Monday, October 24, 2011

Week 36 - Alexander Suvorov

Interesting Fact #36 - The interesting thing of the week this week is that Finnish diary products are abosolutely amazing. There is this brand called Valio, and everything they make is absolutely amazing; their milk, yogurt, cheese, sour cream, all so good. I think Valio milk often times can top the good ol' Westwood blue cap milk we would used to get. Russian milk unfortunately has some interesting tastes. I tried it, judged it, and realized Fins know how to make milk. Thank goodness Finland is just next door.

This week was an interesting one. We did a lot of finding and contacting this week and we saw a few awesome miracles. On Wednesday, we were supposed to meet with a less active we had heard about named Dima. He called an hour or 2 before our lesson and cancelled it. So we gathered up some less active addresses nearby and decided to just go and try to find where these people went. I hadn't no idea who they were. We had no information about them, except their addresses and phone numbers. We decided to stop by the home of the Suvorov brothers, Andre and Anton. We get their and ring through the domaphone (this microphone you talk through to talk to people in apartments. They can open the outside door to let you in, and then you go up to their floor and such). A man answered and we asked him if Anton or Andre were there. He told us they weren't here anymore but told us to come in. Of course! So we get up to his apartment and we sit down to talk. His name was Alexander and that he was the father of the two sons who are in the church, Andre and Anton. He explained to us that he respected the church a lot so he got his two sons baptized in it about 15+ years ago. He gave us the information where they lived and their phone numbers for them. He also gave us this giant satellite photo book of St. Petersburg to use for our finding efforts and such. He was such a nice man. We gave him a Book of Mormon and told him we are going to come back and share a message of the Restoration. He has unfortunately been out of town, but told us to pick a day with him and he will plan around it. I talked to the two sons and Andre was really excited that I called and wants to go to church next week. It was just way out of the blue. Our investigator work has dropped in the past couple weeks and we were really working hard in finding new investigators, and then we get handed Alexander. It was just amazing.

And then on Saturday evening, we decided to go tracting for the first time! There was a rule that we couldnt go tracting here in this mission, but it got repealed and so we tried it out for the first time. It's a lot more difficult here because there aren't any houses, they are all apartments. So it would really only involve you dialing random numbers on a domaphone and talk to them through that. There was one moment, someone from outside opened the door and let us in. So we went to a random floor on the elevator. I just pressed the 14th floor button and up we went. Turned the left and there were 5 doors. I just felt like the one on the left was the right one. Knocked and a lady named Nina answered, and it just so happened to be her birthday that day too. We talked to her about the Gospel and gave her a Book of Mormon, as well. She had told us that she is interested in all Christian churches and faiths, and that she has been looking for the truth. She asked us "why my door out of all of the doors in this whole apartment complex?". I explained to her that it just felt right to go to this one. Unfortunately she didn't want to give us her phone number, but I pray that she calls us back. Just imagine, it's your birthday, and these two missionaries stop by and give you a book and tell you it's the truth your looking for. My mind would have exploded.

To be honest, those are the two things that happened this week that were awesome. We didn't have too many lessons or appointments this week, which was kind of a bust, but these two things came out of it. So no complaints there. We are still teaching our good ol' pal, George. He came to church as well and was 30 minutes early before any of the branch was there, which was awesome to see. We are still trying to work him towards baptism. One day! One Day!

I am not sure if I told you about Sergey, this 19 year old we found on the street a few weeks ago. We had to hand him off to another set of missionaries because he lived in another part of town. But I get a call on Friday night from Elder Clark saying that he has a baptismal date on the 19th of November! A pretty good birthday present, I would say.

This past week, my testimony about the Holy Ghost and the guidance it gives has strengthened greatly. I know it works through you in very silent means. You might not even notice it. I didn't really have this big hoo-rah feeling that the Holy Ghost is showing me exactly where to go. I just went, and chose. For Alexander, we went and and did not even noticing. For Nina, I clicked the 14th floor without second though, and picked that door on the left without much forethought either. The Holy Ghost can really work through when you don't even realize it. That's my little spiritual thought of the week, I guess. But I love you all. You are in my prayers all the time.

Love,
Elder Tekulve

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Week 35 - Korablestraiteliy!


Interesting Fact #35 - The word for missionary and the word for policeman in Russian sound very similar. Sometimes when people ask about discounts for policeman when we are serving in the Hermitage, I always think they say something about a discount for missionaries. That would be cool.

Well I would first like to start out this week by thanking all of you you that sent me emails me this week. I really love to read what's going on in the good U S of A. They also all really touch me too, and of course they make me laugh. But thank you. I really love you.

I bet you are looking at the the name of the email and are wondering what the heck that is. It's a name of a street in our area that I love to say. One of my favorite words. The translation basically translates to "The street of the shipbuilders". I love that street. It's one of my favorite contacting routes in our area because it's mostly people who are out to take a nice stroll. They usually like to talk with us. 

