E-mail between Austin at MTC and Jolene
Austin: Halllllloooooooo!!!!!!!?
Jolene: Halloooo! We are up and at ‘em. How are you????
Austin: So, there goes another week. I honestly can't believe my time at the MTC is almost up!
Jolene: We can hardly believe it either. I didn’t think I would survive this long, but we’re doing fine here. We’re only enjoying looking younger without our towering 19 year old.
Austin: Muy bien, Hay fever is starting up. So, I've been hitting the pills in the bags you've given me.
Jolene: Already huh? I can send you more if you want. Do those one make you groggy?
Austin: Anywho, last night we got an Elder Holland in disguise. Elder Pearson of the Seventy came and spoke to us. If you had any ego coming into the MTC, you've been knocked to your knees, but your knees were broken in the process. In essence we got a slight chastisement, but we were awakened to a small vision of this work.
No, they don't make me groggy. It's just waiting for them to work when I take one. Yesterday, when Elder Ragan and I went to pick up the mail (Elder R. is the District Leader) There was one letter. He looks at me, and gives me a salutation of disgust. I wasn't expecting anything until the Dear Elders came out that night. I noticed the stamp. It looked sort of funny. The handwriting looked vaguely familiar. Elder Z. Ipson had finally gotten his note to the U.S. So pass word along that the letter made it into my hands. Although by the time I write back, and he gets the letter. I'll be somewhere in the abyss of Ohio.
Jolene: So, that’s a good thing, I take it? I’ll have to look up who Elder Pearson is. The assignment of being a missionary is so encompassing. Such a huge responsibility. It may be hard to understand, but I think he’s trying to prepare you for Ohio and reality. Do you feel like you have an ego?
Hey, listen for an airplane overhead…..Dad is on the 6:30 flight to SLC. He’s probably flying over the Provo area right now. He says the flight only takes about a half hour with the new bigger airplanes.
Austin: I'll use the vibe to track the plane>>>>> nope didn't work... So T. and Earl had to part ways? That's too bad. Earl was a good truck. Despite his carnal self, that truck and I went through enough rains storms you might be able to count it as a baptism! So, maybe we'll see Earl on the other side. (Rain cloud following Dad's plane)
Austin: Si est muy bueno recibo un nota from my cousin. So at this rate if we send letters until he finishes his work in Trinidad, I'll get about 12. (Assuming both Postal services don't become the Newman service). Oh by the way, I received a letter from a Sister Beckstrand. She made a zone cut at state. (Something Biff failed to mention). Next time you see her give her a good pat on the back for me. There are a few things I would have given to have a zone cut.
Jolene: I had talked to Penny last week about State Swim and asked her to tell Shayne that you needed details about everyone at PVHS swim. She said she would get her to tell you that, but that she was planning on writing you again soon because she told her mom that was her plan. Did Shayne tell you about Ben and all the fun he had last week?
That’s great to finally get a REAL letter from Zac. I’m hoping you two will be able to e-mail back and forth once you get to Ohio. But hand-written letters are so cool.
Take a allergy pill before you go to bed and that will help in the morning.
Yes, T was pretty sad about it. I think he’s mostly sad about losing the vinyl lettering you gave him for Christmas. I think dad will try to recreate it for him. “Bessie” will be a good car for Tanner, it will just take some time. We cleaned out all of your stuff from Earl. Found all sorts of interesting items!
Hey, tell me what you want me to do with your PVHS blanket. I’m assuming you want me to send it to the mission home so when you arrive on March 2, you can pick it up….let me know.
Leighton is here in the office with me. She’s playing a computer game while she waits for a ride to school. She says HI! Your lil’ sis sure loves you.
Austin: I have the file on the laptop if dad wants to use it. They'll just have to take out the Truck Series stuff. So, now we've got Bessie! This sounds like a real honey of a car! This four banger sounds like it needs the "Euro Treatment" when I get back! Tanner and I are going to have fun tricking out this Saturn!
Austin: As for the blanket send it to the mission. I have my blankets here but, I won't have all of it when I leave. So it would do me more good, and less weight if you send it out there. Hopefully President Jenson doesn't think it's garbage! HI LEIGHTON!!!!-
Jolene: I’m sure the mission home is used to receiving all sorts of packages, so it will be fine. I’ll mail it a few days before you get there so it will be there.
I will tell dad to look for the file. Yes, Tanner named the car. We had come up with all sorts of other names, but that’s what he wanted. He was kind of stubborn about it. I did mail you two photos yesterday. They will make you laugh. Both of Tanner. Let’s just hope the Saturn survives the next 22 months as well as you will!
Austin: No I haven't heard anything about Ben. Oh! I think KSL is doing something affiliated with the MTC. Over the past couple of weeks we have be filmed around the campus. So, keep an eye out for something on TV. I might be on it! It was really weird to see the female anchor waltzing around, because it was a face I knew. It just took a minute to find.
Jolene: That’s cool about KSL. We will have to check it out. Maybe we will see your happy face! I’ve loved all of the photos you’ve sent. You’ve done good!
Ben, (I know you’re sitting down) ran his bike into a moving car on Bulloch Street. He’s miraculously OK, but banged up and bruised. No broken bones. I think Penny was way more upset about it than Ben, which is understandable. He should be fine, but if you’re looking for an excuse to write to Ben, you could send him some get-well wishes!
Tanner just came upstairs. He also says hello, and wants you to know that he has his last ward basketball game tomorrow night at 6pm. He scored 4 points again last week. This has been a good experience for him this year, so we’re kind of sad to see it all end. We went to Dixie HS last night (I know!) to watch Braxton play on the 9th grade basketball team. The kid is tall and pretty good. Fouled out though, and we could tell he had a hard time playing when he had 3 fouls already. Kind of hard to be defensive when you don’t have any fouls to give. Went out to dinner afterwards with Grandma Ipson, and that was fun to visit with her.
Austin: Yeah, D is tough when you don't have any fouls to give. We play basketball fairly often here. I don't put up points very often, but yesterday I splashed a three. Everyone gawked when I made it, because all I play is D, and my offense is stuffing the ball back up when I get the board. So T, and I will be a pretty good team if we both keep practicing. (3 minutes left)
Jolene: Awesome!!!
The time goes so fast!!!! I love you, we all love you! Hope today is great for you. Are you going to the temple?
Austin: If it survives we will be tricking it out. Although when I come back I want to commandeer Ace again. Whether by force or barter. I want that old friend, even if it's more work than I want. It would be fun to get my hands dirty on something!
The minute is winding down. Have a good week and I love you all!
Elder A. Ipson
Ohio Columbus Mission
Jolene: Love you Austin. Have an awesome week!
(Yes, I know it’s a little crazy to try to read this, but it sure is fun having this conversation online. 30 minutes goes by so fast!)
