"If they quote scriptures like that they are either a pastor or they are drunk". Elder Tucker

This weeks quote comes from yesterday where we were harassed by a drunk man.  Since my companion is still new and was never really around drunk people,he didn't realize he was drunk.  It was very obnoxious but this is how I told him to tell if they are drunk or not.  He will get used to it though.  One funny thing the drunk told us is "we are all not going to heaven".  To which my response, "Sure we are and you can come with us if you want."  He was not too pleased with that response.  The Lord still loves him and so do my companion and I. Any who enough of that, onto stories.

Story Number 1:  SLURPEE!!! (Yes mom I found it. Sort of)

Most people that know me, know I LOVE Slurpees. When I got to my call to South Africa I googled 7-11's here and I was so excited! Then I was saddened to learn that they were actually just grocery stores and had no slurpees.  This week I had some Energade (South African version of Gatorade).  Which I wanted to be cold.  Then as I put it in the freezer I remembered that if you get something near to freezing point then hit it.  IT BECOMES A SLURPEE!  I did so and was so happy to have a Blueberry Slurpee thing-a-majiga.  Oh what wonderful thing science is! Needless to say I was overwhelmed with joy.

Story Number 2: Use your tie!

To start of this story I will just say, I love training.  Any way what happened in this story was, my companion was pouring some coca-cola for us that a lady had given us.  Now he spilled some and as a joke I told him, "Elder!  Clean that up.  Uhh.. use your tie."  The thing that I think got him was our fellow shipper followed my lead.  After about a minute after I had forgotten about it.  I look at my companion who unfortunately listened to our terrible counsel.  I could not stop laughing for the next five minutes.  Yes I did tell him I was joking and made up for it by cleaning his tie.  Please don't guilt trip me.  I still feel bad, but I laugh every time I think about it. 

So if we are to apply this to life,  sometimes people will temp you into doing things that seem good but are not good in reality.  Luckily according to Moroni 7:13-16 , we can discern these things.  So use the spirit and don't always listen to those voices.

Love you all, have a wonderful week.

Elder Tucker

"Kylie is the best at jumping! I don't want to show off! Do it! Ok" Peppa Pig

Before you criticize me for watching "Peppa Pig" just remember, I have been on mission now for fifteen months and just about any TV sucks me in. It's the worst kids TV show ever and was on at a members house.  It didn't send a good message in fact it supported giving into peer pressure.  So for all of you peoples out there big or small.  Whether you are listening to someone read or reading yourself.  Don't give in to peer pressure unless its for good! On that side note we will move in to stories.

Story number 1: New headline: Elder Shouts profanities to the community.

Some background as to why I was shouting profanities is because a dog that was gonna kill me.  Now this dog always barks and bares it's teeth at us and really just doesn't like us.  But in times we had walked down that street before there was a fence there.  Now the dog is somewhat blind so for some time after the fence was taken down it would run up to the spot where the fence had been and bark and terrorize us.  This time however was different.  The dog figured out there was no fence.  As I was walking it came across the barrier at me. I did what every good missionary would do.  Put my scriptures in front of me so as to smack it. Then shouted at the dog and the for all the community to hear.  After this encounter you would think that people would see if you are okay, but no.  My companion and the fellow shipper were just laughing at me.  In their defense though it was pretty hilarious.  Beware of Dogs.

Story Number 2: Primary kids are the best.

This week we had a baptism of a young sister.  About two minutes before the baptism was scheduled to start no chairs were set up.  There were however about twenty primary kids sitting in there.  So I asked them to help us.  They said "they would".  I said "face all the chairs towards that door".  Twenty seconds later it was all done and we were prepped for a wonderful baptism.  Primary kids are smart and great workers.

We had rain last night. I don't know anything about Cape Town though.

Well since its been a while here are some pictures of the baptism and other stuff.  Love you all. Have a wonderful week.  Elder Tucker

My companion is in the middle, he is from Fiji. The companion that was on the end returned to Madagascar.

"We recognize our dependence on our Heavenly Father...." President Lebethoa

February 13, 2018

Dear  Parents of Missionaries and Priesthood Leaders.

We know that you’ve probably heard about the water crisis here in Cape Town and are concerned for the health and safety of your missionary.   We want to reassure you that all is in place to care for our missionaries.

Plans are in place for our missionaries to be able to collect their water at the Mission Office and at specified chapels.  We have received large storage tanks to store water here at the Mission Office.  We have a guaranteed supply of water to fill our tanks.  This water will be for washing and other such uses.  It will not be potable water.  In addition we will be getting shipments of large bottles of drinking water for our missionaries to drink.  We will also be receiving water purification tablets and hand sanitizers.  We want you to be assured that everything is being done for the health and safety for our missionaries.  All missionary flats have a 72 hour kit, a lantern and bottled water in case they are confined to their flats for any reason.

We petition the Lord daily not only for rain, but the abilities that we need to deal with this situation.  We pray for the city planners that they will be guided in their massive effort to supply water to this parched city.  We recognize our dependence on our Heavenly Father not only for physical water, but the Living Water of Jesus Christ.  Please join us in those prayers.

 

President Lebethoa

South Africa Cape Town Mission

Tell your mom she is adopting me-the man

This is a quote from a fellow shipper as we were at an appointment.  In which the mother of the kid that we were teaching just kept bringing food out for us to eat.  The kid looked a bit shocked when he said this.  She is 13 yrs. old and she had brought this guy some yogurt. She rolled with it though. Now on to stories.

Story number 1:  How are we going to talk to this guy?

This week I got to surprise my companion and fellow shipper at an appointment.  What happened is we went to visit this less active home where the father is deaf.  The father was baptized in 2006.  Now our fellow shipper was going to this house he asked me the question above.  I smiled and said, " not sure, but God will provide a way."  Then I started signing with the father. Luckily The Holy Ghost  was able to bring to remembrance my sign language,and it helps that sign language is universal.  So my companion and fellow shipper sat in awe as I conversed with this gentleman. FUN! 

Story number 2: "When is the baptism interview?" " Uhh, now"

This was the conversation I had with one of my zone leaders a couple days ago.  I don't blame him for anything because our zone is going through a bit of turmoil now.  But it was very funny to hear his reaction over the phone for this interview. Our investigator is a young girl age of 9. Her mother was a returning less active. We were able to visit with her and start teaching her daughter. She was ready for baptism. We had the baptism Sunday. Whoo who  It went very well. Will send pictures next week.

Update on water situation-I don't really know much. Cape Town did not get the rain they needed. I don't know what the missionaries are doing, or what the mission is doing. We have had rain here in Mundasane. We have running water. Cape Town is a funny place, not alot of city planning, just built lots of small houses with lots of people. It is very hot. I don't know how the people are either. That is nice everyone is praying for them.  

Love you all.

Elder Tucker

"Why am I Elder Banana?" "Uhh, because you are a banana." Lxxx. (3 yr. old)

Well this, you know what.  I think this quote is pretty self explanatory.  Any way welcome to another week review of Elder Banana in South Africa.  Shall we take a look at the stories.

Story Number 1: History Being Made

This week was history for Mdantsane because it was the first ever Mdantsane Stake conference as Mdantsane stake.  And it was rather awesome! There were quite a few talks.  Some on missionary work and others that I don't remember too well.  In the words of one of my former bishops.  I cannot remember what was said, but I for sure remember what was felt as they were speaking.  It was truly edifying, and incredible.  I am glad the Lord let me be there for it.  

Story Number 2:  SMILE!

This Saturday, due to stake conference and it being the weekend we had no fellow shipper up until about six pm.  In South Africa,  in order to do missionary work well you need a fellow shipper.  We need a fellow-shipper to be around and teach sisters and that is basically how it works and it makes things very difficult.  Our fellow-shipper needs to be at least sixteen and a member. We still do missionary work without a fellow-shipper it just is not as effective, just street contacting.

So we were struggling and it was really bringing my spirit down. I thought of what my mission president would tell me to do.  The words came to my mind, "You are not smiling enough."  I thought it was strange but I tried it any way.  So for the next five minutes I felt like "Buddy the Elf".  Smiling was my favorite.  Now Smiles have power, let me tell you, in about two minutes I was having a fantastic day.  Now you know, when you find yourself down, force on a smile and I can guarantee that your day will turn around!

