Especially for Leo

Leo! Your email keeps rejecting me. I feel so sad. This is Logan's latest letter. I didn't want you to be out of the loop!!

Hello fam!

Well the week hasn’t been too bad besides the pouring rain! I went with Elder Garner to another district meeting because he is the zone leader, and as we were leaving our apartment we looked up at the sky and thought “Naw we don’t need our umbrellas right now, we’ll have to pass back this way anyways after the meeting well get them then”…. Bad bad bad decision!!! It started raining before we got there. We were wet though not too badly when we got there. But it rained the entire time during the meeting. And when we left, we stepped out into a flood!!! We had to wade to the street through almost a river of garbage and junk, it was still pouring, and then no taxi would take us!! They were wanting 2500 francs for the ride! Also when it pours like that there aren’t a lot of taxis and buses period. The roads here are terrible with some parts of the road paved, some dirt, and some not there anymore at all! So no one would take us… we had to walk a very long way through the floods and rain until we got to a “roundpoint” where “buses” load. The line took us right past our apartment so we got off and changed before going out the rest of the day. We took our umbrellas with us and it hardly rained at all after that! It wasn’t the funnest, but it did change the day a little.

The way we get flour is that there are a lot of Indian ran stores here. A lot of Muslims own stores and they get everything imported here basically. It is luck sometimes, but we can find Doritos and Gatorade if the stars and planets are aligned and luck is with us. Those things are cherished. Cannot find herbs and spices really. Nor cheese… it is really really expensive, cheese. There is a lot of bread though. Baguettes are huge here. Does not always taste the best but it is bread!! And I love plantains!! Nothing better than slicing some plantains and frying them. So good!! The other missionaries say the food in Cameroon is much better tasting, much bigger and much much cheaper! They like it here but they all miss the food there! Apparently bananas are huge! Here they are really small and expensive.

It is snowing there? What is snow? What is cold? I don’t remember…. It is very hot and humid here. Actually it is much similar to a hot day in Arkansas expect it is like that year round. I don’t have too much trouble dealing with it. People here don’t like the sun at all, I think it is funny. They always sit in the shade when they can. They also hate the mud and the rain and go as much out of the way as they can to avoid it. Then come two missionaries in their prime who come stomping through the rain and mud and don’t pay attention to the sun. They shake their heads and say, moondeli “white man”…

Well today is Halloween right? I think we are having some party! With very crazy foods and papaya carving contest! It should be fun? I think we are having boa too!

Anyways, yes try to send me some pictures everyone, and also parents, ou est les photos familial?!?! Une chose plus. If I need money here, how am I going to get it? I have about 30,000 francs or 60 bucks. For two years? I don’t know, talk to Bryan and see what he knows. My companion says it would be smart to send my debit card to Cameroon and wait until someone comes from there or when I go there. Just something to think about.

Love you all and hope you are happy! I sure am!

Have a good week!

Elder McGrath

A present? For me?

Ethan spent all afternoon with the last of his drooping birthday balloons. It has been over a week and one mylar is really "hanging" in there! :-)

Then this evening he wanted me to come upstairs for a surprise.

Ta-dah!

Honestly, when we pull out the Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving, the excitement may be more than this lil'fella can take. He will be in heaven.

From Logan

I know many of you are on the email list - sorry this is a repeat, but some emails are rejecting....so figure.

If you want to see a picture of Logan so HERE and scroll down towards the bottom of the page. You can also read the accompanying blog post on that site - it gives more details about the funeral Logan talks about.

Bonjour !

Comment ça va ?
How is every one doing ? I hope well still. Things are great here ! I

woke up this p day with the intention to play some basketball but we got a call from the Elder Gates saying we couldn't play because all the rain flooded the courts… and their house !! So we went over and bucketed water out of their house ! It was fun, the Gates took some awesome pictures I think so they will be on their blog I think.

We started pumping water out of their yard and went over to help the neighbors out. It was good ! Very wet though. In some questionable water so we’ll see.

We had a good week this last week. Wow has it already been 12 days in the Congo ? That’s crazy ! time flies ! crazy!

