04 September 2012 - Book of Blessings, Peer's Cave

E.T.  There were sand dunes near Peer's Cave

Hello everybody.

This week I am e-mailing on Tuesday, because yesterday was Zone Conference. President and Sister Wood spoke on subjects such as tithing, conversion, and teaching commandments. Also present was Elder Carl B. Cook of the Southeast Africa Area Presidency and his wife. They spoke on the "Book of Blessings" or missionary handbook of instructions and establishing the Church. Establishing the Church is especially important in Africa, where the Church is relatively young. The Fish Hoek Branch has a goal to expand into a Ward and the Cape Town Stake has a goal to split into 2 Stakes. (D&C 82:14) The whole conference was truly inspiring and the Spirit was present. Do you remember Elder Felshaw, my 2nd companion? He is currently my Zone Leader but is finishing his mission next week.



Elder Carl B. Cook

Peers Cave, Elder Tekulve in the center

Last Monday (the 27th of August) after e-mailing, Elder Musimwa and I went on a small hike to Peer's Cave. The "cave" itself was more like an overhanging rock but the view was nice. We could see the whole valley. Looking right we could see the Atlantic Ocean and looking left we could see the Indian Ocean.
On Saturday I went on exchanges to Meadowridge with Elder Jokoniya for a day. I met many powerful recent converts and found people that I believe are really ready to hear the message of the restored gospel.
Today in the afternoon I will finally get around to going to Cape Point. I have lived practically on it for 3 months but never been there yet. They say it's the southernmost point of Africa but really it's the southwesternmost point. I will take pictures that you'll see next week. This is the last week of this transfer so you will also hear transfer news.

Love,
Elder Tekulve

Doctrine and Covenants 82:14

14. For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.



Sun Valley from the cave. The chapel has a red arrow above it.
Beyond it you see a swamp, a lake, then the Atlantic Ocean.

27 August 2012 - Plugs, Texas Spur, 125 Members

Where did August go?

Plugs in South Africa

This week is pretty busy in terms of teaching and visiting and uplifting. I am aware that most of what I talk about is places I go or things I do and not much about missionary work itself.

Rest assured it does happen, but most of the details are an issue of privacy.

So because I didn't do anything "interesting" this week, I am going to tell you about plugs.
When I first got here in South Africa I was awfully confused. They have 2 different kinds of plugs here. 2-prong and 3-prong. See the picture. Almost all of the wall outlets are 3 prong and you need an adapter like the one in my hand to plug in a smaller appliance with 2. So you see it can get complicated. In addition on every wall outlet is a switch that can turn on or off that outlet. To the left of my hand is a switch that actually turns on or off the (electric) water heater. It took us a while to figure out that was what it did. Electricity! (I know nothing about electricity.)

Spur's restaurants are North American themed.
I found Texas Spur

Yesterday there were more people at Sacrament Meeting than ever before. About 125. Thanks in the more part to people inviting their friends and us visiting and encouraging less-active members.

I did also get grandma and grandpa's package. There was so much stuff in there, thanks!
Well, next week is another week.
-Elder Tekulve
 

20 August 2012 - Helping Hands Day, Marks, You never know who is watching

What?

Where did August go?! Every month seems to go by faster.
As for this week, Elder Mamaia went home to Samoa on Wednesday so now it's just me and Elder Musimwa in Fish Hoek. Work goes on as normal.
Another problem with disasters in Masiphumelele this morning. There was a flood in one of the members homes, as well as many of her neighbors. We went there but couldn't do anything about it but call the Deptartment of Roads and Stormwater.

John asked if I planned to attend BYU when I got home. Yes, that is the plan but who knows what may pan out.

On Saturday was the annual All Africa Helping Hands day. The whole branch worked at a creche (daycare) in Oceanview, getting it fixed up. We planted a garden, made a small patio, replaced windows, put in security bars, fixed electrical problems, and donated food. Several years ago this area of Oceanview had the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world; there are a lot of children that need extra support and care.

Everybody at Helping Hands Day

When I first got here in Fish Hoek there was an investigator named Marks. He did not seem interested in keeping appointments or commitments so we stopped visiting him. But last week a member named Rose showed us a letter from Marks. He says how impressed he is with how happy their family is and how much they really live what they believe. He said that he wanted to start hearing about the gospel again and this time he will take it more seriously. We saw him on Friday and he is excited to change his life.

So remember to let your light shine. Don't be ashamed of what you believe. You never know who is watching and whose life you may change.

The garden at the creche.
This is where I worked most of the time on Helping Hands Day

-Elder Brennan Tekulve




This penguin was naughty. He tried to bite my leg as I walked past.

14 August 2012 - Masiphumelele Fire, Benny & Bob's Baptism, Boulders Beach

Hello family and everybody.

Carlos Spencer, Former New
Zealand Rugby player for
the All Blacks Team

I completely forgot to e-mail yesterday. Sorry. I have a lot of pictures but unfortunately I can't send them this week due to technical difficulties. :(

I forgot to tell you last week we met former New Zealand "All Blacks" (a rugby team) player Carlos Spencer. That was cool. Also in the vein of famous people: in Fish Hoek branch is Sister Mavis Hutchinson. She was (at 53!) the first woman to run across America and has run several times across South Africa and Great Britain. She currently holds the world record for Women over 80 (she is 87) for the 100, 200, 400, and 800 meter runs. That's pretty neat.



Mavis Hutchison, fondly known as South
Africa’s Galloping Granny and resident
of Fish Hoek is, at 87, still competing in
major athletics events.

On Tuesday there was a fire in Masiphumelele. 10 shacks burned down and one of the Branch members lived close by. We went in and helped her move furniture out but luckily her shack was not damaged.



