December 24, 2016 Merry Christmas!

These last few days have been good. We had our Mission Christmas party
yesterday in Chorley and it was lots of fun. In the morning we did
baptisms for the dead and then did an endowment session. It was SO
nice to be back in the temple. I really missed it. We then had a
talent show and also each zone performed a skit. Ours was about a day
in the life of a missionary. Fun stuff.

The work has been pretty slow (Mostly because of Christmas, even
though that may sound weird). Not very much has been happening but the
sisters did hand over one of their investigators Tony to us so that
should be good! We are having fun though!

The members here have been very kind to us. One member Brother Johnson
(one of our favourites) gave us a huge bag of gifts and it was so
nice.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

-Elder Ludlow

P.S. Can't wait to Skype tomorrow 

December 19, 2016 Training Fun

This past week was great! Training has been fun. Elder Audrlický is so
prepared. He is already talking to people on the bus by himself, we
switch off every door when we tract and he knows a lot. We have been
having fun and I have enjoyed getting to know him and feeling and
experiencing the excitement and energy of a new missionary!

We saw Lyncon on Wednesday and he is doing pretty well. He is reading
the Book of Mormon and is genuinely trying to find out if it true but
loves to think about things. Robbin is in the process of moving so we
haven't really been able to communicate with her. We found many new
investigators this past week and we are excited to see them this next
week! Lots of potential.

Birthday S/O to my amazing brother Josh!

We have P Day on Christmas Eve so I will be emailing on that day. I am
excited for this next week!

-Elder Ludlow

Pictures:
1. At the transfer meeting
2. At the ward Christmas party in "Santa's Grotto"

December 13, 2016 Staying in Warrington!!

This past week was very interesting. On Saturday we got a call from
President Ulrich and he said he wanted to talk to Elder Fan so I was a
little upset thinking I would be leaving Warrington. But turns out
Elder Fan will be training in Liverpool in a trio! So on Sunday I got
my transfer call saying that I would be serving with Elder Hamblin
from Wigan which is in our district so I already know him and was
excited. Then this morning President Ulrich called and told me that I
would be training! I was so surprised and I am excited and humbled
about this opportunity.

My new companion is Elder Audrlickŷ (Audra-litzkey) from Czech
Republic. He is 19 and is the oldest of 6 children, all his family are
members. This should be fun! He is very kind.

Work wise this past week wasn't the best. We went and saw a former
investigator and we had a really good lesson with her. She said she
was really excited to see us and she also said that she had been
praying and had felt really good about the church. So we invited her
to be baptised and she said she would when she felt more ready! She
has lots of potential. Her name is Robbin and she actually hadn't been
seen by missionaries since around July.

The Young family has been doing well with the Light the World. We love
helping them with it and we have developed a really good relationship
with them and the father Neil has been expressing how he loves coming
out teaching with us. We have been inviting lots of people that we
meet to look at the advent calendar and I love helping people remember
the true meaning of Christmas. I love our Saviour.

We have been working with a less active Steve Boylan and we have been
super bold and persistent with him telling him that we are here to
help him live the Gospel and so let's do it. We have been making plans
with him to help him change and feel the Spirit more in his life. We
have had powerful experiences testifying to him and the Spirit was
been really strong in our last few visits with him.

This past transfer went by so fast and I am so grateful for the time
that I had with Elder Fan. Lots of great, funny memories. I learned a
lot and changed a lot this past transfer. I learned how to truly rely
upon the Lord and I feel my relationship with my Heavenly Father has
been strengthened and I'm excited to continue to strengthen it.

-Elder Ludlow

December 5, 2016 Light the World

This week was fine. Not much visible success but there is lots of potential. We found a few new investigators and they seemed really solid but they ended up not working out. We had no investigators in church and we two people cancel on going to the missionary fireside. 

We saw our investigator Lyncon and it went pretty well and he agreed to a date but then said that he couldn't see us for two weeks.. so the date didn't really work out. We have gone by a few times since then and he is doing alright, he is just really thinking about things and I think he genuinely wants to find out if this is right. He could have potential. 

We were able to set up an appointment with Sylia and even got members for the appointment but then she didn't answer. So that was disappointing and she also didn't come to church. But we still think she has lots of potential! And her daughter really wants to come to church. 

The Christmas Initiative (Light the World) has been great. We were in a members home every day this week showing them the videos and I just love it. The members are excited about it and many shared their testimonies on it in sacrament meeting yesterday. We are focusing in on two families but working more closely with the Young family and that has been fun. We really love them. I love this ward. 

Highlights: On the worldwide day of service, we went a painted the walls of a members home. On "honour your father and mother day" for the Christmas Initiative we found a new investigator from São Paulo, Brazil!! On Saturday, the Hillams, a senior couple came and inspected our flat and it was really nice to see them, it felt like talking to my grandparents. Elder Hillam played football at BYU and they both are huge fans so it was really nice to finally talk to some BYU fans! 

I hope you all are watching the videos for Light the World every day and are doing things for each day! It really is a great way to focus on our Saviour. 

Have a great week everyone!! 

-Elder Ludlow 

P.S. I know my hair is super short.. Elder Fan cut it a couple weeks ago and accidentally buzzed it all off. Because he is such a nice companion he did it to himself right after haha. Everyone please pray for my hair to grow quickly. 

Picture: painting at the Boscorino's. Sorry about the bad quality.