(I just got this note from Kristen this morning (Monday 10/21). It made me tear up just a tad because I know how hard it is for her to leave "her people." But she will bloom where she's planted" and love Copiapo too. AND...I just found out via a mom on Facebook I'm 'friends' with and her son is Chris James who has been in Arica with Kristen, and he is going to Copiapo today too. I'm sooo happy she won't be traveling alone!!!!) Phew!
MOMMMM!!!! I'm leaving Arica today. :( It's been a sad but very wonderful couple days. I'm headed to a city 20 hours away named Copiapó. I'm excited, but really sad too. So I'll write a little bit later, and I think tomorrow a little bit too. Sorry! This week's letter will be choppy I'm thinking... I love you so so very much. :D Talk to you in a couple hours if all works out as planned... :D LOVE YOU!!!
=====================
Hello All! (10/22)
I've been transferred! It's been quite a weekend, but I'm really excited to finally be here and get to work. :) We left yesterday at about 4:30 pm from Arica, and traveled through the night to get here in Copiapó this morning at 11am -ish. There were 4 of us that came together, so that was good. :) My new companion is Hermana Severtson and she is so great! (HOW did you know she was my new comp, Mom? A little bit creepy! :D MM's?) We've only known each other for a few hours, but I feel very good about this transfer and for the work that we will get to do together. I know there's lots to do and we're going to work our very hardest and rely on the Spirit to help us do the things the Lord needs. So it should be another great adventure! :)
Leaving Zapahuira was definitely a little struggle, but it's for the best and I felt very calm about it all. Usually change is really hard for me, but I felt super tranquilo. :) I loved the time that I had to work there. It was hard to leave our investigators, less actives, the members, los Papitos, and of course Hermana Matias. We shed a few tears, but así es la misión. :) There were so many special experiences that we had this week, but they're hard to explain because they're just personal happy moments. Let's just say that I feel like I left Arica with no regrets. I feel like we found, taught, and did all the things that we were meant to do together, and that I did the best that I could to help the work progress in Zapahuira. Hermana Matias will stay in Zapahuira training a new sister this transfer, so that should be a lot of fun and she will do so good! She is such a wonderful missionary and I have no worries for her. She was a little nervous, but all will be well. :)
I know this week is super short, there are just so many things swimming in my head that I can't seem to put them into words! :) I am so excited for this change and for the new opportunities that will come. I know this church is so very true. I know that Joseph Smith restored this gospel to the earth, and that it is led by our Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves us, and I know that He lives. I feel so much love and comfort as I rely on Him in my life and the many blessings that I receive as I follow Him.
I am sure there will be a LOAD of stuff to tell you all next week, but for this week this will just have to do! :) I love you all and thank you for your love, support, and constant prayers.
With all my love from Copiapó,
Hermana Tuft
==========================
Hello Mom & Dad!
I just have to say, both of your letters made me cry, because I had that feeling that I was leaving too, I just didn't want it to happen, so I was in denial the whole week, until Saturday night when leaving was a reality... I truly am excited to be here, but Zapahuira will always hold a special place in my heart. I was in the taxi going back to the house as I was reading your letters and I got to the part Dad, where you sent your "letter". Thank you, both of you, for your loving and comforting words. They truly did help me, and I am excited to learn and grow from this new experience. :) Thank you Mom for the pictures! That's CRAZY that Alex Knowlton is home, and Spencer looked so handsome for Homecoming. :) Thank you also for telling me about Kenna.... I will keep her in my prayers. That's really a scary thing!! How did she catch TB, and what exactly does it do?? I was thinking if that happened to me...how awful it would be to sit in the appartment for a month straight doing nothing.... I hope they can bring in laptops or something and do the mormon.org skype thing that they do at the MTC with people that can't go out tracting on a mission. That would be a great experience! And for all the news and stories. :)
I really enjoyed the thought about the letters. I loved the thought that the scriptures are our letters from our Heavenly Father, because it is so very true. I honestly can say that there has not been a day that goes by that I haven't not found something that has helped me personally throught the day, or in one of our lessons. I know that Heavenly Father speaks to us through His holy words. And the dream that Brother Wilcox shared was very special. I have found that the most powerful tool of conversion is through the Book of Mormon. There are so many experiences of less actives, and investigators, that I have experienced already, that when they start reading the Book of Mormon, and truly reading it's teachings, is when they truly change. It's the proof of the gospel, and it does change lives. It has definitely changed mine.
