February 26, 2018 Repentance=Change

The work continues to roll forward in Oldham! We have honestly been so blessed and I am really grateful for the people we are teaching. Angelina continues to progress and Brandons heart continues to change. I think my favourite thing about being a missionary is seeing people change. Right in front of your eyes! We have been able to teach Jack 3 times this week and he is doing well! We gave him a baptismal goal of March 24th. 

We taught Deborah’s brother Ian who is a member and his wife Rachel who is not a member and they expressed how they feel that they need the gospel in their family.  They came to church with their 5 kids on Sunday and it was so fun to see them take up a whole pew! We were also able to find some great new friends this week and I’m excited for what is to come! 

Thought from church this week: 

It’s not always the big things that happen occasionally that change us but the small things that happen on a consistent basis. 

-Elder Ludlow 

Pictures: 

The sun came out this week! Also, went on a hike to a place called Dovestones and it was really pretty but was snowing almost the whole time. 

February 19, 2018 More Adjusting

First off, a huge birthday shoutout to my littlest sister and twin MELIA! I can’t believe you are 15!  I hope you have the best day ever on Saturday! I love you lots 

It has been another good week in Oldham! Our friend Brandon has progressed really well. On Tuesday we had a lesson with him and we showed him “The Hope of God’s Light” video and the Spirit hit him really hard and it was amazing. He has now committed to be baptised in March! We found a really solid new friend Jack at a street Display and had a great Restoration lesson and he has lots of potential. We were not able to see David which was unfortunate. Angelina continues to be doing well. 

We have been focusing a lot on the missionaries in the zone and we’ve seen tons of success! The missionaries are achieving their goals and are increasing in their faith. It’s such a privilege to serve as a leader and to really just love the missionaries. I’m grateful to now have stewardship over more missionaries because there are now more missionaries to love. I love being a missionary! 

Thought of the week: 

Our bodies are 80% water. Just like how light cannot really pass through murky, dirty water, if our bodies aren’t clean, the Priesthood/ His Light cannot pass through us to those around us. We must keep our temple clean. 

-Elder Ludlow 

P.S. there is a Costco is our zone now and we’ve already been twice in two weeks haha.

February 12, 2018 Good Ol' Oldham

Joseph Abram Ludlow <joseph.ludlow@myldsmail.net>	Mon, Feb 12, 8:26 AM
to Mama, Victor, Verna, Sydney, Vrichrubio, me, Melia, Mark, Marissa, Joshua, Jared, JJ, hyrum2nelson, Emily, Elder, Elder, Elder, Elder, chase.hales, stephensestes, Sister, glaziertyler

It has been a good first week in Oldham! It was really hard to leave Chorley and the members there and it’s been a bit of a hard adjustment but we’ve seen some amazing miracles and we are excited to see the work move forward in our area! We have a great friend Angelina from Portugal who has been taught almost everything and is just waiting until she is 18 in April to be baptised. We received a referral from Mormon.org named David and he is from Romania and we were able to teach him yesterday and he is halfway through the Book of Mormon and asked us some really good questions. He has lots of potential!

Our recent convert of 3 weeks Deborah is amazing and is doing lots of missionary work! Her sister and her sisters boyfriend, Mary and Dean came to church last week and we were also able to teach them this week and it was great. Deborah’s brother Brandon has always been in the lessons and he just laughs and asks unnecessary questions and it was quite annoying. But he came to church yesterday with his girlfriend and he loved it! He seemed to have a total change of heart and he asked us later if we would meet with him and he said he’s not ready to be baptised now because he needs to work on the commandments but what a miracle! My testimony of the power of attending church was strengthened even more from this experience. 

So just wanted to share a little bit more about Oldham! It is in the northern Manchester area and so because of that there are people from all around the world. The ward has just over 100 active members and there are some really solid members but also lots of old people. Our area borders the Leeds mission and has lots of hills and colder weather. I love the people and am excited to serve them! 

Random highlights: had MLC and is was really good. Also got to see my MTC President! He lives in the stake and is the high councillor over Missionary work!

-Elder Ludlow 

February 5, 2018 Jake Was Baptised

Jake Tatlock was baptised this week! It was a really special experience that really brought their family together. The service was great and everyone was super happy. John just kept expressing his gratitude towards us and what we have done for their family. It really has been the Lord but Elder Tuipulotu and I have come to realise that we stayed together for so long because we were meant to teach their family. What a huge blessing. 

The Hotchkiss family came to church and seemed really happy but then Bishop texted us today and said they don’t want to continue coming. It’s really strange but we will keep trying. We met a new friend Raymond at a street Display on Friday and he came to church! The Elders here will see him tomorrow and they also hope to see Savannah and John the member referrals in the coming week. 

So we received our transfer calls and sadly I will be leaving Chorley and transferring to Oldham in the Ashton zone! I will be zone leader there with Elder Robertson from Australia, he is half Chinese and we’re really good friends so it should be fun! He goes home at the end of April. I will be going from the smallest zone to the biggest. I will honestly miss Elder Tuipulotu. It has been so fun and amazing to serve with him. 

Hope y’all are happy and well! 

-Elder Ludlow