Merry Christmas!!!

Interesting Fact - Christmas in Russia is not tomorrow. I mentioned this last year. Tomorrow is just Tuesday, the 25th of December. 

So we had transfer week this week and I picked up my new companion, Elder Abbott. So on Tuesday morning, we headed into Peter. It is just as cold as it is in Pskov. I think a little bit colder because they have got stronger winds, but definitely a lot less snow. We had our Christmas Devotional and were taught by President Clark's return missionary children. 3 of them spoke to us, one on skype, and we had practices and learned how to be a better missionary. Maybe to the normal reader of this letter, that probably sounds like a strange Christmas Gathering, but one must understand that we are missionaries and we don't have much of an opportunity to celebrate holidays via parties, gatherings, get-togethers, barbeques, fireworks, etc. But nonetheless, it was fun and most importantly we had food. Some lasagna and salad. Good times! So we then had to literally race back to make our microbus back to Pskov. I went back with the Senior Couple, the Gardiners, through the metro. That was my companions first few moments in the metro and it was rush hour and we had luggage and all of that fun stuff. But after 40 minutes of sweating in winter clothes, moving suitcases around, we finally made it our bus, and four hours later, we are back in our apartment. 

So this week, we were supposed to have a baptism but it hasn't worked out yet. We are meeting with Kostya again tomorrow to see what has happened and to know how we can help him out. So no big worries, I still got the faith that he can be baptized! 

So we survived the end of the world, I guess. So that was a plus! And we also found a new investigator this week by the name of Julian. He is from Moldova and he is incredibly interested in the Book of Mormon. We had agreat lesson with him last night with my companion. Elder Abbott is a great companion! A little quiet. Something that I am not used to, but he is awesome and incredibly dignified. It is going to be great training him these next 2 transfers.

That was more of less last week for you in 3 paragraphs! I did it! 

I realized that prayer really is an amazing thing this week. We always get the answers that we need, and not what we want. Anywho, the Church is true! I love being here serving the Lord. It's awesome. Especially during the Christmas season. 2000+ years ago, the Lord was indeed born, and that through Him, Heavenly Father gave us the chance to return to Him and live with Him again. 

Love,
Elder Tekulve

Merry Christmas!