May 7 Letter from Central Massachusetts

Hello to everyone from Central Massachusetts,

My district is pretty good. We meet up every week and it's always fun. Elder Torgesen and I are the only spanish missionaries. There is a trio of sisters. And then a companionship of english elders. So seven in total. We dont have a lot of success in this area of central mass but i believe we're all great missionaries.

The ward mission leader is a good man. Elder Troop. We mostly only see him on sundays but he always has good advice and tries to direct the ward missionaries. The ward is getting more organized in this area every week.

Have not gone on splits yet but we will later in the month. ACTUALLY, and this might give you a chuckle, I will be going down to Ludlow for a day for exchanges with the zone leaders. We'll see how that goes. Thats in like two weeks I think. Also tomorrow is zone conference down in connecticut.

In reality, I was being super sarcastic when I said tracting was unbelievably fun. New englanders are good people but not especially inviting to LDS missionaries. We have some great investigators from previous tracting (before me) though so apparently it sometimes works. No I have not used to fake number check routine. Probably should. Citas (appointments) are about as solid as butter.

Im glad my brothers are having good spiritual experiences.

Sorry about the picture. And I really dont know how to get photos to you. The computer wasnt cooperating with my camera last time I tried. I have no idea how to work that out.

Yeah I did notice that with the faculty. You're all really great though. It was an honor to be a pupil. Be sure to tell Bro Hunts and Bro Harper "Hi" for me. I was just saying the other day to my companion that you three would be an unstoppable trio in missionary work, if such a fantasy were to happen.

Once again it was a tough sunday to swallow as we waited anxiously for our investigators to show up and they didnt. However, a lot of them were sick and that held them back. Some of them are progressing really well. We extended two baptisimal invitations this week and they were both accepted! So now we have three dates to look forward to. One of the women that we're working with decided she wanted it to be on her birthday. That will be two days after Joe's birthday.

I told you I would share some stories so here goes :)

-So we went to district meeting as usual on friday but when we showed up at the church building in Worcester it was locked (not as usual) With the result that we had the meeting at a little hilly park (more like a backyard) overlooking a neighborhood closeby. It was muddy and a little distracting but it felt good to be outside and there was a good view.

I think that the area is absolutely beautiful. With tons of trees and low rock walls and lakes. It has been raining frequently but that just makes everything greener.

-Next story, a kind of negative one

-We were searching really diligently for a new investigator. Someone that has been prepared. So we prayed very specifically and fervently to be able to find them. Anyways we drove into a neighborhood that looked nice and decided to knock on some doors. The first man we talked to was nice but when we asked if he knew anyone that might be interested he said these words that stuck in my head. "I really wouldn't go to any of the other houses in this neighborhood if I were you." I took it as an omen but my companion wanted to try a few more houses. The next three people quickly rejected us and then a man yelled out his window at us and then came outside to argue a little bit with E. Torgesen. I was getting into the car so i wasn't involved. I wont go into details but the verbal volley didnt really end well and we left on kind of a sour note.

-This morning during personal study a lady called our phone, which my companion answered, and talked to him for nearly 45 minutes, asking him a lot of questions and, we presume, trying to shake his faith or find a weakness in our church. He did a great job, giving good answers and really holding his own. That one sort of ended as a victory.

It's interesting that my companion has been the target of these directed attacks and i was just an onlooker. It's only a matter of time before it happens to me. Nevertheless, I welcome the challenge. I find great strength and peace in the church. There's nothing weak about it and Im "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ"

Sorry for giving a really long message, I hope you get something from it. Love you all. Godspeed and stay true to the faith.

 

-Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

April 30 Letter from the dashing Elder Ludlow

Hello everyone.

It sounds like a really exciting and active time over there. You said that the new group has arrived? Im sure mom has already started to talk to them about me. Be sure to say hi for me. And to make the most out of their time in the Holy Land.

You're right the area has reminded me a little of upstate new york. We have some of those smaller towns in our area like you said, in fact, right now im in one of those libraries next to a church in a town square. In our town of Lunenburg. There are definitely a ton of hills, my legs can testify to that, and i've experienced Jerusalem.

Fortunately, yes, we spend a lot of time driving in the car. Our miles are supposed to be limited but it's difficult in an area that is so spread out. We are often required to travel long distances through the forest to get to members' houses.

However, we try to spend the majority of our time in the cities where we work on finding and teaching people. I learned pretty quickly that appointments are very fickle things. My companion and I are focusing on learning how to set appts with people so that they dont disregard them as much. Because whenever an appointment doesn't work out, or schedule is thrown off track and sometimes we have to resort to tracting. Which is unbelievably fun.

It was a tough week as far as teaching people.

I get a monthly allowance to buy food and things. We're lucky to be fed dinner almost every night by members so we save money.

There's only one ward in the area and most of the members are english speaking. We do have translators though for spanish and the numbers for the hymns are always announced in both english and spanish. I heard that there used to be a spanish branch but it fell apart for certain reasons. Kind of sad.

The ward is great though, i have enjoyed it.

With the language... Yeah the accents and the ways that people talk have been a little hard to pick up. I had gotten really used to my teachers that spoke with the styles of Spain and Panama. Plus they usually spoke loudly and clearly. The people I have worked with have their own vocabularies that they like to use and speak softly, quickly or both.

Actually most of the people I work with have been Puerta Rican. with some Dominicans and a scattering of others.
Something to always improve on is loving the people and still being bold while doing so. Still working on finding the right mix there.

How was Josh and Joe's time in Tel Aviv? And what were the first impressions from Donald and Amy?

It's kind of sad that you have to go through another set of goodbyes with the students. I bet that their facebook profiles will be fairly downcast for a little while. So Eliza got engaged? Thats fun. Was it the guy that she dated immediately after returning from Israel?

No your note wasnt too long. I really enjoyed it. I have much more time now to do email. The library where we usually go allows us 90 minutes on the computer. On a typical p-day we usually do those routine things that you said like laundry, writing, cleaning, shopping. Today we took a few pictures. I thought I would be able to share them along with those from the MTC but the computer has not been cooperating :(

Honestly, there arent a lot of fun things to do around here. Our district lives pretty far apart so we dont often get together on p-days. I havent been able to play any sports, which is hard for me. I might go insane if i go a few months without basketball.

By the way i think I forgot to tell you that I saw part of Boston and surrounding area on the way to the mission home. Caught a glimpse of Fenway Park even. I think the city is awesome. Hope to serve there at some point.

Sorry for rambling on and not asking very many questions.

Have the professors developed a close relationship after being together so long? Are any of the sites getting "old" for you? (haha) Have any of the new girl students caught a rapid interest in the absent member of the family? The mysterious and dashing Elder Ludlow?

What is every person in the family up to right now? Im curious.

I'll have a cool story to share next time, I promise.

Praying for all of you. I appreciate the support as always. Shalom and Salaam.

 

-Elder Ludlow

First letter from Massachusetts!

Hello hello.

Yes my P-day is today. I think im starting to get used to life out here. Honestly im a little disappointed that you found out where I am, more or less, already. Alright, I will try to contextualize where I am, i.e. my area.

So I dont know about you, but when I got my call and found out that I would be speaking spanish, I visualized myself in the urban parts of Boston or Hartford or Providence or something. Frequently walking through slums and ghettos or such.

Needless to say, I was suprised to find out that I would be going to the middle of the state of massachusetts, which is where I am.

So they put me in the middle of New England. And yes it is kind of out in the country. There are a lot of trees and it's super beautiful. It's pretty green, the houses are like what you would imagine for new england. A lot of them are white. There are a lot of old churches. Some huge ones. The small town that we live in is called Lunenburg, but our house is kind of in the middle of the woods. There are a lot of birds, I hear frogs at night and it's been raining the past few days.

If you use your imagination and think of a scene that's forested, with a large bridge spanning a river, a train going by on the other side and a number of churches in between colorful houses, it's probably pretty close to an area where I have been.

We work a lot in a couple of small cities called Leominster (pronounced Lemonstir) and Fitchburg (It would be normal to not say the r). It's called the "Gardner" area. And that is where we go to church.
It is not a dominately spanish area, most of the people speak english. I thought at first that I would be completely preaching in english and it was a strange idea to me but there are actually a lot of hispanic people and we do teach in spanish often. All of the knowledge that I thought I had in the language, you can throw out the window. It's really hard for me to understand people, so I dont know how to reply. They speak kind of fast and softly. But I believe that the language will come and the Lord is helping me to develop as I do my part. Slowly, like you said.

The people are pretty interesting. It's definitely different from the west coast. The people have very distinct personalities. The members have been nice. Our apartment actually adjoins to the house of some members, the Stokes. Theyre great people.

My companion only has like three months left on his mission. He's really nice and good at being personable. His spanish is excellent so that has been a help. He's from Idaho. Wouldnt hurt a fly. Interesting personality. I'm learning a lot.

It was a tough week as far as lessons and numbers and everything but we're hoping that things will look up. My first lesson was actually pretty amazing. The members usually feed us dinner and its fun to meet with them.

It sounds like you're going to have an awesome time for the next month, with a bunch of people arriving and leaving and new experiences in familiar places. Make sure to update me. Best of luck with everything. I'll be interested to hear about how it was to say goodbye to the students and what the new ones are like soon. Also the adventures with Donald/Dallin and Amy.

For the next six weeks or so I should be here so if people want to send me letters soon my exact address is:

229 Lancaster Avenue

Lunenburg, MA 01462

It has been hard, but I think of the support that I have from all of you. I love you all. I'll try to send pictures next time from the MTC and my area here.

Sincerely,

-Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

 

Last MTC letter April 13, 2012

Yeah the time is really coming to an end and im getting feelings like I did when I first opened my call. Thinking about Boston a lot and what it will be like.
The dead sea fieldtrips was one of my favorites. Sounds like the dead sea was better this time.
So the richards are still around?
This is probably my last email from the mtc and i dont know what it will be like in the field so i want to give some thanks.
-To my family for keeping me updated on whats going on in their interesting jerusalem lives
-The friends and relatives that have sent letters and packages. I have appreciated it. There are some friends that I wish i could stay in contact with but for the most part my closer friends have written me.
-To my grandparents for continuing to do so much for me. I dont think there is any way to pay back parents and grandparents
Today has been a good day. We've had in-field orientation and it will continue after this. It's pretty much talking about what we're going to be doing and how to do it effectively. Its fun with examples and stories and such. I've really enjoyed it.
I hope you have a good time as you wind down the semester. Im sure it will be sad for close friends to depart once again.
Ok i dont have my travel plans with me, which is a problem. I'll see if tomorrow i can give you the exact information in a brief email. But I do know that im reporting to the travel office at 4:00 am on wednesday and then heading over to salt lake soon after. So i believe that my time in the airport will be in the morning between like 7 and 10. Sorry im not for sure. I will try my hardest to get the right details to you later. It's an exciting opportunity. AND as has been pointed out by some people, mothers day is coming up soon too. So it will be fun to communicate with you a little bit.
I know one of the sisters in my travel group, she was in my arabic class freshman year at provo high. Shes going to boston to speak english
Saw and talked to Elder peter johnson for the first time today. It was interesting
Had the opportunity to host another time on wednesday. It was awesome. I helped two elders. Going to mongolia and salt lake city. Also Elder Uluave arrived and i got to have a brief chat with him. If you dont remember his dad was my baseball coach when i was like 8 or 9. Its kind of sad how much smaller i feel now compared to those polynesians.
Easter was good. We had a devotional by President Packer and his son, who is in the seventy. it was kind of a huge sacrament meeting, so that was cool. Unfortunately my health kind of went downhill so i was in my bed later in the day. Anyways how was your Easter experience as a whole? Quite something?
The weather has been kind of wacky. So ive been wondering what its like in the holy land these days. It was hot on tuesday and very pleasant on wednesday but freezing today and yesterday.
i've had an additional companion for a few days as an elder doesnt have his visa. But he got reassigned so he'll be leaving soon.
have a good time, I hope your testimonies of Jesus Christ are doing well and you are thinking of him as you are in that special place. Good luck and Les Amo

