"Don't do things that kill you" John Bytheway

"Don't do things that kill you" John Bytheway

October 16,2018

This week my companion and I have been listening to a lot of John Bytheway.  He is a truly gifted speaker.  That was my favorite quote from the talks that we listened to this week.  I am still trying to learn that according to people here.  Apparently skiing and rock climbing kill people.  Who woulda thunk it?  Any who onto stories.

Story Number 1: That was a long Day.

This Wednesday was transfers for Elders in Capetown. In Queenstown they all happen by bus.  Well we had three Elders leaving at 6 in the morning but we had to be at the station at 5:10 with the 3 Elders.  We woke up at four to transport their bags. I was in a tri-panionship for the whole day.  It was actually really nice because we got two lunches.  Our companions were coming in that night at about 8:30. We were told they were coming in at 7:30 though so we were at the bus station a long time.  Luckily everyone arrived safely and with little to no trouble. I was all tuckered out by the end of the day.  I slept well that night.

We now have new elders now in my ward. That is actually going really well!  We started out the first day by taking them to their area and showing them a few houses. Then just kind of left them there in the area and picked them up that night so they know how to get back to the boarding.  Then its mostly been that they are doing their work and we are doing ours as well.  It was really nice on Sunday because we got to introduce them and help them meet more members in their area. The new Elders all just kind of follow me because I know more of what I am doing here in Queenstown.  That is really fun.  There is an Elder O. he is serving in Mlungisi the another area in our ward. Mom say hi to his mom!   

I would say the only thing I want to accomplish this transfer is the baptism of Mama F. Hopefully that will be by the last two weeks of my mission.  IF that happens I will be so happy.  That is all really all I hope to accomplish, but of course I will try to leave the area better. 

Story Number 2: General Conference 

I know for most all of you General Conference was last weekend but this is South Africa so we were a week behind.  This conference was super powerful.  We had to have the fire brigade though there for Elder Holland and President Nelsons talks though.  My eyebrows are growing back now though luckily. As we were discussing conference.  I found that the main theme for me was, That good people get hard trials.  As well as the strength to over come them.  I thought that was a great message saying that life will not be a tip toe through the roses but it is more of a cross country race.  

Well That is all I have for you this week.  Love you all. Elder Tucker

"That is very lovely,but you could very easily find an anaconda". _Bishop

"That is very lovely, but you could very easily find an anaconda". Bishop

October 8, 2018

This quote came from our bishop as we were watching The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.  Man that is so long.  MOTab is a lot better.  Any way, we were watching the videos and they were showing some beautiful pictures and videos of nature.  One of them was an amazing rain-forest.  And that is what bishop thought about it. Any who, onto stories.

Story Number 1: Wow, my jaw is really sore.

This week we got the opportunity to go to cape town again for MLC.  Which means we drive a few hours to East London, wait there for a little while then fly to cape town.  Then after a couple days in cape town we do the same thing in reverse order.  Usually it wrecks us, and we are super tired after wards.  And this time was no exception.  How ever this time was special because we stopped at a butchery in a small town to get one of my favorite snacks from South Africa, Biltong.  Now Biltong is like jerky but about fifteen times better, not sure why, but it is.  So we got some beef biltong and two sticks of game biltong, which was kudu.  It was soooooo good, the only issue with it is that the sticks are super difficult to eat.  I guess that happens with dried meat.  Well, it took me about thirty minutes of chewing and ripping apart the Biltong to finallly finish it.  By the end it hurt to talk.  So if you ever get Biltong be aware of that.

Story Number 2: Baptism

This week we have been preparing for a baptism to happen next week.  I personally did not find this lady, she was found by my companion.  We have been teaching her and helping her in her journey unto Christ.  This last Friday was her baptismal interview, which was cool for two reasons.  First she is ready for baptism! Second it was the first baptismal interview that the Elder interviewing her had conducted.  Coincidentally it is also the last since he is finishing his mission and going home on Wednesday.  I thought that was pretty amazing that he had that experience now, and then we will see how it effects him in the future. 

Ladies and gentleman, that is all i have for you this week.  I hope you all have lovely weeks and feel blessed in your life!

Elder Tucker

"Will you bring us some hot water?" Ilinge Elders

"Will you bring us some hot water?" Llinge Elders

October 2,2018

For about One and a half weeks.  All the elders in Queenstown except for us have been out of power.  That is because we don't stay in their complex.  Any who they called us today asking for hot water.  I think they wanted to make some sort of medicinal tea.  So we took them hot water from our kettle.  I don't really see why they did not just make a fire for themselves.  People have been doing that for centuries.  Any who I will move into stories now.

