Oh my goodness this mommas heart!

November 24, 2018

"The first plane did actually take off, about 40 min into the flight an engine blew, they let the gas out because the wing was on fire and the other 3 engines carried them back to Nairobi safely. He has this layover in New York then to Salt Lake"Sister Jameson. 

Jeron is in the air as well. Hopefully he has nice uneventful flights. 

"The faster you run the sooner you are DONE!" My motto.

"The faster you run the sooner you are DONE!" My Motto

11-12-2018

This has been my motto the last few weeks.  Kind of a "time flies when your working hard" but it rhymes so I like it better.  Want to hear my last stories?

1:Haircuts

Getting hair cuts in this mission is a lot like a Mario party game, you never really know if you are gonna win or just get wrecked. For my last cut, my district leader and I had some fun.  Instead of having some dude cut our hair  we were gonna cut each others.  (We actually did pretty good I think).  But the problem was neither of us had a buzzer.  So we went to Kinyozis and just asked to use their stuff.  We made a very good friend named Steve and ended up getting really cheap nice hair cutz.  It was a good time.

2:  Just mission in general

Well I would just like to say that mission has definitely been an experience.  I have felt happy and sad, mad, and insane, lots of homesickness, lots of fun memories. I found a wife (don't worry you will meet her next week). But I would recommend a mission. I don't know if I can say it has been the best two years; but I don't regret serving my Lord. I look forward to even more service as Brother Tucker.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!!

love

Elder Tucker

Mark sent back immediately: "Teron. I am begging you. This is for me.I cannot handle the worry that this will cause in your mother. I know it is all fun but this will not be funny"

Teron: Hahahahahaha

I don't think I sent one last week......pole.

I don't think I sent one last week.....pole.

Nov. 5, 2018

What's up? Sorry I didn't write a letter last week I totally spaced.  Luckily repentance is a thing.

So.... you guys want to hear some stories? thought so, LETS GO!!!

Story 1.  How far are you willing to go for thirty shillings? 

When it means the difference between walking home through the ghetto at night or taking a ride, pretty fetching far.  I have an issue with the Matatu conductors in Buru buru. (if you are a conductor in Buru, you have one more strike before I hire Liam Neeson, be warned)  Well when we were coming back from our zone conference, we had some stupid guy who wanted to be a thief.  My companion had no small money and so I was paying for him.  I had 100 shillings on me at the time. Under normal circumstances that would be fine, however not this week.  I give the man the money expecting my change to come.  Well this dude thought he coud pull a fast one and tried to take my money. ALL OF IT!! After 20 min. of trying polite- then lots of arguing. We got the whole bus on our side starting a bus chant.  Then force ably keeping this man out of his Matatu, by hanging on the door.  I got my money! So did my district leader.  They know not to mess with us now haha.  Made it home safely so that was a win!  Also we are banned from that dude's Matatu for life ha-ha.  I am going home in a couple weeks so I didn't really care.

Story 2:  Now why on earth would you think that.....

I don't know exactly why but people think that I am crazy, absurd idea I know. No clue why, but apparently I am not normal, who would of thought?  Here are a few situations in which I have been called crazy.  Apparently it is not appropriate to sing a victory song at the top of your lungs in a food court after winning four consecutive staring contests.  Also not appropriate to trying jumping over bushes at mall playgrounds.  Same goes for showing up after zone conference with a Masai warrior-Halloween costume... (Africans really don't like Halloween). The caretaker gave me his spear for the pictures. These all happened this week, so can't wait to find out how the rest of my mission goes haha.

Love you guys Elder Tucker

Jer- Here in Kenya we just take the sunburns like a real men!!!!

No Power??

October 29, 2018

As for me this last week was super normal, lots of running around and doing missionary stuff, helping people move.  Turns out couches in Kenya are really light, at one point me and another guy were moving one, and he let go to greet some dude, and said, "oh flip now Tucker knows I am not lifting anything!!"  Turns out I can move Kenyan couches all by myself, it was fun.  Things for me are going good. I am another week down, and am doing my best to keep the spirit.  We have zone conference on Wednesday and I get to bear my final testimony, that will be super interesting.

Love you Momma

*That's it-probably no power.