These past days have been really reflective and peaceful for me. Like I mentioned in the other letter, I feel like I finished all that Heavenly Father needed me to do in Zapahuira. I love that feeling. Every time I think about how far I've come from starting my mission 4 1/2 months ago to now, I am so humbled and the growth that He has aided me in and given me the opportunities to learn and grow. I wish I could just bring you both with me inside my head so you could see the things I am seeing and experiencing. One person at a time, we truly can change the world. Thank you Mom and Dad, for raising me in this gospel. Thank you for your love and support, and for helping me gain a testimony of my own. I love this gospel and I love my Savior. Every day I am so grateful that I can be His special witness to bring this happiness to the people here in Chile. I love you both so very much. I hope you have a wonderful week and I promise to send more details next week. :) Be safe as you head up to Brigham, and give the family a big hug from me! :)
All my love,
Kristen
=========
P.S. Mom, I honestly think that if you can send my package directly here today it would get here faster than if you sent it with Paulina and then she sent it to the mission offices. We only get packages once a month when the zone leaders go to their training meeting, so if it got here by the first of December I could get it... :) With the Virgin Mary stickers on it, I really think it'll get here faster, and less hectic for Paulina, and I think faster... Just my thoughts. :) THANK YOU! Lots of love. :D
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Missionary Life :)
It's been another fantastic here in Arica. I love this city so much, and especially Zapahuira. These people will always hold such a special place in my heart. :) We had a few changes with the ward yesterday, and it was so sad, but so happy at the same time. The wards split and we had a good chunk of our sector taken out, with many members and less active families that we've been working with, and Andres. :( I think our ward was one of those least affected though, because we probably had about 4 or 5 families that left from our ward, but the ward of our district leader had 50 ACTIVE families taken out, including the bishop and the family that they live with. So that was a big change... We knew it was coming, but just didn't know how soon or when it would be. And that is the missionary life. :) Because cambios have come yet again TAN RAPIDO. I can't believe it's been another 6 weeks. The time literally flies when you're having fun and working even harder. :) So we'll see what happens there, but we both think we'll stay once more. Who knows... Stay tuned.... :P
This week was pretty normal. We've been working a lot with the less active families, and families in general. I have loved being able to share talks from conference with people that didn't get a chance to go, and to talk about their insights and thoughts. A couple of these experiences were with the families Toledo, Tapia and Quezada. (Every time I say/write their name I think of my family Quezada across the street and little "Hermana Quezada". :)) Anywho, we had the impression to share the talk by President Uchtdorf with them from conference, and the experiences we had were wonderful. There truly is power in sharing the words of the prophets, and how incredible it is that we can do it almost anywhere!
This week I was also grateful that I speak English. There aren't too many times that it comes in handy here, but it did this week. :) We have a less active member that's 14 named Yeraldine. She never has let us into her house as we pass, it's just always through the window and we always ask if there's anything we can help her with, and the answer has always been no. We stopped by her house, and the same routine as usual, but as we were leaving she stopped us, got really quiet, and asked if I could help her with English. OF COURSE, I said. :) So that was our little "in". :D We went to her house, helped her with her English homework, and study for her test that's coming up, and then we had the opportunity to share with her family. She has a younger sister and her parents, and her parents aren't members. They are so grateful for the missionaries though, their only problem is time because they work a lot. It truly is amazing though the miracles that come from tiny acts of service. I don't know if her parents will get baptized in the time that I'm here, but it's just opening doors for other missionaries. I love this work so very much! It truly is incredible how our Heavenly Father's timing is so very perfect, all we are are instruments in bringing to pass His will.
The last experience from this week was with Jorge and Fabiola. We planned a Family Night with them and Mamita's son, Rodrigo and his wife. They just got married right before I got here, and we've been trying to help Jorge and Fabiola be more integrated into the ward and have friends, etc. So we had FHE on Saturday night and Rodrigo and Coté taught the lesson on the Plan of Salvation and the importance of an eternal marriage. Hna Matias and I have no experience in the marriage department, obviously, but it was incredible to learn from them and hear their personal experiences of the importance of a temple marriage and the different reaction Jorge and Fabiola had to their experiences, rather than us just telling them. It is so important for the missionaries and members to work together, because neither group can do this work alone. They're slowly but surely getting things rolling for their wedding in January, and baptism shortly thereafter. It's been so incredible to see their testimonies grow and their lives change. Fabiola's mom lives in our ward too, but in the sector of the Elders, so we passed the direction along and hopefully they'll get a chance to stop by there this week. :)
AND a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD. I love you Dad and I hope you have a fantastic day on Thursday! LOVE YOU!!! >D
Sé que este Evangelio es verdadero. Sé que mi Señor, Jesucristo vive y él nos ama muchisimo. Necesitamos recordar Su sacrificio y la Expiación siempre en nuestras vidas. Este es la obra del Señor y estoy agradisimo por este oportunidad ser misionera en este tiempo. Les quiero mucho!!
This week was pretty normal. We've been working a lot with the less active families, and families in general. I have loved being able to share talks from conference with people that didn't get a chance to go, and to talk about their insights and thoughts. A couple of these experiences were with the families Toledo, Tapia and Quezada. (Every time I say/write their name I think of my family Quezada across the street and little "Hermana Quezada". :)) Anywho, we had the impression to share the talk by President Uchtdorf with them from conference, and the experiences we had were wonderful. There truly is power in sharing the words of the prophets, and how incredible it is that we can do it almost anywhere!
This week I was also grateful that I speak English. There aren't too many times that it comes in handy here, but it did this week. :) We have a less active member that's 14 named Yeraldine. She never has let us into her house as we pass, it's just always through the window and we always ask if there's anything we can help her with, and the answer has always been no. We stopped by her house, and the same routine as usual, but as we were leaving she stopped us, got really quiet, and asked if I could help her with English. OF COURSE, I said. :) So that was our little "in". :D We went to her house, helped her with her English homework, and study for her test that's coming up, and then we had the opportunity to share with her family. She has a younger sister and her parents, and her parents aren't members. They are so grateful for the missionaries though, their only problem is time because they work a lot. It truly is amazing though the miracles that come from tiny acts of service. I don't know if her parents will get baptized in the time that I'm here, but it's just opening doors for other missionaries. I love this work so very much! It truly is incredible how our Heavenly Father's timing is so very perfect, all we are are instruments in bringing to pass His will.
The last experience from this week was with Jorge and Fabiola. We planned a Family Night with them and Mamita's son, Rodrigo and his wife. They just got married right before I got here, and we've been trying to help Jorge and Fabiola be more integrated into the ward and have friends, etc. So we had FHE on Saturday night and Rodrigo and Coté taught the lesson on the Plan of Salvation and the importance of an eternal marriage. Hna Matias and I have no experience in the marriage department, obviously, but it was incredible to learn from them and hear their personal experiences of the importance of a temple marriage and the different reaction Jorge and Fabiola had to their experiences, rather than us just telling them. It is so important for the missionaries and members to work together, because neither group can do this work alone. They're slowly but surely getting things rolling for their wedding in January, and baptism shortly thereafter. It's been so incredible to see their testimonies grow and their lives change. Fabiola's mom lives in our ward too, but in the sector of the Elders, so we passed the direction along and hopefully they'll get a chance to stop by there this week. :)
AND a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD. I love you Dad and I hope you have a fantastic day on Thursday! LOVE YOU!!! >D
Sé que este Evangelio es verdadero. Sé que mi Señor, Jesucristo vive y él nos ama muchisimo. Necesitamos recordar Su sacrificio y la Expiación siempre en nuestras vidas. Este es la obra del Señor y estoy agradisimo por este oportunidad ser misionera en este tiempo. Les quiero mucho!!
Pam did a little Google Translate and this is what I got: (I know this gospel is true. I know my Lord, Jesus Christ lives and He loves us very much. We need to remember His sacrifice and Atonement in our lives forever. This is the Lord's work and am agradisimo for this opportunity to be a missionary at this time. I love them!)
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Fam!!
Just a couple last things. The computer's doing really strange things, so if the grammar, etc is off.... That is why. Not because my grammar really is that bad... And I can't do smiley faces... Nor frowny faces... Anywho. :) I'm so glad your letters finally got there!!! :D Just for Lindsay, CONGRATS for reading the Book of Mormon so fast! I don't know if you're quite finished, but if not, just keep going. :D It truly is an incredible book and I love it so very much. :) I hope all is well at home and that school and work is going well for everyone! I pray for you all every day and I love you so very much. Until next week! :D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Mom and Dad!
I always say it's going to be a quicky but it ends up being long, so I just won't say that and see what happens... :P For a couple questions and answers. First off, when is Mar's wedding again? And Mom - I loved the picture of Justina with the bikes. :) So sad about that missionary that died though.... And the sharing time pictures were so wonderful too! I couldn't see it in detail, but it looked so great. :) I am definitely wearing sunscreen every day, and taking it with me. :) That's a must. Hna Matias makes fun of me and thinks I LOVE putting on sunscreen because I use it so much, but I just told her with my skin and my history with the sun, it's definitely a must. So yes it's a very frequent routine of mine, and I have everything that I need, and haven't needed much else, so we did great packing wise. :)
I am envying all that rain and fun weather you're having! But I am very glad that I don't have to deal with walking through the rain and snow, so that truly is a blessing. :) I wish I would've talked to you both last week about this, cause you just went to the temple this week, but I was just wondering if you both could put our investigators on the prayer roll... I don't know if that would be possible, but I would really appreciate that if you could... :) And just a little random moment Dad! So this week Elder Pizarro got TONS of Books of Mormon in different languages, not quite sure why he just said he wanted them... But he remembered that I mentioned you spoke French and I thought it would be fun to learn someday, so the next day he brought me the French Book of Mormon that he got! And then you were just talking about keeping up with your French and Grandpa asking you about it and such this week... So I have a French Book of Mormon, that I'm not quite sure what to do with....cause I'll not be learning French in the next year or so.... Maybe it'll come in handy... :P It was fun to open it though and read and be able to understand more or less because of the similarities with Spanish! And speaking of Grandpa, did he and Grandma get my email a couple weeks back...? Wasn't sure...
I was reading through the last couple paragraphs of your letter and thinking about the book I've been reading, Our Heritage. I love that book! I'm not sure if I would have read it had I not gone on a mission, but since it's in the missionary library I thought I'd give it a shot. I was thinking about the obedience, willing hearts, and love for family history that the early saints had, and then I couldn't help but think with all this Peter Shirts stuff going on as well if you, or with the family as well, could read the Book of Mormon with that topic in mind... Elder Bednar talked about reading the Book of Mormon with a topic every time, and I know you do that, so just a little thought... :)
I also wanted to thank you both for your love and encouragement every week. I love reading your letters and I'm so glad you got the letters this week! I was thinking about 3 months ago and how I was a little lost and growing leaps and bounds, but thought that my letters might have sounded a little trunky, but I also was thinking about how after that my mindset was more 'forget yourself and get to work', and that's what I've been doing. It's truly incredible what fervent prayer and service can do to one's mindset. :) I love you both so much. Thank you for your love and support always! Happy Birthday once again Dad!! ;D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Fam!!
Just a couple last things. The computer's doing really strange things, so if the grammar, etc is off.... That is why. Not because my grammar really is that bad... And I can't do smiley faces... Nor frowny faces... Anywho. :) I'm so glad your letters finally got there!!! :D Just for Lindsay, CONGRATS for reading the Book of Mormon so fast! I don't know if you're quite finished, but if not, just keep going. :D It truly is an incredible book and I love it so very much. :) I hope all is well at home and that school and work is going well for everyone! I pray for you all every day and I love you so very much. Until next week! :D
Love,
Hermana Tuft
===================
Hello Mom and Dad!
