Holy Guacamole

Pretty much sums it up.

Every few minutes, I think, "Holy guacamole, I am going to Peru in a week."  or "Dang Gina! In a week from this very moment, I will be in a different hemisphere."  or "I should probably eat all of the American food I can, because in 157 hours I will only get to eat guinea pig for 18 months."

And to top off my excitement level for the past two days, I got my mission travel plans yesterday!  I was walking outside to take a missionary letter out to the mail, and a FedEx envelope was under my doormat. Totally didn't realize what it was until I was halfway down the front walkway. I flipped and ran back up to my house to open it with my mom.

I am going straight to Peru!! Not Provo!!  I am leaving on the morning of September 11th from OKC to Atlanta.  Then I am supposed to meet up with other missionaries in Atlanta and fly from there to Lima.  I am pretty sure my Visa hasn't gone through yet, because my paperwork says that I'll be entering Peru as a tourist..and there wasn't a Visa included in my travel packet.  Hopefully it goes through soonish so I am not deported.

Things are getting real.

  

Single Digits and Miracles

First of all, can we please just take a few minutes to acknowledge that I am finally in the single digits of my mission count down? 9 days, people!  NINE!  Hallelujah!  I feel like I have been waiting forever!  I'm pretty sure the last 22 days have been the longest days of my life.  But I have finally made it into the single digits, and I am one happy girl.

Next I want to share a little miracle that has been happening in my life.  It started about a month ago when the missionaries texted me to ask me to meet them for an appointment.  I drove to the address that they gave me and rang the doorbell.  A Hispanic woman opened the door and started talking to me in Spanish.  Haha the missionaries were so excited that they found a Spanish speaking investigator for me.  I was able to return with them a couple times to teach this sweet lady.  I didn't spend much time with her, but over the next couple weeks I grew to love her so, so much.  She is an absolutely incredible woman and the light of Christ shines from her.  She has such a strong spirit.  I am beginning to understand what missionaries mean when they say they love the people they teach.

She agreed to come to Church this week, and I was praying that she would feel the Spirit and have a desire to return.  It was Fast and Testimony Meeting, and she sat with me and my family.  The Spirit was so, so strong.  Tears were running down her cheeks.  I know that Heavenly Father inspired certain individuals to say things that would touch her heart, and testify to her that the Church is true.  It was an amazing experience.  As I was sitting next to her, I realized that another of my prayers had been answered.  I had also been praying that my testimony could be strengthened, because lately I have been feeling a little bogged down with all of the things that I have to do before I leave on my mission, that I sometimes forget why I am going on a mission.  This testimony meeting reminded me of the why.

This experience strengthened my testimony so much, and made me even more excited to serve. (If that's even possible.)  I love this Church and I know that God loves each of His children and does answer prayers.

Phillip

This is Phillip. He is my first missionary companion. And he is adorable.

For my 18th birthday, Libby promised to take me to Build a Bear because I was an eighteen-year-old who had never been to Build a Bear. How pathetic is that?  Phillip came over a year and a half late, but he was worth the wait. While we were in Utah, Lib and I hit up Build a Bear and guess what...They have missionary bears! Phillip's outfit is the whole shebang with dress socks, shoes, missionary tag, tie, and Book of Mormon. My life is complete.

I chose the softest, most cuddly bear they had. Then I got to choose Phillip's heart, make a wish on it, rub it on my nose for good luck, and kiss it. I filled him with stuffing until he was just the right amount of huggable. Lib and I chose all of his clothes, got him dressed, made his birth certificate, and decided on his name. The name Phillip was Libby's idea, and it is perfect. Phillip is perfect and I have the best little sister in the world.  Now when I am in Peru and I need a hug from my little sister, I will hug Phillip, and it will be like getting a hug from her across eleven countries and two oceans.  

Because We Follow Jesus Christ

This past week I have been back in Utah and I was able to visit my friends from my old ward, which was fabulous!  President Jack Christiansen and his amazing wife Melanie lived in my old ward, and they recently returned from The Rochestor New York Mission where he served as mission president.  

