P-Day update week 18, 06/20/2022

¡Hola hola!

This week has been strange because we weren't able to do much work mainly because it was the last week of the transfer and Elder Nielson's last week. We had a good week nevertheless!

 

After a meal with Dayanna and her family. 

We basically made our rounds of our entire area and first on the list was heading to the sierra (mountain range). We woke up early on Tuesday and headed to Ecatlan, a little pueblito about 2 hours from Zacapoaxtla. We stopped by so Elder Nielson could see the members there before heading out. When we got there one of the members (Hermano Carl) wanted to make Elder Nielson's last trip special. So after making some tortillas with them and eating chicken organ soup we headed out on a little hike to this corn field so we could see the entire Pueblo! To be honest the view was pretty amazing! It's still the rainy season so everything looked kinda foggy/gray which kind added to the ambiance. Once we finished our little hike we headed over to a nearby town called Xocoyolo to eat tamales. After having to wait a very long time for the combis to pass by we eventually made it to Xocoyolo and ate tamales, but Papantla style! Papantla is an area in the mission a little more northward and these hermanos were from there! So they made these liquidy type tamales. Actually, it was the same type of tamales we had my first week in the mission field. Kinda fun to see how it all came full circle! Of course they were amazing! In fact, I ate about five of them and they're huge! Then we said goodbye and headed to see our chimochiua friends in Equimita. The Hermana wanted to give Elder Nielson some mole to take home, but that kind of stuff unfortunately isn't allowed to be brought on the plane. She said we could shove it in a teddy bear hahah! I'm not sure that's gonna work and Elder Nielson didn't want to try and find out haha!

Pozole in Huitzilan!

Huitzilan! Of course we had a great day in Huitzilan this week! We started our trip off by missing our combi hahaha! But we were able to coerce the workers at the terminal to have our combi wait for us in a town called Huahuaxtla and we would grab a different combi to Huahuaxtla, then get on our original combi. Did that make sense? Anyway, we eventually made it to Huitzilan. When we got there, they of course had to make a special meal for Elder Nielson's last visit. They made Pozole! It was honestly such a good meal, but it didn't end there. They then gave us flan and it was almost like a dream. My two favorite type of foods, back to back. But the best part of the day was our lesson with a man named Marty. We've taught Marty and his family two times before and have been feeling really good about his progress. This time when we met with him, it was a little different. The other times he was always very smiley and happy. But when we met with him he opened up to us and told us of some of his struggles. I've found that every time we're In moments like these, an overwhelming feeling of love and joy comes over me. I spent time thinking about why that is and I've come to the conclusion that whenever I see the opportunity for someone to enjoy the fruits of repentance I almost feel excited to help them feel this joy! When we bore our testimonies to Marty and his face lit up, I knew he was ready to start on the path!

Hermano Carl and me in a cornfield looking at the mountains.

This week we had our zone council. Usually the Zone Leaders give us some kind of, well, council. But this time they just had each companionship bear their testimonies on what they learned from this transfer. It was honestly exactly what we needed as a zone. Each companionship learned a lot. One Elder talked about how he has been out on his mission for 14 months and this transfer was the first time he truly worked in his companionship. It was such a powerful testimony and such a guide for each of us. Coincidentally, a lot of people talked about the atonement and how good their transfer was because they focused on it. Elder Nielson also gave his final testimony and just told us all to keep the path. I almost shed a tear...almost!! After that we decided to have a little cake for the birthday of one of our zone leaders. They brought two cakes, one to eat and one to push his face into hahaha! It honestly was brutal seeing ten men shove this poor guys face into a cake, but the nice thing is that he got a few gifts and eat a cake like a normal person haha!

Probably the highlight of the week was our food appointment this past Friday. A famous food from the state of Puebla is a dish called "Chiles enogadas." They're Chiles filled with beef and different kinds of fruit. Then they fry it, cover it with this sweet gravy stuff and pomegranates. The morning of, we went by and worked out. This was probably at about 8:00, and they had just started working on them. Then at about 3:00 when we came back they were still working! It was so worth it. It's kinda hard to describe it. It's sweet and savory, super filling, but you still want to keep eating! It was literally some of, if not the best type of food I've eaten here!

Chiles Enogadas!

This week was filled with a lot of goodbyes. Just about everything we did this week had some kind of goodbye associated with it. It was kind of sad to see my companion say goodbye to all these people he has worked so hard for. And really the hard part was me having to say goodbye to him. It's strange to say goodbye to someone I've lived with for three months literally all day every day for 12 weeks. It's very weird! But I have comfort in knowing that he's not dying or anything like that haha! I also know that he's going to continue to be a good man and a wonderful disciple of Christ! I learned so much from him so I can always keep that with me!

Elder Neilson and his two sons. 

This week was the last week of the transfer, that means the new transfers are coming in as well! I have to admit, I have known what my transfers was going to be for a while. I was told by the Assistants to the President that I would be staying in Zacapoaxtla and my companion would be one of the current Assistants. But the day of the transfers, after I said goodbye to Nielson, I reviewed a text and the plans had changed. Apparently something happened and now my transfers were up in the air! For about two days, me and two other Elders who were left without companions, hung out together and stressed heavily over what was going to happen. It was also pretty exciting. Last transfer I also knew beforehand what was going to happen, so this was my first opportunity to be left in the dark. How exciting! After two days of waiting, my temporary companions and I went from their house in Teziutlan to my house in Zacapoaxtla so I could pack an overnight bag. While we were there, the transfers came in! So...(suspense) I will be staying in Zacapoaxtla with a new companion from Texas. His name is Elder Mendoza and he has about 11 months in the mission. I heard he is really fun! Obviously his work ethic and obedience is what's important, but it's nice to know I'll have fun with him. That night after the transfers came in, we had 7 Elders sleeping in our house since we were all going to the bus terminal for the transfers the following day. It was pretty fun and brought me back to my younger days!

Companion-less Elders (Elder Moreno, me, and Elder Bautista). 

Meow.

Okay, so that's all I have this week. To be honest, not too exciting! I suppose my spiritual thought to you all this week is to use one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Repentance. I'm sure I've talked about it before, but it is truly the basis of so much we believe as followers of Christ. The gift to kneel before your maker, forsake your sins and have them washed away like they were never there in the first place. How amazing is that? Friends, the atonement is for us. I have used the power of repentance many, many times in my life and I can give my testimony to you all of it's power. It changes the lives of those who understand it and use it. It has done that for me and I know it can do that for you. Friends no unclean thing can dwell in the kingdom of God, so don't be afraid to ask for forgiveness. I can't imagine Heaven without y'all!! I Love you all and stay safe this week!!

-Elder Garnica