I always say it's going to be a quicky but it ends up being long, so I just won't say that and see what happens... :P For a couple questions and answers. First off, when is Mar's wedding again? And Mom - I loved the picture of Justina with the bikes. :) So sad about that missionary that died though.... And the sharing time pictures were so wonderful too! I couldn't see it in detail, but it looked so great. :) I am definitely wearing sunscreen every day, and taking it with me. :) That's a must. Hna Matias makes fun of me and thinks I LOVE putting on sunscreen because I use it so much, but I just told her with my skin and my history with the sun, it's definitely a must. So yes it's a very frequent routine of mine, and I have everything that I need, and haven't needed much else, so we did great packing wise. :)
I am envying all that rain and fun weather you're having! But I am very glad that I don't have to deal with walking through the rain and snow, so that truly is a blessing. :) I wish I would've talked to you both last week about this, cause you just went to the temple this week, but I was just wondering if you both could put our investigators on the prayer roll... I don't know if that would be possible, but I would really appreciate that if you could... :) And just a little random moment Dad! So this week Elder Pizarro got TONS of Books of Mormon in different languages, not quite sure why he just said he wanted them... But he remembered that I mentioned you spoke French and I thought it would be fun to learn someday, so the next day he brought me the French Book of Mormon that he got! And then you were just talking about keeping up with your French and Grandpa asking you about it and such this week... So I have a French Book of Mormon, that I'm not quite sure what to do with....cause I'll not be learning French in the next year or so.... Maybe it'll come in handy... :P It was fun to open it though and read and be able to understand more or less because of the similarities with Spanish! And speaking of Grandpa, did he and Grandma get my email a couple weeks back...? Wasn't sure...
I was reading through the last couple paragraphs of your letter and thinking about the book I've been reading, Our Heritage. I love that book! I'm not sure if I would have read it had I not gone on a mission, but since it's in the missionary library I thought I'd give it a shot. I was thinking about the obedience, willing hearts, and love for family history that the early saints had, and then I couldn't help but think with all this Peter Shirts stuff going on as well if you, or with the family as well, could read the Book of Mormon with that topic in mind... Elder Bednar talked about reading the Book of Mormon with a topic every time, and I know you do that, so just a little thought... :)
I also wanted to thank you both for your love and encouragement every week. I love reading your letters and I'm so glad you got the letters this week! I was thinking about 3 months ago and how I was a little lost and growing leaps and bounds, but thought that my letters might have sounded a little trunky, but I also was thinking about how after that my mindset was more 'forget yourself and get to work', and that's what I've been doing. It's truly incredible what fervent prayer and service can do to one's mindset. :) I love you both so much. Thank you for your love and support always! Happy Birthday once again Dad!! ;D
Love,
Kristen
Monday, October 7, 2013
Catch the Wave (Again... :))
Hello
Dad!
I wrote a quick note to Mom and answered her questions, so I
thought I'd just write you a quick note apart from the other as well. :)
Thank you so much for your love and support and the thoughts you share
each week. I really enjoy them and somehow there is a way that they
fit into my week just perfectly. Thank you! :) Christ really is the
only one that knows the full strength of temptation; He truly knows how
to combat the enemy, and we must rely on Him to aid us in the battle,
let Him fight for us, not just along side us, because in reality, He
already won the fight. I liked that thought, thank you. :) The ward
members work on their own names on the internet, like we do there, yes.
:) They are all working again to prepare for February. It truly is
incredible to see the Spirit of Elijah work in their lives. And yes, I
have been singing very frequently in Spanish, and I love this language
Dad. It is so hard to learn, sometimes my brain doesn't want to hold it
all in I think, but I love learning it. It's become so much easier as
I've asked every day to have the words I need placed in my mouth. My
Heavenly Father has given me the words I need, and that's all I can ask
for. I've been working a lot with grammar, because I can understand and
explain myself well enough, but the grammar needs some work. So that's
been language study for the past little while, and probably for the
rest of the mission... :) I love you Dad. I was watching The Other
Side of Heaven for an FHE the other week, and they talked about the
Hurrah for Israel moment. I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed,
because every week you say that to me, and every week I think of that
movie and the meaning of that sentence. Hurrah for Israel! We are so
truly blessed. Thank you for every, Dad. I love you. :)
Your little Chilean missionary,
Kristen :)
For Spencer and Lindsay to see please... :)
SPENCER
AND LINDSAY. TAKE CARE OF BELLA. That's all I have to say. TAKE CARE
OF HER FOR MEEEE. If you don't love her, TAKE CARE OF HER FOR ME.
That's all. Love you both LOTS. :D And write me. That's all I have to say. :) I love you both!! :D
I wrote a quick note to Mom and answered her questions, so I
thought I'd just write you a quick note apart from the other as well. :)
Thank you so much for your love and support and the thoughts you share
each week. I really enjoy them and somehow there is a way that they
fit into my week just perfectly. Thank you! :) Christ really is the
only one that knows the full strength of temptation; He truly knows how
to combat the enemy, and we must rely on Him to aid us in the battle,
let Him fight for us, not just along side us, because in reality, He
already won the fight. I liked that thought, thank you. :) The ward
members work on their own names on the internet, like we do there, yes.
:) They are all working again to prepare for February. It truly is
incredible to see the Spirit of Elijah work in their lives. And yes, I
have been singing very frequently in Spanish, and I love this language
Dad. It is so hard to learn, sometimes my brain doesn't want to hold it
all in I think, but I love learning it. It's become so much easier as
I've asked every day to have the words I need placed in my mouth. My
Heavenly Father has given me the words I need, and that's all I can ask
for. I've been working a lot with grammar, because I can understand and
explain myself well enough, but the grammar needs some work. So that's
been language study for the past little while, and probably for the
rest of the mission... :) I love you Dad. I was watching The Other
Side of Heaven for an FHE the other week, and they talked about the
Hurrah for Israel moment. I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed,
because every week you say that to me, and every week I think of that
movie and the meaning of that sentence. Hurrah for Israel! We are so
truly blessed. Thank you for every, Dad. I love you. :)
Your little Chilean missionary,
Kristen :)
For Spencer and Lindsay to see please... :)
SPENCER
AND LINDSAY. TAKE CARE OF BELLA. That's all I have to say. TAKE CARE
OF HER FOR MEEEE. If you don't love her, TAKE CARE OF HER FOR ME.
That's all. Love you both LOTS. :D And write me. That's all I have to say. :) I love you both!! :D
Kristen and Hermana Matias trying to do piggy-back on the beach.
So glad they laugh! 7 October 2013
Kristen with other hermanas in her zone on beach in Arica 7 October 2013
Kristen with other hermanas in her zone on beach in Arica 7 October 2013
Kristen with Hma Matias 7 October 2013
| ||||
That line (Catch the wave...AGAIN! From Conference...) meant a lot more to me, as I see people reject this message, and it hurts to see that happen. It is so horrible to me to see people reject this message that comes from our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is literally His church, and when they reject this message they are literally rejecting Him and His gospel. It is so very important that we help people every single day to see the happiness that this gospel brings. It is so vital that we share this message with our brothers and sisters. They, of course,
have the agency to choose to accept or reject it, but we must share it so that we can stand blameless before the judgement seat of Christ.
Which leads me to my other thought. :) I loved in the April conference how Elder Nelson talked about catching the wave. We have all been called once again to share this gospel. Catch this wave. :) I loved the challenge from Elder Ballard to share the gospel with one friend or family member before Christmas. He said that is the greatest gift we can give to our Savior. I was just thinking to myself... If we ALL shared the gospel with only one person before Christmas, the membership in the church could literally double. We have 15,000,000 members of the church. We could literally have 30,000,000 members of the church if we all opened our mouths and shared the gospel with one person. And image if we all shared it with 2. :) We have all been called to be the means of bringing our brothers and sisters back to the fold of Christ, so that we can all live with them forever. One thing Elder Maynes said is that we must become the rock that the river cannot wash away. :)
A couple last thoughts from the week. One funny, one just thoughts. :) So Mom mentioned that Spencer was dying in the kitchen because Lindsay challenged him to eat a jalepeño. Hahaha I had to laugh, one because Lindsay finally got revenge on Spencer (sorry Bud... :P) and two because I had the exact same experience at lunch on Thursday. :P We were all sitting at the table eating lunch and Papito handed me a little yellow pepper, because he knows I like spicy things. So I took it and he told me to be careful, because it's really really spicy. So I took a tiny little bite and it wasn't spicy at all! So I took another bite and just started eating it like a bell pepper, because that's what it tasted like, and I just thought it was a mini bell pepper. Wrong. (The Elders had the same thoughts I did, and they just chowed down on theirs too. Hna Matias was smarter than us all and didn't quite do the same....) So 2 minutes later, the three of us had tears running down our cheeks. They weren't bell peppers, just for the record. Some pepper that I have never seen and it is quite spicy. Needless to say I didn't taste lunch on Thursday. :P
The last one is short. :) So today we went to a beach called Playa Corazones. It is so beautiful, and I've been seeing pictures and such for the 4 months I've been here, and never gone... So today we finally went. :) It's about an 30 minutes out of Arica, so we were driving out in a taxi. I just kept thinking as we were driving how beautiful it was, and every couple minutes I thought we should just stop there, because it was pretty enough and we didn't really need to go the full way. We drove out there, and the playa is long, so we walked the rest of the way when the road ended. The farther and farther we drove, the prettier it got. The farther and farther we walked, the prettier it was. (The pictures I'm sending definitely don't do it justice...) As we were driving back, it was still beautiful, but I couldn't stop thinking about how that trip is a little like life. The farther and farther we walk, the more beautiful it gets. Of course we'll still have the occasional rocks and bumps in the road, but when you reach the end, it will all be worth it. The beauty at the end will be greater than what you had at the beginning. Elder Holland said in a talk that we need to just keep walking. Don't ever give up; there is help up ahead.
