La Pequeña Locomotora que Pudo.

Kristen Tuft on her balcony overlooking the OCEAN she loves!

Kristen Tuft and Hna Arenas at a baptism in Antofagasta.

Kristen with Hna Arenas as they first met as companions. August 2014

Self-explanatory, eh? She is happy to eat at McDonald's. Only time. Ever.

Helllooo!

The week flew by, once again. :) It was full of so many wonderful things, that I feel like I will not be able to share them all, but here goes. :)

So we went to work on Tuesday morning, with very little success.... We stopped by so many houses, and nobody was home. Ya okay so we were thinking, "There has to be SOMETHING that we can do before we go to our district meeting." When we suddenly decided to turn down a little pasaje that we've never been down before, in a way to get to the chapel super extraña, but we went with it and there were lots of Testigos de Jehová doing some door knocking... I thought, "Well, qué fome that we walked down this street that these people have recently talked to and are probably not wanting anything more to do with religion right now...." When all of a sudden a lady that was walking out her front door started walking down the street with us. And started talking to us. :D So we talked back to her, (obvio... :)) and her name is Ermelinda. She said that she was going to el centro, but she would love for us to stop by in the afternoon. :D

We went to our district meeting walking on cloud nine and were super excited to go back that afternoon. It turns out that I ended up going out of our sector on an exchange and Hermana Arenas and Hermana Salinas went to visit Ermelinda and had a fantastic first lesson, where they were all crying by the end. So we have met, started teaching and gotten to know Ermelinda, who has a baptismal date for September 20th. WAHOO! :D She is fantastic. She has been having lots of problems with her grown kids, and doesn't know what to do, but in talking last night she said that she wants to show them by her example what they should do, so that they don't follow her bad example from past mistakes. She is a great lady.

We also got to meet with an old investigator again named Carlina. She had a baptismal date for August 9th, but she was never in her house... So we talked to her FINALLY last night and she was super excited, and also has a date for the 20th now. So September 20th is going to be a big day. Keep them in your prayers. :)

We see so many miracles every single day and I feel so blessed and grateful. Thursday afternoon, we were headed to yet another meeting (haha I just realized that all our super great moments this week happened while in camino to meetings.... :P) and we were running about an half hour late... The elders and counselor in the bishopbric were waiting for us, but as we were walking and talking and laughing, we passed by a little family with a dad and a mom and a little baby in a stroller. We were about a block away when I finally decided to stop fighting the prompting I was receiving to talk to them, and we went back. So awkward when we have to go back, but it is what it is. :) Anywho, we started talking to Joana and Manuel, who had just moved here from Santiago a week ago. We asked if we could stop by sometime, and Manuel said, "Sure, next week on Tuesday I start getting home from work at about 6:30, so you guys can stop by then. I think it'll be interesting!" So they both seemed pretty interested and we were SOOO excited because we are on the family search here. And they are a family. :D

Yesterday at church, the stake presidency secretary came to talk to our ward, and started out by talking about the story of the Little Engine that Could. :) I love that story, and had forgotten completely about it... :) There was a circus that needed to get to a little town, because the town was waiting for it. But there was no way for it to get there. One of the big trains said, "No, I've got bigger and better things to do." There was an old train that said, "I'm old and tired, and can't take it all." There was also a modern train that was fancy and new, and all up to date, but he said he couldn't take the circus either. There was just one little train left in the train yard, and it was a little train that didn't have a lot of experience, but said that he would try. There was a hill that one had to climb before reaching the little town, and the little engine was scared that he wouldn't make it. But as he started to climb the hill, one could hear him saying, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." As he reached the top of the hill, the town cheered as they saw him coming, and you could just hear him say, "I knew I could. I knew I could. I knew I could!"

I loved that he shared that little reminder story! Right before him, a recent convert named Marcos gave his first talk, and spoke about faith. He talked about the grain of mustard, and how if we have faith even that small, nothing is impossible. That was just a good little reminder for me. Believing that I can is knowing that it is possible. And as we put all our faith in our Savior, He can make those big hills that seem impossible, possible. I think it was an apostle that recently said, "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible.'"

Entonces! Si la pequeña locomotora pudo hacerlo, aún más nosotros podemos hacer todas las cosas en Cristo. Sé que ésta es la obra del Señor. Soy un instrumento en Sus maravillosas manos, y estoy tan feliz a poder tener la oportunidad a estar aqui en Angamos. Amo a la misión y ser misionera. Sé que Cristo vive y que ésta es Su iglesia. Les quiero mucho y espero que tengan una semana maravillosa. Requérdate: Eres la pequeña locomotora que pudo. :)

Translation for the Espanol Impaired: (SO - If the little engine could do even more we can do all things in Christ. I know this is the Lord's work. I am an instrument in His wonderful hands, and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to be here in Angamos. I love the mission and being a missionary. I know that Christ lives and that this is His church. I love them and hope you have a wonderful week. Requérdate: You're the little engine that could. :) )

Con cariño,
Hermana Tuft
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Hey Mom and Dad,

