Don't let the Bishop call your wife as Relief Society President-Brother Devenish

This is what we were told by a member yesterday as he was trying to leave the chapel.  I think you can piece together what calling his wife has.  He is a very funny person. He was probably just hungry.  Now on to other stories.

Story Number 1: Old English Couple

This week we had the opportunity to have lunch with some old time members from England.  It was both a very amazing learning experience and laughing experience.  One because they have a lot of life experience and knowledge they shared with us, and also it was always a low key argument.  Some times my companion and I had a hard time not laughing.  It was so fun.  Also a great lunch.  Mac and cheese was what we ate.

Story Number 2: I am an Eagle - Cxxxx

We had some free time during one day and we decided to contact an investigator previously taught.  Let me tell you that was one of the strangest things ever. Right when we walked in the door she had questions about our church, not like gospel questions really just trying to find faults. So she starts asking about the sacrament and talking about how her church is called anti-message and only runs of the Bible.  Then she started asking about our dress code at church and how women aren't supposed to cut their hair or wear make up because the lady that did that in the Bible was dog food.  My companion and I were on the verge of bursting into laughter.  We were able to calm down but then she asked our names.  We of course said Elder Tucker and Elder Owen.  Then she said, "No, no secrets, what is your name."  I was still holding in my laughter then she told us we had to many secrets.  And that God gave us revelation so she needed everything now.  I threw the scripture line upon line, etc.  Then in complete and total seriousness told me she was an Eagle and that I was on the on the underground level.  That is when my companion and I lost everything.  We said we would come next week and left with a prayer.  Hopefully it goes better next week.

Elder Tucker

An update about Rain Cape Town from Elder Greengrass "Cape Town had a big festival where people were coming together to pray for Rain.  They had "TONS of people!"  "What was cool it actually rained that night!". 

Hmmm, maybe I should get a camera-Me

My companion now was a professional photographer when he was home so he is trying to convince me to get a camera.  Which  wilI consider because it is actually very interesting.  There is a lot of cool pics I could get at home when working as a guide for THAT. Enough of that though, onto STORIES!

Story Number 1:  Transfers

We start at Amalinda Chapel in East London, here we have five missionaries starting their quest as the pioneers of a new exchange route to Port Elizabeth.  Instead of flying, they will be driving.  Now let me tell ya, the Eastern Cape has a lot of cool hills.  Some people might call them mountains but they are hills.  It was a very beautiful drive to see the country side and go to this little town in the middle called Grahamstown.  Very cool little town with a lot of trees, in between two mountains.  Then the rest of the drive was kind of boring but we saw some huge sand dunes that you can sand board at.  Hoping to P-day there one week.  An all around good road trip to Port Elizabeth.

Story Number 2:  Mission calls

This week in our ward two elders got their mission calls.  Brought back memories of Teron and Myself opening our mission calls.  It was truly a fun experience because it was done right after sacrament meeting.  One of the guys is going to Johannesburg and the other is going to Madagascar.  They are leaving on the twenty sixth of April to the SA MTC.  Both are very jazzed about their missions.

My new companion is on his last transfer before he goes home on April 26 th as well! His family has moved from New Zealand to about 2 miles from where I live. He is great. Weird we meet in South Africia. 

Sorry this letter is a bit quick.  I am on a tight schedule today.

Love you all,

Elder Tucker

Hell awaits us-Elder Seni

This week we have been having trouble with our car, yesterday was the worst.  As we were leaving a house this is what my companion said.  It killed me.  Our car would not start so we had to do some messing around with and it finally started.  We haven't had trouble since.  I guess it just needed some sense beat into it.  But onto stories.

Story Number 1:  He is Fijian.  Polynesians don't mess around with food. - Me

Every Sunday here in Mdantsane, we have a dinner appointment at someones house.  At this appointment we got there and they gave us food, and prayed.  To me that is a sign that you start eating. We did.  Then our bishop comes to the house and sees that we have finished our food.  Now this was not his house but he came in and said, Elders, you're finished?  You did not wait for me?  We all just kind of sat in shock that he was saying this because we had no idea he was coming.  We were not told anything and no one stopped us from eating.  So I pointed at my companion and said the above statement.  Then we all had a good laugh.  It was funny.

Story Number 2:  Faith and Works

Yesterday and here in Mdantsane, I have learned a lot about faith and works.  And yesterday we had a great example.  We were planning on walking with someone to church.  We left the boarding early, drove to the area and walked to his house, which was the farthest part of our area.  When we got to his house.  He wasn't able to walk with us to church because he got stabbed by broken glass the day before and got a pretty gnarly gash on his foot.

For some reason I was not bummed because I knew somewhere somehow we had put in work and we would get blessings.  And we did!  When we got to church we had 11 of our investigators there! A son got baptized and was in another ward. He wanted us to teach his whole family in our area.  The whole family that could not come to church because of work;  But the family was able to get work off!  We were overjoyed to see that. We love when converts want to share their happiness with their whole family.

I have been transferred back to Port Elizabeth in a different area. I am excited. 

Love you all Elder Tucker

Seni, wait I have to rebuke this guy. Elder Smith

This comes from an exchange that my companion was on.  To hear this story, there is sometimes some people like like to rebuke us as missionaries, which usually ends up as a boomerang, kodwa ke, no shame in trying.  During a lesson this guy tried to rebuke this Elder by interrupting,arguing and quoting scripture and shame for the guy. The Elder was having none of it. Elder Smith is a Great Missionary.  But on to other stories.

Story Number 1: Bread

Now as the driving companion I always am talking to petrol attendants when getting gas.  Then sometimes my companion will go get some bread or what not.  It usually takes him  a few minutes because he is also fighting in himself about which Cadbury chocolate bar to get.  I keep telling him, "he can never go wrong with Oreo".  He still takes time choosing though.  This time however he went in and out really fast.  I asked him "what happened"?and he told me there were girls in there. They asked him "how he was?" so he got his bread and ran.  I love this guy.  Yes I got his permission to share this.  It has been a good laugh this week.  Almost as good as a limited edition watchmen.

Story Number 2: Silence brings revelation.

This week some Elders in my district were having some baptisms coming up so I needed to do some baptism interviews.  One of them was a bit difficult to be frank. Most of it was just silent so that I could follow the spirit as best as I could. I did and it was wonderful!  But it just goes to show that sometimes we need to be silent in order for the Spirit to talk to us. 

My mom asked some questions about a picture Elder Greengrass took. Some people put up shacks in an area they want to live. There is no indoor plumbing in these houses or running water. They are generally trying to wait for a house in the area to open up. Like American camp grounds with better furniture. They bring their water from a central spigot to their houses, and use communal bathroom facilities, or like porta potty's. (Picture below)

We had 7 investigators at church but no one over 18. I was sitting in Gospel Doctrine thinking what can I do? We haven't had Gospel Principles  in 2 weeks. When the work is slow sometimes you want to hear a "hey your doing a good job". My Dad always tells me I am doing a good job and it means alot.

That's all I have for you this week.  Love you all

Elder Tucker

From Elder Greengrass-used by permission.