Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:08 AM
This is a week where can see that the Lord is preparing people to hear the Gospel! Last week we went to church, not expecting investigators to be at church. They told us they had affairs to take care of but would be here the following week. We go to church, and we get surprised! It wasn't that one of our existing investigators was there, rather, there was a "new" one sitting in the pew! Elder Welch bolted to the scene to meet him, and the woman he was with. His name is Devin, and the Woman's name Kristal. Kristal is a less-active coming back. She’s had a hard time with past marital relationships and it has kept her from coming back to church. Right now she is living with Devin, (out of Wed-lock) but she is doing a fantastic job of doing missionary work with Devin. She has helped him read the Book of Mormon (to our knowledge) to 1 Nephi 13, and has helped him learn how to pray. We also invited him to be baptized. Come to find out he was a little put off by the challenge. Not knowing why he needed to be baptized again. Kristal later explained to him: to join any other church you would need to be baptized, as well as touching upon the Priesthood. Her explaining it in such a simple way helped him know a little more in depth why, to be baptized. Not a perfect knowledge, but little by little. We are excited for them and hope we'll be able to help Kristal re-activate, and Devin to the ordinance of Baptism.
This past week we were able to see Ben and Amber at church.
We were thrilled! Up until we found out the topics, and speakers at
sacrament meeting. The Ward has been going through the Temple Recommend
Questions as topics for the Sunday Sermons. This week was "Do you
associate with any organization that has beliefs contrary to that of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?" (Roughly) Odd question.
We didn't realize that one of the speakers was a Brother Sheppard.
An older man in the ward who was once a Bishop. To make a long
story short he talked about how a number of the witnesses of the Gold Plates
apostatized and affiliated with other groups going against the church. As
well as emphasizing the word "Apostate". Needless to say, we were gritting our
teeth the whole time. We hope and pray that they still desire to come to
church the coming week.
We also found another new investigator. Chris.
We found him through our own efforts. When we knocked the door he
exclaimed, "Mormons, I've been waiting for ya!" He ushered us
over to his porch chairs, and started asking questions. What is the Book
of Mormon? Why do people think you aren't Christians? What do you
think about...? I love it when they have questions, especially when they
are willing to listen to your answers! We'll be seeing him tomorrow to
teach him the Restoration.
The work is good and Members are great. Elder Welch
and I are ready to go to work this transfer. Why? The mission has a
goal of getting 50 baptisms both in the months of July and
August. If these goals are met President Nilsen has promised the
missionaries here a trip to the Columbus Crew game in September. From
what we can understand it will be for the 2nd annual Mormon Night,
and the Missionaries will be out on the field for halftime.
Fortunately we have high hopes for August and hope we can help the mission
fulfill its goals. We will do all in our power to make it happen!
I hope all is well on the Homefront. Tanner is causing
too much trouble this summer vacation. Leighton, I hope you are staying
out of jail. The things that happen when you're close to Tropic.
Hope all is well, & remember... Stay out of the tub of frosting. Mom
will find out!
Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission
 |
| Just trying out the toothpaste. Rest assured Mom, I brush those teeth! |
