"WAAAAAALLLLK PLEASE!!!!!!!"-Elder Tucker

So this week was pretty norm, most of our appointments bounced us, so we did a ton of contacting, however I do have a couple funny stories for you, cause to be honest some contacting stories are great.

Number 1: Once a guard always a guard

One of our investigators we met with was near a pool (not very common in Kenya). It was very nice though, and brought back some good memories. However, I had a crazy bad flash back cause this little girl, gets out of the pool and goes booking it down the deck; without even thinking I went into guard mode, and yelled "WALK PLEASE!" This not only made the girl look but about three quarters of the people in the pool all looked at this white dude yelling at this little kid to not run on the deck. To make matters worse I said this in the middle of the lesson while the investigator was reading from the Book of Mormon.  So my companion and her are just staring at me.  I guess some habits never die. On the bright side nobody else ran the whole time I was there.

Number 2: 'Is this man is a preacher, he needs the restoration' - Elder Ochieng

So whilst in our crazy amount of contacting, my companion and found a park where all these pastors from different faiths come and take turns preaching to all the people in the park.  What my companion likes to do is we will go, listen (most the time they are really good sermons), maybe learn something or two, then when they finish we go give them a restoration pamphlet.  So far this week I have met an apostle (self acclaimed) , about 3 preachers, and one lady who gets paid to pray in public.  We told her that that practice was not really good and referred her to Mathew chapter 6.  But other than that very successful, one even came to church, so that was cool!

Also congrats to all the awesome performances at Grass Relays this week. Keep up the good work!

Dubiously

Elder Tucker

Mom,

You were not supposed to hear about the building, that was supposed to stay between the siblings. But if you have to know 1. I really wanted to climb the building 2. We had to to get in the house, that was the only way. 3. No one else could do it. 4. I would rather risk my life than someone else's, 5. My comp was going to catch me. Plus that was like six months ago. Teron

(This was in response to a "Howler"(Harry Potter reference screaming letter)-Do not ever, ALWAYS SEE TO SAFETY FIRST. In the words of Teron's Coach Zach "Teron, no just No" said while shaking his head. Teron had wanted to play on the indoor flying trapeze at the Olympic Oval between his track events. 

His twin did the same thing up 3 stories, near the same week, 6 months ago. But "he had 4 missionaries holding the ladder ,so he was safe to get to the balconey". The missionaries had already taken the handle off their door and it wouldn't budge. Jeron's apartment manager gave the missionaries the ladder. AHH! Both twins got this reminder letter.) Mom

Back Home, Wait Nevermind, okay that's a yes, no, where, darn ELDER!!!(Lost?good. So am I)

Sup people, hows it going?

So this week going to be completely honest with you I was lost, mentally and physically.  We had transfers so I have a new comp again, his name is elder Ochieng so this makes seven transfers and at the MTC  seven companions, been super fun though! I get to learn a ton of different languages.  My newest one is a Kiluo greeting, if it the morning you say 'Ichieo nade? And for Afternoon or night you say "Irio nade?" the response is "Maber" (sounds like a really drunk dude saying my bear). 

STORY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 1: Sooooo, where do I sleep?

    With the elections transfers were delayed, until we got out, which happened on thursday!! Then we found out that Elder Odhiambo would be going to Busia, so we had to race back to Naivasha pack all his stuff in like thirty minutes! Then high tail it back to Nairobi so he can get to the mission home.  Well in all the madness of fast travelling and packing I guess they forgot that Elder Odhiambo had a companion. They didn't know where I was going to stay, so I got to go back to my favorite place that's right folks. Elder Tucker went back to the Upperhill apartment.  Which meant I had stayed in Upperhill last transfer more than in my own houses.  Funny how that works.

Number 2: Toothbrushes, Tracting, and traveling.

   While I waited for my companion to get to Nairobi I got to work with the office elders and we went tracting; which I really never do, it was interesting. I only had one dog try to chase us, but turns out he just wanted someone to pet him, good dog though ( I love dogs).

   As well we were also housing the Elders coming from Tanzania, one of which had an electric toothbrush, which freaked out the Kenyans. So what I did is convinced Elder K. to turn it on and put it on my neck. For me it would vibrate my neck, but he didn't know my part of the plan.  When it touched my neck I proceeded to scream and fall and the ground and start faking a seizure, so when that happened Elder K.( Now booking it for the nearest exit is shouting at the top of his lungs "I AM SORRY TUCKA!!!!" and the other African Elder is cowered behind the couch. I started laughing so hard and another elder is rolling on the floor next to me.  Don't worry after a little while we calmed K. down and told him sorry, what it was and how I am fine.  Good fun though. He wasn't too mad. 

Anyways that is it for me this week, mission is fun as always.

Elder Tucker

Hey Momma,

My new companion is Elder O. he is a cool dude, and was actually in my district in Mombosa, It is cool to be with him again as companions this time. He is close to finishing his mission so it will fun taking him down the homestretch. I feel overwhelmed;I have spent maybe two weeks in each area. It felt amazing to return home to my area-one of them. I have resources so it isn't a complete white wash. 

I got to go tracting with Elder L. who is a silly dude and we had fun. Finally met Elder C. who I brought the package for, he was super fun to talk to. He is actually going to serve in my first area in Langas, with my old comp Mauthiani so I told him he will have a great time.  

To answer your question about teaching. I have taught with a USB that has the Mormon messages. However 90% of the people here don't have a TV let alone one with USB capabilities. I do have a DVD of the Churches Bible videos and I watch them when I am able, I really like them. The New Testament is one of favorite books. I know the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion but I love studying the Life of Jesus Christ. 