"GIVE ME MONEY" Conductor. "NO". me

GIVE ME MONEY" Conductor. "NO". me

October 23, 2018

This week was really funny.  I don't exactly know why but people around this time in my area are really really animated.  It is super funny sometimes and other times super annoying, luckily though the majority of the time is the first statement.

1: Subject

Like I have said before, if you cant bargain in Kenya, you will be screwed.  Here my friends is another example of the previous statement.  Well after my last interview with President Msane we were trying to get a bus home.  Well we got on the bus we needed knowing the price is twenty.  Well for some reason the dude who told us the price and the dude collecting money were not on the same page.  So this conductor doubles the price for us.  Now I was tired and didn't feel like playing. I just gave him twenty bob, and this dude FREAKS OUT! I honestly thought he was like 4 years old at one point, after yelling at us for a long time he gave up and took money from other customers for about ten minutes.  Then he comes back to try and get our money again, this time accusing us of never having paid.  Again I was tired and wasn't playing, so for some reason this dude so funny to me I couldn't help but bust a gut laughing at his temper tantrum over ten bob.  Well he then starts yelling at us that we will be kicked out of the bus and that "foreigners should not be telling the conductor the price of transport". I just kept laughing and it was hilarious.  Then the best part is he kicked us out of the bus.  But this man was whining so much and so long that he took us to where we wanted to go.  Moral of the story is when someone is whining, let em, because they lose sight of their goal and play themselves. You save ten bob!

2: They wasn't ready for us....

Today we got to go to a really big mall.  it was awesome I  got Arizona lemonade, and Dr. Pepper (no root beer) and had Carl's Junior, it was really nice!  Also there was this thing where you can ride scooters and skate boards and hoverboards. Naturally as the show off I am; I had to show off.  It was hilarious cause at one point we would lay down on two hover boards and snake around and drive through peoples legs, man it was hilarious.  You could tell that the dudes running the show were thinking "oh fetch it was a bad idea to give these to these kids". It was super fun though.

Anywho Love you guys. Elder Tucker

"Kasabuni, ndio place nimegrow, kasabuni ndio place inaniroar" Kaligraph Jones

"Kasabuni, ndio place nimegrow, Kasabuni ndio place inaniroar" Kaligraph Jones

October 16,2018

So this is a quote from a song by a Kenyan rapper named Kaligraph Jones (look it up, he has got some nice songs).  I include it cause Kasabuni is in my new area, so that is why I included it. Here are some stories

1: Follow that bus!!!

So here in Kenya your flat will run out of water at least two or three times a transfer, usually you can just make it through the day, and it will come back later.  We had General Conference on the day we didn't have water and kinda needed to not smell like dusty sweaty missionaries.  We ended up just going to the neighboring areas flat and showering there.  But we accidentally dropped the only key to our flat on the bus ( we realized after getting of the bus) and ended up just chasing this bus all the way to the stage to retrieve the key, it was an exciting morning!  We did get to shower and go to conference and get the key though.

2: "I can get it for ten give me thirty seconds" *goes to conductor, Swahili screaming, returns thirty seconds later* "ITS TEN GET IN!

So when it comes to transport in Kenya it is all about bargaining.  If you can't bargain and you are white you will be ripped off, but luckily I am really good at it when I need to.  On our way back from conference we needed to pay for the ride home, but I only had ten bop for the last Matatu.  So my comp was saying that it was impossible to get for ten, and that we would have to just walk, ( I was super tired and we were far so I wasn't down for that) So I said the above, and went and had a nice discussion about stealing with the conductor and made a friend who said he would take me for ten just cause of the fact that he has never seen a white guy as bold and savage as I was.  I went home for ten bop.  Moral of the story is,  be bold, use what you got, and you will get where your going.

I am good, I am working in like the slums of Nairobi, it is really fun! Street food is super cheep here, so I don't go hungry haha. I have cool people here too, like super happy fun people. I am still trying to teach the kids how to treat me like a person though.  They are learning slowly,  They don't all freak out when I walk by anymore and we are becoming friends. My companion is super cool,I love him. He is from the Congo and loves Ugali like it is the bread of the celestial kingdom.  I am with Elder P. a lot cause he is the other companionship in the area.  

Have a great week guys ! Elder Tucker

Just when you think you have got it all figured out.........

