March 25, 2014

Hi Mom,
My new companion has been in the mission for 15 months.
This week passed by really fast. 

On Friday President Pitarch came down to Armenia for a priesthood conference. He took advantage of this and we had interviews with him and Hermana Pitarch. They are good and they both say hello. Also President Pitarch said that there is another missionary from Spanish Fork in the Mission. He said his name is Elder Aust. The name does not ring a bell but maybe you know him.

I found and bought some American cereal. I finished the box of OH'S in two days, they were really good! I also cooked a little bit. What you see is tomato, butter and salt. It is really good to eat with bread. 

Elder Nobre had a birthday so we had a little celebration for him. Also, Elder Coc broke a bone in his hand. Don't ask me how because I couldn't tell you.

We have transfers this week.  I most likely will be leaving. I have been here in Armenia for six months. Whatever happens I will let you know. 

With lots of love, Elder Rucker

March 18, 2014

Hey Mom, 

Well this week my companion was sent off to Medellin. It was a little sad and really weird. I was without a companion. So for one day I worked with the Branch Mission Leader. He is really cool. His name is Osias.

The day after Elder Villacorta left, my new companion arrived. His name is Elder Galicia and he is from Mexico. He is really funny. He is always really relaxed.  He doesn't laugh a lot but says things that are really funny, so I laugh enough for the both of us.

This week I completed one year in the mission. WOW!!! How time flies. In the morning of the 13th of March, we went to a recent convert’s house.  We ate a little breakfast. Then we had a normal day. When we got home the other Elders of the house attacked me with eggs and with flour. I was a cake ready for the baking. Then I bought Pizza for everyone. 

Today for p-day we had a really cool activity of the Zone. We went to Salento (I have talked a little about it before). Anyway, we climbed up a mountain to a place where there are a lot of different kinds of humming birds. The town of Salento and the sights around the town are well known in Europe, so there are a lot of Europeans visit. Anyway, when we were hiking down the mountain I had the opportunity to talk to a couple of people in English. A couple of them asked why we were in Colombia. BOOM!  Perfect opportunity to share the gospel. It was the first time that I have talked about the Gospel/church in English in over a year. It was really cool, but at the same time really hard. I have forgotten a lot of gospel words in English. It was a really cool experience. 

Have a great week. 

Love,  Elder Rucker

March 10, 2014

Hey Mom,

HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY. I don't know if we celebrate this holiday in the USA but we did celebrate it down here. 

Love the photos that you sent me. I have a couple questions. One, where did you find the Pinguinos and two where did you take the ‘after photo’ of Wally?  The hardwood looks different.

Well… this week was really good. We had a really cool activity in the Branch. It was an activity of soccer. We played with investigators and with members. It was a good opportunity for the investigators to get to know the members and vice versa. 

The big event of the week is that my companion had a birthday.  He turned 22. We had a little party and ate some cake and pizza.

Lastly, Sunday night we received a call from the zone leaders saying that my companion had an emergency transfer to Medellin. It was really weird. So this morning I sent him off to Medellin. I will let you know if I get any information on him.

Love Elder Rucker

 Oh yeah, I almost forgot. After this week, I will have completed one year. Crazy!!!

February 23, 2014

Hello Mom--

This week was really cool.

Story one. We have an investigator named Yuber. He found us about four weeks ago. He speaks English. At first we thought he only wanted to speak with us to practice his English, but that was not true.  He really wants to learn about the Gospel. And this week we received a call from him. He told us he knows one of the counselors of the mission. Apparently when Yuber was in the military he went through some tough times and the counselor of the mission (President Rodriguez) at the time was one of Yuber’s leaders and helped him a lot. So they have a really good connection.  Anyway, Yuber did not know that he was a member, but this week they were chatting on Facebook and Yuber said that he was meeting with two missionaries from the Mormon Church and that is when President Rodriguez told Yuber that he was a member. Yuber called us immediately to tell us. And the second he hung up, the counselor of the mission called us too. The world is really small.

Story two. We had two baptisms this week: one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The baptism we had on Saturday was the son of a member. His name is Mateo (Matthew). He did not get baptized at age 8, but when he turned 9 he decided he wanted to be baptized so we were the ones that had to work with him. The baptism we had on Sunday was a young woman. We baptized her mom about a month ago and after the baptism of her mom she said that she wanted to be baptized. Her baptism was at 7 in the morning on Sunday. Both of the baptisms were really cool. 

Last story for the week. On Sunday we went to a member’s house so he could partake of the sacrament. I said the blessing for the water. It was the first time since I left on my mission that I helped with the sacrament. It made me think of my days in the Priests Quorum. It was a really neat experience.

That’s all from this week. 

Love, Elder Rucker    

March 3, 2014

Hello Mother,

First off I need to say, "Tan pinchada". Here in Colombia that means rich. The new car looks really good.

Well, this week there were a couple things that happened that were really cool.

First off, I found Dory and Marlin this week--you know the fish from "Finding Nemo". Dory is really cool.  She is still having troubles with her memory but the good news is that the doctor gave her some medicine to help her. The only problem is that she can’t remember where she put it. hahahahahahahahah

Second, my companion made us dinner one day. It was really simple but really good. He made a tomato sauce with an onion stir fry. Yum! 

Third, the mosquitoes down here in Colombia would put the mosquitoes of Utah to shame. When they bite, it itches like crazy. And sometimes if you are lucky you will get bit by a dirty mosquito. They itch even more and swell up! That happened to me this week. 

Last off, we helped the Branch with a baptism. We passed by a member’s house one day and she said her son wanted to be baptized.  We put everything together to make it happen.

That’s my letter for the week. 

Love you,
Con mucho Amor 
Elder Rucker