25 March 2013 - Birthday, Sister Missionaries to Ghana and Kenya

Elder Tekulve's birthday is March 19

Hello everyone.

This was a really fast week. On Tuesday, as you know, was my 22nd birthday. It was also the same day as another Elder in our Zone.

 

Some other missionaries surprised us in the evening with a small present and some pie. On Wednesday we had the privilege of helping to set apart two sister missionaries from Namibia as they go off to Ghana and Kenya. There are no Stakes in Namibia, only Mission Branches, so President Wood was the one to set them apart. The Spirit was strong there. I thought that the two blessings would be similar, but they were both very different and individualized.

Me and Elder Giles my companion at Brother Mike's



 

 

We actually have 3 people that are ready for baptism -- Axl, Blaine, and Mzwandile --  but because of Easter and General Conference they will not be able to be baptized until the 14th of April. They are very ready though.

On Friday I went back to Fish Hoek for exchanges with Elder Martin. It was great that I got to see my old investigator Alistair. He's still progressing towards baptism. I don't know when, but he will be baptized someday. It was also good to see a few old members of the Fish Hoek Branch, which is now a Ward.

Transfer week is coming up (again?!) and by next Monday I might know where I am going, but since I just got here I think I'll be staying.

I love you and remember you every day,

-Elder Tekulve

 

Two of Brother Mike's dogs

 

18 March 2013 - Sir Elder Tekulve The Tall, D&C 121:45

This is the only picture I took this week...

Well hoo dee daa looks like I have more school stuff to do.

This week was Zone Conference on Tuesday. As a Zone Leader you have to come up with a zone report about all the Elders in your zone. It has to be fun and interesting and include everyone. We did a sort of fairy tale themed report and all of the Elders were called Sir Elder Whoever the Whatever. Like I was Sir Elder Tekulve the Tall. That was fun, and we made jokes and stuff.

I got both of the packages that Mom sent, thanks very much! If you could do the same things you did last year - sending a video of everyone saying hi - I would love that very much.

Gotta go. Love you! I'll take pictures tonight and have more next week.

-Elder Tekulve

D & C 121:45

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

11 March 2013 - Being a Zone Leader, See you in 108

So this week was completely uneventful. Actually, yesterday Brother Fletcher was visiting from Boston, Massachusetts and he went out teaching with us the whole day. He is a really cool guy and a good missionary, too.

Um, I have more school stuff today so I am extra distracted. But hey my birthday is in 8 days! I don't really want anything super special. You can send snacks and goodies if you want but when we get home then we'll party, okay?

Being a Zone Leader is fun fun fun. Mostly it means if someone has a problem they'll call you. But that's okay I love being busy, it doesn't matter what I'm busy with.

I love you all and I'll see you in about 108 days! :P

-Elder Tekulve

PS- The missionary e-mail policy changed and now I can e-mail friends as well as family.

04 March 2013 - Elder Bricknell, Baptismal Interview,

Happy March!

It is my favorite month.

I also have school stuff to do today so I don't know how long this will be. Firstly, last week I forgot to tell you was Stake Conference. Elder Bricknell gave some powerful talks on families.

This week there was not too much going on. Zone Leader Council was on Friday in which the Zone Leaders and President Wood discuss some outstanding issues in the mission. Then we relay that information on to our Districts.

Elder Colin H. Bricknell
2nd Counselor of the
Africa Southeast Area

The next day, Saturday, I gave my first baptismal interview. It is a bit odd that I've gone this long without giving one but that's just the way it turned out. It was a very spiritual experience.

We do not have too many investigators but the ones we do have are very powerful. Just yesterday we were teaching the Plan of Salvation to one of them and it made him so happy that he had finally found something that made sense to him.

The Church is true! I know that.

Love,

-Elder Tekulve

Elder Brennan Tekulve's Mission in South Africa is also recorded at:

http://www.missionsite.net/elderbrennantekulve/main

25 February 2013 - In Mowbray - Cape Town, Peggy's 90th, Monopoly

Cape Town, South Africa

Hello,

I am now in Mowbray, back in Cape Town again and having a great time with Elder Giles. It's busy work being a zone leader and I'm pretty tired come the end of each day. Even now I only have a few minutes left to e-mail you.

A week ago Monday was Sister Peggy's 90th birthday. She usually invites missionaries over Monday night and this just happened to fall on a Monday so we had a little party.  We ended up getting Monopoly for her, then discovered that she has been around longer than Monopoly!

Sister Peggy and her sister, who is 88

Once I landed back in Cape Town I started learning about Zone Leader-ing and getting used to this large urban area I'm in now. We have some awesome investigators that I will tell you about next time. I hope everyone is doing well and want them to know that I love them and pray for them every day.

-Elder Tekulve

All the Guests at Sr. Peggy's 90th Birthday

18 February 2013 - Will become a Zone Leader in Cape Town

Dear Family,

L to R: Elder Tekulve, Elder Tukuafu, Sister Loretta
(going on a mission to England in March), Elder Pebe, Elder Strauss

First things first, transfer week has rolled around again. This transfer was only 5 weeks long because of MTC schedule changes. I do know where I'm going on Wednesday. I will be going back to Cape Town to be the Zone Leader in the Cape Central Zone. I will be working in the Mowbray Ward and my companion is Elder Giles from Utah (I think). Elder Giles is in my transfer (meaning he came on mission at the same time as me), and this is the first time I've been a companion with someone in my transfer. I am excited, as I only have 3 transfers left and this may be my last area.

L to R: Elder Strauss, Brother Dylan (who has submitted mission
papers but hasn't received news yet) Sister Phila (going on a
mission to Uganda in March), Elder Tukuafu,
Brother Garron (same as Dylan), Elder Pebe

Transfers made me forget everything that went on this week. Let me check my planner...

Oh yeah, this week I went on 2 exchanges in one week, one with Elder Tukuafu and another with Elder Strauss. Then in between the exchanges was a leadership training where I learned a lot about what it means to be a district leader or zone leader. We had new investigators as well, and East London 3rd Ward is doing well. Today is Sister Peggy's 90th birthday and several missionaries are going to visit and have a little dinner party. I will get her a gift but I don't know what yet...

I'm having a fantastic time on mission and am very excited for Wednesday when I will be back in Cape Town.

Thank you for all your support and e-mails. I love hearing from everyone and anyone, it doesn't even matter if you think nothing interesting has happened. Mail me anyway please. :)

The Church is true!

-Elder Tekulve

You can email Elder Brennan Tekulve here: brennan.tekulve@myldsmail.net

The "Pink House"

11 February 2013 - Service Week, Egyptian Construction Techniques

Dear Family,

This week has been a very unorthodox one. We did over 12 hours of service throughout the week, mostly for members of the Ward.

One interesting this we had to do was move a very heavy chicken shed. We couldn't just carry it, though we had 6 people. What we ended up doing was tipping it on its roof and sliding it along on a bamboo track. Like how the ancient Egyptians moved stone blocks around. I couldn't believe it actually worked. Otherwise it was a slow week. We spent all our time in service.

The Ward started a mission prep class this Sunday because if all goes according to plan there will be 12 missionaries from this ward out by June. And even more by the end of the year. For the class some missionaries from this Zone came up with a new rendition of our mission song. It was pretty cool, and if I can get a version to you somehow I will.

Elder Tukuafu and Brother Dylan doing service

Well, gotta go. I spent most of the time here looking for ways to make video files smaller. Bye!

-Elder Tekulve

East London 3rd Ward meets in
this chapel on Belgravia Crescent

Two Cool Dudes

I took this last night out my window.
I took over 300 pictures trying to get a good shot
and this was the best

04 February 2013 - Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Book of Mormon, Aubry

Hello everybody.

I didn't get to write last week because I was busy doing urgent University application stuff. Sorry. Not much happened last week anyway.

This week, though, was Zone Interviews and Training. President Wood gave a great presentation on the Book of Mormon and it's role in gathering the scattered tribes of Israel in these last days. It was very informative and helped me realize the importance of that subject today. It's applicable because I am the Lord's hands in actually carrying out these things that have been prophesied for over 4000 years. Deep stuff.

On Friday we went to the Steenbeek's farm to help them fix up a room that had been damaged by high winds a few weeks ago. We deconstructed 2 walls and are going back this week to see what we can do about rebuilding it.

The broken down walls on the farm

On Sunday we were approached by a member and asked if we could go teach somebody named Aubry. Later in the day the senior couple called and said that had a 'golden referral' for us. Turns out it was also Aubry. I guess he was really ready to be taught. He had been introduced to the church by his fiancee and had already been reading the Book of Mormon and attending the church in Mdantsane (an area nearby East London). He understands the Restoration very well, and even asked about eternal marriage. He was there in fast & testimony meeting in December and saw everyone saying they knew the Church was true. He wondered how they knew and how he can know. Aubry already has a baptismal date in March.

It is always great to talk to you. I am loving the experience I can have in South Africa and can't believe I only have 5 months left.

-Elder Tekulve