What a week!

Hello to all!!

This week has been absolutely crazy and full of ups and downs! Mostly ups, but a few downs for sure... :P Just as a random side note, I'm struggling to figure out this keyboard, so please bear with me... :P Its not that different, but different enough that I can't figure it out.... :P Anywho!! I love Arica! It's a beautiful city and the people are incredible. I love Hermana Delgado also! She is so patient with me and helps me in every way she can. There are times that we do get frustrated with each other, but they don't last for long and the work continues. :) I also LOVED the training meeting last night. It was so different than anything the church has done before, and I did get to watch it in English, but it was on a tiny tiny laptop, and there were 10 missionaries crammed around it trying to watch... :P But esta bien!! :D

Okay, so a few details for you all. Church yesterday was different than anything I've experienced. :) Of course it was similar to our meeting back home, but I didn't understand anything, and I have the perfect way to describe it. :) You know in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, when Ian's parents meet the Portacalous'? Lots of kissing cheeks, hugging, meeting everyone? That was yesterday for me. :) Here in Chile, people greet eachother with a kiss on the cheek and a hug. It's great! As for my apartment, we live with a "Mamita" that takes care of us. She feeds us lunch and washes our clothes, and she is such a sweetheart. I don't understand anything she says, but she doesn't seem to mind. :P Some people are more accepting of my inability to speak Spanish than others, and some will talk slower, or try to say it in a different way. Some people just turn to their phones or computers and have me type what I'm trying to say in Google Translate... :P Thank goodness for google translate... :P The Chilean accent is reallyyy hard for me to understand, and it is really thick up here in Arica. They all talk super fast, faster than other Spanish speaking countries, and add "po"to everything. So I'm learning Spanish, and an accent. :) For the most part I've been doing great, but Friday was the day that everything kind of caught up to me and I was feeling sorry for myself. Kind of a "culture shock"day if you will. I was praying all day long. Heavenly Father is making me into who He needs me to be though, and I'm trying to be patient with myself, and with His timing. :) I'm learning to rely solely on Him.

I'm trying to remember everything that I wanted to tell you all! I try to write everything down, but I feel like I'm forgetting a lot... I do want to say thank you for all your prayers, and also say that you as members are CRUCIAL to the work, just as they stressed last night. We as missionaries need the members to be a greater part of the work. Share your testimony. Not just by example, which is also very important, but share it vocally also. We are all representatives of Jesus Christ. We took His name upon us when we were baptized and we are never released from that promise. :)

I've got to run, but thank you for your prayers. I love all of you and I love this work. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be here sharing His gospel if I didn't. This church is true! I know it with all my heart. :)

Much love,
Hermana Tuft


Hello Family!!

Kyle, Dad, and Tom, I would love to know any tips you have to learning a language. I'm trying so hard, and praying even harder, but I'm trying to find a good way to study. I've been reading the Book of Mormon out loud, in Spanish of course :) And that seems to be helping, but I feel like I should be doing more. :) Let me know your thoughts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN AND LINDSAY!!! I hope you both have a wonderful day, and that your 14 and 22 birthdays are fantastic. :D Also, Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad. :D I love you all so much. :D

Mom, thank you for the updates with my friends and the ward! I didn't know Marley was going! Good for her! :D And MEGAN WALKER WHAT THE HECK YOU BETTER WRITE ME GIRL!!!!!!!! Last time I talked to her she was only thinking about it, but now she's waiting for her call?! Heavens. SO excited for her! Taylor W. is going to FREEZE and she doesn't like the cold... Poor girl.... :P The sun isn't really out a lot these days. Even though it's not cold here in Utah terms, I have been wearing my coat at night. I'm so excited for everyone preparing to go. :D I love this work. It is so hard Mom. I could not do this alone. I can feel all your prayers. Literally feel them... And I can feel help beyond the veil. It is an incredible feeling. It has been very hard, but somehow at the end of the day, the Lord lifts me up and is refining me. I love it though, truly truly truly I do. :) Hna Howell is in my zone! I don't know about Rindlisbacher.... And I think Elder James is...? I've met so many people, so I can't quite remember... :P Can you ask Megan to ask Paulina what her maiden name is? I'm pretty sure she said she was from Arica! And please keep sharing your testimony with everyone! Tell the missionaries about the Adams, Tom, and Stacy! :)

Dad, to answer your question about the time, we're 2 hours ahead right now, but I think in the winter for you guys we'll be 3. Thank you for all of your updates as well!! I wanted to say something about the talk from President Eyring that you sent a couple weeks back. I didn't really respond to that I realized. Totally spaced it, but I loved that talk! Thank you for sharing. I read it again this morning and I couldn't help but think about the meeting last night. The members of the church will help this work just as much as the missionaries, if not more. We can't teach as easily if the members don't find, share, and help retain converts. Good luck on the trek! I am so excited for you all! I wish I had the opportunity to go on trek, but maybe someday. :) I have been thinking of everyone I see in white. I want them to recieve all the blessings of the gospel so badly. It keeps me motivated, determined, and in tune with the spirit. Hermana Delgado is from Peru yes! She doesn't speak any English... :P She was waiting for me at the mission home, and we came to Arica together. Her parents were divorced when she was 14, and she's 22. She's the oldest of 4 and really wants to get married in the Salt Lake Temple. I told her she'd have to learn English, and she can come see me when she comes! :P

I had to laugh about Taylor's story! That's kind of how things here are going for me... :P People can understand me for the most part though. :) I share my testimony, and scriptures with members when we go visit them. There is a lot of reactivation here.

Today we went to the beach and played volleyball and soccer. No one is at the beach I hear in the winter. It wasn't cold, but it's cold to them... :P It was with the whole zone, so it was nice to speak English for a few hours... :)

I get choked up whenever I talk about my family. I love you all so much. :) I know families are forever, and I am so grateful for that knowledge. I've got to run for this week! Have a great one, and I can't wait to hear about how the trek was! Let me know! :)

Lotssss of love,
Kristen