September!

What’s hapnin!?

Yeah, I was just thinking earlier today about it being the end of summer and the start of fall! I can’t believe that General Conference is only a month away. I was thinking back to it last year, and it was cold over there in Mississippi. I don’t know if it will be as cold this year, but who knows! Anyways, I have survived this summer --- so far, so good. I hope I can make it the rest of the way! We got a little bit of rain from Isaac; no wind, and just some tornado warnings in like Tuscaloosa county. All is well in Birmingham.

Sorry I didn’t email yesterday! Usually we just wait til Tuesday to do it when Monday is a holiday, but President told me to just use a member’s computer from now on if the library is closed. We just had our Zone Leaders Council meeting end about an hour ago --- we learned a ton and got to decide a lot for the mission. We are going to the temple again this month! I am very excited about that. Elder Koelliker, the General Authority who was visiting from church headquarters, told President that we aren’t going enough :) So that is good for me.

And yes mama, I am living with Elder Ingersoll and Elder Thurston. Elder Ingersoll just hit his 9 month mark last week ... are you kidding me???? I can’t believe it has already been that long. I just finished training him when I hit MY 9 month mark. And traveling to and from Cahaba Heights isn’t too bad. It does take an hour out of our day, but it’s a good time for us to talk about the work and stuff. Elder Ojelade is having a rough time sleeping lately. I think the stress of the work lately has been getting to him. So pray for him if y’all could. He hasn’t had much energy lately, but we are still doing our best and seeing miracles happen left and right. We just got word from President today that we are to start looking for an apartment to live in. None of the members were able to have us live in their house. But it’s all good. Now that we are in the branch only, instead of dividing our time between the branch and the ward, we can focus on their needs and building better relationships with them. And this last week we have really been able to do that. We were able to go to our first Branch Council, and we had a bunch of reports to give them and they got so pumped to hear about all the work we are doing. I also learned a lot from them as they shared what their goals are and what they are worried about. It’s good to see how we can help them, because that is why we are put here into the wards and branches. To be a blessing to the members and build their faith as we do missionary work.  And so we will be looking for an apartment as we bike around, and we have a ton of member lessons planned for this week to build their confidence in us.

We had one lesson that built the faith of about 5 members! We have a new investigator named Jane who we are working with. We met her about 2 months ago by Regina’s house. She was looking for an apartment so we started talking to her, but she wasn’t too interested, and nothing really came from it. We texted her every once in a while to see how she was doing, but never usually got a legit response from her. Then last Monday she shot us a text and said she is having a really rough time and wants us to teach her. So we met her at Chick-fil-a and had a really good lesson with her. Then we planned to have another lesson with her on Thursday. She told us she knew Sam, so we set it up so that Sam would be there. And we decided to have a church tour.  We had our ward mission leader come out, and about 4 of the young single adults. The church tour was amazing!!!!!!!!! Everyone participated and Jane asked a ton of questions. It took almost 2 hours! But after it was over, we left and Jane stayed to talk with the young single adults for a while. Later that night, we got a text from everyone there telling us thanks for inviting them, and that they felt the spirit so strong. And the next morning Jane texted us, saying she felt a part of a family the night before and it left a huge impact on her. She said she woke up feeling serene and peaceful. So it was awesome. And after the branch heard all of that, and how Jane has a baptismal date, they got pumped! Jane gave us a thank-you card and said that it’s just the little things, like showing that we care, that made all of the difference. It was a good experience for me. And I hope it continues to go as well as it is. Pray for her as well.

But as good as it is to have all of this going, it’s a bummer that we had to leave behind all of our investigators we were working with in the ward. We will still stay in contact with them and help the other elders teach them, but it won’t be the same. But it is all good. There is work to do.

Also, it is good to hear that the high priests in your ward are gung-ho about missionary work! That is how it should be. Missionary work is the best. The Reynolds are going to be doing another mission?? That’s what I’m talking about! And you have a senior couple in the ward? I love senior couples so much. Ever since I have been a zone leader, I have fallen in love with them. They are so funny, and add so much to the mission. Elder and Sister May used to live right by us, and I loved going and seeing them. She was the nurse, too, so she helped me when I had that horrible experience of 8 days of diarrhea ;) she had my back.

And I can’t believe that all of the neighborhood kids are growing up! Nick is a junior?? Are you serious? Wow ... crazy. And Amanda is learning how to drive? How long have I been gone????? But that is good to hear. I am glad that everyone is doing well. Good to hear that people still haven’t forgotten about me, either.

You haven’t heard from Zac since he left back home to Arizona? What’s up with that? I'll have to write him ASAP. What is Reel FX? And why does Lauren want to work there? You need to tell that butt to email me sometime. I haven’t heard from her in months! And the last thing she asked me was, "do converts still have a residue of their former religion" or something like that. Tell her to email me now.  And tell her to tell her roommates to stop arguing. That is totally awkward and funny. I would love to watch them argue until I needed to concentrate or something. Then it wouldn’t be so funny. But Lauren will be able to deal with it.

What does my missionary board at church look like, now that it is redone? Does Jackie put good pictures up of me?? I gotta be looking good for the Los Alamitos Ward! And I am so glad that the Elder Oppenlander Club is growing in size :) It’s always good to hear that you’re loved. It can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. And I think that is why I always have good days!!! Haha I know that I am loved by a ton of people. One thing Elder Koelliker said that really stuck out to me is, "you can expect success more now than ever. Never again in your life will you have so many people praying for you. Your ward back home, every temple, friends, family, other missionaries." And that is so true. I know how many people care about me and are praying for me, and it gives me the strength to go do what I gotta do. I’m definitely not doing this alone, it’s no big deal. So yeah, I am happy and healthy and loving it. It is not anywhere near perfect, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s all good out here in the 205.

I don’t even know what else happened this week. It has been great though. I also think I have some pics for you, so I will send those.

Love y’all! Hope you have a good week.

Elder Oppenlander