Sincerely,
-Elder Ludlow

April 6 letter

Hey family and everyone else.
To be honest, this week has felt longer than any other in the MTC. So im glad it's ending.
Wow, it sounds like Jerusalem really is the place to be around Easter time. I tried to picture the festivities in my mind while I read about them. Im glad that you all are a part of that experience. Im sure it's amazing. I've tried to learn and think about the last week of the savior's life in the best way I can here. It goes without saying, but I would have loved to be there with you during this time.
So from what I heard the weather is picking up? I honestly miss the climate over there. I've wondered what it's like in Boston. Here it's been interesting. The first day of conference we got to walk around the temple between sessions and it was very warm and pleasant outside. The next day was fairly cold, but the valley looked more beautiful. Since then it's slowly gotten colder until today when it was fun to walk up to the temple in the morning with snow pouring down.
So pretty much everyone has mentioned Elder Archuleta in their letters. He was pretty obvious in the choir during conference. I really dont want to talk about this subject a whole lot because i think its sort of annoying but you asked so :) I've seen him quite a few times. Maybe five or six. One time while I was leading a new missionary through the bookstore and he turned and asked me if "it really was him" and I replied that it was just a normal thing in the MTC.
So yes, I had the opportunity to host this past wednesday. It was interesting. Especially since I didnt have the same experience when i entered the MTC late. I hosted two elders, one going to brazil and one to japan.
How was marissa's birthday overall? It was on my mind throughout the day.
Tell me how the talent show goes.
Yeah that was kind of interesting to run into brother jacobs and have my picture taken. I wonder what it really looked like.
No I havent sung in the choir. Mom knows that I have certain feelings towards choirs, although I do love to sing. That desire has definitely grown a lot here-to sing. I try to translate songs into spanish.
We got some new missionaries in our zone and I SWEAR theyre a year younger than me or more. You feel older after a long time in the MTC.
You asked about Tender Mercies... Im not sure exactly what that means but I have seen the Lord's hand during this week. Yes. I went into conference with some questions and they were all answered. I really liked Elder Scott's talk about revelation (I believe) and President Monson's talk about the plan of salvation. I've also felt the spirit through hymns and prayer. I've had some great times in class. The scriptures are always an anchor for me.
We got to hear a lot of talks this week and on easter we will hear from three general authorites. I dont know who.
The tuesday speaker was Vai Sikahema (i think) I dont know if i slaughtered his name or not. But he played for BYU's championship team and was a sportscaster, or still is. He showed some funny and interesting clips and pictures and had kind of a reunion up on the stand with one of his converts and companions.
So what was your favorite talk? How are all my brothers and sisters doing?
Have you seen anything interesting with the students in the JC? (like LDS, Last Days Syndrome)
Boston is only a heartbeat away. Im a little nervous but mostly excited. Bring on the challenges.
Im in a good place with the language, at least for the amount of time I've had.
I'll be praying for all of you and thinking about you
Les Quiero. Love all of you.

-Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

finally a picture!

Scott Jacobs, a Provo Peak fellow ward member and backyard neighbor who works at the MTC saw JJ and took a picture of him for us. Yea!

March 30 Letter

Thank you for all of your letters. I had a lot of things to read and think about. I enjoy the stories of the places in the galilee area. It's a special place for me.

Happy Birthday Dad. I would have told you on the day of if i was able to.

Wait so both of you (Mom and Dad) had different experiences with vehicles breaking down?

I bet galilee is even more beautiful with spring and all that comes with it. The weather here has been kind of up and down.

Im glad mom and my siblings could go up into the northern area (Banias, Golan Heights) because it's a great experience and an amazing area.

So you got to be a bullock again on your birthday? Awesome.

Thankyou again to my family for sending me updates. I might not reply to everything but i enjoy reading.

This week has been difficult for many reasons but im still glad to be here. Today I've actually been really sick and I had to stay in my room all morning until just recently when I wanted to email.

I remember the gratitude cards, i've actually taught that lesson a few times

El Campo.. To tell the truth, im pretty nervous about it because i have no idea what it will be like. But the mission field is an exciting thing because thats when the work really begins. Honestly I feel like the MTC has just been like an offseason training, and not very difficult. And then I'll be thrown into the game. Im excited to get into the groove and to get a new companion. I have been thinking about it a little bit but it still feels pretty far away.

I really like to talk about the Plan of Salvation. It's my favorite part of the gospel to teach because a lot of my favorite scriptures fall under it and it brings me a lot of happiness in my life.
I guess I've seen some new insights to the temple here. Im working on that.

Reading your letters and reading Jesus The Christ has helped me to reflect on the things i've learned and find new insights to it.

Our schedules will be centered around general conference the next few days so yes.

It will be interesting to hear from a multitude of general authorities after getting a few of them here in devotionals

Fasting is fine. Like i said, this week has been hard because i've been sick. That affects my attitude and the lessons have been hard because my voice has been weak and my companion still doesnt like to say much.

The jael joke was funny.

Master the Tempest is Raging is one of my favorite hymns. I enjoyed singing it out there on the sea of galilee as well.

It sounds like youre having good experiences and that makes me happy. I hope you know that i pray for y'all all of the time.

Sorry this email isnt much, but honestly not very much happened this week and my mind isnt in full gear today.

Im there with you in spirit. This feels like a different life so I like to pretend im still there with all of you.

How was the sea of galilee? still pretty cold?

I saw some of the best sunsets up there. would you agree?

Tell me more about those talking parrots.

Love you all. Have a good time