H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y A D A M !!!!!!!!!!

To the eldest brother Elder Adam,

 

 

Happy Birthday!

 

 

Firstly, I hope you have a wonderful day! Eat some food, cake, and tear apart various colored packages to your heart's content because today is YOUR day! (Plus, no one can zip-tie your hands together to prevent you from working... sorry about that). However, It is so gut-wrenching not to be able to celebrate with you. We did everything together. You took me for every Radio Flyer wagon ride that I had to push, Every bike ride, every temple morning ride in Bertha and every prom ask in Loretta (subscript: Stephanie). I had the absolute pleasure of playing things like "Zooreka" and Cranium's "Hullabaloo" down to replaying "Acquire" strategies off of Youtube and waging war in Scythe. I can never forget the books you and Mom taught me to read like *deepest of breaths" TIIKI TIKKI TEMBO NO SA REMBO CHARRI RARRI RUCHI PIP BERI PEMBO (And Chain, to some extent) and the safety tips of Gloria and Buckles (79: always wear a helmet). 

 

 

Ah, Adam, the years have flown by too fast! I miss the days of ticket time on the computer (for the PBS kids website, then Club Penguin, and then Plants vs Zombies...) and of playing the Wii on a boxy 30" by 30" grey TV, but I will be even more delighted when you come back. I know that we were friends before this world and I am for darn sure we will be after, and can chill on the trampoline talking about anything and everything again.

 

 

So, to my greatest grasshopper catching (25 cents per.. WoW!), Sargeant Court cleaning (25 cents per.. WoW!) , Lawn mowing, Laughing, Hammocking, Talking, playing buddy,

 

 

Happy Birthday!

-Mr. Cookie rescuing you on the slide. Or Luke. Whichever you prefer.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y L U L U ! ! ! !

My sweeto burrito lil' Lulu,

 

 

Happy Birthday!!!!

 

 

Straight up I cannot believe that you are turning sixteen, this literally blows my mind because I vividly remember when you first came home from the hospital and were the size of an actual burrito, and now gosh dang it your kissing girls, driving Stephanie, and throwing parties for all your friends. Where has all the time gone?! I often reflect on our childhood together (well at least my childhood because I'm now a "Adult"- wow that gives me old man heartburn to say) of our "shared" lego sets that I usually built once, played with about five times (if that) while as you lovingly built them time after time while narrating a continuous story line that always somehow ended in dynamite or a rogue wrecking ball blowing everything up. I also remember those lazy summer days where we would binge on stale popcorn I would find lurking in the back of the kitchenette while Mom mopped upstairs cause you know "in this world we're all alone, you know I love my ocean home". In all honesty childhood would have been a hot mess express without you. I often listen to my companions vent about their siblings and how they always fought or straight up ignored one another, and are even more shocked when I tell them that we never really fought, but really just best friends. I know for a fact that we were best friends before this life (premortal life pals- woot) and were destined to be brothers. I am so delighted to be your brother and even more delighted to celebrate your Birthday!!!!! Therefore in closing:

 

 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM ALL OF US TO YOU, EVEN IF YOU HAD NO BIRTHDAY WE WOULD STILL PARTY IT UP WITH YOU- HEY!!!

 

 

Love your favorite brother (oh wait I'm your only brother- that's awkward)

 

 

A&L Co-founder

 

 

Adam Richard McMullin the 3rd

I Will Never Let You Down!

HELLLLLOOOO AMAZING FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!! Shoot the fruit is its already Monday again, my goodness time flies when you're having fun! This week has probably been one of the more stressful weeks I've had on the mission with many disappointments, but also some tremendous miracles and blessings, but without further ado it's time for the spiritual thought with Elder McMullin (I'm excited, are you excited?)! Too give you all a little bit of background context Elder Neilson and I had high hopes of finding two new people that would be interested in the gospel, after all we did have 21 lessons this week half of which were with potential friends. SIKE! Literally 17 of our 21 lessons canceled and didn't reschedule leaving Elder Neilson and I super disheartened. We prayed together a lot begging the Lord to help us achieve our weekly goals, but never felt like our prayers were being answered. Saturday evening, we got a call from the 1st councilor in the Bishopric frantically asking if I could speak in Church tomorrow morning. I excitedly accepted and asked what my topic was, to which Bro. Howard said "I feel inspired to tell you talk about anything you like, but bring your A-game". A little stunned I began frantically preparing an "A-game" talk. The next morning Elder Nielson and I waited for those we invited for Church, and were so blessed to see Tommy and Lynda come for the first time ever in their Sunday best radiating with excitement and peace only the gospel can provide. More on them later :). As Church proceeded, I looked back on all the attempts Elder Neilson and I made and the failures we had and still felt disappointed. I was about to go up and speak when suddenly I saw the chapel doors open and in came Feather, DeAndre, Joeseph, and January, enthusiastically waving to me as they sat down next to Elder Nielson. Then the chapel doors opened again and in came Methina with a friend in tow that was nearly double her size also enthusiastically waving to me as I walked up to the pulpit. I was so overcome with emotion and gratitude that I nearly started crying, then I felt these words impressed into my heart "Did you think I would let you down". Brothers and Sisters, the Lord will never ever let you down as long as you try your hardest. The Lord is also so very merciful and loving and will always bless you with more than you need. Following the meeting I was walking down the steps when an older lady literally ran up to me. She had a huge snake tattoo all the way up her arm, short blond spikey hair, and puffy mascara-streaked eyes. She explained to me that she was the mother of a Sister in the ward who came to visit the grandkids for spring break, she started crying again and told me she wasn't a member, yet felt like she needed to come to Church and feel something. "You told me personally so many things that I needed hear, you were like a beacon of light that I couldn't stop looking at. Can you teach me more about all of this" ? The lord will never ever let you down my Brothers and Sisters, as long as you try your very best and truly bring your A game.  