I have mad respect for Rapunzel!

Due to elections I have been in the flat for now 10 days. The couples were nice enough to let us use their laptops to email today. Because we are still sheltering in place.  I don't have any real stories for you today but I will do my best to make this entertaining. So without further adieu, This is Elder Tuckers List Of 10 Ways To Entertain Yourself.

Start the day with prayer and scripture study.

1.  Sit in the window sill and sing to the other neighbors with a makeshift drum.

2. Make a hacky sack out of random beads and a sock.

3. SOLITAIRE!

4. Announcing the football game of the kids in the compound

5. Run intervals around the compound. ( For you Sam)

6. Laundry 

7. Rummage through the Liahona's and make a collage.

8. Make a pot of kool-aid (Yes I made a pot of kool-aid, and it was hot)

9. Make forts from the couch cushions and then have a war

10. Stare at the ceiling and act like the birds from Jungle book. ( What do you wanna do? I don't know what do you want to do? I don't know, etc.)

These are just a few, feel free to respond with suggestions if you have any, we are very willing to listen.

Have a great week.

Elder Tucker

Hey Mom,

I am alive and doing well. I am in Upperhill with the Pehrsons, Lillywhites, and the upper hill Elders, our area is safe, it is really boring. I bought myself a Book of Mormon coloring book which I am almost done with.  We did get to go to church which is always good.  I am not sure when we will get to go outside again but for now, I only know one thing, I would really hate prison. T

Hey Pops,

In our flat is Elder L.(Yeah his brother plays for the U) Elder K.(Kenyan) and my companion. The couples live above us. They have invited us up for movies. I am going a little nuts. We played Phase 10 four times in one day. Where we are it is safe. the riots are pretty far away. But we will still need to stay inside for the next couple of days. The losing party is taking the winning party to court. We have a rematch soccer game scheduled with the compound kids today. Saturday they creamed us but in our defense they had 12 guys to our 4. Food is basically ugali and rice. Love ya lots Teron

Hey Pops,

My companion and I are in Nairobi till at least Wednesday,we are just chilling here til elections are over, we are stuck in the house so I crazy bored and tired. President Msane calls it "sheltering in place". We bought food storage and are storing water for a few days. We are fine, as fas we know there have been no problems. I am writing to you on the IPad of couples. Just ell everyone I am fine, will write more next week and send pictures. 

Elder T. Tucker

New Sacrament Meeting Record

So usually this is a very good thing to have but sadly, it is opposite of what you think.  This week actually marks the littlest amount of people in sacrament I have ever experienced.  The number was ( drum roll please).... 5.  The group leader, me and my comp, and two investigators.  Still a very spiritual meeting though which taught me a very good lesson.  Now I have done sacrament for people at homes before but it never really hit me till this week how important the sacrament can be.  Even though there were so few people I felt more motivated to make this sacrament special.  I was blessing so I tried my best to put as much spirit in the prayers as I could, and it was awesome! The spirit could be felt and we actually had a very good meeting.  I got the big straw being the only member who didn't have to give a talk.  Message to priests,  always try to make the prayers for sacrament spiritual, no matter if it is a big congregation or you are blessing for an old lady at her home, those are not recitations, they are prayers to god, and it is a privilege to say them for those who want to follow Jesus Christ.

Now for some funny stuff:

Number one: "I am happy to see you... Elder"

So as a mzungu here you get a lot of people trying out their broken english to talk to you.  So while walking into a supermarket, i greet the security guard in Swahili with a "Habari yako" he responds as usual with " Yes, how are you my friend"  I say "fine". (This is where things went a little different) after scanning me, he puts his hand on my shoulder, and says in the most awkward way possible "I am happy to see you ( looks down at my name) Elder." THEN HE WINKED AT ME! A WINK! We were in and out of that supermarket faster than a cat whose tail is on fire.  It was so weird.

Number 2: "Elder, you said you know first aid right?" "Yeah, why?" "Help"

So yesterday while I was starting to soak my clothes so I could wash them the next morning. I hear that question from the kitchen.  Turns out my comp whilst trying to open a can of meatloaf ( don't ask why we had a can of meatloaf, some investigators are strange) my companion had sliced his index finger open, pretty big.  When I walked in the kitchen all I see is him cupping his hand that is full of blood.  I followed protocol, and went to the bedroom, grabbed a whistle and blew it three times, surveyed the scene, tried to glove up, but no gloves, so I wrapped my hands in plastic.  Then found out, we have no first aid kit at Nakuru flat, so I applied pressure with some paper towels, then got masking tape and made some make shift band aids. I used some after shave to sterilize it ( big cut, this phase involved lots of screaming, but it was the only thing we had)  went through SAMPLE and all that fun stuff, It was a nice flash back to my days at SDRC. Also his finger is doing okay now.

Number 3: "Elder What are you doing?"

We were supposed to have a baptism yesterday but we ran into some complications, so they have been postponed.  But in prep for the baptism we had to clean and fill the tank at Nakuru, while doing so we had to keep tipping and flipping the baptismal tank, not light, but had fun. Then I got to spray the tank, which involved much maniacal laughter and a lot of my companion running around the roof of the building we were on screaming "Elder Tucker, what are you doing? Put the hose down, ELDER YOU ARE A MISSIONARY, DON"T SQUIRT ME! STOP THAT!" it was fun, then it started raining so we got more soaked, all in all good day indeed.

That is it for my adventures this week, next week will be Elections here in Kenya, so if you don't hear from me I am probably indoors, should be a fun week with good stories.  Have a good week

Elder Tucker

To Jeron: As a matter of fact I can get bacon it is just very expensive and they won't let me buy a pig and butcher it.