April 26, 2010

So I begin by telling you about my week. This week just built up better and better. Monday we had an awesome district meeting and I was super pumped for the week to come, I was getting things done, and we were teaching everyone, and we were going to baptize on sunday. We committed them again to be baptized and they were super stoked. On Tuesday we reconfirmed with the one who I admittedly didnt think was all that ready, but we explained the plan of salvation and the word of wisdom to him. He was really quiet and said he drank a little bit every once in awhile. Well then we talk about it and he said he wanted to stop drinking, so he could be baptized. We talked about prayer and how the Lord could help him. He was a little iffy on the whole thing, but we got him to pray, and then committed him to pray and make a covenant to receive help from the Lord. The next day, we went and saw him and I have never seen a bigger smile. He had found peace in the knowledge that the Lord helps us, when we just talk to Him. I have found that same comfort in that. I love being able to turn to the Lord and cast my worries and burdens on Him when I have done all I can, and feeling myself be carried through the day by the Spirit. Thursday I did an intercambio so that Felipe and Carmen could be interviewed, and I spent it in the pension with an Elder who was sick. Way cool Elder, named Elder Fowkes. but I knocked out 10 contacts in a half hour when the other elders came back in the evening. Its autumn still, and it cant decide whether it wants to be cold or hot. So we wait. and shiver a bit. Friday I was back in Las Flores and we did alot of good work, and Saturday we found an awesome part member family who we are gonna teach now. Ummmm Saturday was alot of preparation for the baptism and interviews with President Olsen, and Sunday we had Stake Conference and the Baptism. So we had President talk to our investigators, and it was super cool, because he committed one who has been smoking again and being rude to his wife(who was baptized a few weeks ago) to be baptized this month, we are gonna fast with him to help him stop smoking and go from there. I will let you know. But yeah, they were super stoked for that night. I baptized Carmen, and Elder Velasquez baptized Felipe. It was really quick, and super spiritual, I just went in, took a deep breath and did it. I was nervous of all people =P mostly because I wanted to make sure I could say Carmen Sejas De Arriba correctly and then say the part of the baptism. Its so amazing. ah words arent available
But now Its another week and we have to work
I am fine, and still ticking
Got some more pictures for yall from Elder Loader
next week I may have some from the baptism.

Bro mackay is such a cool guy. Can you get me a picture of those plates?
I really want pictures, cuz the 3 I have of you and grandmas and grandpas is barely scratching the surface and isnt that much to share with members at lunch. that and like 6 of my sisters. Like 12 people said that I have beautiful sisters, which I know, but thats about all the comment on, and that I have lost weight. =P Can you look for one of my baptism. like with Ethan and Katie? I am looking today, found gloves in the pension and mittens for 3 pesos from a street vendor. Have you sent the package or are you waiting until we know about the razor? I am fairly certain that it will be difficult to find, and a bit expensive, so just wait and if I find it I will let you know so you can send the camera on its own. And pictures yes, like little ben, some of the cousins, the aunts and uncles, yeah thats why I want wedding pictures, and just in general others like of the mountains and beach and maybe some of my disneyland pictures...Anything else cool you can think of.
Also I am attaching two pictures and the how to do the call home thing.
I love you and everyone, miss you not that much =P

Con Amor

Elder Ben Ludlow





PICTURE TIME!

April 17, 2010

Happy Birthday Grandpa Ludlow (71)!!!

Hi mom
I am bad too I didnt write last week either. It was to Dad, and I figured that was it.
Hahaha Fablehaven. It had better be a good rap up. I didnt like the Harry Potter Epilogue. You should look up two books, by an author named Brandon Sanderson, one is called Mystborn, and another is called Alantris. He is a member, but writes really good stuff(no not anything like Stephanie Myer) or at least thats what Elder Loader told me. Leo Carillo sounds fun(and I bet Sarah really liked the drive down) and as grandpop would say "You weenie." =P Love you Alyson.

I actually heard something like they were cutting the days of the week for school to 4 instead of 5 on the news at a members house. but no I didnt know about all of that. Go and get the credential. Its worth it, and I think you will like it. =) I´m sure all the crazy school board moms and the liberals were having all kinds of fights for that meeting.

Um how did she release herself? Thats dumb, when you receive a call you accept: si o si

Yeah that video is really cool, it should especially be cool for the kids because of what can happen when they pray. They can receive answers. If older people, middle aged, and a young boy named Joseph can receive answers to their prayers then little children definitely can too.