Story Number 1: Cape town Exchanges

As zone leaders we get the opportunity to go on Exchanges with the Assistants.  They work in Cape Town.  I got to be the one that leaves the area!  First off it felt so weird because during the flight there I had no companion.  That was the first time in All of my mission I was alone.  Kind of strange.  Any who we focused this exchange on gaining the trust of members.  We had some amazing lessons and meals with members while I was there.  One of which I remember was the first time my comp had visited that person.  We got to use a lot of the ideas and skills that we talked about in comp study. It is like President Lebethoa says, "preparation precedes performance".  Great exchange.!

Story Number 2: Missionary Fireside

Two days ago we were invited to a missionary fireside held by the stake.  It was so AMAZING.  For a few reasons.  The first reason is because our mission president and his wife were there.  We see Pres. Lebethoa a lot but rarely do we ever see our mission mother.  She is usually being a mother to her actual children.  Either way it was great to see them together and that they gave amazing talks and training there.  The most amazing part though was done by the third speaker.  He basically rebuked all of the members there for not doing missionary work.  The thing I liked about it though, is he was so loving when he did it.  Never stopped Smiling.  And the things that he talked about regarding inviting people to Christ were so awesome.  I really think the stake will be more upbeat when it comes to missionary work.  We will see how the next few weeks go.

Well that is all I have this week.  Love you all.

Elder Tucker

Why are you spitting on the ball? To see if I fixed it. Elder S.

" Why are you spitting on the ball? To see if I fixed it. Elder S

Sept. 9, 2018

This week we popped our soccer ball.  Luckily there are a few elders here that know how to fix them.  So this elder tried to fix it and his test was to spit on the ball.  He is a very interesting elder.  I love him a lot.  Well on to stories.

Story Number 1: Wednesday day off

So this week we heard about some taxi strikes that were to happen this last Wednesday.  When we heard  all of our Elders were concerned about getting to their areas since they all use taxis.  Well as my comp and I were discussing what to do, we got a message from the president saying that we were all to stay in the boarding the next day.  We were super bummed.  Yes we were safe from nothing because there were no strikes that happened in Queenstown.  We spent the day playing basketball at the chapel and skipping rocks at a pond near our house.  Going back to basketball though.  In our mission and a lot of the missions in Africa the most played sport is soccer.  I was tired of playing soccer.  My companion is also a stellar basketball player so I wanted to see if we could play some ball.  We did and it was awesome!  I lost,  but it was worth it!

Story number 2:  Gospel principles

Yesterday the senior couple in our ward was teaching a lesson about the family. It was not what we were expecting, but he was truly lead by the spirit in what he did. The lesson was absolutely amazing for all present and was a great way to spike interest in some of the non-members that we had at the church that week.  It was a great lesson.

Sorry this email was a bit short and rushed.  It is a public holiday here and everything closes early.  Love you all and have a great week.

Elder J. Tucker

"I don't even like chicken, I just eat it because it is around". Tata

"I don't even like chicken, I just eat it because it is around". Tata

Sept. 19, 2018

This came from one of the funniest men that I have met in my life.  We went to this families house for dinner on Tuesday and he was roasting his whole family.  IT was a night of non-stop laughter.  Great man, very outspoken. This was my favorite quote from the night though.  Well Let us move on to stories.

Story Number 1: GOLDEN CURRY

In the most recent package I received there was a pack of Golden Curry.  Here in SA we receive a lot of curry but it is all Indian curry and not Japanese. Growing up and as I continue to still grow up I love curry, and I would tell everyone about it.  Especially that we put pineapple in the curry!  They are always confused about that.  Well I finally got around to making it.  It was the most homey meal I have had in a long time.  It felt super nice to have something like that.  It made home so much closer than it already is.  And it turned out fantastic, especially the pineapple.  That curry made my week.

Story Number 2: YSA activities really work.- Pres Lebethoa

This week we had the opportunity to fellow ship with our mission president!  That man is A spiritual giant.  He was able to resolve any and every concern that people threw at us.  He also extended an invitation to one of our progressing investigators that has really helped with her testimony of the Church.  While we were teaching her, we were discussing her baptismal date.  We were gonna move it back due to church attendance.  Before we could though she asked us to move it back. Our mission president asked her about her concerns which was her kids. She felt her children would be a disturbance at church.  After we talked about it he immediately extended an invite to bring her children to church. She did! Obviously she has never heard of the Tucker twins, hahaha.  We are very excited for her baptismal date though.  She is now as well.

