Como esteis?
Month number one is almost down. It seemed terribly long, and short at the same time. Crazy Paradox I know, but I'm sure Dad can fill you in on that! With General Conference around the corner we're trying to get all of our investigators excited about it. We will be down in the chapel in Grove City, even though the "Gateway" building (next to the temple) is closer. The building down in Grove City houses the Franklin 1 Spanish Branch.
Speaking of which, our branch is small. There are around 40 active(ish) people, and I would venture to guess that there are 3 times of that, that are inactive! So this week, Elder Klein and I are devoting to get those inactive members to church. After all, inactive members are "The Fountain" of referrals, as Elder Growe put it.
We haven't been able to get back with Jose' and Antonio. We can get a hold of them, but they have been put to work on a new construction project. So, getting a concrete appointment can be difficult. We need to get in soon because of the unresolved tension.
On a different note we are working with a pair of Hondurans. They are both excited about the gospel and want to come to church so badly. Although the night before Araceli had to go to the hospital. Earlier in her life she had a miscarriage, and wondered if the abdominal pain she has is related to that. Her boyfriend Roland is just as eager as his girlfriend, and wants to be baptized. I may have mentioned in a past e-mail, that at one point he walked up to his calendar and wrote baptism on one of the days! Unfortunately, these two haven't put a marriage together to meet that date, and haven't made it to church. Which is a funny story all in itself!
Roland works odd construction jobs around the area, even up to New York. So his Sunday schedule can vary. Araceli had a job that had strict attendance policies, and was forced to work Sundays. One lesson we prayed that she would be able to work it out, to not work on Sunday. We kept her in our personal prayers, because they have a fire that our other investigators don't.
Well our prayers were answered. Araceli lost her job! As missionaries the prudent saint was saying "yes now she can come to church!" Then we realized... Wait Roland isn't scheduled for another job for a while... Oh... So we did our best to console her, and Roland. She then replied, "Oh don't worry, I got another job just the other day! I won't have to work on Sunday either!" Elder Klein and I inwardly rejoiced!
Things didn't work out for them to come to church, but they are progressing quite well! In fact we set a date for them, and went over a few things that we were going to teach. One of them was Chastity. In an instant Araceli demanded that we teach that. Meaning right now! We weren't going to say no to this sassy Honduran, so we extended our stay another 15 minutes!
Needless to say the work is progressing! It's amazing to be a part of it!
So, I've decided there's a whole new realm of cooking I've never seen before. For example did you know that you can fry banana? It's not necessarily banana, rather platano. A very firm, and larger banana. Just cut this up like you would your dutch oven potatoes, and toss them into grease. Cook 'till a golden brown, and you're eating like a Dominican. Also if you wrap your hot-dogs in bacon (salchichas con tocino) and put everything you can think of, on that hot-dog. Meaning salsa, lettuce, sour cream, mayo, and whatever else. You have a Mexican Hot-dog! (Just use a normal hot-dog bun, or a tortilla) It all sounds extremely unhealthy, but I have to say. People know how to eat!
I failed to mention that Chilean food is extremely simple. We had a meal of fish, rice, lettuce, and tomatoes. Simple, but satisfying! Really what it was was fish-sticks (family was saving time), and the rice, tomatoes, and lettuce, were mixed together. They had Italian dressing that was a nice compliment.
Now to make Leighton Jealous. I made Churros yesterday! Mwahahahahaha! In-fact I made one of the infamous Ipson PB&J in a tortilla, battered that in Churro "dough", fried it up, covered it in cinnamon sugar, and.... It was amazing! I will make one for Leighton when I come back!
Please don't let me infer that all I eat is detrimental to my health. These are the entrees that I hope to remember. There are some that either need an amendment to the recipe, or need to be repealed altogether!
Life is good. I have new socks and a new tie! I'm grateful to be here! I hope you all are having fun. Especially with the Wienermobile, coming through San Jorge (St. George). I should have sent my hot-dog recipe to you to share with Oscar Myer!
Once again my studies have taken off! There isn't a day that goes by where I don't learn something new! For example today, I was reading in Ether 12, where Moroni is talking about the Book of Mormon. How he feels his writing is lacking, but the Lord promises that the Holy Ghost will speak through it. It's true! I came into the field with a love for the Bible. I read St. John and had a love for reading about the Savior, and his ministry in Israel. Over time that love has leveled out to the Book of Mormon. The Lord's promise to Moroni is true! There is a spirit to the Book of Mormon. As Elder Holland put it in his last conference address. To leave the church you must leave over, under, or around the Book of Mormon. (rough quotation) It's true. That Book is our basis. I for quite a while thought that our religion fell upon the first vision of Joseph Smith, but it falls on the evidence of it. If the Book of Mormon is true, the church is true. The only thing that would change my response to its validity is an answer from Our Heavenly Father Himself, that it was merely a novel. I know it is not merely a novel. A work from a man simply trying to establish a church. This Book is words from God given to prophets, to be translated by a prophet, and to be preached by prophets until and beyond The Great Jehovah shall say "The work is done"! I know these things are true, I cannot deny them!
I love you all, and hope to hear from you soon. May God be with you 'till we meet again. Para Siempre.
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
The Harvester, April 2013
11 years ago
