First things first: When to call. I know that right now its about 7:30 ish. I can call at about 2:00 in the afternoon my time and 9:00 your time if you would like. I will be calling at that time actually. hahaha I am getting what I have found out is 10 pesos of credit which gets me one hour and 10 minutes. Thats obscenely cheap. So thats what we are gonna do =)
We got some good rain this week, ie: Saturday and Sunday. It was one that got things wet like it should be, instead of ridiculously dry.
Well about the mail. We had Christmas Conference this week =) but I got nothing. =( It was great to see everyone and most of all President enjoying themselves playing games and enjoying the sunshine down here. President Salas is a hilarious man. We ended up just having a water balloon/bucket fight after it hit about 39º He was telling people to go get the dry people, and when people wanted to get him he would just be like. "ya know, Elder ___ is looking pretty dry, besides I have the hose..." Quite funny.
I dunno theres not much to talk about this week, it was kinda down ish. =/ Its the first and last real christmas away from home. I dunno whats gonna happen for Christmas eve, but thats when we celebrate. We are going to a members house thats for sure. Ok
Well I guess we will talk Saturday. I love you all!
Con Amor
Elder Ben
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Decemer 13, 2010
I went straight for the picture... hahahaha. I was like... thats not Dad, and why is Aly wearing your christmas sweater? Then I figured I should read the letter.
Hooray! its over! hahaha yeah it was probably a huge hit, especially with Frank back in charge. I would love to hear it, but I can wait til next year when I can participate. Thats how a choir concert should be. See you can stop yourself. Just dont cry hahaha
Dang I was really hoping for Dad to do it
Oh well
Yeah Matias is great. We have found some more people to get baptized now. It was an interesting week. We found a ton of people and set a few baptismal dates. One with a guy who is friends with an entire family of members and practically lives with them. Funny thing is no one until two weeks ago has shared the Book of Mormon with him. He read the part we left with him, and didnt want to stop. He has been coming to church for almost a year now. which is crazy to think that he hasnt been baptized by another Elder. hahaha So when we started talking to him, his friend said, "After they are done explaining what you read we can go swimming. Do you know how to do a backstroke? Elder Lorimer can teach you. And just to be even more fashionable we can all wear white suits. wont that be fun?" We all about died laughing. He is supposed to get baptized the Sunday after Christmas. Boxing Day.
Then another crazy good miracle. A kid shows up to church from a family that we had found during the week. Well first about the family. They stopped us in the supermarket, and said Hey elder how are you. and they were all chatty and stuff. We figured they were inactive members so we go by to visit. They are old investigators, and they want to come back to church, but the parents work sunday mornings. Shoot. Well we invited the kids and hoped they would come. So one of them shows up at church, while we are gone looking for some other investigators. He tells us after sacrament, that he wants to be a man of his word and get baptized. So he will be getting baptized, not accounting for unforeseeable problems or hindrances. Great stuff
Also we have been going through the ward member list and cleaning it out and trying to get new addresses and finding dead people and people who have moved. Its been working out pretty well. We found its kinda fun to get to know these members but also slightly depressing at the same time, because they just wont or cant let just that one thing bring them back to church. they just are to prideful to forgive and forget, or leave something from their past behind. Not really depressing. Its just unfortunate.
Other fun things. This week my pocket plack well its been breaking slowly, but we were sitting in a lesson and it just falls. sort of. I had taped the back together, but if not the plack would have fallen and it would have been alot more climactic. I have been waiting on my plack for like 6 weeks, I hope it comes, cuz its kinda lame without that plack. I will have to get a picture sent. =P Its pretty funny.
Ok well I gotta get out of here, could you do me a favor?
I wanna make a fun treat (that isnt brownies) for Christmas, normally we get to have Christmas with a family from the ward. So why not make a fun dessert. Can you send me the recipes and I can worry about ingredients later for the following treats and any other treats you may think are fun.
Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake *yes you can get Chocolate Chips*, Brownie Pudding *this one would be great*, Chocolate Krinkles, Lemon Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookies, others....
