It's been another fantastic here in Arica. I love this city so much, and especially Zapahuira. These people will always hold such a special place in my heart. :) We had a few changes with the ward yesterday, and it was so sad, but so happy at the same time. The wards split and we had a good chunk of our sector taken out, with many members and less active families that we've been working with, and Andres. :( I think our ward was one of those least affected though, because we probably had about 4 or 5 families that left from our ward, but the ward of our district leader had 50 ACTIVE families taken out, including the bishop and the family that they live with. So that was a big change... We knew it was coming, but just didn't know how soon or when it would be. And that is the missionary life. :) Because cambios have come yet again TAN RAPIDO. I can't believe it's been another 6 weeks. The time literally flies when you're having fun and working even harder. :) So we'll see what happens there, but we both think we'll stay once more. Who knows... Stay tuned.... :P
This week was pretty normal. We've been working a lot with the less active families, and families in general. I have loved being able to share talks from conference with people that didn't get a chance to go, and to talk about their insights and thoughts. A couple of these experiences were with the families Toledo, Tapia and Quezada. (Every time I say/write their name I think of my family Quezada across the street and little "Hermana Quezada". :)) Anywho, we had the impression to share the talk by President Uchtdorf with them from conference, and the experiences we had were wonderful. There truly is power in sharing the words of the prophets, and how incredible it is that we can do it almost anywhere!
This week I was also grateful that I speak English. There aren't too many times that it comes in handy here, but it did this week. :) We have a less active member that's 14 named Yeraldine. She never has let us into her house as we pass, it's just always through the window and we always ask if there's anything we can help her with, and the answer has always been no. We stopped by her house, and the same routine as usual, but as we were leaving she stopped us, got really quiet, and asked if I could help her with English. OF COURSE, I said. :) So that was our little "in". :D We went to her house, helped her with her English homework, and study for her test that's coming up, and then we had the opportunity to share with her family. She has a younger sister and her parents, and her parents aren't members. They are so grateful for the missionaries though, their only problem is time because they work a lot. It truly is amazing though the miracles that come from tiny acts of service. I don't know if her parents will get baptized in the time that I'm here, but it's just opening doors for other missionaries. I love this work so very much! It truly is incredible how our Heavenly Father's timing is so very perfect, all we are are instruments in bringing to pass His will.
The last experience from this week was with Jorge and Fabiola. We planned a Family Night with them and Mamita's son, Rodrigo and his wife. They just got married right before I got here, and we've been trying to help Jorge and Fabiola be more integrated into the ward and have friends, etc. So we had FHE on Saturday night and Rodrigo and Coté taught the lesson on the Plan of Salvation and the importance of an eternal marriage. Hna Matias and I have no experience in the marriage department, obviously, but it was incredible to learn from them and hear their personal experiences of the importance of a temple marriage and the different reaction Jorge and Fabiola had to their experiences, rather than us just telling them. It is so important for the missionaries and members to work together, because neither group can do this work alone. They're slowly but surely getting things rolling for their wedding in January, and baptism shortly thereafter. It's been so incredible to see their testimonies grow and their lives change. Fabiola's mom lives in our ward too, but in the sector of the Elders, so we passed the direction along and hopefully they'll get a chance to stop by there this week. :)
AND a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD. I love you Dad and I hope you have a fantastic day on Thursday! LOVE YOU!!! >D
Sé que este Evangelio es verdadero. Sé que mi Señor, Jesucristo vive y él nos ama muchisimo. Necesitamos recordar Su sacrificio y la Expiación siempre en nuestras vidas. Este es la obra del Señor y estoy agradisimo por este oportunidad ser misionera en este tiempo. Les quiero mucho!!
This week was pretty normal. We've been working a lot with the less active families, and families in general. I have loved being able to share talks from conference with people that didn't get a chance to go, and to talk about their insights and thoughts. A couple of these experiences were with the families Toledo, Tapia and Quezada. (Every time I say/write their name I think of my family Quezada across the street and little "Hermana Quezada". :)) Anywho, we had the impression to share the talk by President Uchtdorf with them from conference, and the experiences we had were wonderful. There truly is power in sharing the words of the prophets, and how incredible it is that we can do it almost anywhere!
