Letter from Elder Holley - 10/3/11

Dear Brother and Sister Oppenlander

Sorry for not writing sooner. I won't try to make up excuses, just know that I didn't forget!

Thank you for the compliments, but Elder Oppenlander came to me pre-trained, so either his trainer already finished or he was prepared before he came in the field. I enjoyed serving with him and I really learned a lot. I can also say he accomplished much good here in Columbus.

I'm sure you know by now, but Elder Oppenlander is still in our District, so I am happy that, though we're not companions, he's not gone yet!

Thank you for raising him the way he is and I'm grateful especially for his impeccable talent in teaching and serving others. I can already confidently say he will work many miracles while he's here!

Have an exceptional day!

Elder Holley

September 19, 2011

Sister Reynolds,

I’m glad to hear all is well back home in the Los Alamitos Ward. Sounds like ya’ll had an awesome weekend --- rain storm, power outage and a great church meeting. What more can you ask for than a weekend full of learning! Learning about being more prepared, learning about the effects (positive effects) 9/11 had on people, and some spiritual learning at church. That’s all I’ve really been doing out here haha. Learning how to be a better missionary by loving the people and the gospel. Just like Dylan said, if you don’t love the people, you won’t be a very effective missionary. Also, just like those 9/11 people said, I’ve been learning what is really important and what I want out of life. As a missionary, I have a very unique opportunity to see into many peoples’ homes and lives. I see how much the gospel, as we live it, really does bless our lives. I see how important and sacred celestial marriages are. I see how being strong in the gospel will bring my family closer together and give them more opportunities for success. I’m so grateful for the restored gospel and for having the Priesthood and opportunities throughout my whole life to be an example to others and serve them.

My mission has already been so productive for me; I can’t wait to learn even more! One of the biggest things I’ve learned so far is that I’m a lot more capable and influential than I give myself credit for. I have a really hard time patting myself on the back and saying ‘good job’, or taking compliments from others. I’m so hard on myself and always get down on myself for not being better. So when people compliment me, it’s hard for me to accept it. But by being around other missionaries and people, I have seen that I really am a good guy. People aren’t just saying it to be nice. I still have much to improve on, but just seeing that I am a good missionary and person has helped me get a better attitude and drive to be the best me and not just good. I can really see my role in the Lord’s work and do my best to help the work, and not hinder it. So mostly, my focus is on continuing to learn and improve. I know that if I keep that mind set my whole mission, I will grow as a person and have no regrets when I return home. I love my mission and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I love Mississippi, the people and the weather. I have no complaints, besides not having enough people to teach. But that’s my job to go out and find them, so wish me luck!

I hope ya’ll have a wonderful week and I’m so thankful for all of the support and love you show me. I love all of the quotes and clippings you send. Keep it up! Ya’ll are great examples to me and I hope I can make an impact on peoples’ lives the way you have on me.

I love the gospel and this opportunity I have to be out here serving the Lord. I’m going to make the most of it! Stay safe out there in California! Tell the ward I love them!

Love,
Elder Oppenlander

Letter from Chase - 8/29/11

What’s up Mama Bear and Papa Smoker!

E-mails here are way too short. It rushes me and I don’t remember everything I wanted to write! I forgot to tell you but this couple showed up at church on Sunday. The Missionaries in Tennessee taught them and they want to join the Church. We met them as they were paying their tithing! So, it looks like I’ll have two baptisms shortly. Won’t really teach them much, but that means our Ward will be growing! So I’m excited about that! Also, I’m going on an exchange with Elder Clantan! So he and I will be companions for 24 hours. It’s going to be awesome!

So far Mississippi has been awesome. I got free eggs from a guy in my ward. Some other guy was shooting his shotgun at a house we were visiting because he hates his neighbor. So we heard a lot of shots. It was sketchy!

I had to use my debit card to buy stuff today. So can you make sure I have money in that account? Bought a bike pump and groceries.