This is gonna be a fun week. I love you all. Miss you a bit, but dont worry I will be talking to you next week... =D whoa christmas is coming that soon. Time flies when you are working for the Lord
Con Amor y deseos de lo mejor para ustedes
Elder Ben
Hooray! its over! hahaha yeah it was probably a huge hit, especially with Frank back in charge. I would love to hear it, but I can wait til next year when I can participate. Thats how a choir concert should be. See you can stop yourself. Just dont cry hahaha
Dang I was really hoping for Dad to do it
Oh well
Yeah Matias is great. We have found some more people to get baptized now. It was an interesting week. We found a ton of people and set a few baptismal dates. One with a guy who is friends with an entire family of members and practically lives with them. Funny thing is no one until two weeks ago has shared the Book of Mormon with him. He read the part we left with him, and didnt want to stop. He has been coming to church for almost a year now. which is crazy to think that he hasnt been baptized by another Elder. hahaha So when we started talking to him, his friend said, "After they are done explaining what you read we can go swimming. Do you know how to do a backstroke? Elder Lorimer can teach you. And just to be even more fashionable we can all wear white suits. wont that be fun?" We all about died laughing. He is supposed to get baptized the Sunday after Christmas. Boxing Day.
Then another crazy good miracle. A kid shows up to church from a family that we had found during the week. Well first about the family. They stopped us in the supermarket, and said Hey elder how are you. and they were all chatty and stuff. We figured they were inactive members so we go by to visit. They are old investigators, and they want to come back to church, but the parents work sunday mornings. Shoot. Well we invited the kids and hoped they would come. So one of them shows up at church, while we are gone looking for some other investigators. He tells us after sacrament, that he wants to be a man of his word and get baptized. So he will be getting baptized, not accounting for unforeseeable problems or hindrances. Great stuff
Also we have been going through the ward member list and cleaning it out and trying to get new addresses and finding dead people and people who have moved. Its been working out pretty well. We found its kinda fun to get to know these members but also slightly depressing at the same time, because they just wont or cant let just that one thing bring them back to church. they just are to prideful to forgive and forget, or leave something from their past behind. Not really depressing. Its just unfortunate.
Other fun things. This week my pocket plack well its been breaking slowly, but we were sitting in a lesson and it just falls. sort of. I had taped the back together, but if not the plack would have fallen and it would have been alot more climactic. I have been waiting on my plack for like 6 weeks, I hope it comes, cuz its kinda lame without that plack. I will have to get a picture sent. =P Its pretty funny.
Ok well I gotta get out of here, could you do me a favor?
I wanna make a fun treat (that isnt brownies) for Christmas, normally we get to have Christmas with a family from the ward. So why not make a fun dessert. Can you send me the recipes and I can worry about ingredients later for the following treats and any other treats you may think are fun.
Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake *yes you can get Chocolate Chips*, Brownie Pudding *this one would be great*, Chocolate Krinkles, Lemon Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookies, others....
This is gonna be a fun week. I love you all. Miss you a bit, but dont worry I will be talking to you next week... =D whoa christmas is coming that soon. Time flies when you are working for the Lord
Con Amor y deseos de lo mejor para ustedes
Elder Ben
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
December 6, 2010
Yeah. December is looking way short. Its just flying along cuz I'm having fun. Elder Lorimer and I got some Christmas Lights which are strung up over one window, and we are getting another set for the other window we have.
Oh sad little tree. That has been beaten up a ton, but hey I bet its way cheaper than getting a real tree. Too bad. I just love that real tree smell so much. That's good, of course Dad can fix it, just don't tell him he can´t. That's when the power tools come out.
Yeah we had a pretty sweet Christmas concert ourselves. We had a few non member choirs some sing with a missionary choir (No one in the zone got the invite or I would have definitely been there with Elder Lorimer because we both have great voices) and the All Cordoba Mo Tab Choir. It was short on men unfortunately but that was its only flaw. There was a 7th Day Adventist choir group. They were ok, but they had to definitely have a playback track to achieve bass but they had about 3 AMAAAZING singers. Then the rest were just meh. It was nice but most people just sang random songs. The missionaries were the ones who sang the Christmas songs. It was just fun.
