Government Holidays... The Bane of a Missionary’s existence!

This is Julio Trejo. We've been teaching him to get ready for baptism.  His baptism was this past Sunday. He's a nut.  We had a whole conversation (once) about Pokémon Red Version.  Thought I had forgotten that stuff!

Memorial Day BBQ...
It's the best you can do as a Spanish Elder!

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 2:02 PM

It's a day late, but better late than never right? 

Well last week was a heart-breaker for us.  We had Mauricio with a date at one point, but then fell off in a matter of days...  Not only did he fall off, but he'd rather not speak to us anymore....

To go through what happened; we had our lesson on Monday with him.  We recruited Hno. Harris (he served in Ecuador) to come with us.  We taught the Restoration to him.  It was extremely easy to move through the lesson once we hit the part about Joseph Smith.  Why?  He has gone to the Sacred Grove.  He's been to the Smith home, Hill Cumorah, etc.  So the life of the Brother Joseph was known.  We simply needed to bring the spirit in as we taught these things.  When we felt the spirit strongly enough, we invited him to baptism for the 10th of June.  (Baptisms happen on Sundays in this branch)  He didn't accept.  However Hno. Harris stepped in and added his testimony.  Mauricio thought for a moment.  It was a long silence, but we all knew he was going to say yes.  And he did!  We all testified that he was doing the right thing.  Lucy and Leslie (Mom and daughter) were both ecstatic to hear Mauricio say those words.

We set up a return appointment for Friday night.  However that appointment fell through.  So we rescheduled for Saturday.  However it was Friday night that made all of the Difference.  He went out drinking and smoking.  Lucy found out, and she told him fairly straight that he shouldn't be doing that if he is to be baptized.  He didn't like that at all.  Knowing that he was out drinking we still went by for our rescheduled lesson on Saturday.  Lucy greeted us.  She told us that he was "sleeping".  She rolled her eyes as she said it, and we saw a TV going on in the back room.  Needless to say we were disappointed but we kept going.

 I failed to mention that Elder Zwick of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy came to visit us this past week.  He came and talked to us on simplifying and intensifying our teaching.  1 so people don't get bored.  2 so the Spirit can also more powerfully speak to those we teach. 

Elder Zwick also told us of an experience he had with  Pres. Packer.  President Packer took him to his pond out behind his house and told him how it is a place where he thinks and prays.  President Packer asked Elder Zwick, "...where's your pond?"  That was the second theme of the meeting.  How can we more personally gain a testimony of our father in heaven?  So the question to you.  Where is your pond?

As for me.  It is praying more fervently.  Especially before bed.  At times, I'm bushed.  So, to make a long explanation short.  I will pray better at nights, and give a full accounting of the day.

That's my letter for this week.  Just can't believe the transfer is ending next week.  I don't believe I'll go, but you never know.  We’ll know next Tuesday!

Love you all have a good week!

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

All is Well, All is Well

From: Austin Ipson, Columbus, OH
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 9:19 AM

This was a week!

Now our hopeful baptism I introduced as Moracio, however, I am in error.  His name is Mauricio.  Imagine how I felt when I got his name wrong!

That is how we started our week.  We went to a FHE with Hermana Lucy, and her husband Mauricio.  What we taught in that first lesson was the atonement, and its role in our lives.  We then taught that the only way to access the fullness of the atonement is through baptism.  To see the look on Hna. Lucy’s and her daughters’ faces was priceless.  Why?  We invited Mauricio to baptism!  He accepted the invitation to be baptized.  However not a date.  His biggest question was how he could know.  We left him Moroni 10 to read.  We came back, and he had read all of Moroni 10!  In-fact he had great insights us.  The story that he told us; he was getting ready for work and just didn't want to go.  One of those days that wasn't shaping up to be a good one.  However he picked up and read Moroni 10 again (He had read through it a little up to this point).  Verse 20 stuck out to him, and stayed with him all day.  He even noted that his day was far better!

The lesson when we came back we also shared The Plan of Salvation.  It wasn't a very in depth lesson, but his understanding to his purpose was expanded!  He right now is excited to be learning, but was devastated when he couldn't go to church, especially when he found out he could take the sacrament!  Apparently in the past there was a bit of Hoopla about that.

We are very excited for Mauricio as he prepares for baptism.  The sad part is he and his family will be moving back to Ecuador this coming August.  However, He'll be a great member wherever he is!

