30 January 2012 - Sister Adams' Baptism, George Peak Pictures

Back L to R: Elder Smith, Brother Adams,
Branch President Matsaluka
Middle: Mama Mawindi, Sister Pangel
Front: Brother Pangel, Sister Adams

Hello again family!

This past week has been a busy one. I think the highlight of it was the baptism of Sister Adams. She in the other Elders' area but it was still exciting for everyone. We may have even more baptisms coming up soon. It's exciting! Especially yesterday I felt like we did a lot of good and did a lot of strengthening. We're doing our job for sure. My companion Elder Larrabee is a great missionary and a hard worker. Every other Elder including the Smiths is from Utah here. The members in George Branch are great too. There's even an ex-Temple Presdent here. Branch President Matsaluka is a powerful teacher as well.



Me, Elder Simpson, and Elder Farley

This P-day we're going to a lion park in Mossel Bay. Check next week for pictures. By the way, off Mossel Bay is one of the world famous great white shark spots. Seal Island I think it's called? Maybe someday we can go great white cage diving over there!


Love,
-Elder Tekulve



A river we crossed. It's red from the iron

View from where we were on the mountain





Elder Simpson and a baboon

Revelations 3: 21

21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

23 January 2012 - Port Elizabeth, Brother Hugo

Elder Hartman and Elder Tekulve

Hello family and friends.

Today we actually did climb George Peak. Well... not all of it. We didn't have time to climb all of it. But where we climbed up to was at about 33°54'51.17"S  22°26'42.29"E. Did I mention it was raining the whole way up? Not just drizzling either; everyone was soaked by the time we got there. Mercifully the clouds cleared and we got to see the view on the way down.

On Friday and Saturday we took a trip to Port Elizabeth. It was a 4 hour drive... but at least the training was fun. Elder Hartman was there and presented the color code system of personalities. The one with red, blue, white, and yellow. He invented it some years ago. In case you're wondering, he is a yellow. And I am so white they should put my picture next to white in the psychology textbooks.

A bridge over Storm River, on the way to Port Elizabeth

Other than that the work is going great. Brother Hugo is amazing, he commented the other day on how he wants to go to the Temple. He hasn't been formally taught about temples yet.

Well, once more I'm nearly out of time. It is a characteristic of whites to reply to questions like "How was your day?" with a reply like "Fine."

See you next week!

-Elder Tekulve

Moses 1:38

38. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.

39. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

16 January 2012 - Upcoming Baptisms in George

Brother Hugo, his wife, and Elder Larrabee

Good morning/afternoon family!


This week it's starting to get pretty hot in George. My companion is a great hard worker just like Elder Barker, and that's great I love that. Apparently the P-days are pretty legendary here in George. Today we went on a short hike as a preliminary to hiking up George Peak next week. I really don't know how tall it is but we'll see how far up we get in the time allotted.

Some of the investigators that are getting ready for baptism are Sister Cynthia and a 10-year-old girl named Numfuso. Nomfuso's family are already members, we're just trying to teach her the lessons. The only problem is she doesn't speak much English so we have to have a translator there. It's just like being back in Primary. Cynthia is a very nice woman who is doing very well at going to church every Sunday. She is pretty close to baptism.



Me at Kaaimans River, where Bro. Hugo was baptized

I love my new area. I'm staying in town in a flat and go every day to Thembelethu, the township about 10 minutes away.

Remember the ostrich steak I told you about a few weeks ago? I finally got one at the grocery store last week and was able to fry it up with a pepper steak recipe. It was great, like a very tender steak.

Ah, I don't have much more time here, but at least I have pictures today! It was also very neat to hear Elder Drew Tekulve is an Assistant to the President now. After less than one year too.

Next week I may be in a bit of a hurry, but stay strong in the faith and know I love you all.

-Elder Tekulve

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

09 January 2012 - Transfer to George, South Africa

Transfer news!

I am now in a city called George. It is approximately between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It is very beautiful.

George, South Africa

My companion is Elder Larrabee from Utah. In fact, he was the Assistant to the President when I first came into the South Africa Cape Town Mission. He only has 2 transfers left until he goes home. I am working in the townships here in George. For a change, there are actually other Elders in my district!

Elder Farley and Elder Simpson (who is in my transfer) are working the town in George. Elder Larrabee is the district leader. I have pictures but something is weird with this computer and I can't upload or send them.

George Branch is very different from Port Alfred. It is almost twice as big and has a local Branch President unlike Port Alfred in which our BP is Elder Robinson, a Senior Missionary from St. George. In addition, the very week I arrived, last Saturday the 7th, a new member was baptized here. Brother Hugo is the first convert baptism I've seen on Mission, Elder Larrabee baptized him.

I finally got the Christmas package, and a big thanks to everyone who contributed to that.

I also would like to say hello to the other Elder Tekulve up in St. Petersburg. (See Drew Tekulve's Mission Blog here) It must be very very cold up there! How is he doing? Besides being frozen.

This seemed to me like a very long week, and I'm still getting used to George. But I'm sure next week will be by soon and I'll talk to you then!

-Elder Tekulve


John 16:33

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

02 January 2012 ! - 6th Month Mark

Ubeni New Year mnandi!

Elder Felshaw and Mugsy the Slobbermonster

So yes, because of the very... questionable state of affairs in the location and on the beach, we spent from 6 pm on Saturday and all day Sunday either cooped up in our flat or in town going to a few appointments. New Years craziness is almost over. However, this week is transfer week! Last Friday also marked my 6th month on a mission. Wow! Has it been 6 months already? I also can't believe it's already 2012. It will certainly be an exciting year! 

I've now been in Port Alfred for 5 months. I don't yet know what will be happening this transfer. I will maybe tomorrow morning, but you won't hear about it for another week. Transfer week is always uncertain but exciting.

The past few weeks I have been blessed to make a difference in many people's lives. Two of our less active families are beginning to see the blessings of following the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are working on resolving their concerns. We have at least one family, the Moores, who are well on their way to baptism as well. They are amazingly humble and very grateful for the blessings they can receive for themselves and their family.

Remember:

"eternal life is only in and through Jesus Christ and only if we endure to the end in following His example." -President Wood (2 Nephi 31:14-21, 3 Nephi 27:13-21)

Well, I've got to go. See you next week!

(I sound like a talk show host.)

Isaiah 58:13 - 14

 13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

14) Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.