El Monte del Señor

Hermanas Tuft and Matias in Lluta with....Hermanas!

Hello from Chile!

We have definitelyyy entered into the heat of Arica... And everyone keeps telling me Summer gets worse.... Right now I'm feeling like the heat is at the max of what I'm used to there in Utah... It might be a long summer... :P But I love it! It's better than working through sheets of rain and snow I'm thinking... :) Pobrecitos los misioneros en Utah... :P

This week was so great! We definitely had a great Independence Day, with lots of festivities and lots of people gone/busy, but over all things went well. :) We got to spend a good chunk of the day in Valle Lluta with the family Aguilera (the family we made empanadas with a little while back). We did some service in the morning, and had a great lunch! LOTSSS of chicken and beef and salad and yep... So much food. The Elders went as well, and after we had all finished, Elder Hotvedt looked at me and said in English, "I think that might have been more food than Thanksgiving..." And I think he was right. :P Everything was normal for us during the 3 days of fiestas, but if we didn't have visits after dark we were told to go back to the pension early just to be safe. And safe we were! :)

So much happened this week, but it flew by and I'm trying to remember the things I need to tell you all! Our investigators are doing great. Jasmin's not getting baptized this weekend, because she wants to wait until her brother Nacho can be baptized with her. Nacho hasn't made it to church yet, but we're working on that one and tonight we have a family home evening with their family and it will be the first time we actually have a lesson with their parents. Their parents are really supportive and love that they are learning about the church and that they want to go to church, but they themselves can't go as of right now because they go to buy stuff for their restaurant on Sundays... Jasmin's mom is a member, but hasn't been active for years. And they have family in the ward, so they have a lot of people to help encourage and teach them. So we're working with them. :) Fabiola and Jorge are doing SO well. They started reading the Book of Mormon and their goal is to read it all through. They have a little pattern going where they read at 10 pm every night when Fabiola gets home from school. And as of right now they're not getting married in November ps... The plan is January when their families can all come, and the marriage license place is on strike right now too. So we will see. :) But they are progressing very well and their testimonies are growing so very much! We also found 2 new investigators this week. Their names are Carolina and Barbara. They're sisters, and daughters of a less active member, and 2nd cousins with Jasmin and her family... (I think their whole family lives in our ward. :)) So we'll continue to work with them! Things are going very well here. :) I love Zapahuira. :)

And finally I can talk about yesterday. Yesterday was such a special day. We had intercambios with the sister training leaders on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, so I went to a different sector in Arica and one of the sister training leaders came to work in Zapahuira with Hna Matias. (We have an intercambio with them once every transfer ps.) Anywho Hna Matias and Hna Rodriguez got to be here when the ward got back from the Cochabumba Temple! They were walking by the church and the buses pulled up, so they got to talk to everyone fresh from the temple. :) Hna Matias said it was so incredible because they all walked off just glowing. They were still glowing yesterday when I saw them at church. :) So that's for the background news. For Sacrament Meeting, we got to hear the testimonies of those that went and some of their experiences there. We were all teary-eyed by the time the meeting ended.

Then, we had a very special lesson in Sunday School where we talked about the gifts of the Spirit. The teacher, Hna Karla, as she was talking about the gift of tongues and the interpretation thereof, looked at Elder Hotvedt and I and started talking about what a miracle it is that missionaries can go to any place in the world and learn the language so rapidly and teach upon arrival. Sometimes we don't make complete sense I'm sure, but it truly is a miracle. I got emotional then as well, because I realized how much I've been able to speak this past month. I can understand what people are saying almost all of the time, and I feel like I can teach effectively. I still have a long way to go obviously, but in my prayers, I have asked to have the words that I need, and I have been blessed with those words. I started out my mission asking to be blessed with the gift of tongues, but I expected it to be something all of a sudden one day I'd wake up and speak perfectly. It's not like that, at least for me. I have learned that we have to truly work and study in order to recieve the answers and blessings. And everything is according to the Lord's timing.

Then we had Relief Society and had more testimonies from the sisters that didn't get a chance in Sacrament to bear their testimonies. They had such incredible experiences. To see the sacrifice and how much these wonderful people had to do in order to got to the temple was so wonderful and amazing to see. I know that families are forever. I know that the work done in temples is so very important and special. It was so very special to hear their testimonies. I have moments of extreme happiness where I just cry, and I had one of those moments during the closing song, and Hna Matias as well. :) The 2 missionaries sitting in the back bawling... :P We had a "trunky moment" for the temple. Temples truly are houses of the Lord, and how privledged we are that He has given us the opportunity to enter them and feel of His infinite love!

So that was yesterday. We cried the whole day, and felt the Spirit so very strong. I wish I could explain it more effectively, but this is as good as I can get I think... It was amazing. :) This week is kinda short, but it was an incredible week. I am growing and learning so very much every day. I know this church is true with all my heart. I know that Joseph Smith restored this gospel to the earth through revelation in these days and the power of the Priesthood is on the earth once more. This gospel changes lives. As we let the Atonement of Jesus Christ change us, we will see miracles. I know that my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ lives. I know that God loves us and that he hears and answers our prayers. There is no doubt in my mind. Sometimes he gives us moments to grow through minor bumps in the road, but these are our moments to learn and grow, and to show him we have the faith necessary to change and grow into who He needs us to be. We are instruments in His hands.

I love you all so very much and I hope you all have a FABULOUS week! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY MOM!!!!! Love you lotsssss!!! :D

Love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello FamBam!

