Another Letter from the MTC March 23, 2012

I havent received an email this week from you so Im just going to try to answer your letter and give yet another excellent update of my life as a servant of the Lord. Im guessing that it's because Dad is in Galilee. I thought I read something about that. Thanks for the pictures of the snow, even though they dont show the city so much. Melia is looking pretty as usual. It was another week of scarce letters but I really enjoyed each one. Im grateful for my family and relatives that have been sending me things and supporting me.

I would love to be in Galilee right now, just for my p-day. It is probably my favorite place in the world, or second after Jerusalem. I hope the students and everyone are enjoying it. My experiences in Galilee definitely brought me a lot closer to the Savior.

Someday I hope to be able to return to Jerusalem again. My dream would be to teach the same class that Dad is teaching over there.

10k sounded like fun. I bet that was a good experience. I wont be running any of those anytime soon.

The family trip also sounded fun, more or less. Kind of reminded me of that one town up by galilee. the name escapes me at the moment. I love stained glass. Kind of random but thought i would say that.

The Living Christ is excellent. I have been reading it almost every day out loud in spanish. I've got one in my class and one in my room next to my picture of Jesus calling some of the disciples to follow him at the sea of galilee.

 

I've been speaking spanish about 90% of the time now. It's an assignment called SYL or speak your language. So i've been working really hard at that and now it's weird to speak in english. I still think most of the time in english though, and mostly read in english. I feel like im slowly making progress. But I do still feel like maybe i only know spanish in a gospel sort of language, and if you threw me in the street in the middle of Mexico I wouldnt understand anything. I cant think of any significant stories from my week.

One of the elders in my district got called as the new zone leader. Our zone is getting really small right now. The only Hermanas left this week and there arent very many veteran (last two weeks) elders left. So I hope we get some fresh missionaries this next wednesday. Or something.

I've been marking up my scriptures like crazy. I dont know why I like to do it so much. Maybe because I like to organize things or because I have seen a lot of patterns in my reading

I've learned a lot this week about conversion. Converting myself and helping others to do so. It requires repentance and an open heart. Conversion is a real change of wills and desires to be in harmony with God. 3 nephi 9:13 is a good scripture. Just remember that every day it's important to try to be better, have the spirit and become more like Christ.

love you all. Talk to you later.

 

Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

 

 

Elder Ludlow's letter March 16, 2012

Dear Family,

Sounds like things are great as usual over there. I like to hear about the experiences youre having at the different sites. It kind of takes me back a little bit. Today I ate lunch outside and it reminded me a lot of walking around outside all day in Jerusalem and eating the sack lunches in the sun. Also i've been reading in the new testament and that brings back memories of the holy land and turkey. What are the histories associated with Pirene and Sardis?

     I enjoyed reading your last letter. At first i was astounded at the spanish words that marissa was using but i read the message more carefully the second time and caught the part about the translator. I dont know if i've already mentioned this, but ive gotten to the point where im really good at translating and intrepreting spanish but i still need to work on speaking. Sounds like Melia is learning a lot. Tell me how the talking parrot experience goes. Josh and Joe- studs. nice work in basketball and everything else. Mom and Dad, im glad you're having so many experiences and making the most of your time there. Thanks for the basketball update.

     It was a good week. There were a few times when i stopped and thought and was grateful to be in the MTC.  Had some good experiences. Got to hear Brother Heaton speak at a fireside,as well as Elder Cardon of the seventy. The weather has been excellent. It feels like spring. Had kind of an activity outside with my teacher hermano alailima where he was a contact and we had to find him on the Mtc grounds. My companion and I found him first and it was a great conversation- en espanol. Had a really good lesson with one of my investigators about the plan of salvation and committed him to baptism. Also, one of my teachers served in Boston spanish speaking (and his first name is Jared) and we've connected a little bit. He has helped a lot.

     However, yes it has been difficult, and i have had to turn myself over to the Lord. My strongest desire right now is to be His servant. Before my mission, i never had a good "appetite" for the scriptures, I just read them every once in a while and called it good. Now, I feast on the words of the prophets, I can't get enough of it. I have found treasures in the scriptures from immersing myself in them. Some great chapters are St John 15 and 2 Peter 1. I have an intense thirst for the feelings of the Spirit. Here in the MTC the Spirit has been powerful. There have been times when I have felt a fire spreading throughout my entire body from His influence. My faith is growing tremendously.

So dad is going to be running in a race pretty soon? How is the weather going over there? Still have the call to prayer five times a day?

We've adjusted to having two less people in our district. Tensions have grown a little because there are less people but I also few like we are just as strong spiritually if not better. We have a lot more space in our room and class and thats kind of nice...