Yeah I guess he rewrote his letter/email that he wrote me back in January.
I love the LaBar´s. Tell Elder Grano LaBar to shoot me an email when he gets to the MTC or even better before that. He will be a great missionary =)

Charlotte and Nick are still in my prayers, they will find something I am sure of it.

Best. Dog. Ever. He was an old dog too. How are Matt and family doing with that? Copper was family. =(

Its a mission expense, so if you need to you can use money from the account to buy it.

Yeah I am super excited for this next week, we are gonna have 3 baptisms on Sunday after Stake Conference. Nothing terribly exciting this week, still just plugging away, and I am almost caught up in my journal that I can write daily-ish. I am doing great(as you will read in the other) I am working hard and I am losing myself in this work. Its a great feeling. I do still like to get mail and hear from you and other people in the ward or other things like that.
This week I am gonna smile. By smiling people can see our testimony and feel that there is something different about this big gringo and short little peruvian, next week we will see how it goes, and I can tell you alot more, for now its kind of a surprise. =)
I love you Mom. I am being a good boy, and keeping the commandments so I know that I am safe. Your the best mom ever. =)

Con Amor

Your Son the missionary

Elder Ludlow

April 5, 2010

[New Format]

When you write, could you please divide the letter up into sections so I can have a part to forward to everyone? And, when you do respond to my questions and news, it would be really helpful if you could write a complete thought

I will do it like this for each paragraph to make this easier and then write a report about the week to you all at the end.

How was Easter?

Yeah Easter isn't all that different. At least from what I saw. Oh wait, they don't eat meat for 3 days(even the members). No one knows why its just one of those Foolish Traditions of the fathers that they keep perpetuating. Ask someone, because I have no idea and no one here does either.

Were you able to see/hear General Conference?

Yes. I got to see it and in English. I have a small book of notes to go with it too. Definitely one of the most impressive that I have heard. Even President Monson agreed. I liked Elder Holland(of course you shouldn't be serving tea anyways) and Elder Uchtdorf(in priesthood and on Sunday morning) and Elder Andersen was good, along with one of the 70(Elder Foster I think) It was a great conference. It all started at 13:00(1:00) for us and priesthood was at 21:00(9:00) We had to go to another zone to hear it, but still very good and an amazingly spiritual experience. Did you hear Elder Ballard's? that one is worth a re watch for you and the Girls. When you get your Ensign in May, guess what that means? Yeah I will have been on the mission for six months.

How is the new assignment in Cordoba? New Comp? Did you get some good work done this week?

I am in the south of the city in Las Flores. I live with the Zone Leaders, my comp is Elder Velasquez from Puño, Peru. Its basically the Villa. Yeah, we led the district this week. we have 5 with a baptismal date and 15 new investigators, and like 16 lessons. It was an intense week, and a definite refresher from Villa Dolores. I loved it there, but this is all work all the time. It may be because I have a robot for a comp. They guy has no off button. Its good and bad. Nothing to do but learn to work with it. Like elder Foster said that it is how you react in disagreeable situations that you show who you really are. so for now I grin and bear it. Hopefully things will improve between us. =)

I would guess that, since you are closer to the mission home, the time may be a little less [for mail to arrive].

Yeah it is a lot less. like every week I can receive bolsa. Don't forget to mark its value low, use virgin stickers and Jesus stickers, and to put the valuables inside of something different. they have no problem just taking things from the packages.

Sarah probably already told you that we sold the RubySue on Saturday

=( and no she didn't. Espero su correo.

General information/travel log

Well this week was interesting to say the least. Its an interesting change from Campo to Ciudad to Villa, and from Americano a Latino. Oh and living with Zone leaders. This week we had tons of stuff done. We set 4 fechas(Baptismal Dates) with General Conference attendees, and we have 15 new investigators. I felt great while doing it all. Its how its supposed to be. You work and you work, and the Spirit sustains you even when you are dead tired. I am liking it really. Its great, but its also getting cold. This Wednesday it was about 85, and then Thursday it was windy, and Friday morning it rained. like river streets rain. and its cold rain. Its weird to think that 65 makes me cold now. that used to be fine, and now its jacket weather. Then I got to see the conference on saturday and sunday. It was amazing and especially with the simply powerful talks given by each and every one. I cant wait to get my Liahona to read it and understand even more of it. I don't have much else to say. I needed to take like 20 minutes to write in my journal today, but instead we came to Alta Gracia, to see some other Elders from the Zone and to go visit Che´s house. Yes that Che. and it was closed. so P-day today was a bust. Oh well there is always the circus next week. =) I dont have much else to say except that I love you all and I miss you all a ton.

Con Amor

Elder Ludlow