This week we met with George some more and talked about Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. He was really excited about it, it seemed. He explained that that it would be no problem to go to the market the day before to buy his foodstuffs. He usually just eats bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and apples. That's his breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But he came to church this week! He has a disease where he walks really slowly on a cane, so it took him a while to get to church but he came. He was really late, but it was really awesome to see him walk in. It also really impresses me to see someone who has such little physical strength as he does do so much to increase his spiritual strength. It is perhaps the most inconvenient thing for him to go to church, but he still goes, because we always invite him to, and because he grows every time by so doing. This last time he commented on how pleasant it was this time around. He felt warmth and comfort when he came to church this time and really loved it. I guess that was our little miracle this week. 

We met with our inactive friend, Vladimir Denisov, who hasn't gone to church in a very long time. He came to conference this last weekend, but has a hard time coming regularly. We have been meeting with him once a week for the past two months and this meeting with him he really opened up to us. We were supposed to leave after about 45 or 50 minutes while we were there. The next 30 minutes of our lesson was him opening up and expressing every fear and feeling he had. He has a strong testimony but he is just so scared and frightened about coming back. We told him we would pray for him and so that he can find his answer and conquer his fears. We told him that we are going to be there every step of the way. He just really appreciated our visit and our willingness to help. It was awesome to see.

This week, I went on a 24 hour exchange with another new elder in my district. We got together to teach the commandments to our new convert, Yegor. He is 18 and got baptized in July. Just to note a few things: He is already planning on going on a mission, he is currently now the Young Men's President in our branch, he is going through the Book of Mormon for maybe the 3rd time now. he is the coolest kid ever. We taught him all of the commandments, of which he understood perfectly. I took a picture with him that I will try to send this next week.

Just everyday as I study the scriptures and go out and teach people it just really strengthens me spiritually. My testimony has grown so much just being out here. I really have seen the blessings of the Restored Church here in Russia. To be honest, this is such a special place to be at this time. The work is growing, and same with the Church. I know this church is true, and I feel that short statement is enough to express my feelings about this work. I know that God loves us, and knows us each individually. 

I love you all more than you can imagine.
Love, 
Elder Tekulve

Monday, October 10, 2011

Week 34 - General Conference Weekend!

Interesting Fact #34 - You know street performers in the U.S.? What are the more common ones? Guitarists and stuff? Probably. Well the most common street performers, and by that I mean those who play in the street for donations to earn some sort of living, are Accordian players. They are usually 50 or 60 year old men playing away Russian lullubyes. I really enjoy seeing them. I will just hear some great accordian tune travelling through the cold wind. One of the best players is in this underground crosswalk by the metro stop. The acoustics are just amazing. Almost Lake-Powell-fire-dance-in-a-cave worthy.

Well this week was General Conference for us. I absolutely love general conference and I can not wait for the next one in 6 months. So what they did here in St. Petersburg, was that they had the Chapel opened up to play the Russian General Conference which had been recorded from the week prior, and then English was in the relief society room. Yeah it was a week delay for us, but if we tried to watch live, it wouldn't have started until 10 at night... Yeah, no. This way, we got to watch all of the sessions. Well all of the talks were absolutely amazing, might I add. One of my favorites was Dieter F. Uchtdorfs in the Saturday Morning session explaining that compared to God, we are nothing, but we are EVERYTHING to God. There are times where we think we are forgotten, inadequiate, or even discouraged, but always remember that God loves you more than you can even fathom. He has created everything for the benefit of US. All the stars, all of the mountains (yes, and that includes Half Dome), for US, because to him, we are aboslutely everything to him. We are all his sons and daughters, and that's something that should NEVER be forgotten. 

Also, if you watched the Sunday Afternoon session, the ST. PETERSBURG RUSSIA mission was mentioned by Elder Nelson. He explained when he came to our district conference this year, he called up Sister Efimova up to the pulpit to bear her testimony. She, right now, works in the Mission Office and is in charge for all of the housing for the missionaries, and I often talk to her about housing stuff. Well her and her husband were the first mission presidents to be called from Russia. Shortly after their return home, Brother Efimov passed away, but Sister Efimova's testimony is the strongest I have seen here in Russia. She is a wonderful woman. 

So how about them new temples huh? Provo 2.0, as everything has been calling it. I am really excited for that temple being built. And how about them Paris, France temple plans?! That's very exciting. I know that with the stake now in Moscow, it's only a matter of time until they announce the plans for a Moscow temple. And I know that once we get a stake here in St. Petersburg, we will have a temple here in no time. The members here are so strong. 

This week, all the missionaries in our mission went on a fast for the success of our mission. Our goal is to get 30 baptisms until the end of the year, and I fasted so that I can contribute to that 30. We are all praying and working so hard to find people that have been prepared by the Lord. We need to find more people to teach, and that means more finding. We have been planning differently and more with the Spirit so that we can be successful as a mission, so that we can get a Stake here. That is our immediate goal here. It will happen. And I know it. 