Just when you think you have got it all figured out.....Me

Oct. 8,2018

You know one of the biggest lessons that I have learned on my mission is that God loves just to mess with people.  Imagine after almost twenty three months you would think that "yeah, I have got this down." Then God is like "Angel Dave, " shoot him with the humble gun." "yes, sir" BAM and then you just end up laying on the couch at midnight staring at the ceiling like "what the heck??"  Here are a few examples.

1: Transfers 16: Elder Tucker 0

So one of the most exciting times as a missionary is transfer news night.  For us that happens saturday of week six, usually around 11:30pm.  Well we always try to guess what is going to happen.  I have never been right once.  Every time I am like "yeah it has been a while I think I am leaving" I stay.  When I say nah man I am staying my comp is leaving, I go.  This was no different.  Due to the fact that I only have one transfer left, and my companion has only been in the area for one transfer I felt pretty safe that I was going to stay and finish here .( Which I would have loved to do).  God has other plans though so I will be finishing my mission in the Lucky Summer ward now.  But I am excited I know a few people over there and we will have a wonderful time together.

2: Baptism

So here in Kenya, baptisms sometimes are as common as a trip to the local swimming pool.  SO teaching people that they need to be baptized again is always difficult.  You teach priesthood, and the great apostasy and how the priesthood is only found in the church, but the only response you get is still "no, my pastor had the authority, he was a pastor I have already been baptized." Now the reason they are included in the email, is cause I was about to just call it, say "you know we have tried everything i know how to do, and they will learn in time. Now isn't the time though."  Luckily my comp said "no".  We went with one last final show, tried everything we could think of and then some,  and guess what?  THEY GOT IT!!! It was so powerful, when they finally said "yeah okay I see what you are saying and it makes sense."  We were so excited, I mean not just a baptismal commitment but much progress was made and it truly humbled me.  I thank the lord for my companion and his patience.

welp, that is about it for today guys.  Love y'all

Elder Tucker  

Bring it sheep-Me

"Bring it sheep"-Me


10-2-18

Whats up guys?  This week we came earlier to make sure I have time for the weekly.  Here are your stories

1 The sheep

So here in Kenya there really isn't much of a "this is where animals graze" and a "this is where animals don't graze" type thing.  You can get sheep, cows, goats, etc. all  over the place. The funniest is when a slow cow causes a traffic jam, in the middle of the town.  its just norm here.  Well anywho there was this stupid sheep that kept trying to get into the compound and eat the grass.  Everytime he would just book it into the church and then I would chase him out.  Well the stupid thing wouldn't stop so finally I just waited for him to get in the gate; then chased him to piss him off enough to get him out of the church for good.  When I started chasing the thing, It went to charge me, but I was too quick.  So as it came trying to ram me I dodged and it ran straight into the chain link fence and then just spas-med on the ground for like thirty seconds. At which time I grabbed a small reed and whipped it out of the compound.  The whole branch was just laughing as I was trying to get the sheep out. It was really fun.

2.  The rain

So Saturday we were blessed with an insane rainstorm here in Kitengela.  My comp and I didn't feel like staying inside so we just walked around and got soaked, and it was super fun!  The most interesting part was this one lady was so worried about us walking in the rain, that she started just  yelling at us about how we were gonna die, She wouldn't except a book from us because she thought we were lunatics for walking in the rain, but it really wasn't that bad at that point.  It is just funny to see how this whole country shuts down in a rainstorm.

My week was fairly good but ended pretty mah.  We had some powerful days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Friday things started to slow down a bit then Saturday and Sunday just blew. We got bounced  by everyone. I was trying just kinda make it through put on a smile and stuff at church.  Just playing with the kids cause that really cheers me up!  Elder Fuller gave me a call and it really helped,  My comp helped me cheer up, he is awesome.  We are on the last week of the transfer though so that is keeping me super excited! Now I can say "next month".  

Love you guys

Elder Tucker

Fellowshippers

Fellowshippers

9-24-2018

Life is good this week, another month down, which makes me super pumped, this is a really long last lap.  My companion are doing well. Zone conference this week-food was good! We confirmed that lady who got baptized which was super powerful.  Funniest part about it though is that she and her roommates are all really pretty; so the YSA males in the ward are fighting over who gets to go with us to fellowship with them haha.  Its like "ELDERS!! yes it has been a little since I went teaching with you, when are you going to see so and so? Oh yes I can be free that day"  then like three minutes later another one comes and it is hilarious I love it.  

