January 28, 2014 Birthday wishes to ME

Mitchell sent me a sweat letter for my birthday.  He was a great kid before he left on his mission.  He is going to come home an incredible man. 

January 28, 2014

HEY FAM!! 
I have a funny story about Elder McQueen and me. Here we were teachin a guy about the Gospel of Christ. The lesson was goin great, he had told us that he was more catholic than the Pope but he was still listening and asking good questions. When out of the blue he started telling us that George Bush senior and junior are aliens. Out of the middle of nowhere!!! He started explaining that they have eyes like snakes and that they can change forms so that no one knows who they are. Elder McQueen and I all but lost it. I was doing everything I could to keep it together. Elder McQueen kept asking questions about it! I about said let’s go because i was going to start laughing. I think that’s what happens when people have too much time on the computer. haha But we ended up pulling ourselves together and getting the lesson back on track. At the end it turned out to be a really good lesson. Good times on the mission!!

Elder McQueen is an awesome companion. My whole mission I have been blessed with great comps.

I think I could have one more area change before I come home. Time will tell! 

I love you all and thanks for your support!!!

Have a great week!! Elder Rucker

January 23, 2014

HELLO FAM!!

What a great week I had!! Felipe got baptized, I had changes, and I met an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

On Saturday we baptized Felipe! (it was my b-day present haha) It was an awesome experience. His wife told us she hadn’t seen him change like this in all her life. I pray that he will be able to move forward with this same excitement all his life. The branch president baptized him in freezing cold water. When we told him the water was cold he said, "It doesn’t matter to me, I just want to be baptized!"

 

Tuesday I had changes. Four and a half months I was in Solola. It was a great time up there. I learned so much and had awesome experiences. I also got to meet and make friends with great people. It was kind of a bummer leavin but it’s part of the mission.  Now I’m in a town called San Lucas Sacatapequez. It’s part of the zone Antigua Guatemala. My new comp is from...you’ll never guess… MAPLETON!! His name is Michael McQueen. Maybe you know some of the family? He is from the north end. We go home at the same time.

Yesterday we had a conference with just missionaries and Elder Quinton L Cook and some other General Authorities. What an awesome conference!! I got to shake his hand and look him in the eyes! haha It was awesome. It’s different meeting them in person than just seeing them in General Conference. He is a normal guy that God has called to be an Apostle. Well, a normal guy with a lot of faith. He talked to us about how we are assigned our missions. Every Friday a couple of the Apostles sit down and look at pictures of all the new missionaries and a list of where they need missionaries. Then they follow the spirit and put us where we need to be. I learned a whole lot in this conference. God truly has His hand in this work!!

Well that was my week in the mission! I’ll be sendin you some pics of my comp and new area. The pic I sent is from the baptism on my birthday. Thanks again for all the birthday wishes!!

Love you all!!

Elder Rucker

 

p.s. I got a call Saturday morning from the branch pres.  “Elder, we don’t have anybody to give a talk tomorrow, can you give one?”  haha of course I told him, YES. I’m gonna be pro at givin talks before I get home.

January 14, 2014--Birthday Week!

HEY FAM!! 

Thanks for the birthday video! That was awesome. It makes me feel great havin a family that supports me so much!
Felipe is doin great. This Saturday he is going to be baptized! 

 

Alright here is something that hasn’t happened to me for a while. So, Elder Silva and I were on our way back from the house of some other elders. We had just finished doin diviciones with them. When we get on the bus we always stand at the front of the bus and share a quick message. We basically contact everyone in the bus. Elder Silva started in the front and I started at the back and we work towards each other. Most people just say no thanks and we talk with someone else. Well, I see Elder Silva start to talk with an American lady. I can also see she is gettin kind of loud with him. I was in the back and couldn’t hear but I could tell she was one that didn’t want ANYTHING to do with it. It happens a lot but we don’t get discouraged. Anyway, I sat down and waited until we got to our stop. I got off the bus and was waiting for Elder Silva and here comes this lady. I say hello to her and she comes unglued on me about the church! Long story short she didn’t say anything too nice. I shared my testimony with her and offered to help her with her bags.  She refused and walked off. 

Hopefully one day she will be humble enough to listen to what God has to offer her in His restored Church. 

Talkin with people like her keeps things interesting. The most important is that I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. And I’m not afraid to tell it to anyone! I love the mission!!

 

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes! You are all awesome!!

Love, Elder Rucker

January 7, 2014

HEY MOM and FAM!!

The year has been goin pretty chill for me too. Just cruisin along, enjoyin every minute.

Yesterday we went to a natural reserve with the whole zone for our p-day. That was cool. It was basically in the jungle of Guatemala.

The work keeps movin on. We have been workin a lot with a guy named Felipe. We baptized his family last month. He wants to be baptized but has a few things to work on.  The whole family is very humble and they are super excited to be members. Every time we go and talk with Felipe he asks when his baptism will be. I just hope he can stay strong and follow through. That will be the key.

The New Year has started!

Have a great week! Tell the fam hello for me!

Love you mom!!

December 31, 2013

HOLA!!

The next time we talk… I’ll all but be home. The time is going way too fast!!!

My week was pretty chill too. After we talked, my companion and I went to the house of the branch president and had lunch with his family. We had chicken and rice for lunch. That night we had tamales too! It’s definitely different than our Christmas dinner.

Elder Silva and I have been workin like crazy. Our zone baptized 16 people in December. Yesterday we had our monthly leadership meeting with President Brough and he was very happy for the work we did. He used our zone as an example of great faith. Everyone thinks our zone doesn’t baptize. But we showed them! President said it’s because we have faith that we are going to complete our goals. I felt good knowin that it was Elder Silva and I that helped guide our zone to this achievement.

It was a pretty relaxed week. I love you all and thanks for all the support!!

p.s. The caramels and the peanut brittle you sent were delicious!!!! The only problem is I don’t have anymore. ha ha

p.p.s. Mason sent me an email. It sounds like he is doin good. He is driving a semi out in Roosevelt. Thanks for texting him for me!!

LOVE you MOM!!!