How're you all surviving that wetness in New Mexico?! I hope all is going so very well! I'll be praying for you. :) I know that things will go well. Did Tom and Jess not go then...? From what I read, you all went in the van, so just curious.... Be sure to tell Matt and Lynsey Bond hello from me! Hope they're all doing well. And so very exciting they're expecting!! :D Congrats!! :) I'm glad to hear that you all survived HOMECOMING. I would LOVE pictures Spencer! Fun that Kyle and Jess got to help chaperone! :) And that Lindsay had a good time with tennis. I hope all continues to go well!! What team are you on Lindsay, and who's your partner?? I'd love to hear all about it. :) And I laughed at your little texting blunder... Hahahahahaha. :D How is school and work going for everyone?? I love you all so much and you are continually in my thoughts and prayers, I hope you know that. :) Talk to you soooon. :D

LOVE,
Kristen
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Hello Mom and Dad! I don't have much more to write, but I just like writing both of you separately... Hope you don't mind too much, even if it's a quick little note. I love you both so very much, I hope you know that. Being so far away and seeing so many different walks of life has made me so very grateful for having the wonderful parents that I do, that taught me to walk in the ways of the Lord, and given me a wonderful example and shoes to walk in. :) I love you!! :) To answer a couple last questions:

Mom, tell everyone CONGRATS on mission calls and engagements what in the worldddd so crazy. Two high school couples getting engaged in one week... Crazy stuff. I don't think Sammi really dated Zach in high school, but not quite sure on that one.... Anywho. :) AND AMIE LEAVES IN A MONTH!!!! CRAZY stuff!! I'm so very excited for her. :) And Lauren Ridge, as well, to MEXICO of all places!!!! Wow! I will write that letter for you, and type it next week. I want to think more about it, rather than just type it up in the 2 seconds I have left... I know we have unlimited time to write, but we only have a limited amount of time for p day... :P And no sign of the package yet, but this week possibly... We're having a conference with President Dalton, so quizás.... I'm praying it will come. :( I only sent one letter home, but it had letters for EVERYONE, except Audrey. :P Hope it comes.... Happy Birthday again. :)

Dad, we have district meetings every Tuesday and we just changed them so we don't talk about our investigators as much, but more that our district leader and zone leaders teach us doctrinal stuff, and how to work more efficiently. I really love them! We always learn a lot. :) Then we have one morning through out the week to do our weekly planning, so that's just with Hna Matias and I. I love Hna Matias so much. She is so great. :) And with our weekly planning, we have a meeting with Hno Delgado once a week to talk about our investigators and the their needs, as well as the needs of our less actives we're working with. But with the fiestas, we haven't had one for a couple weeks.... This week for sure. :) And no ward missionaries yet.... :( And I am feeling LOADS better this week. My cough is almost gone (I think it's seriously just allergies when the seasons change....) and my voice is back and all is well. :D

I love you both!! I've got to run, but please keep me posted on how things go this week in NM and I'll be praying for all. :) (I laughed at that one when they called you Mr. Peter, Dad..... Hahahaha.... :D)

Lots of LOVE from Chile,
Kristen

FIESTAS PATRIAS Y MATRIMONIA!!!

Hello from Chile!!

It's been another fabulous week here in Arica. Dah - I wish I could just bring you all down here and show you what life's like as a missionary and the wonderful blessings and miracles that happen every day. This week is Fiestas Patrias (aka HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY CHILE!!! :D) and we're very excited and nervous for the week ahead. :) Excited because honestly the people here are so very patriotic and walking down the streets with all the flags is incredible. We're starting to count all the flags we see in a day, so I'll keep you posted with that one. :P I´m not sure what all the traditions are for Independence Day here, but I know it involves a lot of barbeque and dancing the cueca and it's 3 days of fiestas. I'll let you know more on that next week! :) And nervous because everyone is leaving to go see family in other parts of Chile, and the ward officially left for Bolivia last night at 4 in the morning. So the ward's gone, the investigators are gone, the menos activos are gone....and we're left here solo. Haha not really, but we will be doing lots of finding, and lots of walking this week. :D BUT I am very excited to have the opportunity to experience 2 independence days here. :D

And for the other fantastic news.... GUESS WHO'S FINALLY GETTING MARRIED?!?!?! Fabiola and Jorge' are officially ´´engaged´´ and are getting married! :D It's not until November 2, but we talked about it and they think that's enough time to plan the wedding that they want, learn the rest of the things they need to to feel ready, and what's more Jorge' works in October, so they can't really get married without Jorge' actually being here... Haha, shocker, huh? :P But their baptism is set for the week after, so we're looking forward to November. :) And praying that we'll both still be here one transfer longer.....

I said this last week, but just as background we can only visit them on the weekends because Fabiola works and has school from 8 in the morning to 9:30 at night. So we had a lesson with them on Saturday, and it was amazing. We watched Elder Holland's ´Lord, I Believe´ talk from last conference (thanks Dad for the reminder of that talk, I know it was a couple weeks ago...but still thank you!) and talked about the desire to believe that leads to acts of faith. This is a huge act of faith for both of them, but they are very excited and have told us many times they feel like this is what God's will for them is. It's been incredible to see the change in Jorge as we've seen his faith grow. At first it was hard for him to believe in God, but his testimony has grown and his faith continues to be strengthened as they read and pray together. I know I've never been married, but it has been incredible to draw on the examples of a strong and happy marriage built on the principles of the gospel from my parents and siblings to help them feel the same, and to teach them to build their relationship with help from our Heavenly Father. Not quite sure if that all makes sense, but that the only way I could think to put it... :) Jorge' said that he would like for them to meet with the bishop so he can help them as well, and to get his thoughts and feedback. That will be great for them to have that relationship with the bishop as well. We're really excited for them, as you can probably tell. :D

In news of other investigators, we are working with Jasmin, and her brother Nacho. Jasmin is 14 and she is the daughter of a menos-activa we found while working with Simil. We've been working with her for about a month, and I'm not quite sure why I haven't talked about her before, but she's getting baptized next week, the 28th! Nacho told us during a lesson this week that he talked to his parents and wants to be baptized as well! He needs to go to church a couple more times, but that will hopefully be in the near future as well. :) Their dad isn't a member, but we're having our first FHE with them tonight and that will be his first time meeting with the missionaries, so hopefully we can get their whole family to church as well. :) They have 2 younger siblings, Noelia and Sergio. Noelia's 5 and Sergio just had his 5th birthday on Saturday. They crack us up. I love working with families! :D

One last experience from this week. We've been working with a man named Cesar that's menos-activo as well, and it's been incredible to see the change in him as his faith grows as well. This gospel really does change lives. He was baptized more about 15 years ago, and never went to church once after his baptism. It's been great to work with him and to teach him. We've been teaching everything fresh, because he doesn't remember anything about the Plan of Salvation, the Restoration, etc. He is filled with questions and soaks everything up. He lives with his girlfriend, son, and one on the way at the end of the month! In the beginning, his son and pareja met with us as well, but Hna Silvia is Evangelica and told us for now she doesn't want to listen anymore. Hno Cesar invites her to church every week with him, and we do too, so hopefully one of these weeks she'll say yes. :) Last night, we had a lesson and talked about the temple, because he has a friend that's going with the ward this week to Cochabumba to be sealed to his wife and daughter. He got teary-eyed and told us that he wants that for his family one day as well. The change in him from one month ago and not really knowing anything about the church and last night was a night and day difference. Just seeing the change in these people every day strengthens my own testimony so very much.

