To my family,
As mentioned in the subject line I need socks. I'm pretty sure there is a gremlin out there that eats my left socks, and another one that eats the rest. So my plea is for socks! I remember you said you have an Adrian's gift card, well that's what I need. Please get the thinnest pairs they have so my feet aren't frying in the summer. If possible get the most annoying paisley tie you can find at Adrian's. For some reason that's what's in style. I also have a black paisley in my closet, and it would be awesome to add that to my facade.
I must also send my apologies about not sending back my photo card. There really hasn't been much to take photos of. There's a few at the mission home. I'm yet to get one with Elder Klein, but I will get one! So I come to this e-mail in repentance to the mama.
Now after the informal cordialalities, I will begin the email! So after our study this morning we walked our to Verdito (the car). It was humid. Only 65 degrees & I thought I was going to die! Well maybe not that extremity, but this good ol' dog town boy isn't used to this crazy weather. On top of the climate I'm still not used to the lay of the land. This "no-mountain" thing really isn't copacetic. I'm so grateful Elder Klein has spent a good deal of time in this area (7 months).
The work keeps on progressing, that standard of truth has been erected, and it will not stop! Although that doesn't mean that we haven't had our own difficulties. Once again the topic of immigration has popped up. Not in the form of true politics, but in the form of detrimental church members. We are teaching a family of 4 brothers. Jose', Antonio, Braulio, Hugo. Most of our time has been with Jose' & Antonio (Should have mentioned they are Mexican) they are eating up what we have to say. I don't recall if I have talked about them, but I will give a recap. Elder Klein and Luna knocked on their doors (first door of the day) & got in. Jose' had a question relating to "God doesn't talk to man". Well a verse in Exodus says otherwise, because the Lord talked to Moses like a friend! Blown away Jose' has been clinging to every word Missionaries have taught him. He claimed missionaries have come to him before, but never answered his questions like this round has. We talked about the Garden, & was blown away about this "new" part of the atonement. More and more he and Antonio have been accepting the Book of Mormon, but their set-back has been a certain member.
They were watching TV with their wives, and one of the news bulletins had an interview. The man in the interview explained he was Mormon, and he was from Mexico. Then something along the lines of the fact he served in America legally on a visa, then later in life moved back legally, and grants animosity to those that are here illegally. Like I said last time the law is the law, but as Jose' put it, we are not just here to work. We are here to make better lives for ourselves, and our families. Sounds like the title of Liberty. So by this arrogant plight Jose' & Antonio are having a hard time making it to church because they don't want to go to a church that has members like that. Despite the fact that the church is a block away from them! So we are trying all we can to get him to confrence, so we can have our real spokesman of the Lord speak to him. As well as get a member in on this, and show that we mean well.
America truly is a refuge. Elder Klein was telling me of a person he taught where one of the Mexican Mafias quite literally took everything from him. His business & most everything he had. There isn't law in some parts of Mexico, and if you have enough money, you make the laws. So this mafia was at this man's last straw. His daughter. Events played out, and now he is here in Ohio. The law is the law, I keep emphasizing this, but I'm getting a new feeling as to why people hop the border. I have a new perspective of these people to say the least....
So, the moral of the story is. Don't speak in arrogance, until you truly know both sides of the story....
So this week was the Mission Tour. We were graced with the presence of C. Scott Growe of the Seventy. We really had a numbers game the whole day, and concluded that the most pivotal number we could have. Is investigators to sacrament meeting. This is probably the hardest one to accomplish. People would sooner be baptized than go to church. On top of that, latinos say they will do something, but not do it, if they don't feel like it. So, you learn quickly that even though they said yes, they won't keep a commitment. Welcome to the Mission! Anyways after the numbers game he opened the floor to questions. He shared an experience he had with the twelve how he asked the question, how does a man go from a man, to an Apostle (He asked because Elder Bednar was his Assistant when he was a mission President in Uruguay (I believe)). President Packer (who was in charge of this past meeting) called on President Ucthdorf to answer. It wasn't until our district leader Elder Mclellan asked what President Utchdorf's reply was. Elder Growe replied to the extent that he couldn't give the full answer, but an overview would suffice for this group of missionaries. "Apostles must go through rigorous study, prayer & anguish of the soul to know what they must feel to be an Apostle". That remark alone shook us! This has invigorated my studies. I've been called to represent an Apostle, so to be a Representative. I need to be like the Apostles. My studies have taken on topics that should help me more fully help my investigators. Because I am to do as our Savior would do if he were personally ministering among the very people I am.
I know this is the work of the Lord. It may be hindered by arrogance, but it will not stop.
I love you all and hope to hear from you soon. Para Siempre.
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
