January 26, 2011 - Letter #4

From: Austin Ipson

My District



Southern Utah (Pine View) Boys!
Elder Hayden Houston (Phillipines), Elder Austin Ipson (Ohio), Elder Ethan Jansen (Russia)



Elders in my District

My Branch on steps of Provo Temple

Reflection of Provo Temple in fountain...

I'm going to OHIO!!!  Bueno!

Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 7:11 AM
To: ipsons@infowest.com
Subject: Re: Good Morning!!!

Glad you got my photo card!  Now you have a pic. of all of us Southern Utah (Pine View) Boys!  There are a few other people here from down under, but they went to Desert Hills.  So yes I know them, but a photo isn't really due for the people you don't exactly know. (Right?)

Since a letter might not get to my beloved swimmers in time could you do me a favor. Tell them it's okay to use the fastskins, especially since the 4x100 took first.  Also tell them I will set terms that will be sent (via snail mail) today.

Obviously you want to hear about what's been going on here right?  Well... I need to write in my journal more often... So, what you get is from my heart by the seat of my pants!

Let's see last night we had Elder Evans of the Seventy come and talk to us.  He talked to us about President Monsen and how he know's that he is a Prophet.  He through in some personal experiences with our dearly beloved Prophet & his sincerity.  The openening comment he made is that "some people think he is... nostolgic... with his stories."  The whole time I was stuck on that comment.  I keep churning in my mind that his teaching methods are like the Saviors.  El Salvador used parables so much, and the pharisees couldn't see past the story (not to forget their own law).  It seems our prophet is in the same boat.  Scrutinized due to peoples blindness.  (yes I will be frank)

I have been called to be a music coordinator as you know, but when you forget to do your calling it can give you some grief.  Granted a musical number is hard to get together already (intermediate hyms are preferred to be a special number), but I didn't yeild to... even... getting... one.  So, I gave myself the opportunity to sing!  A Poor Wayfaring Man./.. was the number I chose, and I don't think I've ever sang with more clarity.  When you dedicate yourself to the Lord you can do more that with your own talent.  On the topic of being a music coordinator, I am losing a few pianists.  Is there anyway you could send me some?  Meg would be great! So please send her up if you could! Gracias!

As of late I have finished the book of Revalations (Apocolypsis en Español).  That book is full of.... Something... It is something you wonder about every time you take in a new word, yet you can apply it to yourself even with it's crazy, destructive dialouge.  Then to find out some of it was in Nephi (it never clicked until now that Nephi saw some of the same things).  Nevertheless it is a book with power.  So, after finishing revalations, I finish all the epistles from Peter, James, and John. 

So, life is cool here.  Not much to complain about... actually the food is getting to me.  This week I've put on 5 pounds.  That 200 pound barrier is very, very close.  So, the diet starts.... after this doughnut!  Bueno!

It was cool to hear about the family experiences with President Uchdorf, I am jealous but at the same time I'm satisfied.  I'm grateful that back at home you are all doing well, and hope you can all make it through this legislative session.  It seems we all will be affected by it.

Mucha Amor,

Elder A. Ipson

Columbus Ohio Mission

January 19, 2011 - Letter #3

Well, here am I!

Before I start... I can't open PDFs.  These computers here have been "set-apart" to only do a few things.  PDF reading is not one of them. 

It's been so great to hear from all of you guys!  From Little Leighton to Elder Ipson the Older.  I have so much fun reading all of your letters!

So, basketball is a hot topic at our house huh?  Well, I knew it was only a matter of time until Dad got his calling, and it's good to hear that Tanner has his clutch moments.  Keep me updated.  I want to know if our 11th can keep up the inner stake legacy of always making the play-offs.  (Just don't live up to the legacy I left in my last church ball game).  So, a new baby in the ward?  You better make sure and hold that baby for me! 

So, Dad says that the new airport is open.  I have to laugh I didn't know it was that close to being done!  Elder Long (played basketball for Hurricane) and I both got letters yesterday (Letters didn't come on MLK Day) both saying that the airport is open.  We both laughed because like dad said, we "don't have to ride in the Brazilias anymore."  So coming home from the mission, I will be coming home in style!

So, I've been reading Zack's e-mails and I'm getting kind of jealous, all this time in the MTC, and I don't get to have the experiences he is having.  I'm not counting down my date of "escape" from the MTC, but I can't wait to get out there and start working in Ohio.  I sent a letter to him last week.  I haven't heard anything from that letter again.  Hopefully the letter made it to Trinidad in one piece....  If not I'll just send another this week.  But please keep forwarding me emails from him.

Now I'm sure you want me to talk about myself, and what's going on here.  Well, this past week we have lost a district, so We sang God be with you 'Till we meet again" en Español.  Being obnoxious missionaries we sing it at the top of our lungs burning out all vocal performance for the next day.  If Bob were to hear our technique he would cringe!

Anyways most of this district is heading off to Argentina, and a pair is leaving today for Texas.  In our district we have a couple leaving for the D.R. (Dominican Republic) MTC.  Tomorrow they head off, and we hope the best for them in their missions in Puerto Rico.  We also got a new district last Wednesday, they are all going to Chile!  Crazy!

Last night we had Elder Gong of the Seventy come and talk to us.  He really invigorated my want to read from the Book of Mormon.  Lately I've had my nose in the Bible reading about the Savior.  More or less I've been studying the life of Peter.  Despite his weaknesses he really is what the Lord called "The Rock".  If I could be like anyone it would be like Peter...

Before I forget there are a few people I would love to hear from.  So if you could, could you please release your inner bond and get me address for the following people.

McCall Matthews, Cody Eckman, Tiffany Prince, Coby Johnson, Danny Gillespie

So, I really must thank you for the Chips and Dip!  That is the most glorious food I've had in a while.  Whether it's the Salt Peter or the grease, all of the food slowly starts tasting the same.  Although that being said we have a 1-10 code of what to eat here at the MTC.  10 being the highest, you rate the food according to how it looks.  Then if you invert the number you get how good the food tastes, so if you have something that looks like a 7, it should come out to taste like a three.  Another variable to add in is the gassiness it gives you.  So the higher the tastiness number the higher the gas number.  This should provide you evidence to the paradox we call food here at the MTC.

This past couple of weeks I've seen friends come in and go.  To preface the story, Elder Hall (Boston Mass.) had his flight cancelled due to weather somewhere, and he got stuck at the MTC, another day.  The funny thing is that Elder Jansen (Moscow West, Russia) came in that day.  While Elder Hall and I were eating we saw Dork Dots!  We were so excited!  We literally pounced on Elder Jansen as he walked in!  I'm sure he was flattered and confused about what just happened, but we were so happy to see a familiar face.  (Oh yeah, Danny Gillespie comes in soon).  Elder Hall is sure that his flight was cancelled just so he could see Elder Jansen!  I wouldn't doubt it, the Lord has his hand in everything!  I'm re-converted each day, and some days more than others.  (Time is running out)

Mucha Amor,

Elder A. Ipson (The younger)

Columbus Ohio Mission

January 12, 2011 - Provo Temple & Preparation Day



Great Missionaries!!!



Beautiful Provo Temple on a chilly day!

Think Austin is falling in love with the Provo Mountains!

January 5, 2011 - Preparation Day!





Elder Ipson & Elder Ragan

at the Provo Temple

"Momma's Boys!"
Elder Ipson, Elder Ragan, Elder Reid, Elder Foster

January 12, 2011 - letter #2

Dear Family,

Here goes my 30 minute sprint for emailing.  It's great to hear that my family is doing well!  I'm glad to hear that there is now a Dr. Ipson.  I feel dignified saying that I know one.  Speaking of music, this week I have been called to be the Branch Music Coordinator!  So I'm the one who conducts in sacrament meeting and makes sure all of the music needs are taken care of.  So, if you would be so kind, could you send my baton?  It should be in a jar in my room.  If it's too hard to find it's not a bother.  (If you can send some of my sheet music (It should be in my choir black folder))  So, the stuff I wouldn't think I would need, I do need.  In fact the district has asked me to arrange the Army of Heleman song.  Since I don't have Sibelius 3 (That music program that slows everything down)  I feel limited to what I can do, because I can't hear things being fed back to me....  So this is how Beethoven felt when he was writing music.  So, yeah, the parable of the talents is being applied here.  My district is making sure I don't bury mine.

Whoa, didn't mean send that so quickly but, I will go on.  With the pics. I sent I was vague on who was who.  In the "Mammas Boys" pic you've got the roomies in my district.  The other two are Elder Reid (Dr. Phil) nickname that describes his personality)), and Elder Foster, he was the shorter one with the glasses (I believe).  The ones at the Provo Temple are Elder Henderickson (Tall and lanky), and Elder Fowles (Short and Stocky).  They are both heading to the Dominican Republic next week to their MTC, then onto Puerto Rico.  The other pair that was in the pictures were Elder Southfeild (The one that looks (and acts somewhat) like Kendall Wilkey), and Elder Hunt (who reminds me very much of Kenton Powell).  Hopefully that clears up any question of who is who.  Oh! And tell Aubrey and Tara Prince that I ran into Sister Powell.  We have the same meal time so we see each other a bit.  (But it's confined to seeing, unless there really is reason to talk)

Yesterday, we had Elder Holland come and talk to us.  The Church is true!  He talked about how we really are the hope of Israel, and how we need to be converted to preach.  Not just go through the motions.  That we need to study and prepare so we can teach with power and authority.  He accented the story of Peter when Christ came again, and how he told Peter to feed his sheep.  It was humbling to be compared to a Prophet like Peter.  We as a people are not to go back to our nets; we are to continue preaching of Christ even though he has passed on.  I find it rather Ironic, I was reading the Epistles of Peter earlier this week, and I know the power of God was on his side.  Elder Holland said that this appearance was made Peter what he was.  He realized that day what he is supposed to be.  I did that night.  While I may walk through the Valley of Shadow and Death, I will fear no evil.  That what Peter did.  I'd have to say I want to be like Peter, I have had my pivotal moment, now it's up to me to feed His sheep. 