I'd better be going, but I know this church is true. I know that I have been called here to serve my mission in Chile and I know that the timing of the Lord is exactly perfect. Sometimes we have blinders on and we can't see what's ahead, but we have to remember that the Lord can see all sides of the story, and we are blessed to have His protecting hand in our lives every day. I know that this church was restored through Joseph Smith and that we are blessed to have living prophets, modern day revelation, and the priesthood in these latter-days. How blessed we are! I love you all so very much and I am so very grateful for your love, support, and prayers!

Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Family!

It was great to hear that things went well this past week there in good ol' Utah! :D I do have to ask about Tuft lake... Very curious about that one via Megan... :) Kyle, I hear you have a picture to send me... :) Lago Tuft. Has a little ring to it, doesn't it? :) Also I can't wait to hear about Lindsay in her tennis TRY-OUTS and how that ended up and to see PICTURES of my little SPENCER at his SENIOR HOMECOMING DANCE!!!! :D Where does the time fly... (Speaking of time flying, tomorrow marks 3 months of being in Chile...crazy stuff!!! :D) Please keep me posted. I can't wait to hear. :) Also I hope that preparations for the New Mexico trip go well this week! I wish I could go with the whole family! Hope everything goes well though, and I know you'll have a great time. :D My health has been very good this week. The cough is all but gone, seriously! I've been taking a couple meds and they seem to be helping a lot. I do have a cold in the which yesterday I didn't have much of a voice, but today is better and I know I am being blessed with the energy and patience to work with these little bumps! :) But I am doing very well. :) I love you all so very much! I can't wait to hear how this week goes and the adventures you will have! :)

All my love,
Kristen
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Hello Mom and Dad!

For a couple last answers :) I hope that I answered all the questions you had, minus these next couple obviously. :) But first, a funny little small world moment! Dr. Jorge' Michalek was my first pediatrician, right?? Or was he Megan's....? Can't quite remember, but super funny story. We were in the house of a member the other day and she showed us a picture of her son with his mission president. The names were below, and I looked at the picture thinking, 'I'm pretty sure I know this guy....' and I looked below and it said Presidente and Hermana Michalek. I had to laugh at that one! Here I am in Chile and I've found so many connections to home... :P

Also, I loved the thought of the Hymns you shared, and the last principle from Elder Scott! I'm sad those are over, I really enjoyed those just about every week!! I couldn't help but reflect in the line when he says With all my capacity I encourage you to discover who you really are... When you push against the boundaries of experience into the twilight of the unknown, the Lord with strengthen you... Gather strength by remembering you can do anything the Lord asks you to do. Going on a mission was that choice of pushing into the unknown. When I would think about it with my natural-man mind, I would get so very scared about going so far away and speaking a different language and living in a different country teaching people I didn't know. But I distinctly remember an experience I had in the Logan Temple right before Justina left. She was in the changing room, and I went out to sit in the waiting area. I closed my eyes for a minute to just think, and I remember having this wonderful peace come over me and the feeling that Chile, Antofagasta was the right mission and the place that I needed to go. I remember telling Mom this experience that night, and telling her I never doubted my mission call, but there were times in the MTC and in the first few weeks here that I recalled that experience and that peace, and was reassured that I was doing the right thing. It's amazing how the Lord knows exactly what we need and the strength that he gives us as we do push those boundaries of experience and comfort.

Mom mentioned the stories from Sister Ashley Brown and her talk, but neither of you mentioned them more! :P I would love to hear those if you could share a couple with me, and about the large and small plates....? :) Please keep me posted on Lauren and Amie and their calls!!!! SO EXCITING FOR BOTH OF THEM!!!! Please tell them congrats from me. :D Mom, I was glad to hear that both surgeries of Uncle Ron and Aunt Julie went well. I will continually keep them in my prayers. Also, I would LOVE to see pictures of the new intersection all paved and whatnot! :) And last but not least YEA FOR YOU TO GET GRANDPA'S ESTATE SETTLED!!!! :D SOOOOO VERY HAPPY!!!! :D I was thinking about him the other day and how crazy it is that it's been almost 2 years since he passed away.... How blessed we are to know we can be with them again forever. :) Also, how did work this week go?? :) Patti wrote me the other week, and I am going to try to write her back right now. Thank you for sharing that story with me, and I'm so so sooo grateful she's safe and well. As for the Christmas package, I would love another durable cute but plain black skirt if you could find one... The 2 that I have are great, but they are both worn out already..... The fabric wasn't the greatest, so something durable.... If not I'll be looking for one here, no problem! :) And handwritten letters.... I love handwritten letters. :) Speaking of which I haven't heard if you all got your letters that I sent yet!! I'm assuming no... but I hope they'll get there... :( Also I really hope my package gets here too..... :( We have a zone conference next weekend, so if it's not here then I think I've lost hope... But I seriously am praying that it will come.... Stinkin mail.......

I love you both so very much. Please keep me posted on the New Mexico trip and I hope and pray that all goes well as you get ready this week and leave next week! I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!!! :D Talk to you soon,

All my love,
Your very extremely happy missionary daughter,
Kristen :D

Cambios and HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLEEEE!!!

Hermana Tuft with Hermana Matias and an investigator who is 14.

Hellooo all!!
This week was cambios...and.... I'm staying in Zapahuira!! :D We were pretty happy campers on Saturday night when we got the call from the Assistants. :) We have a few changes with our zone and now we'll have more wards with a companionship of elders and one of hermanas, so that's about the biggest thing with cambios. And also Hermanas Miner, Howell, and Osorio are the 3 sisters leaving Arica. So we will work even harder and find even more people this coming transfer, that's the goal. :)

This past week was pretty chill, and all is well here! We had a couple special experiences that I wanted to share.