My mind just blanked, I have no idea what to title this.....

My mind just blanked, I have no idea what to title this.....

9-19-2018

1: Slurrp

I found this wonderful weird thing at the store.  It is called slurrp.  And it is like this yogurt and juice and berry mix thing.  I was getting it just to see what it was like, but I ended up really liking it and finishing a whole liter in like 3 hrs.  Well the reason i am telling you this is,  it is not the best idea to drink a liter of yogurt juice berry stuff that quick.  

2:BAPTISM

We were privileged to have a baptism this Sunday! It was super fun, a little bit nutz though. mostly because our branch mission leader wasn't there so we had to improvise all the assignments.  But none the less we were able to have a wonderful successful baptism! I do have to apologize though because I forgot the cord to my camera and I have no card reader so i can't send pictures this week.  But it was great. we have a baptism scheduled next week and 5 more in October. 

Otherwise you guys have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tucker

Some missions have cars, some have bikes, but this is Kenya...

The subject will be explained in stories.  So without further procrastination... STORIES!!

1:  Where the sunsets...

So fun fact about Kenya.  Addresses are something completely foreign, so when you are teaching someone, you usually ask where they stay and they give you a very broad area and then you narrow it down by asking about shops you know in the broad area.  Well we were teaching this dude, who came to church once and asked him where he stays. His response was "you see where the sun sets? that's where."  Well we thought he was joking and we set up an appointment with him.  He was not joking.... that dude lives FETCHING FAR!! Legit at the top of the horizon.  Better yet we made it out there and he wasn't even close to being home, so we ended up just walking back.  It was a nice walk, good companionship building experience.  We also found a church the has "spiritual phenomenon and EXPLOSIONS of power" no wonder it is so hard to get people at church.

2: Our vehicles

So for our P day today.  I wanted to do something super fun.  So we rode ostriches.  It was so freaking fun!! I will share the video with you guys.  Elder Fuller and I brought white shirts and ties to get funny photos on the ostrich, It twas a great success.  They are kinda hard to ride, they like to bite your hand (no it doesn't hurt).  Also 1 ostrich egg is the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs.  Tastes about the same though.  We bought one a drilled a hole in the top and bottom and drained it.  Then made a loaf of french toast and three pans full of scrambled eggs. It was awesome.

Have a great week!!  Elder Teron

"What is your name?" He *says name*. "NOPE! you shall be known as Tucker's companion".

Whats up guys?  Last week was transfers so things were fetching crazy. I am cool this week.  I am still in Kitengela and now I m serving with a South African who is from the ward Jeron is serving in.  My companion "Q " was a fellow-shipper with Jeron's former companion Elder Smith in Queenstown. Crazy how life works!!

1: When you stand up at stake conference....

My companion and I were helping out greet people and passing out schedules for the stake conference we had Sunday.  We were the last ones to come in and sat just close to the door.  It was a great conference.  But the fun part was when this dude had to go to the bathroom or something, so he stood up and left.  Within like thirty seconds some little kid sat in his spot followed by his mom.  After like two minutes the dude comes back and just stares at his seat for like forty five seconds in awe... then awkwardly mouths to me and my comp "Where am I supposed to go???" then just shuffled to the VERY back of the room.  I don't know why it was so funny to me but I could not stop laughing for like five minutes.

2: My companions name...

My new companion is from Queenstown in South Africa, where Jeron(twin) is currently serving.  In that are they speak the language of Isixhosa.  Which is the one from Black Panther (the one that clicks)and my companion has a click in his name. Every time we went to an appointment people would ask his name.  He would reply with "you can call me elder Q" but Kenyans for some reason will not accept defeat. Over the past week I have been listening to try to speak Isixhosa and it has been so flipping funny.  My favorite was an RC of ours just was like "ah screw it I got this!" stared at his tag for a minute straight then did a bottle pop with his finger (the one you do that sounds like a cork pop) Then shouted SILE!! My companion just died laughing. So far the only people in all of Kitengela that can say his name is me and him! He is awesome and is crazy good at soccer, he plays professionally so it is cool, and he runs every morning so I have a running buddy which has been great! 

