I know I say this just about every email, but.... It's been another great week here in Copiapó! :P It's so crazy how much I feel like I learn every single week, and I wish I could share it with you all, but I just can't. You'll all just have to go on missions I guess to find out. :) I love the mission. I just can't say that enough. Some days are hard, some days are just fantastic, and some are full of both! BUT every day I learn something new and look forward to the next day to learn all the more. I love the mission. :D
So I had another "first" this week! I thought I was about done with firsts, until the bishop called and asked Hna Brewster and I to give talks in Sacrament Meeting. So that one scared me, I'm just not/never have been a talk in big groups type of person. But that didn't seem to matter too much, because yes I did give a talk in church in SPANISH yesterday. You know those moments of pure joy that you realize you actually can do something?? Yep, that was definitely one of those moments. :D 13 minutes baby. :)
On the more serious side though, it truly was a great experience! I learned so much and wish I could share all those thoughts with you. I decided to speak on faith, hope, and charity. In reading the Book of Mormon during the mission, I have come to realize how much it talks about all three in just about every page. I love Ether 12, and how much it talks about all three. If we have faith, we have to have hope, and without faith and hope we can't have charity, which without charity we are nothing. Charity is truly the pure love of Christ. When I was studying for my talk and whatnot, I got caught on that thought that charity is the pure love of Christ. The Savior came to this earth to save us from the fall of Adam. He atoned for our sins in the most painful way imaginable, and even then we can't even imagine it. He laid down his life for his friends, for you and for me. So that was just interesting, that without charity we are nothing, and the greatest act of charity the world has or ever will see was the Atonement of our Savior. So this is a sum up of my talk: it is necessary to have faith in Christ to have the hope of the Atonement work in our lives, and without charity, without the pure love of Christ (or in other words, without the Atonement working in our lives) we are nothing. It's something that has been on my mind for quite sometime (as Mom and Dad know) and I found such great peace as I studied and prepared to share those thoughts with the people here in Chañarcillo.
We continue to find and work with the members and talk to everyone about the message of this restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love this sector, and I am so very grateful for the opportunity that I have to work here with Hermana Severtson! She is so great. :D I am so very grateful for all your prayers and love and support. I pray for you all in return. I know this church is true! Pray for your own missionary experience this week! :)
Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
I feel like my letters are getting shorter and shorter.... Lo siento! I loved hearing about your weeks and reading your thoughts and experiences from the week. The fact that Michael Buble is singing yet again and I can't go was lamepants, but he'll just have to come again. :) And I loved the last little thought Dad, that you mentioned you had gone to the temple just made my day. I love hearing about anything temple related. I get so happy inside it's crazy. :) I love the temple so much, and the members here do too. This ward is very temple oriented. They love going and planning for every trip. The goal for our mission here is to work towards getting a temple announced in the next 3 years. We're working our hearts off. :) Miracles happen if we have the faith to believe and the actions to work towards it. I know it's going to happen! I just hope I can be here when it does. If not...I'll just have to come back I guess when it's dedicated I guess... :D
I had to laugh Dad about the water situation that Rob shared with you. I wouldn't be surprised... I feel like it's gotten a tad bit better from when he was here... :) Let's hope!!! I'm also glad to hear that the play and recital went well, and I can't wait for the videos next week of their voice recital. :) Aaand I am VERY jealous of the cold weather season/snow... I do like the heat though... I can't believe I'm saying that, but I do. I do miss the snow like crazy though. :) Disfrútenlo for me. :D BUT we drink the gallons of water bottled and use the tap water for only cooking, brushing teeth, showering... :P Also, I did love your "battle plan" district lesson! We seem to have similar ones every Tuesday for our district meetings. :) The elders do love the battle plan idea, and it does seem to get us more animated. :D Thank you both for your thoughts and impressions about service, charity, and I loved the thought this week Dad from Elder Ballard. I truly feel that support and the words just seem to flow. That's not me, I cannot take that credit. Through small and simple means though, great things are brought to pass.
Speaking of animation! (Animo in Spanish seems to make more sense, and the word isn't coming to me...so I hope I make sense.... The English is getting worse and worse.... :P) Mom! That SONG GUESS WHAT?! We sang that for the FIRST TIME ever from the hands of Janice Kapp Perry in the MTC. She came to speak to us and we sang that song. We were the first ones. :D There was not a dry eye in the whole MTC sister missionary Relief Society. Ask Sister Caywood if she remembers that. :) Thank you for the words! They brought back great memories. :)
We are planning to do 'something' for Thanksgiving but we shall see what... :P Haha and guess what?! We bought a tiny little Christmas tree today. :) Stay tuned for pictures in the future......:) And thanks Mamita for resending those pictures of my roommates, me and Justina and my friends going on missions. The Christmas package is already here in Copiapo! Crazy how that works....guess I'll just have to wait with it staring at me in the face for the next month... Haha guess it's about the same at home... :P The quilt for Mamita Tita was beautiful! She will love that and your little note. :)
I will keep Sister Staheli in my prayers. Poor lady has had such a rough go with her cancer. I hope all will be for the best this time around. I also will pray that things with Uncle Mark will work out. It makes me so very sad to hear that there are more problems in that regard. :( I love you both so much!!! Tell everyone hello for me and I love them lots!
Until next week,
Your little Chilean missionary happy middle child,
Hermana Kristen :D
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