This is a story of how I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life this week. Everything worked together perfectly, and I don't think I'll be able to do it justice, but I will try. :) This week we worked a lot with Fabiola and Jorge. Fabiola is ready to be baptized, but todavia (still) she and Jorge are living together... They have 'plans' but that'll probably be within the next year or so... So we went over there on Wednesday and Fabiola was there alone. We waited for a little bit for Jorge to get home from work, but she called him and he had to stay late. So anyway we started the lesson talking about the importance of the Atonement, and how there must needs be an Atonement. That lesson was one of the most powerful moments I have had thus far in the mission. I can speak fairly well, but this lesson especially I felt so much strength and love. Fabiola could feel it to, because by the end of the lesson we were all crying and she said she was going to talk to Jorge about being married this month. :D The next day we went back and Jorge was there, but Fabiola wasn't. Also, Julieta and their dad, Hugo, was there too. Hugo always has so many questions that he tries to throw us off track and whatnot, so we just let those questions go this time and focused on Jorge and his needs. We talked about the word of wisdom and the importance of prayer. He hasn't been consistently praying, so we talked about the importance of praying always, and he said that he would pray every day. That was another very powerful lesson. They were gone this weekend, so we haven't been able to stop by since Thursday, but this week. :) They are such wonderful people, and it is amazing to see the change the gospel makes in people's lives.

We also had a special lesson with a less active family. I figured out how to print the Parable of the Keys that Dad sent a couple weeks ago (SO sorry, Dad that you typed it up and I figured it out after I sent that and didn't tell you!!) I read through it, and yes I remembered it right away! :) I translated it within a couple days and shared it with Mamita, Papito, and Hna Matias. They all loved the special message, and Mamita said to tell you thank you for sending it! Anywho, I had the feeling to take it with me yesterday, and we ended up going to a house that we weren't planning on and had the perfect opportunity to share the story with them. The dad of the family was in the bishopric, stake presidency, young men's, etc, but now they are less active... He is very gracious and welcoming whenever we stop by, and always says, ¨Yes, this week we'll go to church,¨ but they never do... So we shared that parable, and after Hna Matias finished reading it, he sat there for a couple minutes just not saying anything. He finally looked at us and said, ¨Thank you for sharing that. It talks about a lot of different points in the gospel and you can clearly see how they all fit together.¨ We talked about the atonement, temples, genealogy, and the love of Jesus Christ. It is so incredible the peace and strength that we can receive through willingly accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ tells us many different times, in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, how we will be of one fold and one Shepherd. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is His fold, and He is our Shepherd. How blessed are we to have this gospel in our lives!

Stake Conference was great! We got to sing, all the missionaries in Arica, and that was a powerful experience! It was also great to see and hear from President and Sister Dalton! They are such amazing people, and have wonderful insights that I haven't thought of before. It was a great conference. It was centered on missionary work, and the Stake President spoke last. He was very bold with his words, but it was a great talk and the people seem to be more enthused for the work. It truly is so important for us as missionaries to work with the wards, because in the end it is the ward that stays, not us. The ward are the ones that continue to help build their faith and testimonies.

The ward temple trip is next Monday! They'll be gone until Friday, AND it's ¨Festivas Patricas¨ so it should be interesting... Our investigators will all be elsewhere with their families for Independence Day and our ward members will all be in Bolivia. :) Lots of finding!! :D Pia's mom didn't give her permission to go this year, but next year she is planning on it! Andres' baptism is still on hold... He was so excited in the beginning, but these days he's not so as excited, or something. The Elders are going to call him to have him go do visits with them this week, so I think that will help him a lot with his doubts and nerves... He has told us from the beginning that he wants to serve a mission, so I think this will be great. :) Also, Jasmin (I honestly don't know if I've talked much about Jasmin! Whoops!!) is doing great. She is praying about a baptismal date for the 21st. She is so wonderful. She's 14, and is the daughter of a menos-activo. We're working with her family as well to get them reactivated. :)

To wrap things up, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?!?! It rained yesterday. :) And when I say 'rained' I actually mean it misted for about 10 minutes. :P But still!! Any sign of rain I can get I'm thrilled. :P And also HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLEEEE!!! Tomorrow... :) I love you all so much and I am so grateful for your love, support, and prayers. :) This church is the only true church. I know that to be true, and the Book of Mormon is the proof. I love this gospel, and I love this opportunity that I have to share it with everyone every single day. :D

LOTS of love,
Hermana Tuft
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¡Hola mi Familia! :D

I was so glad to hear that things were well at home this week! Congrats to little Lindsay making the tennis team! Keep me updated with the results, and how your arm holds out... :( And Happy Birthday once again to Kyle! We'll have a little celebration for you tomorrow. :) It won't be too much, but we'll be sure to sing a hearty Felíz Cumple for you. :D Hope you have a great day! I loved all the pictures, thank you Mom! I especially loved the one of little Audrey. She looks like a little ballerina in that picture... :) When is Homecoming again, Spencer?? And how has the first couple weeks back at school been for everyone?? This is random, but we had daylight savings this week, so we are now 3 hours apart, rather than 2, and I was thinking of Spencer and Lindsay getting up in the dark for early morning yesterday when we had to get up and it was still pitch dark. Yich. :( No me gusta... Pero todo está bien. Me encanta mi missión y mi Chile y éste evangelio. Y el español. Todavia me cuesta, pero es mas mejor ahora, y cada día estoy aprendiendo mucho mas. :) Y todavia necessito practicar escribiendo, porque mis accentos son chuecos. :P Anywho I love you all SOOO very much!

Wishing you all the best of week with LOTS of love,
Kristen
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Hello Mom and Dad!

