July 25, 2010

Hey Mommy.

So this week I worked. I did the most work I have done so far in the mission. I like what Elder Machuca said that we are being sustained by the Spirit. I am really happy because now I know I can do it. ummmm this week we found some new people, and I dont know how many are going to progress to baptism. We will see this week and I´ll let you know next week. So miracles... We had two people (Mari y Marcelo) who were going to come to church. They didnt but the Lord blesses us when we work so we found two awesome new people who came to church with the elders quorum president. Super cool. Then we went and visited the Juarez family. They are like our adopted family. Hna Juarez knitted us scarves and we eat there each tuesday. well her husband Dante isnt a member and doesnt want to hear anything about the church, but with us he leaves and listens in the other room while we teach his family. Last night he came to us and talked about how he needed to repent because he had argued with his wife and he didnt want to do it anymore. It was a big surprise. So we talked and explained repentance and how he should pray with his wife. then we gave priesthood blessings to each one of the family so they could be more united and happy. They were all crying as we left. Yeah its amazing to have the spirit guide you in everything. My week was so good that the assistants called us. and then came to our zone for district meeting and had us explain to the entire zone how we did so well. weird huh. So thats what I am doing now. Gonna get Nicolas married friday and baptized saturday. Oh I have some fotos. Last transfer we baptized 22 (which the record in the mission for a zone, which we broke, was our own record of 21) so we had shirts made. Its way cool. check that out. Also a foto of Elder Machuca and I in our P-day clothes. Its fun ok. then one of the zone with P. Salas and another with me e. Machuca and Pte and Hna Olsen. Yeah thats about it. Quinceañeras are crazy. Eli Juarez(my little sister basically) had hers and she has photos and a video and a ton of little gift things. They go nuts for the quince´s

Yeah. Of course we have a ton of fruits and veggies. and of course grandpa had advice. Thats way cool about the new families joining from all over the place. Suggest to the Elders to give an English Class (Helps a ton). The package... well I have developed pacience for now. I love you mommy. Let me know when you do though. Sorry for being kind of short. I wrote to President and saved it in the wrong folder and had to go looking through every part of the cyber comp to find it. blugh. So yeah. Please send the story of Steve to everyone else who gets the letters.

Thanks

Con Amor

Elder Ben

PICTURE TIME!!!


Ben and his comp with the "old" mission president and his wife (President and Sister Olsen):

Now these dorks in their "P-Day clothes"


A bunch of missionaries with President Salas (the new mission pres) and his wife
[Ben is on the far right]:


