PREGNANT???

hahaha yo whats good??

so life this week was good. Taught some lessons, felt the spirit, what more could you ask for??

We taught this one family. The lady is from Bosnia, and a Muslim, and he is catholic and from Spain. But they told us they only claim their religions to chase away the JW'S ,  haha. They are really cool, and said that if God told them that all of this was true that they were on board!   So, that made my week!!! And the dude is in the army what up!!!!

I really like this area, I am growing closer to the Lord and my testimony that he is there and has a plan for us has been strengthened. I love being in a position now where I can help other missionaries, and be a part of their success! I feel so successful on my mission.  I am truly doing what it is that the Lord expects from me. 

I love this place. Holland is sacred ground to me.

The church is true, it’s just that simple.

Love

Elder Ipson

( As Mitch's mom, I'm taking poetic license and offering an explanation for his title.  He has nine month left to serve on his mission.  Jeez, the kid knows how to get our attention)

THE GREAT HERRING KIPPER,OOPS I MEAN CAPER

THINKING ABOUT THE HERRING

GETTING READY

COMMITTED

OH MY HECK!!!

NOTICE MITCH'S COMPANION HAS BACKED FAR AWAY FROM MITCH.  SMART ELDER, VERY SMART ELDER

SHOCK OF THE MISSION

Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2013

Yo everyone what is good???? So this week was pretty good. Elder H set his first baptismal date! Such a flippin stud. The lady we found was actually the one in a million that actually let us in the door!! So that was a pretty big miracle. We just got back from our zone p-day in eindhoven. Our zone leaders thought it would be a good idea to play what they called ultimate soccer. Or regular soccer with an excercise ball! Haha funnest thing in the world but I am pooped. So the biggest shock of my mission came this week. I was sitting in priesthood translating from English to Dutch for one of the investigators. haha not doing very well but trying. But all of the sudden who interrupted the men's club other than one of the sisters! She asked if she could borrow me for a sec, and a new translator was secured for our investigator. She asked "so could you give a baptismal interview right now"? I looked at my watch and was like ya I think I got time haha. But this was totally unplanned. She has been investigating the church for 3 years and decided enough was enough and we are having a baptism next weekend. Haha so flipping cool.

I hope that I can send pictures some how!

This lady L, during the interview was just like Elder I want you to baptize me! Haha okay.

The Lord is there and has so much in store. If we only trust in him, komt dan alles goed (then everything will work out fine). Haha Really shock of the mission. Well I love you guys and will see you soon.... this is my last september. I refuse to quit, I will FINISH STRONG. The church is true it's that simple

 Elder Ipson

 Elder Mitch Ipson
Zeswegenlaan 295
6412 HK, Heerlen

CLOUD 9

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 13:36:15 +0200

 so, if any of you are wondering what i look like, that emoticon is pretty much it. It is so freaking hot here.

 

Well, this week was really hot, and it doesn´t help that our apartment has pretty much the worst ventilation on the face of the planet and it doesn´t help when you open up the back windows all the way just to get some circulation and a freaking bat flies in..... and then you and your companion you are on exchanges with are running around and screaming like little girls trying to catch/destroy this little rodent with wings.... haha very interesting week.

 

Well tomorrow is my 1 year mark, I geuss that means its time to throw it in high gear and use what I know!!!

 

next month in september will be the baptism/reactivation of one of the coolest families I have ever met on my mission, I am so excited for that.

 

Now behold my beloved brethren this is the doctrine of Christ (2 nephi 31:20). I love that scripture, Nephi tells us plain and simple what it is we need to do. Man I can´t wait to meet that guy. I get to play a role in this part for another year, I am so freakin pumped!!!

 

Wit luv

 

Elder Ipson

YO WHAT'S GOOD?!

Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:35:58 +0200

Yo whats good?!

 

I´m on top of the world this week. We had such a good week, and just awesome experiences. Haha one of them was when we talked to this crazy drunk guy who was just being weird and saying we were police and not mormons, and then claimed to be a member. Elder L said the following about him "I think he got cracked before he got hatched" I about died laughing.