Heavens heavens. We got a call on Wednesday night from Elder Chacón, the mission doctor, and he started asking me tons of questions and such about my cough, and then I clued in that you both probably had something to do with it.... :P I was a little preturbed, but then I just realized you love me and want me to be okay and healthy, and I am. So no worries there! :) Honestly, I told you both last week about my cough because it was finally under control... :) It was bad a couple weeks ago, and I didn't tell you then because I didn't want you to worry, but here I tell you when it's getting better and you still worried... So sorry! We are going to try a couple different meds and such, and Elder Chacón told me to take an allergy med before bed every night, and that seems to be helping a lot actually! It's really not as bad as last year, and it is SO much better these days. I know the Lord is giving me the strength and health that I need, because we both know that I need to be here. I promise everything is all well though! :) Thank you, however, for your love, concern, and especially prayers. :)

A couple of things before I head out! Dad, what is the name of Anna's brother?? It would be fun if I knew him! The mission is huge though, so the chances are slim, but still... :) And also Mom, yes I do know Elder Church! He's in my group, along with Elder Silvester, to come home in November next year. And small world moment with him, he's really good friends with Summer Stout! So that was fun. :) Also, thank you very much for looking into my debit card! I'm still a little confused on that one, because I've used it as a debit card many times... Let me know though if President Caywood has anyone headed to my mission so I can look out for it within the next little while. (I still don't know what to call him ps.... Bishop, President, Doctor....or all in one.... :P)

Dad, when you talked about the impression you had to take that talk by Brad Wilcox with you to church, it made me think of my experience with the Parable of the Keys. There are lots of those little moments and promptings that we get that we don't know why we have them, but we are grateful we listened further down the road. :) I loved reading those thoughts you sent, thank you. The more I teach and study, the more I realize the infinite blessings the Atonement brings, which reminds me of the words you sent last week about the infinite Atonement. It truly is infinite in divinity, power, time, coverage, depth, degree of suffering, love and brings infinite blessings. I loved those descriptions! Please keep me posted on the NM trip! I'm so happy that things are working out well!

Thank you for all the updates Mom!! I still am in shock about all of them, honestly. Good for Emmali Day and Sara Ripley and Emily Prawitt! Megan Marchbanks will be such a fantastic missionary. Kaisa Goodman getting married is still definitely the biggest shock.... Good for her, but SO crazy!!! I also was curious as to if my letter finally got there or not...? The package still hasn't made it's way to me, but that doesn't mean it's not in the office. Along the lines of Christmas (hahaha - 3 plus months away... :P) I would LOVE to get a couple new mini lotions from Bath and Body. I love carrying those around in my bag. :) Also if there are little doodads that I could give to people that would be great.... I don't have an example of what, but something that says Utah or USA, or something like that.... I think Kyle would know what I mean... Just something to give the people that I've grown really close to. :) And YEA I GET TO GO SKIING WITH POLES!!!! That made me really excited... :D Thank you. :D I´m glad your foot is doing okay for the time being. Keep me posted. Also, I will keep Aunt Julie and Uncle Ron in my prayers... This is a random, but how is Miranda and Britney?! I haven't heard from either of them, and I would love to if they have a minute to write... :) THANK YOU LOADS!!

I love you both SOOO very much. I can feel your prayers and smiles and hugs every day. :) Thank you both. I love you and hope you both have a wonderful week!! :D

Loads of love,
Kristen

Mission picture with Elder Vinas of the Seventy

Here Comes The SUN!! :P

Paintballing jumpsuits. (Must be BEFORE because they are way too clean!)

Hermana Tuft standing on a ROCK so she will be taller than her Peruvian companion! Bwaaahhhh!

Paintballing day for the missionaries!

                      Arica hermanas! Yes Northern Chile does look like the MOON!!!

Hello All!!

It's such a little thing, but I honestly get so excited for Monday, come Sunday night. :P I love hearing about the week there in Utah and I apologize to everyone that I haven't written back!! I read every letter, sometimes I just don't have the time to write back the same week... Slowly but surely... :)

This week has been so great, as always! September marks the month that summer begins... Winter is from about March (I think....) until the end of August, and then it magically gets super hot again! We got our first taste of what the summer will be like this week, and we all got a little bit of a sunburn, but never fear Mother, I wear sunscreen, it'll just have to be a little bit more faithfully these days... :P Today we (almost all the missionaries here in Arica) all got together and had a paintball war.... Hahaha yes I know I wouldn't go at home...but a mission does crazy things to ya. :P It was a lot of fun, but I did laugh because all the elders have a nice tan line where their shirt collars are, and us sisters all have shoe tan lines. I'm fine with the shoe tan line...I think it's the first "tan" I've ever had! :P Haha anywho. :)

This week is the last week in the cambio!! Time has absolutely FLOWN!! Obviously we don't know for sure, but we both think we'll stay for now... We aren't getting any new sisters, so no one will be training, and I think most will stay as is. But we shall see Saturday night. :) Zapahuira is kinda like my home away from home, so if I'm leaving I'll be really sad... But if that's the case, of course I'll go with a smile. :) Also! This marks the end of training for me! DAH! Crazy stuff. :) We also just found out this morning that Mamita and Papito are moving. :( They're going to live south of Conce for a year, and moving at the end of October. :(

This week was great!! On Wednesday morning, we went and had a service project for Hna Sara (investigator). She has land up in the hills, so we went and built a fence (kinda a sketchy fence, but a fence nonetheless :)) and cleaned up some trash. Ten Elders came, so that was great to have the help and good for her to see the other missionaries I think. She came to CHURCH!!!!!! That was a huge deal. She promised us 2 weeks ago that she would go this Sunday, and she did!! She told us that she would go to one hour, "nada mas" to see how it was, and so we're hoping that next week she can stay the full 3 hours. It was testimony meeting, and there were so many testimonies about eternal families, and seeing as her husband just passed away that was great. It was also great because Jorge and Fabiola were there, and along with eternal families a lot of people talked about the importance of marriage. (And they're not married for the time being, but live together.) We talked to them after Sunday School, and it was quite the incredible experience.