This week I was also grateful that I speak English. There aren't too many times that it comes in handy here, but it did this week. :) We have a less active member that's 14 named Yeraldine. She never has let us into her house as we pass, it's just always through the window and we always ask if there's anything we can help her with, and the answer has always been no. We stopped by her house, and the same routine as usual, but as we were leaving she stopped us, got really quiet, and asked if I could help her with English. OF COURSE, I said. :) So that was our little "in". :D We went to her house, helped her with her English homework, and study for her test that's coming up, and then we had the opportunity to share with her family. She has a younger sister and her parents, and her parents aren't members. They are so grateful for the missionaries though, their only problem is time because they work a lot. It truly is amazing though the miracles that come from tiny acts of service. I don't know if her parents will get baptized in the time that I'm here, but it's just opening doors for other missionaries. I love this work so very much! It truly is incredible how our Heavenly Father's timing is so very perfect, all we are are instruments in bringing to pass His will.
The last experience from this week was with Jorge and Fabiola. We planned a Family Night with them and Mamita's son, Rodrigo and his wife. They just got married right before I got here, and we've been trying to help Jorge and Fabiola be more integrated into the ward and have friends, etc. So we had FHE on Saturday night and Rodrigo and Coté taught the lesson on the Plan of Salvation and the importance of an eternal marriage. Hna Matias and I have no experience in the marriage department, obviously, but it was incredible to learn from them and hear their personal experiences of the importance of a temple marriage and the different reaction Jorge and Fabiola had to their experiences, rather than us just telling them. It is so important for the missionaries and members to work together, because neither group can do this work alone. They're slowly but surely getting things rolling for their wedding in January, and baptism shortly thereafter. It's been so incredible to see their testimonies grow and their lives change. Fabiola's mom lives in our ward too, but in the sector of the Elders, so we passed the direction along and hopefully they'll get a chance to stop by there this week. :)
AND a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD. I love you Dad and I hope you have a fantastic day on Thursday! LOVE YOU!!! >D
Sé que este Evangelio es verdadero. Sé que mi Señor, Jesucristo vive y él nos ama muchisimo. Necesitamos recordar Su sacrificio y la Expiación siempre en nuestras vidas. Este es la obra del Señor y estoy agradisimo por este oportunidad ser misionera en este tiempo. Les quiero mucho!!
Pam did a little Google Translate and this is what I got: (I know this gospel is true. I know my Lord, Jesus Christ lives and He loves us very much. We need to remember His sacrifice and Atonement in our lives forever. This is the Lord's work and am agradisimo for this opportunity to be a missionary at this time. I love them!)
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Fam!!
Just a couple last things. The computer's doing really strange things, so if the grammar, etc is off.... That is why. Not because my grammar really is that bad... And I can't do smiley faces... Nor frowny faces... Anywho. :) I'm so glad your letters finally got there!!! :D Just for Lindsay, CONGRATS for reading the Book of Mormon so fast! I don't know if you're quite finished, but if not, just keep going. :D It truly is an incredible book and I love it so very much. :) I hope all is well at home and that school and work is going well for everyone! I pray for you all every day and I love you so very much. Until next week! :D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Mom and Dad!
I always say it's going to be a quicky but it ends up being long, so I just won't say that and see what happens... :P For a couple questions and answers. First off, when is Mar's wedding again? And Mom - I loved the picture of Justina with the bikes. :) So sad about that missionary that died though.... And the sharing time pictures were so wonderful too! I couldn't see it in detail, but it looked so great. :) I am definitely wearing sunscreen every day, and taking it with me. :) That's a must. Hna Matias makes fun of me and thinks I LOVE putting on sunscreen because I use it so much, but I just told her with my skin and my history with the sun, it's definitely a must. So yes it's a very frequent routine of mine, and I have everything that I need, and haven't needed much else, so we did great packing wise. :)
I am envying all that rain and fun weather you're having! But I am very glad that I don't have to deal with walking through the rain and snow, so that truly is a blessing. :) I wish I would've talked to you both last week about this, cause you just went to the temple this week, but I was just wondering if you both could put our investigators on the prayer roll... I don't know if that would be possible, but I would really appreciate that if you could... :) And just a little random moment Dad! So this week Elder Pizarro got TONS of Books of Mormon in different languages, not quite sure why he just said he wanted them... But he remembered that I mentioned you spoke French and I thought it would be fun to learn someday, so the next day he brought me the French Book of Mormon that he got! And then you were just talking about keeping up with your French and Grandpa asking you about it and such this week... So I have a French Book of Mormon, that I'm not quite sure what to do with....cause I'll not be learning French in the next year or so.... Maybe it'll come in handy... :P It was fun to open it though and read and be able to understand more or less because of the similarities with Spanish! And speaking of Grandpa, did he and Grandma get my email a couple weeks back...? Wasn't sure...
