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

March 28, 2010

Well that sounds like a very interesting weekend. I will do that. I didnt even know that much about him. we may be technologically expensive here, but not behind, they have satellites and we do get to watch it in English. I am actually really excited about conference, because my old investigator(that sister named Beatris) is going to go. I am super happy because she finally came to church Yesterday(sunday) and I got transferred. Now I am in Cordoba Capital, in the South of the city in the Villa its called Las Flores. Kinda like the ghetto I hear. I will be able to tell you more about it next week. I have no idea how we celebrate Easter here, but its Pascua and its all in eggs.
What is it now that she is doing? is this still that one place where she was getting like afternoons in the medical office? Thats awesome if she can get it. and she is going to go back now? thats GREAT!!! Its about four hours in a bus to get to cordoba from Villa Dolores. and if you only get to take the one or two buses available you take the one that leaves at 6(which kills your evening cuz you are on a bus) or you take the afternoon one at 2 which kills your morning too. Its difficult to travel and arrive back at 2am and then go out and get things done the day after, that is how I lose days. Its in distance about 300 km I think. It is not too bad, but I keep having to dip into personal money each month. the mission gives us 500 pesos a month and because of inflation it gets increasingly difficult as the month goes on. Last month I had to use almost 300 pesos of personal money. So maybe things will be cheaper here in the ghettoish place like I hope. I have pictures here for you, that Elder Loader sent me last week. Its just a few, but yeah its something. I love you all and hope you send that on to everyone you meet. Send me pictures from the wedding and such when you get them. Its ok you can send things on the email. =)

I´ll keep asking, but when you get a chance can you please send my camera and the razor part?

Con Amor

Elder Ludlow


PICTURE TIME!
Elder Ben with the other missionaries in his Zone.

The Elders in Villa Dolores

Beautiful scenery

March 15, 2010

Hi Mom!Of course they were funny, its Sarah and Alyson and Lindy. Yeah I´m waiting for my turn with the hair loss thing(its coming I know) but for now I laugh. hahahahahaha. but thats great. He will be good. I have two good memory cards and two san disk. So I wont use those. If it works, it works and I would love to get it. just remember what I told you about hiding it. Its fine to do, missionary moms have been doing it for ages. and use Virgin Mary stickers(I dont know where to get them =( but I hope you can find some) Can you send me Sarah and Aly´s emails? Then I can email Sarah "Happy Birthday" for myself. So this week we had alot of repairmen come to fix the pension. I paid the 170 peso gas bill out of my asignacion(mission money) and was going to have 20 pesos to get me through the month, because our travel money was low and we had to pay alot to get home from Cordoba to Villa Dolores.
This week was great. monday night we set a baptismal date with Beatris(the investigator I told you about last week) It was awesome. It was really funny how it happened, cuz my comp was trying to be a little more smooth, and I didnt catch it, but I was thinking "hmmm we need to set a baptismal date with her" and I asked her to see her Pamphlet for the second lesson(the plan of salvation) which has a timeline deal with the whole plan written out, and under the part called our life on Earth, it has the 5 parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ( Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) and I asked her ,as we were talking about what things Heavenly Father wants us to do while we were here, Which of these have you done? She paused for a second read them, she said, well I have faith in Jesus Christ, even if its just a little bit its growing(we had read Alma 32 with her a few weeks ago) and I have started to repent, you know for my gritos(shouts because sometimes she gets frustrated with her kids). and then she said "well I guess that means I need to get baptized. When can we do that?" It was amazing, because the Spirit just flooded that backyard. she is getting baptized on April 11th. Its amazing how much power the Spirit has when we do what the Lord wants us to be doing. I felt like going out and baptizing the town(which is totally not ready right now) and it was amazing that feeling. Well then this week we had to get some things fixed in our apartment and couldnt leave all that much. It was interesting how the Lord knew that and each of the people that we talked to as they were fixing something, had heard the missionaries, or had a Book of Mormon, or wanted us to come by. Amazing how the Lord knows and prepares people. I love how things are going here, and I am ready to kick some tail this week and show thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He has given me. Well I love you all and miss you a little but I am trying to get some work done here and grow closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I love this gospel, my companion, and the mission. Its starting to feel normal to be here in argentina, but wits weird that it feels normal. Im still getting used to it I guess(I ate udder this week...yeah thats right udder)
Con Amor
Elder Ludlow

March 8, 2010

Oh the Book Fair. Any new good books out? speaking of books did you get anything from Victor? I emailed him about it. I have no idea what the sister who teaches the primary does, but well I am trying to help myself understand Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood. I think its the basics. Here they have snack time(whether its fast sunday or not) between hours. Its probably just fine though. Still tearing up when you hear primary songs? Yeah Arizona! Just you and Dad or the whole fam damily. Tell Lauren Congratulations from me. well tell the whole family I say hello. Wow Elder Stoddard has got to be tearing his hair out, thats alot of area to be covering, but I guess they technically covered that area anyway since that was the area of that branch. Thats cool about the soon to be Elder Davis. Tell him to be good and no matter what happens in the MTC you will know Spanish by the end. Also that if he gets Hno Rogelio Osuna or Hna Julie Davis that he should tell them Elder Ludlow says hello. Thank you for taking it there. If it is really working just fine, here is what I would like you to do. Send it when you get the razor parts, with some like cake mix or brownie mix, and some mac and cheese(blue box). Heres how it works. Open up the box, and carefully put the camera in it, and put the noodles and stuff in it with the cheese powder. then re seal the macaroni box. It works really well supposedly. So as long as its light(under 2 kilos or about 5 pounds) they wont open it. You declare it as missionary supplies(and yes get virgin stickers and send it in the priority mail box) Also maybe like a pair of gloves or a scarf. It actually does get cold out here and we are heading into fall and then a humid winter(which is a penetrating cold) If you can think of any other fun stuff(I like milky way and fun make a meal powder mix just get the meat kind of stuff) I would love that too. I feel like I can ask for that because guess what? I have lost about 10 kilos. Yeah I remember weighing myself at the beginning(so like 3 days in) and I was at about 107 kilos, I am at about 97 to 96. Its exciting. I have a neck. =P but I have some extra skin which is slowly being filled in with muscle. =) weird to think of that one, you wont recognize me when I am back. I love you mommy. dont stress out too much. The Lord is blessing you and the family and me for this service.
PS Have Dad re write that letter explaining the work things cuz I definitely am not getting it. PPS Tell Alyson to keep rocking the Spanish and that I am waiting still for her biography in
Spanish.
PPSS Tell Sarah that when she has like a few minutes that she should email me about her life of craziness.
PPPSS I love you all!!!