We haven't been to their house in 2 weeks, because they weren't progressing and they had to work a lot, but we had the feeling on Saturday to stop by, so we did and Jorge told us they were going to church on Sunday. (Which is huge in itself because he has been super leery about everything church related.) We asked them after Sunday School how they felt. Fabiola is super shy, but she said really quickly after we asked, "Siento que éste iglesia es verdadera." Or, "I feel like this church is true." It was such a powerful moment and I definitely teared up. :) I wish you all could have been there! :) Jorge explained that since he was little he has been taught that all the churches are crazy and so he never has really believed in anything, so he wants to believe, but there is something holding him back. We set up a family night with a family in the ward that the dad had the same feeling for years, and so hopefully he can be a good friend and support for Jorge. I'll keep you posted. :)

This week I finished the Book of Mormon, and I told myself that the next time I read it I would read it in Spanish... So I started in Spanish reading from cover to cover. I know I have been so very blessed to learn the language. I can't speak everything, nor understand it all, but I have been so blessed. I was really scared, because my half hour to read the Book of Mormon every day is so peaceful and I love it, and I was scared that reading it in Spanish would stress me out and that I wouldn't understand, but I do understand and it doesn't stress me out, and I am learning so much. I know that miracles happen. Blessings do come, after the trial of your faith. I know that this church is true with all my heart. I love my Savior, and I am so blessed every day to have the opportunity to share His gospel. Challenge for the week: Read half hour in the Book of Mormon every day. :) If you're not reading it, start. :) I know it is true, and reading it will bring you closer to your Savior and you will feel His love. I know that. :)

I am so glad that everything is going well at home! Thank you all for your love and support and emails and everything! :) This church is true!

Love,
Hermana Tuft
============
Hello Family!

This will probably be a little short for this week, but here goes! :) As for the questions from this week! Yes I have a warm shower, unless we run out of gas in which case yes it is very very veryyy cold. But that's only happened a handful of times, so I'm very very veryyy grateful. :) And I haven't seen one bug in our house... I know there are apartments that have HUGE spiders, but ours doesn't, nor fleas or bedbugs. A couple people have had lice in the mission, but that's really the only thing I've heard of. So yep. :) Also as for my blow dryer situation, I gave up on it. I don't have time to blow dry my hair every day, and it's unnecessary, so I just gave up. :) The bangs are growing out. :P Also no my hair isn't super healthy because the water is horrible, so I think it's probably about the same healthiness-wise. :P Oh well. :) I think that's all of the questions!

Also wanted to say that the mail strike is finally OVER! So I will be looking for the package! Hopefully this weekend, because President and Sister Dalton are coming up for our stake conference. SO I HOPE IT CAME!!! :D

Congrats Spencer on making the PLAY!!! I know you will love it. :) It'll be a lot of time and energy, but I know you won't ever regret it. :) How was the first full week back at school you two?? And Memorial Day is today??? So you don't have school 'lucky ducks.' Haha 2 weeks after school starts... :P Very exciting that the Hibbards got to come down to visit! What did you all end up doing today? I love you all lots. :D

Until next week from Arica,
Kristen

P.S. This week is Stake Conference, and we're singing as all the missionaries in Arica. I got in touch with a lady who lives in Arica Centro ward, which is where Paulina Porras' mom lives, and hopefully we'll be able to meet up Friday, Saturday or Sunday! I'm excited to meet her mom. :) Just a little random note for Megan to tell Paulina. :) And if any one sees Megan Walker before Wednesday give her a big huge hug for me! :P I know Tay and Brookie leave soon, but not quite sure what day... So if you talk to them tell them to write and let me know! All my love. :)

What a week! All is well!!

What a week it has been!! We've had some amazing experiences, and some not so amazing experiences BUT everything happens for a reason... So we keep our smiles on and keep moving forward! :D

I have so much to say, but there's not going to be much order in what I say....so just bear with me! :P I'm going to start with the sad news, and it'll just be uphill from there... :P So this week we had to "cut" Daniela, Lucia, and Tzulian... They weren't progressing, so for now we aren't going back, but someday in the future we'll stop by, or other missionaries will and they will be able to receive the gospel hopefully in that time... It was really sad for me, because we were at Tzulian's house yesterday and teaching him, and all of a sudden Hna Matias said she had such a strong feeling to ask him if he wanted us to continue teaching him. He said exactly this (but in Spanish of course... :P) "I don't really have time right now, so honestly no I don't really want you to keep teaching me." He's 12... I felt so hurt, and it was such a weird hurt... It was more like a pain because he didn't just reject me, he outright rejected Christ... I'm not going to dwell on it, but it was really sad. One day he'll be able to accept it though. :) I also remembered that in the MTC they told us that sometimes it takes a lot of different times being introduced to the gospel to finally accept it. So that was a comforting thought. One day. :)

AND NOW. For the happy stuff. :D We got a call from the Elders and they said they had a contact for us and that he wanted to be baptized. So of course we were super excited, didn't quite know what to expect, but we stopped by his house (his name is Andres by the way.... :P) and he wasn't there... We called him and he didn't answer... But as we were walking away, he called us back, said that he WAS in his house and YES he would LOVE for us to come visit him. He was SOO excited. So we walked back, and started talking to him. Andres started listening to the missionaries 5 years ago, when he was 13. He wanted to be baptized then, but his mom wouldn't let him. He found the elders the other day as he was walking somewhere, and they invited him to come to church on Sunday. So he was at church last week, and then we went over there on Wednesday. He was in a hurry to get to one of his classes, so he put his Book of Mormon on the chair and walked inside, so Hna Matias looked at it really fast. He had read the WHOLE thing and marked it up SO much! Come to find out, he has read the whole Book of Mormon multiple times, and in English too. He asked us if he could be baptized the following Friday (August 30). We said yes of course he could, and went to work things out with Hno Delgado with talks, etc. I cannot explain the excitement he has for this work. He wants to be baptized ASAP and wants to serve a mission in the following year. Yesterday, things changed a bit so his baptism will be the 2nd week in September, but still we are all so excited for him. :)

On Friday, we had a devotional with Elder Viñas of the Area Presidency. It was such an amazing experience! We got to sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives as a special musical number (Hnas Howell, LaFevre, Cluff, and I) and that went very well! I love to sing. :) We talked about the Atonement of Christ, and how it affects us individually in our missions. We were asked to study that subject this past week, and I learned so much, but I wanted to share a couple thoughts. I was stumped on where to start... The Atonement has such a huge impact in my life every single day, but how does one put that into words? I started reading D&C 4 about missionary work, and all of the attributes there are the in the Attributes of Christ section in Preach My Gospel. We are all called to the work, if we want to follow the example of our Savior. Something that Elder Viñas said was that if we effectively utilized the Atonement in our lives every day, we couldn't help from sharing this Gospel. Sometimes we have doubts, but these doubts are thoughts of the natural man. The only thing that stops us from sharing this gospel is ourselves; all we need to do is open our mouths. :) That was an interesting thought to me. Also, I couldn't help think about prayer being such a huge part of the effects of the Atonement. It is only through the name of our Savior that we can talk with our Heavenly Father. Just some food for thought. :)

