Living the dream

 Hey everyone! Sorry I have been in and out of contact for the last little bit. I'm alive and well!

To be honest, I'm more busy than I've ever been! We have a full time job just trying to keep track of all of our friends here in Jena! I guess it's a good problem to have. 

Here are some pictures from the last bit,

Me and elder To

Me with stuff on my nose at party

Me (the moving hand) cheering on Frank on his way to victory

Me with elder Vasai and a new buddy that's bringing his whole family to church on Sunday so that he can try and beat me at foosball during primary! 

Everyone should read 3 Nephi 18 and apply it in their lives! So do it!

Love you all!

Elder Openshaw 

Elder To is in town

This week I got my new companion, Elder To! He is from Hongkong and
this is his first area on the mission! He has some incredible English
and I'm sure his German will improve very very fast. We've already had
some funny experiences together, and I'm sure it's going to be a party
all the way through this transfer.

What is crazy to me is that he just barely turned 18! He's actually
younger than Tanner! I guess I never really realized that someone
Tanner's age would be my companion. But it makes sense, just strange.

We did some fun things this week to welcome Elder To here:
-we celebrated the moon festival with some great moon cakes
- had a nice time playing foosball (I kicked elder To's trash, he's
gonna need to step up his game)
- walked around and viewed some of the scenes of Jena, elder To took
pictures so you might get some more pictures of the city
- have tried to watch the Sunday afternoon session of conference but
have been too busy... someone just send me the highlights
- ate a good Döner in Erfurt
- searched the whole city for a water bottle
- ate with the Bjorkmans a few times

Here are some pictures!

Also, everyone watch general Conference if you haven't already.

By the way! Congratulations to max on getting baptized!! Love you, little dude!

Love,
Elder Openshaw

Staying in Jena

Received  10/2/2017

Well everyone! I'm staying in Jena! I'm so excited, I love it here so so much. 

What's to love, you may ask? 

Take a look... (finally going to provide some pictures for Pops) 

Also, I got good news from Budapest... but I'm not allowed to talk about it. Some of you should still know what I'm talking about, so email me and celebrate with me! (Eva, I'm talking to you 🙂) 

Conference was awesome, it's like Christmas for missionaries! Elder Larsen and I enjoyed the wonderful messages, and they all seemed to be directed toward Elder Larsen (who is returning from his mission in Wednesday). He's a good guy, say hi to him in Provo for me. 

My new companion is also in Provo right now, but will be joining me soon here in Jena! I have a bunch of Mooncakes that i ordered from the Chinese black market that I'm going to surprise him with. Wednesday is the Chinese moon festival by the way, so enjoy the moon with your friends and family! 

Something spiritual.... dang it, I used Jacob 6:12 last week. I guess I can just say what I loved about elder Christofferson's talk. I think there is something that we can learn from trying to be holy in our lives. Listen to the hymn, Take time to be holy. Sit down, meditate, and just take a moment of your day to relax. Sometimes God wants us to just relax for a moment and remember him. 

I love you all! Here is an unusually high amount of pictures 

1. Confident rain gutter

2. Elder Vasai 

3. Yunpeng and Elder Larsen (yunpeng invited me to his wedding in China in August 2018... and I'm gonna do everything I can to be there)

4-5. The view from our apartment (its missing the trademark cookie can skyscraper that defines the Jena skyline. Just google it I guess.)

Dresden Adventures

Received 9/25/2017

Well this week was just as action packed as normal! But with lots and
lots of traveling. Some good things happened this week, here's a quick
list of them. (I'm gonna make a highlight/lowlight list so you can
have a moment in the life of elder Openshaw)


Sorry if this is really hard to read by the way... maybe I'll try to
connect some of the high and lowlights.

Highlights
~traveled to Dresden! I love trains!
-saw all my friends from my exchange in Meissen! (Picture included)
-made a birthday video for president Fingerle
+spent a day in Nordhausen! (Found a cool book, der Kleine Prinz)
=wore an awesome jacket in Dresden
-received some awesome birthday packages!! THANK YOU!!
€ I have to teach you a german word in order for this highlight to
make sense. It's called "Fernweh," and it is the opposite of
homesickness... away sickness. Well I had that. But I conquered it
through this week's extensive travels.
- ate some good food
-actually started writing in my journal every day again! Cool right?!



Lowlights
~woke up unnecessarily early because I thought elder Larson said we
had to go at 7:15 when it was indeed 7:50.
-lower lights (don't especially love their music)
+spent a day in Nordhausen. (Found no people that wanted to hear from us)
=the said Dresden jacket belonged to another elder, and I had to return it.
€ spent almost the entire week outside of Jena (made me very homesick
for my little german home)

Well if I wanted to be very german I could end this email on a
negative note. But instead I'll give you all a german culture tip!

East German culture tip of the day : it is good to complain about
things, it helps people to improve things and everything to be more
"in order." East Germans consider it a favor to give people criticism
because it helps people to improve. So the tip is to keep that in mind
when you get criticized by an East German. They consider it a favor to
you and criticize you as your friend.

