Monday, January 19, 2015

January 19, 2015

Hey Mom,
This week was great, absolutely great.  First off, we had transfers. I might have said last week that I am staying with Elder Rojas and I am super excited. We got a lot of other Elders in our zone that I have worked with before and I am super happy. 

In the Zone we started a purification. Just as the people of Israel passed through a purification of 40 years we are doing a purification of 6 weeks. We started on Thursday. And since then,  my companion and I have just been full of the spirit. We have had so many experiences that I don't have enough time to write them all to you today. So I have decided to just share one.

There are lots of details that I have to leave out for a lack of time but you will have the big details, when I am back I will be able to tell the whole story. 

The purification changes from week to week. As the ZL, we think of things the missionaries can do to grow closer to Heavenly Father and leave behind, truly leave behind the world. One of the activities that came to mind was to do a contacting activity. So we talked with our District Leader and as a district we set up a contacting activity. Something special we did was that every activity would have guidelines of what to think about. And through revelation the Lord promised blessing to those who really were putting their best effort to become better. The blessing promised to us in this activity was a spiritual experience.  We knew the Lord would deliver on His blessing. And one thing my companion and I said before we started is that we wanted to find a family, not just any family but a family that had been prepared to receive us.

When we got to the area where we were going to contact the missionary that had organized the activity told us the Jehovah Witnesses were just getting done contacting the area and that he was thinking about changing the area. He felt sad because he and his companion had prayed and chosen the street where each companionship should contact.  They thought it wouldn't be effective to contact because the Jehovah's witnesses were just getting done. (Side note: I am not saying that the Jehovah Witnesses are bad it’s just that the people sometimes confuse us with them.) Anyway he was going to take us to another are, but I told him, "No, if you received the revelation for us to contact these streets that’s what we are going to do".  

We started to contact and started to see the blessings. In just one hour we were able to share with lots of people. As we got to the end of our street we both felt the Spirit but knew that we had not yet received the promised blessing of a Spiritual Experience. We looked back and knew we had missed something. We contact for revelation not door to door. But we had missed something. My companion felt we should contact one of the last houses. As we contacted the family inside they really weren't paying attention. We kept talking and sharing our testimony. Just as we were about to go the Mom said, "let them in". So we went in and started to share more with the family. Within minutes the daughter was in tears. She explained to us what had happened to the family in past years. The family has had it tough. A couple more minutes passed and the mom was in tears. The Spirit was present as my companion and I conversed with the family. All-in-all that family, my companion and I felt the Spirit and felt the love of our Heavenly Father. We left the house full of the Spirit. The Lord delivered on his promise. 

We have only been in the purification a few days and my companion and I are feeling it. I know in the weeks to come the experiences will be great. I also know I will see difficulties. I won’t give up.      

I love you family. There is much that I have to share with you. Just a little bit more until I am home. We are going to give it all we got, 100%. Best week yet and they are just getting better.  Love, Elder Rucker

Monday, January 12, 2015

January 12, 2015

Well Mom, 
It is true—I was sick. The dreaded Chincunguna finally got me. Everyone who has got it stayed sick for an average of one week. I was sick with Chincunguna for 24 hours and I beat it!!! I am 100% positive it was by the power of my Heavenly Father that cured me so quickly. You don't have to worry; I am running at 100%. 

Today we had transfers. I will be serving here in Monteria until the end of my mission and I will be staying with Elder Rojas. I am really happy. I will also be here with a couple of Elders from my group.

This morning we went and fed the monkeys. It was really cool. Well, this week was just a regular week. I am here putting along at full speed and we have lots of errands to run!


Love, Elder Rucker

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

January 5, 2014

Hello Mom,
We sang Christmas carols at a member’s house in a little town way out in the boonies. As they came out to listen, so did a lot of their neighbors. When we finished singing the member could hardly hold back tears. She sent her son into the mission field a month ago and was feeling a little down. We got there just in the nick of time to lift up her spirits. The Spirit was present.

This Sunday the teacher for the gospel principles class didn't show up on time so I taught the class. It was a spur the moment kind of deal. It all turned out great.

That is all for this week! Love, Elder Rucker

p.s. It is so hot here, that people go crazy and put boxes on their heads. It has reached 100 degrees every day this week.

Hmmm… I wondered why my letter was so short this week!!!  It could be because this is the information Jason received:
I have Chinkunguña, an insect borne virus. I am ok. I am pushing fluids and Tylenol.