Oh know ye not that Angels are near you, from brightest mansions above?

 

 

 

 

Shorty email, GREAT WEEK.

I just don't have shloads of time and I want to write a few personal emails, so this one'll be quick and to the point.

We challenged Hector to baptism this week and without a shadow of hesitation, he accepted. September 21st will be a great day in the world. That's for sure. Then, yesterday they WALKED as a family to 9am church from Agua Blanca which is about an hour away. God is so good. This family is the reason (probably one of many) That I am here in Honduras right now, in Talanga.

We get to go to the temple this Thursday and I as so excited! I miss the temple so much!

I love my companion and we are happy, and having so much success. What could be better. I finally feel like I have started my mission. We have a ton planned this week with the members. Because this work can't be done without them... (cough cough you guys!!!!)

Today I was studying in 3 Nephi and kept thinking about the hymn Come Unto Jesus (117) Look up the words. Especially if you're feeling down, ever. Its one of my favorites as of this morning.

Just know that I love and miss you all a ton.
 But this gospel is true and I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Hermana Ludlow

P.S. Quote of the week by my companion " I may not know a whole lot about missionary work, but I know a lot about happiness, and that's what counts."

SHES THE BEST

Dearest friends and Family,

I feel like my mission has finally started. I'm finally starting to feel it. The Spanish is still super rough, don't get me wrong, but its coming! Plus, my companion, Sister Gallardo is already my best friend. YOU GUYS. We have so much in common and she's honestly one of the most charitable, Christ like people I have ever met. Wow I love her. The other day in our companion inventory, I read her the part of my setting apart blessing that says something along the lines of... you will have companions that you will have friendships with now, in this life and into the eternities, as we were both moved to tears we talked about how inspired this companionship was and how pumped we are to be companions, having this opportunity to work together in this crazy, amazing, wonderfully hard work. The Lords work.

This week was a little insane...

Tuesday: Hermana Gallardo had a bad case of the runs. (quite normal, in fact a way of life for us missionaries here in Honduras) anyway we were in the middle of the lesson when she looked at me with panic, and I knew we had to get out of there. We wrapped up the lesson as quick as we could and headed for Hermana Melgar's house to ask her to use her bathroom. We began the long walk through our investigators field to get to the gate at the end of their property. Low and behold it was being guarded by 3 very large horned cattle, one of which proceeded to charge at us with anger in his eyes. Long story short, we made it to  the bathroom, but it was for sure a close call. Gotta love Honduras.

Wednesday night: Hermana Gallardo slipped in vomit. Very funny, very sad. Mostly just funny.

Saturday: We went to Agua Blanca to teach Hector (Marlin... recent converts husband) and the spirit was so strong! I know that one of the reasons I am here at this moment in Talanga Honduras is to baptize this family. He's been reading and praying and him and his wife pray together as a family every night and promised he'd come to church. SUCH A GOOD LESSON. I love that family you guys. With my whole heart. I want this so bad for them, and I know they have been prepared for my companion and I to teach them.

Sunday: Well, first half of the day was for sure a disaster. None of our investigators came to church (mostly because the member with a car who's in charge of picking up our investigators/ recent converts forgot to go pick them up. WORST.) But then in the evening, my companion and I found the best family and taught them lesson 1. That was easily one of the best lessons of my entire mission. Elsa and Fernando are super positive and asked a ton of questions including if they could feed us dinner. So obviously they rock.

I love all of you. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts in my behalf. I can feel them strengthening me everyday.

Sorry about my English. I cant speak either language these days. So that's great.

Love you all

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS BAY AND TAN. LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!

Hermana Rebekah Ludlow

Mision Honduras Comayaguela

Edifico Plaza America Contiguo A Sears

A Una Cuadra del Mall, 3 Nivel

Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan

HONDURAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

You guys. This week has been the difference of night and day.

EXCHANGES!!!!!

The cutie on the left is my new companion Hermana Gallardo. Wow. I don't even know where to start. I guess with a little family background. She's the second of five and has a brother serving in Argentina right this very second with a sister getting shipped out there this Wednesday. 3 siblings on a mission at the same time? So cool. Talk about blessed family! Anyway, Her dad is from Mexico and her Moms from New Port Beach California and both her parents served missions. Her mom in Puerto Rico and her dad in Mexico.

Hermana Gallardo and I were talking about how we were going to be companions at the activity we had with all the sister missionaries and HERE WE ARE. For the reunion de cambios, Hermana Watts and I stayed at the house to wait for our new companions while Hermana Peruch (my companion before) and Hermana Judd (my twin/ bestie) went to Tegucigalpa since they were the ones getting transferred. ANYWAY, as you can all imagine we were anxious and super nervous all morning. Then, the phone rang and it was the President, telling us our companions missed the bus, but they were on their way. When he told me who my companion was I fell to the floor with joy and sobbed. Not even a joke.

Things have been rockin. We haven't had a ton of success this week with lessons, and the President wants her to go over my training again because for lack of better words.. my trainer wasn't super ready to train. Anyway, We are so pumped to get to work and translate all of Talanga. She's the best and we are basically the same person. Cant wait for this week and to tell you all how it goes.

LOVE YOU ALL.

Got letters from Leah (sister) and MEISH today. Meish. I died. That was easily the best letter I've gotten since I left home. You're the best.

God is good. This gospel is true.

Hermana Rebekah Ludlow

Mision Honduras Comayaguela

Edifico Plaza America Contiguo A Sears

A Una Cuadra del Mall, 3 Nivel

Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan

HONDURAS

Good news and Bad news.

Good: I'm alive. We had two baptisms this week. We're in Tegucigalpa right now because we had an activity with all the sisters and the Presidents wife. We have exchanges next week. I'm a missionary.

Bad: We're at a different internet cafe (obvi because were in Tegucigalpa) and I cant hook up my camera to this computer. Saddest, because I have a lot of good photos to send. Good thing there's always next week though. 

Alright alright alright....

BAPTISM!!!! The baptism was super awesome. Both Sumela and Marlin had their whole family there and they were both so happy and so beautiful. Baptism days are always super stressful, to say the least, but always so so worth it when it's all said and done. (Photos to come) Wow you guys. Its also awesome to be at a baptism where I was there for the entire conversion AND where I can kinda understand what's going on. Spanish is coming. Its so frustrating some days (most days), but its coming. I've been blessed with a companion that's native which seriously is a huge contributing factor.

On Wednesday we had a testimony meeting where we brought a bunch of the members/ leaders with us to Agua Blanca at Hermana Melgars house. So awesome. The Presidencies all bore their testimonies around a big campfire and then we watched the Restoration video with our investigators. 

Funny story... (mostly for Niels) Yesterday we were contacting and met this 97 year old lady who definitely didn't have all her wits about her named Amelia. When I asked here if she had children she proceeded to remove her shirt and asked me if it looked like she had children. This lady was proud of what she's got and the fact that she's never breast fed.... to say the least. Good times you guys. Good times. 

Exchanges are next Wednesday. Way nervous and also way excited. I'll keep you all posted. I'll know by the end of this week if I'm training or not. (AHHHH hopefully not. But if needs be, I'm up for it!) 

Love you all. Thank you for your love, encouragement, support and prayers. 

Hermana Ludlow

Got packages from Sister Jeffs and Tanner. Thanks Natalie and kids for your letters! I love you guys so much! And TANNER: couldn't have asked for a more perfect package. Skittles, oil, and best CD (Thanks Caleb Darger!!!) 

Mom, got your packages too. Thanks!!!! 

Fam, BOAT? WHAT?

Leah (sis) thanks for the pregnant picture! 

OUT OF TIME: LOVE YOU ALL. the church is true!!!

 

Honduras in August

Welp, this week happened, and it's already Monday again, and its already August, and it was already my fourth Fast Sunday here. I don't know you guys. Time is a crazy thing. We're coming up quick on the four month mark. CRAZY.

So good to hear from all of you and your summer adventures. Thanks for the photo Leah! So fun that you guys were all in California together. Oh nostalgia. Nah, it's good to be here. Lately I've been thinking about how completely different my life is right now, and how quickly it changed. Sometimes, it freaks me out and other days not so much. It's starting to feel normal to be here. I don't know if that really makes sense, but I don't feel like as much of an alien anymore. (Despite the solid fact that I'm pretty sure everyone here thinks I am a literal alien. Its fine...) 

Not too much to report of this week. July was a pretty dry (baptism wise) month for our little area. As a district, (4 companionships) we had two baptisms, when usually every companionship has that many. August is looking better though. Hermana Peruch and I have two baptisms set for this Saturday with two Hermanas from Agua Blanca. They are both so great! 

-Sumela, 23 single mom with a son of 20 months

-Marlen is 19 and married with two kids. The husbands progress is a little slow, but were thinking with her taking the first step, it'll help him progress too. 

We have a family home evening planned in Agua Blanca with the Branch Presidency at Hermana Melgar's house and all of our/the elders investigators. Should be splendid. More to come on that next week. 

What else? The weather is super hot, super humid, and super rainy every day. So that's great. Hermana Judd (my bestie/twin) have been whipping out our rain jackets a ton. So that's great. Transfers are coming up right quick and its more than likely that both Hermana Judd and I stay here for the next 3 months. If that's the case, we'll spend 7 1/2 months together in the mission. She is seriously so great you guys. Despite the hardships that I've had with both companions so far, the Lord knows me and knows I needed her in my life. She rocks, and she's from California, so we'll for sure be buddies after the mish, (Not that we think about life after the mission or anything...)

(Pictures to come next week.) THE POWERS OUT HERE and has been since yesterday afternoon. Due to wind and rain, but its normal here, this is just the longest its stayed off since I've been here. We're at the internet cafe place using their generators for power. They are the cutest nicest because they said they've been saving the generator power for us because they know we always come at the same time every week and it's our only day to write. Nicest. 