I’m doing good and I just wanted to thank you for raising me in the Church and paying for me to be out here on a mission! It’s been the best experience and more than I could have hoped for. My testimony has grown. I'm a way harder worker now. I push through the heat and the headaches. I’m learning to love more, and just be an all-around better person. So thank you guys soooo much! This is going to be a great experience for me and I’m doing a great thing helping and serving people! Thanks again and sorry if my letters are all unorganized!

Did you ever send Elder Lofthouse a shirt?? Write a letter to Elder Holley too! Say some nice things and cheer him up! OK, well just keep me up to date with everything going on and tell everyone I love them and miss them.

Love Chase,

Best Elder Oppenlander ever

P.S. Did Dylan come home yet?

Week #8 - August 1, 2011

Mom and Dad!

What's up with the Oppenlanders nowadays? Man my stomach kills right now! Had some chic-fila and a peach milkshake ... it was wack! Hurt my stomach so bad! But yeah just had to say that. Anywaysss. I just picked up the package like 20 mins ago. I was supposed to get it Saturday but no one was home when they dropped it off, so they took it back to the post office and I had to get it today.

Earlier this morning I went to a veterans museum and it was tight! Guns, and knives, and tanks, and helicopters and what not. Way cool. I took a bunch of pics but I forgot to bring my camera in the library. Whatever though youll see it someday.

This week has been soo hard oh my goodness. Weather was all over the place and people were bailing on our appointments and it seemed like every house we went to either had no one home or someone that woke up on the wrong side of the bed haha. I got told I belonged to a cult a bunch, and that I'm hypnotized.That was a first for me and Elder Lofthouse. So we were doing good finding the suckers this week haha. Its so funny that religion brings the best and WORST out of people. Kind of sad though. What's cool about the mission though, is I could be having the hardest day, people yelling at me and no success, come home and be happy!! It's weird haha. I feel like I'm crazy. But its just so fullfilling teaching the gospel and every time I'm yelled at it just strengthens my own testimony.

So I'm stilll loving being a missionary for sure. Nothing better I could be doing right now. This is going to help me out in life in so many ways. Gonna be a master at patience and love and knowing my bible and what not. I'm excited to keep progressing. one thing that popped up alot this week though was faith and works. THE MOST ANNOYING THING TO TALK ABOUT EVER! No joke ... people think they just have to confess their sins and theyre "saved". Doesn't make sense to me but you can't just argue with them. It goes nowhere and just wastes our time really. But Elder Lofthouse and I figured out why they're all so confused. We went through the bible to see how many times Jesus himself talks about salvation and how to get it ... it was barely any! You could see how so much got taken out during reformation and stuff. So I felt really good to know that the book of mormon covers those things so I don't have the same confusion as alot of people out here do. Because the b.o .m talks about it a bunch in detail. But yeah this week has been hard but we've pushed through and have never given up. So I'm proud of us so far.

One of the Dobards is going to Africa?? That's tight! And I'm excited for Devan to see where he goes! Keep me informed on all of that. And tell JT he's a punk!! He never wrote me once --- he's a loser haha. And I know it's crazy that the Baldwins are in AZ now! I got letters from Zac, Ian, and Kennady so I'll write them today and see how everyting is going and if they're getting used to it yet. It's way weird that they moved though.

The guy I was sitting with in church yesterday didn't want to move up after sacrament, so I sat in the same exact spot all three hours. I was so over it I just wanted to go home and eat haha. Bishop gave a good lil talk on Zion's Camp though. Never even heard about it til then. Bishop H is such a good guy. Talked to us just walking around and he just is so sincere and comfortable talking .. .half of the ward is related to him but still ... a good guy. Felt like a Family Home Evening.

And what's up with my grandparents all falling apart? Tell them to quit it --- geez! As soon as I leave everyone can't do anything right haha. What's going on with you and dad? Are you bored at home doing nothing 24/7? Get a dog!! haha Pick up a hobby or something and tell me about it. You have the most boring life ever hahaha. Is Lauren coming home this week for the wedding? She didn't email me either so forget her. I'll have her wait a week to get an email from me. Actually I'll probably email her to cheer her up or something. I don't know, I'll figure it out. I'mm im trying to remember all that happened this week .... tracted some crazy streets where if i had my skateboard, I seriously would have went out of my way to ride down it! There's this one street called Hemlock and its amazing. all in the woods with trees lining both sides. I took some pics of it so I'll go grab my camera real quick! Hold on... ok I got it. I'll put them on another email ::) And i went seriously 50 mph on my bike down Mountain Gap Road. it was on our way home at night like 9:00 and I started going down and pedalled as fast as I could and I was passing cars driving down it. Sooo fun. I was laughing and I think I'm crazy nowadays. Really normal things excite me and make me laugh. The other day I was just standing there next to my bike and fell down. I was like, are you serious? What's going on with me? Then one of the members kids had a bonnet on and we talked to him for like 10 minutes. After he left, Elder Lofthouse said "Bro, she had a bonnet on ..." and we started busting up laughing for no reason and I couldn't stop for like 10 minutes! And the reason he said bro is because I told him about dude bro and we said bro like every sentece as we were tracting. When there is nothing to do we just try to memorize scriptures and do something interesting. And that equaled saying bro a lot this week. We're such losers ....

I went on exchanges this week with Elder Larsen. 24 hour companion change to learn from someone else and see how they teach, pretty much. I did way good teaching all the lessons and taking charge in tracting. I felt really good about my progress : )

Anyways, thanks for sending the package and I'll upload some pics.

Love you!!!

Elder Oppenlander

July 18, 2011

Hey Mom!

First of all, the pants do fit. Super skinny though and the other missionaries say I look like a nerd, but whatever, I'm used to looking dumb as a missionary and it doesn't hurt my feelers any. I look good : ) They are super tight though but it's all good.

Extreme sour warhead otter pops are horrible!! hahah They don't even have a taste -- just sour! If you wanna send me snacks, send me some healthy stuff so I don't get all fat! Like powerbars or crystal light things for water bottles. Something I can carry around in my backpack all day while I tract...because that's pretty much all we do all day. 6 to 8 hours of tracting a day. So I get super sweaty and stinky and wet from rain. I love it! and I actually didn't wonder how you got my address hahha. It's the only mail I've gotten besides a picture from the CTR 5 class. It's super cute and hanging up on my wall. But yeah i was just so happy to get something!

The forty days of fasting sounded crazy at first but after reading sounds awesome! Get that ward into gear and get some good vibes to the missionaries! A helpful ward works wonders on us missionaries. The ward here is seriously awesome! I just came from lunch with Sis. M. She's an old lady who's awesome. Took us to a mexican restaurant that was actually good! I got BBQ jalepeno nachos which were amazing. No horchata though, which is super lame. People in the ward are only allowed to feed us before or after prime proselyting time, which is 4:30 to 7:30, or during that time if they have a non member, investigator, or recent convert there. So haven't gotten many dinner appts so far, but I have one tonight. Mostly people just buy us KFC and drop it off at the appartment or something.

Bishop H is awesome and his family is 1/4 the ward haha. There are members of his family running around everywhere and everyone is related to each other somehow! There's only a certain amount of members here so they all marry each other. One big happy family hah. umm, I don't know who specifically to talk about. They are all nice, but I think my favorite so far is Bro Murphy. Elder Lofthouse and I call him Murph-dog haha. We met him last Tuesday for team ups to visit Richard, the excommunicated dude. Murph-dog threw down!!! haha it was pretty much us watching him teach and bear testimony and just be cool. Elder Lofthouse and I were awestruck. Elder Lofthouse said he's never seen a member throw down like that and not annoy or frustrate the investigator. It was way cool. But after lunch today I think Sis. M might be my favorite. We'll see who comes out on top at the end of this thing. And about the excommunicated guy -- we've been teaching him the lessons and he really had trouble with faith and courage to get back into the church. But yesterday he came to church and stayed the whole time! He usually leaves after sacrament. and he talked to the bishop for like over an hour after church! We called him last night and he was so happy! Said he's been smiling all afternoon and the bishop said he can be baptized within the year. So he's pumped! It's a big deal haha.

We taught 24 lessons to investigators this week, which is a crazy amount I guess. But the people are punks out here haha. Always bailing on me and it's frustrating that people have such a bad idea about us as mormons and never even get to know us or hear the message. Just base it on what they've heard. That leads me up to yesterday. I finally got "anti'd"!!!! Which means I walked up to this guy and started talking to him about the gospel and he started yelling at me and the first thing he said is "how can you believe in Joseph Smith!!' and from there tells me I'm gullible and I believe in a child rapist and what not. Telling me all this stuff about how mormons are stupid pretty much. He keeps telling me he "read" about all of this. So I just ask him where he read it...its obvious he's just read anti-mormon stuff...and then he says just books but he's never read the book of mormon. Sucks that people won't spend the time to find out for themselves if the Book of Mormon is true, just take the word of others and tell me I'm gullible haha. I had a good laugh about it though afterwards. He's a downey and nothing I could have said would have made him happy.

Stuff like that makes you so awkward though!! I'm 100% sure that I'm worse at communication than I was before my mission haha. You're always expecting people to yell at you or slam the door haha. So when I talk to nice people now, or members, I don't know how to not be awkward. It's weird to have a conversation that actually lasts more than 2 minutes haha. I'm all small talk nowadays and I'm going crazy! My sense of humor is retarded! I'm so tired that everything is funny and Elder Lofthouse and I laugh about random stuff and members are like what the heck are you laughing at?? And I serioulsy have no idea haha. I'm going crazy pretty much. but I love it and I enjoy every moment of sweating and being embarassed. I'm so weird...alright well I'm gonna try to upload some pics real quick this thing is sketchy.

Love - Elder Oppenlander

Letter from Elder Lofthouse - Chase's Trainer

Dear Oppenlanders,

My name is Elder Lofthouse, and I am your son's first companion. We're serving in the Weatherly Ward in Huntsville, Alabama. I've served in the Stake before and I can tell you from experience, your son is starting in a great area. The people are kind and very intelligent and the members are very supportive!

I won't be long but I just wanted to let you know that your son is all safe. He is also very talented and I can see he's going to be a very strong missionary. He's the type of companion any missionary would want to serve with. He's a hard worker, he communicates well and he has a strong faith in Christ. Thanks for teaching him so well. He'll be a fine representative of Christ!

Sincerely,

Elder Lofthouse

July 11, 2011

Mom and Dad,

I don't remember everything I said in my e-mail, but I have time to write so I'm gonna write you some more. P-days out of the MTC are way more relaxing than in it. You have a lot of time to just relax and write letters. Maybe even nap! I've seriously been so tired as a missionary. Every time you sit down you just want to fall asleep. Almost did at church yesterday! We had two investigators come to church yesterday. It was awesome! Elder Lofthouse and I are both new to the area so we don't know crap. Luckily, he has a GPS, so we can find our way around here, and don't get lost. Hard thing about both being new to the area is you spend a lot of time just trying to find people to teach. And you don't really know any members so you have to go meet them as well. A lot of hand shaking and telling where you're from. I picked up "ya'll" way fast and said it in church yesterday when I introduced myself. Elder's Quorum President, Brother R, gave me props for that! : )

And yeah, I need pants ASAP. Like overnight shipped here. It's horrible how sweaty my butt was. Straight up embarrassing. Sorry. I feel like I'm always asking you guys to send me stuff.

You can get a wiener dog puppy for $100 if you want one. : ) I haven't got a letter in over two weeks and it's depressing haha. Write me!! Tell everyone to write me!!! I'll wait for Gma to write me before I write her though. Did she ever read the Book of Mormon? Let me know how it goes.

And the thunderstorms here are awesome! And lightning bugs!! I love the south so much. Love ya'll too, and keep sending me love and being there for Jackie. Invite her to dinner and stuff. Don't forget about her.

Love,

Elder Oppenlander

PS You can send anything to this address for at least the next 6 weeks

Almost done at the MTC

Mom and Dad, 6/29/11

Tomorrow is your birthday Mom! Happy Birthday! I’m sending pictures and some for Jackie too. I’m also going to send a set of scriptures. It’s a quad mini they have in the bookstore for $33. Such a deal I had to buy it. Can you get my name engraved on it please? For pictures in the future, I’ll just send my memory card home and have a spare here. So please send me another one and we can rotate them back and forth.

I got two boxes of cookies with the same message on them haha. So I don’t know if you sent two or the MTC messed up. Whatever, I gave a lot away because I’m trying to stay healthy and not eat too much junk food. I got your package with the shirts and treats and everything just about an hour ago. Thank you so much! I’m going to send you a package as soon as I’m done writing this letter. I’ll probably need another $20 so I have enough for the flight on Tuesday. So sorry to add another thing to the list. The memory card needs to be “DANE-ELEC” brand or I don’t think it will work or just send me the other camera. I know it takes all types. I’ll just leave that up to you. And heck yeah I want my watch! Just wait until I’m in Alabama to send that though. Sorry I’m all over the place right now.

P-Days are so stressful because you have to get so much done and it feels like you never have enough time.

Something cool I did today though was to participate in sealings at the Temple for the first time. Got me so excited to get married! It’s awesome! Also another group of missionaries are rolling in as we speak! It’s crazy that I leave in less than a week. I do feel ready though so I’m not worrying at all. Just excited. The orthotics are so comfy! I love them already! How’s Emily Bakker? Is she Asian? Tell everyone thank you for thinking of me. I wrote a million letters today and my hand is killing me along with my brain. And I still have to write Jackie haha. Oh man being a missionary is crazy. Emotions go all over the place throughout the day and it’s mentally draining. I still have to do laundry today and I still have another three hour class 6:15 with that girl missionary from the District show. So I’m excited for that and I’m excited for bed! So tired already. So look forward to getting the package and write me back soon. Happy Birthday Mama and Happy late Fathers Day Dad.

Love you! Get a Puppy!

Elder Oppenlander

P.S. Still not one migraine since I’ve been here!!

6/22/11

Mom and Dad!

Doing laundry right now and it's hot and humid down here! Just like 'Bama! I realized I forgot some things in the email. No, Lee Hale isn't my teacher, but I saw him twice today going to and from the temple. Gave him a hug and everything. The Provo temple is way different from Newport --- even the video was different and said more stuff. I'm really starting to get the hang of being a missionary and I wrote Grandma O and told her to read the last 2 paragraphs of the Book of Mormon Introduction and pray about it. So make sure she does that. And yeah, I see Corbin here like everyday and talk to him at food time sometimes. But yeah, I'm loving it, and send me stamps, and let me know what's up with my watch. I want that sucker. And we'll just use the pictures I send you for the board, don't use the ones we took, I have better ones. Thanks for my retainers and food. Feel free to send more packages : )

Love,

Elder Oppenlander

First Day at the MTC - June 15, 2011

Fam,

Today has been long and jam-packed. I don't really know what to think right now. My missionary badge was just as cool as I thought it was going to be. I have three roommates: Elder Gebert, Clanton, and Urry. We are all going to Birmingham and leave the same day, July 5th. We all have girlfriends, too. I thought I would be the only one, but nope! : ) I saw Corbin and he already was different. He was a better speaker and seemed way excited. It's crazy how many elders and sisters are here. Dinner was seriously packed! The food wasn't bad, either. It's going to take awhile to get used to the schedule and being a missionary but I'm not worried. Oh, and my companion is Elder Gebert. He's from Salem, Utah, haha. I knew it! I don't really miss you guys because I'm too busy to think, haha. Yea, so far everything is good and I'm loving it. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Love,

Elder Oppenlander