Elders Konold and Oppenlander

March Madness

Hey!

My week was pretty good! Had a great multi-zone conference ---eating with Elder Canton and Hardy was da best. And I probably got the cards from the Jorgensens and Balls if it was way back for Valentines Day. I thought you said they just sent it. I remember getting a Subway gift card from the Balls haha. That was a long time ago though. And did you only get the cupcake mug from Westpoint?? My temp crown seems to be doing all right. It’s weird having to get used to chewing on the other side of my mouth haha.

And Elder Konold and I are still getting along great. I always have a good time ;) you should know that. And yeah, we have one new investigator who we are seeing tonight. She is doing a report on Mormons for school. She has been coming to institute and all of that and she’s being converted just by being around members. She came to our fireside last night and loved it. So I’m excited about her. She has family members who are Mormon out in Vegas. Robert didn’t get baptized haha....darn. He isn’t able to get married right now because of his girlfriend’s lawyer? Really it’s just a trial of his faith and he needs to step it up. But he’s a great guy and he'll get baptized. I just wish he understood that he needs to do it now and get all of those blessings to help him out in his life. He'll get it eventually.

And sounds like you’ve been busy trying to get that dumb bathroom all fixed up! Why isn’t anything standard size? That doesn’t make any sense. But I’m glad you’re making some headway on it and good luck getting her done. How is Kof-dog doing? I haven’t heard from him in forever. That’s good that you’re giving him something to do though. Let him know I say "NB". Sounds like Lauren and Dean’s wedding was sweet. Packin’ up the sealing room and having a funny sealer hah. Man I can’t wait to get married and all that good stuff. I love the temple!

And I love volleyball. I wish I would have played some sports in high school instead of being a sick punk all the time. I had an awkward and frustrating school experience haha. It’s funny when I think about it nowadays. But I’m excited for college so I can be a good student for once in my life. If all of these peeps in Alabama can do it there is no reason I can’t, shoot. And sounds like the choir is taking up all of your time! Man, our choir out here is horrible! And we just got a new organ player who was blowing it yesterday. I was on exchanges with Elder Taggart and I could not stop laughing for the life of me. Whenever I shouldn’t be laughing I always laugh more than normal. It was no good. But when you gotta laugh, you gotta laugh. What can I say? And Kerry was ordained to be a priest yesterday!! And then right after church he went and gave the sacrament to a person in the VA hospital. He was all "I like this priesthood thing!" haha I’m happy for him. He loves being a member of the church and it’s been a good influence on him for sure.

It sounds like Jackie is being a huge help helping you pick out classy tile and stuff. I trust her to not get me some lame bathroom equipment. Gotta be a classy bathroom for when I get home :) and how is it having her in the ward now? Do you enjoy getting to see her every week? I guess you saw her every week anyways but you know what I mean! And Lee Hale is right: Who ain’t waiting for me ;) Sister Mills still calls me "her missionary" and calls me "dimples" too haha. And this old white lady asked me why my cheeks are always red. I don’t know why I’m so cute :) Old ladies love this face. Everyone else just makes fun of me though...Elder Konold says my head is huge. Haha it’s true!

I was going to send some pictures but I forgot my camera as usual. I’ve been walking around the projects like 3 days this week just playing some ball with the locals in my missionary attire with tennis shoes on. It was fun! We taught a bunch of lessons and this little 4 year old cussed me out and pulled a bb gun on Elder Taggert and almost shot him hahahaha. It was funny. Those kids are violent and like to punch him. I’ve been lucky so far. But I love the black lifestyle out in the PJ's. Just bump some music, grill on your front porch, and invite all the neighbors over to have some fun. No worries in the world. I helped some lady plant flowers in her front yard and all the little black kids came over and wanted to help. But after like 3 seconds they were bored and peaced out. But it was still fun! I love being a missionary. It’s the best. That’s about all that happened this week. Just loving life in the 90-degree weather and getting my sweat on. I met a student on the football team here this week! I’ve been trying to find him the whole time I’ve been here and I finally did. His name is Isaac and he is 18 and a big sucker! He’s a Samoan from La Mirada! Ask Tony if he knows him haha. He used to go to church in a Samoan ward in Long Beach then went over to La Mirada. His phone number is 562.... :) I was so happy to see that area code! So we're going to try to reactivate him. We'll see. But yeah that’s all I got!

