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| I posted this a few weeks ago. Kristen knew the baby's name would be Milo so that's why she took this picture for us. :) |
It has been a fantastic week. I'm getting over the first stomach flu that I've ever had in the mission, but I am feeling better and loving life. :) We had a great week, which included (obviously) teaching, finding, BAPTISMS!!, and our consejo in Antofagasta. So all in all it's been a very busy but great week. :)
We did visits with a returned missionary that is visiting her sister from Peru this week. Her name is Janet, and it was absolutely fantastic teaching with her. She said everything PERFECTLY to our investigators and we were just tickled pink with happiness. :) Katty continues progressing GREAT, along with Agustina. We're working with LOTS of other families, but the two that are progressing LOTS are those two. :)
We had our consejo with President Dalton this week, and it was just what I needed. There were so many answered prayers that came in many different ways. It was super strange to be saying goodbye too, to Hermana Severtson and Hermana Rodriguez that go home next week.... Seems like yesterday that Hermana Severtson and I were in Copiapó together. :)
Something that President shared really hit me hard. He started out by saying that we, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, have existed for at LEAST 6,000 years (being the existence of the earth). Try for just a second to wrap your head around 6,000 years. Learning, preparing, and being SOOO excited to come here to earth to get a body. And then we got here, and we will live here for just a SLIVER of time, and then be resurrected here in the not too far future. And then we go on LIVING in these wonderful (but then perfected) bodies, having the rest of 6,000 years and millions more, thinking about what we did here on earth. His question for us was are we creating good memories? Are the things we are doing right now what we will want to remember for an eternity? And the beauty of it is, is that if they are not the things we want to remember, we can rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and forget those bad things we have done, and just be left with the good. So, my goal this week has been to create the BEST memories possible, because I sure want to look back at this time, time that we will never get back, with a smile on my face. :)
Then came Saturday. And what a MIRACLE that was. :D Camila has been waiting to be baptized for almost 3 whole months. AND SHE GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. :D The super strange thing was that, because she moved just a few weeks ago, we weren't in charge of her baptism. It was like having a baptism without all the drama that comes with the interview and filling the font and getting the program ready, etc. BUT not that I'm complaining, just saying it was a very peaceful day. :) We did a musical number and it was a beautiful service. She was so happy. :)
We invited Katty and she said that she was going to go, but didn't arrive, and we were anxiously waiting and waiting and waiting, when she called us saying that she was almost there, and so we went to wait outside. And she literally got there for the closing prayer.....whoopss.... BUT the Lord truly works in mysterious ways and there was another baptism of the Hermanas de Caspana that was starting in about 10 minutes so we asked an hermano to take us over there and made it just in time for the opening song. :) There was a family that was being baptized: a dad, a mom, and their 8-year-old. They have 2 other little kids, so it was beautiful seeing them all there together and super happy. After the baptism, while we were waiting for them to change their clothes, Katty started asking us when we were baptized, and how we could choose when we were 8, but yet we still didn't know everything, etc. So then the family got back, and I hadn't told her what I was going to, so I thought I'd just wait for after. We finished the service, and Hermana Albornoz went to congratulate them, and I turned to Katty and told her although I didn't know all that I do now about the church and that my testimony isn't the same, I knew that I needed to follow the example of my Savior and the good things my parents had taught me. And I have never, ever regretted that decision. We both started to cry and she expressed her desire to follow Christ, but was scared and needed help. :) So we talked for a bit and then she went and talked to Nicole, the mom that got baptized, and asked her why she did it. So they were talking for a bit as well and everything turned out super super good. Katty went to church yesterday, and is trying to find work, so we are PRAYING that she does so that she can stay here in Calama. Cause if not, she's headed out to a different city to find work at the end of the week.... :( But the ward has been helping and looking, so our hopes are high. :)
I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives! I love being here making great memories and hope that you all have a great week doing the same. Make the most of it. :D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hey Mom and Dad!
Can I just say that I have never missed you two more than I did this weekend when I was super duper duuuupppper sick throwing up Saturday night? It was awful. I ate something that made me get sick and literally threw up all night. Blegh. I haven't thrown up in about 10 years I figured. So that makes me even more of a pansie when it comes to that kinda thing. BUT. I'm up and living and alive today. :) And even made it to church yesterday thinking I'd be okay, but ended up looking like a ghost, which was a bit of a shock to the members that say my skin is already ghostly white. :P Needless to say, I did sleep all afternoon yesterday and we're headed for round two of naptime as soon as we're done here. :)
Hermana Albornoz obviously helped and was great with me, but the thing that gave me the most comfort is thinking about your words saying that in moments when you two were far away, I could always remember those feelings of being taken cared of and of love. And as I was laying in bed waiting for the next wave of nastiness, I could just imagine Grandma and Grandpa Tyler there taking care of me, rubbing my feet and giving me 7-Up and saltine crackers. And that truly helped me the most, as ridiculous as that sounds. :)
I was very sad to hear that Grandpa Tuft has been declining a little bit more every day... I wrote them a quick note last week, but I bet Grandma's just been super busy and I don't know if Grandma would even be able to read the letter to Grandpa... I had my hopes so high that he would be there in a couple months more, but if he's so miserable and not able to do anything, it would be best if he could rest and not be in any more pain... All in the Lord's timing. Maybe he was just waiting for little Milo to make it. :) Please express to them my love and concern, and that they truly are in every prayer.
I am glad that the family reunion went well!! :) I was actually just reading my journal on Saturday from last year, cause Pia got baptized exactly a year ago. :) And I had written about the family reunion and how sad I was that I couldn't go, but then it was interesting because I didn't even know if it was this past weekend or not this time around... :) Funny how much I feel like I've changed. :) And OBVIOUSLY the family is important, and I'll be there next year, but I was super glad this time around that I was here. :) I can't wait to see the Ogden Temple. I bet it's incredible. It looks a TOOOON different. How's the Provo Temple coming along?? I am so darn excited for that temple. They're all special. But I love that one already. :)
Pablo & Claudia are doing well, but they're super busy bodies and we haven't been able to have that family night that we were planning.... Wednesday. :) Denice and Andres are in a similar situation and hopefully they'll be available today... Alicia and Sebastian have been super extraños.... So we'll see what's up there... And we were supposed to go to Yobannely's last night....but I was not able to..... So there all here still....de a poquiiiitttoo.
I also LOVED that story from Mark Christiansen. That is incredible truly. What a miracle it is that he could go back and JUST in time. The Lord's timing is truly something incredible. We have transfers this weekend, and IF I don't stay, I would loovvveee to go back to Arica. I've had it in my prayers, BUT I'll go where he wants me to go very happily. And maybe that means staying here. WHO KNOWS. :) President shared with us this past week how we does transfers, and it truly is an incredible process. A three-day process, but an incredible one. So what I'm saying is that yes, President does know what's happening with me at this moment in time. :) But what's more important is that the Lord knows and it's all in His hands. :)
Mom, Amalia did not go to church, again. :( :( :( We'll see what's up. Maybe it's just not her time...? But we're not giving up on her just yet. President and Sister Dalton were up there last week for interviews, and were with us about a week and a half ago... :) And no I was not on that bus LUCKILY. Cause in our bus we were sitting up front, right where the bus crashed.......... And Elder Funaro jokingly said, "Be sure to buckle up!" right before we left at 5 in the morning, and I didn't do it.... I know you are shaking your head, but just so you know, on the way back I WAS with my seatbelt. :) Hermana Rindlisbacher was super good, just said that she hit her head on the seat in front of her and woke up... AND I didn't know that she goes to USU as well!!! So that will be fun. I'm sure we'll be great friends. :) Plus, Justina asked me today if we were still on to room together in the spring, and I had talked to Megan about living with her for a bit, and I would love to, but I would also love to have a campus life (NOT like Davis Hall again. Never again.) BUT I would also love to live with my sister. But I think that I'll plan on living on campus at least for spring, and maybe stay up there and live with Megan for the summer....? We shall see where the wind blows me. Truly I'm not ready to be thinking about these things right now. WHERE IS THE TIME FLYING MAKE IT STOPPPPP. Anywho. :)
I love you both so very much. I am so glad that you both taught me to love the Gospel, and to love my Savior. I'm SO excited for Spencer to be headed out into the field this week, and know he will do great and be protected. Angels will truly be round about him, as they have been with me. And if he needs to take my angels for a little bit, that's okay, cause I think I'm in a little bit safer place... :) :D
HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK. I hope you can both go to the temple before little Lindsay gets back. :) LOVES!!
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