Spanish South in weeks past ran into a less-active that isn't on our records.  Jose is his name.  He has been less-active for 20 some odd years.  While living in Mexico he was offended by one of the members, and left.  However he now is coming back!  He and his family came last week.  They came 40 minutes early so by the time sacrament meeting started their two-year old twins were restless.  It wasn't looking good...  However the branch did a good job of introducing themselves, and being loving.  To top it all off the kids liked Primary!  So we are hoping Jose and Claudia keep coming with their 5 boys.  (All are under the age of 10, good luck...)  We'll be heading out this Thursday to see them.

Things are looking good with people to teach.  However the Hernandez family will be changing branches.  The Franklin 2 branch is closer to them.  So, it makes sense for them to change.  This just means I won't ever learn how to understand Henry! 

The work is looking up; we are going to keep pressing forward.  Today I also finished the Book of Mormon.  I marked over 4,000 references to Christ.  I wonder how that happened, because I heard there was somewhere around 3,500 references.... Hmmm.....

I love you all, and hope you don't have too much fun this summer... Meh... do what you want!  Just don't get caught!  Have a great week!

Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

No se que decir....

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 9:04 AM 

It seems after the phone calls I have no idea what to say in my emails...  Needless to say it was great to hear your voices!  Grandpa I, it was great to hear your text from Dad!

This past week, as I said in the call, we've been using the "leave a blessing" approach.  This week we were able to meet a great deal of people and leave a blessing on each of those homes.  We have quite a few return appointments this coming week.  We hope to move these people to baptism.

I failed to note an important piece of information.  As of late the challenge was given to us to baptize in both May and June.  Yesterday we fasted so that we could achieve this goal.  We are moving forward in faith to accomplish this goal!

We received a call from one of our members, Sister "Lucy".  Her husband is a non-member.  He has heard the lessons many times; however Moracio wants to hear the lessons again!  Sound familiar?  We are hoping this turns out the same with Moracio, like it did with Horacio!  Tonight we'll be going by to teach a family home evening.

We are so grateful to Horacio and Angeles Lucero for having us over on Mother's Day.  Not only did they lend us their phones, but they also made dinner for us.  We plan on doing service for them to show our gratitude.

Sorry this is rather short...  I just don't know what else to say...  Wait....  Yesterday was Mothers' Day.... Does that mean Darlington was yesterday?  T keep me updated!


Leighton got to answer the phone!

Tanner talking to his Bro.

Dale and Austin chat...

Best Mother's Day Gift ever!  Talking with Austin!

Austin says this might be his last phone call home....  :)

After Church - waiting for the phone to RING!
Tanner, Jolene & Leighton

Love you all.  Enjoy your last week of school!
Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Llamadas (means "to call")

P.S. We've driven by this quite a few times.
The pose... I wanted to pull it since I saw this car with Elder Klein.

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 9:43 AM 

Wow Mothers' day calls are next Sunday.  It's been a fast few months!

With this past week we were able to get the fast underway.  It wasn't a sequential, as we had planned.  Rather we'd go to the houses, set up the mission plan, and get them ready to fast, and they'd give us a strange look.  It was a look of "did you just say fast?"  It was then we'd realize they wouldn't be fasting that day.  Quite a few times we set up a return appointment to start a fast with families!  Moral of the story, if you want to scare a Hispanic member of the church just say "Tengamos un ayuno hoy".  They'll be quivering for the next five minutes...

This week we had a surprise Specialized Training.  The Mission Department came by to the mission and was able to train the leaders.  What we learned....  A new approach to tracting.  Rather than the normal "Hi we're missionaries from the....."  We present ourselves as Represenatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, and are there to offer a blessing upon the home.  The idea is that we go in, invite the Spirit, get a return appointment, and get out.  That way when we leave they'll want us back, rather than... Oh the Mormons just want to take an hour of our time.

Elder Jacobson and I have been using this as of late.  We haven't had quite the success as other missionaries while knocking, however we have seen the fruits of this training.   We were with one of our members Ruben.  He had a few guys over for a "Carne Asada"=BBQ.  We were able to teach a small lesson on faith.  Then leave a blessing on the home.  Within the blessing we pray for each individual person.  We did so, and nobody wanted to get up.  We all just wanted to sit and feel the Spirit.  The Silence was broken by a girl in the kitchen who said, "what is it will all of you and awkward silences?"  We chuckled then went back to feeling the impression.  We left, and you could tell they didn't want us to leave.

Best not say too much.  Don't want to use all of my material before the call this Sunday.

Can't wait to hear you all.  Leighton, I hope you've practiced your Spanish!

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