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| 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... |
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| Elder Ipson making the Thanksgiving Pies. |
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| Beautiful Apple Pie! |
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| 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!
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