As I was visiting a friend, she told me of some advice about how to share the Gospel that President Christiansen taught those preparing to serve missions from our ward.  He taught that when answering any question that you may not know how to answer, or when an individual you are trying to teach is becoming contentious, always begin with "Because we follow Jesus Christ." 

"Because we follow Jesus Christ, we believe in keeping the Sabbath Day holy." or "Because we follow Jesus Christ, we accept trials as learning experiences that help us to become more like our Heavenly Father." or "Because we follow Jesus Christ, we know that the Atonement can wash away our wrongs and we can be clean and pure again."

This statement is the essence of everything we do in this Church. We don't keep the commandments because it makes the prophet happy, we don't build temples because they are good publicity for the Church, and we don't go on missions because we want to stay busy while the boy of our dreams is on his mission. We do all of these things, and everything else, because we follow Jesus Christ. 

It is impossible to reverently speak the name of Christ without bringing the Spirit, and as you invite the Spirit through speaking of Christ, you will be impressed what to say to touch the individual.  Heavenly Father knows each of His children and exactly what they need, and it is our job as missionaries, to be tuned into what He wants us to say and do.  What better way to stay in touch with the Spirit than testifying of Christ?

I love this doctrine and cannot wait to put it to the test while teaching the beautiful people of Peru.  Only 32 days to go!!

Shots. Shots. Shots.

It turns out that there are a lot of diseases in Peru that they don't have in Duncan, Oklahoma, so I have to get a seemingly eternal number of shots before I head out.  All of my friends living in Utah can just go to their local health clinic to get all of their foreign shots like yellow fever, meningitis, etc.  I called my health clinic and they told me that I have to go to a travel health clinic for those shots.  Excuse me..a what?  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  So I found the closest travel health clinic (which happens to be an hour and a half away from my house) and called to find that the total cost for my shots would be over $500.  Holy guacamole.

My mama and I decided instead to have them done at the Army base 30 minutes away from my house...for free--having military base privileges can be so convenient.  We had to separate my shots into four trips.  I have done two so far.  Only two to go.  The first time I went, they gave me Brother Bear stickers and a lollipop.  Pretty much made my day. :)  Definitely felt like I was six again, but it was so worth it.

The second time I went, after they gave me my three shots for that week, they had me sit out in the lobby for fifteen minutes to make sure that I didn't pass out...hmm sketchy.. I was fine so I left after just a few minutes. I was okay until about 4:00 when I started getting really sick.  Stupid yellow fever.  At least now I won't get the real thing because just the after effects of the vaccine were pretty miserable.  

Now I just have to hold out for two more trips to the base so I don't die of a deadly disease when I go to Peru...in only 38 MORE DAYS!!    

           

No Hablo Espanol

One of the main things I have focused on in my mission preparation is practicing Spanish.  A couple weeks ago, I asked a friend who is on his mission for mission prep tips.  He told me to PRACTICE SPANISH! As a missionary, it doesn't matter how well you know the Gospel if you don't have the ability to teach it.

I want to be the best possible missionary, so everyday I listen to at least three Spanish podcasts, which have helped my Spanish take leaps and bounds.  This past week, I flew to and from Utah, and while i was flying i spent the whole time listening to Spanish podcasts.  I was pretty proud of myself.  :)  Also, sometimes when I am volunteering at the hospital, and I don't have a lot to think about, I'll try to only think in Spanish, and translate what others say into Spanish in my head.  My friend told me to think of everything that I want to say in Spanish, before I say it in English when I am having a conversation. I am not quite to that point yet..everyone would be wondering why it always takes me at least two minutes to respond..but I'm working on it.

Even though I have struggled with Spanish in the past, I have faith that Heavenly Father can turn my weaknesses into strengths and bless me with the gift of tongues.

Throwback Thursday

Well there are officially 55 days until I leave on my mission...in 42 seconds it will be 54 days.  That is less than two months. In fact, it is exactly 1.7741935483871 months. Crazy! I am so excited, but so not ready.

I realized that I never copied my call letter here, so I thought we would throwback tonight and revisit it.

Dear Sister Ritchie:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Peru Lima North Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Peru Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Monson
President