November 26, 2013

Hello FAM!!

This week went really well. At the first of the month President Brough’s counselor asked me to give a talk in the adult session of our District Conference. I got all prepared and everything. I talked about how the members can better help the missionaries in the work of the Lord.  Remember—I got all prepared. Saturday was the conference. We showed up and took our seats. I was going to use a Liahona so I pulled it out of my backpack and my notes. The conference started and I was announced as the first speaker. No big deal—I was prepared. I had everything planned out. I had marked everything nicely in the Liahona and in my scriptures so it would go nice and smooth. After the prayer and announcements, I got up and started walkin to the stand. As I was walking towards the stand I realized I had forgotten my scriptures!!! It totally spaced my mind. By the time I remembered I was too far away to go back and get them. I just kept walkin. Luckily one of the guys on the stand had his scriptures out and I asked him if I could borrow his. I started my talk with a joke about leavin my scriptures. Everyone had a good laugh. I talked for almost 15 minutes. I had never given a talk for that long before. Now I feel a lot more comfortable with giving talks. But next time I’m goin to take my scriptures out of my backpack!!

At this time of the year, I just want to thank you for all you do. I really have the world’s best family and friends. I really don’t know what I would do without you. Thank you so much. I’m also so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ and what He did for everyone of us. And for the chance that He gives us to be clean of our sins and return to His Glory!

I love you all and have a great Thanksgiving!!

Love Elder Rucker

ps I’m pretty positive I will be coming home on May 29. This is weird but here in a month or so they will send you all my return info. What day, time, and airplane information. Time is flyin by!!

pps My camera died. So I bought a new one. It takes nice pictures :)

 

 

November 19, 2012

HEY FAM!!

After I left the internet place last week,  I said a little prayer and had a feelin come over me. I felt like all was gonna be fine and that it was just some wrong info.  After that I felt awesome. I was able to work like crazy the whole week.  It was a good lesson and I was able to learn a lot.

We talked to one of the oldest ladies here in our branch and she doesn't speak much Spanish. She told us a little story.  The moral of her story was that God gives us challenges so that we remember Him. Those challenges show the great love He has for all His children. If he didn't give us these challenges we would forget and would not be able to enter into His Kingdom but with the challenges we are humbled and go to Him for help. He is always there to help so that one day we are let into His Rest.

Thanksgiving is gettin close. Let's all think of the things we are the most thankful for and thank our  Heavenly Father!!
I love you all!

November 12, 2013

Hey Mom and Dad- 

I wanted to take the time to thank you two for never giving up on me. Being here on the mission has had a big impact on my life. I have gained firm faith in Christ and I know that everything is possible with Him. I know that the challenges we have in this life will only make us stronger. I have learned to look at life in an eternal perspective. With that—it gives me peace of mind.

I feel my mission has been pretty easy goin but I have learned a lot. God prepared me to take on these challenges now, in this part of my mission, and I’m sure there will be more to come. He has given me the strength and desire to keep goin. To go out and help His Children come unto Him. 

I know Christ came into this world and suffered and died for our sins. His atonement is big enough for all, even for a kid like me. Now I have to keep helpin the people of Guatemala and my most cherished ones—come and know of the Greatness of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

I love you mom and dad!!

There ain’t nothin worth doin that is easy! I’m ready to take the challenge!

Elder Rucker

November 5, 2013

Well... I had changes this last week. I'm still in the same area but I have a new companion. Elder Silva from Mexico. He is way cool. We are getting along real well. He very well could turn out to be one of my favorite comps. 

I really am sorry for such a short email. I took the time to write to a friend.  Being on the mission has opened up my mind to a whole different perspective and I feel the spirit guiding me in what I do. 

I feel the prayers you guys do for me and am so very thankfull for that.

Thanks for all you do and support!!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Here are some pics from my zone. 

The one with the food is a native food here called Fihambre. Mom you would not like it. It's full of different meat. Dad you would really enjoy it.

October 29, 2013

Hey FAM!!

Well this week I have quite a story.

First, our Zone is very big. On Saturday we had two baptism interviews on two different ends of the Zone. We did divicions with some elders so we could get them done. I went with an Elder to Patzicia to do the interviews. We get there and found out the lady and her daughter left to run an errand.  They were not going to be back until 630 that night. We decided to wait because she said she would be there. We went out and worked until that time. But she never showed up. Now it was too late to get on a bus to head back to our área. So we called the old couple missionaries to pick us up. They cruised down and picked us up.

On the way back the fog came in real thick.  We could hardly see. Elder Tanner (señor misionary) was drivin back and accidently crossed into a turn lane that wasn’t very long. Bam! We smashed into the curb! Don’t worry—no one got hurt! (We weren’t goin very fast) But the oil pan got a big ol’ hole in it and we blew two tires. We pulled over and shut it off before any more damage was done.

I called President Brough and let him know what had happened. Then I called the Branch Pres. 12:00 Sunday morning we made it back to the house!! What a long baptism interview! All I can say is that I’m so thankful and lucky to have my buddies and family who would come and get me if I ever had a break down!

Adventures on the misión!!

Tomorrow I’ll be gettin’ a new comp. We have already blown through another change!

Hope you all have a great week!!

With much love

Elder Rucker!!

 
p.s. This is a picture of Mitchell with Jayden’s companion’s family in Guatemala. Jade is serving in Colombia.  It’s a small world when two brothers from Utah can have contact with the same family in two different countries in South America.