March 28, 2010

Well that sounds like a very interesting weekend. I will do that. I didnt even know that much about him. we may be technologically expensive here, but not behind, they have satellites and we do get to watch it in English. I am actually really excited about conference, because my old investigator(that sister named Beatris) is going to go. I am super happy because she finally came to church Yesterday(sunday) and I got transferred. Now I am in Cordoba Capital, in the South of the city in the Villa its called Las Flores. Kinda like the ghetto I hear. I will be able to tell you more about it next week. I have no idea how we celebrate Easter here, but its Pascua and its all in eggs.
What is it now that she is doing? is this still that one place where she was getting like afternoons in the medical office? Thats awesome if she can get it. and she is going to go back now? thats GREAT!!! Its about four hours in a bus to get to cordoba from Villa Dolores. and if you only get to take the one or two buses available you take the one that leaves at 6(which kills your evening cuz you are on a bus) or you take the afternoon one at 2 which kills your morning too. Its difficult to travel and arrive back at 2am and then go out and get things done the day after, that is how I lose days. Its in distance about 300 km I think. It is not too bad, but I keep having to dip into personal money each month. the mission gives us 500 pesos a month and because of inflation it gets increasingly difficult as the month goes on. Last month I had to use almost 300 pesos of personal money. So maybe things will be cheaper here in the ghettoish place like I hope. I have pictures here for you, that Elder Loader sent me last week. Its just a few, but yeah its something. I love you all and hope you send that on to everyone you meet. Send me pictures from the wedding and such when you get them. Its ok you can send things on the email. =)

I´ll keep asking, but when you get a chance can you please send my camera and the razor part?

Con Amor

Elder Ludlow


PICTURE TIME!
Elder Ben with the other missionaries in his Zone.

The Elders in Villa Dolores

Beautiful scenery

March 15, 2010

Hi Mom!Of course they were funny, its Sarah and Alyson and Lindy. Yeah I´m waiting for my turn with the hair loss thing(its coming I know) but for now I laugh. hahahahahaha. but thats great. He will be good. I have two good memory cards and two san disk. So I wont use those. If it works, it works and I would love to get it. just remember what I told you about hiding it. Its fine to do, missionary moms have been doing it for ages. and use Virgin Mary stickers(I dont know where to get them =( but I hope you can find some) Can you send me Sarah and Aly´s emails? Then I can email Sarah "Happy Birthday" for myself. So this week we had alot of repairmen come to fix the pension. I paid the 170 peso gas bill out of my asignacion(mission money) and was going to have 20 pesos to get me through the month, because our travel money was low and we had to pay alot to get home from Cordoba to Villa Dolores.
This week was great. monday night we set a baptismal date with Beatris(the investigator I told you about last week) It was awesome. It was really funny how it happened, cuz my comp was trying to be a little more smooth, and I didnt catch it, but I was thinking "hmmm we need to set a baptismal date with her" and I asked her to see her Pamphlet for the second lesson(the plan of salvation) which has a timeline deal with the whole plan written out, and under the part called our life on Earth, it has the 5 parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ( Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) and I asked her ,as we were talking about what things Heavenly Father wants us to do while we were here, Which of these have you done? She paused for a second read them, she said, well I have faith in Jesus Christ, even if its just a little bit its growing(we had read Alma 32 with her a few weeks ago) and I have started to repent, you know for my gritos(shouts because sometimes she gets frustrated with her kids). and then she said "well I guess that means I need to get baptized. When can we do that?" It was amazing, because the Spirit just flooded that backyard. she is getting baptized on April 11th. Its amazing how much power the Spirit has when we do what the Lord wants us to be doing. I felt like going out and baptizing the town(which is totally not ready right now) and it was amazing that feeling. Well then this week we had to get some things fixed in our apartment and couldnt leave all that much. It was interesting how the Lord knew that and each of the people that we talked to as they were fixing something, had heard the missionaries, or had a Book of Mormon, or wanted us to come by. Amazing how the Lord knows and prepares people. I love how things are going here, and I am ready to kick some tail this week and show thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He has given me. Well I love you all and miss you a little but I am trying to get some work done here and grow closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I love this gospel, my companion, and the mission. Its starting to feel normal to be here in argentina, but wits weird that it feels normal. Im still getting used to it I guess(I ate udder this week...yeah thats right udder)
Con Amor
Elder Ludlow

