Habia un Monton de Pavo!

In the Photo Going left to right There is Daniel, Karla Martinez, Eric, Sis. Martinez, Hno Victor, Hna. Luz (Those are first names...), and Ismael Martinez.  There's some bum in the back...  Must have been the Cook...



Elder Ipson making the Thanksgiving Pies.




Beautiful Apple Pie!



Austin's 20th Birthday Cake!

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 8:54 AM
So the Picture of the Turkey won't upload.  I'll just have to send this card home....  Now it's story time I guess.  This whole week was dedicated to getting this Thanksgiving Dinner ready.  A good chunk of Tuesday was spent getting 3 Pies done, 2 Pumpkin and 1 Apple.  Flour flew everywhere as I put on the apron, and got to work.  Wednesday was district meeting, and it was then that I made the cake.  For those of you who do speak Spanish, yes that does say Porque Ano.  Our English Zone leaders thought they knew Spanish, and they went around saying that, until they realized it means Because Year?, or Why Year?  Depending how your space the Porque (por que)  So I thought it would be fitting to put on a birthday cake!  After the District Meeting we busted out the other good stuff.  We played pin the tail on the donkey, but The Highlight, was when we played "The Globo Game".  We tied balloons to our shoes, and the object of the game was to stomp on the other peoples' balloons.  We've been cleared for video on our mission, and that clip will come home with the rest of the camera card so you can see our Turkey.  The Turkey's name is Jose Porque Ano Diego del Marcado.  He was delicious!

Speaking of Jose we were able to have dinner with the Parks.  They stuffed us!  In the zone we had a competition to see who could put down the most food.  I didn't win, but I had the spirit of competition as we ate! So I was stuffed even before our Thanksgiving dinner with the Hispanics!  (BTW the winner was Elder Galiher who put on 14lbs on Thanksgiving Day)

Our Dinner didn't come without it's hiccups.  We got to the church, and realized that there was a Thanksgiving reunion going on.  So, the gym was taken...  We took refuge in our Gospel Principles/ Elder's Quorum/ Relief Society Room to have our Dinner.  I have to say... This is the first time I"ve had Pina Colada, and Tortillas for Thanksgiving dinner.  Not to mention duck! 

Everything worked out just fine.  Now I wonder if Kenny Chesney could somehow make a song out of what happened?

In the Photo Going left to right There is Daniel, Karla Martinez, Eric, Sis. Martinez, Hno Victor, Hna. Luz (Those are first names...), and Ismael Martinez.  There's some bum in the back...  Must have been the Cook...

Daniel is the one we've been working with for baptism.  This past Sunday we were able see him for the first time at church!  He is excited for his baptism.  He doesn't show it like most.  He's a rather quiet person, but, he will let you how he feels, in the most polite way possible.  Right now we've left him to think and pray about his date,  (We are hoping that he will be planning for the 24th of December) but whatever he chooses is between him and the Lord.

This next experience I had on my birthday.  We were at the Library working on a Geographical Project in the future, would help us save miles.  While I was waiting for Elder Wheadon to finish up a 24 year old Nicholas approached me and struck up a gospel conversation.  To start he asked me if I had read the book of Jude.  I replied I had once, and we basically read it together.  He told us experiences of his life.  His conversion to Christianity.  At one point he made a comment that he had read the Book of Mormon.  Felt the Spirit Strongly, but felt impressed that he was not, at that time, to continue reading.  Odd thought.  I thought The Spirit would tell us to continue...  We listened more.  He talked of the Missionaries who had passed by once.  He said they were great guys, and liked to be around them.  However he knew, that something was amiss spiritually with one of the Elders. 

The Apostles and Prophets have always taught that your actions dictate your spiritual power while on the mission.  I didn't realize it could have such a far reaching effect as this.  To have the Holy Ghost tell someone to wait to read the Book of Mormon, because the Missionary is not ready to teach.  This is a testament to all, that we must be spiritually clean to all if we want to do the Lord's work.  Not only that, but we must be clean if we want to "be an example".  Actions have far reaching effects.  It may not be the visible chain reaction, but a wrong act before the mission, could effect the Salvation of a man living in Kentucky.

I'm grateful for the Atonement that we have to clean ourselves of that.  To helps us overcome the mistakes we've made.  To make all things right. 

We were able to hand off the number to Elder Galiher and Whiting.  If I hear any more about Nicholas. I will let you know.

