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!!

April 23, 2014

President took us out to lunch to a steak house

Hey FAMILY!!!


Elder Roney and me

My Easter was a little different (we didn't get to have an Easter egg hunt) but it was still really good! On Sunday a choir of bells from our stake put on a little concert. They had a guy who narrated the life of Christ. It was about 90 minutes long. We took a couple of investigators and they all really enjoyed it. Elder Ochoa was there with his family. When we were leaving we ended up walking past his car and we got to shake his hand and talk for a second. Two times I've got to talk with him now!! He thanked us for our hard work and for our great enthusiasm in the mission.  

Right now Elder Finch and I are going to be traveling around the whole mission. From next week to almost the end of May we will be going to the interviews with President Brough. We are going so that Elder Finch knows how to get around all the mission. He is going to have to teach the new mission President where all the different zones are. We have ten different zones that we will have to travel to. It will be good time! 

Sorry it's a short writing week!!

I love you all so much!!

Elder Rucker

This one explains itself

 

April 18, 2014

HEY FAM!!
This week was super busy!! Monday we had a meeting with the new elders we'll be training. Tuesday we went to the MTC in Guatemala to pick up all the new missionaries.  It was weird. It had been 20 some odd months since I'd been there. It had changed quite. They remodeled it so it can hold more missionaries. After we left the MTC we took them to President's house so he could interview them. We had lunch there and then headed out to work. I work with an elder from Nicaragua and one from Georgia. They had a great time running around our area--up and down the big hills we have. As we were working, we saw a little old lady carrying some boxes. We went over and told her we would help. As we talked, she told us she was basically blind and could hardly see at night BUT that she could see that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I thought I had heard bad so I looked to the elder from Nicaragua and he had this same surprised look on his face.  We didn't tell her we were the missionaries when we helped her with the boxes but she new it was us.  (I remember my first day of the mission, I had an excellent experience too!!) By the end of the day they were pretty wiped out.

Wednesday we had change meeting and I got my last companion. His name is Elder Finch from Mesa, Arizona. Another North American!! Wednesday after we finished the change meeting  we went to President's house with all the missionaries who had finished their missions. We had the last supper and did some other things. They had their last interview while Elder Finch and I helped them do some stuff on Facebook (it's the only time we are allowed to get on Facebook). We had a really nice dinner and had their last testimony. Nice and early Thursday morning (I woke up at 3:30 am) we took them to the airport. 

Last week at stake conference I saw some of the people I found and taught when I was in Prados. Their names are Anselmo and Susan. I found them one day knocking on doors but left the area before they got baptized. Anselmo was there in a white shirt and tie and was given the Melchizedek  Priesthood!! I was talking with some of the other members when they came up and tapped me on the shoulder. It was cool to be able to see the way this gospel can change lives!!

Dillon hasn't said anything but I would go down and support the half marathon, even if I didn't run :)

I was just thinking about hitch-hiking or something home.  Then you guys won't have to drive to Salt Lake. That would be easier, right? You guys can just be waiting at the house. 

I love the Rucker Family!!

I love you all!!!   Elder Rucker

April 11, 2014

HEY FAM!!

How is Spring Break going? You just have to love that spring cleaning right? haha. (don’t worry I appreciate those times now!) 

Now don’t freak out that I’m writing this letter at 11 at night. All the office Elders are in the office working to get everything ready for the changes next week. President Brough likes to give us time to work in our areas so we leave the office at 3:30 in the afternoon to work in the field. Then if we need to work on more things we can come back in at nine after we finish preaching the word of God. For the last week we have been coming in at night because we have been super busy with multi zone conferences during the day and getting everything ready for changes by night. I’m having a good old time and learning a lot working with President. 

For the multi zone conferences Elder Barahona and I had to come up with a practice of our companionship study and do it in front of all the missionaries. It went really well. We would practice in front of them and show them good and bad examples of how their companionship study should be. Today was the last day of the multi zone conferences and they all turned out great. 

How was General Conference? My favorite talk would have to be Boyd K Packer. What a strong testimony he gave of Jesus Christ. Some of the others I really liked were from W. Craig Zwick, and Russel M. Nelson. I was able to learn a lot from all of the talks. Probably the most important thing I learned was that we need to stay true to the Gospel of Christ if we want to have a truly good life. I felt too, like it was directed to me.  I need to always continue in this path that I am now on. There is no turning back now. 

Next week I’ll have a new and my last companion of the mission. It’s going to be another North American. Next week I’ll tell you more about him and send a picture. 

Love you all and thanks for all the support and love you show for me!!

Elder Rucker

March 31, 2014

 

HEY!!
First off, last Friday we had to go to the Church area office here in Guatemala City. We had to get some tickets for the missionaries that are going home in a couple weeks. We waited a few minutes while the elevator showed up. Guess who was in the elevator when the door opened??? Elder Ochoa! One of the General Authorities of the Church. We got in the elevator with him and talked until we got to the floor we needed. Now I can say I’ve ridden in the elevator with a General Authority! 

As a mission we had a goal of 400 baptisms for the month of March. We were working super hard to do our part and to complete the goal my companion and I had set for our own area. On Friday it looked like we were not going to have any more baptisms in March. But Saturday we went out looking for a miracle. We were on diviciones with some of the zone leaders. I stayed in our area. At about six at night we decided to go past the house of a family who we hadn’t taught in a while but who could get baptized. When we showed up, the wife, Evelin, told us they had been waiting all afternoon for us! We taught them a short lesson. As we were leaving one of the daughters asked, “Can I get baptized tomorrow?” I asked Evelin if she wanted to get baptized too. She said, “Yes!” and so did their other daughter! Ricardo (husband) still didn’t want to get baptized but said it was alright that they got baptized. I called our district leader to see if he could do the interviews. He was still at the church so we headed down around 7:30 at night so they could have their baptism interview. Everything went well and they were baptized yesterday! Ricardo also said he would be baptized the 13 of Abril! Pure miracles!!! 

This next week we are going to be in zone conferences all week long. We will be doing some traveling. 

That’s all for this week. Hope all is going good back home! 

I love you all!!   Elder Rucker

p.s. I will be able to watch General Conference Saturday and Sunday—in ENGLISH!! 
Well… I didn’t actually play last week. Ha ha I just watched. I’m not a big fan of soccer.

March 25, 2014

Hey FAM!!

I can only use the church email system so I can't look at blogs. But I'm sure mine looks good. :)

Six missionaries work in the office doing random things to keep the mission running. My companion and I are the only assistants.

Yesterday we had three baptisms! It was awesome. One was Patricia, the mom of two recent converts. Her son baptized her and gave her the Holy Ghost. It was a cool experience. Her son had never given anyone the gift of the Holy Ghost, but when he did it, he gave her a wonderful blessing. The Holy Ghost definitely guided him. The other baptism we had was an elderly couple named Rosalio and Antonia. We had their wedding on Saturday. On Sunday they got baptized! Rosalio is 71 and Antonia is 69.  It's awesome to see people of this age come unto Christ and receive a forgiveness of their sins.

We have been doing lots of diviciones with other missionaries. President wants us to work with the new zone leaders. Tomorrow I'll be going back out to the coast to work. I love the coast. haha  Now that I'm used to the climate a little cooler, I'll get to see how I do in the heat out there.

Life is going great. We are cruising right along in the work of the Lord. We can't stop now!!

Love you all!!   Elder Rucker

March 17, 2014

 

Left to Right:  Elder Crompton, Elder Barahona (my companion),  me, and

Elder Rony

Como estan??

My new area is just outside the capital. I’m in a town called Boca del Monte. Our office is in downtown Guatemala City. It’s a lot different from my last areas. Basically my whole mission I’ve been in areas really far away from the capital. Now I’m back in it. It’s nice being here. Our house has a washer AND a dryer. First time for everything!  haha. I live with six other elders. I’m just glad you taught me to keep the house clean. Living with six other elders makes me appreciate even more that my mom kept her house clean!! I keep our room clean but it’s tough keepin the kitchen nice and clean.

My area is awesome too.  This next week we plan to baptize seven people. We are hoping all goes well. My area has nice areas and it has areas of little tiny houses of tin. I love it.

My new comp is awesome too. The Lord has really blessed me with great companions

Well there’s a short run down! Hope all goes well this week!!

I love you all!! Elder Rucker

The Office

ps Luke emailed me today. He told me his homecoming is April 20. I’m not sure what time or where. I’ll let you know. 

pps A dental visit would be good. Teeth whitening??

ppps Also I need to figure out my driver’s license.

pppps Well you know how much I love shopping for clothes hahaha. I have two pairs of jeans that I’ll bring back and a couple of my button up shirts. That should get me by... then we'll go run to Cal-Ranch and buy some clothes :)

ppppps hope you liked all my p.s.’s haha



The Hilux.  Elder Aragon, (one of the secretaries) and me. Yeah… they have to drive us around. My companion and I don’t have driver’s licenses.

