10 days left

We got our travel plans yesterday and all the sudden it hit me... I'm going back to Germany!  I am so excited to get back there and share the message of the Gospel.  This week was again kinda boring, but I got a big group picture with all my friends.  Ok, not much time to email!  Love you all!  Thank you for all the birthday wishes, it honestly was an awesome day.  

Love,

Elder Openshaw

Over the halfway point

Hey everyone!  This week was really good in the MTC.  Not that there is much to write about.  But there was a bat infestation that made us move apartments.  I stole a mini fridge for our room but then I guess the janitors went searching for it because it they stole it back from us.  They also took the coke that I put in it with it....  so that was kinda sad.  But I became friends with the haircutting lady and she gave me a bunch of goodies haha.  Anyway, I feel like I'm ready to go to Germany.  I should get my flight plans on friday, which is super exciting.  I'm ready for the language, and I'm so ready for the German food.  It feels like the time has gone fast in the MTC, and so I'm stoked to be out of here soon.  We play against Argentina every Friday in soccer.  It gets intense, and it always takes me a while to get back into the missionary spirit after the game.  But we creamed them 5-0 this week, which was amazing.  Thanks for all the letters, and emails, and packages!

Love you all,

Elder Openshaw

Week 2 1/2

Aunt Jen here:  including yet another picture of him with another cute Sister Missionary in the MTC.  This is Zane with Tatum Froerer that he went to preschool with.  She will be serving in the Detroit Michigan Mission.  They haven't seen each other in years.  More fun MTC Reunions.  :) 

Now, here's Zane's email:

Wow, the time really does move so weirdly in the MTC.  I am having a great time and the German is coming along fast.  My teachers are such good guys and I always enjoy class.  One of my German teachers talked to me after class about Nike for like 30 minutes in German, and after that he looked at me for a second and said, "I think you're probably ready to go to Germany."  But I'm happy to be here and learn a bunch of stuff in German.  I've learned some great ways to make the teachers laugh and I experiment with German slang every day.  Turns out my friends in germany taught me quite a few bad words hahaha.  There have been several times that my teacher's eyes have gotten wide after I say a sentence in German.  I can't wait to try out my slang on some real Germans.  I don't have much time to write every week, and there's not much to write about.  But I'll let you know when I make it to Deutschland.

Week 1 1/2

To be honest this week has flown by, and I have learned so much German.  It honestly hasn't been too bad, and I have made lots of friends.  It sucks to have to deal with a bunch of drama in the Zone, and having to go to extra meetings isn't fun, but being Zone Leader isn't too bad either.  I've gotten a bunch of packages this week and that has been amazing, they honestly get me so stoked to be here.  I have become good friends with both of my teachers, Brother Nilsen and Brother Garrett, which honestly helps so much in the German learning.  Brother Nilsen never speaks English to us, but he loves my German jokes.  Elder Taylor is a marine and he talks about that all the time, but we get along well and work hard.  Haha I am the only guy in my room that makes my bed and gets up on time.  My companion has some very strange sleeping habits, and often is yelling in his sleep, I have told him that it's probably because he lays on his bed eating Cheetos and drinking coke while he's trying to fall to sleep.  I room with Elder Garner, Elder Ockey, and Elder Taylor.  I love Elder Garner and Elder Taylor... and I'm still working on trying to love Elder Ockey.  But it's kinda hard to have your slang corrected by an Elder who didn't get out of bed until 7:00.  I'm sure we are all just trying to get used to each other.  I'm just glad he's going to Frankfurt haha.  Well, that's pretty much all that has happened this week.  Love you all!

-Zane/Elder Openshaw

*Aunt Jen here: adding a photo we received of Haley Barber and Zane this week. Haley is heading to the New Mexico Farmington Mission.*

The start of a long road

Hey everyone!  I know you probably don't really care to hear how I'm doing after 3 days in the MTC but I'll email anyways.  I am doing really well and I can't wait to get to Germany (I know I'm still six weeks out though).  It seems that my German has come back in force and I am doing really well in all my language classes.  It is really fun to remember that I know most of the things I am being taught haha.  My companion is Elder Taylor, we get along super well.  We got totally shafted and ended up becoming Zone leaders.  I have seen tons of my friends, which has been really cool.  Not sure what else to say, but it has been a lot of fun so far.  I am working hard to learn German.  The pictures are of my class and my teacher, my companion, and our room.  Love all of you!

-Zane