May 2, 2011 - "Well this week fell apart. Better get some duct tape!"

All of the Spanish Elders in Columbus (except four of them)

We got a pineapple in the apartment!

Monday, May 2, 2011 at 10:40 am

Mom:  Hey Austin!  Happy Monday to you. I'm sure you've heard that Osama Bin Laden is dead. Yeah, although not sure what to expect now. Well, this is it...Ironman week! The training is done. Dad just needs to drink, drink, drink this week. Pray for Dad this week. It will be a hard day but I know dad wants to be able to tell you he finished when we talk to you on Mother’s Day. Remember 1-888-634-9669 right!  Still raining??  I'm sure. Its gonna be 90 here by the weekend. Hot for Ironman. Can't believe its May!  Tanner reminds me this morning only 17 more days of school. Wow. Love love love you!

Austin:  Well if Dad has a good taper & fuels his body right he should be okay.  Just enjoy that cold Sand Hollow water while you can!  It's funny because Elder Klein got a report that Osama Bin Laden has been killed, but he first read it to be Obama has been killed.  I didn't know what to think at that moment.

Preface:
We have it worked out to call at a member’s house.  I'm guessing that I'll be calling around five o'clock.  If I don't call then, it will be in an expanse between 5-8.  So be ready for a 614 area code number.  (Actually it might even be an 801 number)

Well Poop....
So I came off a very good week last week, but pride can get the best of you.  With Aracelli & Rolan going to church last week, we felt very adamant that they would be coming next (this week), but alas.... They didn't...  We went to their apartment on the infamous Wedgewood Road.  Elder Klein claims to have heard voices on the other side of the door, but all I know is that the door didn't open. :(  We haven't made any true, human, physical, 1st person contact in a week.  Part of it was poor planning, & dropped appointments.  (Eyes rolling at myself)  While we did make some contact in the week.  (Phone calls, texts)  We haven't been able to actually help them progress.  Ever since yesterday the line has been dead.  We even asked a few of the members that live very close to them to try and make contact.  Still nothing.  We are planning today to drop in on them to figure out what needs to be done.

While our week was full of deflated appointments, and unopened doors we learned that planning needs to go into those appointments.  It's hard when you get back to the apartment to get a plan together for the next day, when this day didn't fly so well, but we learned you need to be diligent otherwise whatever plan you make won't be inspired. 

The week was rather bleak, but we did have "Specialized Training".  Another fancy word for Zone Conference since SLC won't let have missions have more than "X" amount of zone meetings.  It was all good.  We learned a few more ways to make door contacts.  So my confidence at an American door is a little bit better.  The culminating event was the talk we watched at the end.  President Jensen has access to MTC files so we actually watched the talk that set the tone of my mission.  IT was the talk by Elder Holland my 2nd week at the MTC.  Nostalgic feelings came over me as I realized that there is so much more that I need to be doing to get this work done.  

Now this e-mail seems a little dark and dreary, but I will perk you with interest with a story that Elder Klein & I have experienced.  I believe I told you about Cynthia.  How her husband got deported back to Mexico, and she was packing up to go home.  Well we gathered news about her.  This diamond in the rough has a story that is worthy of the Ensign.  I'm just glad I got to be a part of it!  So make sure to ask about Cynthia when I call on Sunday.

At that Specialized Training President Jensen handed everyone a Book of Mormon.  Our goal is to read & highlight all of the Christ-like attributes.  The introduction was interesting to try and figure out what passages are what attribute, but it got really easy when I got to Laman & Lemuel.  The page stayed nice and white!  It's fun to read about Nephi and how he dealt with his wishy-washy brothers.  It also made me laugh, in 1 Nephi 3:1 (I believe) Nephi seems to be somewhat nonchalant with his visit with the Lord.  I feel that needs to be the same with our scripture study.  That we come away knowing what we need to do, & it feels like a common occurrence to read them.

I love you all & can't wait to hear from you on Sunday!

Para Siempre,
Elder A. Ipson

P.S.  Please clean the kennel

Mom:  Clean the kennel? We were saving that for you I think! The count is 5 dead mice in Quiks water bowl now. He's still digging up the yard but we love him! At least he doesn't dig up the tomatoes.

Austin: Maybe we could get him to fertilize the tomatoes, so you don't have to clean the kennel!

Mom:  Haha. Did you get the email from Aubrey? Love you! Have a good week!

Austin: Yes I did, but I'm confined to snail mail.  Pres. says so.... Talk to you Sunday!