Life without a CAR!

Soooooooo I am going to sound a little bit pathetic this week..... Our car broke down so we had to walk for 2 DAYS! I did learn that we can walk a mile in the freezing rain in about 8 minutes!  So yeah, that wasn't fun. One major advantage or walking is that we did get to talk to a LOT of people, just think of all the people you drive by every day that need to hear about the Gospel.  One good example happened while we were standing at a cross walk waiting to cross the street.   A young Hispanic man walked up to me, and me being me smiled at him and said,” hello, how are you”?  and he said, “ hello beautiful”, and then he went on and on about how we were his angels and beautiful and princesses and pretty and a whole bunch of others words that I don't remember (or didn’t quite understand).   I just completely stopped talking (miracle) and stared at him while he went on and on.  When he was done speaking he hugged all 3 of us and gave us each a kiss on the check.... ewwwww!!!!!!!! I think more guys have kissed me on the check on my mission then all the rest of my life.  It is usually kinda awkward but is a part the Spanish culture …..  I am still trying to get used to it. 

Oh and so on Saturday at 3:44 and 28 seconds we get a call and our car is fixed!!!!!!!  YIPPEE!!!!!!   I told the nice man on the phone that we will be there to get it and he told me to hurry because they close in 15 minutes! And we were about 10 minutes away..... driving..... and we didn’t have a car.  I quickly called our zone leaders and was like elders! HELP!  The Zone Leaders are on their way, coming to pick us up, we call to get permission to ride with them, everything seems to be falling into place to get our car!  Just them we look up and see the Elders car on the other side of the highway and they are waving at us.  What to do? Then my companion was like RUN for it and she took off across 8 lanes of traffic!  and we all follow across 8 lanes of traffic.... we made it alive to the elders car, hopped in and got to the car place with at least 2 minutes to spare.  OUR CAR! I half laughed half sobbed with joy.... what a great week!  As for food we only ate some tostados.... and a salad. I loved it.  I just made a lot of food at home.  BTW Mom we survive on $35-$40 a week by shopping together.  Not a lot of Raman noodles but we eat quesadillas, pasta, and fruit and sandwiches.... Oh and I have been drinking green smoothies.

Oh, funny story! We went to an investigator's house to eat and it was fried platanos and some chicken. Nothing too out of the ordinary until my companion looked at her plate and she had a chicken foot in it! Lol, I felt so bad for her. She ate it!  Oh and I learned how to make chicharon... It is good and super easy.

Um let me see …. other than that I am still diligently trying to give up sarcasm. REPENTANCE IS REAL! HAHA. Um I went to the temple today it was amazing and I loved it. The D.C. temple is so beautiful.

Spanish is getting better and I can actually teach a little bit and converse with people!

Love all of You,
Hermana Atkinson
Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Washington D.C. South Mission

Miracles are Coming

We always go to the Library on Monday's to do our e-mailing. It's Martin Luther King Day, so the Library is closed. We are at McDonald's emailing on our iPad's. It is hard to type on the iPad, so this weeks letter will be short.  honestly not a lot to say still searching for miracles but they are coming which is great. Um life is hard but my body is getting used to the food and. Oh funny story we went to an investigator's house to eat and it was fried platanos and some chicken. And so we were eating and my companion looked at her plate and she had a chicken foot in it.... Lol I felt so bad for her. Oh and I learned how to make chicharon... It is good and super easy... Um other then that still diligently trying to give up sarcasm. REPENTANCE IS REAL! Um I went to the temple today it was amazing and I loved it. So beautiful. Spanish is getting better and I can actually teach a little bit and converse with people. But any the library is closed and I am in mcdonalds emailing so I am not going to write any more on this hope you all have a great week.

Love Ya All,
Hermana Atkinson
Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Washington D.C. South Mission

Searching for a Miracle

We are late getting Karlie's posts on the blog. This one is from January 12, 2015.