Things are still great in the Great Ohio Columbus Mission.  Even if Ohio State got beat by Michigan....

Les Quiero mucho.  Paz Fuera.

Para Siempre,

Elder A. Ipson

The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Tendre' pavo este Jueves?

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 9:22 AM

Florence, KY

That is the question, will I have Turkey this Thanksgiving.? The answer.... Yes!  The Bishop from the Lakeside Park Ward will have the Zone Leaders, and all four Spanish Missionaries over at their house this Thanksgiving.  Don't worry, there will be no watching of football.  Why?  We are putting together a Thanksgiving Dinner with our investigators.  Thanks to the surplus coupons, and cash surplus from the coming birthday.  The Dinner should work out fairly smooth.  However, that leaves one variable.  Who's going to cook it all....  Well, I made a poor choice at the beginning of the mission.  I showed that I could cook decently.  It doesn't help when I whip out my Mandil (Apron) every time I move into a new apartment.  So, even if I follow the reciepe, who know's how this turkey is going to turn out for our investigators.

How the idea of this dinner got started was through some service we did for some of our investigators.  They had a car up in the Nasty Natty, and they needed some way to be guided there, inconspicously.  So we whipped out the GPS (heh-peh-ess-eh), piled into the 08 Malibu (Definatly doesn't compare to the Kurt Busch Radio Sweetheart) & paved the way for a pair of paperless Mexicans!  The operation went smoothly, and they got their car sitution "figured out".  (We popped the hood and there was a timing chain, and piston heads showing).  I don't know what's going to go down at this point but they feel more at ease on what surgery their car is going through.

The two that we guided in the truck were Cristhian, and Misael.  Misael happens to work at the local Mexi-mart, and was able to get some "carne asada" for us.  So when we finished our duty up in the Natty they invited us over for some tacos.  While talking with Misael, we found out he hadn't ever heard of Thanksgiving in his ten years in the States, so we wanted to return the favor.  So I'm making them Thanksgiving Dinner!

This past Sunday it finally fell my turn to translate for a high council sunday.  I was a bit nervous to get started, but it was a fun experience.  I found out where my weak areas are in the language.  However I realized that I don't have much for grammar problems, now it is just a matter of expanding the vocab.  That's the difficult part of serving stateside spanish, but it has really forced me to learn Spanish.   In fact I don't just learn one Spanish.  I learn several.  I have to talk to Guatemalens, Mexicans, Dominicans, Cubans, Columbians, El Salvadoranians,  etc.  Each one of them has different nuances that you learn and pick up.  It's been a blessing to be able to experience the Cornucopia of the Hispanic world!

With Elder Z. Ipson with less then a 100 days, I now have hope that I'll reach my year mark.  Time has kind of made a little slump just before the Holiday Season, but it's picking up!  The help really came when President Nilsen talked about "clipping in".  He talked about when he was training for Lotoja with Shawn Bradley.  Immediately I was all ears.  Basketball and biking!  He made an example though.  He put a missionary up on his Cannondale without clips, and had them peddle.  He messed with the brakes, and proved you need something more.  He had the missionary put on the shoes, and try again.  This time being commited he had more power to push through the brakes that President applied.  That impacted me.  I need to clip in, and just pound my way to the top of the hill!  After that, I can use my downhill drafting techniques!

Thank you for remembering my birthday, and sending me something as odd as Christmas Decorations!  They will be well appricated.  Not only by me, but the other missionaries.

Muchas Gracias por todo, y les amo.

Para Siempre,

Elder A. Ipson

The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

And it came to pass, The Great Ohio Columbus Mission had Transfers

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 10:01 AM,

Florence, Kentucky



This is on Scott Street in Covington.  I DO NOT recommend that anyone move to Covington.  I've never felt like I've been surrounded by so much sin!  However I found a cool looking sign!  So to save you the trip, I just sent you a picture!



With transfers this last week I found out something that wasn't a shock... I'm staying!  Elder Wheadon and I will be here for this short 5 week transfer.  That's right it'll be shorter this time.  They want to give the Elders some time before Christmas to be with their families.  So in five weeks from now I'll be stressing the transfer, while Elder Klein will be packing to go home!

