December 30, 2013

Well this week was an adventure, not really but it was a good week. 

Last Monday I took my companion out for pizza for Christmas. We ate at a place called Jenos. It was pretty good but nothing like American pizza.


Tuesday was the highlight of the week because I called my family. =) I was so excited to talk to you guys. I was so happy to see each and every one of you. Now it is only a little while more before we will be able to talk again. 

On Christmas day we had a zone activity. All the missionaries in Armenia got together to play soccer, have a BBQ, and to do a gift exchange.  It was super fun and the food was good. For the gift exchange I gave a really cool wallet and a cheapo hat. I guess it was what you could call a gag gift and the wallet was the actual gift. I got a pencil holder that has Colombian style. At first I thought it was stupid. But once I got home and put my colored pencils in it I could not stop staring at it. It has real coffee beans on it.  Unfortunately the zone activity was outside and I was wearing shorts. It was the first time in nine months that my legs had seen real sun, so they got burned. My face also got a little burned but not too bad.


Then after the 25th it was back to work as normal. Working hard and helping the people of Armenia.

Today we have transfers, so next week I will let you know what happens.

Love, Elder Rucker 




Authentic Guatemalan tie from Elder Azañon's family.

Silly Jade!

We are making Natilla for a branch activity. It is kind of like pudding but denser. We made it at a member’s house. At first it is easy to stir then it hits a point and becomes really hard to stir.



December 25, 2013

Feliz Navidad

December 16, 2013

This past week was really good.

First, last p-day we found a really good BBQ place. It cost 6000 pesos for soup, salad, steak, rice, spaghetti and a drink. So…basically 3 dollars for all of that, what a deal!

Second, this week was our Christmas dinner with President Pitarch. All the missionaries in the eje Caftero traveled to Pereira for the dinner. There were about 80 missionaries. We had a talent show and a conference to start us off. Then to finish off the night we went to a place called Leñon and Parrilla. It is an Argentine steak house. I got the Churrasco. It is basically just a big chunk of meat. They also gave us some really good mango juice. During the dinner we did a gift exchange. I gave an artisan bag and a bracelet with the letters MCM (Mission Colombia Medellin). And in return I got a vacuum Flask. I consider that a good exchange. I felt bad for some of the other missionaries that gave good gifts but received crappy ones. While we were in Pereira we stayed in a hotel and it was pretty cool. The president’s gift was a scripture case for my Preach my Gospel.

Lastly, this past week I completed 9 months in the mission. Isn't that crazy?

That is basically all for me.

I love you so much mom.
Love,

Elder Rucker

 

December 9, 2013

Hey Mom, 

This week was quite a week--a lot happened. 

Every year on the 7th and 8th of December they have what is called "Noche de Velas" (Night of the candles) and it is really pretty. Everyone makes colorful decorations, puts them in the street and then puts candles inside of the decorations. All the streets are lit up and it is really cool.

We worked with our Branch President one day and he showed us a couple of short cuts through the forest that will help us save a bunch of time. I felt so cool trekking through the Forest.

We had a baptism this week. We have been working with this sister for quite awhile. Elder Azañon had been teaching this investigator even before I got here. But now she will be a strong member.

Yesterday was the world-wide church Christmas devotional. We went and it was really cool. One of the speakers used a story of a family from Spanish Fork. I nearly jumped out of my seat when he said the words "Spanish Fork, Utah". 

Lastly, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. They told me one hour before the meeting that I was going to speak. So I quickly thought of some things to say and it turned out pretty good.

Love Elder Rucker

December 2, 2013

Well Mom this week was an Adventure.

First off, when it rains here in Armenia—it pours, pours buckets of water. My area is on a gradual hill. The hill is not too steep. It is just steep enough to let the water go down. And when it rains here the water goes down in a river of about 6 inches. The whole week has been this way. In the morning it is cold and then in the afternoon it is hot and sunny. Then at about 4 or 5 pm it just starts raining again. This is basically my life when it starts to rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3eLJdb2ZN4.

Since this week was Thanksgiving I did a little celebration with some street KFC. It is like street tacos but street KFC. It was actually really good. However, I told my companion that if I get sick the next day we will know that it was because of the chicken. 

That was about all for this week

Love Elder Rucker