Tuesday, October 25, 2011

October 24, 2011

Derelict children... Jury Duty... What has the world come to. What happened to hanginf them up by their toenails for a few days in the lower dungeons until their behavior improves? Gosh I miss the old days...
*cough harry potter reference cough*

As much as it bugs you getting asked if you are now the bishops wife, its obnoxious when people ask me when I go home. Its with the best of intentions, but I kinda wanna give them a sign that says "12 days.
leave me alone" the days are also set like an old school calendar where the days are changed one by one. Its driving me bonkers, because I have to think about that date,and tell them, and unfortuantely I end up looking ticked when I do it. I dont want to think about going home because I dont know whats waiting for me aside from my family. Most guys can say, oh well Im gonna go to work, Im going to school, I am getting married, and I get to say... I honestly dont know.

Well yeah. Oh course stake temple day is this thursday. bummer, cuz those are intense days, thats how people do things when they have to travel to the temple long distance, its packed with people and all the sessions get full. If you can try and stay all day. I know you have to work, but its also to all the other people who read this.

This week was good, a lot better, and well I will see how this week goes. Its gonna be interesting next pday mad dash to the finish.

Love you mom
Elder Ludlow

Saturday, October 22, 2011

TWO WEEKS!

Elder Ben Ludlow
will be returning with honor 
             from the
Argentina Cordoba Mission 
on Saturday November 5th!

Let the countdown begin...

:)

October 17, 2011

Yeah you could say that. Its been a very busy week. Here in MissionLand we have been working really hard. Like come home and pass out we work so hard. We are working really hard, and not exactly seeing the results. Its kinda rough. but hey I am gonna keep on going until the end, even if its difficult when I am not seeing what I want to see. I just have to trust in the Lord, and work with Faith.

This week aside from being very busy, has been very interesting. Lots of trials, cool people we have met, and helped, but we still manage to keep going back to the same old people that I have known forever. I dont entirely know why, we havent had the inspiration to stop seeing these people, because they arent doing alot in the way of progressing towards baptism. I am re-realizing something that I already knew. That its of course our objective to baptize people, but its not the only things we do. We help peoples faith grow to the point that they
exercise their faith, and they repent of their sins, and they change and want to be baptized. We can try and sometimes have success dragging people in, by obligation, or other forms, but thats not what the Lord wants, in fact its completely contrary to His Plan for us. so we have to be here to persuade and help and support people in the process of repentance. I mean maybe its my excuse because I am not going to baptize before I am home, but its what I am seeing. I mean I knew this, but sometimes we forget by putting our own desires ahead of what the Lord wants for us.
In the mean time, its just work work work.

Keep on swimming
Love you
Elder Ben

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

October 10, 2011

Remember Remember the 5th of November...
Hahaha its Guy Fawkes Day (UK) that Saturday.
So I got my flight plans.,..........................................................................Is it ok that I dont wanna come home?  hahaha its not that I dont want to, but I just feel so attached to this area and this work here in Bimaco. This week the ward went to the temple in Uruguay. Amazing. They had some pretty intense experiences. The young men did 1000 baptisms for the dead in the 4 days that they were there. and only 7 young men went.
But really this week was really good. We worked super hard. I think I will start out telling you a bit about Gabriel. Hes a really cool guy, hes maybe 27, is from Buenos Aires, and recently moved here to Rio
Cuarto about a month ago.  well we found him last week and taught him about the Book of Mormon. He said that he needed to find out if its true because "if its true and I reject something that says"Jesus Christ" I dont want to get the bill on the other side that says "You rejected the word of God, Have a nice Day" So he is reading to know if its true. Hes very down to earth, and has had alot of serious issues with other organized religions, finding them to be a man made creation rather quickly. So hes a bit skeptical. I will keep you updated on him.
Umm we also are teaching Elisa and Ester. They are daughter and mother. Neither can read, but that hasnt stopped them from getting their other family members to read to them. When we got to that house, the whole family was in chaos. They were all fighting with Elisa, due to her mental scars from her ex, who beat her, and she would take it out on her son. =/ but anyway the family was really un united, and we were able to teach them prayer, and why its important. Ester also didnt really want much to do with the church, because she is catholic. Ok so Elisa, we lost track of her, but she wanted to be baptized. So we kept going by every once in awhile to see them, but no good. Elisa kept on praying. She prayed every night, then her mom started to pray
with her, and on her own, and her little sister would read her the Book of Mormon, and she got a restraining order on her ex, and she just became instantly peaceful, and calm. She got a job, that was far away, but found a job really close, like right across the street. one day we went by and she told us about her older sister, who is not nice to them. So when we left she offered the prayer and asked the Lord to soften her heart and help her family to be united. So the Lord did that. Elisa has incredible faith. Her family is united, they are making changes and its really cool to think, wow it all started with a simple prayer. Thats what prayer and faith can do for you. If you want it, and you do everything you can, and ask the Lord to give it to you, He will give it to you, I testify of that.

Well gotta be heading out
love you
Elder Ben Ludlow

Thursday, October 6, 2011

October 3, 2011

For those that thought," wow thats a ton to do" Well it was alot of studying I did! This conference was quite good. I was very surprised by the variety of subjects covered. Highlights were:

Elder Carl b Cook
                     Elder Christofferson!!!!!!
             President Uchtdorf

I know that we have living prophets that walk this earth. I know that God is Our Heavenly Father, and He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins, and He also sent prophets to guide us to the path that Jesus marked for us, and give us His sustaining word to guide us and keep us on the path.


Moroni 7:48 was quoted I believe twice
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
And so was 1 Timothy 4:12 
Let no man adespise thy youth; but be thou an bexample of the believers, in word, in cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, indpurity.

Today I also got the package with the Birthday wishes. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Tell all the Primary Kids how much I appreciated it. I feel pretty good here, I just want to keep working my best until this is done. This week, we had a lot of success, in achieving unity in our lessons, teaching with the Spirit, and following the Spirit in all that we do. I felt really good this week, the mission is great. Today we had a meeting with President Salas, and well I still have to go back for my interview.... but anyway, its been a crazy day, and I didnt bring my journal to count the experiences of the week. Its funny how you will go and be thinking about what you did in the week, but when it comes down to it, you cant remember what you were going to write. =(

Ok so I owe you one thats a little better next week, I love you all
Thanks again for the pictures and the birthday wishes =)
Love
Elder Ludlow

PS yeah the family will never sing that good, whos birthday comes up next? maybe I can help us stay on tune... not likely, after being in argentina I´ve if anything gotten worse at singing... hahaha gotta rely on the spirit for that one too.

Monday, October 3, 2011

General Conference -- October 2011

This has been a wonderfully uplifting conference.

Please listen to this talk by Elder Dallin H Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles entitled "Teachings of Jesus."



Christ is my Savior. He suffered for every one of us -- for our sins and our shortcomings, for our disappointments, heartaches, and physical ailments.  By Him, we (the weak things of the world) are made strong.  I know that if we live by His example, humble ourselves before the Lord, and rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven in eternal happiness and exaltation.