November 14 Hurricane Sandy Cleanup

Hey everyone,

It feels like it's been a while since I was last on a computer. Tons of things have happened in the last ten days. In my email today I would just like to go over a few of the events and leave you with my testimony.

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I experienced my first New England snow on wednesday. There was a harsh storm that left Boston looking nice and white. The part of the snow that makes it really cold here is the wind. It blows into your face with vigor. I thought for sure that winter had already started but the weather warmed up and now im wearing shorts on p-day.

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On friday I got into a big van with twelve other missionaries and we went to Madison Connecticut, passing through Providence. My whole mission was there in Madison in preparation for a huge service project the next day. We had a great meeting with the Packards (mission president family giving talks and musical numbers. All of us elders stayed the night in the gym. It would have been an absolute jungle in there if President Packard hadnt stayed the night as well on his inflatable mattress.

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The next day the local leaders organized all of the missionaries into groups and we got our supplies together (i.e. yellow helping hands shirts&vests, gloves and masks) Then we headed out to our assignments. I was super lucky to be able to go to Bridgeport Connecticut! Bridgeport is a cool city, close to New York and right on the coast. We did a bunch of projects cleaning out basements of ruined furniture and dirt. During hurricane sandy the water had surged up the beach and filled everyone's basement. It was awesome to be able to work hard all day in helping others and to see their obvious gratitude for what we did.

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 Received transfer texts on sunday and found out that Elder Somppi will be coming here to Boston, he was my MTC companion. I'm excited to serve with him again, he's like a brother to me. We will see how everything works out.

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Im grateful for your support and for the great gospel that we have. I know that our savior lives and loves us more than we can imagine. He welcomes us with open arms and waits for us to go to him. I know that it is through his grace that we are saved, after all that we can do. I have a great testimony of charity. I think charity is one of the things that i have learned the most about on my mission. Seeing the effect that service and thoughtful giving has on people is amazing. I know that we are happy when we do what Jesus would do. He is a perfect example to us in every way.

Don't pull your sins behind you like an oxcart!

Love you, bye.

Elder Ludlow

November 5 letter

Sorry, this is Elder Ludlow's Mom apologizing for the fact that this email from Elder Ludlow is a week late in getting posted. Transfers are this week so we won't hear from him until Wednesday. His Mission President's wife sent me a picture of Elder Ludlow and his companion Elder Swazey doing volunteer work in New Haven Connecticut helping clean up after Hurricane Sandy. We are happy that he can help fellow americans who are really struggling with the loss of their homes or those who are cleaning up overwhelming messes.

Here is his short letter from last monday:

Hello hello.

Winter is coming, thought I would let you know. Boston hasn't been the warmest of places lately. Because of hurricane sandy and halloween I haven't been able to do as much missionary work but all is well in Zion. This saturday we will get our transfer texts and we'll see if I stay in the city or head out. Along with that, remember that I won't be able to email again until the following wednesday.

Jose Mendoza wasn't able to be baptized this sunday for a certain reason that i cant spread through the internet but it was a logical concern and not something wicked or against the baptismal requirements. Our wish is that this week he will be able to enter the waters.

I have been doing good. Just heading forward. One of the things on my Christmas wish list is to train some of those new missionaries that are going to flood the world. The news is that the number of sisters in new england is going to triple in the coming months. Excitingness.

I forgot my camera today, which is a pain, but next time i have some photos to share.

Today we will be in downtown Boston for pday. It's the last time for some of the missionaries in my district who are ending their missions.

Time is short but you are in my prayers and thoughts. May the Lord bless you in all that you do!

-Elder jared Ludlow jr.