and beans with some sort of meat is basically it but it's super good honestly.

Christmas dinner was good! We had some special El Salvador soup and other stuff which was really good. That family actually ended up getting all of us ties also which was so nice of them. They love the missionaries so much. It's the M family is their name. We all sang and just had a good time. And yeah I got everything from their place. Oh! Lol so everyone loved the peanut butter balls and I still have more cause I don't want to eat them so quick but President R was wondering if he could get the recipe so his wife can make them lol. He loved them a lot. 

I love those quotes and especially about prayer. I definitely had a miracle happen. So that little girl that bit me finally got out of the hospital and so we went over the day for an appointment. They have lots of family here who are members from the Dominican Republic who are awesome ha so it has been fun but anyways. She started freaking again and literally talking about how she just wants to act for herself and won't do certain things and it's crazy. So she wouldn't get calm so they had her and tried to get her to pray and she started but just couldn't do it so they had me pray. I just felt something so strong come over me and had such faith I felt when I prayed. So I basically prayed just telling her to be calm and other things I don't remember too much but right after and during that she all of a sudden went completely calm and went upstairs and fell asleep. It was such a miracle to me and I just have a testimony of prayers and that God answers prayers but we just have to have the faith and believe he will. This was definitely a week of miracles. Another I would say was we were coming in and I just had a very strong feeling to go see this one family. Idk why but I was like we gotta go but Elder Park was saying it was too late but I was like look we need to go so he said alright if you are feeling that way we will go. So we did and basically helped their daughter's testimony grow because she did not want to meet with us anymore but now she does and also we found two new people that are interested. So just listen to prompting always. That is one thing I always think about with President Monson because he never does not listen ever. So that was great. Also the baptism went well with P! Also we are going to start working with L again. We are helping her move this week as well and we will see what happens. 

We (He and Elder Hillstead) are loving serving together and Christmas morning we walked to the store to get some juice for us and we were just talking about things and he was telling me how good my Spanish has gotten even though I'm like yours is better hah. He has a better accent for sure but it is cool to see how much we have grown from the MTC. We have an awesome district here for sure. Everything is going good and we are just going to continue to work hard! Well I appreciate all the presents, food and everything a lot! Just keep me updated on everything. I'll be up at the church today so I'll send pictures. Well I love you mom! And talk to ya soon! If ya have any questions just ask me. 

Love, 

Elder McArthur

Hey Mom! 

That is definitely weird to me that it is already this month and we skype in just a few days! I am not sure yet. I'll figure it out and be able to let you know though and I believe an hour or so! Yeah! It is funny because we went to transfers because we had to pick up a new phone and so we watched it. Elder Villalba's face popped up and I was like watch he is going to be Elder Hillstead's companion and sure enough he was! We are both excited about it. It is cool to see how far both of our Spanish has come that is for sure. Because we can actually have a conversation with each other in Spanish. Yeah we should be going on them I think and yup! We are excited to be together for Christmas. Also saw Elder Newbold! It was really good to see him. He is a Zone a Leader now and serving with the guy who trained him. Well in the same district. Honestly I probably could not have asked for a better trainer. And Elder Park is super awesome as well. We keep saying they need to make a District show with our district because it would be hilarious. 

We all get together as a mission tomorrow. I did get a card from the Hein's, Grandpa and Grandma, and Jj. So I appreciate those a lot! I have them all on my wall. I'll get all my packages tomorrow and then we will open them Christmas of course. I do not think ill be seeing Jake because he is way up North so I think they had a separate one. Yeah he is up in the snow! Hah that's awesome. 

No more trips (to the ER)! I'm doing fine. 

Yeah this past week went pretty well. We had a great lesson with H who is the husband of a member. We left him something to read about the Plan of Salvation. He was super confused so we read through it all and explained it and he understand so much better and is very happy for it. Him and C were both talking about how they will get their hair back in the second coming lol it was so funny. Then Elder Park laid it down though and was like we are here to baptize you. That is our goal. We are just here to help you reach that and you know cause all your family are members. Then he asked him, "Where are you in knowing this church is true?" H sat there for a minute or two and we were just in silence. He did not say to much but I can tell he knows. I hope we see a baptismal date for him soon. We just need to get back in touch with her and try to set something up. We have a baptism this week actually that was a surprise! Her name is P. She is the daughter of L. So we are excited. No one new right now but we are trying! 

The scripture study is coming very well. I am finishing up Alma and still in Genesis right now. Both are just so interesting and I never liked or wanted to read before but I really enjoy it more so now I feel like just trying to gain more knowledge because there are so many times when we can just pull out the scriptures for an answer. So I am enjoying it a lot. 

I like that I chose that picture (for his plaque).

We actually just got to see Elder Tyler yesterday cause there was a baptism and she wanted him to so that was cool. He is hilarious. 

We had that devotional down at the temple grounds which went really well. We watched He is the Gift and had hot chocolate and everything and took people caroling. It was great. Just a little cold. I actually took a video that I'll send. 

I've read some teaching from him (Spender W. Kimball) and he is such a great man or was. Such a humble man. That is one thing that is awesome is gospel library because I have everything on my iPad and can open it up whenever. As well Preach my Gospel has amazing things. You guys should try to get one and maybe take some time to go through it. I mean that is what we use or at least what I use. It explains everything clearly and simple which is the way you want to teach. There is never a need to really go in the deep doctrine. You just need to explain the basics as if you were teaching a kid. I like how Preach my Gospel puts it. A doctor does not talk to same way to his patients as he would with his co workers when they are in on a surgery using big words. He explains it in more simple terms. We should be the same with our investigators. Be simple and explain it to where they will understand. Something like that hah. 

Well I love you mom and I'll talk to you in just three more days and then you can ask me all the questions and stuff you want! Talk to ya soon!

Love, 

Elder McArthur