Sweet, Chase is Home from Alabama

"Chase is the same but Better" - Well done thou good and faithful servant!

Farewell to Some Great Missionaries

The Mission held farewell activities today for some wonderful missionaries! — Ammon Clanton, Shelisa Schroeppel, Nanci Brown, Bryce Olson, Chase Oppenlander,Trent Smitley, Dane Coleman, Aubrey Kelley, Jake Starley, Tyler Gebert and Brandon Urry.

Note from Elder Oppenlander's Family

Elder Oppenlander is due home Thursday, June 13th at 4:05 pm.  We're excited to see him!  If you've enjoyed reading his blog, you are welcome to come and hear him give his mission report on Sunday, June 16th at 10:00 am at the following location:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
4142 Cerritos Avenue
Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Enjoy reading his last email from the Alabama Birmingham Mission!

Last Email from the Mission Field!!!

Mom and Dad!

I am freaking out hahahahah!!!!!!! Oh gosh! My lil heart can hardly handle all of this stress. It just doesn't feel real! It is bittersweet for sure. I’m not worried about transitioning back at all. I know that I have the talents and work ethic necessary to be successful, it’s just the suspense for it all to actually happen. I’m pretty sure when I get off the plane I’ll need at least a good 20 minutes to chill out and compose myself before I can actually see y’all haha. So yeah, I’m going to be freaking out :)

But it sounds like y’all are having a great time in Utah and got to see a ton of family! That is awesome! Travel home safe tonight! And could you send me my flight info so I can feel like I actually know what is going to be happening haha? Please. I don't like being unprepared :)

This week has gone by super fast over here. It has been weird to realize that I had all of my "lasts" in Alabama. Like my last time in church, and the last Friday and last Saturday. It all has just gone by so fast! These next two days are going to be busy! I’m going to make it that way so I will stop freaking out so much. I do need y’all to let me know what I should do with the following items.

1-blender....should I bring it or leave it?

2-blanket and sheets....throw away or what?

3-bike.....it will cost $150 to ship home????

4- that's about it hahaha

But yeah! Please email me back with the answers ASAP! That will take 50 pounds of stress off my shoulders. Other than that, everything is peachy. I am happy with the work I have been able to do here. I’m glad for the way I have carried myself and I feel as though I made y’all proud. :) Now I’ve just got to keep it up and don't shrink back from all that life is going to throw at me. I’m ready though :) Let’s do it! I will see y’all on Thursday!

Email me back as soon as you can please! Gracias!

Elder Oppenlander...soon to not be Elder anymore :( 

It's June!

Family!!!

What’s happnin’?  You already know my flight plans?? Shoot, they don't tell me anything over here, but I’m sure I’ll find out this week. It is crazy that this is my last full week over here in Alabama. It has been good! My week has been pretty good. It was super hard as far as missionary work is concerned, but we were able to see a ton of members and get closer to them. Just had a hard time with our investigators and finding new ones. So holler in some prayer for me! This lil girl needs it haha. :)

Anywho, Connor’s party sounds like it was a blast! Too bad the coolest two cousins didn't show up ;) haha. But I’m really looking forward to seeing them all again! I miss me a good Philly cheese steak as well. Goodness. Glad to hear all is well with the family. And I’m not sure about my bike. It keeps getting worse and worse. So I’ll either just ride it all sketchy like and fix it when I get home, or just leave it here. I'll probably bring it home though. Might as well.

When will Lauren know about the Nickelodeon thing??? That is sweet!! Is she excited about that? And I’m jealous that Lauren got to watch a bunch of movies with Jackie! And I’m still surprised that Lauren likes her haha. I always thought that Lauren would despise whoever I dated. But that is amazing!

Oh, and I get to go to the temple on Wednesday with my zone! A week before my last transfer meeting, so that will help out a lot with worrying about coming home and all of that. I’m super glad I have that opportunity. How long is my layover in Minnesota? Is it like 6 hours or something? Goodness, I can’t believe this is happening! Two years went by quick, for sure.

So, yeah. This week was good, I got fed a ton. I ate some deer for the first time in my life and I cooked it myself. Bro. Hunter gave it to us --- they shot it in their back yard! I had sooooo much food this week. We had a man food activity and I ate like a king. I challenged a member to a game of horse shoes and put him to shame ;) haha it was so much fun. We have gotten a lot closer to the ward these last couple of days and they have been more and more willing to help us out. And we need that help! So I am happy! I got one last week to make some magic happen, so that's what I’m gonna do. I hope y’all have a great time up in Utah doing your thing for Betty! That will be good to see all the family and say hi to them for me.

And I have 30 minutes left on the computer, so ask me some questions! Or comment on something haha. Love y’all!

Yo man,

Elder Oppenlander