29 October 2012 - Baptism of Sister Berenice,

Elder Krieger looking over Fish Hoek

And now October is over too. Didn't it just start?

I forgot to tell you but last week was transfers again. I am still in Fish Hoek with Elder Krieger but now there are 4 Elders in Fish Hoek again. Elder Ramosoeu and Elder Nkosi (both from South Africa) are working in Masiphumelele and surrounding areas. Elder Krieger and I are working everywhere else. That's unfortunate to us because most of our investigators were in Masiphuelele, but I'm sure they will do a good job there.

General Conference was not yesterday but a week before yesterday and it was awesome! The Spirit was so strong especially in Priesthood session. I wrote many notes as usual and I'm already referring to them in teaching. Now there's only one more Conference on my mission.

Yesterday one of our investigators, Sister Berenice, was baptized. That was also a spiritual experience for everyone there but I think most especially for Berenice. Elder Nkosi and Elder Ramosoeu will continue to visit and strengthen her and her family.

Yesterday we helped one of the young men prepare a poster about "a unique ritual of a religion of your choice." He chose our religion and baptism for the dead. I'd say that's pretty unique! We worked for a while to get a succinct summary and explanation of baptism for the dead and why we do it. I'll tell you how it goes next week.

I'm thinking about all of you and pray for your spiritual and physical safety.


A view of the Fish Hoek Valley

-Elder Tekulve

22 October 2012 - General Conference

The Missionaries in South Africa view General Conference
sessions two weeks after the conference concludes

What is general conference?

General conference is a semiannual gathering of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During general conference weekend, Church members and others gather worldwide in a series of two-hour sessions to receive inspiration and instruction from Church leaders

 

15 October 2012 - Pass-Along Cards, Faith in Christ, Les Misérables

Hello.

Well, this week was the Mission President's Training and Interviews. The training was about honesty and he showed a clip from the Les Miserables movie where Jean Valjean identifies himself when the innocent man gets accused of being him. It's a really powerful scene and everyone was very excited to watch 6 minutes of an actual movie! It gets a top spot on my list of movies to watch now. There are over 80 so far.

Earlier this week I put a pass-along card on a fence next to me, just on a whim. A man passing by saw it, came over and asked if he could have it. His name was Edward. We explained it was for a free DVD called Finding Faith In Christ and he was excited to order it. On Saturday the DVD arrived and we watched it with him. He had lots of questions and wanted to invite all his friends over to watch it with him. He is a very nice man and I look forward to the next time we can visit him.

Yesterday (Sunday) was the Primary Program. The children did very well and it was a good experience to all present. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week is General Conference! I'm so excited! And not just for the food.

Sorry, but I didn't take any pictures this week. :(
Love, Elder Tekulve
 

08 October 2012 - Ferocious Dogs, Fellowship Investigators

Distric Elders at Panarottis Pizza House

Dear Family and Friends,
This week Elder Krieger and I were busy with a surprise training on Tuesday. Besides that we didn't have other special events, but we are teaching a lot of great people. Ronald, for example, is a great guy who really was prepared to receive the gospel. The other day when he was having a tough time he opened the Book of Mormon to a random page and found verses that comforted him. He has a lot of faith but hasn't had the chance to exercise it for a while. I am sure he will be baptized in time. He's already introduced us to some of his friends.

Dad's 2010 birthday wish was
Minecraft. He still can't
stop playing

Let's see, what else happened? Elder Krieger almost got his leg bitten off by a ferocious dog. Maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. He wasn't hurt, but some dogs sure can be scary.



You've probably seen General Conference already, but I will have to wait until October 19-21. Speaking of October, Happy Birthday Dad! Remember that Minecraft birthday wish I made for you? Can you believe that was 2 years ago? Time really flies on mission. After I finish training Elder Krieger I only have 5 more sets of 6 week transfers. And transfers can really fly.

Remember that full-time missionaries can do good but not nearly as much good as if they have your cooperation. You don't have to do anything difficult, just be a friend to those the Elders or Sisters bring to church. You'd be amazed how much of an impact that can have on one's conversion.

-Elder Tekulve

01 October 2012 - Heritage Day, Indexing, Sheep's Tongue

Back row, L to R: Zone Leaders Elder Lewatle,
Elder Speed, and District Leader Elder Tekulve.
Front Row: Elder Jokoniya, Companion and Greenie Elder Krieger,
Elder Dladla (whom Elder Speed trained about 5 months ago)

I'm now 15 months old! Wow, it's like we just skipped August and September, they went so fast.
 
In answer to Mom's question, yes I am doing wonderful and that's what you can tell everyone who asks. I wouldn't really say I'm trunky* but I do think about home sometimes as I'm sure most missionaries do.

 

Heritage Day in South Africa
is Spetember 24th

This week on Monday was Heritage Day in South Africa. There was a Branch Indexing activity where I tried out Indexing for the first time. I didn't know what Indexing was until I came on mission. If you don't know either, find out here.


What?

The only other noteworthy thing that happened this week (it was a slow week) was that I went on exchanges with my former companion and current zone leader Elder Speed, held District Meeting for a second time (it's a weekly thing), and I also ate sheep's tongue. It tasted like pork and wasn't bad really but in my mind I made it unpleasant. Because I was eating tongue. Ew.