I put pictures on today! And I put lotsss on. I finished up the ones I had left from Calama, so there's a couple in there as well. Katty is the one that is in a plaid shirt in front of the church with us. She's got a little darker skin. I haven't heard anything from Hna Albornoz, so if I hear anything about her baptism I will let you know. :) It should be this weekend.... :)

I loved hearing about the week and that all started well with school and such. :) It's still so crazy to me that little Lindsay is in high school. Tell her I'd love to be scheduled in there somewhere to hear how all is going... :) I know that she's a busy woman, between dreaded chemistry (that actually was one of my favorite classes, but MOSTTT stressful, more than college I feel almost...) taking lots of pictures, and volleyball, I know she's a busy little girl. But tell her I love her and that I think about her lots. :)

I know that it's been such a long time, but just like you said Dad, you get excited to write me, I feel the same thing Monday mornings when I can print off your letters. Always brings a smile to my face and a spring to my little step. :) Hermana Arenas is from a split family. Her mom lives here in Iquique (I don't know how that one happened....) and her dad lives in Lima still. They both don't know how to use the computer very well, so they never write.... Her 2 brothers do every once and a while, but that would be very, very hard.

I love that song (He Sent His Son)! That is one of my favorite primary songs. :) Mom and Dad. I am stinkin scared, cause I seriously cannot speak English. I still write well (I think) cause I write in my journal in English, but when it comes to reading and speaking, we have problems. :) I have seen it in a couple things this week. One was when I read that primary song... I read it first in Spanish and then in English. The second was when I was reading my patriarchal blessing and I was translating it in my head. The third was when I was talking to an hermana that just got here with her husband from St. George. They're the Brunson's, and her husband is the boss of one of the mines here, so she just got back and I met her yesterday. I seriously couldn't hold a decent conversation.... Me está preoccupando. :) Nooo importa. :) Anyway, Hno Thomas asked us to see if there was a musical number that we could put together, so I might suggest that song... :) Thank you! :)

We were actually on exchanges for Hna Arenas' 9 month celebration, but I did a little card for her, but yes I believe we will have to have a pancake breakfast here soon.... :D Today, we borrowed a couple bikes and went on an oceanside bike ride, so that was fun. :) We are about 10 minutes walking distance from the ocean, and I love it lots. :) I do remember reading that book with you Dad. I would like to read it again, cause I don't remember it very well, but it's so true. I read a quote from President Benson today that said something like we will be surprised as to how much we know our Savior and Heavenly Father when we can return to see them again someday. The "Endure to the End" part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sometimes the hardest part, but in the actual "end" it will be the most rewarding as well.

And I did some more studying of Alma 5 por fin. :D I wrote down all the questions that Alma asks in that chapter, and then went over and over them again and again... I decided to rewrite a few of them, that I would like to share:

Have I been born spiritually of God? Have I received His image in my countenance? Have I experienced a mighty change of heart? Do I exercise faith in the redemption of Christ? Do I look forward with an eye of faith to be judged according to my works? Can I imagine the voice of the Lord? Can I look at God in that great day with a pure heart and clean hands? Do I have God's image in my being? Do I have a place to sit with the holy prophets in the kingdom of God? Do I feel the desire to sing the song of redeeming love? Have I been sufficiently humble? Have my robes been washed and purified by the blood of Christ? Do I know that with a certainty? How?

As I reflected these questions in a more personal way, it made me think about the things I am doing well, and what I could do better... I can't wait to hear the voice of the Lord in the last day. I think that will be a wonderful and priceless moment. Meanwhile, I can try to do all that is possible to keep the promptings of the Holy Ghost close and follow in His footsteps. :)

And Mom, how has Jenn been doing?? I will have to write her here soon. :) Thanks for her email! Is she there at the MTC in Provo? Where is Matt Niu going again?? And I can't believe that Nate Oldroyd is HOME!! :) Justina was just saying that she started her last transfer last week and about gave me a little heart attack. Time. Flies. Hey, and if you see Ms. Meacham again PLEASE give her a big squeeze from me. :)

I tried my visa again today in a machine that said visa and it didn't work still.... I don't know what happened, but would it work to try my old card? I don't want to have to have a THIRD card in the mission. Fome. I'll mention something to President Dalton... I don't know Hna King, but I hear she's still in Arica...?

I loved your thoughts from education week! It is so true, because these people are so darn confused about what is the truth and what is not. If they understand the Bible, they would believe in the Book of Mormon, and if they believe that the Book of Mormon is true, as we know, there will be so many blessings unfolded to them. What an incredible blessing that is. I love bearing testimony of the Book of Mormon, and of my Savior, and of the living prophets, because it is something that people don't hear everyday, and I have the privelege of sharing it every single day. :D I know it is true. I can hardly write this without tearing up knowing all the blessings that have come understanding and knowing that it is all true.

I love you both so very much. :) Thank you for being my parents. :D Send everyone my love, and especially Grandma and Grandpa. I hope that they truly are doing alright and know that they are in every single prayer. :)

Love,
Kristen