Masiphumelele Township after a fire, August 2012 

On Sunday 2 new members were baptized from Masiphumelele. Benny and Bob.

On Monday (yesterday) we went to Boulders Beach in Simons Town and saw some wild African Penguins. That was cool as well.
Well, that's about it for today as I'm running out of time. Talk to you next week!
-Elder Tekulve

06 August 2012 - Masiphumelele Township

Hello family.

The Future Elder Brennan A. Tekulve

Oh yes, it's transfer week again. Did I include the news in my last e-mail? I'm not sure. Anyway, I am staying in Fish Hoek. Now instead of 2 areas and 4 Elders there is one area and 3 Elders. That means I'm a lot more busy now working in town and the township. On the 15th Elder Mamaia from Samoa will be going home then for the next 4 weeks it's just Elder Musimwa from Zimbabwe and me. Then it's transfer day again! Yay!

This week has mostly been me trying to get the layout of the township Masiphumelele. I haven't worked in a township area for 12 weeks and I'm starting to get back in the hang of Xhosa. Wish me luck. I'm not sure really what's lined up for this coming week but we may have a couple of baptisms next Sunday if all goes according to plan.

I can bear my testimony that mission has been the most rewarding way to spend my time that I've ever experienced. I have received countless blessings. Not only me but those around me and my family as well. I really know that this work and this Church is true!

Love,
-Elder Tekulve

30 July 2012 - Endure to the End

Hello everybody.

It's the end of another 6 weeks again and I got transfer news last night. Elder Romney is going to Queenstown to be a Zone Leader for his last 12 weeks. I am staying in Fish Hoek and the area is combining from 2 areas to 1. My companions will be Elder Musimwa and Elder Mamaia. Elder Mamaia is going home in 2 weeks, a couple of weeks early, because of visa stuff so after that it will be just 2 missionaries left here in the Deep South.

Remember when I said this would be a busy week? I was wrong. On Wednesday I was with my old companion and current Zone Leader Elder Felshaw in Mowbray on exchanges. It was fun spending the day with him. There are a lot of Muslims in Mowbray and seeing that it's Ramadan it was interesting talking to many of them while tracting.
Missionary work in Fish Hoek is about to change. I'll talk to you next week. Until then, keep on enduring to the end. Mission has been the most rewarding experience I have ever had, and I'm only just half way through. My goal is to endure to the end.

Love, Elder Tekulve

Schindler's Lifts!

24 July 2012 - Alicia, Alistair and Table Mountain

Elder Tekulve sitting on a ledge on top of Table Mountain.
Cape Town and the bay in the background

Hello Everybody,

Sorry I couldn't e-mail yesterday, there were problems with the internet shop. Luckily, now I can tell you about my trip to Table Mountain yesterday afternoon.

Before that the week was a bit slow, as usual. Currently we are teaching a small variety of about 3 investigators and 2 recent converts several times a week. One of those recent converts is Alicia who was just confirmed last Sunday. Our best progressing investigator is Alistair. His story is very interesting and I will outline it only briefly here: He and his wife housed the missionaries in flats behind their homes twenty years ago, and they grew to know them very well. He was acquainted with Elders and Sister missionaries and several Mission Presidents. At the invitation of one of them he visited Canada and Utah and liked his experience there. He is very knowledgeable of the Church in many different ways and often has many questions. He says that he is now searching harder than ever to know God and Jesus Christ. He is progressing well but is not quite at the stage of baptism yet. He wants to make sure he is completely ready.

Standing looking over the more rocky and mountainous southern
edge of the Mountain. Fish Hoek is not far from there.

Yesterday our Zone, the Cape South Zone, hiked up Table Mountain. The cable cars were closed but we were all going to hike anyway. The way up is about a 500m (1,640ft) vertical climb in a switchback pattern. There are flat stones forming stairs most of the way up. It took me an hour and a half which was about average for missionaries. The fastest was 45 or 50 minutes and the slowest was 2 hours and 10 or so minutes. At the top it is indeed very flat with the occasional boulder. We took a zone picture and then headed down. All in all it was a tough climb and I'm a bit achy today, but it was not as difficult as George Peak. Still, next time I think I'll take the cable car.

This coming week is also looking to be a busy week. Stay tuned.

Love,
-Elder Tekulve

16 July 2012 - My Testimony

July is half over? It's just started!


The Future Elder Brennan Tekulve, age 11
(Photo by Suzanne Rackliffe)

Let's see what went on this week...

On Monday after P-day we visited a member family for dinner and went over how they can help with missionary work. We have been doing this with several members now and it seems to be working because the first family we did that with has invited two of their friends to church yesterday! It also helps that were are going over the chapters about missionary work in Teachings of George Albert Smith. Reading what he has to say there is very inspiring.

July 11 was Elder Romney's 21st birthday. He actually got presents from several members. I haven't heard of that happening before.  Also recently we've been using the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration a lot in our teaching. It's a great movie that really helps people to know what kind of struggles the prophet and the early Church had to go through.

Well, we had planned to hike Table Mountain today, but 2 things went wrong. First, it's raining there and the rocky cliffs get very dangerous when they're wet. Second, our car won't start so we can't leave Fish Hoek.

That's about it for this week. Tell Noah I wish him luck with braces, Nik with luck on his driving, Mariah with her trip, John with his job, and Mom with her internship. You guys are busy.

I also want to say that I'm so glad for how much my testimony has grown in this past year. I've learned how to really apply myself in obedience and dedication. I've learned how to listen to the Spirit and receive answers to prayers. I've learned to love the words of the living apostles and prophets, and also to appreciate ward and stake leaders. I know that there is no surer way to happiness in this life than through obedience to the gospel.

-Elder Tekulve