This week was simply full of good news.  Elder Wheadon, and his trainer Elder Luna had had been working with a family by the last name of Mandujano.  They had a date set for a few weeks to come.  However the father Alfredo wasn't sure if he was up to what he was about to do.  Elder Ramsey and I on exchanges were able to give a lesson to the Pantaleon family on how to recieve an answer from God about these sorts of things.  The Pantaleons being good friends with the Mandujanos were able to relay our family evening to them.  Elder Ramsey the brains behind that lesson didn't realize the ripple effect that his preparation would do!  It turns out that was an answer for Alfredo, and instead of the family being baptized this Saturday, their dates was moved to last Saturday!

We weren't able to go to the baptism, because they had actually moved into the Miami River Spanish area.  We also had appointments that needed to be kept.  So Saturday was a no go.  However luck smiled on Elder Wheadon, and he was able to go and see this family be confirmed up in Fairfield.  I was in heaven to be back at that branch!  To see all of the members I had once worked with.  The best part was seeing Alma!  She's still coming to church, with her kids!  How it turned out, Alma's ex changed the custody of the children, and now they are able to go to church on Sunday with Alma.  To top it all off, they will be baptized the 3rd of December!  I'm truly excited for all of them.  I just hope that Alma keeps faithful with going to church.

Back on the Ranch.... We were able to continue finding people.  With the predicament we have, missionary work has seemed to be the solution.  Elder Wheadon, and Homewood were able to hit up a few old investigators and see if they still had interest, and they do!  Roman, Sylvia, and Denice accepted a Book of Mormon, and a Conditional Baptismal invitation.  Since they had taken the lessons before Roman teased us by bringing out a few beers after a lesson.  Obvious problem, but at least he's got a sense of humor!

To top of this whole week, this is the best news.  The Pantaleon, and Garcia family are staying in Kentucky!  We're all very excited about this.  Seeing President Avila's face when they broke him the news, well, it was good!  All is well in Zion... For now.  It just needs a few more members!

Things are moving along quite nicely here.  We are seeing the fruits of our past labors.  We hope to work hard and see the fruits of our present labors.

I love you all!  Clean the Kennel, don't drive too fast.  And Go Carl Edwards!

Para Siempre,

Elder A. Ipson

The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Finally Moved In! (And Transfers are this week...)

New apartment in Florence, KY!

Can you guess which bed belongs to Elder Ipson?

That's right, take a photo of the bathroom while it's still clean!

Study Area.....looks like Elder Ipson on the left,
and Elder Wheadon on the right.

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 9:21

New Address:

8635 Preakness Drive
Florence, KY 41042

That's right, we've finally gotten moved in!  It took us 5 weeks to move out, but we are absolutely spoiled in our new apartment!  It's nice to be able to have my own study space that isn't right next to the run-down pool table.  (Yes, there was a pool table in the last apartment, and by no means was it a Brunswick!)

The work accelerated this week! We were able to put 4 people on date!  It was truly miraculous to see!  Elder Wheadon just keeps going and he doesn't stop!  In fact right now, he's contacting a Hispanic here in the Library!  He has an energy that just keeps everything going!

Lately we've been working with a less-active named Sister Martinez.  (I can't remember what I've talked about in past letters)  Sister Martinez seems to be the constant source of our work.  We constantly have lessons with her, and one of our investigators on date named Daniel. Us working with her and her friends has gotten her back to church, and gotten a future priesthood holder on date!  Elder Wheadon and I are really excited about her and Daniel. 

Daniel is a good Hispanic man.  Very soft-spoken, and constantly searching for the truth!  We had a lesson with him last Monday to get him started in his Book of Mormon reading.  We also extended to him the invitation to ask for Sundays off from work.  Both he is doing!  Our last lesson we were able to teach lesson 3 from Preach my Gospel.  We prefaced it by reading the first paragraph of the Book of Mormon stating that the Book of Mormon contained the plentitude of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Doing it this way we were able to connect the dots for him with the Book of Mormon, Baptism, and if he persevered, he would be able to be in the Celestial Kingdom!  There was an amazing spirit during the lesson as Elder Wheadon extended the big missionary commitment.  Baptism. He accepted, and he now has a date for the 10th of December!  I do see this man being baptized, and I feel that we have been guided to find him. 

I thank you all for your love!  Especially for your packages!  Today we are going to make a key-lime pie to celebrate Elder Wheadon's 6 month mark!  You are all always in my prayers.

Para Siempre,

Elder A. Ipson

The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

More photos of their apartment.....