FRIEND UPDATE!!! Although we had many of our friends bail on their lessons with us it was still an amazing week, because Tommy and Lynda are following the example of our Savior and being baptized on May 1st!!!! I am so delighted for them not only because I get to throw their wedding (A personal missionary dream of mine :) but because they really do know that this is the true and restored Church of Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon is truly another Testament of Jesus Christ. Every time we talk to them either in person or on the phone, they always tell us how much they love us and how excited they are to be getting baptized next month! As for Feather and Skeets we have begun teaching their teenage sons DeAndre and Joeseph as well as reteaching them in the process. They love the Church and the fact that they can be sealed together as one big happy eternal family and are currently praying and pondering if they are ready for Baptism for May 22nd. Finally, we have started teaching a super less active members son (his name is Brody) and amazing things are happening. Jennie (Brody's Mom) has begun sitting in on our lessons with Brody and has unintentionally started helping us teach Brody by bearing testimony of how she felt when she was active in the Church and her desire for him to feel the same way. Brody wants to be baptized, but wants to learn more first and Jennie wants to go to the temple again to do baptisms for the dead with Brody and possibly receive her patriarchal blessing. It would be so wonderful if you all could keep all of these wonderful people in your prayers that they can receive the conformation that this is the true Church of Christ and that they are ready to make the next step towards coming closer to God and Jesus Christ. 

 
 

I absolutely love being a missionary!!! I would again like to emphasize that if any of you are thinking about serving a mission, pray about it and JUST DO IT! I have grown so much on my mission and come closer to God and Jesus Christ more than I ever thought possible. I love and miss you all so much, please remember that the Lord will never ever let you down as long as you show effort and try. I know for a fact that the Lord loves each of you, more than you could possibly imagine! Stay safe and have another fantastic week! Love y'all!!! 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM 

Elder McMullin :) 

Photos!!!! 

1-3) Hiking with the homies! 

4) Gotta love the random snow storms of Sodak 

5) Trying to take a selfie with a cat and it goes off eating my hair 

6) Hagardies Music- we come every P-day and play the guitars and ukes 

Turns Out You Can Have To Much Sugar

HELLLLLOOOOO awesome friends and family!!!!!! This week has been super fun and uplifting, especially with General Conference ending the week in a climax of spiritual determination and excitement. This General Conference was awe inspiring with its beautifully bold statements that all are equal in God's eyes, the power of a positive and wholesome relationship, and need for more deeply rooted faith. Despite all of these powerful and revelatory messages my personal favorite section of conference is the World Report that is played in between sessions, showing the amazing impact that we as Saints give to the whole earth regardless of their membership status, race, religious beliefs or socioeconomic status. We read in Matthew 7:16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits" meaning that by their decisions and attitude toward other we can know the contents of their hearts. I know without a doubt from serving in local food pantries and seeing the Church Humanitarian logo on the sides of donated boxes of food that this really is the true Church of Christ. The true Church of Christ that identifies the needs of fellow brothers and sisters all over the world and fulfills them, both temporally and spiritually. I am so deeply grateful to be a member of this Church and to also be a missionary teaching of the relief and peace found through Jesus Christ and His infinite sacrifice.

 

 

Okay so about the subject line... as shocking as it sounds you can have too much sugar. It all started with a couple of jellybeans here and there, then a couple of Dove Chocolates in between sessions and then next thing you know it I'm having a Peep eating competition with the kids of a member family and destroyed them all with eating 18 Peeps in three minutes. So, yah. The hours following this excessive sugar intake were absolutely brutal, I had to dilute Tums tablets into herbal tea because the tums tablets were too sweet. So, yah before you go and down all your Easter candy remember that moms are not kidding when they say too much sugar is a bad thing! 

 

 

Friend update!!! Everyone that were teaching is doing super well! Elder Neilson and I were so blessed to have 5 people watch General Conference with us on Saturday and Sunday and are looking forward to continuing to nurture those that are progressing!!!

 

 

Honestly this week was a super chill and laid back with not too many exciting experiences, besides of course 20 NEW TEMPLES! Who knows maybe this is the calm before for the storm, but I guess we will find out next Monday! Love and miss you all fantastic friends and family!!!!! Your letters and texts are rays of sunlight in my weeks!!!! Y'all are amazing have a fantastic first week of April!!!!!!

 

 

Your favorite McM in the NDBM,

Elder McMullin :-)

 

 

Pictures:

1-2) Super Fun District 

3-4) General Conference!!!!!

5) Saying Goodbye to Elder Whitaker as he leaves for Williston