December 25, 2009

Hey family. So I get to email you, and its Christmas. I want to tell you how much I love you, but you already know it. I am wearing my new tie =) and have hung up my pictures of you all. Wednesday night we got our travel plans!!! Jan 04 SLC to Dallas Fort Worth(3:45 to 7:45 Central time) then 12 hours in the air with an arrival in Argentina at 9:05am the 5 of January. I will do my best to call you all (or Dad) at some point there. I also had the privilege of hearing from Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder L. Tom Perry this week. Elder Andersen came and talked about the blessings that are stored up for us that sacrifice now in the bank for later when we are home honorably. He talked a lot about looking ahead to a brighter day, even if these are the happiest days of my life so far, the Lord has many blessings in store when I have a family of my own. He also said to record the things that I learn so that I can show them to my children as a father and teach them the lessons I learned. He told a story of when he was a mission president in France, and how he started feeling bad for some of the missionaries who were having troubles and as he was praying one night got a rather specific answer "Neil. You didn't put them in this situation. I did." I loved that, because it means that the Lord is mindful of me and has sent me here for a reason. We also got the chance to visit with a teacher (who was subbing for Hna Davis) whose brother served, and now lives in Cordoba. He said that the temple was not being built until the members started paying their tithing and getting excited about the work. I think that's what I am supposed to be there for. I am so excited to get the members excited, and to be able to help in the construction of a House of the Lord. We then had Elder Perry and his family this morning read the most written account of a historical event ever: the birth of the Savior. Its so much more than Luke 2. I love that story and always have, but there is so much more that was spoken of before and after his birth that isn't really part of the main story. I was also very grateful to receive the most mail I have ever received in a week. I am working on letters to: Grandma and Grandpa Ludlow, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Kathy, Aunt Lynn, Brent and Lauren Haddow, and Grandmom and Grandpop Staley. and for those that sent sweets my companions and district thank you as well. I would like to finally tell you about some of the more basic parts of my week: So this week we taught in the TE(Teaching Evaluation) every day. We taught many lessons this week that have taught me many lessons.
1. The Spirit will guide
2. Questions make the world go round.
3. Testimony...Bear it
4. Combine all of these and you will have a great lesson

1. Elder Bednar gave a talk about knowing when its the Spirit guiding or just in your head. "Quit worrying about it. Be a good boy, keep the commandments and your covenants, Do work, and words will come."
That came into full perspective as we taught one of the teachers(as himself), who said he was apprehensive about proposing to his girlfriend, because his parents had gotten divorced. The Spirit hit me really hard to share scriptures with him about how the Lord made Eve as a "helpmeet" for Adam and that it is not good for man to be alone. I ignored it and we continued teaching. He stopped us and said. "Look I'm a returned missionary, and I have heard this lesson probably 100 times. Teach me something new and relate it to me." So I did just that. The Spirit is not to be taken lightly and thoughts came that were not my own. and if you ever really want to know what to do, just remember this "Every Good Though Comes From God."

2.Questions make the world go round. Ask them. Ask your friends at school. Ask your coworkers. Ask your family. What do they believe? What ways can they see how God has helped them in their lives? Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

3.Testimony. Bear It!
Do it. Those questions you ask will merit more questions from you and from them. Bear your testimony of the answers. you know it go for it. Everyone wonders why the Mormons are so weird. answer them.

4. Combine all these things and You will have someone for the missionaries including me to teach.

I love you all. I know that this work is true, and that I do it with a plaque on my chest that says I am a representative of Christ, and when that day comes when I get to kneel at his feet and feel the wounds from the cross and thank him, my service will be like a badge of honor. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ, and that as a prophet he was able to translate the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on this Earth, and it talks of Christ and testifies of Him and His mission. I know that God loves us, and most especially you. I know that we have a prophet on the Earth today and his name is Thomas S. Monson. I know all these things and I love you as best I can.

December 18, 2009

Wooh!
17 days
in asnwer to the questions
1. Yes
2. No, but I am going to because I don't use it all that much.
3. Yes!!! that would be great thank you. Like the black one that used to be my karate bag. Maybe you could find me a messenger bag, cuz the one here is just a convertible back pack... =/ maybe.
4. Chocolate Krinkles, and other such goodness. But for treats pictures of my sisters in their redneck truck(with guns for your Girl Day?), the family, aly with a pumpkin, and other such things like that. Family.

Also I need you mom to go in and add, a link to Elder Hollands talk from Christmas 1977 and the two Christmas Mormon Messages (What Shall We Give? and Christmas Spirit). They are awesome.