Soooooo this week has been super busy. Wednesday, January 7th was my Birthday, I am no longer a teenager. I am 20 and all grown up. My mom and Terry sent me flowers. They also sent money for all three of us to go out to dinner. We decided to go to Applebee's. It was an awesome day.
Wednesday was also transfer calls. My companions and I are not getting transferred.  I found`Transfer week very stressful. I am happy that I get to stay here, with the companions that I have.
Before I knew it, it was Friday, and we had to get some work done. We also, had a devotional with President Riggs. President Riggs promised that if we are "ALL IN", every companionship in our mission will have a baptism in January and another in February.  We do not have a single baptism lined up. We are literally searching and praying for a miracle. 
In order to obtain this miracle, I have decided to give up something. I am giving up Sarcasm. Yes, it will be hard because I love being sarcastic. This is my goal for January, I know It will be worth it. 
For my food journal this week:
1. I learned how to make Salsa - 3 different kinds.
2. I also learned how to make Papusas. (A thick, handmade corn tortilla)
3. I made tortillas, again, which I love making.
4. A member is also going to teach us to make Tamalas.
I am going to start writing all the recipes down. So yeah. when I get home we are eating real Hispanic food. 
While I love the Papusas and Tamales, I was actually able to eat a Regular American Meal., Spaghetti. My High Adventure Leader from Bloomington, is currently living in my stake. She invited us over to eat, and YES the AMERICAN food was Awesome. Thanks Ann Maas. 
I am going to end on a funny note. The other day while driving, we almost left our mission. If you every want to see 3 missionaries scream and panic, have them get on a freeway ,out of their mission without an exit.....
Well that is all I have this week from Alexandria...
Love ...
Hermana Atkinson
MIssionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Washington D.C. South MIssion

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Sooooo …. Our baptism didn't happen this week, but it is   alright because our investigator wasn't ready. We retaught the word of wisdom and the law of chastity and he has        decided that he can't be baptized for 2 years! I don't exactly know why two years... but I am not giving up on him yet. I   can't because I know if he prays and reads that he will gain that testimony and he will be willing to give up those things.  But other cool things happened this week!

I hope I don't get transferred, honestly, I want to stay in my trio. I truly enjoy the support of 2 other people ..... and yes the Spanish is hard but I learn a little bit more each and every day. My companions are Sister Training Leaders so they are kinda like zone leaders for Sister Missionaries. Normally, I would have been assigned to a companionship, but because so many new Sisters come in the same week as me, they had 2 sets of Sister Training Leaders train the new Missionaries. The STL's were having a leadership meeting this week (and I wasn't invited LOL) so I got to be companions with another new missionary for the day. WOW, Two greenies on their own! ADVENTURE!

Off to my apartment we went …. we studied and prepared as best we could and then we went out to visit my investigators! Two “greenies” that don't know a lot of Spanish and are still unsure of how to teach …. and you'll never believe it but we talked to a ton of people! We set up appointments and we even found a new investigator. Probably the best part is I started the day with a stranger and now I have a new friend. I know that sounds cheesy, but it is so true. I hate to admit it but this is hard out here.... really hard and having friends and people to help means so much.

Well I guess that I don't hide my stress too well ….. I had a member approach me this week and had a long talk with me about how important it is to enjoy my mission... but life is great!

On the domestic side, I learned how to make tortillas this week! I will never buy corn tortillas again. Homemade are soooo much better! I have gotten great at eating food I don't like and am learning to be diplomatic and not saying no. This week I had just started a fast, and we went to a members house and this sweet Sister comes in the room with a huge plate full of food! She can barely afford to feed herself and her family …. how can I say no to such generosity and love? So I quickly say a prayer telling Heavenly Father sorry and that I will re start my fast a little bit later. Then, bring on the rice potatoes, chicken noodles, tomatoes, spinach and onions! I sure hope there is no dessert. I did get to experience a new drink, this yummy homemade drink, not really sure what it was! The food really wasn't bad, and at an appropriate time I just restarted my fast! I love the people here and I am learning so much from them.

So on New Years Eve we got to watch two movies! After much deliberation and negotiation, we chose Frozen and How to train your dragon 2. If anyone knows or could find the last few lines from How to train your dragon I would love that!! It was super uplifting. It was great to just relax and watch a couple of Disney movies. Just plain FUN! And so for this week ..... # life as a missionary

Love,
Hermana Atkinson
Missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Washington D.C. South Mission