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!!