We are still working with our friend George, who came to general conference yesterday! He only stayed for the first half of the first sunday session, but I am glad he stayed during the talk about The Book of Mormon. That was a powerful talk. Well when we met with him, he had read and kept his commitments and had questions to ask us from his reading. We had him read 2 Nephi 31, and he had a lot of questions about the Holy Ghost. We gladly answered him. We are going to be meeting with him soon to see how is doing! I love that guy. Oh yeah, we also taught him the Word of Wisdom. He already lived it, more or less. He rarely drank a cup of coffee once in a blue moon, and that was it. Didn't smoke, drink, drink black tea, so we committed him to give up coffee and he was set. I was so excited to find that out from him. I pray for the best for him.

Well that was the work for me. Going to general conference this weekend and also fasting for our missionary work here has really incraesed my tesitmony that this church is true. It is Kingdom of God here in Earth and it is growing. I am contributing, as a part of my priesthood duty, to help grow this Kingdom. What a priveledge it is. I love you all, and you are all in my prayers constantly.

Love,
Elder Tekulve

Monday, October 3, 2011

Week 33 - The Adventures at the Center Reenuk! and PICTURES!


Interesting Fact #33: Рынки, or Markets, are these large outdoor swap meets almost. We went to the biggest one here in St. Petersburg, called the Center Reenuk (Рынок). It basically felt like I was in Uzbekistan in some sort of bizarre bazaar. Everyone goes and sells stuff there. Emphasis on the word stuff. You will find anything and everything. Almost. But yeah, Reenoks are the life blood of purchased goods. 

But to add about that reenok experience, was that we get there and we are just stunned. Then this man named SHAQBOSS (I kid you not) came up to us and led us the way to coats. I kept on telling him I wanted a coat with a fur hood, but he kept on insisting that I get this leather coat with fur inside. He said that I looked like a stud in it. I finally told him exactly what I wanted and he led us on this excursion through the market to find the coat section. Needless to say, I got my coat, and I am happy. It's a nice thick coat with a fur lined hood. It's recommended to get that because It helps block out the wind and snow. Yeepee!

This week we had to pass off our investigator, Sergey, to another set of Elders. It was a tough little passing off. I really liked the kid, but he lived south of the city, in Avtovo. So I called up my good friend ELDER CLARK (remember him from the MTC?) and we had a joint meeting with Sergey. They are going to meet with him tonight. Since we have two sets of Elders in our area, we are trying to split up who gets who from our branch. We passed off one of our investigators who lives closer to the other elders. He is so close to a baptismal date, but whatever reason, him and his family haven't been able to meet with us for a few weeks. 

Another exciting part about this week was that we met with one of less-actives, whom I have been trying to meet with for 2 months now, named Fy! He is such a cool guy. He moved here from China 3 years ago to study here. The elders found him soon after and he got baptized. He has such a strong testimony, but it's just hard for him to go to church because he lives so far away. That's what I have noticed about the church here. Transportation can take up to an hour or more within the city. It's such a big city, and the church building is right east of the center. I takes us about 45 minutes to get to church via metro. But with Fy, we talked to him about being an example to those around him and he told us he wants to start going to church and institute again. He also invited us, and the Senior couple, Elder and Sister McArthur to lunch with him this Friday! He wants to make us some authentic Chinese food. Apparently he is quite the chef too. 

We had a very interesting and rather cool meeting with our good pal George this week. He had told us that he wants to take a break from us, but we insisted that we wanted to meet again. We met with him this last week, and it was just such a great lesson with him. We talked about the Holy Ghost and how it can by constant companion after baptism, and that through the Holy Ghost we can be protected spiritually and physically. Afterwords, he just kept on asking what he needs to do. His problem is that he thinks that changing religions isn't Russian, but we are working with him to realize that by being baptized  it doesn't make him any less Russian. But it was a really good lesson, because he no longer feels like he wants to take a break. He has been reading a lot from the Book of Mormon. He is already in Jacob now, and I am sure he is even further. I just know the more he reads, the more he prays, the more he will know the truth. 

Well I hear great things about this Half Dome trip, and I am quite proud of you all. I hope you recorded General Conference though! Really though. It's not being broadcasted until this next weekend here in Russia. I am absolutely so excited to hear it. They are going to have an English one as well so I can heard the original voices of them all. Success!

Well I love you all, and I pray that you all are enjoying life. Life really is a blessing. 

Love,
Elder Tekulve

Estonia! This was during my visa trip there, and again, there were castles galore and stuff. 
Vyborg - The Nedelev brothers. They were some of the coolest kids in Vyborg in the branch. 
again, Vyborg. With the Martaler's on the right, and Misha Dobgylavich on the left.
This one is with an investigator I taught in Vyborg, named Edward Arsyonov. He was baptized on the 20th of August.
                                 is in Vyborg still at some sort of statue and stuff. This was in July I think.