October 5, 2014

Piedra de Peñol

September 30, 2014

Hi Mom,

Things are going good here. Every day is an adventure. And we are  plugging along at full speed. 

This week when we had lunch with a member, we went up to the top floor of the building where he lives. We had a great view.

Every Saturday we play football with all the members and investigators who want to play. This past Saturday not very many people showed up, so we bought pizza!

On Thursday we had interviews with President and Sister Pitarch. Everything went well.

That’s all for this week. 

Love you,  Elder Rucker.

September 22, 2014

Hey Mom,

There are many responsibilities of a Zone Leader. The biggest ones are be an example, be attentive to all the needs of the missionaries in the zone (health, materials, etc.) and interchanges. We work a lot with other missionaries so they can learn from us and we can learn from them. 

Cool story. The ward I am in goes really high up the mountain. So high, that every 15 days when we eat lunch with the Jaramillos we play with snow. Can you believe it? I play with SNOW!!!!!!!!!!! 

This week we had lots of meetings. On Wednesday, we had a meeting with all the Zone Leaders, Sister Leaders, Assistants to the President and President Pitarch. The meeting was all day. I learned a lot. After the meeting we played soccer. 

On Friday, we had another meeting. This time with President Pitarch and President Mantilla. President Mantilla is the stake President of the Stake that I am in.

SNOW!

We are planning to move in these coming weeks. There are many reasons we are tired of living in this house. If we move this week, I will send pictures next Monday.

On Sunday, we had another meeting. This time it was with all the ward mission leaders (leaders of the missionary work). Another responsibility of a zone leader is to be a bridge between stake leaders and missionaries.  

I love you so much.

Love, Elder Rucker

p.s. I am sorry if you went all crazy when you read that I played with snow. But the Jaramillo Family has a dog named "Nieve" which in English translates into snow. Funny right? You should have seen your faces. HAHAHAHAHAHAH

p.s.s. Another cool story. I have been working out so much that I was contracted to be a model. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

September 15, 2014

Hi Mom,

Things are going good here. Transfers are over and Elder Mansilla, my old companion, is gone. He no longer is in Colombia. He arrived in his home on Thursday. On Tuesday, I had to transport around Medellin the three missionaries in my zone that finished their missions. They were excellent examples for me. They were only in my zone for a short time but I learned a lot from them. 

The very same day on Tuesday I found some very interesting trees. They are growing on the side of a building. How Neat is that?

My new companion is Elder Gómez, he is from Mexico. He is 20. He, just like my past few companions, is finishing his mission. He only has 3 months left. 

This past week I finished my journal. That's to say that I ran out of pages. So I have to buy a new one.

A missionary returned from his mission on Thursday. We went to his homecoming to show our support and to talk with him a bit. His name is Elder Molina. He served in Paraguay. 

Everything is going good here. Steady as she goes.

Love, Elder Rucker

September 8, 2014

Hey Mom, 

   This week was really busy and today as well. My companion and I have lots to do. I don’t have much time to write.

The most important thing this week is that my companion, Elder Mansilla, has finished his mission. He was a great companion. My new companion will be Elder Gomez, he is Mexican. I have heard great things about him and I am excited to work with him. He will arrive in Medellin tomorrow. 

   Right now I have to go. Next week I will send a letter with more details of this week and the week that we are starting. 

I love you.

Love, Elder Rucker 

September 1, 2014

This is just a part of a talk that the Apostle Marion G. Romney gave in the April 1980 General Conference.

"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness."

I know his word to be true. If families apply his teaching they will see a change for the better in their family.  Share this and invite to participate in Elder Romneys challenge. 

Love, Elder Rucker

p.s. link to his talk

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng

September 1, 2014

Hello Mom,

Well this week was another great week. My companion had a birthday yesterday. We had two birthday parties for him. One during lunch and the other one in the night. After the birthday party in the night, we left the member’s house and that is when they attacked him. It is tradition in Colombia and in other Latin American countries to throw eggs and flour on the head of those who are having a birthday. That is what happened with my companion in the night. Egg and flour all over his head. It was really funny.  We are entering the last day of my companion here in Colombia. He will be returning to Chile next week but this week is his last full week as a missionary. 

Next week I will be sending you photos of everything.

Until then, Love Elder Rucker