My Proud Idahoan Heart

FIRST WEEK IN THE FIELD!!!! I am finally in Puebla!! It has been a long process just to get to this point, but it's finally here!! Honestly, this has been a really long and hard week, but I am already seeing God's hand in all things which is good and I look forward to what the rest of my mission has in store for me.

So I left at 8 in the morning last Monday, and it was so sad having to leave my district and everyone else at the CCM. So, we got on a bus and drove to the airport where we got on another bus and then we were on our way!! The drive to Puebla was soooo cool. We drove through the mountains and we passed through all these fields with farmers with their donkeys carrying carts. We also drove through a national forest in Puebla and it actually reminded me of Idaho a little bit. But, after like 2 1/2 hours, we finally arrived in Puebla!!

When we got there, I met my Mission President and his wife, Presidente Jensen y Hermana Jensen!! Then the next day, all 18 of the new missionaries got their new trainers!! Like half of our entire mission met in a room and everytime a new companionship was announced, everyone got hyped!! It was seriously so much fun!! My trainer's name is Elder Zaldivar and he is from Tijuana, Mexico. Our first area together is Angelópolis. It is the richest part of Puebla and everyone in our mission  calls it Boujee and Fresh. And it's absolutely hilarious you can tell some of the people here haven't seen too many gringos before.

I don't think I'll ever forget my first encounter with the bishop of our ward. When I first met him he looked at my nametag and said, "Why are you white??" and I literally just stood there and stared at him because you know no one has ever asked me that in English or Spanish. And then he replied "I thought you would be black cause the only other Ritchie I know is Lionel Richie." We all just burst out laughing after that.

But, I love the members here so much!! They are all so friendly, welcoming, and supportive!! And they all tell me that my Español is really good which is just a straight up lie, but it feels good to hear anyways!! One thing I've noticed about the Poblanos is that when they have you over for dinner they just never stop giving you food. Every house I've visited gives me some food of some sort. But, I don't mind at all because the food here is absolutely amazing and definitely worth the hype!! The other day, a Hermana gave us Tacos de Papas, which is basically mashed potatoes in tacos. Never before has my Idahoan heart been more proud than to see the people of Mexico utilizing potatoes in their tacos.

For a spiritual thought, I want to talk about Miracles. Every Friday we have a District Counsel and in that we have to talk about one miracle we saw in our lives that week. On my very first day after a meal with an Hermana, she told us she needed a blessing for the sick and afflicted. My trainer said "ok we can do that I will anoint the oil and my companion will seal it and bless you". My heart dropped. I was so scared I had never even thought about doing a blessing in Spanish before. But, I continued in Faith and did the best I could. When I finished, she was in tears and I hope it was the spirit that I too felt strongly and not the fact that my spanish was so horrendous that it made her cry haha. Mormon 9:19 says, "And if there were ^amiracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he ^bchangeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles." God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. He is a God of miracles yesterday, today, and forever too. There was no way I could've given that blessing without the power of God. Always remember what President Nelson said: To seek for and expect miracles.

Well, that pretty much sums up my first week here. So much happened!! Now, my P-Day is on Monday too. Just as a heads up also, my mission doesn't allow me to use Facebook Messenger so I can only communicate through Email if any of you want to communicate with me. Thanks for all the support from all of you. I hope all of you all are doing fantastic and I love you all!!

1. Sunset in Puebla

2. Presidente y Hermana Jensen

3. Elder Zaldivar!!

4. Hermanas in our Ward!

5-6. My Thanksgiving Dinner: Eating Tacos and Watching the World Cup

7. Shoutout to #11E