We should be having a baptism on Sunday!

love

Elder Tucker

I am going to be honest I don't know how much time I have right now, we have transfers today.  Which sometimes means running around like chickens with our heads cut off waiting for people who are lost, then it's just a mess.... I am still in Kitengela though, sadly though Molutsi is going to a new area to be a Zone leader.  I am going to miss him a lot.  My new companion is from South Africa as well named Qinisile (he is Xhosa). My new companion is from Queenstown where Jeron just got assigned to so that is dope! I am looking forward to serving with him.  He is a cool guy.  I am doing great though, I love this area and I hope to finish here!

Questions:

The best thing I have learned, is being patient all the time (which I am still very much working on). Also that you should never judge another person before you have a conversation with them.  

Biggest trial I had to overcome was learning to love a companion as myself.

Nah dude, I am too high, I'd trip- Rasta

I got this quote from a rasta man on one of my runs.  I was doing accelerations in front of the compound and he was walking by.  Then he complimented my form and speed then said "we should race sometime".  I told him he was welcome to join, and he responded with that.  At least he is honest haha.

Story 1: Faith is sometimes hard to find, but when you find it watch out world.

This week as me and my companion were trying to get this kid baptized.  He is super super awesome.  But due to work and some other reasons we have had to postpone his baptism since the 15th of July.  I wanted to tell you about the faith this kid has and how much he has grown.  Like when we first met him, he was super quiet and would barely speak.  But we taught him everything and he just opened up like a flower and has the strongest faith I have ever seen in a nineteen year old kid. He started learning from us cause he had some issues he wanted to change in his life, and become closer to God.  Well we gave him the scriptures and he just gobbles them up like child's food.  He is so awesome and has taught me so much about my own faith and how to build up my belief in myself and God.  Just hopefully we can get him in the waters soon.

Story 2:  How to mop like a Kenyan

step 1: get a bucket

step 2:Fill it up with water

step 3:dump out the water

step 4: repeat steps two and three until your shoes are thoroughly soaked

step 5: pour soap everywhere and sweep the water into another room, then after all rooms have been passed over by the soapy water, sweep it outside.

This is what I got to do on Saturday at the hospital.  We were doing Mormon helping hands and we mopped the kitchen.  My shoes were so filled with water it was terrible. but it was wonderful to help some people out, had a fun time.

Have a great week guys!!

Love

Elder Tucker

"Way too much tongue"-Elder who will remain nameless

This quote comes from our adventures at the girraffe center.  They give you some like weetabix things so you can feed the girraffes.  And if you put the treat on your lips the girrafle kisses you.  One of the elders did so and was asked how it felt, thats what he said.  It was hilarious. (sory this computer is sketchy and has already wrecked my camera once so i will send pictures next time, when i can get a different computer.  but STORIES!!

1: "I think I know that building, maybe... lets get closer... nope wrong building crap."

So this week we had to go to zone conference.  We thought that we left with plenty of time but then there was like three different accidents and the bus went some really crazy way that we didn't know.  Then just decided to drop us off in the most random spot.  Well me and my companion were both just lost for a little.  Luckily bikers know the whole town so we got a ride up to the church and were only like half an hour late.  But it is okay cause president was late as well.

2:"I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS!!!!"

So after our last appointment on sunday.  I was putting my shoes on and it just decided to give up and the whole back came out! now this might sound insane but these are the same shoes i stared mission with and i want them to last me.  Just to prove that johnston murphy's can last anything.  Then they just quit on me.  But the wonderful thing is that fundis (cobblers) here are flipping wizards so i won't let them retire yet.  Those things will make it to the end and then some.  But yeah there is no tread so if we go shopping and the floor is wet it is like ice skating haha.  Both my black ones and brown ones are that trashed so it is a fun time.

Have a great week guys!

"Well that's what you get when you try to be a nice guy." My companion

Whats up guys? this is what my comp told me after I invited our mission president to go ice skating and he said we can't go cause it is technically a "winter sport" who knew you can get in trouble for doing winter sports in Africa! but he is some stories for you...

1:YSA World Cup!!

So this week was super fun cause we got to go to the ysa activity and play soccer for the Nairobi West Stake.  Our team made it to the semi-finals, but we got beat by this other team, which a legit team.  Like there was two members who just brought their leauge team.  It was a fun time though.  We made a lot of good friend RC's in all of Kenya!  We had a nice time and I tried straight glucose for the first time, didn't like it too much.  But my comp is a super huge soccer player so he had two super awesome goals from across the field it was so sick!  I was the only white guy playing so that was kinda awkward though haha.

2. Well that was unexpected.

You know sometimes as a missionary you feel like everything you do is never really good enough. I was feeling like that a little bit this week.  Well on Sunday I got up to bear my testimony and I mean it wasn't bad.  I gave a simple testimony but didn't feel like people were at all effected by it.  I was done, sat down and just kinda felt like meh, that wasn't my best.  Well later that night me and my comp were just chilling in the house and we got a call from a member who is like my best friend just called and thanked me for bearing my testimony. She said that it was very powerful and she loved it.  That was just a super nice thing to do and showed me that the lord takes care of his own.  So bear your testimonies and you get blessed;) 

Welp! love you guys!!

Love,

Elder Tucker

"Hauskii Baridi" Kenyan mommas

Everywhere me and my companion go, Kenyan mamas will ask us this question.  Which translates to "you don't hear that cold?"  and it seems like they will ask you this no matter what is going on with the weather, it can be deathly hot, windy, extremely dusty, or really anything but if you are wearing a short sleeved shirt they will ask you this.  It has been the joke between me and my comp the last few days, but STORIES!!!

1: Suck it computer!!!! 

This week me and my companion were trying to help our RC's work on their family history.  And we had to set up LDS accounts for them.  For some reason I was deemed as the I.T. guy so I was handling creating the accounts.  And every time we needed to register the account, the computer would freeze.  Luckily I found a back door and was able to get everyone an account.  After I finished the accounts I paraded around the church like champion of the world, and gave the primary kids treats to follow me and cheer for me,  it was lit!

2:She KNOWS PANDA!!!!!!!!!

This week I was really privileged to find this less active who served in the temple square mission in like 2002.  We had a super nice conversation about her mission and her telling how a temple square mission works. After beating stories for about fifteen minutes i asked her what she missed about Utah.  The response that followed was mostly a shock but just really really funny to me cause this is one of the biggest things I miss as well.  So after thinking for a minute she looks at me and goes..."there is this really good restaurant that is called "Panda experts" or something like that... i miss that a lot."  I freaked out and was almost screaming 'THAT IS PANDA EXPRESS I LOVE PANDA,YOU KNOW PANDA?!?!?  It was a wonderful memory from home and a highlight of my week.

In other news, I jumped around on the roof of a really tall building and had fun  I haven't got all the pics cause the other elders have to send them to me but it was fun. I will share with you guys the ones that I took.

Love you guys!

Elder Tucker

FINISH THE LESSON SO WE CAN FIGHT-Random lady

I will include an explanation in the stories today.  But yah this week was definitely interesting to say the least.  Quite a few ridiculous scenarios.  Me and my companion are both a little insane so we have a lot of fun..... but anyways STORIES!

1:Subject

We went to visit a wonderful wonderful lady who we visit every week.  She is always very happy, but she is also very outspoken.  Well we ended up visiting at a very inopportune time. As we showed up there were two women just yelling at each other, one of them being our investigator.  Now we didn't want to intrude but as soon as she saw us, she invited us in and then we had a lesson while the other lady just kept banging the door. "Telling us to finish the lesson so that she could fight" our investigator.  Luckily as missionaries we have a lot to share as back up plans, so we ended up using most of them.  We stayed long enough for the other lady to get tired of waiting and left.  Sometimes peacemakers work in mysterious ways.  As far as we learned the other lady never returned.

2:Old numbers

While looking for new investigators to teach, me and my comp decided to call all the numbers that we had on the phone.  We found some interesting people.  Well the most interesting one was a man who was very very interested in meeting with us.  Well we set up the time and found out he was a piki piki driver ( essentially taxis but with motorcycles) and we were telling him about the church.  Then he just stops us mid sentence and says , " Dude you know member so and so?" we responding with an affirmative, and he was like THAT IS MY BROTHER! HE GOES TO CHURCH WITH YOU! WHY DID HE NEVER TELL ME? I WOULD HAVE COME FOREVER AGO!"

Moral of the story is to give your referrals to missionaries, and family members are awesome referrals.  Cause if you don't give them we will find them by other means and it will just be a big bowl of awkward.