Alright so I dont know if you all know, but mail takes forever to get here. I get everything about a month and a half after it is sent. and most the time things get lost. So if you have something to get to me email me. Its way quicker. You all should have it by now. =) Ok. Unfortunately not much happened this week. We had P-day, and then went to a cita(appointment) with our investigator Beatris. The Spirit wasnt there at all, despite our best efforts, and she was falling asleep from running the kids all around town because school is starting. Then tuesday I was not feeling well at all, and since we were going to be travelling the next day to Cordoba, I took it easy, and we just talked to a few people. Then Wednesday we went and paid the light bill, and the other 2 Elders in our district from Merlo came, and we had lunch, and left for Cordoba. We got there at about 7pm and went to Burger King. I have never had anything taste that good(BK Stacker, it has BACON). then we went to Elder Loader´s old pension in 9 de Julio(a B° in Cordoba) and met his old comp and the zone leaders there. fun night talking about things, because Elder Lorimer went to BYU-I. So thats 3 days shot. then we had Zone Conference. It was pretty cool. We talked alot about focusing on the purpose of being a missionary, how we should be able to go out talking to everyone with a smile, because in reality we know the truth, and that should just make us the happiest people in the entire Villa. Its great to think that even President Olsen agrees that the "Fake it til you make it" works. He in fact used it during conference which I loved. We then went out from the chapel in B° Belgrano and tried to find someone to come back with us to hear the message of the Restoration in 5 minutes. thats right. 50 missionaries all leaving from the chapel with big smiles on our faces and trying to find someone who was ready to hear the restored gospel. It was crazy. like ridiculous. Then we came back and taught 2 people. Way cool. then I got the letter you sent me in the MTC finally. So I had a picture of my two sisters in flannel holding a pellet gun in front of Ruby Sue. I had a few new friends who think Sarah is pretty cute. Too bad, she hates the Argentine accent and they didnt meet the prerequisites or she would have a few new friends. Then we came back from Cordoba after interviews with President. so we got back at about 2am on friday morning with the Zone Leaders in tow. So far 5 days shot. then we didnt wake up in time(not even the zone leaders) and then we made lunch and had to wait out the siesta(cuz it is getting hot again) and then we finally got out to work and found 5 great people we can go by this week. so a little bit of work done. Then Saturday we got up on time, and had studies and it was all great, and then we looked at the pension, and realized it was a total mess from having 8 elders in it for 2 days. so we started cleaning, and cleaned, found out the walls are a off white, that the chimney is made of brick, and isnt painted black, and the the floors exist. Then it was about 12:30 and it was time for lunch, which we had with a great family that lives really far away, came back to the pension and cleaned all siesta time, and then went out and went to another cita with beatris and she wasnt there. great. so we had Sunday, which isnt much, but weekly planning and lunch and Sacrament meeting. So now we are here. I love you all and I know that this week will be better becuase the Lord has alot in store for Villa Dolores, that I am here to do. I am ready to go and do all that the Lord requires and use the new metholds that I learned at Zone Conference to bring others closer to their Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love this Gospel and the light and truth that I see everytime I learn more and teach someone else about how it has blessed me. I know that the Lord provides for all his missionaries, especially those that are serving Him with all their heart might mind and strength.
Chau for now.
Con amor
Elder Ludlow

February 15, 2010

Yeah because of the change with email its not letting me in or it goes suuuuper slow. Good things it forwards here.¡Feliz Cumpleaños Padre! Yeah I am doing fine. It got the other two in the pension later this week, it was something to do with the heat apparently. This week was good. We worked really hard and we have nothing to show for it. =P Its not as bad as it sounds, we went member hunting all week and found some great less actives. Yeah they didnt come, but it was the fact that all the hard work felt like hard work when we were working with the members. We had appointments with investigators, really cool and likely to progress investigators, but we didn´t get to meet with hardly any of them. Its funny how that works. I also had my first of many mistakes in front of a member. We had a FHE and I got to share a thought, completely unprepared. Ouch. It was not good, and I shared something without explaining hardly at all. I felt like crap afterwards, but it just is an example of Keeping It Simple. I am doing well here and I am with my new companion Elder Loader from Mapleton, UT. Hes cool considering I have only known him for 4 hours. Im still here in Villa dolores and working hard to get this Branch out of the pit its been in. I love you all but I am running low on time so I just ask that anyone who reads this sends me an email, with their favorite scripture and why. It should be fun, go for it.
Con Amor
Elder Ludlow

PERSONAL STUFF: First things first: my razor broke. It fell off my bedside table and the shaver foil is busted and inner blade foils are dented. I could use it, but I dont want to have to regrow my face along with my beard.
**insert long, boring description of replacement parts. blah blah blah**