Rainy Days in Florida

Crackin' wise at the Spanish West BBQ!

From: Austin Ipson, Columbus OH

Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 8:53 AM

Serving stateside has its perks, but CNN is not one of them.  Today we went to Spanish South's apartment to work out.  In the Gym there is a TV playing CNN.  Due to the political views that CNN has; there wasn't too much interest in the TV.  However an image of Jeff Gordon floated by and caught my attention.  I admit it.... I found out that the Daytona 500 got sprinkled on....  (I need to repent..) 

Now that I've taken after The new Eagle Scout and repented from the pulpit, I will go over the gist of the week.

It seems that focus has been taken and pinned on Horacio.  Our teaching pool doesn't have a ton of progressing investigators.  However, we have Horacio, and he's just plugging along.  We were able to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a good chunk of the Commandments.  He has now told us that he believes that Joseph Smith, so, doubts are being overcome.

The problem that is sitting in front of his face right now is coming to church.  He'd like to say that he'd come every week, but right now it's a matter of work.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but he is the head of his own construction crew.  He is in charge of managing, and being the example to his workers.  As of late some of his workers have bailed on him.   Making it tough on him to meet deadlines.  To top it off Mondays are the days his work gets checked.  So, Sundays have been cramming days for him.  He knows he needs to come, but is stuck between a rock and a hard place.  He has intentions to come, but it's difficult.  So my plea on his behalf is that someone who's had an issue with work like this; if they could send me a testimony/experience about Sunday and work, well... that would be great!

We still have plans to do his baptism this Saturday.  We still have a small chunk to teach him, and an interview to do, but as Kronk would say,"Oh yeah, it's all coming together!"

We as a mission are anxiously anticipating time we will get to meet with Elder Bednar.  That will be this Saturday in New Albany.  I'm still tickled that will be my Anniversary in the field.  Having him come to the mission!  There will be a good recount of what happens there this coming letter.

I'm sorry there aren't pics this time around.  I have a pic of Elder Jacobson and I cracking wise while grilling last week for P-day.  I will be sure to send that picture next week!

Now... Just tell T that he looks good in Khaki, and I'm excited for him to get his Eagle.  I'm sure you'll let me know what the Court of Honor is going down.  Right?

Just to talk about the weather a little.... It looks like we are coming out of this very mild winter, and slowly coming into spring.  Right now I feeling allergies coming on, so this is a good sign!  In about a month we'll be ending suit season with General Conference!  We can hardly believe it will be a month away at the end of this week!

We're crossing our fingers that all goes well this week!  We are most definitely excited for what is to come!

I say it every week but I mean it;  I love you all and have a great week!

Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

The "Champion" Returns

From: Austin Ipson, Columbus, OH
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 8:48 AM

Elder Zachary D. Ipson
home this week from the West Indies Mission

Tanner and Leighton with Zachary

Zachary with Great-Grandparents
Floriene and Layton Barney

Elder Zachary Ipson at home with his family on Sunday
L to R: Brittany, Karen, Colby, David, Kady & Zach
David spoke with Elder Z because of his HC assignment.
Zach says that Kady changed the most while he was away.

Well it looks like "Champion Ipson" has made his way home.  Dang, missions really do end!  Lately that's become a reality.  I've realized past week that I just need to buckle down.  Realizing you have less than a year left is a humbling thing.  My conviction now, is to make sure I'm always fulfilling my missionary purpose.  Send "Zach" my love.  Oh, by the way... Since he is going back to BYU, he might want to look up "Elder" Trevor Whittingham.  He is out there right now living the normal life....

Anyways Columbus had a steady week.  We got to have a few lessons with Horacio this week.  Our first we were able to bring  Hermano Harris with us.  He is the second counselor in the Branch Presidency here.  Right now he is doing medical school at OSU.  Just a great guy.  Anyways, we went with us to go teach Horacio the Plan of Salvation.  Horacio has heard this before, so he already understood The Plan.  He questions were on a more philosophical level than your average investigator.  It was great to have Hno. Harris to help us out.  Horacio is normally sleepy for our lessons, but in the Plan of Salvation he was a lot more attentive! 

Our next lesson he wasn't quite as attentive.  We read "I Nephi being born of goodly parents...", it wasn't as enthralling to him...  However he is reading!

At church; apparently Hna. Lucero announced Horacio's baptismal date!  So whether Horacio knows it or not, he's getting baptized on the 3rd of March, the Anniversary of my first full day in the field.  We have a few more things to teach Horacio, but we hope to have him prepared by that day.

The rumor is; that Elder Klein is making his way back in a few weeks.  March 10 he plans to be here.  Evelyn Rivas is getting her endowments that day.

Also on the 10th we are going to hear an apostolic voice!  In the Zone Conference last week, President Nilsen announced that we'd be blessed to hear Elder Bednar in New Albany!  The whole mission will be making their way up to hear him speak.  I'm quite excited to hear him.  My first few months in the field he gave one of my favorite talks at General Conference.  So, that is the talk right now in the mission.  BTW this is supposed to be on the down low.  So, don't tell your friends that live in Ohio, or Kentucky!

Just so Mom knows...  I found Elder Braunburger (Spelling?)  he is in the Scioto ward.  I see him basically every Sunday.  I don't know the connection, so you'll have to refresh my memory...

Send "Elder" Z my love, and a "job well done".

I love you all, and wish you a happy Daytona 500 day!