Um yeah I would love a transcript. you can easily get that on LDS.org they have transcript up within about 15 minutes of the end of the show. and video is up within an hour in about 5 languages. The church has some amazing technology.
Bahahahaha Dad. He doesn't have to be the Grinch, that's why we have Sarah. =P Yeah the twinkle is there all right. I want at least THAT picture.
Do it. Skip is great, and they will of course feel the Spirit. Frank is directing I would imagine. He always made things fun.
Yeah don't worry about how kids behave there in the states, at least its not up and down off the stand during sacrament meeting. Culturally the parents just leave the kids alone until they are either hurt or they cant keep having the conversation they are having because the kids are too loud. A little too hands off if ya catch my drift. I will have to see how the Ward party goes here. We have ours on Friday. =/ or =)
Well that's true hahaha especially with the new flat bangs haircut. Poor baby indeed.
Yeah DearElder is ridiculous, and they know it. But they do not get opened. supposedly its not the package in general, its the box. That's where they nail you with customs. Supposedly now that I am seeing it work its the padded envelope. and its cheaper. Well its too late now hahaha. Its been 25 years I will give you that. Yeah small world. We will have to see.
"-we just used a chair. " Oh man that's so disappointing. No Living Nativity for the first time in 10 years. In the end the kids actually started liking it too.
Also We are gonna have the call home. I think if we do it like we did last time for mothers day it will be fine. Just call me before you open presents maybe? That would be at what 7 or 8ish and thats 12 or 1 here. Let me know what you think. Its my P-day, and I will get another P-day the monday after.
This week I started reading the Book of Mormon over again. I have been trying to read and study the Old and New Testaments, along with Doctrine and Covenants. Its been weird, but I picked up the Book of Mormon again and I testify to you the difference I feel as I work. This Book is the most correct of any book that exists on this earth. It really changes who we are and how we think. It gives us a greater scope on our lives and our purpose and testifies like no other book that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was born, lived and died, for US and that HE LIVES. It gets lost sometimes, we see so many people that focus on the Cross as a symbol of christianity. They just end up weeping and wailing, and in some peoples unfortunate confusion they seek truth and try to find it in things that will not bring it. Be it in the bible or in drugs and other worldly things. Not that all those are bad things (the drugs yes) but they flee to these things as a source of answers and they blind themselves to all other possibilities because it satisfies them in the moment. See the Allegory of the Cave.
Well this week was interesting. We just worked. and worked and worked. Wow. I forgot to write down some of the stuff that happened because it was the end of my agenda and there isnt space for that. Ummmm yeah. We finished that floor I told you about. It took alot longer than we thought. The family we did it for is so amazing. too bad the woman we did it for is very firmly not wanting anything, we saw the fruits this sunday. The 13 year old daughter is dating some 16 year old. She is a bit of a black sheep and has not come to church in a long time. Well she came to church this week! and she bore her simple testimony that she knows the church is true. It was quite a moment. but anyway on friday we had an investigator who is a confused wannabe Jew tell us that the books are closed and that we just have to wait for the second coming. He was catholic, his mom dies, he got confused, because he found no answers, talked to some Jehovahs witnesses, and got even more confused, started reading the bible, found out about some distant jewish heritage, and tried to convert to be a Jew. He has tattoos in Hebrew and lots of other weird stuff. He took his shirt off (unfortunately) to show us. He started going on and on about how he had more faith then us, so we just let him get his piece out, and he insisted that Jesus wasnt the Son of God, but that He would come back and that Jesus was the one that confused the people of Jerusalem, and not the whole old mosaic law things confusing them. He just went on and on. We asked him what he thought about baptism and he said that the blessed water would rain down and baptize the world and all the worthy would go and be caught up in that baptism. It was just quite an interesting chat we had. In the end he said that all the books are closed and that we have to wait for Jesus to come and save us and not read the bible or read the book of mormon anymore and that we had to pray less as well, and that he was certain that he would be saved and that he was worried about us. He also said that it was perfect timing because we showed up at 11 and he has a tattoo of 11 for the 11 apostles. Just a very very interesting fellow. It was interesting how he went on denying and praising the Christ in the same sentence. He was afraid. As Davy Jones says in Pirates... "Do you fear Death?"