It's great to hear from all of you, and hear that Zack is doing well in the Islands.  I sent a letter as Elder Ipson, to Elder Ipson.  Hopefully it makes it to the Islands.  I'd love to hear from him and his experiences, literally by his hand.  I love you all, and hope to keep hearing from you.  Please write and I will answer letters as my P-day permits.

Mucha amor,

Elder Ipson

January 5, 2011 - Austin's First e-mail to Home

Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 7:26 am

Subject: Finally P-Day!

Dear Family,

I apologize for the tardiness of my initial response.  These first few days have been so hectic, so my companion (Elder Ragan, and I (like David Ragan))  have been constantly overwhelmed by all of the activity you are required to take part of here at the MTC.  While Dad may have spilled on his shirt after Weinersnchitzel, I had unsettling stomach effects.  To say the least those first couple of days weren't fun.  Health wise the food here keeps me going to el Bono (Squigly over the n).  TMI, but what everyone has said about the food is true.  To answer Leighton's question about the chocolate milk, it's amazing!  All I need to do, is add some 2% to make it Celestial.  I was glad to here about the snow down there,  I hope I can see the snowman, and the aftermath of the neighborhood snow quarrel.  Oh, and tell Donny that if I was there I would make sure that the cars would have survie the collapse of Everest.

I guess you guys want to know about my companyero.  He is from Urda, Utah.  Just above Toole, and is about Dad's height.  Build strong (he played football in high school), he can most definatly outrun me when we are going/ in gym.  He counters my unorganized self very well.  When we are planning he makes sure that every hour we are doing something, while I would have just implied something for a time.  It's great to have him, we are both picking up on the first lesson quite quickly; Spanish, he far surrpasses me. He's had about 5 years with the Spanish language compared to my zero, so he's been patient, and has been spoon feeding me the language.  Although this doesn't mean I'm not picking it up.  I'm pretty sure I know more Spanish than I ever did French.

So the Christmas lights are down, and Tanner didn't get "ground-pounded"? It's a Christmas miracle!  It's just to bad we didn't get T to tak down (and put up) the Festivus Pole.  I really wanted to get some feats of strength in!  It's great to hear Quick survived the St. George Snow epidemic.  (Feed the Dog).  Even though Dad has wrote me, I'm still trying to figure out how he got to ward choir!?  I thought this was all a one time thing to appease me.  Well tell Bob hi for me, I have to say I love him and his wife.  I just wish I could meet his son.

So, there wasn't much of a hub-ub over new years. (I didn't get the package from dearelder until just yesterday, nevertheless the Sparkling Cider was a great)  Until we got back to the dorm.  Wow, I saw so many different personalities come out in my fellow Elders!  Pictures are a scasity that you won't be getting ahold of, but we are going to the temple today, and I will do my best to get a picture sent home with my companions and district.  I mentioned my companion before.  He is a really cool guy, I wouldn't trade him for any other companions because we really work well together (he is going to the same mission as me).  But keep him in your prayers.  Something is on his mind, and it really shows when certain subjects pop-up.  I know the power of prayer for sure since being here at the MTC.  My Testimony just keeps growing and becomes more solidified, day after day.

Yesterday we had Elder Baxter from the Seventy, and his wife address us at a devotional. He really emphasised that we are a Christian church.  He did a good job of squelching the regular rumors you hear about the church.  I felt sort-of Vulcan, I felt this logically was great, but some of the people in my district were moved by this Devotional.  They attribute it to the Hymns we sang... Me I was too busy figuring out that one of the songs was an excerpt from "Jupiter' from Gustav Holst's the planets.  Maybe music is now my crutch. 

I wish I could be eating sushi with you guys, but I will stick to the food here that could possibly make a bomb.  But I know I need to be here, and that's a fact.  I keep reaffirming to myself each day that this church is true, I won't deny it.  The Book of Mormon completes the gospel, and Joseph Smith Divinely translated it.  I send my love to you all, and please pass my love on. (in other words please tell people to write me.) (one of the elders compared mail to gold, it is so true) I love you all, and can't wait to hear from you again.

Elder Ipson