Para Siempre,

Elder (A) Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Horacio Lucero

From: Austin Ipson
2709 Abbots Loop Ct.
Columbus OH 43204-4339
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 11:42 AM

Week one back in Columbus.  What a week it was!  I will let you know now that I was the one that got swindled into the bed...  We looked at them a bit more closely, and it appears that the box springs are the problem.  So, I will hope that I truly paid a full-tithe while I was home, so we can get these changed out!

With the business of the beds aside I want to address the miracle that happened throughout the week.  Wednesday Elder Jacobson and I were driving to Spanish South's apartment to pick them up for our Zone Meeting.  While making our way across Broad Street we got a call from Hermana Lucero. (She was the one that helped us with our old investigator Cynthia).  Elder Jacobson answered the phone, but couldn't understand.  So the phone was put onto speaker so I could drive and talk to her. 

She asked us if we had anything that night, but we did.  So we scheduled to go by her house Thursday, but at this point we didn't know why.  She then asked us "Saben porque les llamo?" We told her that we hadn't the slightest idea as to why she was calling us.  With excitement in her voice she told us that her husband wants to hear the lessons again!  We were slightly shocked by this.  Horacio was a cool guy.  Really funny.  However, whenever we'd come and share something; he'd pull a disappearing act!  It was Ninja-like stealth!  That aside we were willing to go teach him.

Elder Jacobson and I went crazy in our study for him.  With his training program he has an extra hour of companionship study to cover more material in Preach my Gospel, and the teaching DVD's.  However we took both hours of companionship study to figure out a lesson for him!  What we decided: Talk to him about the three modes of revelation.  Prayer, Going to Church, and Reading.  We figured that he has heard all of the lessons before, but we wanted to help him understand how he can get his own answer. 

We went Thursday and taught him just that.  The Spirit was strong, especially as we taught him how the spirit works.  By the end of the lesson he committed to baptism on the 3rd of March.  What makes this interesting is that his wife truly had hoped we'd ask him to be baptized that day!  The way things played out in that lesson seemed to be perfect!  We've taught him the 1st lesson of the Restoration of the Church.  In that lesson he was dozing off.  He works 10 hour days running his own framing business.  So I can see why he was tired.  The icing on the cake was when he came to sacrament meeting.

Horacio has been reading.  We left him Mosiah 18.  The story of the Waters of Mormon.  We felt that this would be a good chapter for him.  We later read with him Alma 34.  In preparation to the Plan of Salvation.  Right now his is starting over in his reading of the Book of Mormon.  What is happening right now truly is a miracle.  I hope to see him baptized on the third of March.  So that all of the Lucero family can receive the blessings of heaven!

With Elder Z. Ipson going home, there will only be one Ipson out in the field.  I just want you to know that whenever I got one of my letters from him Elder Ramsey would ask how "Champion Ipson" is doing.  Just let him know that he gained a reputation out here in the OCM.

I can feel it in me.  It's February... When's the Daytona 500?  There was more NASCAR influence down in the Cincy/Kentucky areas.  So I feel out of the loop.  Singles awareness day will be an easy one!  I don't have to worry about spending money on a date :P.  Thanks for the new tie!  I love you all so much.  Thank you Leighton for taking Quik to the Vet!

Para Siempre,
Elder (A.) Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Leighton and Quik for annual visit at the Vet's office
Quik lost 4 pounds this year because Leighton loves to play with him!

Where's Waldo?

Elder Garner and I
at the Florence Water Tower

Elder Ramsey and I

Me and the Avila Family
(Branch President's Family)

Elder "Jacobo" and I
(girl car in the back)

From: Austin Ipson
2709 Abbots Loop Ct.
columbus, OH  43204-4339
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 9:06 AM

So you're all in suspense as to where I am.  Well take a guess?  What is it?  Tell me, tell me, fine don't tell me...  Let's just say if you go find my first apartment address you'd find where I am!  That's right I'm back in Columbus in Spanish West!  The difference I am Senior companion, and I am finishing the trainer for Elder Jacobson.  Elder Roach (Elder Jacobson's old Trainer) was called as District Leader down in Dayton.  So I was brought up from the bowels of Kentucky to finish the training.  I may be in Ohio, but I still have my Southern Roots!  The South will rise again!

That left Elder Garner to take over the promised land of Kentucky.  He's a good missionary, and will do a great job of taking over the area.

As for now, I'm back in the 16 year old girl car (Calfscours Green Mazda 3).  It's nearing the 50,000 mile mark, so it should be replaced soon.  With the Mazda I will have put 50,000 miles on three different cars.  The other two never got replaced while I was there, but could you include that in your prayers; that I can get out of the "girl car" :P.

The area has changed quite a bit.  My old investigators seemed to have fleeted away.  However I did go back and Contact Hector and Susanna.  We caught them in an awkward moment, but they invited us back on Wednesday.

Most of the Branch remembers me!  It was fun to get a warm welcome, and to actually be able to communicate with them.  However the Dominican in the branch named Henry, well... I still can't understand him.....

It is also notable to add that Elder Ramsey and I have been separated.  It was a transfer short of a year, and that time gave us the conviction that we are making a trip down to Mexico! 

Oh yeah!  President Avila says thank you for the Nauvoo Temple pics!

So... Yeah... it's all been a shock, so, I really don't know what to say right now.  I’m excited to be back, and get to work!

I love you all, and let me know what happened in the super bowl.  I've only heard it was Patriots and Giants.  Juan de Dios watches a little bit of Football, so I got a small insight from him.

Once again, I love you all.  Don't eat too much cake, and when in doubt pinkie out!

Para Siempre,
Elder A. Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission