May 29, 2014 12:38 AM

Yep. We are still in the office working on changes and getting everything ready!!

I’ll see you tomorrow!!

Elder Rucker

 

May 26, 2014 LAST one!

I asked Mitchell to write one last letter to put on the blog.  This is what he sent:

Well...it’s been a good two years.

Thank goodness a few hours later he sent this:

Well...it’s been a good two years.  ha ha ha!!!

I have learned so much during this time on my mission.  Too many to really list. I have seen a big change in myself and in the lives of many great people. Over the two years I have had the chance to work with great companions. I was really blessed with some awesome companions. I was able to learn something from every one of them. 

I also had the amazing chance to serve in two missions. The Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission with President Maravilla for the first 13 months of my mission. For the last 11 months of my mission I served in the Guatemala City Central Mission with President Brough. I learned from both of them. It was a big change going from one mission to another but it was a “one of a kind experience”. 

The most important lesson I’ve learned, and it’s something I still don’t understand perfectly, is the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the role it has in my life. Before my mission I put no attention to this great and eternal sacrifice on my behalf. Now I do. I know that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer. He died and has risen. He lives!  Because of Him I can one day have eternal life. I am sure of that. 

These two years have taught me a lot. Now it’s time to put them into practice!!

I love you all!!!!

Elder Rucker

May 21 Sister Russell

Dear Families,

I apologize that it has taken me a few weeks to get this sent to you.  Mission life is nonstop and free moments are rare.  But I know any photo of a son or daughter serving a mission is welcome anytime!

We attended the Mission President Seminar in Guatemala a few weeks ago and met your missionary in the hallway. We spoke and we think these six missionaries are awesome!

During the meeting, I snapped a photo of the elders sitting behind me, so I included those too! And another photo of them as they were presenting their part in front of 17 mission presidents and wives.  They shook hands and were hugged by all (of course, the Sisters hugged the Hermanas and the Presidents hugged the Elders).

Thank you for raising such wonderful children who are now excellent ambassadors for the Lord.

May your family be blessed for their service,

Warmly,

Hermana Peggy Russell
Wife of President Russell
Nicaragua Managua South

May 20, 201--ONE Week

It’s crazy mom!!! One week!!! I’m not sure how hungry I’ll be when I get home, but maybe just something small.

I am bringing home two suit cases. Whatever food you have at my homecoming will be excellent. I am really craving some of grandma’s bottled peaches and some Dr. Pepper sounds really good too. Grandma’s spaghetti sounds really good for my first homemade meal. 

This last week we are just working on getting everything ready for the change meeting. I am working like crazy!! I know this is  a real exciting email. haha. BUT I COME HOME NEXT WEEK!!!

I love you all!!!
I love you mom!!
Elder Rucker

ps. if you have any other questions you can email me. I’ll be at the computer every day this week.

 

May 13, 2014 TWO weeks and counting!

I love you too mom!!! It was great talking on Mother’s Day and we will have a lot of time in two weeks! The time has flown by for me. Tomorrow the Elders who entered into the mission with me but stayed in the Retalhuleu Mission go home!! I can’t believe it.  I love you so much and for the great example you and dad have been for me!!  Life is going to be great and I’m ready for the adventures that I’ll have!!

Con mucho amor!! Elder Rucker

May 6, 2014

Hey mom and family!!!

We had quite an eventful week. Wednesday we went down to Tiquisate to do interviews with president. We had to organize some things so president could do the interviews with the missionaries. After we finished, he gave us permission to visit some of our recent converts. Elder Finch was also in Tiquisate and had some converts he wanted to visit. I've included some pictures.  One is of Mama Ina, our cook. She made us a nice lunch everyday. Tiquisate is nice and hot. I'd forgotten how the heat was on the coast. And I was there for basically half my mission! 