Anyway, this week was good. We set five new baptismal dates, and found many more new amis . The big problem is church attendance , it is the rainy season, and people don’t go out in the rain really. Not half of our investigators came. Even some of the ones that really should have been there. Another problem is the distance. The sectors Elder Garner and I work in are a long ways away from the building, which three branches assist at different times . It is so expensive to get there, most have to save all week to get to church. I really took the distance to the church for granted back home. It is amazing what people will go through just to get to church. But there is a new building that is being renovated to be a church. It should be done by the end of October (hopefully) and it is for our branch only, it is right in the middle of our sectors, it will be much much easier forour investigators to come. So that is good !!!

Did a lot of walking and teaching this week. I am red skin, no longer white. It’s becoming tan slowely but surely !!! then people won’t give me so much nonsense about being the whitest white person ever seen !! maybe before, but not for long !!

I’m learning the language more and more. My trainer is a really good missionary ! loves the work and works hard. He speaks such good french almost everybody I speak to compliments him on it . And every ward member says i’m lucky to be his companion. So… I’m very thankful. I will learn a ton from him ! He has me taking the leads in discussions. That has really helped everything, teaching, language, comfortableness, everything. We’re striving to be preach my gospel missionaries !!

So remember the flooding bathroom ? It happened again, except the pipe broke when we weren’t home and flooded our room too… so we got home planning to make dinner and go to bed, but instead spent the whole time cleaning mopping with rags, because there are no mops , and talking to the buyer and telling him he needs to get someone to fix it! So he had a plumber come in the next day and fix it. It is good now. We had sister Dekous' funeral Thursday. Very very interesting traditions on her side of the family… screaming yelling and crying ! Sister Gates turned to me and said "Welcome to Africa" !! Even so, talking to
the other elders that was the most different one they had ever seen too. And they were terrible to President Dekous. I won’t go into it now.

Oh for those at the MTC teaching who read this, Elder Garner and Elder Hancock say hello to Frere Luke and Sœur Red ? who i think is Souer Welch now ! hello !

Oh i had my first dinner at a members house yesterday ! we were

teaching a man at their house, he lives with the members, and they invited us to dinner afterwards. I ate chicken and rice and this manioc leaf herbs. Did you know chickens have hair ? they do, it’s true. I ate it , bones and all !! It actuallly wasn’t half bad…
I reallly liked the rice and herbs too . Sooo I can cross that off my to-do list.

So that’s my life ! the work is long and hard, and there is plenty to
do ! I’m loving it ! love you all and miss you ! I have to go though,

we are having a birthday party for Sister Gates at the beach ! look on their blog, there will be pictures I’m sure !

Avec tout l’amour dans mon cœur
Elder McGrath

(NO ONE CAN PRONOUNCE MY NAME BY THE WAY !!! NO ONE !!! some people say mmmkrat ? mmmkrass ? m. c. krat ? cracks me up)

Thoughtful Teenager

I just had to put in a quick post about Jordan. He is such a sweet kid (even though his room is a mess! And, okay, a little goofy once in a while - like below with his cousin).

Last night he walked in the door from church while Ethan and I were sitting at the dining table. Jordan proceeded to tell me about his night while at the same time, without even thinking about what he was doing, was putting things in the kitchen away. The container of cheerios. The jug of milk. The dirty dishes in the sink. He just kept talking the whole time, I am sure he didn't even realize he was helping out his mom.

Honestly, what a boy.

Where did he learn to do all of that.

From example - his dad. Another thoughtful guy.

Jordan is going to make some lucky gal a great husband some day :-)

Party all Month Long

Ethan celebrates his birthday the entire month of October and Christmas the other 11 months.

He is the new sheriff in town.
We had company over on Friday night for dinner and I made a cake for dessert. Even though his birthday had passed, and even though he would never eat a cake, Ethan thought the cake was his. And being the indulgent parents we are I happened to find 11 candles and put them on the cake. Then we proceeded to sing Happy Birthday to You for the millionth time. And, same as the 10 years proceeding this one, he needed help blowing out the candles. :-)

"They're singing to me???!!!???"
Wait for it......wait for it......"Oh, boy, have I been waiting for this!"With a huff and a puff......
Here comes mom for a little help.
Here comes mom with a little bit more help.
In the end - success! Then he promptly asked for ice cream, lol.

And, yes, for those of you who were visiting me this summer - those are the same bags of food I had that I was planning to can. I am still planning on it. Someday.