  In accordance with the quote above.  We asked how he met his wife and he told us it was through a YSA activity.  Then he proceeded to tell us that the worst thing to hear is when a YSA brother tells him that there is no one to date in the area.  He always tells them the same thing, "Are you for real?!"  Then he explains to them and calls them to repentance.

Well that is all I have this week. Love you all have a great week.

Elder Tucker

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This African sun has been making out with my face.- Illinge Elders

"This African sun has been making out with my face." Llinge Elders 
Sept. 10, 2018

This quote comes from an Elder this morning.  We were giving him sun screen.  He was quite excited about that, and that was his response.  He is a super awesome elder, in his second transfer on mission.  Any who onto stories.

Story Number 1: SO MUCH TRAVEL!

This week we traveled a lot, and I basically spent an entire week out of my area. Here is how it worked.  First on Tuesday we drive about two and a half hours south to East London.  That I might add is a super awesome and cool drive.  There are some really cool towns and canyons that you drive through.  Twas much better on the bus ride up here because I saw nothing.  After getting to East London though we went to the airport and flew into Capetown, very cool flight, I slept a lot of it though.  Then straight into a training from the assistants.  That was a great training on being a Zone leader and correcting behavior.  From there I went back to being a Greenie and staying in the Assistants boarding with other ZL's.  Where my companion and I found tennis balls.  We learned how to comp juggle, which one is amazing because it just is! Plus my comp had no idea how to juggle before that.  He is very talented.  Then the next day we had meetings all day.  Then we flew back to East London the day after and drove all the way back up to Queenstown in the rain.  For two and a half hours it rained. No sun just rain, it was great.  I was so tired after travelling that far that we got home and just slept until the next day.  Great Experience though.

Story Number 2: Mt. Lukhanji

When I came to Komani, I asked about P day activities.  I was told there was a mountain that you could hike called Mt Lukhanji.  My companion wanted to it really bad and so did I when i saw it.  What we were not told is that there is not really a set trail up there.  You just kind of follow this fence and go up.  It was super fun.  The mountain works kind of like steps, you have a really steep up hill to this little rock face that is about five feet high, then you climb up walk a little while and then do the same thing again.  Up until you get really close to the summit.  Then you scramble up rocks and things until the top.  And if you don't go on the rocks you will be waist deep in bush, so its easier to go on the rocks.  Then the top is really flat,  but the view you see is absolutely amazing.  Just mountains and towns.  And the best most amazing part is that at the top there was...wait for it........SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome to play with some snow and have a snow ball fight at the top of a mountain in Africa.  I missed those little frozen sky crystals.  Then after that we went down which was kind of tiring because you don't want to fall so you go really carefully down the mountain but still end up rolling your ankle like six times.  Now I am just tired and exhausted.

Well that is all I have for you this week.  I will make sure to send pictures of Lukhanji next week because I forgot my card reader.  Love you all have a great week

Elder Tucker

"Hey! Its a recipe for a microwave cake. I am gonna try it!"-Plumb

"Hey! It's a recipe for a microwave cake. I am gonna try it! " Plumb

Sept. 5, 2018

Let it be said that we tried it and it turned out actually pretty darn nice.  Especially with ice cream.  It was a great departing gift.  Well any who let us move onto stories.

Story Number 1: Transfers.

This week I got transferred.  There was also a new way of travel for those of us in Eastern Cape. I got to ride a bus for about Eight hours all together.  It was pretty awesome but also not because they did not give us food.  One of the cool parts of the trip was that we got to meet nearly all of the missionaries in Eastern Cape because we were in east London For their transfers!  IT made things very fun, brought back memories of waiting at that air port for my companions.  Life of a missionary.  Then after wards we got on another bus heading to Queenstown and unfortunately they were playing a movie on the bus, but it was about acts of random kindness.  Very good movie!  Then we arrived safely in Queenstown and got burgers and shakes at Steers.  It was great!

Story Number 2:  WOW!  That is a lot of Plates.

Yesterday we went to  a house to bless the sacrament for a Makhulu who is the age of my grandfather! 100!!  She likes to dance.  Well any ways, while we were there we get fed! We helped dish out the  food.  There had to be at least thirty plates that we were dishing out for.  Turns out this lady has done this thing for about ten years, and its still growing. Their kitchen was full, but at least it was a large kitchen.  I think probably the nicest/largest houses I have been in during my mission have been here in Queenstown.  IT is an absolutely amazing area.

Well that is all I have for this week.  Love you all and enjoy life.

Elder Tucker