Feliz Cumpliaños?

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 9:17 AM

Well. It's my birthday...(Looks down at the phone) yep...  Do I feel different.  Not really...  Oh well.

This week was a good week.  The whole time we were teaching.  Last night as we reported our indicators we looked at Elder Clay's old planners.  This was one of the highest teaching weeks this area has seen in a long time!  To top it off we were able to have someone at church this week.  It was definitely a tender mercy from the Lord.

We had just left the Huber Heights Sacrament meeting, and we went to the foyer to make a couple of calls.  We decided to call Israel.  We have been teaching him for a bit, but he hadn't come to church.  Long story short, we called him, and he came!  It's was like I ordered Pizza or something!  When he walked in the Branch thought I had!  They all made an effort to come and see him.

You can tell how much life it brings to any Ward or Branch when an investigator comes to church.  People know they need to be their best selves, and not do business as usual.  It's interesting how it's our example that really sets the tone for meetings.

Oh....  I guess I should mention.... I stayed for the transfer!  Elder Clay and I will be here for my last one.  We've already taken the liberty of digging through the closet to find the "Charlie Brown Tree".  Because of the lack of ceiling lights in Ohio, we decided that the dim Christmas tree can out shine the 60W wall light in our apartment!

Things are plugging along nicely here in Dayton Sp.  We hope to give people baptismal dates soon.  Right now we are at 436 baptisms this year.  We are close to our goal of 500!

Les amo muchisimo!  Que sigan adelante esta semana!

Para Siempre,

Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Italian Girls

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 8:54 AM

What a way to end a week!  I've mentioned in past letters that Elder Neilson of the Quorum of the Twelve would be coming to the Dayton East Stake.  It was a spectacular experience to say the least.  He related to us the message of the Restoration.  (As found in Preach my Gospel) He then related it to the family.  He emphasized the importance of having the children in the families knowing those principles.  What a prophet is.  That Christ established a church. There was an Apostasy.  Even more importantly he emphasized the Book of Mormon, and how crucial it is that a family reads it together.  The most important thing that he touched upon was how we all are children of God!  He had all of the Primary Children stand up, and sing the 1st verse of 'I am a Child of God'.  The Spirit was even more invited into the room as the song was sung.

Elder Clay and I had the chance to shake his hand.  We got pitched off the stage as soon as we shook his hand so he could meet and greet with the Children!  We'll the kingdom of heaven is theirs....   The Seventy that accompanied Elder Neilson was Elder Smith.  He was a Senator (He didn't mention which state), and you could tell that he knew how to talk! The story he shared was while he was a Senator.

He was in his office, and his Secretary told him that he had a call.  She said it was a foreign man, and that he said that he knew Senator Smith.  The Secretary told him that she wouldn't have taken the call, but it was from Salt Lake, and that he always took interest with calls from there! Senator Smith asked who the person was, and the Secretary replied that it was Dieter Uchtdorf!  Senator Smith quickly took the call!

Elder Uchtdorf related the issue.  Italy for the longest time hadn't given The Church full recognition as a national religion.  It was difficult to build chapels, officiate as clergy in hospitals, etc.  Elder Uchtdorf asked if a meeting could be set up with someone in Italy to make an appearance.  To make a long story short, Elder Smith was able to set it up, and months later he found himself in a room with Elder Uchtdorf, and two Italians.  The first Italian was the official, and the other a professor of religion.  Elder Smith opened, and turned the time over to Elder Uchtdorf to make the appeal.  The official looked at the professor and asked, “what do you think?"

 The professor said that he went to the West Coast of America for Vacation.  While he was there he stopped in Salt Lake.  As he walked around he could feel the Spirit from the temple.  The professor's reply was that he would help them, if The Church would build a temple in Italy!  Elder Uchtdorf replied, “We will begin immediately!"

The interesting thing is that this wasn't what sealed the deal. While the professor was on temple square he met two Italian girls who were there as missionaries.  He was extremely impressed how they presented themselves.  He replied to the official, "That the church would be a blessing to the Italian community.  Changing girls into great women!"

This story is an example that we need to be examples ourselves in all things and in all places.  It is true.  The greatest way to share a testimony is by example!

Oh I also found out a church secret!  Elder Neilson will be speaking at the MTC this Christmas!  As a side note:  The Grand-daughter of one of the people he was able to baptize while in the army will also be speaking!

Love you all lots!  Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Para Siempre,

Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

Just another day in Paradise

These are some pics. Of my shoes. I polished them yesterday just before church so the tops look okay. (Besides the heavy wrinkles in the leather) It's the soles that are funny! I still have another pair of shoes. Just thought I'd send you pics of the most worn-out ones.



this is my tie collection. I'm not sure how many there are.. I think there are about 30+ ties. I came out with exactly 15. I have very few, of the original 15.

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 9:20 AM 

In Ohio I've always been told; if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes it'll change.  This is a very true concept here in the Ohio.  I've never seen weather change so quick!

Funny thing is Spanish work is dependent on the weather.  When the weather is dark and rainy, it's the best time to go out to teach.  Why?  Most of the people we work with do construction.  When it's raining its perfect time to go and teach them!  Today it's pretty rainy, so we have high hopes as we start the week tonight.  This thought reinforces what I learned growing up.... Always pray for rain!

We're still working with Jose and his family.  I don't know if I mentioned in last week's letter that he's looking for a job.  We weren't able to meet with him this week, because he was working.  We were happy for him to be out working, but it's still tough when we aren't able to teach him.

These next two weeks are fairly big weeks in the mission.  This week we'll be having Zone Conferences. Both Dayton and Dayton East Zones will be there.  The Dayton East Stake Conference is this Sunday, and Elder Nielson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be attending.  The Huber Heights Ward is extremely excited for this!  We'll be able to attend since we also cover the Huber Heights Ward.  (The Dayton Spanish Branch falls into the Dayton Zone. Dayton Stake Conference will be in the first weeks of December)

Then the following week will be transfers.  This time the transfer will fall on Tuesday rather than a Thursday, to accommodate for Thanksgiving.  I highly doubt I'll be transferred.  I expect Elder Clay to stay here as well.  He's only been here for 4 1/2 months.  The average trend is to stay in an area for 6-7 months.  We both are expecting to stay here.

I love you, all lots. Hoping all is well back home.  Remember, pray for rain!  But not too much!

Para Siempre,

Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission

1st Frost

From: Austin Ipson
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 9:39 AM

We can now officially call it cold.  Last week we had our first frost.  We had some snow, but none of it stuck.  So it is 40-50ish degrees in the day.  So not too bad.  It's just when the wind kicks up we run to our little Toyota Corolla for refuge!  With Halloween there weren't very many trick-or-treaters out this week.  There are actually two days to trick-or-treat here in Dayton.  The first night is Beggars' night on the 30th and Halloween on the 31st.  Beggars' night is just to avoid all of the crazy people that run amuck!

Jose and Mercedes weren't able to come to church this week.  They had surprise doctors appointments that kept them from coming.  Mercedes had some sort of bug come up.  We were able to go over the Restoration with them.  Watched the video.  Who doesn't like movies?  Other than that Things (funny enough) are pretty calm here in the Dirty Dayton.

So Goozawits is going to the Greg Fernley this weekend! Woo!  All I can say is keep careful track of your heats. I was once 1 minute away from missing a 100 Fly!  So make sure you are always checking... Got it Goozawits?

Not much to report this week, sorry!  Things however are plugging along quite nicely!

Be sure to wash the baseboards.  I did that today!

Para Siempre,

Elder Ipson
The Great Ohio Columbus Mission