Remember Who You Are

Hello Family!

It was an interesting week. My comp's eye was swollen bad on Monday and it kept getting worse. We ended staying in the house for awhile because it itched and burned so bad and it's very contaminated and sucio (dirty) outside. We went to the doctor's office  in the old MTC here. I am grateful I did not live in that building for 6 weeks. The doctor told us to buy tobramycinal dexamethasoma --which are special eye drops with steroids in them, according to the doctor. Sunday was the first day Hermana Layme's eye looked normal. 

Also, an hermana in my house has been sick for 3 months and they finally took her to the hospital to do tests. Turns out she had a plague of bacteria and parasites. I stayed with her in the hospital for a day. We discovered that you have to keep the IV fluids hung high otherwise the flowing direction will switch and you will begin to lose your own fluids.

We had a zone conference that I wasn't looking forward to, but then we watched a clip from Lion King and it stayed with me.  I recommend you watch it (here), but if you don't want to, the gist is this:

Mufasa: Simba, you have forgotten me.
Simba: No, how could I?
Mufasa: You have forgotten who you are, and so forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba, you are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.
Simba: How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be.
Mufasa: Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true King.

King Mufasa

I think the scene hit me because it was like God sees us as more than what we are right now or whether we've come a long way or not. We need to take our place no matter what kind of shoes we have to fill or what kind of deficiencies we feel we have. Because we're His children, and we just need to remember it.

I also had to repent after I saw Simba respond that he could never forget his father because it reminded me of me. Simba ran away because of his father-- so how could he forget him? I'm here doing my Heavenly Father's work, but that doesn't mean I always remember to involve Him or do things His way. So even if we're doing good things like reading scriptures or going to church, it's possible we're forgetting God unless we're purposely keeping Him in our thoughts and humbling ourselves and asking for His help.

I love you family!

Hermana Lulu 

?

Cute little pixie

Where Real Joy is Found

Hi Fam!

This week was kinda mas o menos, pero mas menos que mas. I thought I got an ulcer, but I discovered what was causing the pain and it is getting better now. Our house hasn't had water ever since Friday, and we have been showering from big jugs of water. My comp's eye swelled up to the size of a ping pong ball and we don't know why.

We dropped pretty much everyone in our teaching pool (because they weren't progressing and/ or interested), and almost dropped the only progressing person we have, but something told us not yet. Zero investigators came to church. 😕

Also Puerto Rico took a beating. I'm not supposed to know about news going on in the world, but man that is bad. Those guys are in my prayers. I don't know the extent of the damage but I hope they're able to get relief soon.

The good news is that I got to study the Book of Mormon mucho, and like Mom says, it was an amazing week in Lehi's Dream. Come Follow Me wanted us to read it with a person we cared about in mind, and I felt just like Lehi as he yearned to share the joy with others. I'm really grateful for this pequeño time I have here in the mission to share what I have with others, and that I get to dedicate every minute of my day to it. I just don't understand why its been so hard to find people who will accept what we offer!

In my post last week I wrote about a talk called The War Goes On and the speaker made a great point that one of Satan's tactics is that he uses counterfeits. Counterfeits are not opposites, he says. The opposite of white is black, but the counterfeit of white is off white or grey. But like counterfeit money, it's worthless. He makes the nicely dressed people in the great spacious building look attractive, but true fans will know ;) that the real joy is found in holding to the rod and staying by the tree. If you're looking to avoid Satan's traps, look into things in your life that you might have once considered good, then make sure they are "God good" and not "Worldly good." There's a difference. For instance, Snapchat used to be a way for me to keep in touch with friends, but then I realized it just wasted my time.

Other good news is I saw a cat (couldn't send picture), and we got a member to come out with us, and we found new streets to contact! Our area is small and I thought I already knew all the streets. Also, my old companion finally got her visa so she's off to serve in Provo soon!

My comp and I are deciding to stay super positive this week and we're looking forward to seeing more of the Lord's hand in our work.

I love you family! I'm so EXCITED to see EVERYONE in OREGON in June!! Thank you so much Mom for scouring the internet and scoring a beautiful beach house for us! I hope everyone has a great week.

Love,
Hermana Lu Lu (my comp's nickname for me)

The War Goes On

Jenna, Hermana Mercader, and Hermana Jepperson before transfers

Hi Family!

I have a new companion! Hermana Layme is from Peru. She has 15 months on the mission, and she is super experienced and motivated. She says she feels like she's not diligent enough, but I think she's the definition of diligence.

My house of 4 turned to a house of 6! Hermana Geddes (my MTC comp) is in my house! 😊She is opening a new area. She is a rock star. She has to go through the other hermana's area --and my area-- to get to her area. All of us are looking for houses because our house contract is up but the person in charge of mission housing is not really getting involved. It's a matter of time before we're proselyting with our suitcases.

Me house hunting. Not looking very good.

Hermana Mercader gave me a talk called "La Guerra Continue" (click on link to read The War Goes On) and I've been putting it off because I already have heard that the War in Heaven continues today. But that was a great talk and I feel like it went really well with what Mom wrote about Satan putting sneaky thoughts in our heads-- because that's how he gets us to lose faith and then he wins. If you want a good dose of animo (enthusiasm, desire) to do what you know you should do, read the talk. It's very good. I wish I could share more of the things I learned, but I left my notes at home and so I don't remember everything I got out of it. Next time.

Love youuu...
Hermana Ludlam

This is Julio's sock puppet

Jezi renmen ou! = Jesus Loves you!

My shoes after one year on the mission

Hi Family,

I haven´t talked to you since last decade. I miss you.

My companion, Hermana Mercader, is leaving tomorrow :(  My new companion is not here yet, but she is from Peru.

We contacted a bunch and prayed to find new people. We found Michel who I don't think is very interested, but her husband is less active, and he doesn't seem very interested in coming back to church, but I just felt like even if our attempts to share the gospel don't end in a baptism or a reactivation, our efforts are not for nothing. And knowing that I am in the right place helps me feel like I am an instrument in God's hands.

Rum Raisin Ice Cream...oops!

This week I received a blessing. We were visiting Maria, a less active, and her husband left to buy us Cocorica, which is some coconut drink I've never had and didn't want to try, because I don't like coconut. And I said a silent prayer in my head that her husband wouldn't find it and the store-- and he didn't find any! And I just feel really blessed.

Also I have a confession. I tried fasting this week and not only did I have to break my fast (everyone here is too gracious and they always give us juices and soda and food) but I also broke the Word of Wisdom. My companion told me after I had eaten half of it that this ice cream contains rum. PSA: If you find white ice cream with raisins in it in the DR, don't eat it, even if you're not fasting. It has rum in it!

I have really enjoyed starting the Book of Mormon with Come, Follow Me. I get a lot out of it. I liked looking at all the names of the Plan of Salvation because they help me understand how much God loves us. He set this all up out of love.

My beautiful area where I will be leading this transfer

Also, I´m learning Creole. Jezi renmen ou!

I hope everyone is having a good start to a New Year!
Also, I hit a year! It doesn't feel real.

Love you all
Hna Ludlam

Happy New Year!

 Hi Family!

It was so nice to talk to everyone on Christmas! I'm sorry everyone was so sick. It was so great to have a real conversation. 

I love my companion.  She never got to go to an MTC, but she already seems to know how to do everything!  I am impressed.

This was a long week. We did not had very much success, but we still had fun. On Christmas Eve, I made an Oreo gingerbread house with Hermana Jepperson, an hermana in my house. We also ate a super nice dinner at the Succoro's house. Christmas morning, I watched my housemates open the packages their family sent them.

Then President Santos calls and says something about having things he needs to give us, and all four of us in the house need to come out to get them-- and they had a package from my family! I'm so grateful for you guys for all putting that together. I could tell a lot of time and effort was put into it. The girls in my house thought it was funny to see that my sisters draw things like me.
Also I chopped my hair off. I didn't really mean to, but the mom of Julio is a pro and I asked her how much would it cost to cut my hair, and how much should I cut off. $800 pesos, and she said I'd have to cut off a good amount. Then she got her cutting scissors out and told me to sit and... woop! it's now above my shoulders.

This week my comp and I had a lot of sickness and infirmities. Hermana Mercader coughed all day until she lost her voice, and I was sick in the bathroom. Also I did that stinkin' thing where I popped my neck or something and I couldn't turn my head and I was in pain all day. Luckily, we didn't have to go out that morning because we had weekly planning, but I was worried about the afternoon. I prayed that I could move my neck by the time we had to leave. Then when we were getting ready to go out, I could turn my neck! It still hurt really bad but at least I could move. Bendiciones (blessings).

Happy New Year!
Hermana Ludlam

There she is!  Hermana Jenna Ludlam!

I Stand All Amazed

Feliz Navidad Family!

We had a fun Christmas party this week! I didn't come with high expectations but people worked really hard to make it nice. It really isn't hard to impress me as long as you make take-home goodie bags with chocolate in them.

The trio is down to two. Hermana Gervais left this week :(   But Hna Mercader and I are pushing forward! We are working to find new people to teach and we're trying to be better at encouraging the members to be the finders.

Our flooded streets

Jen and her babes

Getting people excited for Christmas is a lot harder than I expected here. It's just another drinking holiday. Our mission president tries to give us animo by saying, "It's the Christmas season! People will be especially receptive and looking for Christ!" But I think the exact opposite is true. In my last area, Diesel didn't want to get baptized before January because she wanted to be able to party with her friends, and everyone is too busy to go to church or are leaving town so we dropped a couple until next year. Oh well. I still like hearing the message of Jesus' birth.

The first time I ever caught a glimpse of the miraculous condescension of Christ was in seminary (and Mom was teaching). I stand all amazed when I remember that Jesus left his glorious throne to come to this earth and be born in a box that farm animals eat out of. His visitors were mere shepherds. It is humbling to think that the greatest person to ever come to earth never had fame or riches or fans.

This week we went contacting with Julio, an investigator. He was really sad when he saw that people ignored us or hid from us. I guess I was used to it so I never noticed until he said something. But I don't feel bad because like Elder Holland says (click here):

“Remember that when you struggle on your mission, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best person this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have every reason to stand tall and be grateful that the living Son of the living God knows all about your sorrows and your afflictions, and that He came to turn every minus in your life into a plus.”    *flexes  ;-)

Have a merry Christmasss!
Hermana Dudelang (every Domican that tries to say my name)

Given in the Moment

Wesley and Jenna

Fam!

This week was pretty good. We have to work extra hard to find people who will let us teach them in this area, and after leaving some people, we're still looking for interested people to add to our teaching pool.

But I am excited about Julio. When we met him, he told us he was atheist, but now he says he prays at night and accepted an invitation to be baptized, and is working towards being baptized the 4th of January! He read up to 1 Nephi 16 in 4 days, and every pamphlet we give him. Woo!
We had zone conference this week (my first in the capital!) and we watched a Disney short video called Piper. I'm surprised how much I got out of it. It's about a baby bird 🐤who eats clams, but he's afraid of the waves on the beach and he finds his own way to confront his fears and finds a new, better way of finding clams. In my situation, I find it difficult to talk to strangers and think of things to say, but when I open my mouth, that's when I think of the things to say. I wish I could formulate the perfect response in my head first, but if I use faith and trust in the promise that I'll be given what I need to say in the hour I need to say it (without worrying about what I have to say beforehand) then that's when I know what to say-- in Spanish! I used to think the Gift of Tongues was supposed to help me master Spanish faster, but from my experience, it's always been something I've been given in the moment I need it.

I have been reading Saints --today with a donut I bought myself.  (Photo on the left.  I'm actually really healthy Mom, you'd be proud of my whole wheat bread)

I am so sad one of my comps is going home this week-- Hermana Gervais! I learn so much from her. I can tell she understands her purpose as a missionary, and I aspire to be as fearless as her. She's a prime example of someone who knows how to open her mouth. But Hermana Mercader and I are going to keep working hard here in Independencia.

I took this photo of some "inspirational graffiti" that I might've gotten a tattoo of --had I not been a member of the church!  It makes no sense and has grammatical issues.

Love,
Hermana Lo-jam (how I was presented in my new ward)

A child peacefully eating her rice in a little plastic chair amid all the chaos!