Anyway, sorry this week doesn't bring any crazy exciting news. Next weeks email will be more exciting though for sure. 

Love you all. Thank you for your emails, letters, thoughts and prayers.

Pray for my people, and be a member missionary for crying out loud!!! (ha)

This gospel is so true. 

Hermana Ludlow

 

Hey my loves!

Gonna keep this one a little short so I can send more personal emails (which I have been super bad at due to time) 

Working a lot in Agua Blanca this week! We have two super awesome investigators out there that have dates for the 10th of August! We also went out there on P-day last week to spend time with Hermana Melgar (the member that lives out there that's been helping us a TON!) to have lunch and take pictures with her. She's so awesome, always feeds us and gives us tonssss of mangos and treats. Cutest cutie. 

The Hermanas from LoArque (Hermana Vasques and Hermana Lopez) came to check up on us... I think mostly to get a feel for if I'm ready to train. SCARY. What if that happens? I guess we'll find out in a short 3 and a half weeks!!! SO crazy. Time goes by so quick here (most of the time) so that's great. 

Things have been going a lot better with my companion since the Hermanas came to visit us on Wednesday. I feel like we are communicating and working better together. I don't know what it was, but the last few weeks with her have been pretty rough. THINGS ARE GOOD THOUGH. 

This gospel is true you guys. I love you all. Youre all in my prayers.

Got MY PACKAGE this week. THANKS MOM. Love you so much!

Got 4 letters from Leah (sister)

Cutest letter from Bay (pictures included)

Letter/poem/photos from Chris. You bestie. 

THANKS EVERYONE. YOURE ALL NICIES!

Tan! GO ON A MISSION TOMORROW K? AHHHHHHHH

Missionary friends (Especially Emily Newman) Read D&C 15:6... Em do you remember that conversation we had in Moab before you left? Eternal friendships!!!! 

Cool! I love everyone!

Hermana Ludlow

 

Doctrine and Covenants 15:6

 

 6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to ^adeclare ^brepentance unto this people, that you may bring ^csouls unto me, that you may ^drest with them in the ^ekingdom of my ^fFather. Amen.

 

 

 

Hey Friends and Family!

 

So, I forgot to send these photos/talk about this last week, but Elder Kearns (our district leader) went back to good ol 'Merica so we decided to throw eggs at and water balloons at him. The other elders in our district hid on the roof and my companion and I ambushed him from the back. It was a good moment in the world. Oh the simple joys of the mission. Its interesting to realize the little things I'm finding joy in here because its so much different than life at home. I do miss the little things though. Mostly food. Like good quality treats man!!! Those are hard to come by round these parts. Real butter. Yeah, not a thing here. Its a tragedy. What else? Cleanliness. I miss cleanliness. And all of you of course. I miss and pray for all of you.

 

This week went by soooooo fast. Like what? The coolest thing that happened this week was that we started working in a new area called Agua Blanca that's about an hours walk from where we live, or a 10 minute bus ride. (The manner of transportation usually depends on whether we want to spend the money on the bus, or if my companion doesn't feel like walking.) Agua Blanca is so beautiful. Its removed from the pueblo that we live in and is more countryside..ish. (We're going there today to take pictures and hike and have lunch with the cutest old member lady, so I'll be sure to send pictures next week.) Anyway, this Hermana in our ward named Hermana Melgar is the one that brought these investigators to church with her and basically told us what we need to do. SO AWESOME. That's how this work is supposed to be done. With the help of the members! (cough cough, do your part guys!) She showed us where these four Hermanas live and went to the lessons with us. Wow. She's awesome. She keeps quoting D&C 4 and telling us how the field of Agua Blanca is white and ready to harvest. Awesome.

 

Today our Zone Leaders had us to study our Patriarchal Blessings for personal study and I did some reading about the tribe of Ephraim. In the bible dictionary it says that "in the last days it has been the tribe of Ephraim's privilege first to bear the message of the restoration of the gospel to the world and to gather scattered Israel. We are in the last days you guys! This is real life! So cool. I love the Book of Mormon and having so much time to study the scriptures. My personal study is always my favorite hour of the day.

 

Well, I love you all. Hope you're enjoying the last few weeks of summer!

 

Sorry that I now don't know English, or Spanish. So that's cool.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUINN, EOMER AND MAYSIE this month. AND LEAH DAMRON!!!!!!

Kent, love your emails buddy. You are the best. Wish I could've been front row at your farewell. I'm so excited for you buddy. You're going to be such an awesome missionary. Don't worry about not writing us all personal emails, as you can see I never have time to. LOVE YOU THOUGH!

BAY. Still dead that you're going to Argentina!

Chris. You're my best friend and I love you. (NEWSFLASH) Write me someday k?

Tan. You leave in one minute. OK WHAT?????

Soren. Got your letter. Cant remember if I told you last week. But yeah got it. Gonna write you this week. Love you.

I love EVERYONE.

 

Hermana Ludlow