Heavenly Father loves me so much

This week was hard for Señorita Ludlam, so I have been counting my blessings!

1. I am serving in Layton Utah, SPANISH speaking! I am going to be honest and admit that I really struggled this week, especially the first few days. Although I took Spanish until my Junior year of high school, I do not speak Spanish. The effort it takes to keep up with constant, rapid flow of Spanish and not speak Portuguese AND THEN translate into Spanish leaves me absolutley physically and mentally exhausted. HOWEVER. I am incredibly grateful to be exactly where I am because a) I am going to be trilingual after my mission, how cool is that?! b) I am not depressed, anxious, or in the least bit afraid of this work. There is no way that could possibly be unless Someone is helping me. :) And c) It has been made very clear to me that Heavenly Father sending me to Ogden was the plan all along because He has specific people He wants me to teach! I am not going anywhere until I find them, so I better get to work!

Ava's first night in Ogden with Hermana DeMaio

2. I had been praying for my companion before I got here, and when I saw her, I KNEW that Heavenly Father put us together just for me. ♡ Hermana DeMaio is absolutley incredible. She is a drop-dead gorgeous Italian from Chicago, rides a motorcycle, and is perfect match for me. She wakes up early with me so we can run and work out, eats healthy, loves to sing and laugh and goof around with me, and tells me things straight up, no sugar coating! And best of all? She loves to WORK! I could not ask for a more patient, talented, and golden-hearted trainer.

3. LAYTON CRACKS ME UP. You can just be walking down the sidewalk surrounded by these nice suburban houses, and then you will hear mooing from behind their fences. I saw someone casually ride their horse to Dunkin' Donuts. The mountains aren't quite to Provo standard (I am biased), but they are still so gorgeous. Honestly, the first thing I thought of when I got reassigned to Utah was, "Oh good, I don't have to leave my mountains." We spend most of our time in trailer parks because that's where the Spanish-speaking people live. They call them the "trailas" (try-lahs).

4. OH MY GOODNESS. CAN WE TALK ABOUT PORTUGUESE FOR A SECOND. I loved the language and I already loved the people when I was in the MTC, but that love just EXPLODED when I got here! Heavenly Father keeps placing Brazilians in my path because He knows that nothing could make me happier than to speak this language to these people. It makes very little sense that I took Spanish for 5 years and struggle to keep up, but I can effortlessly understand and speak Portuguese after only 6 weeks of training...could it be Irmao Read's promise coming to pass? If you are a non-member Brazilian, you better watch out because Hermana Ludlam is on the hunt and she will sniff you out.

5. We have a car. With the Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Heavenly Father loves me so much.
This is my first night in Ogden with the other new sisters. The Jaggis (mission president) had a trampoline ;)  (Ava must have forgotten to attach this picture.  Maybe next week.)


Love you all!

Sister Ludlam

4380 S Orchard Ave
South Ogden UT 84403
United States