Mama Ina

Thursday night we had to come into the office to do some work. We finished at about 10:45 and headed for the house. As soon as we pulled into our neighborhood one of the sister missionaries called me, frightened out of her mind. Someone was knocking on their door and they couldn't get a hold of anyone from their ward to come over and see who it was. We flipped the truck around and headed for their house. On the way there we got a hold of president and let him know what was going on. They don't live super far away but they live in a part where all the house look exactly the same. It took us a minute to  get to the house. When we arrived, we couldn't see anyone because of how the door is set up plus they live on the second level. Elder Finch and I  jumped out of the truck (there were four of us in the truck) and started up the stairs. It felt like something you see in a movie! We keep creepin up the stairs, waiting for whatever could be on the other side of the corner...we move around the corner and there standing is a.....chick of about 18 years. She turns to us and says, "Buenos noches Elderes all normal!!" We asked what she was doing at the sister's house at 11 at night. Turns out she had been kicked out of her house and was looking for a place to stay. She was a member so we talked a little more with her and then she decided to stay with one of her neighbors. We let president know that all was ok. After she left we talked with the sister missionaries. They weren't scared anymore, just upset that they had been woken up at 11 at night. By the time it was all said and done we got back to our house at about 12:15 in the morning. 

Adventure number two: Friday we had a meeting with the new missionaries. Afterwards, while we were eating lunch. I got a call from Sister Brough. Another sister was having a asthma attack and was passing in and out of consciousness. We were pretty close, so they sent us to take her to the hospital.  As soon as we got to her, we gave her a blessing and headed to the hospital. There was a ton of traffic on the way and she kept passing out. Her companion was with us and helped a lot. She kept her calm until we finally made it to the hospital. They got her stabilized and by that night she was good to go and they let her go home.

Well, I just keep having great adventures here in my last weeks of the mission! I'm loving it and learning so much!!

I love you all!! Elder Rucker

 

Good old Guatemala!! My companion and I had to go do emergency changes on Sunday--bright and early at 3:30 am. When we got back from picking up the other elder we saw this.

April 29, 2014

HEY FAM!!!

I had the coolest experience last Friday. Elder Finch and I, two other elders and two sister missionaries were invited to the Mission President Seminar. This seminar is for ALL the mission presidents in Central America. It was held here in Guatemala.  All sixteen mission presidents and their wives were there. The seminar is given by the area Seventy: Elder Amado, Elder Ochoa, Elder Duncan and Elder Clarke. President Brough called us last Thursday night and told us that Elder Ochoa had asked him to bring six missionaries who would be ready to answer questions about the mission. We were two of them. We showed up Friday to a really nice hotel called Barcelo where the seminar was being held. We waited out in the foyer until the meeting started. As we were waiting, a lot of the mission presidents passed by and talked to us. Elder Clarke also came out and talked to us. He

Elder Clarke

asked all of us where we were from. When I told him Spanish Fork, he said, "good ol’ Spanish Fark, eh!" I didn’t think I’d meet a General Authority who knew 'good ol’ Spanish Fark,' haha!!! At 8:00 when the meeting started they called us in and we started the meeting with them. Elder Ochoa directed and started the meeting by talking about repentance and the importance of it. After he finished, he called us up in front of everyone. We sat down and Elder Ochoa opened up the time so anyone could ask us questions. A few wives, Elder Clarke, and Elder Amado asked us questions. After someone would ask a question the six of us would take turns answering it. They asked us questions such as: “How do you overcome fear?” to “What is the biggest miracle we had seen in our missions?”. For about half an hour we had this question and answer time. I felt so great being up in front of all them answering questions. It’s really is hard to describe the feeling that was there.  When the time was over Elder Ochoa thanked us and said we could leave. I waited just a second to take my chair back with me. Then I saw Elder Amado call Elder Ochoa over and tell him something in his ear. Elder Ochoa then when back to the mike and told us to come back up front. He said we were going to do something a little differently. Usually when missionaries are with General Authorities the missionaries come up and shake all their hands. This time Elder Amado wanted to come by and shake our hands! The four General Authorities, their wives, all the mission presidents and their wives and all the tech crew people came up and shook our hands.  Most of the mission presidents gave us big hugs. Elder Clarke made a joke again when he passed by to shake my hand about being from Spanish Fark. (I get a lot of jokes on how I talk now that I’m around more Americans. haha).  That was the icing on the cake—shaking hands with all them. It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!

After we shook hands with everyone we headed out. What a great experience!

That night President Brough called and thanked us for the great answers we gave and for being great missionaries. Definitely a once in a life time experience!!

Let’s plan on talking at about 12:30 on Mother’s Day.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!

Love, Elder Rucker

I love you!!