Now to answer a couple of questions, and then I'll be off for the week! So the conversion story of Hna Matias' family! (So sorry, Dad! I keep forgetting!) Her uncle joined the church and went on a mission. While he was gone, his WHOLE family joined, including Hna Matias´dad. Then he met her mom and she wasn't a member, but they got married and had Hna Matias and when she was 4 years old, her mom joined the church and they went to the temple to be sealed, and she has 2 little siblings. So that is her story! It's pretty incredible how her uncle going on a mission had such an eternal influence on her whole family. :) The power of a small leap of faith... :) With the ward going to the temple in a couple weeks, they are getting so excited and doing LOTS of family history. We are helping with those efforts by answers questions and helping get others that can't go involved in different ways. The youth are also going, and Pia might be going as well. She hasn't made a definite choice yet, but it is a large chunk of money too, so she might be going in the following trip. But she is very excited, so that is so much fun to see. :) Also with the language, I feel confident in speaking mas o menos, and if people don't understand what I'm trying to say, I know enough these days that I can reword it and then they help me out the rest of the way. :) Or Hna Matias translates into something more understandable. :P She's had 4 North Americans as companions so far. And she's only been out for almost 6 months. So she's pro these days at translating broken spanish... :P

I think that's all for this week! I'm so glad that things at home are going so well and that school has started back up well! It's so crazy to think that when I left you all were just finishing school, and now you're ALREADY started back up! TIME FLIES!!! Love it. :D I love this gospel, and I know with all of my heart that it is true. I know I am here in Chile to share the gospel, and that I have been called by a living prophet through revelation in these the latter-days. The work is hastening so quickly, and we ALL have a job to do! I love you all so much, thank you for your love, support, and continued prayers. I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives.

All my love,
Hermana Tuft
==============
Hello Mom and Dad! I'm going to forgo my family note this week, because I want to write all the siblings back separately. :) So here's a quick little note to you both! :) Thank you for all the news and stories from this week! And the pictures!! I get all the pictures, and they don't take time away to upload at all, so don't worry about that Mom. :) I have plenty of time for everything. :) The bathroom is SOOO different BUT it looks so great and I LOVE the shower curtain. :) I hope that most the questions you both asked were answered in the main letter! But a couple other answers... :) Yes I use my orthotics every single day. In the MTC, I didn't use them all day, but I do here because my feet have adjusted well. :) Yes, Hna Matias is taller than me. :P Yes, she is pretty tall! Hahaha but I laughed at the short joke comment. :P Thank you both for the info on Megan Walker's farewell! Tell her to just love this last week. It flies by sooo darn fast. :) BUT she is going to be such an amazing missionary. I am so excited for her! ALSO PLEASE TELL MIRANDA A PERSONAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HER FROM ME!!! But tell her I love her loads and miss her guts and I wrote "Miranda Danda's birthday" in my planner for Saturday. :P

Also, if I have a choice I always drink water, but otherwise yes I drink Fanta or Coke. (This is so random, SO sorry.) But Dad, yes I was in that Sunday School lesson with Brother Caron a couple years ago about the birthright. I love that thought. It's so sad to see people "sell their birthright," but we can do our part and every day choose to follow the Savior and therein keep our birthright. Also, thank you for your thoughts on my empanada lady. :) I'll keep that in mind and see what we can work out. We don't pass by there as much these days, but every once and a while. :) Also, I printed everything last week and forgot to print the parable of the keys, so I printed it this week and will be reading it this week. :) Thank you once again!

Also, I loved the thought from Elder Scott. I love keeping the thought in mind that we are all becomings. Also the thought, "Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow." I know that it so true. Thank you for the thoughts and reminders from both of you. :) I do keep a smile on my face and I am so very happy every day. I honestly can't feel sad these days. Sad for other people's choices, but sharing this gospel has made me so happy. I was a happy person before my mission, but that happiness has increased exponentially. :D I love you both so much and I am so continually grateful for your prayers and examples. I couldn't have asked for better parents. Thank you for being my parents and that I can be with you and the rest of the family for all of eternity. I love you so much!

Love from Chile to the sun, the moon, the stars, and back to Utah,
Kristen :D

Faith in His Timing

Hellloooo!!                                           

This week has absolutely FLOWN by!! It seems like they are flying by these days.... Every day is so wonderful and amazing. :) So I don't know how much time I'll have today because I couldn't print this morning (more on that later) so I'm typing like a mad woman and hope to get it all in! :P

So this week I have gained such a strong testimony on faith in the Lord's timing. Our view of timing is so warped and messed up, but the Lord's timing is perfect and we HAVE to trust Him. There are many examples of this from my mission so far, but this story is by far the "craziest" for lack of a better English word... (That's a great sign.... :P)

So two weeks ago we got a reference from a lady (Hma Luz) who's visiting her sister for about 2 months. Her sister lives in our sector, and she is attending Zapahuira for the time she's here. Her sister (Sara) is not a member, and so we went over there 2 weeks ago. Anywho we went over to Hna Sara's house and her son and his family was there and we shared the Restoration with them, but Hna Sara wasn't there for most of it. Later, we found out why she kept leaving; her husband has been sick in bed for 6 months, and he can't move or walk at all. She lives in her house and has been taking care of him with minimal help for 6 months... So Hna Luz came up from Santiago to help her sister and that's how we got the reference. Hna Luz joined the church years ago, served a mission, and now lives in Santiago with her daughter. So we went back a few times and shared with Hna Sara. It was hard, because she didn't believe that God loved her and was doubting that He even existed... So that was a struggle to explain and we prayed and prayed for her that she would know how much our Heavenly Father loves her. On Tuesday, we visited her and Hna Luz asked if we could call the Elders because she explained to her brother in law (Juan) about the Priesthood, and he said that he wanted a blessing from the Elders. He kept saying, "Where are the Elders?" Over and over and over... It was so sad to hear, because it was more of a whisper. He was so sick... So we called the Elders and they came and gave him a blessing, and then afterwards Hna Luz asked Sara if she wanted one as well, of comfort. She said she did (which is a HUGE deal!!!). So we left for the night, and set up an appointment for later in the week. We had a feeling on Wednesday to stop by, so we walked over there and I hollered "halo" kinda loud and then we peaked in the door and there were a bunch of people and a coffin... Juan had passed away 3 hours after he received the blessing... It was such a sad, but peaceful moment. Hna Sara was so sad, but she told us how grateful she was that he wasn't in pain any more and that she felt so peaceful about it all. We are going back again tomorrow (she said that she didn't want visitors for the rest of the week because she was going to recuperate and Hna Luz is there, so we'll go back for the first time tomorrow.) We're praying for her, and hope she will recognize the Lord's hand in it all. I will keep you posted!

As for the rest of our investigators, they are doing well, but we're struggling to work with their schedules because everyone just started school back up again a couple weeks ago. So we're working with that and it's been a struggle. We had a bit of a hard time getting in touch with Daniela and Lucia, and every time we went over there, their mom was really harsh and rude with us, and we didn't know what we had done to make her mad at us... Come to find out, she was mad because they got back from church later than she was expecting, so we started talking with her and helped her clean her house, and now she's super friendly and wants to start sharing with us too! YAY!! It's amazing what a little communication will do for ya... :P We don't have any baptismal dates set yet, but hopefully we can work on that this week. It's going to be a crazy week, so we'll see!

As for working with Simil (the ward list of 31 pages), we've had a lot of success with that! We're working on reactivating, and in the processing, we're working with a lot more families and most of their kids & spouses aren't members. So that has been fun to see! The gospel truly is for families and it really can change people's lives, if they will let the Atonement work in their lives and make the necessary changes. As for the family history in the ward, it's going great! The ward is going to Cochabumba, Bolivia in September, so they are getting names and such together so they can do their family's work. We've loved hearing their enthusiasm, and we're still working on a way that we can help with that enthusiasm, but haven't been too successful so far... Lots of studying and prayer. :)

And as for the area we cover, it's pretty big, but we split it with the Elders, so they have half and we have the other half, so that's cut some of the walking down which is a blessing for the little feetsies. :) (But my feet are doing great Mom. :)) The streets are the big problem! Tons of the streets are numbers (Pasaje 1, 2, 3, etc) and every time they build another block of homes, they start over with 1, 2, 3, etc... So there are about a million Pasaje 1, 2, 3, etc's. :P Makes things a little bit difficult. :) But other than that, it's fairly easy to work with!

I'd better be going, but I just want to wish my little MWalk (Megan Walker) luck this week with her talk! You'll do so great and I'm so excited for you!! Send me your email and mission address when you get it! Love you cute girl! I love you all so much, and it sounds like although things are SUPER hot there, that you are all doing great!

Lots of love!!
Hermana Tuft
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Hello mi Familia!

Congrats Jess on your Graduation!!! :) I'm so happy for you! :D And it was SO great to hear from Spencer and Lindsay!! :) I will write you both back next week, I think... :) Good luck with starting school, I know you will have a great time, just remember to smile and find the good in every situation! I can't believe Spencer is a Senior and Lindsay is in 9th grade!!!! Holy SMOKESSS. So excited for both of you. You are in two of my favorite years. I have so many memories of those years! :D Let me know how things go! When does school start back up for Kyle?? I love you all so much and I am so grateful for your love and support and everything you all do for me, even from thousands of miles away. :) Have a FANTASTIC week for me!! :D

Lots of love,
Kristen

P.S. The reason why I couldn't print this morning was because I went to Lluta (Yuta) with Hna Jessica and she taught us how to make empanadas! SOOO I'm very excited to make them for you when I get home... :) Lotsss of time to go still, but all the time to improve my chef skills so they will be perfect when I make them for you all! :P I´m so excited to share. :D LOTS of love. :)
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Hello Mom and Dad!

This will be short, but I just wanted to write you a quick note to finish answering your questions. :) Dad, we had quite the experience with the empanada lady that I was going to share with you last week, but didn't get the chance! We were walking to an appointment, and passed their house and they weren't selling them that night for some reason. Her husband was sitting outside, so we started talking to him, and come to find out he was VERY drunk and I had no idea... (Yes, I have grown up in Utah my whole life and am learning lots....some that I would be fine not learning, but oh well. :P) His wife was in their house, so we went in for a short little visit with her, but as soon as we got in the door we got the WORST feeling ever and couldn't leave fast enough... It reminded me of the book we read together Return From Tomorrow, how all the spirits were trying to get into the bodies of those that were drunk in that bar... It was such an awful creepy feeling that we haven't gone back... It's sad, but we can't teach them anything if there is that kind of spirit there... We can invite them to church and continue to be friendly, but I feel like that's the extent of what we can do at this point... :( Thank you for the thought from Elder Scott, Dad, I love reading those! And thank you for sending the story! I printed it so I can read it later. :) And I'm glad to hear that you are headed back to NM!! Please keep me posted with how things go. I will be praying for all of you. Tell Elder Davies hello for me!

Also, I will definitely give Mamita a hug for you, Mom! She is such an amazing lady, and has been my mom away from home here in Chile. :) Every morning she has breakfast ready for us (bread, jam, and hot chocolate/strawberry milk/things like that) and makes us lunch and always puts something in our study room for us when we get home at night. :) She is an amazing lady and says to tell you all hello every week, (but sometimes I forget!) So hello from Mamita Tita! :) I was dying laughing at Lindsay's pinterest experiment... :P Tehehehe I can just imagine how that one turned out. :P And thank you for writing Sage and Sierra! Sage wrote me. I love you both SOOO much and I hope all is well. I love hearing from both of you every week, and I hope I answer everything/give enough details and such. :) Time is flying by and I love this work. It was so much harder in the beginning, but every day I seem to be more and more lost in the work and love it more and more. :) I am growing so much and I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now. Thank you so much for teaching me this gospel and helping me gain my own testimony. I love you!!! :D

Your little Chilena,
Kristen :D