November 9, 2015

Yes, yes, you heard right mom - I got mugged on Thursday. Again. And yes, President Hayes talked to our Stake President as well. Which means he either didn't get or didn't read the email, or he thought since I am almost done, he didn't want to worry you with the information. But President Wilkinson never talked to our Stake President the other 2 times, so I was surprised that President Hayes wanted to. Because he told us not to tell you about it so that you wouldn't worry... But when he called Salt Lake to make the report, they told him he needed to let our Stake Presidents know, and have them call our parents. Maybe President Wilkinson was just used to missionaries getting mugged, so he just never made the reports. I am not sure.

Well... Thursday night we were walking in the street on our way to an appointment. We were walking on the street that we used to live on, so it was not new or anything. It was about 7pm and we used to walk past every night at 9pm, so no big deal. There are cars and people and little stores and bus stops and everything so double no big deal. Well I saw two guys walk past us and go sit down at the bus stop on the other side of the street. They were 2 young men, maybe between 20-25 years old, looked like they were up to no good, probably about to smoke weed. Hermana Gividen and I were hungry, so we were discussing whether or not we would stop to get some fries where Cindy works, but we decided not to so we kept walking.

All of the sudden we heard running from behind us and I think I blacked out.. Probably just went into shock. But I remember that a man was behind me and was shaking me and telling me that he was going to kill me and was throwing me back and forth to rip my backpack off. And I could hear myself screaming bloody murder... Oops. :) And then he got the backpack off and ran away, and I stopped screaming. :) So I looked around for my companion and Sister Gividen was in the street on the ground with a man over her trying to rip her backpack away as well, also screaming bloody murder. And before I could do anything to help her, she gave him her backpack and he ran away as well. So she stood up and we looked at each other and it was weird. Because then all of the sudden we were safe, and it was like it never happened. But we felt naked because our backpacks were missing...

A lady who saw the whole thing let us into her house while they called the police. And when the cops showed up, we went out to talk to them and another man came over to offer to be a witness as well. So we gave our names and numbers and as much information as we could, and then they left. And never called us, because they never found the guys or the backpacks. Meanwhile, the nice lady gave us $10 and we walked over to a members house who lived really close. (We plan to go back to the nice lady and give her the $10 back and maybe teach her about Christ :)

We apparently went to the right members house, because they stuck us in a car and we drove around to all of the scary spots of our area to look for the men. They would jump out with a big metal wrench and a crow bar and go ask the thugs for any information. Not much luck. But they said they thoroughly threatened all thugs and scared them enough to never mess with us, so that's good. :) The members said they were really looking forward to beating someone up, but maybe next time... They members actually scared me more than the actual muggers... Hahhah. But they did find out who the muggers where. Two punks from the projects in San Francisco. They would not give names, because they say that those two have guns and they don't want to mess with them. So apparently we got robbed by two men with guns, but they didn't hurt us at all, so that is lucky. :) Sister Gividen says that her mom put our names in the temple that very morning, so that is probably why all they got was our backpacks.

Mostly I was just mad... They stole my scriptures! They nice ones with all of the markings and stuff. :( And they stole my nursing flash drive that had LOTS of information on it, so basically hours and hours and days of work. And they stole my good chapstick, my good pens, my patriarchal blessing, Spanish plan of salvation cards mom sent me that were sweet, my sewing kit, my, my mission handbook with important things in it, letters I wrote for people, my subway card with lots of points on it, my sweet blue backpack, my baby hymn book that cousin Maddie gave me from her mission, my candy, house keys, Gividen's camera with all of her pictures and other important stuff from her too.... Bummer. BUT President Hayes is the nicest person in the whole world and bought us new backpacks and scriptures and hymn books. And today we went and bought other little things we were missing. It's not the same, but pretty close. We are happy now. :) President Hayes is seriously the best in the whole world.

Hermana Gividen wanted to fight back, but she is grateful that she did not! They were able to get my backpack off pretty quick, but she is tougher than me and had to actually give hers up. We are really happy that our screaming did not make them mad and they did not pull out their guns. Hermana Gividen now says that we should always eat fries when we want fries. It could save our life! So now we eat fries every day. ;) Just kidding, I am trying to lose weight before coming home. But I did eat fries today. :)

So that is about it... :) We are alive. No bruises, just Hermana Gividen's pride - she says he was shorter than her and she totally could have taken him! Hermana Gividen is one tough cookie! She didn't even want to go back to our apartment or anything after it happened - we went right back to work! OH!!! And I forgot to mention - neither of us cried! We got mugged and screamed like little girls, but did not cry.  I am proud of us. And no, I do not plan on that happening again anytime soon. Once was enough. And now that make 3 times in total for my mission. :) Madi is jealous because I have cooler stories than her.. :)

I had to give 2 nursing presentations this week to big groups... It was scary.. One group was nice and listened. The other did not. But oh well, it's over! I still have stage fright even though I teach all day every day!

Hermana Fowler was sick this week so I got to talk to her and her mom! Best week ever! I miss her! She is planning to move to Provo in a house full of missionaries from this mission! So I might move in with them! But not until the summer, because I am sure it is too late. And I need a job first and money.. But at least she will be close! And so will other friends! :)

Tonight we are eating pizza in the office and then going back home with another set of missionaries because one of them is sick and she has to stay with me tonight. And the other one is Sister Montepeque!!! :) Yay!

Well, that is all, other than . . . . .  HAPPY BIRTHWEEK MADI!!!! :) Have a great week! I love you all! Don't get mugged this week! I won't either. I told the Elders that if I get mugged a 4th time, I am going home. (hahaha) So hopefully it doesn't happen again. ;)

LOVE YOU! :)

Hermana Markle

New  backpacks!  We are pretty styling.

Yoana dyed her hair!!! Oh wait,  it was just my hair... :)  Looks legit.