Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 9:26 AM
Subject: Progress
This week was definitely a week of progress. We have been working hard in all aspects of the work. We've been making sure to get members to lessons, visit our less actives, and floss every night. Elder Jacobson and I have been doing the best we can in the work.
I have been with Elder Jacobson for almost two transfers now, and I have been reprimanded for not giving a better description of him. Well here I go. Elder "Jacobo" (People can't pronounce his last name) is from good ol' Provo Utah. He graduated in the class younger than me, 2011. He played soccer for Mountain View High School, and can easily school me, and most of the Hispanics when we play. He's about 6'1, and 170lbs. Decent sized kid. Makes us look like migration even more! He's got greenie fire. Well not necessarily fire but... I'll put it this way... whenever I have Dad's "things aren't working I need a Coke" theory he fishes me out of the need of a Coke into a want, and I find myself knocking more doors! This branch has been one of the harder branches to work with. The members seem to be complacent with the branch. They see other needs than missionary work. Missionaries (unfortunately this includes me) have or had at one time thrown in the towel trying to work with the leadership. Elder Jacobo has been persistent for the three transfers he's been here! This will lead to what is going down in the branch right now.
We've all known that something needs to happen in the branch for missionary work to get a jumpstart in the branch. We've thought of all sorts of ideas to get things things in motion. We might think up a good one, but it simply gets shot down in Ward Council. We have gotten smarter though...
We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and their idea was to do a fast with the ward. In the mission the trend is to do a sequential fast for 40 days. We simply don't have the members to support that. instead it will comprise a week. To get the ball rolling we took some inspiration from Rep. 75 and started calling up members of the ward to back us up when we bring it up. Our ally in the Branch Council floor was the 1st Counselor Brother Harris. That's how we got smarter. We just had to pretend we were on the house floor!
In the meeting we followed protocol and we were heard out and put on the record! The Branch is going for it! We will be setting up the fast to be centered around the Cinco de Mayo. We are excited to see the ball rolling here!
This past week we picked up an old investigator. Hector Pablo. I was teaching him with Elder Klein. He needs to get married. That was his hold back the first time around. Elder Ragan was here in West for a little while, and he said that Hector just had a few things to sort out before he could get married. Hopefully it happens this time! (Note: It is extremely hard to get married in Ohio. Especially if you are illegal. If you are going to be illegal go to Kentucky, it is far easier to get a marriage license)
In our lesson with him we simply read the Book of Mormon with him. We picked up where he left of. 2 Nephi chapter 1. We concluded and shared what we learned. I know we were supposed to be back there when he said,"I loved it when Elder Klein would come and read with me. I always felt better". What we are teaching is true, and blesses lives. I hope that Hector can see the joy of the gospel in , not just reading the Book of Mormon, but living it in its entirety. I know this is true. I now, am a servant of the Lord. I am doing his work.
I Love you all lots, and hope all goes well this week!
Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
I have been with Elder Jacobson for almost two transfers now, and I have been reprimanded for not giving a better description of him. Well here I go. Elder "Jacobo" (People can't pronounce his last name) is from good ol' Provo Utah. He graduated in the class younger than me, 2011. He played soccer for Mountain View High School, and can easily school me, and most of the Hispanics when we play. He's about 6'1, and 170lbs. Decent sized kid. Makes us look like migration even more! He's got greenie fire. Well not necessarily fire but... I'll put it this way... whenever I have Dad's "things aren't working I need a Coke" theory he fishes me out of the need of a Coke into a want, and I find myself knocking more doors! This branch has been one of the harder branches to work with. The members seem to be complacent with the branch. They see other needs than missionary work. Missionaries (unfortunately this includes me) have or had at one time thrown in the towel trying to work with the leadership. Elder Jacobo has been persistent for the three transfers he's been here! This will lead to what is going down in the branch right now.
We've all known that something needs to happen in the branch for missionary work to get a jumpstart in the branch. We've thought of all sorts of ideas to get things things in motion. We might think up a good one, but it simply gets shot down in Ward Council. We have gotten smarter though...
We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and their idea was to do a fast with the ward. In the mission the trend is to do a sequential fast for 40 days. We simply don't have the members to support that. instead it will comprise a week. To get the ball rolling we took some inspiration from Rep. 75 and started calling up members of the ward to back us up when we bring it up. Our ally in the Branch Council floor was the 1st Counselor Brother Harris. That's how we got smarter. We just had to pretend we were on the house floor!
In the meeting we followed protocol and we were heard out and put on the record! The Branch is going for it! We will be setting up the fast to be centered around the Cinco de Mayo. We are excited to see the ball rolling here!
This past week we picked up an old investigator. Hector Pablo. I was teaching him with Elder Klein. He needs to get married. That was his hold back the first time around. Elder Ragan was here in West for a little while, and he said that Hector just had a few things to sort out before he could get married. Hopefully it happens this time! (Note: It is extremely hard to get married in Ohio. Especially if you are illegal. If you are going to be illegal go to Kentucky, it is far easier to get a marriage license)
In our lesson with him we simply read the Book of Mormon with him. We picked up where he left of. 2 Nephi chapter 1. We concluded and shared what we learned. I know we were supposed to be back there when he said,"I loved it when Elder Klein would come and read with me. I always felt better". What we are teaching is true, and blesses lives. I hope that Hector can see the joy of the gospel in , not just reading the Book of Mormon, but living it in its entirety. I know this is true. I now, am a servant of the Lord. I am doing his work.
I Love you all lots, and hope all goes well this week!
Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
