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.

26 December 2011 - Christmas in South Africa

Did you know Jingle Bells has 2 verses? I didn't.


Me with Grandma and Grandpa Westover's gifts. Thank you!

Because of circumstances in the area, Saturday we were to be back in the flat by 6, and Christmas day, besides a lunch appointment and calling home, we also had nothing to do. I am not used to so much free time. It will be the same thing again this weekend, New Years Eve and Day. Apparently "everyone and their stepmother and their second cousin" go to the beach here in Port Alfred on New Years Eve. This town is a holiday town and starting about a week ago it just exploded. Lots of people from Joburg or other places have vacation homes in Port Alfred that they spend December in. And then even more come to just spend time at the beach or visit their grandparents.

Um, I used up everything I was going to tell you when I called home. More events that are planned is that we are going to cut the grass at the Police Station in the Nemato location. The Station Commander was very happy to hear that I could also teach some of the officers to use a computer. No one uses petrol (gasoline) push mowers here. They either use electric mowers or more often than not petrol grass cutters.

More confusing word switches:
SMS = text message
Boot = trunk
Biscuit = cookie
chips = french fries
braai = barbeque grill
robots = traffic lights

cooldrink = soda

panel beaters = mechanics
garage = gas station
bakkie = pickup truck
flat/boarding? = apartment
The list goes on...

Until next week, have a happy New Years! We'll just be sitting around in our flat.

Helaman 14: 2, 3, 5, 8

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
...
5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
...
8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

19 December 2011 - A Week Before Christmas

Hello family and Merry Christmas everyone!

Us, the Robinsons, and the Zone Leaders at Elder Bagenzi's
farewell lunch at Italian restaurant Guido's

I think I'll take Dad's advice and leave what happened this past week for when I call my family. Should be fun, and you'll have something to look forward to on Christmas!

But in summary this week was another exchange with Elder Bangerter. Sunday was also very interesting. SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) has produced a short documentary about the Church and it was broadcast on Sunday morning at 9. Unfortunately that's when church starts. What we ended up doing was watching that in the church building at 9, then having Sacrament Meeting at 10.

After that we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. The documentary was very informative, especially to a couple that was visiting for the first time that Sunday, the Moore's. And then of course the Christmas Devotional was inspiring. I had never heard of the book The Mansion before but now I want to read it.

Well, this was kind of an uneventful week but next week we'll have Christmas to talk about! If you ask questions I have more things to talk about...

Jacob 7:26

"...the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream..."

12 December 2011 - Elder Tlathi from Port Alfred

Me and my first and second companions,
Elders Barker (L) and Felshaw (R)

Crazy week!
In East London was a tri-zone conference on Tuesday combined with a Christmas program. It was lots of fun but our car overheated (again) while driving back to the flat we were staying at in East London. This time we discovered the radiator had a crack in it. We were stuck. Long story short it was Thursday night before we got back to Port Alfred, and that's the longest I've ever been away. But it was fun to be able to see the setting apart and farewell of the first Elder to ever come out of Port Alfred.

Elder Tlathi participated in the Christmas program with us and left for the airport on Thursday. He is going to the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. 


Elder Bagenzi from Tanzania (left), who is going home
at the end of this month, and Elder Tlathi from Port Alfred,
South Africa, who is going to his mission the next day.

While there in EL I got the Thanksgiving package my mom sent and I would love to thank her for that.

Here in our area, of the many families we met a couple of weeks ago some are starting to progress. Many know of the truthfulness of our message. Now the hard part is helping them understand what that means. And getting them to come to Church. It seems like as soon as they decide they want to come, Satan works overtime and puts small distractions in their way. The power goes out, my brother took my car, got called in to work, got sick. It's almost certain something will happen. But we still try and try our best. I can tell there's lots of potential in Port Alfred. All it needs is time and consistent effort.

-Elder Tekulve

2 Peter 1: 3-10

³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
⁴Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
⁶And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
⁷And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
⁸For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁹But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
¹⁰Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: