Taking a Page Out of Noah's Book.

Panoramic view of Antofagasta, Chile October 2014

Hellloooo!

First off, I would just like to wish my Dad HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Friday. I love you Dad! No worries, I won't say how many years old you'll be turning.... :P Thank you for everything, and thanks to you and Mom, I am who I am. I could not have asked for better parents; thank you both so very much. :)

It's been a fantastic week everyone. :) Honestly I have loved this week. We had lots of desafios, but things have work out great, and the most important part is that ERMELINDA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. So that's the most important thing, and that she is doing sooo great. She is loving life. More details en un ratito...

So, this week I learned (yet again) what it means to be "flooded". I never thought I would have so many water issues being in a desert. But needless to say, we were flooded this week in our apartment. And life was just peachy. :)

Here's what happened:

So once upon a time our apartment had problems with draining in the shower. The drain was clogged. So for a year, the sister missionaries have just lived with it and life goes on. But it also gets more clogged.... And one day, (last Monday) we talked to the office elders to help us get it fixed (because other quick short story is that we are renting from a missionary couple that's on their mission in Ecuador, and they're coming home in November so things have to be ready for them and we have to find a new apartment....) Bueno so the elders in the office were on top of things, a couple hermanos came to fix it, but instead of fixing it.....things got more complicated..... So they took out the shower, and our whole bathroom was in the living room. We had to stop for the night, and the next morning we went to the sisters apartment in the other sector to shower, came home, studied, left to do visits in the morning, aaand when we got home.....dun dun duuun there was water ALLL OVER THE APARTMENT. Plop. Soooo we called the son of the couple (who's in the ward and has been in this whole process) and anywho long story short the whole flooding thing happened a few different times, but there was nothing they could do about it because we live on the bottom floor, so all the used water from the apartments above come down to ours, etc. Yep. So we have been taking a page out of Noah's book this week. And can I just say I hope that I never have a flood in my house/apartment ever, ever, eeevvvverrrrrr againnnnnn. :D

Two weeks before the above mentioned flood! EWWWW!

The GREAT news is that last night, a ward member called us and said that they have a small apartment that they would like to rent to us, so after 2 months of steadily looking and calling and checking up on apartments, we think we have finally found the winner. The thing is just to approve it all with President, and hopefully next week we will be in a different apartment and they'll be able to get things fixed accordingly in the one we're in(ish) right now. The other part of the story is that we have been sleeping for the past week in the other sector of sisters (Origenes) and the little air mattresses deflated every night. Slowly but surely. :) How wonderful is all of this. But we've learned lots and we're happy little campers. :D

Ermelinda had a great baptism on Saturday. It was SO great, because everything seemed to go so smoothly and perfectly, so that is definitely a blessing. Thank you all so much for your prayers. She is doing so great. She is so excited to be a member of the Church and to have finally found the right path. She just kept saying thank you all night long and all day on Sunday. :) On Sunday, we were able to talk more a fondo about family history work, and she loved it. While we were waiting for her baptism to start, we were watching videos of the temple, and she was asking questions and listening to Hermana Arenas explain everything about being able to do the work for our families. And she just got so excited, saying that it didn't make much sense all of this coming to the earth in families, if we were all just going to die and not see each other again. I think the whole Plan of Salvation kinda clicked for her a little bit more in that moment. :) Line upon line. :)

I've been reading in the Book of Mormon this week in 3 Nephi when Christ comes to the Americas. This part has always, and I believe will forever be, my favorite part. I remember when I was 12 when I would go to the temple, I would always read 3 Nephi 8-11. The change that takes place in just a matter of chapters is incredible. The majority of these people are wicked and evil people, but they are humbled by all this destruction, and then comes the 3rd day, when the darkness ceases, and they rejoice.

9 And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away.

10 And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.

I couldn't help but be filled with joy as I read this. Here we are, watching Ermelinda, and many other investigators, make changes in their lives, and we got to see her take great steps in order to follow Christ, and literally she has changed inside and out; her whole countenance has changed! I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives. Even though we cannot touch the prints in his hands and feet physically, right now, we can accept the sacrifice that He paid for us and follow Him.

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.

I know that He lives and that He loves each and every one of us, no matter what we have done or where we have walked in the path of life, but that we can do better, and return to Him. I love Him. This is His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

All my love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hey Mom and Dad!

Dad, I tried checking that website, but it doesn't work.... :( I also tried searching it in the search bar, and the videos didn't come up.... I did like the principles that he shared though. I couldn't help but smile as you said to think about who currently needs help in experiencing the Spirit of Elijah and what we were able to experience with Ermelinda yesterday. :) There are many other people that came to mind, and most of them are recent converts, so we really need to get on that one and help keep them active and helping out with their family history work so that they can feel the power and importance of temples and what their ancestors are waiting for them to do. :) Thank you for sharing that! I can't remember if you shared that with me a while back, or if we reviewed it in our mission council, but I had seen those before....not sure where. But they are a great reminder. Also, thank you so much for that thought from Elder Scott. I want to translate that and share it with Hermana Arenas and Liset.... Thanks for the idea. :) Women of the world are a lot different than women of the church. It is incredible, but also incredible to know that every single one of us once knew, and will know again, of our divine importance. I think that invitation to "let us help them as much as we can" can apply to all of us, men and women, as we help others who don't quite see the full picture...

I didn't mention in the main letter our other investigators from this week, but we are working with a great family of a single mother and four kids, and hope to have more time to share about them next week a little bit. Her name is Virginia and she is great. More to comeee. :) Sad story about Katiuska.... :( She moved to Peru just like that.... She went for vacation and decided to stay... She's from Peru and her whole family is there, but she was working here and just up and left.... :( So that's the scoop with her. BUT she sent me a request on Facebook, so I can send her address to the missionaries there in Peru.... :D

As far as housing and such goes, I think it would be good to put the deposit down.... I don't know much about it, but I did get Justina to send me a couple pictures and things looked good. I never really thought about having to look for housing mid-semester. It's close to campus so that's nice, and anywho. I think it would be good. If it's not good, everything happens for a reason and I'll learn lots. And spend lots of time at Megan's house. :P Not quite sure what's in store, but things will work out. So yes, it's a yes for the apartment..........

I laughed about Bella and Floppy...... Silly bunnies. I'm sad to hear about Grandma's sister passing away. I don't remember too much about meeting them on the way to Nauvoo.... I do remember something, but I thought that was Marvin and Dee Schultz...? I get them all mixed up. :) Are you going to the funeral this week? And I also had to chuckle about your little KRASH BOOM BAAAAHHHHH, cause it seems to run in the family between you, me, and Lindsay dear. :P Hermana Arenas fell in the shower this morning..... We heard a big krash booommmm and when she came out she was cut up and bleeding on her arm and has a good goose egg on the side of her head. She would also kill me if she knew I was telling you this. Two good things: She will never read this, and she doesn't read English anyways..... :P We're just fallin right and left here now aren't we? :)

Thank you for your letters and all the time you put into them. :) I love them and they always make me smile. I had better run, but I love you both and hope you both have a fantastic week. :) Enjoy Fall Break and tell everyone I said hello and send my love. Nos estamos hablandddooo. :)

Love,
Kristen