Lots of Learning...

Hermana Kami Severtson and I dressed up for "Halloween."

I had just barely arrived in Copiapo and met Hna Severtson October 2013

We had a district activity this morning and played football....I guess I was more into it than I thought.... :P

The District football team.

The Projected WINNERS of the District football team.

Eating PEACHES!!! (Kristen's favorite thing, almost!)

We matched! And we didn't even plan to.

Hello All!

It's been a great week here in Copiapó! We've learned so much and grown a lot this week. :) I love how the little things it seems make the most impact. This week has been a hard week, but we learned a lot and things are looking up. A change of heart and a smile can go a long way. :)

To answer a couple of questions! So we live in a house, and we pretty much have the whole upstairs and the other hermanas have downstairs. It's 2 bathrooms so that helps with getting ready in the morning. :) There are 4 of us missionaries in our sector here in Chañarcillo. We only work in one ward, but it's pretty big! It takes about a half hour or 45 minutes for the other hermanas to walk to their sector... We live in our sector though, so I am very grateful for that. :) I love our ward though!! They are all so wonderful, and I love our bishop. He has a daughter on a mission in southern Chile, so he loves working with the missionaries, and he is just so supportive and helpful all the time. We got the chance to eat lunch yesterday at his house with his family, and they are just so wonderful. He told us about a million times if there is ever anything we need to just be sure to tell him and he will help out in any way possible. The ward is great. :D Small, but it's just those small things that seem to make a huge impact. :)

Okay so now for a couple experiences for the week. :) It seemed like this week we just had a lot of opposition and it was just starting to get us down and a little bit sad. We came home one night and just had a good long talk about all our investigators and less actives, because it seems like they are all just standing there on the fence, ready to make the decision to completely jump in and accept the gospel, or to jump the other way and completely reject it. It is so crazy to me the effect the adversary has on the hearts of people. The adversary is always there tempting and just waiting to get us at every opportunity, but we must not fall. If you're standing on that fence waiting to make the choice of which way to jump, jump towards the Light and Life of the world. Every single day, we must make the choice to follow Him.

Benjamin is doing well, and he wants to get baptized, but has a few things to straighten up first. He is so strong and so prepared to receive this gospel, and he truly was placed in our path. The Lord always places the prepared in the paths of those who are willing to share, so share with anyone and everyone that you can. :) We are also working with a little girl named Muriel. We are really working with her family and trying to get her parents to come to church with her as well. They know that religion is important, so we will continue to pray for them and visit them, and hope that they can make it to church next week. :)

Hermana Severtson and I were really excited to have Fast Sunday this weekend, and it gave us a lot of peace and comfort. We are just trying everything we can to find, find, find. That was a topic of our fast, and that afternoon we had an awesome experience that I'll share quickly! We found a lady named Karen my first week here, and we stopped back by her house almost every day last week. She never answered the door, so we wondered if she just didn't want to meet with us anymore so she just didn't answer the door, OR she was traveling. So we were diligent and stuck with the "she was traveling" option. :) Yesterday we stopped by her house again, and she wasn't there... I just felt like we should leave her a little note, so we did, and then we left. We started walking down the street behind hers, and this little girl starts running after us yelling, "¡¿Pueden venir mañana?!" over and over and over. So we started walking back towards her thinking, Well yeah of course we'll come by tomorrow, but not having any idea who this little girl is... AND come to find out, her mom was walking out of a house, and it was KAREN!! :D She was laughing and told us she was at her mom's house and she saw us walking by and told her little girl to chase us, so we found her again and she seemed very excited to hear more! We were really excited and hope all goes well. :) Miracles truly happen. :)

It's been a great week and I truly have learned so very much. It made me think of my plaque scripture in Alma 26. With the strength of the Lord, we can do all things. :) I know that as we show our Heavenly Father our broken hearts and contrite spirits, he will guide and lead us. He loves us so very much, and I love having the happiness and joy of this gospel in my life. Even in the times of trials, as we look to him with gratitude, he will help us learn and we will become better and happier people. Be an example of the believers. :) I love this gospel, and I know it is true. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives and suffered for us all. I love being a missionary and special witness of Him!!

With all my love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!

I dream in half and half Mom. Hahaha that made me laugh because the other day I was having a dream that I was still here in the mission, but the whole family was here, along with all my MTC teachers too. Talk about random, but I would talk in Spanish to all of them, and English to all of you. :) So half and half. Funny you asked and I literally just had that dream the other night... I don't dream too much... :P I loved hearing about Halloween and all the festivities! Halloween is an adopted holiday here, so we had a few trick or treaters, but not too many... I would love to see pictures of all the costumes you all wore! And Spencer for his dance. :) That's so odd, we had Senior Ball in January.... Fun though!! Crazy he's a Senior.... And I laughed really hard about Lindsay and Lauren Walker dressing up as Brother Caron... Hahaha. So funny. Little Audrey looked ADORABLE. She is just growing up so fast. :) I was also glad to hear that all went well for Rob and Maralee. :D So funnn for them. :D

A couple things. :) Mom, could you send me a picture of the roommates?? :) And also maybe a couple fun and easy recipes...? :) And the lettuce wrap recipe please... :) Also! If either of you see President Caywood, tell him that Hna Severtson was in his branch in the MTC as well! We realized that the other day, so that's kinda fun. :)

I just want to thank you both again for your love and support. I did realize that today was the day in a year I'd be home, and that was such a scary thought to me. Not scary to be home, just scary that the time has been passing by so quickly, and there is so much still to do. It gives me a pit in my stomach because I love this work, and although I obviously will be happy to see you all, I don't want to come home. I hope that makes sense to you both... :) I love my mission. I love this work, and I know with all my heart that it is true. This is the best thing that I've ever done, and I am already looking forward to when I can go again in about 40 years. :) This gospel is so true. I love you both so very much, and I love my Savior. I love the thoughts that you shared Dad, thank you. The Atonement is something we will never fully understand, all we need to know is that He did suffer for us, for our sins and pains and all. He knows our trials and also our moments of happiness, and we learn and grow only when we trust in Him.

I've been studying a lot about Charity, and I would love it if for next week you could both share your thoughts with me on Charity... :) LOTS OF LOVE from here in Copiapó. :D

I love you so much!
Kristen

PS...I talked to an elder that lives with our zone leaders this morning and he said we have a couple letters and packages in their apartment, SO I think it's FINALLY here!!! If not... I don't know if it'll ever come... :) LOVE YOU MOMMY! :D (She sent this in a separate email that we got to talk back and for, for a few minutes, but I'm so happy to put it in with the rest of the email cause there's HOPE that the package arrived-after 4 months!)