Partícipes del Don Celestial.

Hello Family and Friends!                                                                  

I know I say this every single week, but this week was the best week ever. :D  Honestly, I still don't know if all that happened is real, because it still just leaves me in awe how merciful and wonderful the Lord is.  I love Him, and I know He lives, and I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and listens to our every prayer.  Every single one.

So, I mentioned a bit about Virginia's story last week, and honestly I was super excited to meet her and her kids, but I never thought that they would be SUCH a golden family.  The elders had told us how prepared they were and how they wanted to be baptized, etc, but when they said that I feel like there was a little bit of doubt and reserve....  Not that they would be baptized, but the fact that they are going to be baptized THIS WEEKEND made our week.  I wish I could just share this joy I feel with you all.  But I hope that you understand this jumble of words trying to explain the gozo that we feel. :D 

So starting out the week, we had a family night last Monday with Ermelinda and a ward family named la Familia Torres.  They've been great hermanadores with her, and the hna is in the presidency of the relief society of the stake.  O see, the stake relief society presidency... :)  She's doing well, but please still keep her in your prayers, because she's just getting used to the swing of things as a member of the church.  But she's doing well. :)

 

We also had two intercambios this week that went well.  I got to work with Hna Andes (Lehi) again, and this is her second transfer and she is doing great.  She's come a long way and is speaking well!  It made me think of a certain Elder Tuft that I know that's in Honduras that's just starting his third transfer and how I bet his Spanish is coming along just as great. :)  SO that was fun to see.

 

While we were on our intercambios on Tuesday/Wednesday (I was with Hna Salinas de Mexico), we went to visit Virginia.  Her kids were at school, but we had a good talk with her and we taught the Plan of Salvation.  She got really excited when we talked about the Celestial Kingdom, and she asked about temple work, because Miguel (her 13-yr-old son) wants to go to the temple with the young men in January to do baptisms.  So we explained a little about that, and she said, "Well, I also told him that he couldn't go unless he was a member of the church, and he said that he wanted to be baptized, so how does that happen?"  And as we got talking about it, she said that she wants to be baptized as well, so we set a baptismal date for November 1st.  :D  We stopped by every day last week, and they were always waiting for us with their pamphlets and Books of Mormon ready with all their assignments done, and it was just incredible to see.  Virginia also has a friend that is a member from another ward, and she has been very helpful and encouraging through all this.  They had their interviews on Saturday, and on Sunday it was announced in church, and we think that the attendance will be great at the baptism.  SO pretty much we're walking on sunshine over here.  :D

Yesterday and today, I was thinking a lot about faith, goals, and the things we do to show the Lord what it is that we really want.  As Kyle shared with me last week, the Lord truly does know the desires of our hearts.  And how true that is!  The interesting thing was that this morning, I was reading Ether 12, and that kinda just summed it all up for me. 

 In Ether 12:3 it says:
3 For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled—

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

As we show our faith in God, we are saying that we know that these things, righteous desires, will be fulfilled, and that we might earn a place at the right hand of God, or in other words, living in God's presence.  And the part at the end shows us the importance of faith with action, hoping for a better world. 

And then Moroni makes a promise:

8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

So because of our faith, we can believe in Christ and that He has made possible all of this: life!  He has prepared the way so that we can be partakers of the heavenly gift, living in the presence of God with our families. Seeing Virginia and her family made me think about it all this week.  They want to be an eternal family, and because of their faith, the Lord will make it possible, and has made it possible, as he has for each and every one of us.  So what does all this mean?  We have hope.  We've never done anything so bad that can't be fixed through the Atonement of Christ.

This week is going to be fantastic.  We have a ward activity on Thursday that we're organizing, baptisms on Saturday, and lots to come. :)  I love Chile.  I love being a missionary, and I love serving the Lord. 

Have a great week, all! We'll be seeing you soon. :)
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft

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Hey Mom and Dad!

What mixed emotions.... :)  This is my last week in Chile, and I am super duper sad.  But at the same time, I get to see my wonderful family again SO soon.  So I am super duper happy.  Remember when I was getting ready to leave, and I would just about start jumping up and down cause I was so excited??  Well, I sometimes get that excited, and then other times I get really emotional and don't want to leave.  And I'm sure you both understand. :)  BUT I'm super excited for this week and for all that it brings.  Thank you for your love and support and thoughts. 

I loved reading back through all those names of the people that you put in my letter, Dad.  Thank you. :)  That brought back some great memories, and there are so many other names in there that are missing, but it feels good knowing that I might have just helped those people enough to show them and teach them about their Savior. I hope I've done all that He needed me to do.  And I hope this week I'll do all that He needs me to do. :)

I was shocked by the news that happened this past weekend.... I opened the letter to copy and print it, Mom, but the first line caught my attention, so I kept reading and just started crying there in the cyber.... I know that all will work out, and that by doing Ryan's temple work, he will have the chance to progress as we all have/are doing.... The Lord is merciful and understands all things, so I know that he is in a better place.  How are the Allison’s doing?  How is Aunt Julie, and Miranda?  Please tell them that I love them, and I am praying for them.  When will the graveside service be?  How is Katherine doing as well?  What happened exactly.... with Cody?  What a strange little man to do something so dramatic and fome like that.... :(

I'm glad that apartment stuff is all finalized.  SO MUCH TO DO in so little time.  Good thing that for the next week I won't have to worry about any of that.  Wahoo! :)  But thank you, and Megan, for helping in all this.  I'm sure the little lovely transition will go a lot smoother having a few things set in stone. :)  But that is SUPER dumb about the washer and dryer.  I don't want to payyy to wash my clothes if I'm paying for the apartment.  No importa.  :)  Hope the roomies are great and that the ward is awesome. :)  Hey, another question....  I know I'll only be in the ward for a couple months, but is there something that I can do, a little calling or assignment with the Young Women or something that I could do in the meantime....?   I think I would like that. :)  Some things that I want when I get home is to see the whole family and go to the temple..... :)  That's all. :)  And then a couple 2 or 3 days to sleep..... :)  Hna Smith (or Cassi.....weird to say that, but that's her name.... :P) said that Hna Dalton gives us the option of checking our email on Monday, so I might, I might not.  So if you do write, I will be able to read it and respond algo chico, but if not and if there's lots to do this weekend, I will see you on Wednesday.  :D  Fun that the Rindlisbachers will be there!  :P 

Glad that the Primary program went well!  I'm glad little Lindsay's doing better!  I LOVE YOU BOTH LOTS.  Have a great Halloween and take lots of pictures and SAVE SOME OF THOSE CANDY CORN PUMPKINS for me. :P  Can't wait to see you all, and meet my little nephew and niece. :D 

Loves from your Chilean missionary,

Kristen