President Holzapfel's message to the missionaries on Memorial Day

Today is an American holiday, "Memorial Day."
In earlier times, it was known as "Decoration Day," because families decorated the graves of their relatives with flowers who had been killed in the American Civil War (1861-65). The tradition of placing flowers on graves now includes any deceased relative.
The holiday is a particular significance in the South where families gather from long distances at a prescribed time and day during this three-day weekend. Often these gatherings include a religious service and a meal known as a "Dinner on the Ground" or "Pot Luck." In addition to paying respects to their deceased relatives, Memorial Day is an opportunity to renew and strengthen family ties.
In the United States it also represents the beginning of the summer vacation with Labor Day (held in September) representing it's end.
Southern BBQ will a prominent role in today's activities. The local parks and campgrounds will be filled.
Remembering has always been an important of human activity. In ancient Israel, the Eleventh Commandment (after the Ten Commandments) has always been, "Thou Shalt Remember!" Of course, in the Bible, the command to remember has to do with remembering the mighty acts of God.
In particular, the Book of Deuteronomy places heavy emphasis on remembering, "Remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord they God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm" (Deuteronomy 5:15).Prophets and Apostles have said that remember is perhaps one of the most important words in the dictionary.  For example, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) noted that one of our greatest needs is to remember (See "Circles of Exaltation," address to religious educators, Brigham Young University, 28 June 1968, p. 8).
The word  "remember" is used 352 times in the scriptures. Add its variants and the number climbs to 550.
Of course, in our weekly Sacrament meeting, we hear the words, "always remember Him" (see Doctrine and Covenants 20: 77,79) as we prepare to renew our covenants with the Lord.
May the Lord bless you this day to remember all the blessings you have received from our loving Heavenly Father. May you also "always remember" the Jesus Christ who gave Himself to us that we might live more abundantly.  Finally, please remember family and friends who have blessed you with the gifts of life, love, and friendship.
Best wishes and love, 
President Holzapfel
Alabama Birmingham Mission

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

So far today, I have already been to the Athens Memorial Day celebration. They shot off guns like it was no big deal haha. And that was all of our plans until now. Just got to shop and clean that apartment. So hopefully it will be a relaxing day.  Which will be good because this week was pretty rough haha. A lot of our plans fell through and it just felt like somebody was draining our energy. We still were able to set some baptismal dates with Diana and Brittany. They are a mom and daughter we have been teaching. So pray for them! They are about all we got going right now. We haven’t been able to have a lesson with Tatyana and Tinei this week. But I am excited for this coming week. It is summer here, so I am hoping a lot more people will be home and we will be able to do some good.

New member of the family!!!! I can’t believe that Tyler and Allison have had 2 kids since I have been gone haha. Wow! I’m glad all is well with them. I'll remember to keep them in my prayers.

And Lauren is famous!!! That is hilarious haha. Hopefully this will help her to get a job and get rolling on that animation. :)

How come Gpa can’t go to Connor’s graduation??? Just doesn’t want to, or is his health not too great right now? Tell Dad and Gpa to have fun and not get crazy. And man, Connor is going to be a freshman in college the same time I am haha. That will be crazy. And am I signed up for school? And should we talk to Bro. Blackmun about that job? I don’t know if it is still too far away or not. But yeah, we only got 2 weeks till I’m home, so you don’t have to worry about it if you don’t want to. But it sounds like y’all had a great week and have another great week lined up this week. I can’t believe Chris and Corbin are already home. Gollee! It’s going to be crazy when I get home. I can’t believe this is actually coming to an end... Shoot.

But yeah, things are going great over here. My bike is falling apart though. And I don’t want to fix it this close to going home. So I’m not sure if I’m going to bring it home or not. We'll see. Things are going great, its just crazy that all of this is actually going to end. Like in ward council meetings and things, we are already planning stuff for after I’ll be home. And in choir, we are practicing songs that they are going to sing the week after I leave. It’s crazy!!!!!!! So really, I’m just focusing on finishing strong and preparing myself mentally to come home. This week was the first time i actually got nervous about coming home. It never seemed real until recently haha. It’s going to be intense, but I know it will be good for me. Just a big mental switch. So pray for me to chill out! That’s all I really need right now. Holler at me if you have any questions or comments!

Have an amazing week.