I love ya and I hope you have a good week! You been smoking any food lately? Fatten Jackie up!!!!!!!! Hahaha

Elder Oppenlander

Multi-Zone Conference in Birmingham

What's Up with her teeth

Digging In

Elders Hardman, ??? and Oppenlander

Elders Clanton, Oppenlander and Hardy

New Companion

Yo madre and padre!

Yes ma’am, I got a new companion named Elder Konold! He is from San Diego but he doesn’t like the ocean, skateboarding, or California in general....what?? Haha, its funny. He doesn’t know what he's missing. Elder Konold came out with Elder Lofthouse, Holley, and Hardy. And Elder Hardy's new companion came out with them, too. His name is Elder Taggart. So I’m the baby :) haha, everyone has been out a year and 2 weeks longer than I have. But no biggie, I hold me own ;) He's a great guy. We get along well and he enjoys being around me. I’m pretty good at making missionary work fun for him, and I can get him to chuckle all throughout the day haha. I love being a missionary! Yeah, I was glad to have a new companion. Change is good, and I bet Elder Ingersoll is doing well in Selma! And yeah, I want to be companions with Elder Clanton so bad! That would be amazing. But the Lord puts me with whoever I need to be with, so if it happens it happens, but if not, I’m perfectly fine with that too. We can hang out after our mission.

I didn’t get anything from Sis. Jorgensen or Sis. Ball? I don’t know if it hadn’t gotten here yet or what, but we have a multi-zone conference this Wednesday and I'll probably get it there.

I go back to the dentist April 9th. I don’t know if they will do a cleaning too or not. Didn’t ask ‘em about that. I was too busy having a numb face hahaha. They shot me extra and the left side of my face was completely paralyzed all day hahahaha. It was so funny, especially when you try to talk to people....embarrassing! I took some funny pics of it. I would be trying to smile, but only half of my face moved and the other half was all fat ;? Kinda like that. I got a lot of funny looks but I had a good attitude about it and that made people smile.

Isaac got baptized? That’s sweet! And that tour sounds like it went great! We are having something kind of like that this week. Pres. Holzapfel and Pres. Smart (our stake president) will be speaking at a fireside. And recent converts will be bearing their testimonies. The fireside is called "Why I Believe", and its for people not of our faith to come and see what we believe and have the opportunity to feel the spirit and hear from some bible scholars. So we are inviting people to that and hopefully there will be a good turn out. I doubt Pres. Holzapfel and Smart will be able to come speak again.

Lauren Harrison is getting married this Friday?? Dang, that’s awesome! I want to go to the temple...I barely ever get to go out here haha. I’ve only been once, and I want to go some more.

Lauren has only 3 weeks of school left!!!! Shoot, that’s awesome. How close is she to finishing the film? I know she'll finish and I’m bummed I won’t be able to see it until I get home. So lame! But that is crazy! Life is about to start for her real good. And no, you didn’t tell me Joey reported to the Missionary Training Center in Brazil! Everyone gets crazy missions but me...Alabama!! Haha. And his family lives in Japan? That would be fun to travel around and live all over.

My bike is still holding up, barely though haha. I have to buy stuff for it all the time but its been doing well for like a week or two. So knock on wood that thing doesn’t get another flat tire or anything. I took the 70 bucks out to get 2 watches. They are classy haha. Lifted my spirits.

It’s raining in California? It’s been 85-90 all week here and its already summer. No joke, it is so hot --- but not too humid yet. But I’ve been sweating like no bodies bizznizz. I hope it doesn’t stay this hot. Summer is going to be like 7 months long....but I’m still loving it out here and we have another baptism this Saturday! Big Robert is getting in the wata. He has to get married first, so he is going to court on Wednesday to handle that. He is an awesome guy, and he has been loving coming to church and meeting with us. Its kind of weird to teach someone who accepts it all and doesn’t have an addiction to smoking or drinking haha. It’s weird. So you can pray for him to have a good baptism and just pray that we can find new people to teach. It’s been rough finding them lately, but now that the college is back in the swing of things it should be easier. But yeah, things are amazing.

Elder Leali'ie'e failed at the Mugshot last Monday. That was hilarious haha. Its like one of those food channel challenges. You have to eat this fat burger, fries, and a fried pickle under 12 minutes. It’s an Alabama thing. They had 12 national championships at the time it was created, so you had to eat it all in 12 minutes. But he didn’t do it! He had like 20 fries left...it was a heartbreaker. He pounded it all and we were just eating while he was and it was kinda gross... :) I didn’t even want to try it. I enjoy eating and I can’t even eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich fast. It ain’t my thang.

I think that’s all I’ve got for today. I still have 20 minutes, so if you have any questions and if you can respond to it....go for it.

Love you tons! Enjoy California and yell at Jackie for me. Tell her to go to bed early. No staying out late haha.

:) Love, Elder Oppenlander

Still in Tuscaloosa :-)

Chase found out he is staying in Tuscaloosa another 6 weeks with a new companion!

Nine Months and Counting

Parents!!!

I’m staying in Tuscaloosa again...what the heck haha. And I’m getting a new companion, so I’ll be going to transfer meeting this Wednesday and picking him up. Elder Hardy and I are the only ones not leaving. Even the visa missionaries are outta here. I might be companions with Elder Hardy again, how crazy is that? This morning has just been crazy. I have been freaking out and super excited and nervous. I tried writing Jackie but it was so a.d.d. I couldn’t even stand it haha. But yeah, I’m really excited to see who I’ll be with and if I'll be with 4 elders again or just 2. So yeah....changes are fun.

I have never heard of that powder junk for headaches. But I don’t really get headaches too much anymore. Only when I’m in a car for a long time or do something crazy to mess my neck up. But that doesn’t happen too much.

Yeah, Elder Leali'ie'e told me about his brother being in the Long Beach Mission, and I said I don’t think I’ve ever met him. That’s cool how we ran into each other. I got everything in the package this week! Thank you so much. The helmet is a lil big so it adds to my nerd look quite well. And the shoes should be put to work on the bball court soon :) thank you! And stop sending me candy!! I swear I tell you every time but every time there is more and more candy. I am getting fat out here in Alabama and I don’t need any help from momma back home. Cut it out haha. Seriously though mom, what are you trying to do to me? Gonna get strait up diabetes and high cholesterol and junk.....Tracy.

And yeah, I'll call the dentist today and let them know that I'll be staying and can get that crown fixed. They said I’m going to need a whole new one and that my gums are receding. So I guess my toothbrush is too hard and I’m brushing too hard. Oops.

I haven’t gotten anything from Sis. Ball or Sis. Jorgenson yet. I'll probably get them on Wednesday when I go to Birmingham. That sweet potato pie was uh-mazing. I love it, but it was a little too big for me.

And who does mom tell the saluting story to? haha. I thought it was pretty funny though and that’s why I told you suckers about it. Haven’t had anything like that happen this week. It’s spring break so campus is dead. So we've been working all around and I’ve been on exchanges like 2 times this week and it’s been crazy. Went to Demopolis again yesterday and bore my testimony again. It was fun! And Bro. Champion fed us lunch and dinner this time. I love being here in Tuscaloosa! Glad I’m staying. And invisalign seems weird to me. You'll have to tell me how it is and if it hurts! Elder Ingersoll has invisalign, I’m pretty sure. He never wears them though, so it always hurts him when he does put em in. So keep them in your mouth! Sounds like more than your mouth is going to be getting some work done on it! New doors and carpet and bathroom ... I’m going to come home to a strange house haha. But it will be exciting, so I won’t complain.

And Hawaii????? Dang, that’s going to be so perfect. I want to go! Alabama is going to be hot and sweaty around that time and I won’t be bronzed up. Or my neck and arms will be at least. Everything else is just going to be white and pasty. I’m looking forward to that ;) Its been in the high 70s and 80s this week and I’m loving it. Getting my sweat on once again and there is nothing better. I don’t know why I love sweating so much but I do. Just having drips rolling off your nose and blowing them on Elder Ingersoll ... it’s the best.

And Elder Hardy and Emmanuel had a baptism of this 12 year old this week. He was deathly afraid of putting his head under water and it took like 18 tries to finally get him fully immersed. He would go in and then start crying and freaking out. It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever been a part of. Said like 1000 prayers while he was screaming and I was glad that he finally was able to be baptized. I would have just jumped in there, thrown him down and called it good. I don’t mess around haha.

Elder Ingersoll says thanks for the candy too, by the way. Sorry that was so random but that’s how my brain works. This week really was boring though. Nothing much happened. The visa waiters have been having a great time and they are a lil bummed they are getting transferred. But its ok, they will have fun in their next area for sure. Oh and I want to be an engineer like y’all when I get home. It runs in the blood, so why not. I think it will be good for me. And I want to stay in California and close to home. And I’m good at waking up early in the morning now, so no big deal. I’ve been talking to Jackie about it and I think it will be the best job. I can always have side hobbies that aren’t so boring hahaha. Seriously though, so what kind of classes will I have to take for that? Tell me about it.