I just want everyone to know that I'm very grateful for what I've learned on mission. It would take me a long time to list every way but I can definitely say that it's been the best 15 months for my life and I expect it to continue to be the best 2 years for my life.

Love,
Elder Tekulve

* A Note from the Urban Dictionary: Trunky (2): A slang term used amongst Mormon missionaries, describing a missionary who is excited about returning home as "trunky" as he has already packed his trunk.

24 September 2012 - Fish Hoek & Meadowridge Attendance High, BYU

Well I just spent the whole allotted e-mail time planning my end of mission trip so I'll keep this e-mail short.

The picture is a picture of the Lord's district here in Fish Hoek and "over the mountain" in Meadowridge. From left to right is Elders Tekulve, Dladla, Krieger, and Jokoniya. That was at the first District Meeting I've given. It went quite well considering.

Church attendance in Fish Hoek continues to be record breaking with many people moving into the branch in the next month and also with many people bringing their friends to church. We almost have too many investigators to visit all of them, so the work is going great.

From only very brief and cursory glances at the BYU curriculum and know I want to apply there and also BYU-Idaho. I will also apply to BYU-hawaii but just as a backup. Elder Facer from the MTC said that BYU-Hawaii was the Celestial Kingdom. But he's an avid surfer. If I get into BYU Provo then I will start with a minor in Information Technology while I determine what I want to go on to do as a more advanced degree.

You're in my prayers every night,

-Elder Tekulve

17 September 2012 - District Leader & A New Companion: Elder Krieger

Dear Family,

Elder Tekulve and Elder Krieger

My new companion is Elder Krieger from Draper, Utah. Yes, his name is German but he's not German for 3 or 4 generations. Elder Krieger is very similar to me. To illustrate, he's the first person I've ever met in person that has heard of Dwarf Fortress. He is the youngest of 3 girls and 2 boys, and gets mail from his nieces and nephews. I had forgotten what it was like to be young and green until I met him. Certainly the next 12 weeks will be exciting and different. Did I mention I'm also the District Leader now? There are 4 Elders in this District; the other 2 are in Meadowridge.

A picture of the Testimony meeting at the Young Mens Camp

The area has really started to catch on fire. People are bringing their friends to church left and right. Yesterday almost 10% of the people at church were investigators. I don't think I've been this busy... ever. I may have had a similar amount of appointments in Port Alfred, but at that time I wasn't the senior companion.




Here is what happened on Saturday:

6:30 am - arise and prepare
7:00 am - Be at a Stake Young Mens Camp for Testimony meeting and missionary preparation workshops with President Wood and the Assistants to the President. This goes on until 12:00.
12:00 noon - lunch
12:30 pm - prepare a progress record
1:00 pm - Correlation Meeting with Branch Mission Leader
1:45 pm - Meeting with the Zone Leaders
2:45 pm - Personal Study
3:45 pm - Companion Study
5:00 pm - Appointment with David
5:40 pm - End appointment, drive to Simon's Town
6:00 pm - Appointment with Ronald, drive back to Fish Hoek
7:00 pm - Appointment with Olwethu
8:15 pm - The other hour of companion study
9:15 pm - Plan for the next day
9:45 pm - get reports from Meadowridge Elders over the phone
10:00 pm - Give reports to Zone Leaders
10:30 pm - go to bed

This next week is completely booked until Thursday. Whew.

Love,

-Elder Tekulve

Elder Krieger (Front row, middle) and his transfer at Signal Hill.
20 Elders entered this mission this week!

 

10 September 2012 - New Missionary Coming, Cape Point

Hello family,

Elder Brennan Tekulve standing next
to a sign and the old lighthouse on Cape Point

This past week seemed really short because of the conference I mentioned last Tuesday. But I have transfer news! I don't know all of the details yet but I do know that Elder Musimwa will be leaving Fish Hoek and I will be training a new missionary! This is very exciting and I think the next 3 months are going to be another turning point in my mission. I don't even know who I am training yet but I will find out on Wednesday I think. I'm glad the Lord trusts me enough to give me a new missionary. Believe me when I say that a missionary's first companion really shapes his attitudes and habits for his whole mission. I will always be grateful to Elder Barker for his example to me.


The rocks of Cape Point.
The top of the new lighthouse
can be seen

Last Tuesday I did in fact go to Cape Point. The views were very nice. Did you know that this is the alleged place where the Flying Dutchman sails? One of the stories tell that the captain, trying to pass the Cape in a storm, swore to the devil that he would pass if it took him until the end of time. Well, he's still trying. That's why this is also sometimes called the Cape of Storms. We were lucky that the weather was sunny and clear, but there was still an intense wind blowing constantly. There are 2 lighthouses here. The old one was too high and was sometimes shrouded in mist so they built another one lower on the Point. The whole area is a national park and wildlife reserve. We saw a couple of baboons sitting on the road on our way there.

To the West of Cape Point is the Cape of
Good Hope and the Atlantic Ocean

Know that you are all in my prayers that you may be guided by the Spirit in all of your decisions and be able to endure to the end.

Love,

Elder Tekulve



I was reading an old Church magazine
and I found an article written by
someone in my Stake!

The Flying Dutchman Ghost Ship
at Cape Point






Cape Point sign