May 8, 2011 was Mother’s Day so we got a call from Austin at about 3:30 and were able to chat with him for just over 40 minutes. The time flew by! So fun to hear his voice, listen to his experiences, and he challenged us all to do better at reading our scriptures….and less time playing video games. J Dale was able to announce that he had completed the St. George Ironman the day before. Austin, Elder Ipson, is doing well, working hard, working on the language, getting used to the climate of rain and humidity and hot, getting used to the streets of Columbus, and making contacts and friends. We sure do love him and are so proud of him. It was the best Mother’s Day weekend ever!
May 9, 2011
Triathlon: Pray-Bike-Preach
So the story of my name tag:
Well, we had just finished a zone meeting a couple weeks ago, and we were taking Spanish South back to their apartment. We put our backpacks into the trunk, but I was ignorant to the fact that my tag got swept off as I was taking off my backpack. Now this tag has the pin-on attachment on the back, and that can be attached to a metal clip that can be fitted right on to the lapel of a jacket. So my tag waited there in that church parking lot, for me to finally realize it was gone. About the time we got to their (Spanish South's) apartment I realized that it was gone. So I pleaded for Elder Klein to turn around and drive back so I could pick up that little piece of my soul. There were a few other functions going on at the church that day, so traffic in the lot was decent. As we pulled into the lot I saw those white letters staring out of the pavement, and I raced over to them. Rejoicing I picked it up. My prodigal son had returned. I say prodigal because the tag had an encounter with a car! The tag was perfectly fine. You could clearly see my name, and Jesucristo. So the inscription and the plastic structure of it were fine! Although you flip it over and it wasn't the same story. The metal pin and the back were bent completely sideways, and the part that attaches to the lapel was completely smashed. I was lucky I had a spare lapel clip, but it took a bit of working to get it on.
So that day, I learned that value of a name. Not the top name of the tag, but the name that sits square on that black plaque.
Now Dad I feel like there might have been a little bit of disappointment when you found out I keep my plaque attached to my white bible. It's not because I feel like I need the rules every moment of the day. Rather, I keep my missionary certificate in the white bible. I kind of need the white bible in case I get a wise cracking policeman, or complex manager trying to impede the work. So that's why I keep the white bible with me. The plaque stays on it, because it becomes one thing to lose rather than two things! Rather one thing to keep track of instead of one! Scoff if you'd like, but I want to be ready for the wise cracks, and I don't want to lose my identity for these next two years!
I'm sorry I don't have any pictures for you. We are planning to go down to The Horseshoe at OSU. We should get some picks there. I love you all, and hope to have a bit more to say next email!
Para Siempre,
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
Well, we had just finished a zone meeting a couple weeks ago, and we were taking Spanish South back to their apartment. We put our backpacks into the trunk, but I was ignorant to the fact that my tag got swept off as I was taking off my backpack. Now this tag has the pin-on attachment on the back, and that can be attached to a metal clip that can be fitted right on to the lapel of a jacket. So my tag waited there in that church parking lot, for me to finally realize it was gone. About the time we got to their (Spanish South's) apartment I realized that it was gone. So I pleaded for Elder Klein to turn around and drive back so I could pick up that little piece of my soul. There were a few other functions going on at the church that day, so traffic in the lot was decent. As we pulled into the lot I saw those white letters staring out of the pavement, and I raced over to them. Rejoicing I picked it up. My prodigal son had returned. I say prodigal because the tag had an encounter with a car! The tag was perfectly fine. You could clearly see my name, and Jesucristo. So the inscription and the plastic structure of it were fine! Although you flip it over and it wasn't the same story. The metal pin and the back were bent completely sideways, and the part that attaches to the lapel was completely smashed. I was lucky I had a spare lapel clip, but it took a bit of working to get it on.
So that day, I learned that value of a name. Not the top name of the tag, but the name that sits square on that black plaque.
Now Dad I feel like there might have been a little bit of disappointment when you found out I keep my plaque attached to my white bible. It's not because I feel like I need the rules every moment of the day. Rather, I keep my missionary certificate in the white bible. I kind of need the white bible in case I get a wise cracking policeman, or complex manager trying to impede the work. So that's why I keep the white bible with me. The plaque stays on it, because it becomes one thing to lose rather than two things! Rather one thing to keep track of instead of one! Scoff if you'd like, but I want to be ready for the wise cracks, and I don't want to lose my identity for these next two years!
I'm sorry I don't have any pictures for you. We are planning to go down to The Horseshoe at OSU. We should get some picks there. I love you all, and hope to have a bit more to say next email!
Para Siempre,
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
