Well this week, I was in a plane! I took a plane to Kaliningrad this week to go on an exchange with the elders there. Kaliningrad is located around Poland and Lithuania. It was a lot warmer there, it was crazy. But it's not to much further south. Kaliningrad is very very German influenced. I didnt have an oppurtunity to take pictures, but instead of a lot of Russian Orthodox churches, there are a lot of German Luthuren churches there. It was a gorgeous small town. Reminded me a little bit of Vyborg, but less Finnish and more German. Apparently they have a lot of amber there, and that place is known for its amber abundunce. Kind of cool. If I am back in Kaliningrad I definitely will get some there and definitely take pictures. We met with a few families there which was pretty cool. One of which had a daughter who just got back from a mission in Donetsk Ukraine, the same one that Sean Rooney is serving in! I asked about him, and it was awesome to hear that he is doing great.
So I got a funny transportation mishap story. To get to the airport in St. Petersburg, we needed to take a bus to get to the metro, take the metro ALLL the way across the city, and then take this big taxi bus called a Marshrutka and take it to the airport to then get on a plane to fly to Kaliningrad. Talk about travel. But I had packed a small lunch to eat while we waited for the airport. I packed this yogurt drink and put it in my backpack, and stood in a crowded bus. I stood next to the door and a pole. We get to the next stop and the door opens super suddenly and pins me between the pole and door. Well, it pinned my backpack against the two. This guy behind was trying to unwedge me. I thought he was trying to help me and I told him it's ok. But then the door closes, and there is yogurt everywhere! All over the door, all over the floor, the walls, my backpack, a little bit on my luggage, and a tad on my coat. It was absolutely hilarious. Luckily it didn't get on people. I walked off the bus cracking up, and watching the bus drive off with yogurt all of the doors. I knew after that the day was going to be a long day of travel, and it was. hahaha.
On Saturday Natalie got baptized! She is the daughter of Nellie, who I started teaching in Central right before I got transferred out. It was really awesome to witness. The missionary that replaced me in Center, Elder Byington, baptized her and it was just so great to watch. Apparently the hot water doesn't work in the font, so it was freezing. She got out of the water and just kept on saying "ok! ok! Thank you!". I got a few pictures of the service. So I guess that is the biggest news so far. Her mom is getting baptized in 2 weeks.
We met with an investigator here from Armenia. He was a very interesting man. Asked very interesting questions. He was really polite and just loves the missionaries but sometimes it felt like he was trying to teach us, which isn't why we are here. He was a really nice man named Erezho. He fed us some juice and home made cake which was absolutely amazing. So good.
Speaking of food, this week was Thanksgiving! I was in Kaliningrad too! I ended up cooking for 4 missionaries including myself. I made this Sweet Chili Chicken Fried Rice. It turned out pretty good. It definitely doesnt beat eating turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing. But I was grateful nonetheless. My companion has never experienced Thanksgiving, and I explained him what we normally do and thought it was pretty awesome. It really is my favorite holiday. Being here, it has really made me grateful for the blessings that we have as a family. We really take for granted the things we have, and just the oppurtunities that we have all been blessed with. I have really seen a lot of people here in very trying circumstances and are of low means. I am just grateful to have lived and grown up where I did. I am grateful for the oppurtunity I had to study at a university and to be able to find a job and to work. I am grateful for all the things that I have ever been given to me. But to be honest, I think I am most grateful for having come here to serve a mission. Just looking back from a year ago, when I opened my mission call, I have grown a lot and learned so much. I am just grateful for everything, to be honest. And I am grateful for you, family. I love you.
Love,
Elder Tekulve
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