22 April 2013 - BAT Cave, Zone Training, Every Member a Missionary

Another week, another e-mail.

This week has been interesting. I think I told you last week that we went back to Boomslang cave. Here is one picture from that.

Tuesday was Zone Training which is similar to a district meeting but because of some distant Elders we had to do the training twice throughout the day. Interesting that each time we gave the presentation it was different.



Missionaries in Boomslang Cave, South Africa

This week we have visited a lot of recently baptized members and other members of the Ward. Later in the week we did some finding on our own which consisted of making a short survey or 8 questions about religious beliefs or practices. At each door we did the survey and met many new people, some interested in learning more about us and our beliefs. We are still applying it and I think we will in the future.

 

Sunday was a special Stake Conference. Because the previous Stake President Giddey is now an Area Seventy we needed to have a new one. The new Stake President is President Holmes, previously the Second Counselor in the Stake Presidency. He has counselors from Bishoprics in the Stake. Elder Cook of the First Quorum of the Seventy was there and he gave a commitment to the whole Stake. He invited everyone to prayerfully consider one person who was either less-active or not a member that they can introduce to the missionaries or invite to church. If they didn't know where they can start, they can "ask the missionaries!" How hard can bringing one person into the Church be? And consider if every member did that! We would not only be able to split the Cape Town Stake, we would be well on our way to three!

 

I know that the Church is true with all of my heart. Like I said in the last fast and testimony meeting, nothing in the world, no new information, no outside circumstance, no person or thing, can take that away from me.

 

-Elder Tekulve

 

Doctrine & Covenants 59:2

For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.

 

15 April 2013 - Uncle Craig's Passing, Four Baptisms, Teaching Jesus



Craig and Mya Wright

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I heard of Uncle Craig's passing. That's something no one wants to hear, especially of someone who has so many young children. I will definitely keep his family in my prayers.

 

 

I don't have much time today. We went up to Boomslang Cave in Fish Hoek again. This time there were bats! That was really cool. They were very small though. That's why I have so little time today. I am so tired!

 

Saturday 4 people got baptized! They are Desmond, Mzwandile, Axl, and Blaine. The last two are brothers and I have taught the last 3. It was a great service and Axl and Blaine's grandma gave a powerful testimony. She is so strong but most of her children are less-active, yet she knew many of her posterity will be blessed by the Gospel.

We also taught a guy named Jesus on exchanges. He's from Angola though so it's pronounced Zhe-zush. He was very surprised by the message of the Restoration!

Well, I'm out of time unfortunately. There is a Zone Training tomorrow that Elder Morris and I are giving that will take most of the day.

Love,

-Elder Tekulve

08 April 2013 - General Conference, Mervyn Giddey

Hello family,

Elder Uchtdorf

This week seemed to be such a long week! It was transfer week and now my companion is Elder Morris who was previously in my zone as a District Leader. These past few days have been very very busy with both teaching and Zone Leader duties. Of course this week was also General Conference. As you know, missionaries love General Conference and this was no exception. I got to watch both of the morning sessions live this time, and I saw the Priesthood and one other session yesterday (see all talks here). I really loved many of the talks but one that stood out was President Uchtdorf's talk in Priesthood session (see here). I like the metaphor he makes about us being spiritual toddlers learning to walk. What father gets angry at his child if he stumbles and falls? What matters is we're making the attempt, because we all stumble and fall at one time or another. I don't know at what time we'll get to watch the Sunday evening session, but I look forward to it because I know Elder Holland is speaking there (see here).
 

You have heard but may not have noticed the name Mervyn Giddey mentioned in the sustaining of new area seventies (see here). That's our Stake President here in Cape Town! He will be an Area Seventy in May, and he's really a great guy that will do well in that position.
 

I got Grandma and Grandpa's package and card and thank them very much for that. I look forward to seeing them and others when I get home in June.

My mission has incalculably blessed my life. I know that the Church is true and everything that implies. I know that the only way to have real peace in our life is to live the Gospel.

Love,

Missionaries singing the "remixed (with ukelele)"
mission anthem at the Mission Home

-Elder Tekulve

 



My new companion Elder Morris working on fixing
Bro. Mike's vacuum. That vacuum has been
torn apart and then taped, screwed, or hot-glued
back together more than once to get it working again,
but it still works.

 

01 April 2013 - Easter Weekend, Mzwandile

There goes March, then. I'm sure April will be over before I know it.

 

This week was really okay... half of our investigators are out of town for Easter holidays, but last night we did see Mzwandile. He' still doing awesome, and even shares his testimony with others though he's not baptized yet. I did visit some members on Easter Sunday for dinner and then to the Bishop's family where we sung some hymns. Friday was Zone Leader Council where the training for the next transfer was set out.

 

Wednesday is transfer day again. I know Elder Giles is going to the Eastern Cape to finish his mission as a trainer. I will be staying in this area and Elder Morris from Las Vegas, who is in my Zone now, will be my new companion. This will probably be my last companion as I only have 2 transfers (12 weeks) left.

 

I am having a great experience being on a mission and I think about each of you every day.

My companion took a great picture of us with a family in the Ward but he forgot his camera today...

 

-Elder Tekulve

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