Bienvenida Otono :D

Hello All!!

This week has been a fantastic week. I have had lots of eye opening moments. I cannot testify enough that this truly is the Lord's time table that we are on, and He is in control. He loves each and everyone of us with a perfect love. No matter who you are, where you're from, or what you do, He will love you.

With that being said, can I just please tell you how stinkin' happy we are that Fall started yeaaaa!!! :D It's still hot, but the temperature is going down and we are happier chippier missionaries. Por lo menos yo lo siento. :) As you all welcome Spring, we're looking forward to bundling up a little bit. :) And very much looking forward to General Conference in a couple weeks. Very much looking forward to that. :)

This week we started our English classes!! I honestly was terrified to do that.... We've talked about doing Englishes classes here in Chañarcillo from before I got here, and then with Hna Severtson we were going to do it, and then last transfer, but finally our putting it off came to an end. :) We had about 15 people in our first lesson, most of which were members but part of their homework was to bring a friend next week. :) So we'll see how that goes tomorrow! :)

We had a very funny experience that happened.... :P Ay ay ay. So there's a school right next to the church. And right now everyone's just getting back to school, so there's been a lot of parent meetings. With that being said, hahaha we got to the church to open things up, and there was a car parked in front of the driveway back to the parking lot of the church. There also is a huge sign that says something to the effect that if you violate the law and park in front of the driveway, that the cops will come and you'll have to pay a big fine. Yeah, so Hermana Millaquipai said, "Well let's just call the caribineros then!" And me, being me and not liking a big 'to do', thought....better not. So I suggested we go next door and they could announce the license plate over the speaker and the owner could just come move the car. But at this point we were supposed to start the classes in 10 minutes...

So we went to the school. They had to find the superintendent (however that's spelled) and he took forever in coming and then had to write what he was going to write, announced it 3 times, and we thanked him graciously and headed out super fast because I didn't want to be there when the owner came to move the car.... :) So we started walking down the street discretely.... :) (Oh yeah, and we didn't have the keys to open the church, so that's why we didn't go in.... :)) 2 minutes later, we turned around as the Stake President drove up....in the car that was parked in front of the driveway.... :) Good thing we didn't call the cops... :D Needless to say, we started the English classes, and the Stake President didn't have to pay a fine, and we were, however, a bit embarrassed.... :P

Grace and Marcelo are great!! They have baptismal dates for April 19th. :) Marcelo does have a lot of questions, but they are progressing well and we are excited to help them start on this path that they're on. (P.S. Dad, we shared the Restoration with Grace when we first met her on the street.) We also are teaching a man named Denis, and he is another Benjamin - Golden investigator. We have felt so very blessed to meet him and have the chance to start teaching him. He is getting baptized April 12th, if all goes well. Please keep the 3 of them in your prayers! :)

This week, Hermana Millaquipai shared with me Jacob 5, from her personal scripture study. That is the parable of the olive tree (is that what it's called....?) where the Master of the vineyard and his servant work endlessly to save the vineyard. I was thinking about that, also with how the faith is constantly compared to a seed, and with Fall/the harvest, etc. My thoughts have been in that this week. So where to go with all those thoughts. :)

I love verse 75:

And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.

This verse has taken on different meaning as a missionary, although it is applicable to all members of the church that are working for His cause. He says we are blessed, when we are diligent and labor in the vineyard. When we keep his commandments, and when we bring back the good and natural fruit to Him. Our ward mission leader said something this week that I loved. He said that we are bringing people to repentance. There will be some that don't like that; we, as human beings, do not like being told what to do, and some people will not like the invitation to change who they are, in place of who God needs them to be. But that's when we're casting away "the bad fruit," and He still will give them another chance.

But that leads to how we need to first plant the seed of faith so we can see if it will grow to be good fruit. In Alma 32, Alma teaches about this fruit of faith.

26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than a desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a see may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

He teaches that even if we have a desire to believe, follow that desire, until it becomes a reality. Be diligent in the vineyard, and in your own vineyard with your own tree of faith, long enough to see the fruit that the tree will bring. Endure to the end. :)

"A la vista del Señor, no es tanto lo que hayamos hecho o dónde hemos estado, sino mucho más a dónde estamos dispuestos a ir." -Elder Dube "In the light of the Lord, it's not so much what we've done or where we've been, but how much we are willing to go."

I know that this church is true. We truly are seeing and have seen so many miracles here in Chañarcillo. I love being a missionary. I love being a special representative of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I feel so very blessed that He has entrusted me with a few of His children here in Chile. I know that if we plant that seed of faith and work, and watch it grow, we will see miracles, not only in our own lives, but in those around us. I love you all! Thank you for all your support, love and prayers. I know I say that a lot, but I truly do mean it. :)

Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft

P.S. Congrats to Jenn Fred and Collin Eaton on your calls!! :D You'll never regret this decision. :)
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Hello my Parents-dear! :)

I just have to say really quick before I forget, Mom I bought new shoes today, so that transaction for $40ish is valid. Just so you know. :) The shoes get a little bit worn out around here a little too fast for my liking. :) Also, thank you very much for sending Kenna and Marie's letters. I like hearing from my friends via their blogs every once and a while, and Marie's gave me so much energy, and Kenna's made me sad. But I know she is needed by the Lord in Arizona. So that makes me feel happier. :) I hope that her health stuff can be figured out a little better back there. Also Lindsay's....that poor girl....

And for your couple questions Dad, by the way, I like questions because then I know what to write.... :), The english classes are taught by the 3 gringos here in Chañarcillo. :) Hna Millaquipai is a student for the hour of class. :) Jarol didn't end up coming, and the elders haven't been too persistent in stopping by, but I hope they'll get on that more this week.... I don't want to pester, but a little friendly nudge might help. She does also live in a sketchy part of town, so when her husband is home at night is generally not when we should be prancing around there. :) So keep her in your prayers that we'll somehow get in contact with them this week!! Tamara continues coming to church, and her testimony is growing. We haven't been able to get ahold of her much this past week.... And we talked to Jorge, but....he said he would call us with his new direction....and hasn't and that's the 3rd time we've called....so we're not sure what's up.... Hna Millaquipai is fantastic. I love her lots. She is a tender spirit, but is learning very quickly and I, in return, have learned lots from her. We laugh lots. :) Also, thank you for the update on Grandpa. I would love to write them one of these coming days a good hand written letter.... 

And random last thing, caminar and andar are about the same, but andar is more of 'come with me/ride with me/accompany me', whereas caminar or "camina" 'is walk with me.'

Also Mom, yes we have a missionary from the ward in Venezuela and his mom has been worried sick because as of right now she knows that he has been transfered to Equador, but she doesn't know anything else.... Just a random along with those Ukraine missionaries, have they all been reassigned?? Strange stuff goin on...

And yes, I met Elder Hughes (unless there's more than one which is possible... we have an Elder Tufts here... :P), but I don't know him well. I can't believe he's headed home though!! Time flies.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for all your love. I get emotional at times reading your letters because I can truly feel of your love every day. I know that comes from prayers and thoughts, but also from those who have gone before us that are here protecting and guiding me as well. Angels walk with us, I truly feel justified in saying that. If you get the chance this week, make a quick trip to the temple for me. :)

All my love from the sun, the moon, the stars and back,

Kristen
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(Sister Dalton also just posted on FB [Tuesday 3/25, after I'd written the questions below] that we shouldn't ask our missionaries about the earthquakes and they will be in touch with us if anything were to happen but not to overly stress about it because they really are fine.)

From Pam to Kristen Monday:  There was another 6.1 earthquake Sister Dalton posted on FB Friday. Things are really moving in Irquequi. Don't worry, I'm not freaking out but wondered if you heard about those through the mission or not?

Kristen to Pam Monday:
Yeah we have, but we're all doing good. They say there should be a really big one in the next little while in the whole north (us included) BUT I will be fine Mom. If there is, I probably wouldn't have access to a computer to let you know, but know that until I do write, if it does come, I will be fine. :D We've felt a couple tiny ones down here, but no biggy. I love you!

Tell everyone HI there in Disneyland today for me! :) And give my big little brother a hug, cause I'm not there on choir tour to do it myself.... :) LOTS OF LOVE!! :D