Elder Drew Tekulve: Week 60 - General Conference Weekend in St. Petersburg

Interesting Fact #60 : Here is a little funny one. Do you remember that Christmas Carol movie where the little piggy brother was always so bundled up everyday, insomuch that he had very little ability to move? Well it's that for all little children here. They bundle them up even more so than Piggy. There were a few times I was really caught off guard. They have these really thick loud winter onepiece outfits that are thicker than trees, and you will see them often in the coatrooms in the branch building. Often you will see them attatched with boots on the bottom, so at first glance it looks like a young child dangling in middair. But all is well with young Russian Piggy, for he has shedded his winter skins.

Well with humor aside, this week really was a wonderful week. We didn't have too many teaching appointments, but with the ones we did have, miracles occured! The week started out pretty rocky with nothing really going on. We were helping to organize with members this open house of our church building on Malookhtinskiy Prospect here in Petersburg. We were passing out hundreds and hundreds of open house invitations. Thursday was the day of the open house and there were supposed to be two sessions: One for "VIPs" or those who are I guess "higher up"/"specially invtited" in one way or another. Upon waiting and waiting, only one "VIP" ended up coming... But, the second session for everyone showed much more success. Lots of people came from all over the place, and members brought friends. Even one of our investigators came named Andre Koff! We sat down and talked with him afterwards with President Clark. Andre is a very sincere man here who speaks absolutely perfect English. We is sincerely interested in the Church and called the mission office a few weeks ago wanting to know more. His first time ever coming to church was the District Conference (stake conference) with President Bennett and absolutely LOVED it. We really got to know him and his beliefs and what he expects from meetings with us. We talked about the Book of Mormon and the truthfullness of our message. We set a baptismal date with on May 26th and he said when knows it is true, he will join the church and he was sincere about it. He wants to introduce his children into the church too. Very yes, please.

We also met with Jacques again this week with a senior couple here. Upon talking with him, we really got down to the importance of the Book of Mormon and why it's important to read it everyday and pray about it to know if it's true. Elder McCarthur (the senior couple missionary) bore an amazing testimony about the Bible and the Book of Mormon and how powerful they are together. Jacques concern was that we talk too much about Joseph Smith, and not enough about Jesus Christ, but explaining that the Book of Mormon is but another testament of Jesus Christ. We set a baptismal date with him on May 12th!!! He has that goal set and wants to read the Book of Mormon everyday and have me call everyday to talk. Again, very yes!

Annnd, one other thing. On Friday, we went out tracting with Egor Sotnikov again (the new convert who has a rocking testimony) and weren't having any success. My companion felt like we should tract this other apartment building down the street. I looked at it and noticed there was just a lot of sunlight on it, and I thought, "might as well! Sun!". So we head on over there. We call the first apartment through the dom-phone on the side. No one answered. We were about to call apartment 11, and this lady comes up to us and asks us what we are doing. We explained that we are missionaries. She told us that she knew our Church. She then explained that her daughter was a Jehovah's Witness, and that her boyfriend is a Mormon. We asked who it was, and she told us it was Viktor Karezkiy... We were in complete shock. Elder Loskutov taught Viktor over a year ago and baptized him, but he suddenly disappeared and went inactive after a month or so. No one could get a hold of him. The lady lived at apartment 11 with her daughter and Viktor. She then invited us in and we went up with her to the apartment and talked with Viktor for a little bit. He wasn't totally happy that we were there, but the fact that the Holy Ghost really led us to that building at that time to find someone who couldn't be found was a complete and a beautiful miracle. If we were there but a minute early or a few seconds too late we would not be there at that moment to know that he lived there.

This weekend was our general conference weekend! I learned so much. Lots of answers to my questions and prayers as I continue to try to grow as a missionary, friend, sibling, member, and Priesthood holder. I really loved Deiter F. Uchtdorf's talk about being able to forgive others. That really is one of our biggest faults is our ability to forgive others and even ourselves. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was also an amazing one on how we shouldn't be jealous about another's success. Why should we be angry or covetious when God was being nice and blessed someone else? Don't judge those who get the work at the 11th hour but get the same day's pay, like Jesus' parable teaches us. Just be good and be happy. Love others.

Well I got some pictures! I hope it works this time.

I love you all and the Church is true!

Love,

Elder Tekulve