I will get my travel plans next weekish. usually fridays so I will let you know. I do know from the group that left monday for salta that its 16 hours in plane, and 12 in a bus(and salta is only a little further away from cordoba)

Glad the christmas concert went well, and that everyone seems to be doing well aside from Sarah having the candle burning at both ends. How did the primary program go? How is everything else at the homesetead? Grandma sent me a tin full(I mean full the things weighs nearly 7 pounds) of peanut butter fudge, peanut brittle and caramel. I think I like this new arrangement for the Singles Ward. not sure. Today I went to the temple for the last time for 2 years. Had some temple breakfast, and have taken a nap, because I woke up with a nasty sore throat/cold thing that is going around. I know drink my fluids and get rest, so I am doing that today so I can survive. This week has been status quo, learned past and present subjunctive, and have been working on adapting all of my lessons to the needs of individual investigators. Its a lot easier when the Teaching Evaluation(TE) people aren't just trying to mess you around and they act like themselves and ask to be taught. It feels alot more real. I love that feeling of being able to teach someone, and know that its not really me teaching, its the spirit. Companions are doing great. we work well together when we work... but yeah its weird to think that I have only been here for 51 days, but its true. weird huh. I feel like I have been here for like 5 months or more.
I love you and miss you all. Bye.
Happy Christmas!
Feliz Navidad!

December 11, 2009

Weird to think that this is week 6 and that in 3 1/2 weeks I will be in Argentina...
I'm glad you liked the letter. I confess I did write it during Personal Study, but it was a way for me to review what Elder Holland had said. It turned out to be quite helpful. I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything about last week. It was just a fairly regular week so I felt like sharing that lesson instead. I am gonna send you the Notes for Elder Ludlow today, and I would like a favor. Could you put a date on your letters from now on? I have been trying to figure out the Dear Elder turn around time.
Sarah would get the top score. Especially with all the work she has been doing. I am so proud of her. =P I hope she can too.
Today we got to go to the temple for the second to last time before we leave. It is closing for maintenance on the 19th, so I get to go one more time. I love the temple. Even when its the 80's version instead of the one we saw when I went through LA(we got to see that one last week when our session got delayed) Elder Stoddard. Oh my. he was in my Zone here. Be nice. YSA Elders... hmmm Santa Cruz? seriously love it. Its awesome. Get me some pictures yeah? Did you forward my email to Grandma Ludlow? I will have to write them a regular letter too... Yay Christmas tree. We had a christmas tree... sort of. The elders in my room before us ripped a pine tree limb off and put it stuck into a box and put some candy wrappers and stuff on it. just call the desk a christmas present to DI or something if you can't get rid of it soon.
Primary Program and Choir Concert!!! yikes! I loved watching the christmas devotional and seeing Mack Wilberg(Frank Turner's long lost brother). I also really liked President Uchtdorf's talk.
Speaking of Christmas I have some bad news. I don't get to call you on Christmas. I will make you a deal though. I will call you from the airport on one of my many layovers I am assuming I will have. My travel plans come in next weekish. Probably call Dad's phone, or home...
If you think its cold in CA guess how cold it was the other day in Delta(only on my Branch Presidents word): -18!!!!!
HACE FRIO! And yeah I know christmas is coming, but the cold is already here. I would love to enjoy Baked mac and Cheese but I am here "sacrificing"
This week not much else was new, but definitely growing and understanding. I knew the day would come for my spanish to be not the best at all. lol I knew it wasn't. But now its to the point where its all think on your feet and its getting tough I admit. but I love it. on wednesday we meet with the Argentine Consulate en mass. Fun stuff. I hope to hear from you soon and that everything is still going well at home. Did they do a living Nativity?

I love you all and miss you. I want you to enjoy christmas without me and to read in Luke 2 the christmas story and watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.
Love Elder Ludlow




PS I ran into the kid that came from Landon's mission to live with the Cooley's. Saw a guy in a Ventura Pest Control shirt and was all hey. turns out he is going to LA west. He is a great Elder I can tell.
Tell the ward hello, and maybe share the letter from last week about hope if they ask for a missionary minute...
Oh and can you get Sam, and Michael's emails for me? thanks.

Decmeber 4, 2009

Hola Familia!
Como estan? Me encanta esta semana. I hope you got my letter in the middle of the week. I did use personal study to send it, but I was also studying and rewriting notes from that talk(thats one I want parts posted of too) I love you all and miss you. This week we began teaching more about the Plan of Salvation, and Word of Wisdom(still in English until next week) The temple is so amazing and the chances I have to have my prayers answered as a missionary and as a child of God are so eye opening. I love prayer. It is such a blessing to be able to talk to my Father in Heaven and tell him how my day has been and how I have used his time. Now I have another letter which I hope grandmom and grandpop won't mind me sharing part in the general email. This week Elder Gilbert, Elder Jensen, and myself taught a lesson on Hope(one of the Christlike Attributes in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel) it has a different definition than you are probably used to of hoping for "that check to come" or "that someone doesn't get hurt". It is optimistic outlook and faith that the blessings the Lord has promised and promises us will be fulfilled. Romas 15:4(yes I want you to get your scriptures out and turn with me) gives us hope that the scripturs were written for our days and taht by reading them we can receive comfort and develop patience, which are two sub-attributes of Hope. 2 Nephi 31:20 promises us that if we perservere through our trials wih Hope in Christ we will have Eternal Life. 1 John 3:3 says "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." To me this says taht we must simply hope to be like Christ and we will start on a path that leads us that way. The last thought I have to share with you is a quote from Elder Neal A Maxwell "Being blessed with hope, let us, as disciples, reach out to all who for whatever reason, have 'moved away from the hope of the gospel"(Colossians 1:23). Let us reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down." I first of all love Elder Maxwell and second I know that this message I am going to share is one of Hope. I have Hope that I will learn this language well enough to communicate this message of Jesus Christ to the people of Argentina, and hope that when even that is enough, the Lord will grant me a portion of his Spirit to teach these people by that power. This Hope is especially important now in the holiday season and in our current economic state because we must persevere through our challenges and the Lord will bless us. He wants to bless us and all he needs is to have us ask. It is the same with the Nephites of old, who hoped for Christ to come into the world, and when Nephi went and prayed the Lord said: "Fear not for on the morrow come I into the world." I love this gospel and the chance I get to share it with the people even here in the MTC. I love what I have learned and love that I can still learn.
I love you all!
Con Amor, Elder Benjamin Foster Ludlow

PS Grandma and Grandpa Ludlow- Thanks so much for the christmas pillowcase! Its nice to have a reminder of the season. Miss you too. =)

November 27, 2009

This week I heard 3 general authorities, two of them were apostles.
Richard Edgley, Dallin H. Oaks, and Jeffrey R. Holland.
I loved those talks. I would love to write all of those things for you but I don't have two hours to write emails today. But lets start with last friday evening and go from there. TRC(Teaching evaluation) night is where "volunteer" investigators come in and we practice a specified prompt for them. They never follow the prompt. So Elder Jensen and I meet our investigator and talk to him in Spanish and continue on into the room where we are going to teach. We were supposed to do contacts, but ended up coming and and started teaching, when the real investigators showed up...and in Spanish I proceeded to teach most of Lesson 1 and got up to reciting Joseph Smith's first vision before I had to go into English. Elder Jensen was still in shell shock by the time the lesson was over, but he was able to help as best he could. I felt good, but at the same time felt bad, for leaving him behind. After that on Sunday Elder Jensen got put in as District Leader, and I got to finish my interview with President Shumway. I really need to be a better companion and I have to figure out how to do that now with two companions. We had three Elders leave for the Domincican Republic MTC and that left us with an extra and we got moved. It is working out well, but with the intense double Pday we just had I can't really tell yet. I will write a hand letter over the next week during journal time, and attempt to get you some of the things I want to share with you about those talks.
Les amo,
Elder Ludlow.

November 20, 2009

I have had an interesting week. In one sense I finally started to miss home(yeah wierd huh) because I have realized things that I needed to take care of, and to be there with you all. I know though that I may miss you but I am here for the right reasons, and because I love the Lord and his Gospel, and that its has been restored and I am to go to Argentina to teach it. I am starting to adjusted to the schedule even if I have to write it down daily to make sure it is going to be ok. Did you get my letter I sent you yet? I had to send that when I found out that my email had been stupid and asumed that your email address wanted to be @myldsmail.com instead of gmail. I am actually writing in my journal and doing my laundry and hanging up my clothes and eating properly and exercising(Volleyball is so much fun) and stuff like that. My companion Elder Jensen I have learned a lot more about. He is from Logan, but moved from Vegas(7 years) and Wyoming(11) and he used to be about 325 and is now 267(and dropping) so he has worked so hard to get here he wants to absorb everything(which is not my mode) he is also not the best at learning spanish... He like is only now getting the whole 'H is silent' thing. My teachers are Hermano Osuna(from Mexico City and went to North Carolina) and Hermana Davis(from Colorado and went to Ecuador). They are both spiritual and linguistic giants to me. I love the things I am learning. The spirit is incredibly strong and in the past week I have taught and learned so many times and so many things I can't even remember. I love this gospel.

Alyson- I want you to know that this is the true church. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that Thomas S Monson is a prophet today. I know that the Book of Mormon is the most true book on this Earth and that is was translated by divine power. I know that you know these things too. I am so proud of you and who you are Alyson. Love you kiddo!
PS Sarah is my favorite sister at the moment she wrote me a letter. wheres mine from you? =P

Sarah- Thank you so much for the letter. I haven't run into any of your buddies, but I did meet a Brother Martinez who served in Matt Pepper's mission and knew him. Its so 'Sarah' to write your letter in stages. I miss the family humor so much. Most people just think spazzing is funny here... Thank you for saving my clothes. no...no one calls them threads =P I love you and want to make sure you know that I know that the gospel is true. I know you know it and have an incredibly strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith and the Prophet and of the Atonement most importantly of all. Love you, and miss you.

Mom- So packing on the LBs? =P
the camera is being funky and would work like 2% of the time. I am glad things are going well in the world of 52 card shuffle.
I love you Momma and miss your food and comfort.

Dad- I am doing well and am enjoying the MTC, its interesting finding things in the rafters and above the ceiling tiles and behind the electrical outlets from when you were here at the MTC. I love the power and spirit that you know and feel as you teach. I am so glad to be here and to be doing this work. I love you Dad.

Adios familia! Cuidense!

November 13, 2009

Hey there guys
Proud of you mom! *pats on head*
Yeah I caught Elder Haws on wednesday.
And thats pretty funny about the hunting lodge in Cordoba.
ok so down to the nitty gritty of things in my room. I need the power converter(its in the little gray bag and has my converters and my camera battery charger), the pair of jeans that I left on the chair in the dining room(the ones that don't have a rip started in the knee), three pairs of white socks(one of them is my baptismal socks grandma got me, also I need you to get my camera box and look for the receipt and get the warranty form filled out so that I can send it back to be repaired. Its kind of acting funny with the lens motor, but I can take pictures if I really want to. I will try and send one of my chips home for thanksgiving so that you cna have some pictures. also Sarah could you find me a sweater vest(black or charcoal)? You would be my favoritest 21 year old sistah ever. Alyson could you find me that Red Paisley Tie that we saw at JCP? I really want a solid red one.
Yeah thats pretty much all my wants and needs. I have cash and money and everything in the MTC bookstore is 40% off of an already ridiculous low price for missionaries. I got a backpack and a scripture case for like $30. Know anyone that needs some scriptures for christmas? I can get for you cheap yes. My other suit came in fine, its great, Now I can wear whatever tie I want....
The language is actually coming really easily Sarah, and I am totally expecting to be blown away when I get to Argentina, but my teacher is a native speaker, so we are learning tons. I love my teachers, Hno Osuna. and Hna. Davis, and my district. We are having Ugly tie Tuesdays, and Suspender Saturdays now. fun stuff. The important things that I am learning are not in Spanish though. I am learning so much more about the Gospel. Like everything that you thought you knew and understood before coming here is relearned with the Spirit and it makes so much more sense. I love the Lord and have relyed on him so much this week, as I have learned the gospel anew. I have also learned how to be a companion. My companion Elder Jensen doesn't get a lick of spanish. It was difficult for me to work with him because the spanish I remembered from high school and from Dad and Sarah talking comes back to me instantly and when I try to help him he just gets frustrated and I end up telling him the answer(which isn't helping him( I love my companion and for my strengh in spanish he makes up for with his amazing knowledge of the gospel, but we both need to still get the working as a companionship thing down. The only problems I have had have been more Fire Chicken and its aftereffects(thats usually a night where I eat cereal) and I have been feeling a little sick with sinus problems. The zyrtec doesn't work. It may take getting used to but I get EXtrememley tired. I love you guys, but my time is almost up. Oh I also got to go to the temple this morning and have Celestial Omlettes. SO GOOD. and its snowed(near the mountain like by the temple)/rained(at the MTC)last night. Hence my request for a sweater vest(I think I need an XL)
I love you all!!!!

November 7, 2009

Ben's first email home from the MTC

Como estan?
I love the MTC! My companion is an interesting fellow. Elder Jensen is from Logan/ Las Vegas. my other roommates are Elder Clarke(SLC) and Elder Waldron(Huntington Beach). I border on being cliche or incredibly obvious, but the Spirit is so strong here at the MTC. On Thursday we were already praying and testifying in Spanish. I love the language I have been assigned to learn. It makes it that much easier to know that I was called to teach the gospel in Spanish. I am ok with the food, of course its not like home. Its basically BYU-Idaho again but with a little more variety. My companion is an interesting fellow. He is funny at times, but other than that he seems to not be entirely comfortable with spanish and I have to remind myself to slow down a little. I may only have two years(pitiful years yes) but I have also been listening to Dad and Sarah go back and forth. Oh and the easiest way for you to get ahold of me in the MTC is to send an email at DearElder.com, and they print it out and have it in my mailbox next day for free. Anyway... I hope you are all doing well, and that you got back home safely. Thank you again Mom and Dad for bringing me up here. Love you. Sarah and Alyson too.
You'll hear from me again next friday, as that is my regular P-day.


PS "no me calle bien"... translates to "I don't like you"

The Moment of Truth

So... Ben's call came on the same day that the Harry Potter movie was released. Big day around here. Haha.