22 Baptisms!!!

July 19, 2010

Hola mommmy

So I promised to write and fill you in on everything. I guess I should explain everything that I have been up to. Lets start with who my comp is. His name is Elder Aaron Felipe Machuca, he is from Viña del Mar, Chile. He is probably my favorite comp so far, but I will probably say that with each new comp. He and I get along great and even though he speaks English(and wants to be my brother in law) I have almost lost the ability to speak it while I have been with him,(since May) and I have learned un montón(a ton) from him. I have learned how to work with everyone and to always have a story. Something that is really fun about him is that he has a story for everything. Like Steve and the pushups, or the bag of diamonds and the angry man. Its just a lot of great analogies and things that keep the attention of the people. He also has the philosophy that we should enjoy the mission. If you are always being obligated to talk to the people and keep everything in order you aren’t going to do it, you´ll just sit there and be grumpy. I don’t like it. That’s why I didn’t fall well with Elder Velasquez. So now I have to work hard and do it for myself and I actually do it. Oh and President Salas is here now. He says hi and that my sisters are very interesting. I had my interview with him, and I will tell you the same things I told him. I have 8 months in the mission. And when I hit that mark I was sick. So I had a ton of time to think or sleep. (Its better to have a missionary in bed than half a missionary in the street) So I thought about what I had done here. I have brought 3 people to the Lord. I have learned another language(like 95%) I have developed my testimony of my Savior as my Friend, Brother, and Redeemer. I have read the book of mormon 3 times. I have read Jesus the Christ 2 times. I have learned to love the people(and been loved back). I have lost 30 kilos. So I kept thinking about that, I thought about where I had been in the mission. How I had been happy and how I had been sad, and what I was doing at those times. I thought about what I wanted to do with the next bit of time I have left. Its not much. Its 16 months. Its nothing in the eternal perspective. The mission is like a mini life. We are born(cuz very few babies know how to talk) we grow up, we have children(we train other missionaries) we work hard for our “family” (the missionaries that we know and love in our zones and districts and the Lord) and then we get old, and we think about going home to our Father, and then we die(go home). Kinda cool huh. Well yeah. So I shared the fellowship of the unashamed (which he loved) and then I let him talk. He asked me about my area(its great, kinda slow because we left all our investigators that weren’t going to progress at the beginning of the transfer then we both got sick) how is your comp(awesome) What you need to do is set a goal. Its not that I want you to just think about numbers because numbers are not fun, but I want you to have a vision for the … 16 months you have left. I want you to set a goal and covenant with the Lord to do all you can to do it and I know He will help you to do it. So that’s what I am going to do. I am still thinking about how many people I want to bring to the Lord. I am going to fast and really think about it(for august) Oh and I saw Elder Jensen. Hes super skinny too.(first MTC comp) and I saw Elder Waldron today in Centro(which I ran around looking for that razor part but didn’t find, Braun doesn’t exist here) He seems to be doing really good. Yeah. Way happy. Ummm ok so the changes that the First Presidency(therefore the Lord) want to make are like this. They want us to be better teachers so that we can baptize more. In Dads time it was all about quantity. Many were baptized, and inactive the next week. Then Preach My Gospel came, and they wanted quality. Well now the Lord is looking for the both. Quality and Quantity. Its really something that makes a lot of sense. Yeah so that’s about it.

I love you mommy. Its ok about the razor. I survive here with the Mach 3 (I got one of the power ones and it works way good) and I have enough money to buy the cartridges since they come in a 4 pack for 30 pesos(way less than you will ever find in the states) I love the pictures from Yosemite(and so did my cuñado) Elder Machuca says he loves Sarah. *rolls eyes* hahahaha. Yeah so Im gonna go now. I love you all and send my love to everyone who gets this. Next week I am going to tell you about Steve and the Pushups. Its a great story. Well Im out

Chaucito

Con Amor

Elder Ludlow

July 5, 2010

So this week was interesting. well really this weekend. I thought I was sick before, but that was nothing compared to visiting the hospital. Yeah I am sick. Its like the worst flu I have ever had. They took Xrays and I dont have any infection, I just have a headache, runny stuffy nose, cough, and a huge lack of energy. So I got to talk to Hna Salas, she is super sweet, and I have Zone Conference on friday so I will get to meet her. President Salas seems to have to great new things to teach us here( actually its worldwide for all the miss ionaries)Its really cool that we get to learn from our new president something that he just learned from President Monson. Yeah anyways back to the whole sick thing. I was super sick, and therefore stayed inside, and therefore had alot of time to think about th ings. I am really glad to be here in the mission. these last 8 months I have grown (and shr unk ) more than in my entire life. and really I am happy. sure I dont say much in my letters, but well im not much of one to s ay all that much an yways unless its really super important or bothersome. bu t yeah. Im still in ayacucho with Elder Machuca. this area is amazing, and so is my comp. but anyways, its great to think about how much I have changed, how my desires are the desires of the Lord, and how teaching what I know to be the true and only church of God brings me joy even if most people dont accept it immeadiately. I love the work, I love the calling, and I love the Lord.


No I know, and was looking forward to it, then I remembered that there are not fireworks. =( oh well life goes on.
Hooray you did it. your a big girl now. =)
You told me that but not about the reaching thing. HAHAHA I guess we will see friday.
Well Im out for now. I love you. I hear aly is enjoying taking a daily nap with the boys over in Hawaii, so enjoy the rest of your summer with her. hahaha.
Con Amor
Elder Ben


PS sorry for any typos with spaces, the keyboard is super sensitive