This last week i've gotten some good packages but only one letter :P i say this not to complain but just because i think it's funny. Im sorry that I havent been able to write everyone. All of you should know that I love you a lot. Thankyou for your prayers and support. Even though im not physically with you, im always there with you in spirit. the Lord is with all of us as well. He has made all things possible.

Love,

Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

Amazing letter from Elder J2

Hello Mother and everyone else,

     Purim sounds pretty interesting, I bet it has been fun. It's too bad that you always seem to have a sick child in the house. I haven't been completely sick once yet since I've arrived at the MTC (knock on wood). Although I have had head aches from trying to learn everything all at once. I have really appreciated the letters from you and the rest of the family. The ones through post take a while to arrive but it's ok. I wish I could write individual messages for each of you. If I could get some international stamps it would really help. Ok the picture idea sounds really good. My camera doesnt take quality pictures though. So in a similar request, could you send me an SD with pictures for me? I can view them on my camera. If you could include all of the ones from my Israel adventures in my facebook albums that would be awesome.

   I have thought about dad a lot in turkey. Im glad he has that opportunity. It sounds like another amazing trip. I really like the stories of the apostle Paul as well. I've used the chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 a lot in my teaching. Elijah is another good example. There are many great examples of missionaries in the scriptures. Alma, Ammon, Amulek, Nephi and Lehi, and many more are in the Book of Mormon.

Well turkey is a beautiful country and I have looked back on my many positive memories there...
Back to the MTC.. The food has been alright. I feel like it's slightly repetitive but hey that's nothing new. (Oasis)

My branch president is President Hansen. He is a really nice man with big tough hands and intense blue eyes. I have enjoyed the branch and district meetings.I have seen a handful of people that I knew from high school and it's always fun. I've only recognized one elder from Hawaii, Elder Thee. He's a big guy now, so he's a little intimidating :P

And to answer my dad's last question, I spend a lot of time studying ALL of the materials that I have.

Our fireside on sunday was Alex Boye. I dont know if you remember who that is but he's an african-british(?) man that was converted to the church and he sings in the Tab choir. He gave a very intense, spirited talk about how our thoughts turn us into who we are, how we aren't the ones converting people, God is, and how the spirit is very important. He was very humorous too, once in a while it looked like President Brown was a little uncomfortable haha.

I want to thank the Mosses, Hales, the Blackhams (Shalyn), Nelsons from all over, especially the AF Nelsons.

So I've realized that I dont have very many ties.. If anyone wants to donate I would be forever grateful, however, lets coordinate this thing so I dont have a flood of fabric coming in.

So.. what else to write.. Espanol is going great. Necesito aprender muchas cosas mas.

Sorry to anyone that I take a while to reply to, I can only write on p-day and for some reason I feel like I have to write long meaningful letters to everyone.

Ok im going to mention this because i've run out of things to say or forgotten what I was going to. We do a service project every week and i had the absolute worst job yesterday. I had to clean out the drains in the showers. Let me just say that showering will never be the same again. I hope that makes Josh and Joe super excited for the MTC. Well I love you all and wish I could write more in depth. I'll probably remember a ton of things that I wanted to say as soon as I get off the computer. Best of luck to everyone. You're in my thoughts everyday. Im humbled by all of the support and love that I have recieved. Everyone read the Book of Mormon, its great!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Ludlow

March 2 Letter

Hola mi familia Things have been going well here at the MTC. This last week has breezed by, it feels like I sent my last email two days ago. It's funny how long each day feels though, On wednesday we were talking about how we felt like we had been gone forever and realized for people outside of the MTC, it probably felt like no time. I know that's especially true for Jerusalem. I thought of the Holy City a lot today when I was at the temple. One scripture that I read was Psalm 122. One of my teachers, Hermano Alailima talked with me during Coaching Missionary Study, which is pretty much when the teachers help out their missionaries individually. He's from Hawaii so we talked about a wide range of things. I told him a lot of things about Jerusalem and he said he really liked the idea of going over there and wanted to do the program. He is dating the older sister of a girl i knew in hawaii, Kira Ho-ching. Anyway I rambled on too long about things that werent too important. I want to thank everyone that has been praying for me or sent letters or packages. I want to thank the Nelsons in Provo and American Fork. Gracias as well to all of the students in Jerusalem that wrote to me. I read all of the letters and appreciated the messages. The coolest thing that has happened here so far happened on Tuesday. My district and I went to the evening devotional early because there was a buzz in the air that someone important would be speaking. We got there early and obtained prime seats, which was super fortunate, since the speaker happened to be Elder Holland. It was an amazing devotional. He spoke about missionary work and the Book of Mormon. He said that the church expects a lot out of us and doesn't apologize but also that we are prayed for more than anyone on the earth except for maybe the prophet. He said that we need to continue to convert ourselves and shouldnt change right after the mission. Also that if we do the right things we can be 100% sure to have at least one convert, ourselves. He focused on the very beginning of the BoM and compared the story of Lehi's dream to the first vision of Joseph Smith. He said the BoM is our most important tool along with the companionship of the spirit. I have been learning spanish rapidly and enjoying it. We try to use it as much as possible and i've found that I can read or listen and understand almost anything now. There was one day that we tried to only speak spanish but it didnt work very well. I guess Im kind of a veteran here now but not so much. I still have a month and 17 days left here. Two of the elders in my district (and in my room) are already leaving next week for the Spain MTC. We start teaching volunteers tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. I've recieved a good amount of packages that I've been really grateful for, especially the healthy food. Haven't seen anyone I know from the outside world except for Shalyn. Ran into her today and talked for a bit. It was good to read all of your news. I was really suprised about the snow. I would love to see what that looks like in Jerusalem. It has been snowing a lot here and I've frozen everytime I walk in between buildings. Anyway i read everything else and wish i could respond to more. My time is running out so i have to go. Good luck with everything. I love you all! You're in my prayers! Salaam alakum! Elder Ludlow

February 24 Letter

Yeah you're right it would be much easier to send one email. I also have a few requests to make, i dont know if you already forward all my emails to everyone or if you would do it seperately. Either way, I have a request that I hope isnt too crazy I would really appreciate it if my family and friends would send me some pictures of themselves. Just a way for me to remember everyone and i would love it. I've got pictures of my immediate family and it has been a blessing for me. If my relatives, my provo and Jerusalem friends would send me a photo it would really make my day. Anyway... I have been settling into the routine a little bit. Had the opportunity to go to the temple with my district today and it was great. Ate a really delicious breakfast there. There are eight elders in my district. My companion and I are both going to Boston. The other companionship in my room is going to spain in a couple weeks. The other four elders are all state side. Three of them are going to Richmond, Virginia and the other one is going to Lansing, Michigan. One of the Richmond Elders played football for Utah. We get gym time almost everyday so we have the choice of playing some indoor sports or lifting weights or running around the track. I've done kind of a mix of everything.Actually my p-day is friday (today) from now on, and yes we go to the temple in the morning. The teachers have been really great. Hermano Keller is our main teacher and he has been really nice and spiritual. He served in Spain so he has kind of a lisp on some letters and says "Vale" a lot. The investigator that we have been teaching is another one of our teachers (we found out yesterday after about five lessons) and we will meet him tonight. At the devotional on tuesday we listened to Elder Wilson from the seventy. He gave an excellent talk. I really liked the story about the shoe shining. I've heard a lot of inspirational missionary stories here and learned a lot of things about teaching. Sounds like you're going through a really fun and exciting time. I bet Turkey will be a great trip. Tell Melia happy birthday for me. Im glad that I have a plethora of great memories from the Holy Land to remember when I want to. Hope you're making more positive memories and enjoying the experience. I see the Jerusalem Center on the painting of Howard W Hunter everytime i walk into the main building and think of all of you. Ciao! Elder Jared Ludlow Jr.

Combination of first email letters to Mom and Dad February 18, 2012

Things are alright, how are they going for you? I have enjoyed some aspects of the MTC and still adjusting to others. Ran into Sestra Jolley (Kristine) on my first day at dinner. I've seen her one other time. I don't think I'll see any other Jerusalemites. No one from the ward yet. I have bumped into a bunch of guys that I knew at Provo High. Speaking, hearing, reading Spanish has been a constant routine. We (my district) actually gave our first lessons in Spanish yesterday to a young man named Mario Sanchez that is supposedly an investigator. All of us took turns and my companion and I were last. It was a pretty good experience, while we weren't completely able to get our point across, the spirit was there. He was a pretty cool guy, probably about 24 years old and supposedly from Panama. The Mission has been tough so far, not going to lie. It has been rewarding though in some ways. I've learned a lot of Spanish already. As usual, something has to go wrong with my health, so I've had some stomach issues but it's ok! For some reason it feels a lot colder in the MTC than it did the last month and a half I've been in Provo. My teachers are really great, they set a good example. I’m pretty sure they are recently returned missionaries and they have a light and energy that is very admirable. My companion, Elder Somppi, is from California. He almost looks like we could be related, almost, but I think that we're very different. Our room mates are going to Spain and they are considerably better at the language. Anyway, miss you and hope everything is going well.

Official Missionary February 15, 2012

 Today Jared Warner Ludlow Jr was set apart to be a full time missionary for the Lord's church. We love you and will miss you.

Ludlow and Nelson Grandparents

President Ed Rasmussen

Jared and his cousin Haley Nelson

Jared with his uncle Dallin Nelson