That’s all the news I have for this week. It was a good one and the last one with Elder Ingersoll ... Finally.

Haha, I love you and I hope you have a great week!!

Love, Elder Tuscaloosa

Kerry's Baptism and Stuff

Kerry's Baptism

Kerry wishes he was cool!

Classy

Elder Leali'le'e

Elder del Francia

Elder Holley got me a soda for "one year of abstinence" from soda.

It's March!

Mom and Dad …

Really, send me the bike helmet haha. All the ones here are horrible or expensive. Elder del Francia, and Elder Leali'ie'e are both going to New Zealand as soon as they get their visas. It’s super fun to have them, but I’m pretty much training three missionaries at once. Elder Ingersoll doesn’t need me anymore, though. We are ready for transfers next week. Sister Rugg said to go to the dentist and get my crown fixed. But she wants to know if our insurance is dental too and where I should go. I wasn’t too surprised about the hug Pres. Holzapfel gave me from you. I thought it was classy :) Jackie is stealing my tank top!!!? That’s messed up. Whatever, she can have it haha. She will use it more than I would. Tell her she has to sing in the choir though!

Brazil sounds sketchyyyy!! Hahaha I hope Corbin is enjoying himself out there in the jungle. And the Brazilian handicap sign is way better than ours! Man, we need to step it up big time.

Jeffy and Courtney are engaged!!!!! What?????? Holy smokes, that is hilarious! Never would have thought, but that’s sweet! I want to see this invitation. And I heard about Addy from Zac. How crazy is that?! Man, everyone is getting married and growing up back home. It’s so weird. And all of that jewelry from Brazil sounds cool. Send me some pics of that stuff. Sounds like you had a good week even though it was slow at home.

This week Kerry was baptized!! So we're excited about that. It was cool to see him all happy and become a member of the church. I'll send you a picture of it. We had some bad weather this week, but I still didn’t get to see a tornado! Elder del Francia thought for sure he was going to die and was freaking out a little bit. But he said a prayer and calmed down. And I got rained on a bunch. It was in the 80s and humid this week, then after the storm it cooled down to the 50s. I love the humidity. Had to pull out my camelbak again. And the dog story is just that Elder Ingersoll got charged by this fat black and white dog. He started running and it chased him down haha. I was just standing there trying to get the dog to come to me and I was laughing. It was scary a lil bit, but mostly just funny. Dogs are the sketchiest things to missionaries. For some reason they just do not like us. It’s a shame. And this week I talked to more high/drunk people than I ever have in my life! Goodness gracious, they were everywhere haha. One of them tried to get money from me and was cussing me out like nobody’s business. He called me the "al Qaeda" and I was like....what in the heck are you talking about? (I didn’t really say that, because I thought for sure I was about to die, but I thought it). I love the ghetto!

Also, I got kicked out of an apartment complex by this redneck and it was hilarious!! We were going to see an investigator of ours. And as we are going up the stairs, this car screeches to a halt and the driver is all "get out of here!" and I try to explain to him how we have an appointment with someone. And he just says "you cant knock on doors and harass our tenants about religion … that’s called salooting and I can have you arrested for that!" I said "salooting? What are you talking about?" I knew he meant "soliciting", but it’s what popped out of my mouth. So I go down and talk to him and he says, "tell me your name so I can report you to your boss, who’s your boss?" and Elder Ingersoll says "God’s our boss", so I show him my nametag and he doesn’t even write my name down, just keeps saying "you can’t be salooting here, you need to get off" and stuff like that. It was funny/annoying because I couldn’t even explain myself to him. He didn’t believe we had an appointment, and he said the police won’t believe it either hahaha. Man, I love the south. I just don’t understand people sometimes. Doubt I ever will, though haha.

But yeah, my week wasn’t too shabby. The visa missionaries are really fun to be around. Elder del Francia is from San Clemente and Elder Leali'ie'e is from Texas. They are loving Alabama but Elder del Francia is scared of it haha. He doesn’t like the sketchy weather or the ghetto. You must have to be a dare devil to get called here or something! Haha man, I love it out here. Alright, well I’m going to send a pic or two, so enjoy. I don’t know what else to say, but I have 30 minutes left, so reply fast!!

Love you

Elder Oppenlander

Visa Waiters

A big hug from President Holzapfel

Missionaries waiting for their Visa's to New Zealand are assigned to serve in the states until their Visa is granted. Elders Del Francia, Ingersoll, Oppenlander and Leali'le'e serving in Tuscaloosa

Elders Tonga, Ingersoll and Oppenlander