I was reading through the last couple paragraphs of your letter and thinking about the book I've been reading, Our Heritage. I love that book! I'm not sure if I would have read it had I not gone on a mission, but since it's in the missionary library I thought I'd give it a shot. I was thinking about the obedience, willing hearts, and love for family history that the early saints had, and then I couldn't help but think with all this Peter Shirts stuff going on as well if you, or with the family as well, could read the Book of Mormon with that topic in mind... Elder Bednar talked about reading the Book of Mormon with a topic every time, and I know you do that, so just a little thought... :)
I also wanted to thank you both for your love and encouragement every week. I love reading your letters and I'm so glad you got the letters this week! I was thinking about 3 months ago and how I was a little lost and growing leaps and bounds, but thought that my letters might have sounded a little trunky, but I also was thinking about how after that my mindset was more 'forget yourself and get to work', and that's what I've been doing. It's truly incredible what fervent prayer and service can do to one's mindset. :) I love you both so much. Thank you for your love and support always! Happy Birthday once again Dad!! ;D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Fam!!
Just a couple last things. The computer's doing really strange things, so if the grammar, etc is off.... That is why. Not because my grammar really is that bad... And I can't do smiley faces... Nor frowny faces... Anywho. :) I'm so glad your letters finally got there!!! :D Just for Lindsay, CONGRATS for reading the Book of Mormon so fast! I don't know if you're quite finished, but if not, just keep going. :D It truly is an incredible book and I love it so very much. :) I hope all is well at home and that school and work is going well for everyone! I pray for you all every day and I love you so very much. Until next week! :D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Mom and Dad!
I always say it's going to be a quicky but it ends up being long, so I just won't say that and see what happens... :P For a couple questions and answers. First off, when is Mar's wedding again? And Mom - I loved the picture of Justina with the bikes. :) So sad about that missionary that died though.... And the sharing time pictures were so wonderful too! I couldn't see it in detail, but it looked so great. :) I am definitely wearing sunscreen every day, and taking it with me. :) That's a must. Hna Matias makes fun of me and thinks I LOVE putting on sunscreen because I use it so much, but I just told her with my skin and my history with the sun, it's definitely a must. So yes it's a very frequent routine of mine, and I have everything that I need, and haven't needed much else, so we did great packing wise. :)
I am envying all that rain and fun weather you're having! But I am very glad that I don't have to deal with walking through the rain and snow, so that truly is a blessing. :) I wish I would've talked to you both last week about this, cause you just went to the temple this week, but I was just wondering if you both could put our investigators on the prayer roll... I don't know if that would be possible, but I would really appreciate that if you could... :) And just a little random moment Dad! So this week Elder Pizarro got TONS of Books of Mormon in different languages, not quite sure why he just said he wanted them... But he remembered that I mentioned you spoke French and I thought it would be fun to learn someday, so the next day he brought me the French Book of Mormon that he got! And then you were just talking about keeping up with your French and Grandpa asking you about it and such this week... So I have a French Book of Mormon, that I'm not quite sure what to do with....cause I'll not be learning French in the next year or so.... Maybe it'll come in handy... :P It was fun to open it though and read and be able to understand more or less because of the similarities with Spanish! And speaking of Grandpa, did he and Grandma get my email a couple weeks back...? Wasn't sure...
I was reading through the last couple paragraphs of your letter and thinking about the book I've been reading, Our Heritage. I love that book! I'm not sure if I would have read it had I not gone on a mission, but since it's in the missionary library I thought I'd give it a shot. I was thinking about the obedience, willing hearts, and love for family history that the early saints had, and then I couldn't help but think with all this Peter Shirts stuff going on as well if you, or with the family as well, could read the Book of Mormon with that topic in mind... Elder Bednar talked about reading the Book of Mormon with a topic every time, and I know you do that, so just a little thought... :)
I also wanted to thank you both for your love and encouragement every week. I love reading your letters and I'm so glad you got the letters this week! I was thinking about 3 months ago and how I was a little lost and growing leaps and bounds, but thought that my letters might have sounded a little trunky, but I also was thinking about how after that my mindset was more 'forget yourself and get to work', and that's what I've been doing. It's truly incredible what fervent prayer and service can do to one's mindset. :) I love you both so much. Thank you for your love and support always! Happy Birthday once again Dad!! ;D
Love,
Kristen
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