March 8, 2010

Oh the Book Fair. Any new good books out? speaking of books did you get anything from Victor? I emailed him about it. I have no idea what the sister who teaches the primary does, but well I am trying to help myself understand Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood. I think its the basics. Here they have snack time(whether its fast sunday or not) between hours. Its probably just fine though. Still tearing up when you hear primary songs? Yeah Arizona! Just you and Dad or the whole fam damily. Tell Lauren Congratulations from me. well tell the whole family I say hello. Wow Elder Stoddard has got to be tearing his hair out, thats alot of area to be covering, but I guess they technically covered that area anyway since that was the area of that branch. Thats cool about the soon to be Elder Davis. Tell him to be good and no matter what happens in the MTC you will know Spanish by the end. Also that if he gets Hno Rogelio Osuna or Hna Julie Davis that he should tell them Elder Ludlow says hello. Thank you for taking it there. If it is really working just fine, here is what I would like you to do. Send it when you get the razor parts, with some like cake mix or brownie mix, and some mac and cheese(blue box). Heres how it works. Open up the box, and carefully put the camera in it, and put the noodles and stuff in it with the cheese powder. then re seal the macaroni box. It works really well supposedly. So as long as its light(under 2 kilos or about 5 pounds) they wont open it. You declare it as missionary supplies(and yes get virgin stickers and send it in the priority mail box) Also maybe like a pair of gloves or a scarf. It actually does get cold out here and we are heading into fall and then a humid winter(which is a penetrating cold) If you can think of any other fun stuff(I like milky way and fun make a meal powder mix just get the meat kind of stuff) I would love that too. I feel like I can ask for that because guess what? I have lost about 10 kilos. Yeah I remember weighing myself at the beginning(so like 3 days in) and I was at about 107 kilos, I am at about 97 to 96. Its exciting. I have a neck. =P but I have some extra skin which is slowly being filled in with muscle. =) weird to think of that one, you wont recognize me when I am back. I love you mommy. dont stress out too much. The Lord is blessing you and the family and me for this service.
PS Have Dad re write that letter explaining the work things cuz I definitely am not getting it. PPS Tell Alyson to keep rocking the Spanish and that I am waiting still for her biography in
Spanish.
PPSS Tell Sarah that when she has like a few minutes that she should email me about her life of craziness.
PPPSS I love you all!!!



Alright so I dont know if you all know, but mail takes forever to get here. I get everything about a month and a half after it is sent. and most the time things get lost. So if you have something to get to me email me. Its way quicker. You all should have it by now. =) Ok. Unfortunately not much happened this week. We had P-day, and then went to a cita(appointment) with our investigator Beatris. The Spirit wasnt there at all, despite our best efforts, and she was falling asleep from running the kids all around town because school is starting. Then tuesday I was not feeling well at all, and since we were going to be travelling the next day to Cordoba, I took it easy, and we just talked to a few people. Then Wednesday we went and paid the light bill, and the other 2 Elders in our district from Merlo came, and we had lunch, and left for Cordoba. We got there at about 7pm and went to Burger King. I have never had anything taste that good(BK Stacker, it has BACON). then we went to Elder Loader´s old pension in 9 de Julio(a B° in Cordoba) and met his old comp and the zone leaders there. fun night talking about things, because Elder Lorimer went to BYU-I. So thats 3 days shot. then we had Zone Conference. It was pretty cool. We talked alot about focusing on the purpose of being a missionary, how we should be able to go out talking to everyone with a smile, because in reality we know the truth, and that should just make us the happiest people in the entire Villa. Its great to think that even President Olsen agrees that the "Fake it til you make it" works. He in fact used it during conference which I loved. We then went out from the chapel in B° Belgrano and tried to find someone to come back with us to hear the message of the Restoration in 5 minutes. thats right. 50 missionaries all leaving from the chapel with big smiles on our faces and trying to find someone who was ready to hear the restored gospel. It was crazy. like ridiculous. Then we came back and taught 2 people. Way cool. then I got the letter you sent me in the MTC finally. So I had a picture of my two sisters in flannel holding a pellet gun in front of Ruby Sue. I had a few new friends who think Sarah is pretty cute. Too bad, she hates the Argentine accent and they didnt meet the prerequisites or she would have a few new friends. Then we came back from Cordoba after interviews with President. so we got back at about 2am on friday morning with the Zone Leaders in tow. So far 5 days shot. then we didnt wake up in time(not even the zone leaders) and then we made lunch and had to wait out the siesta(cuz it is getting hot again) and then we finally got out to work and found 5 great people we can go by this week. so a little bit of work done. Then Saturday we got up on time, and had studies and it was all great, and then we looked at the pension, and realized it was a total mess from having 8 elders in it for 2 days. so we started cleaning, and cleaned, found out the walls are a off white, that the chimney is made of brick, and isnt painted black, and the the floors exist. Then it was about 12:30 and it was time for lunch, which we had with a great family that lives really far away, came back to the pension and cleaned all siesta time, and then went out and went to another cita with beatris and she wasnt there. great. so we had Sunday, which isnt much, but weekly planning and lunch and Sacrament meeting. So now we are here. I love you all and I know that this week will be better becuase the Lord has alot in store for Villa Dolores, that I am here to do. I am ready to go and do all that the Lord requires and use the new metholds that I learned at Zone Conference to bring others closer to their Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love this Gospel and the light and truth that I see everytime I learn more and teach someone else about how it has blessed me. I know that the Lord provides for all his missionaries, especially those that are serving Him with all their heart might mind and strength.
Chau for now.
Con amor
Elder Ludlow