Anyways love you guys! have a good week

Elder Tucker

"yup,he's gone..." speaking about the branch 2 yr. old escape artist. Me

Whats up docs? Well my week has been awesome, another transfer come and gone. I am still here, with the same companion, and SUPER stoked about it!  But you don't really care where I live do you... no you just want stories huh? alright lets do em

Number 1: max

Max is the above mentioned escape artist.  He is adorable and one of my best friends, but don't be fooled, if you take your eyes of him for a second he is gone faster than a bullet from a gun. The reason he makes it into stories today is because of the amazing feat this kid did.  Twice this week have we encountered him on the streets of Kitengela booking it, followed by a flailing mother.  (fun fact, at least I can still beat a two year old in a race.)  Well when he is caught he just looks all disappointed then starts making plans for his next great escape.  

So while me and my comp were on our way to priesthood yesterday, we thought we would pass by primary and see how the kids were.  We were surprised to see all the kids sitting at the window with no teacher... Turns out that Max, pulled a trick and this little two year old were making these two  sister's run in circles trying to catch him, joined by the mother and the father. It was HILARIOUS, they only caught him cause a goat cut in front of him, and he doesn't like goats.

Number 2: Hammocks and Hamburgers!

This week I also had two highlights which have been blessing from heaven!  We moved from our old flat recently and in the process I  found an old bed-sheet.  We  have a really nice balcony in our new flat with a beautiful view of the sunset.  So I washed the old bed sheet, tied it on the balcony and made a hammock! it is dope! and surprisingly strong I have really enjoyed it.  As well we went to a place called urban burger and for the second time in twenty months. I was able to eat a BACON CHEESEBURGER!!! it was wonderful.  We also got to re-watch the world cup finals so that was super dope.  

I am still with Elder Molutsi and we are killing it here in Kitengela.  We just had a baptism yesterday and it was AWESOME!! I love the people here.  We should have another one in a few weeks depending on when president can meet with our investigator. The work is going great.  Also I get a grandson this transfer so that is cool. (my trainee is training)  I am super excited to be here.  Honestly I think I will be here until the end of my mission, and I think I would be okay with that! 

Anywho love all you guys!!

Elder Tucker

Photo bombed this girl in our branch.

 BAPTISM!

 My Curls before the haircut.

Grass-real grass!!

New Flat!!!

Well guys, this week was a whole lot of running around like a chicken with his head cut off, but I managed to survive, mostly...

1: New flat! New flat!!

So our last flat was a nightmare. The last missionaries just got sick of dealing with it, and they got the mission to move us out. One of the sinks wouldn't turn off, one wouldn't turn on, and the shower was broken. We just washed with buckets everyday, also the windows wouldn't close fully. Now my new flat is super freaking awesome, and the best part... there is grass there!!!! Real grass! I took a nap on it, it was wonderful.  Our landlady is the coolest lady ever, she rocks.  And the water filter looks like a freaking turbo for a car so it works really well, its sick! So I got to move again, which makes four houses, and two transfers.  I am now in the process of making a hammock to set up on the balcony for drinking juice and watching sunsets.  Just FYI sunsets in Kenya are fetching beautiful.

2:"She wants you to take her to South Africa"-random lady

So this quote literally dropped me on my butt, and lead to the most awkward goodbye ever.  During the week, we came in contact with some ladies who seemed very interested in learning what we had to say. While we were contacting we mentioned the places we are from.  One of them had a very small baby, who was absolutely adorable.  Well she reached for my companion to carry her, and he said 'yes! come I will take you to South Africa"  then the mother said the above quote while gesturing to the other lady!  My companion was too shocked to say anything and I just fell on the floor, after about a minute of awkward silence he explained why he can't do that.  Then very awkwardly just walked away, it was so funny.

Sorry I don't have much crazy stories today. I mostly just rode buses all day, but I have become a big fan of trap music due to that so hey, its fun.

Later!

Elder Tucker 

Mom,

Well I would just like to start by sending you  a HAPPY BIRTHDAY email!!

I know you know that I love you, but i just like to make sure.  Thank you so much for all the support that you give to me and all the encouragement that you have given to me.