The real source of all fear is this: Death. Death causes pain. It makes some question whether God exists. It makes them ask what they did wrong, why now, and why to them. It is why there are so many religions. For so long Man looked for a way to beat it. We want to conquer death in the easiest way possible. They want both things. Satan makes us fear death. we dont want to die, no one does, unless they know whats coming. Its not that we would want to die its that we cant accept it. So thats why Christ is so important. We can know that He is the reason for the season and remember that He conquered death so we could conquer it too. Thinking about that lets move on to a different scripture I would like to share today with the class.
2 Nephi 2
The Merits of Christ ---What makes Him our Savior
The Mercy of Christ --- Why He did it for us
The Grace of Christ --- How it came to pass
That is what we talk about as missionaries. We talk about how Christ came to this Earth to help us come back to live with our Heavenly Father. He is the Only Begotten, the Lamb of God, Our Older Brother, Our Friend.
In Alma 34 we can learn a little bit more of why its so important that He come and give His life for each of us
Heavenly Father loves us, and wants us to be happy in this life and forever after. Thats why he created the Earth for us to come and live and learn, and knowing that we would make mistakes also sent His Son, to make up for our shortcomings. He bridges the gap to our Heavenly Father and Eternal Life.
In Mosiah 4 we learn
I have to go. I love you all and hope the best for you.
Remember what are you going to give for Christmas?
what are you going to give for Christ?
Con Amor
Elder Ludlow
PS staying in Parque Licoe with Elder Lorimer until mid January
Oh sad little tree. That has been beaten up a ton, but hey I bet its way cheaper than getting a real tree. Too bad. I just love that real tree smell so much. That's good, of course Dad can fix it, just don't tell him he can´t. That's when the power tools come out.
Yeah we had a pretty sweet Christmas concert ourselves. We had a few non member choirs some sing with a missionary choir (No one in the zone got the invite or I would have definitely been there with Elder Lorimer because we both have great voices) and the All Cordoba Mo Tab Choir. It was short on men unfortunately but that was its only flaw. There was a 7th Day Adventist choir group. They were ok, but they had to definitely have a playback track to achieve bass but they had about 3 AMAAAZING singers. Then the rest were just meh. It was nice but most people just sang random songs. The missionaries were the ones who sang the Christmas songs. It was just fun.
Um yeah I would love a transcript. you can easily get that on LDS.org they have transcript up within about 15 minutes of the end of the show. and video is up within an hour in about 5 languages. The church has some amazing technology.
Bahahahaha Dad. He doesn't have to be the Grinch, that's why we have Sarah. =P Yeah the twinkle is there all right. I want at least THAT picture.
Do it. Skip is great, and they will of course feel the Spirit. Frank is directing I would imagine. He always made things fun.
Yeah don't worry about how kids behave there in the states, at least its not up and down off the stand during sacrament meeting. Culturally the parents just leave the kids alone until they are either hurt or they cant keep having the conversation they are having because the kids are too loud. A little too hands off if ya catch my drift. I will have to see how the Ward party goes here. We have ours on Friday. =/ or =)
Well that's true hahaha especially with the new flat bangs haircut. Poor baby indeed.
Yeah DearElder is ridiculous, and they know it. But they do not get opened. supposedly its not the package in general, its the box. That's where they nail you with customs. Supposedly now that I am seeing it work its the padded envelope. and its cheaper. Well its too late now hahaha. Its been 25 years I will give you that. Yeah small world. We will have to see.
"-we just used a chair. " Oh man that's so disappointing. No Living Nativity for the first time in 10 years. In the end the kids actually started liking it too.
Also We are gonna have the call home. I think if we do it like we did last time for mothers day it will be fine. Just call me before you open presents maybe? That would be at what 7 or 8ish and thats 12 or 1 here. Let me know what you think. Its my P-day, and I will get another P-day the monday after.
This week I started reading the Book of Mormon over again. I have been trying to read and study the Old and New Testaments, along with Doctrine and Covenants. Its been weird, but I picked up the Book of Mormon again and I testify to you the difference I feel as I work. This Book is the most correct of any book that exists on this earth. It really changes who we are and how we think. It gives us a greater scope on our lives and our purpose and testifies like no other book that Jesus is the Son of God, that He was born, lived and died, for US and that HE LIVES. It gets lost sometimes, we see so many people that focus on the Cross as a symbol of christianity. They just end up weeping and wailing, and in some peoples unfortunate confusion they seek truth and try to find it in things that will not bring it. Be it in the bible or in drugs and other worldly things. Not that all those are bad things (the drugs yes) but they flee to these things as a source of answers and they blind themselves to all other possibilities because it satisfies them in the moment. See the Allegory of the Cave.
Well this week was interesting. We just worked. and worked and worked. Wow. I forgot to write down some of the stuff that happened because it was the end of my agenda and there isnt space for that. Ummmm yeah. We finished that floor I told you about. It took alot longer than we thought. The family we did it for is so amazing. too bad the woman we did it for is very firmly not wanting anything, we saw the fruits this sunday. The 13 year old daughter is dating some 16 year old. She is a bit of a black sheep and has not come to church in a long time. Well she came to church this week! and she bore her simple testimony that she knows the church is true. It was quite a moment. but anyway on friday we had an investigator who is a confused wannabe Jew tell us that the books are closed and that we just have to wait for the second coming. He was catholic, his mom dies, he got confused, because he found no answers, talked to some Jehovahs witnesses, and got even more confused, started reading the bible, found out about some distant jewish heritage, and tried to convert to be a Jew. He has tattoos in Hebrew and lots of other weird stuff. He took his shirt off (unfortunately) to show us. He started going on and on about how he had more faith then us, so we just let him get his piece out, and he insisted that Jesus wasnt the Son of God, but that He would come back and that Jesus was the one that confused the people of Jerusalem, and not the whole old mosaic law things confusing them. He just went on and on. We asked him what he thought about baptism and he said that the blessed water would rain down and baptize the world and all the worthy would go and be caught up in that baptism. It was just quite an interesting chat we had. In the end he said that all the books are closed and that we have to wait for Jesus to come and save us and not read the bible or read the book of mormon anymore and that we had to pray less as well, and that he was certain that he would be saved and that he was worried about us. He also said that it was perfect timing because we showed up at 11 and he has a tattoo of 11 for the 11 apostles. Just a very very interesting fellow. It was interesting how he went on denying and praising the Christ in the same sentence. He was afraid. As Davy Jones says in Pirates... "Do you fear Death?"
The real source of all fear is this: Death. Death causes pain. It makes some question whether God exists. It makes them ask what they did wrong, why now, and why to them. It is why there are so many religions. For so long Man looked for a way to beat it. We want to conquer death in the easiest way possible. They want both things. Satan makes us fear death. we dont want to die, no one does, unless they know whats coming. Its not that we would want to die its that we cant accept it. So thats why Christ is so important. We can know that He is the reason for the season and remember that He conquered death so we could conquer it too. Thinking about that lets move on to a different scripture I would like to share today with the class.
2 Nephi 2
8) Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
The Merits of Christ ---What makes Him our Savior
The Mercy of Christ --- Why He did it for us
The Grace of Christ --- How it came to pass
That is what we talk about as missionaries. We talk about how Christ came to this Earth to help us come back to live with our Heavenly Father. He is the Only Begotten, the Lamb of God, Our Older Brother, Our Friend.
In Alma 34 we can learn a little bit more of why its so important that He come and give His life for each of us
8) And now, behold, I will atestify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
9) For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
10) For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
Heavenly Father loves us, and wants us to be happy in this life and forever after. Thats why he created the Earth for us to come and live and learn, and knowing that we would make mistakes also sent His Son, to make up for our shortcomings. He bridges the gap to our Heavenly Father and Eternal Life.
In Mosiah 4 we learn
6) I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
7) I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
8) And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
9) Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10) And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.
I have to go. I love you all and hope the best for you.
Remember what are you going to give for Christmas?
what are you going to give for Christ?
Con Amor
Elder Ludlow
PS staying in Parque Licoe with Elder Lorimer until mid January
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