That's what I have for you today.  Keep on Smiling.

Dear Dad,

The thing I like most about my companion is he is very creative in every aspect of life.  Like food, cleaning he finds something that could work and rolls with it.  He is awesome!  One of my favorite members is Bro. B he buys us Pizza every Friday! Plus he is a super fun character!

Love you Dad.

Uvuvuvuvwe onyetwegweuve ukuiau-Missionaries

This has been our quote for the week but I have absolutely no idea if it is spelled right so bear with me there.   This is from a trending video on the internet which people talk to us about. So we made qom remix of the name.  It was quite fun.  On to stories.

Story Number 1: DON'T COME BACK!  I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HERE!

So this quote comes from one of my favorite ladies here in Mdantsane.  Her name is Sister K.  She is one of the ladies we deliver sacrament to,  she is hilarious.  Some where along the line of our conversation though I said, " One day, mama,  I could come back to see you."  She then told me the above quote.  She doesn't want me to come back to South Africa but she did say she would come visit me back home.  So I Invited her to my homecoming address in November.  Hopefully she will be there.  She is a wonderful Lady.  She reminds me a lot of my Mother.  Love you Mom.

Story Number 2: Amaqina

This is a food I got to try for the first time last night.  I have to say it was not actually to bad.  Not something I would want to have again.  The best part about it though was when they gave us the Chicken Feet and head.  I asked, "How the heck do I eat this thing?"  To which their reply was look at at Hlalumi.  Who I might add is five years old.  He then taught me how to eat chicken feet.  Moral of the story if you don't know how to eat something think like a five year old and figure it out.

Our tri-companionship will be just a companion. Our companion from Madagascar is returning to Madagascar so I will be training his trainee.  

Pray for rain. It is hot! In Cape Town a drought is very bad.  Little to no water, everyone rationing water.  In East London we are doing great.  Rainy season came finally and it has rained the last three days so we are good here, but they do need rain and water in Cape town.  Each missionary has been told since the start of their mission to store water either 5 liter bottles or 20 litters as many as they can. I think they are ok.  I don't know what is going to happen.  

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

Elder Tucker 

KHUTHALA-Rugal

Good morning everyone!  This quote comes from a video game our fellow shipper was telling us about.  Now the game itself was in Japanese but since the people here don't speak Japanese they take what they have heard and put the closest Xhosa word.  To explain what happens with this guy though, when fighting him, he will grab you and say in a very deep voice "Khuthala".  When he does this you die.  The funniest thing is everyone knows it so when you say to literally any person Khuthala.  They know king of fighters. 

I am not teaching the new missionary to much because He is more Elder D's son.  My son went home. The flat is kinda quiet now.  But IT IS TOO HOT! I have melted four times this week, and no longer can use a blanket at night.  We are working with the less active members.  We have about six hundred people in our ward and only one hundred are active. 

But now it is time for Stories.

Story Number 1: "You promised."-Elder Smith

This I thought was a pretty funny and crazy story about the conversion of a member in our ward.  He is a very powerful member but took a long time to join the church.  So in the year 2004 there was a missionary serving in Mdantsane.  This missionary and his companion were working hard with this guy and he promised to go to church and did not come.  Not something very new to this man, but I guess it was new to the missionary.  After church these missionaries went to the man's house.  When he answered the door the young missionary was teary eyed, and had a tear running down his cheek.  All he said was, "You promised."  The man did not remember what he replied but he did remember what the missionary did in return. HE SMACKED HIM ACROSS THE FACE.  The missionary smacked a literal hand to face contact, QHWABA!  Both parties were shocked at what happened but the man said that was his wake up call to recognize the promises he makes and the things he does matter.  So if someone needs a wake up call,  Don't be afraid to be the one to do it.  Just do it in a more humane manner.

That was really the only highlight of the week this week.  It was a pretty slow week.

Any who, love you all.  I hope you all have a fantastic week. Elder Tucker