  I hope that you have had a wonderful birthday mom.  I really miss you and tell all my companions about how fun you are. I tell them stuff like this, "Elder, did you remember to brush your teeth?? Cause if not my mom will probably break in at midnight and brush them for you!"  or every time we leave the flat I have to yell "PRAYER!!!!"  just to alert him.  Or my personal favorite (sometimes my companion will be talking tswana to the other South Africans, and then accidentally talk to me in it then say 'sorry you don't understand that one") then I respond with " nah its cool, made more sense than whatever language my mom speaks on thursday mornings after she worked her 3/12's.   Thank you so much for everything mom, I love you so much!! Happy Birthday.

Love,

Teron

I did it-me

Whats up everybody? My week has been pretty okay.  Had some few adventures and it has been kinda fun.  We had zone conference, very inspiring! I got to eat rice krispies and that was so fun, cause i haven't had those on my mission.  I am going to be honest with you my brain is super fried right now so if you wanna skip this one, it is okay. I don't know how much sense it is going to make haha.

Story 1: "Yes sir I need that sweater"

Yes you read that right I got a sweater here in the heat of Africa.  Turns out if you live here long enough you start to feel the cold too.  Well walking down the street I saw this sweater out of the corner of my eye. I saw a wonderful sweater.  The sweater it self is a panda bear, ridding a giraffe, withe sunglasses on both animals, and the panda holding a red solo cup.  I turned on my Kenyan bargaining skills, bought that sweater and I love it.I  don't have a picture on it because it, because I forgot my camera cord so i cannot send any this week, but next week I will.

2:  "Sometimes I feel useless elder"

Now you might read that and think it is something bad, but actually this is a great statement.  The branch I am in, is one of the best branches I have ever been in.  On Sunday we just had investigators come in and even bear testimonies!! That is right investigators bore TESTIMONIES! and not like weird ones, but the whole nine yards including the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith everything, it was so dope!! After church we met with these guys a little more, and almost all of them have been taught by only the members!  So I turned to my companion and said the above quote.  I just want each of you to know, you don't need a nametag to teach the gospel, sometimes it is just through example.

Love y'all

Elder Tucker

"Yo dude, this scarf sucks". Me

Hey guys, this is what I said on our adventure today.  Wanna hear about it? yeah you do, here are the stories for the week!!

1. This does not feel good.....guys help....ahhhhhh

So we decided to go to the Nairobi National Museum. which includes a snake park. Now I don't like snakes never really been a fan.  But like most parks in Nairobi, there is an underground, where you can get to do cool stuff.  We heard rumors that you can carry a python if you want to.  So we got there and saw all the stuffs, like croc and fishes and lizards and snakes.  Then before we left, I started talking to this guy in kiswahili so the other foreigners couldn't understand me. Well he brought some dude named Rx.  He said, that if we want to carry a snake we can, but "it is cold outside so you gotta get a man some tea..." we were like, "we will buy you some cocoa cause we don't drink tea".  Then he literally just goes to the python cage and jumps in grabs the snake and then we got to hold it, it was super dope, but also pretty scary, it crawled around my neck and on my face, not very comfortable. But cool experience!

2 "just keep em coming, don't stop cooking'

So I am a HUGE fan a pizza. Love the stuff. I always have and always will.  I am picky but in Kenya there is only one Pizza Hut ( not the best pizza but it is really nice quality for a knm missionary). Well they had a deal that I give them 450 ksh, and I get to eat as much pizza as I want until two o'clock.  Needless to say (kevin- heart voice) THEY WASN'T READY!  I told them the quote above, and they didn't believe me.  we got there at 12:30 and me and my companions made them make seven pizzas. One dude ate like four, one five, one seven, the closest dude to me had nine.  That pizza tasted so good, I no joke ate twenty five pieces.  That wasn't my count, but it was Elder Covarrubius'.  The lady dishing the pizza after like the fifteenth piece was like, you are not big WHERE IS IT GOING!?  i just said, in my belly, "now can I request a bbq beef and pineapple next thank you"!  "It was amazing"!

Elder Tucker 

First off mom do you mean Elder CXXX? I don't know an Elder Charlie. Ha Ha. It was so fun to meet those guys. I will miss them all. They are the coolest guys. I love them and they made my mission super fun! When we lost them all last transfer it was a big hit to the mission. We miss them all alot. I love love love the Pxxxxxx's. They took such 

good good care of us and I love them so much. Tell them we miss them here.

I am so glad Grandma is at peace now, tell Grandpa I love him.