Love,

Elder Oppenlander

Saw a Tornado

Mama & Papa,

I definitely saw the tornado on Wednesday. :))))))) I thought I was about to leave my mission and never see one. So that made my day! We were standing on the balcony of our porch and you could see it. It was really close but it was tiny so I wasn’t afraid at all. But it was raining super duper hard. All the tornado sirens were going off, and all the fire trucks and police cars were doing their sirens, and our weather alarm went off. It was cool and all the news people were saying it came out of nowhere! But I’m alive. :) And Sister Wilding isn’t in my zone. She is in the Huntsville zone. So I haven’t even met her so I won’t be singing happy birthday to her.

And that is crazy that Corbin is home!!!! Oh my gosh it is crazy. And I only have 3 and a half weeks left...  Goodness gracious. And Chris Sanchez' mom is getting baptized!!!! That is awesome. And I miss me a good ole pool party. Lauren will do well as the Linger Longer person. She should put some good southern food up in there. Black eyed peas with mayo in it :) haha. (Which is actually really good but unhealthy) How do you get up in the organ pipes at church? I remember President Hale always talking about it but I never figured out how to do it. Is it the one ladder on the stage? I bet it is :) how was the new Star Trek movie. I also heard that an Iron Man 3 movie out??? I didn’t even know that they were going to make another one haha. Are y’all at Disneyland right now?? This 18 year old in my ward is coming to Long Beach this summer. Her dad says his son lives in Long Beach and that she is going to stay there with him. He wants us to take her around and show her California though. It’s for her senior trip! That would be fun! Gotta show Jackie off to her haha. ;)

And speaking of not going to Disneyland in forever... I haven’t been there forever!!!! We need to go when I get home! And that is a bummer that you missed Becka! They told me that the seminar was awesome. I need to learn how to live my life now. I'll teach that seminar actually ;) I don’t have anything to send a picture with. Elder Yogoh left my camera bag on top of the car and it fell off on the freeway. So that uploader thing is roaming Alabama somewhere. I found all the other stuff. Just not that.

Everything is going amazingly though! I still love Athens. The ward is starting to warm up to us and we got fed yesterday. :) We are trying to work a lot with the ward and get to know them. There are plenty of great people here we just need to show them that we are worth knowing and trusting. So yeah, I’m happy! Today I’m just shopping and getting ready for tonight’s "Empty Nesters" Family Home Evening. We are teaching it haha. Good food though! Maybe i should get some shoelaces!! And please pray for Tatiana and Tinei. You say Tinei like Tanay. They came to church yesterday and are doing really well!

Have a great week!

Love Elder Oppenlander

Tornado Surprises Athens, Alabama 5/17/13

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — An unconfirmed tornado on Friday afternoon knocked down trees, flipped Dumpsters and damaged the roof of the nearby WalMart in Athens.

A forecaster at the National Weather Service in Huntsville said the suspected tornado started about a mile south-southeast of Athens and moved in a line toward southwest Ardmore. It struck at about 2 p.m.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said that he saw the backside of a wall cloud that had a tail. Police followed as it moved up Route 31 to Interstate 65.

He said a minor injury was reported as a woman rushed to find shelter. Signs at a strip mall and a Zaxby's restaurant were also blown down.

Emergency management director Rita White said the only confirmed report was a "funnel cloud that hit treetops, power lines and knocked down one tree on a house on Roy Long Road."

Andy Kula, a meteorologist with the Huntsville National Weather Service, said the Storms Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., had placed the Tennessee Valley in the slight risk category for severe weather.

The storm's second touchdown in Limestone County occurred about 2:45 p.m. on Oak Grove Road south of Ardmore. Responders reported that the storm was sucking up debris and damaging rooftops and trees.

Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said he received reports of two houses and a barn damaged on Thatch Road in the Oak Grove area.

"Our deputies said the tornado appeared to touch down a couple of times in that area, but most it stayed in the air," Blakely said. "It had a lot of lift in it, so we were very lucky that we didn't have any more damage than we did."

Happy Mother's Day!

Hey hey!

It was really good to see y’all yesterday, and it sounds like you were all able to have a pretty good Mother’s Day! That is good to hear. I could tell that Aunt Kris was a little teary hahaha. :)  It is going to be good to be with y’all again soon! And we for sure need to get those swim trunks and all match. That would be super classy :) my waist is 32!! Get those suckers. I miss having all the grill-outs with Uncle Bret and Bill as well. Filet mignon sounds too good. You all lived it up! That is cool that you were able to go out to Arizona and see Paige’s graduation. That is crazy that she has already graduated from college and I haven’t even started haha. Man, I need to get on it when I get home.

