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| Port Alfred Township, South Africa |
I'm sorry to say it but it was another same-old week. Vivian had to attend a family funeral so his baptism is now the 12th.
A lot of the people we're teaching are full families, somewhat rare here. In fact, 4 or 5 of them have police officers for one or both parents. It is Elder Felshaw's observation that police officers make very faithful strong members.
They aren't interested, but we did find a family that had been visited by Elders in the 1970s. Actually I am very interested to hear from Judd what South Africa was like around about 1994.
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| That's a worm. A really big worm. I was afraid it would be able to bite me |
I forgot to tell you last week but I did get Dad's package. Thanks for the tissues, they're a bit expensive here. And boxed bacon was interesting as well...I always love hearing what's happening at home, especially pictures. So keep on e-mailing, even if mine aren't too interesting!
Love,
-Elder Tekulve
PS- Sorry about any typos in this message; there is no spell check on this computer.
John 18:28
28. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
The Judgement Hall is part of the house of Pilate, a Gentile. As the Passover was near, leaven or bread containing leaven in any home made it ceremonially unclean. Even entering such would make a Jew unfit to eat the Passover. The Pharisees and Sanhedrin were eager to crucify their God after an illegal trial, but were afraid to go near any leaven and thus break the law.
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| Sunset in Port Alfred, South Africa |
Brennan,
ReplyDeleteHope you are well! I’m enjoying reading your letters and reliving my glory-days through your experiences. Your question is a tough one. However, the following are my overarching thoughts on “what Suid Afrika was like around 1994”.
The country was euphoric going into their first all race elections. The eyes of the world were on the country and the news covered the going-ons in the country daily. My mom kept many many newspaper clippings in a big tablet. Nelson Mandela (whom I consider a hero and know the world will flock to his funeral when that happens because of his visionary ways) was upbeat, crime was down as everyone thought EVERYTHING was going to change and that the economic tables would level out.
The church was growing leaps and bounds. Missionaries in the late 80s and early 90’s were baptizing like crazy but the church did not have record keeping like we do today and our assignment from our Mission President was to “go find those folks that were baptized and bring them back”. Without addresses in the townships, it was difficult to find folks. However, with perseverance, we were successful in many respects. I know there is as much joy in Heaven when a lost soul is brought back into the fold as there is when a convert is baptized.
The month leading up to the election was a bit tough. I was serving in a township called Kagiso and there were lots of demonstrations leading up to the election. Based on our “Township Policy”, we had to call the police, the riot squad AND a member of the bishopric every day before we could go into the township to teach. Every morning, we’d get up and do our studies and get ready for the day, only to make the phone call and find out we could not go in and work. That was tough to go work in other elders areas and not in our own. That took place for 28 straight days.
I paid my r15 to join the ANC and have an official ballot from that 1995 election. It was a great part of history that I am proud to have been a part of.
I attach some different pictures of architecture that I found as well as some blue workers jumpsuits that we had embroidered, since after all, we were there working.
Anyway, hope you are well. Work hard and play hard on PDays (which day of the week are your p-days? Ours were Sunday evening, so we worked in the morning until 12:30 pm, then had pday. With our osies (maids) our apartments were already clean and our clothes were washed during the week while we worked so p-day was play-day. We went on lots of district or zone tours of cool places and got to go to rugby, soccer and cricket matches, racing events (see pic).
I’ll write again soon.
Thanks,
Judd