Happy Birthday!

Yes, it is that time of year again - Ethan is turning 11!!!!

He is still asleep, but he when he wakes up this will be the first thing he sees!
Honestly, and I lie not, the balloons and birthday cards will make his day. His cousins in Tennessee all sent him a homemade birthday card and he was so excited to get them. He just couldn't believe he got all of those cards - for him! His birthday!!

Shhh, his Grandma Leslie bought him a cowboy hat (and not a minute too soon, his old hat is so ratty and beat up, but he insists on wearing it everywhere). I can't wait for him to open it.

And of course he gets books - but who doesn't love Piggie and Elephant??

On other news, the entire 5th grade had Airport Day. They spent the day learning about planes and going up for a ride! Ethan had a B L A S T. I am so glad Mrs. Ava was able to go with him and take the pictures - thank you!!

Missing....

One of the big, necessary, important, vital, crucial things you MUST have to get into Africa is your proof of immunization from Yellow Fever.

You may remember from Logan's letter that he asked repeatedly for his Yellow Fever card. Well, that card had been sent to the travel office and I was told he would get it before he left. (You can tell where this story is going, can't you?)

I got a call from the Church today from "Julie" - Julie is a very nice girl we have been working with over the summer to make sure Logan had all of his ducks in a row to get into Africa. She worked on getting his visa and such. She said she had received an email from the DRC telling me Logan had arrived safely, but without his yellow fever card. (I am really going to get an earful in his first email.....). Officials let him in anyway because they know the Church makes sure they have all of their immunizations, but he had to pay money (a recurring theme in Africa).

So he is there, I have emailed Julie a copy of his immunization, and she will forward it to Africa.

All is well.

Elvis has left the building.....

Logan is gone. I had him paged at the airport at 5:30 a.m. (he was allowed to talk to us before he left the country). It was a short call because he was a little concerned about getting to the Congo. Apparently, even though his itinerary said "CONGO" - the information at the airport said "CAMEROON" which really would of been a problem since he doesn't have a visa to get into Cameroon.....anyway......

I think he made it okay. He called briefly at noon to say all was well. He left New York at 3:30 eastern and lands in Frankfurt then on to the Congo. I think he arrives at 6:30 p.m. Congo time. Their time is 6 hours ahead of my time, so I suspect tomorrow at noon my time he will have landed. (Can you tell I am watching the clock????). I can't wait for his first email and I hope, hope, hope the senior missionary couple will take his picture and post it on their blog. If they do you can bet I will link to it!

And yes, I cried a little. But he sounded tres bien.

In other news - Ethan went on a plane ride today from our little local airport - so as soon as I get pictures from his parapro, I will post them.

Headin' Home

Ethan has had a lot of practice riding a bike. He still isn't strong enough for a typical bike, but he loves the trike.

We have been doing a lot of riding around town, and Jordan frequently uses the bike as a mean for transportation to and from the house to the shop.

Ethan thinks he can ride home, too. Fortunately, we were able to stop him before he reached the highway.

Be Cool

Ethan was playing....well...I am not sure what he was playing yesterday. I picked him up to take him to the bike shop and he had Jack's baby doll wrapped in a towel and he was dressed....well, let's just say for Ethan it was normal.

I was taking pictures of some of our bikes to put on the website and Ethan said he wanted a picture. He posed.

As I turned to take more pictures of bikes, Ethan signed "now cool picture" - and then he winked at me (thanks for teaching him that Mrs. Ava!!). He proceeded to pose for his "cool" picture.

The kid cracks me up.

Say It Ain't So, Joe

Two nights ago Phil and I took Ethan to Lowes to get some things for the shop.

This is what greeted us from the ceiling right as we entered the front door.
Those of you that know Ethan, or have read about his love for all things Christmas, can imagine his reaction - then times that by ten.

Thus it begins.........and it is only the first of October :-(

Logan's Last Letter in the States

Don't read this if you get my emails - it is the same thing :-) This is mostly for Logan's facebook friends.

His email from now on is logan.mcgrath@myldsmail.net


The days at the MTC are coming to the close!

I received your package and Uncle Krestens and Mary Jane's package and grandma's packages! thank you all so much. I love you and miss you!

Wow that is so sad about Jacquelynes mom... I'm so sorry...

Conference was awesome here.. it was like being injected with spiritual steroids just without the bad side effects.

Temple in KINSHASA!!! that was such a surprise! Maybe I can go to the ground breaking? who knows? Maybe that area will open up while I'm there.

French is coming along. My goal this last week is to get down every conjugation down pack so i know when and how to use them even if it takes me a little while to get there! that speed will come with time I think. i hope. I pray. Hey you all can pray for me too please! haha je blauge je deja sais que vous priez pour moi toujours.merci beaucoup! J vous aime!

This is my last email from the MTC! From now on you have to email me! No more dear elders tout le monde! Merci pour le post j'ai recu deja! Mais maitenant email this address! Merci!

Well I have good news everybody!

I am leaving the MTC!! I report at the travel office at 8:30 PM on October 10 to pick up my visa and passport and stuff. BY THE WAY I did not get anything you might have forwarded from Sister Jameson... so what? I leave the Salt Lake City airport at 11:40 PM... that is at night for those of you who don't know that, and I arrive at the New York Kennedy Airport at 6:04 AM on the 11th. Then I have a layover until 3:40 PM!!!! That is about ten hours or so of layover time! Something cool. We're allowed to call home while we are in the airport. I might call home! Keep your phone handy! Other than that I'm going to try some contacting I think, or at least stand somewhere obvious until some one approaches me. I'm not sure if I'm, allowed to proselyte in an airport? Anyway, I leave the JFK at 3:40 and fly to the FRANKFURT GERMANY (I don't speak german, they didn't teach me that here...) airport and arrive there at 5:15AM on the 12! I have a 5 hour layover (again, i don't parlez allemond) and leave at 10:05am for POINTE NOIRE CONGO!!! I'm so excited! I will get there around 630 on the 12th! A lot of flying! and I'm the travel leader of the group. I'm also the only one in my group so i guess that makes sense... I start my malaria pills this Saturday! I can't wait!

Chad Lewis came and spoke to us last Sunday. Very inspiring speaker. The coolest part was when he was sharing his experience climbing mount Kilimanjaro (I did not spell that right je pense) for some NFL thing and he was showing some video of the people he was with! I can't wait to get out there!

That's all the time I have for this day.

I LOVE YOU ALL AND AM THINKING ABOUT YOU!!! Hope life is going well!

Peace be with you!

Oh and also Joshua 1:8-9. Jordan read that. I memorized it. You do so too si vous plait love ya!

SINCERELY,

Elder McGrath

Update

Things seems to have gotten a little busy - so here is a quick update:

Phil: Just finished hosting "La Femme de Velo" women-only bike tour. It was very successful - 50 women toured. He is still organizing the shop, but things are going well and he hopes to have all of his new systems in place soon. We hired two college kids and a homeschooler who are working out great.

Susie: Loves teaching ESL. I am thinking about riding my bike to school from now on. Debating. Hate to think of "helmet hair." I get to feeling a little overwhelmed now and then, but I am managing to hold it all together. I need to work on my Spanish, but my sweet kids are teaching me a lot. I just nod and pretend like I know exactly what they said :-) I do my billing job in the morning, my school job during the day, and bookkeeping and such for Phil in the evenings. Laundry? Cleaning? Well, (cough, cough), you know - it gets done - on a JIT basis.

Logan: leaves for Africa in 8 days. He is super excited and "parle plus en plus francais chaque jour." We just found out this weekend that the Church is building a temple in his mission. We are very excited for the people in the Congo, it will be real blessing in their lives. He has not lost his sense of humor and he is still cracking me up - even from a distance.

Jordan: basketball, choir, school, church, scouts, work. Typical high school stuff. He is working on his Eagle project this weekend and then we are done!!!! Yippeeeee!! Another boy down. One more to go.

Ethan: Has his moments, but overall is doing great. He is way more technologically advanced that I would care for. He knows his way around computer, ipads and iphones way too well for my comfort level. It is nearing his birthday and he will celebrate the entire month. After that - on to hardcore Christmas celebrating, until about March. Then he will tone it down for a while. Yesterday he left the shop on a trike and was headed down the road towards home. So, just saying, some things haven't changed.

Hopefully I will be able to post pictures soon!