Dentists

Elder Smith, Crew Mascot & Elder Ipson

Elder Ipson & Cristhian Pantaleon

Elder Ipson & Elder Jacobo

Elder Hansen (If you can't remember him; think Brigadoon)

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 9:19 AM

Well. It took 'till the 89th minute, but the Crew finally put it in!  It was fun seeing the members at the game.  One of the pictures posted is of me and Cristhian Pantaleon.  He is a member from Kentucky that came up with his family to see the game.  Right now he is preparing to go on a mission.  The funny thing was..  He was our Branch Mission leader in Kentucky!

I also go to see the Lucero family again.  Horacio made sure to razz me!  Right now the are making a change.  They are moving from the Franklin 1 Branch to the Dublin Ward.  They hope to find more support for Brian, and Nathan.  Horacio also has a few more friends that are in the Dublin Ward.  They also have Spanish Translation there.  So it should be good for them!

We had another rough week.  We worked pretty dang hard, but numerically it didn't show.  However we did see a miracle on Sunday!

While I was with Elder Welch we were eating chicken feet, and we were working with Sister Clyde, because she was trying to introduce one of her friends to the Gospel.  Dr. G: the Clydes kids' Dentist was the one (She's goes by Dr. G because it's hard for kids to pronounce her name why?  She's of Philippine decent).  We armed her with Pamphlets and what-not, but it wasn't needed.  Why?  The Primary Program was coming up!  So at their last visit Sister Clyde invited Dr. G to come to the Primary Program!  The interesting thing is that she lives by two other families in the Ward.  One of those families helped inviting Dr G. again!

We get to church, and sitting with the Clydes is Dr. G!  The whole time she seemed to enjoy herself.  She stayed for the whole block.   The theme of the Primary Program was "Choose the Right".  Quite a bit of it had to do with Church standards and how we follow them.

We got home.  Went to work, but ended up having a flat tire.  We came home discouraged, but still happy about what happened at church.  Our excitement was elevated after a call we got from Sister Clyde!  She told us that Dr. G sent her an email later in the day.  Thanking her for inviting her to come to church.  She also said that she was going through a hard time, and the theme of the Primary Program was exactly what she needed to hear, and she was holding back tears the whole time she was there!  Sister Clyde was shocked!  We gave her a Book of Mormon to her to hand off.  She will see her on Thursday, and will give her a Book of Mormon, and invite her to hear the missionaries!

We also had interviews last week.  The day after the Crew game.  It's been rocky for me these past couple of transfers.  There's been the desire to go and do, but it just didn't happen.  President Nilsen pointed out the Story of the Brother of Jared.  How he brought for the stones, and he had the faith that the Lord would touch them. Later he had the faith that the Lord would reveal himself.  I've learned it's not just going and doing, but knowing the Lord will provide as I go and do.  That little addition makes all the difference!

Love you all!  T you little rascal!  What are you doing being Homecoming royalty?  Dawg!

Para Simpre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

P.S. Various Photos of me, and other missionaries, and mascots

The Crew

The Columbus Crew - Professional Soccer

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 8:48 AM

Look at all of the missionaries waiting to get in the gate.  It was "Mormon Night" and "Hispanic Heritage Night".  Sister Angie Lucero took these photos on her iphone and posted them to Facebook...bless her heart!

Enjoying the Crew game!

Elder Smith and Elder Ipson

This e-mail is coming a bit late to you today.  Due to the Columbus Crew game we shifted our normal Monday P-day to Wednesday.  This was a spur of the moment deal.  We didn't find out about it until Saturday, so I couldn't have let you know sooner... Sorry!

Tonight however we are going to the Crew game!  We are all pretty excited for it!  We are still hearing rumors that we are singing, or doing something.  This is still yet to be confirmed.  All we know is that we'll be on the field for the "pre-game" stuff, or as President Nilsen said, “during warm-ups".  What this will entail I have no idea.  I'll fill you in on what happens, but as for now there isn't too much info.

These past couple days the temperature has dropped significantly!  Long-sleeves are being busted out!  This always seems to be my favorite time of the year.  Already some of the leaves are beginning to turn red!  This winter coming up is forecasted to be a lot colder than the last.  So I get have a real Ohio winter before I know it!  As for right now it's been really nice for biking.

We've been out finding.  Our investigators are hard to keep in touch with.  They all seem to have so many things going on; it's almost impossible to keep up with them! 

Yesterday we had a mission wide fast to help accomplish our goals for the rest of the year.  I don't know if I have stated them...  This September we hope to accomplish 40 baptisms as a mission.  October through December we hope to have 50 in each month.  This would put us on track to have more than our goal of 500 baptisms!  We (as a mission) put a lot of effort in during the month of August, almost depleting our investigator pools.  This fast is to get things back on track so that we can continue to have success.

Elder Smith and I saw fruits from the fast already!

We've been trying to coordinate a visit from the Stake President (President Meldrum) and President Nilsen.  Sister Leonard has been a bit dodgy when it comes to church.  We invited her to listen to these Priesthood leaders, but our invitation wasn't warmly accepted.  We figured that nothing was going to come from it... However Sister Barclay (Good friend to Sister Leonard) got a call from her, saying that she'd be willing to have the visit from the Leaders!  All of this are enthralled!  This was an immediate fruit of the fast!

While on the phone coordinating the visit, we made a stop at a UDF. (United Dairy Farmers (Gas Station with Ice Cream)).  Hey there is cell service there! As we were on our way out one of the Cashiers commented that we look like the FBI.  We laughed because we get that comment quite a bit! She told us that long ago she had a Book of Mormon, but would like another.  We gave her another, and had a good talk about prophets and their role.  How it worked out: we came back later for some ice cream, and she had read from the Pamphlet we had also given her!  The one thing I love about missionary work is teaching those who are willing to learn.  That is the greatest part of the work!

All is well here in the Ohio.  It's getting cold, but I'll survive! Lots of love!
Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

It's getting dark out here!

Elder Ragan, ?, ?, Elder Jacobson & Elder Ipson

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 8:54 AM 

The nights are coming quicker!  I have to turn the headlight on my bike now! 

This past week was a tough one.  Elder Smith and I did quite a bit of work.  Going to return appointments, tracting, setting up lessons for members to come.  It just didn't seem to work out this week.  We kept grinding it out this past week, but we couldn't get any immediate results.  However, the miracle came last night after we reported our indicators.  We got a referral from Elder Garner (He's now is Spanish North: Westerville area).  He gave us a referral from the Hernandez family (remember Henry?  The Dominican guy I can't understand?)  They got this referral but don’t have the means of getting down here to Pickerington.  The referral was handed off to us in hopes that we can make contact with her.  (Her name is Mindy)  We also received a referral from the Pickerington 1 Elders.  We will be making an exchange tomorrow to go and teach this family.  These two referrals were little tender mercies at the end of this week.

As we went out to go find new people to teach, there's always those few who are ignorant to the truth, but arrogant to learn it.  It heard saved by grace, and the crazy theories of Yah-way (spelling?).  In the situation my eyes roll.  "Why won't you listen to me?"  My heart yells, as contention drives the conversation.  Then when I sit down to study my heart mourns, "Why won't they listen to me?"  I am extremely grateful we have the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives.  Not only does it warn us of danger ahead, but it teaches us of eternal truth.  By the Holy Ghost truth, is branded to our hearts.  It is not a fleeting thought or idea, but an eternal principle.  This is been present as I've read the scriptures this week.  An item that has been on my mind lately is the Godhead.  The divinity of each of its members.  I'm grateful I am taught by the Spirit.  One of the members of that same Godhead.  Who better to teach me about the Savior, than a member of the Godhead!  As Moroni teaches in his promise (Moroni 10:3-5) we are to read, ponder, and pray. By the power of the Holy Ghost we know all things.  It is as we do those things we put ourselves in that eternal classroom.  I know that to be true.  The Spirit testifies of Christ:  His divinity.  He testifies of the Father: His work and his Glory!

I love you all so much and hope you all have a great week!

Para Siempre,
Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission