Yeah. So today I wanna start off telling you about a cool thing I read. Way back a long time ago, when I got real letters (=P) I got a letter from Grandma and grandpa Ludlow that was a talk that Brother Zierenberg (is that right?) gave them. It was a talk that President Mckay had given in 1954 when brother zierenberg was here in the Argentine mission. He gave 4 S´s or 4 suggestions, "obedience or compliance with which will mean success in your mission field and success in life."
1. Sincerity. "Because what you are, thunders so loud in my ears that I cannot hear what you say." - Emerson- "That means that you are radiating just what you are, not what you pretend to be and an intelligent, normal person radiates what he or she is. To live is to radiate. Some of us radiate encouragement, joy hopefulness, happiness; some of us radiate gloom, discouragement, sorrow. But each person is radiating; and a missionary radiates what he really feels towards the Gospel and it it not what you pretend. "
I have received many letters on how it seems like I have changed so much. That I am such more of a spiritual giant than I was. This is true. Because I am trying to be sincere with each and every one of you. I let my testimony radiate. It doesnt mean that I am better than you all for it. Not even close. I am the least of you. But this is something that if we were all a little more sincere with each other, if we didnt put up those false pretenses, those that have not before received the Gospel, could receive it. Too many times I am saddened to hear that what Emerson said/wrote is far too true. I hear people who have come in contact with a member who wasnt being sincere or true to their values and was being false, or did something that this person noticed and they dont want to be a member ever because of that poor example. We need to be example of the believers. We take our testimonies and our examples/responsibilities as members far too casually. Oh the missionaries will talk to them. I´ll just tell the missionaries to go by. As members it is your DUTY to talk to those that are not of our faith, even if it seems scary or that they will reject you, exercise YOUR faith, and help their faith to grow a little bit more. We as members have a purpose to build the kingdom of God on the earth. Thats when we truly are sincere, with others and with ourselves, because we take charge and let our testimonies radiate in a simple smile, comforting a friend who is down, and taking the place of the Savior and serving others. sincerity.
2. Studiousness. We all have a chance to study. Some of you are studying at school, some of you are in high school, some of you studied a long time ago, and other are going back to school. School is extremely important in our progression on this earth, because all knowledge and intelligence we gain here we will have in the life to come, but what knowledge will be more valuable in the next life? Thats right Scripture study. Read your Ensigns, read the conference edition. But take it a step further. Wherever you go, anywhere, take a notepad or have something or somewhere(iPhone is accepted) to write down those impressions that come up. Dont forget them. In the talk President McKay said: "I give as the second studiousness, and confirm most heartily the admonition given about the need of study. STUDY ALWAYS. Here you are in one of the best schools of life." the best school of life is just that: Life! " What an opportunity you have! Hard at first? Of course, it is! Everything in this life is hard at first. We are here to overcome difficulties. That is why we are in mortal existence..... You are humanity blessed with reason."
3. Self Control. " Learn to control your muscles, your feelings, but particularly learn to control your tongue... Dont fidn fault with the other; dont say the word that comes to you; keep it to yourself, perticularly if you get offended." He then tells about controlling the appettite(all missionaries are guilty of that one =P) but then tells a story about how President Peron(President of Argentina) was eating with President Mckay and said " I would offer you a drink, but you dont drink, nor smoke nor drink tea or coffee. What can I do to make you happy?" Controlling what we take in, and controlling our reactions and passions will help us to become better people. "Self mastery is self control. That makes men..."
" Ella Wheeler Wilcox; It is easy enough to be virtuous when nothing tempts you to stray, when without or within no voice of sin is luring our soul away. But its only a negative virtue until it is tried by fire, and the sould that is worth the honor of earth is the soul that resists desire.
But the cynic, the sad, and the sinner who had no strength for the strife;
The worlds highway is cumbered today;
They make up the item of life.
But the virtue that controls the passion,
the sadness that hides in a smile,
It is these that are worth the honor of earth
And you find them but once in a while."
4. Sense of responsibility. We as missionaries have 3 names on our plaques. My families name, the churches name, and the Savior´s name. really everyone has those names, they are just on this neon sign that hangs over our heads that only other people not members can see. They see it and go wow there is something different about this kid. There is something different about that family. They have a different church. People say well is must be "your" God. Hes not just my God, but your God and everyones God. Its how we act, our form of worshipping him and making him happy that makes the difference. He will bless us if we honor and keep His Name. As George Albert Smith was asked by his grandfather in a dream: What have you done with my name. We are the only true church on the face of the earth. I know it. Because I have asked God, and He has answered me. I know that He spoke to Joseph in a grove in the spring of 1820 and many times after that. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. and because of these things, I know this. I know that Jesus Christ, is my Savior and Redeemer. He suffered our sins and pains and sicknesses, and broke the chains of death the had us all bound in the hands of Satan. He has crushed the serpents head. He has already won, and even if it seems difficult, we can always go to Him and He will carry us on to victory in each of our personal trials. That is my responsibility. I am to teach and act and speak and do what He would do. I am His Representative. I know that He is pleased with what I have done up til now in this mission, but I also know that for him these two years are my two months in the MTC to get trained for my lifelong mission to always testify in His name. I may have been through a bit of the MTC of the mission of Life.
This week I really tried to apply that. We worked hard and had some amazing miracles.
Hno Villagras(because I dont remember his name): is not a member, his wife is, his daughers are, his grandchildren are, one is the EQP. He has always wanted to come to church, but somewhere along the line someone told him he couldnt go to church. So he has never been. We invited him, and he said that he was a devotee of the virgin so he wouldnt be able to come, so we started talking and his wife kinda just told us all the stuff he does as a catholic(nothing bad just huge misconcepcions and intolerance on her part) and we gave him a Plan of Salvation pamphlet to show him the difference between a living and dying Christ. It has the ressurrected Christ leaving the tomb. He wanted to read. And his wife gave the prayer as we left. That the Lord, would touch his heart and that some day he would accept the gospel. He broke down into tears, and I was close, as I heard a tough mans outer shell crack and the gooey filling spill out. ok thats a weird way to say it but yeah. Intense.
Paola- She liked church and accepted a Baptismal date. Shes the girlfriend of the EQP.
Andrea and oswaldo-Its a new oswaldo, but this one is way cool. He is not a member and is living with a non member. He has to get divorced to get married so that he and his wife can get baptized and sealed. They were old investigators in Neuquen and they went to church for like 3 years, and just stopped going because they had problems with work, but they are gonna get baptized and sealed now in Bimaco
Thats about it for now. I had a great week aside from the ridiculous cold and wind.
al ultimo una cosa chistosa en español. un chico en la escuela decia a su profesor. eh Profe como se escribe idiota? con h larga?
Otro.
un chico llega a su casa de la escuela y le pregunta a su papa: Papa, donde estan la cordillera de los andes? y el papa respondio "¡a yo no sé! Preguntale a tu mama que ella es la guarde todas las cosas.
Well fam. gotta go. Its late again.
Love you
Elder Ben Ludlow