I actually really like that part of the german culture, despite the
fact that I didn't understand it at all at first. The society is
really all about mutual improvement, and I have learned a ton from
that mindset.

Well, I'll share a scripture that my family all memorized together
(thanks mom). "O be wise, what can I say more?"

Love you all,
Elder Openshaw

1. If you know why this picture is special, good. If not, sorry, don't
really want to explain it.
2. Me and elder Larsen wearing very large coats.

Happy birthday to everyone that has had a birthday

Received 9/25/2017

weak weekly

Received  9/18/2017

Hey everyone!

This week was awesome, super super busy.  We coordinated with the city and had 30 missionaries come help us with a service day, it was super cool! 

Here are some pictures from it.... sorry I'm not in any of them hahaha.

Lessons learned

Received 9/11/2017

I've learned a lot of things on my mission. I've heard many good
stories, learned many interesting facts, and have had many nice
learning moments. This week I want to write a list of some of the
lessons I've learned since the beginning of my East German
adventure...

-You can make friends on your mission. In fact, you should make
friends on your mission.
-People are good.
-Understanding is far better than being understood.
-public transportation isn't half bad! (Though I do miss my car)
-Work makes happy.
-God has a plan for his children, and will guide them to places where
they can fulfill that plan.
-All culture should be cherished, and we should know where we come from.
-Being late is not good. At all.

Oh man, this week was guided. Just guided. I don't really know how to
describe it other than that. Here's what happened...

Nadine, one of our good friends who has been investigating the church
for the past 4 months just arrived in Budapest. We still have contact
with her and she just told us that she wasn't sure if she wanted to go
to church there yet. (She wanted a little bit of time to think about
everything.) well.... then she texted us randomly that someone who she
randomly met was just baptized into the church and that they both
decided to go to church together. So of course she goes to church,
meets the sister missionaries, and will be meeting with them again
tomorrow haha. Nadine is going to be such an awesome member and will
support Jena so much once she comes back. After all of this happened,
Nadine just texted us and said, "well the signs couldn't be clearer,
and I have just been guided."

I like that thought. I think we could all be a little more easily
guided. We could all take some time to just look for the times that
we've been pushed in different directions in life. It seems to be like
everyone I've met in Jena has been guided here. Some were driven from
their homes and forced to move here, some came here to study
psychology or optics, and some have no idea why they ended up here.
They have been guided to peace, religious freedom, and to a place
where they can feel comfortable learning about new ideas.
The biggest lesson that I've learned on my mission is how valuable a
knowledge of Jesus Christ is. I've taken it for granted my whole life,
and have forgotten to read and study about Him far too often. I have
met people here who cherish every opportunity they have to learn about
Christ, because they never could before they moved here. The value of
learning about Christ comes through following his teachings. Any
person, family, or nation that follows the teachings of Jesus will
find greater peace, joy, and happiness in this life. That promise is
universal, regardless of whether you believe Christ is the son of God.
But the real treasure in following Christ comes through believing that
he is all that he says he is. Believing that we can be redeemed, that
sins can be forgiven, that our hearts can be changed. I believe in
Christ, and I invite you to do the same. Learn what he taught, try it
out.

"3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
(Matthew 5:3-12)

Well, thank you if you read all of that. This week was good. Sorry,
elder Larsen isn't very good at reminding me to take pictures... so
this is a picture of a t-shirt design for the branch that I'm working
on.

I love you all!

Make sure you wish max a happy birthday on the 14th for me!

Elder Openshaw

Hello again

Received 9/4/2017

It's me, Elder Openshaw.  What's new in my life? Lots actually! First things first, I said goodbye to Elder Hsu as he got on the train to head off to his new area... Wow, it seems so strange to have a new companion.  Elder Hsu and I were together for six months in Jena, and I definitely have changed and learned a lot from the time that I was with him.  As our Mission President told us that he would be leaving Jena, he also told us, "I'm sorry that after half a year of good work that I have to seperate you two, but the Openshaw and Hsu dynasty is just beginning in the mission."

I am looking forward to going to Elder Hsu  in Taiwan someday.  

My new companion is Elder Matthew Larsen from good ole Provo, Utah.  Also from the Edgemont South Stake. This is his last transfer on the mission, so in four weeks I will get another new companion.  Elder Larsen is a great guy, and I'm super pumped for all the cool things that we've planned together.  Other new things....

-I am becoming a legend of Foosball (the one on the table)

-I've actually become decently artsy on my mission

-There are so many people in Jena with different life stories and I have been exposed to so many different cultures and ideas.

-The weather is cool enough here now that all the little kids are dressed back up in their MASSIVE snowsuits, cutest thing in the world. (if it wasn't strange, I would totally send a picture of these wagons that the kindergarten teachers wheel around.  There are probably 20 kids all loaded into these things all with huge coats and hats on. And they just go walking through the streets, I love it so much.)

-We found a new Döner place that's pretty good. Also discovered that at least 2 of our friends work there.

-I'm the last survivor in Jena, seriously everyone has moved away.  I love that I've been here so long though.

-My Chinese is still bad.  German still dece.

I feel so bad about this email, if I were you I honestly wouldn't read it. But who knows, maybe you'll find it more interesting than I do. 

Watch this video and be inspired, and then give someone you love a hug.  

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-03-0020-is-there-a-place-for-me?lang=eng 

I love you all, I'll hug you shortly... in a year.

Elder Openshaw

Bye elder Hsu 😕

Received 8/21/2017

It's official, elder Hsu is leaving me! Six months of happy
companionship come to an end. But as president said on the phone, "now
the Hsu and Openshaw dynasty will begin."

I'm not really sure what that means... but I'm happy to have a
dynasty! Elder Hsu is leaving to serve in the Temple area on
Wednesday, so I'll still be seeing him plenty.

Well, what's new?

-My life is the same as it's been for the past year. It's a wonder
that you guys don't get bored of reading my emails. Or maybe you do...
sorry.

-The work is going better and better all the time. I feel like I'm
gonna master this thing right before I go home.

-We cooked a bunch of Chinese food for a bunch of people. Amazing how
many people show up when you offer free food!

-I finally woke up feeling well-rested one morning! And then I got up
and just started getting going, and then I realized that it was 4:30.
So I got back into bed, and then felt destroyed when the alarm went
off at 6:20.

-I played chess on the street with random people! And I discovered
that I am actually fairly good! But then this guy waited for about an
hour to play me, and I could tell that he was watching the other games
really closely. He DESTROYED me. It was honestly embarrassing. But he
was the only one that was victorious. I'll get my revenge someday,
Marius, someday.

Well. I've gotta go do something productive. Love you!

Elder Openshaw

1. Bruno.., foosball champion.
2. The infamous Marius, and my look of ignorant joy before he ended my career.
3. Luis, go to Leipzig! September 10th! (Saw this and thought of you)

Temple Trip!

Received 8/7/2017

This week we went to the temple with some of our friends and some
members! It was amazing!

That was pretty much the highlight of the week! So here are some pictures!

Love you all,
Elder Openshaw

FAQ's

Received 7/31/2017

This week I want to answer some random questions that I have gotten on my mission.  So here it goes.

Q: Do you have ANYONE to teach?

A: Absolutely. I serve in probably one of the most unique places in the world.  If you know anything about German history, you can imagine why people would ask this question to me, a missionary serving in a former communist country. 

Yes, it's true that only very rarely in East Germany will someone stop on the street or open their door to hear a message about Jesus Christ.  BUT there is a certain tact and skill that someone can develop to be able to teach the people here.  If you want facts, we are teaching 9 people right now, 8 were invited by members to activites and 1 (a non-german) was found on the street.

Q: Why are you learning Chinese? How good is your chinese?

A: Well... my chinese is honestly very bad.  As for why I am learning it.. I have a good answer for you.  The short version is simply to give people the opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language, in a country with full religious freedom.  If you want more of an answer to why things like that are happening, open your scriptures and read some prophecies about our day.  

Q: What is the refugee situation in Germany?

A: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-09-3000-refuge-from-the-storm?lang=eng 

you wouldn't believe the things that these people have went through.  Many many refugees have ended up in Germany and need lots of help. 

Q: Favorite moment of your mission?

A: Last sunday, just seeing how many people jam into our tiny branch building.  Just seeing how excited the members are to invite their friends to church.  And probably when this boy in our branch told us that he wants to serve a mission.

Q: Are you happy serving?

A: Yes

Q: Do Germans match their stereotypes?

A: Yes, beautifully.  I have learned so much from the culture here, it's amazing. They just look at the world so differently, and have taught me to do the same.

Q: Do you want to come home?

A: I am home.

Love you,

Elder Openshaw

1. Sister Fingerle

2. Some friends and friends of friends 

Short and sweet

Received 7/24/2017

I don't want to bore you all with a long email, so I'll be very brief.
I heard that Zuka died yesterday, and I'm grateful for all the people
that cared and looked after her. She was such an amazing dog, and it's
sad to hear that she's gone.

My week was honestly a roller coaster. There have been some amazing
moments, and some poor moments... I'll just give you a high-low list.

High:
We met and have helped everyone one of our good friends this week.
Low:
Every single one of those good friends is moving away at the end of this week.

High:
We set up and helped organized an amazing dance for the young single
adults here.
Low:
Not allowed to dance. Or be there. Or anything.

High:
Met many random people that were very interested in our message.
Low:
Most of them just want us to help them find german wives. (I'm serious)

And that's it!

Plus: I cut my own hair, and did a decent job I think!

But all time high of the week was just the many moments where I
realized how happy service can make you. If you feel unhappy, bored,
empty, etc. just find someone to serve. It'll change your perspective
on life.

Love you all!
Elder Openshaw