Well here I am in... (drum roll) Columbus! They have me working inside Columbus. I'm in Columbus West, so this takes up quite a bit of space. I go from Dublin to Grove City. I even stretch into Downtown Columbus. (Haven't made it that far yet) But most of our work is done in about a 10 mile radius. Because we are in a more impoverished area, it's easier to find Hispanic, Dominican People. I can't even say we are teaching a specific group of people. We've already taught a Honduran, Puerto Rican, Mexicans, etc. There is so much culture here.
I met my mission president immediately after getting off the plane. (He was just past security) The AP's were really cool, although one of them (Elder Walker) has made his way home. So I get to meet a new AP pretty soon! We made our way to the mission home in Powell, it is a beautiful home, and the Senior Missionaries are beautes!
By now I'm sure you're wondering who my trainer is. Well, Elder Ragan got sent down to Cincinnati, with my trainer's old companion, it will be interesting to hear about his experiences as compared to mine. From what I've heard Cincinnati is a litter harder of a place. Which is probably fitting that Elder Ragan is down there. He has a personality to cope with it.
Anyways I'll quit playing mind games & tell you my trainer is Elder Klein. He is from Logan Utah, & he was a swimmer! So immediately we had something to talk about! He also was an alto sax player, and sang Bass for his Logan School choirs. In other words you could call him a 6'5 version of me! I really dwarf the people I teach, but Elder Klein makes me look superfluous!
Now I bet dad is wondering what we have for transportation. The Spanish Elders get cars, because our areas are so much bigger, but that doesn't mean I've escaped dorkiness. Our car is a fairly new Mazda 3. Not too bad until you find out the color. (Calf-scours green) Other than that it gets the job done, but I've yet to break in my new Trek, because the weather has been a bit foul lately.
Coming in I've had some shoes to fill. Elder Luna, Elder Klein's last companion, worked really well with him, and the people they taught. So I need to figure out how to love like he did (with my own flair of course) and work with Elder Klein to bring people unto Christ.
Right now we are teaching quite a few different people. Pedro & Carlos have been taking the lessons from the missionaries for quite a while now, but they haven't been reading the Book of Mormon to find out for themselves if baptism & church is the right thing. We know as members that through The Book that we can know these things. They just can't see that. Gah! (Sorry for my outburst)
We've had other success as well. We have been teaching a Honduran (forgive me for guessing) about the gospel, and he asked when he could be baptized! Taken aback, Elder Klein explained the prerequisites to baptism. That he needed to go to church three times to be baptized. He didn't make it to Church this time around, and that will move him back to another date. The real catch is that he is moving within a month, and we don't want him to slip through the cracks. We are going to try hard to get Roland to church.
Overall there is quite a bit of work to do, but I would love to hear from all of you at home. President Jensen has asked that we keep emailing to a half-hour. (We get a bit of grace, but it's what he's asked) So, to have time to reply I would ask that you send mail to the field.
Elder Austin Ipson
2709 Abbot's Loop Ct.
Columbus, OH 43204
So there you go! I will be here for the next three months as I train with Elder Klein. (I am his third born in the wilderness)(Hopefully someone will get the joke). But once I got here I was immediately given a new name. I am no longer Elder Ipson I am Elder Eepson. (I=ee). So when I get home if I call the family, the Eepson family I am sorry. The mission does things to you!
All in all I'm loving it out here & wish you the best. Para Siempre.
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
P.S. Write on Cody's wall and tell him congrats from me. South Africa will be amazing!
P.S.S. Time is short; I love you all, & hope to hear from you soon. Para Siempre.