 

Life is good, over 2 weeks I and M will be getting married, and on the 21st of september M will be baptized. Man, so awesome to be here for all of it.  I know I will probably be getting transferred, because everytime things start going amazing, and miracles are all over I get transferred haha. But i´m on the Lords time not mine, so no complaints.

 

I will have been gone for 1 year exactly come this thursday..... time goes alot faster than I would like it too, but i am only propelled more to do my best. I want to be the best Elder Ipson I can be, and leave a lasting impression on all those that I serve. That is my goal.

 

I love this church, it is the Church of Christ and its just that simple

 

With love,

 

Elder Ipson

FEEL THE RYTHM....FEEL THE GLIDE...COME ON NETHERLANDS IT'S BOBSLED TIME!!

So Elder S has been saying that all week, so I thought I would put it as the subject. This week has been low on numbers but high on experiences, and that is what counts. We had so many miracles this week, we had a spanish family that we got to walk all around Rotterdam with and teach the plan of salvation, we talked to a chinese student about Jesus Christ and his atonement, and last but not least, I gave a blessing in Dutch! The Blessing was the highlight of the week. I had no fears of language, I didn´t worry about what I had to say I just let myself be puddy in the Lords hands. But I feel I only felt that way because of the Love I had for the person. The person was the family that I spoke of when I first got here. __ is really stressed out, and asked for our help. So obviously we went to our friends aid. After the blessing, I gave the __ a big hug. I didnt want to let go of my friend. The experiences we have here are truly once in a life time. I read in 1 ne. 15 this week, that the lord has engraven the house of Israel on his palms (referencing obviously to his atonement and suffering for us on the cross) and we will never be forgotten. And it´s true, Christ will never forget us. He has felt our pains and our sorrows. He is the one who can best say I know, I felt it too. He is there for us, always. He is but a mere prayer away. I am so grateful that I get to serve him here in this blessed country for the next two years, and will do my best to make the calling great. I know its true, and I join in with millions of others in the sentence of the hymn "o sweet the joy this sentence gives I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!!) In zijn heilige naam, Jezus Christus, Amen. With Love Elder Ipson

HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY GRASSHOPPER

As Mitch's mom I've decided to excercise a little poetic license and do a post on the "Dutch Elder's" blog.  It is officially Mitch's 20th birthday right now.

 It really does seem like yesterday that he was born.  I still remember the feeling of finally getting to hold him when he was born.  He was really tiny and scrawny.  He was red all over (which is a good color, blue means the baby is not breathing-bad color), he had a little patch of strawberry blonde colored hair.  Within a matter of days he was cover from the tip of his pointy little head to the very tips of his tiny toes with baby acne.  I could not believe how bad it was.  The dermatologist that I worked for at the time was also amazed but, of course, there was nothing he could do for poor Mitch.  We just had to "wait it out" until his skin and hormones adjusted to life on the wonderful earth that we inhabit. 

Ross and I were about 32 years old (but whose counting?) when we had Mitch.  Yes, I was asked many times if Mitch was my grandson.  One day when I was picking him up from kindergarten, one of the kids yelled, "Mitch your grandma's here to get you".  When Mitch saw that it was just me, not his grandma, he yelled back, "she's just my mom".  Oh well, when you're older those kinds of things don't bother you because trying to keep up with young children makes you feel like a grandma.

Mitch was always a handful  but in a good way.  He loved to tease every person that walked on this planet.  There were many times I thought I would die of embarrasment from something that he had said or from something that he had done., or both. 

He has grown into a fun loving and responsible adult.  He has always known what he wanted to accomplish in this life and so far nothing has stopped him from reaching his goals.  Luckily, his goals have always been positive and good.  At least, as far as I know and believe me I really do know more than I want to about some of his "adventures".  I apologize to any of you who have been included in any "adventures" that you were not happy with. 

I love you Mitch and I am so very proud of you. 

Love,
Mama Bear

P.S.  I'm going to make sure to print this post so that when you get home and I'm ready for you to go back to The Netherlands because you're teasing me, I can read it and remember how I felt on your 20th "birth" day.