Those missionaries in California seem like they get fed a lot more than I do. I will definitely let these people know that they need to step it up haha. I don’t have any more things to send home. Do you really think I should just leave my bike here, and buy a new one when I get home??? Because I really want to bike when I get home. Like to school, and on the weekends and things. I guess I’ll just buy a motorcycle hahaha! If Mom ever lets me get one!

But yeah, this week was great and talking to y’all made it all the better. We found tons of new people to teach, but only two of them are progressing so far. We will keep working on it, though :) We are working hard and we are enjoying Athens tons. Elder Craner still complains that I bike too fast, though. He will get in shape and catch up before long. Those snacks have been great as well. Thank you so much for sending those to me.

But yeah ... only 4 weeks left on my mission. I have to work hard and do all I can to help these folk out. Thank you so much for encouraging me and helping me to come out here. It has been well worth it thus far. And I know it will continue to be these last 4 weeks. Keep praying for me! I always pray for y’all.

Have a great week in sunny California!

Love,

Elder Oppenlander

We held a "Polish, Pizza, and Activity" on Monday, 13 May. In an effort to maintain our mission vehicles, we ask the missionaries to wax their cars every six months. To make it a little more enjoyable, we provided pizza and asked them to organize a fun activity. - President Holzapfel

Cinco de Mayo

Hola familia!!!

I am in church from 7:30 your time to 10:30 your time. So it looks like we are going to have to Skype after y’alls church, like 5 o’clock or so?? I don’t know, talk to me about it! I am so jealous of your break the fast...oh my days, that sounds too good. Also I need to go to Nick’s work and get some of that horchata and flan. :) I love Mexican food! It was also Elder Craner’s birthday yesterday, so we went to our Ward Mission Leader’s house and his wife cooked us some burritos and made some cupcakes for dessert. It was soo good. We are low on money over here, so our meals have been pretty simple like bean and rice burritos, pasta and whatnot. Its actually good now that I think about it haha. But if you have it in your mind to send a package soon, it would be nice to send granola bars and snack foods. No candy haha. We have been out and about a lot and eating early lunches so we are starving during the day. And I don’t want to spend money buying food all the time. So if you could send me some tracting snacks, I would be super pumped haha.

And is it your game plan to change everything about our house before I get home?? Shoot haha. Changed the first couch, then my bathroom, then the fireplace, then the yard and now the other couch? Gollee haha. It’s ok though. I’m a chameleon, I adapt so well. ;)

That is good that Jackie had her records moved to the singles ward. And I’m positive that I told Chris I had a sister. He just never met her, so it probably never stuck in his mind. He is funny haha. Lauren deff doesn’t need a go between for guys. She has handled that pretty well the last 23 years of her life hahaha. She is scary hahahaha. I’m not sure if Corbin will go to the ward or not? He might just go to BYU or something.

And I have not been keeping track of the number of gophers diving into the pool at all. Y’all can do that for me. I’m too busy over here! And my week has been great. In the last 4 days we have found 7 new investigators, and biked all over the place. It is historically cold right now, too. Usually its around 80 by now, but as of the moment its in the 50s and 60s and has been raining for 3 days straight. So I’m soaking wet :) And yeah, that family I had dinner with was the Baker family, and I went longboarding with them. Send me that picture, by the way! I wanna see it! Anyways....yeah, I am loving it here. Athens is a tiny lil town and super country. It’s super flat, so super easy to get around on bikes, and we have a car for now. The sisters gave it to us, since they left the area. Elder Craner is from Burley, Idaho. He has been out one transfer shorter than I have and we get along well. His last companions have been pretty (aka really) disobedient, so he is pumped to be with me :) Cuz I actually work, and we are actually happy because we are successful. So that is a pretty good feeling, and I’m glad I can help him. Most of the members here are 50 and older and so it’s been pretty hard connecting with them and getting them excited for missionary work. But I’ll get my country on and get these members pumped!!! No big deal.

And I have 25 minutes left on the computer, so ask me any questions you want. We need to figure out Skyping for Mother’s Day, too! I'll probably call you that morning and figure it out. It’s going to be crazy to have the whole family there haha. Make sure Jackie is invited! Make sure she’s there . . . not a joke haha. But respond to me!

Love,

Elder Oppenlander

Last Transfer - Madison Zone, Athens, Alabama

Chase's last transfer is in Athens, Alabama near Huntsville
Elder Craner is from Burley, Idaho