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. =)