"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.  

Happy Pioneer Day

Hey guys! I am so excited for today's pioneer day!  We got all the Nairobi elders together and made a bunch of food, and played football ( both types). I totally one the outfit competition, picture will be included.  So as for my week it has been really really nice, we had a baptism and taught some people. But man I have been in a matatu half of the time! Here are some highlights:

Story one: "WOAH WHAT THE?!?! O

h its dead phew"-Elder Odhiambo

This is a quote by Elder Odhiambo after seeing a hyena on the road.  So for those of you who only know hyenas from the "Lion King" and "Madagascar", they are not little and most of the time a lion can not hurt a hyena very bad. In fact it is the other way around, hyenas kill the lions.  And MAN these things are big, like size of a ten year old kid in height and the length of a St. Bernard.  Not small creatures.  Luckily it was hit by a car so it was no Shyda.(Per mom if you know what this word means message me.)

Story number 2: "Looks like we will have to cancel" "No Elder I got this."

 So this quote comes from a discussion me and Elder S. had.  This week we got to go on exchanges so whilst in Athi river ( "At the River" kenyans are so creative with their town names). We were going to teach this mama who only speaks Kikamba and Kiswahili. Elder S. can't speak much of the language yet so hence the quote.  He did not know that I can teach, so we end up going to teach her. The whole lesson Elder S.  just sat there and stared at me in awe.  It sounds like I am bragging (and I am a little). My grandpa always told me "it is not bragging if it is true". Mostly I am just providing background for the following statement Elder S. said.  Quote " Elder Tucker you are the blackest white guy I have ever met!" I thought it was quite a compliment but the best was the look of the neighbor that heard him shout this at me.

Story number 3: You want a DA? Here's the jiko

This was from our branch mission leader.  While we were doing a correlation meeting, and he said "hey do you guys want a dinner appointment?"  We were starving so we happily agreed.  Then he left for about five minutes got ingredients and said, "here's the jiko" ( stove-ish thing). Then told me that he wasn't cooking but I was. Luckily my ugali game has gotten fantastic so I owned it, and I cooked for the branch mission leader.

That is some of the fun times for my week, marvin is still doing great btw. 

Have a great time, drive fast take chances

Elder T

Music, Mataus and MONKEYS!

Why hello there, and welcome to this weeks edition of  'Adventures with Elder Tucker: The story of a real live Tarzan'.  Now no further evidence is required to prove once again that out of all of the Tucker brothers. I am the real Tarzan. Now while I can't run around in a loin cloth or grow out my hair. I still propose that I am the most Tarzan of all my brothers.  I have been to and lived in the african jungles. I speak african languages. The final and most important reason, I NOW HAVE A MONKEY FRIEND!!!! ( I know not a gorilla, but there aren't wild gorillas in Kenya, only in the congo so it is the best I got.)

Story one: Reason number three.

Last Tuesday while we were leaving Naivasha I walked outside to find a monkey on the water tower.  So I did what any normal man would have done and grabbed the closest fruit to me to give it as an offering. Which happened to be a mchungua, swahili for greenish fruit that tastes similar to an orange.  I went out to give it to him as I was speaking to him. Then I set down the mchungua and he came down and started eating it, but he had a gimp arm so I helped him peel it. Then I went back inside and got him a banana.  Sadly I didn't have my camera but my companion can testify, as well as three fundis(craftsman) that were fixing our roof. If you need proof I will refer you to them. I named him Marvin, he is super chill monkey. I promised him when I got back to Naivasha I would get bananas and we would eat them on top of the water tower.  He nodded in agreement. I have a wild monkey friend now; I am the real Tarzan.

Story number 2: Rain storms are so fun.

We had zone conference this week which was awesome, mostly because they bought us all KFC ( yeah authentic Kentucky Fried Chicken) it was awesome. I got pizza and I got to see most of my transfer group again after eight months! I bought some proselyting mini scriptures because the rain is destroying my scriptures and a bunch of Bible videos of Jesus Christ which are awesome.

After the conference it starts to down pour, not just rain, down pour.  So while all the Africans are staying in the church. I decide to live life to the fullest and go jump in puddles. ( Mission President was slightly displeased with this decision, but I didn't mind cause I had to walk home in the rain anyways.)  So whilst going to jump into a huge puddle, I trip on the uneven cement and not only jumped into it but flopped into this puddle. I just sat on the ground and laughed my head off, while everyone else decided I was nutz. ( They aren't wrong though.) Then I walked back to the upper hill apartment ( where we were staying) singing at the top of my lungs. The only other mzungu and I had a contest to see who could find the deepest puddle. It was so fun I had a blast, the Africans however did not have a great time. 

Nakuru is also really cool and pretty. I got to give a talk this week to a congregation of a whole 8 people. Nakuru is only a group and most of the members live far away. I wasn't scared because most of the members couldn't understand me anyway. I learned some more of their language. I can now have a basic conversation in three African languages and greet in about eleven.

We were in a Matatu for about six hours on Thursday, not super comfy, but hey it's what we got. I met this concert cellist lady who was super awesome on our way to Nairobi. Talked to her about music and all this fun stuff. It was a good week. 

Have a great week guys,

Elmer Tarzan