 

March 14, 2014

Dear family of Elder Mitchell Jason Rucker

It is with appreciation that we inform you that Elder Rucker has been called to serve as an Assistant to the President in the Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission.  I know this calling comes from God. He has become a tremendous example to all the missionaries in the field.

As an Assistant, he will have a tremendous influence on the entire mission. I will rely on his counsel and love to better the people of Guatemala.

We appreciate having Elder Rucker as a missionary in the greatest work on earth. The Lord has and will require much from him.

Yours Faithfully,
M. Joseph Brough

March 10, 2014

Hello Fam!

I had changes!!!  I’m actually back in the same stake that I was in about six months ago. It’s just a different ward. I have a new assignment too. I showed up to the change meeting and the assistants to the President told me that he wanted to talk to me. I didn’t know what was gonna happen. I went over where he was doing the interviews. He called me into his office, sat me down and told me that the Lord had called me to be his new assistant. I couldn’t believe it. I can say I didn’t feel adequate but I know that if I trust in the Lord I’ll be able to complete! I’m super excited to be able to work so close with President Brough and to be able to help in this great work!

My new companion is Elder Barahona from Honduras. All I can say is that I have been really blessed with my companions. Next week I’ll send a picture. 

Our schedule is a little different. We are in the office on Mondays but we still have quite a bit of time to work the rest of the week. So from now on I’ll probably be writing on Mondays. There might be some times that I don’t write until Thursday or Friday. I’ll still write you every week. 

Last week we got to take all the missionaries who were going home to the airport at 3:30 in the morning! It was a good time. The only bummer is that I can’t drive because...well my license got suspended haha. There are other elders who drive us around or we take a taxi. 

The movie you sent was awesome!! Thanks so much for that. I really have the best family out there!!

March 4, 2014

Dear Fam!!
Sorry about not writing very much last week. :(

Well, I like teaching but I don't think I'll be teaching at the MTC haha.  I'm thinking about welding again and then going to school.

I do remember watching Megan turn through the pages of books.  She always looked so happy doing it.

So last week we found this old feller named Hector.  Just like one of the good ol' boys from back home.  He loves to tell stories.  Anyway, we have been teaching him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  During our lesson, a couple of days ago, he started talking about how he had visited one of his sick friends.  That sparked an idea in my head.  So after we shared the messages with Hector I asked for the directions of his sick friend and asked if we could go visit him. He told us he had a better idea.  He got his cowboy hat and said he was going to show us where they lived and present us to them!! So he took us to the house of his friends and introduced us.  Not only that, he stayed for the lesson and testified that we were sent from God.  That's not all.  When we visited him the next time, he told us he wanted to visit another friend. So after we talked, Hector took us to visit him.  He did the same thing: introduced us and testified of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!! After that he told us he had about five more people he wanted us to visit!!! Now we just have to help him get to church and he will be a great member of the church!!

The time is winding down; faster than I want it to.  But I'm going to keep focused and give it all I've got.

I found out yesterday that I am being transferred.  I was only here six extremely fast weeks.  But I learned a lot from this area.  Who knows where I'll be headed.  The only thing I know is that I'm gonna give it all I got!!

Thanks for all your love and support!!
Say hello to GG and the rest of the fam!!

Love, Elder Rucker!!!

February 18, 2014

Hey Fam!!

Last week Elder McQueen and I were out teachin the word of God when we came across a guy who spoke English. He invited us into his house. Turns out he had just returned from Cali where he had been living and working for the last few years. Really cool guy. He is the tree hugger type but super cool. haha  He listened to our message and had some good questions but it’s gonna be a few years before he accepts a baptism date.  But what was really different, was that we taught him in English! It was super weird. I have never taught in English, always in Spanish.  Elder McQueen and I always talk in English but hearing myself teach in English was funny. It was a cool experience.

Mijael lives down here alone. He has family but they live back in the states. And now he is headed to Mexico to do some car business. Who knows, he might come one day and if he does he will definitely visit!

It is rough when it feels like the people don’t progress. But that’s when we have to do all we can to help them and let the Lord do the rest. We just keep looking forward!!

Hope you all have a great week!!   I love you all!!

Elder Rucker