(I, Pam, commented on her blonde hair in the picture.) MY HAIR IS BLONDE!!! I like my dark, non sunbleached hair... Oh welll... I like the long part though. :) The picture is of all the Hnas in our zone at the conference on Saturday. :) Hahaha my mom.... all technologically advanced face-timing and all.... Hahahaha. :) (I asked her who's pouch mail she got cause it's been so long I'd forgotten) YOU sent me pouch in August, the tigger thing. :) AND I GOT BRIT'S LETTER and beautiful earrings from Africa!! I'd love her email if you could ask her for it... :) THANKS!! And Miranda's! I really want to write both of them. :)
This week was so wonderful, and I'm looking forward to the week to come. Do some good this week! I love you all so much and I'm glad to hear all is well at home! :D I know this church is absolutely true.
Love,
Hermana Tuft
======================
Hello Hello!
Here's the thing you asked for a couple weeks back really fast... :) I don't know how long it will take to write, so maybe just put it on my blog and the rest of what I'll have time for to follow... I trust you, so no worries. :) Thank you for all the pictures!! I love them all so much! It looks so weird across the street holy cow!! AND I was absolutely DYING reading that story about Kyle and Spencer, in New Mexico in the hotel room. BAHAHAHAHA. I have a story similar to Spencer and the jalepeño so...more to come... :P (It's above.)
Also, I will have to get you Mamita's address for next week, because if they do actually leave within the next couple months I'll give you her other address. They probably won't leave this month, so we're not sure when or if they will actually go... We'll continue to live in their house if they do leave, just without Mamita and Papito... :( AND I keep meaning to tell you... Their last name isn't "Tito". :) It's Mamita Tita, because her name is Robertina. Tita's a nickname for Robertina... :P Papito's name is Omar. :) Just so we can clear that up... :P AND I GOT YOUR LITTLE POUCH NOTE!!!! :D Yep. :) That one only took 2 months. :) And I got a letter from Britney that she sent in July, so I have hope still that I'll get the package with the camera in it one day, and Megan's letter that she sent forever ago... :) Thanks so much Mom! I love you loads! :)
Also, I will have to get you Mamita's address for next week, because if they do actually leave within the next couple months I'll give you her other address. They probably won't leave this month, so we're not sure when or if they will actually go... We'll continue to live in their house if they do leave, just without Mamita and Papito... :( AND I keep meaning to tell you... Their last name isn't "Tito". :) It's Mamita Tita, because her name is Robertina. Tita's a nickname for Robertina... :P Papito's name is Omar. :) Just so we can clear that up... :P AND I GOT YOUR LITTLE POUCH NOTE!!!! :D Yep. :) That one only took 2 months. :) And I got a letter from Britney that she sent in July, so I have hope still that I'll get the package with the camera in it one day, and Megan's letter that she sent forever ago... :) Thanks so much Mom! I love you loads! :)
Here goes :) (for her friends serving missions too)
======================
Hermana Kristen Diane Tuft
Chile Antofagasta Mission, Spanish Speaking
May 8, 2013 to November 4, 2014
My mission is the best thing I've ever experienced in my life. It's hard, I'm not going to lie, but oh is it ever so worth it! The best thing that has happened as a result of me serving a mission is the testimony that I've gained of the power of the Atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the meaningful prayers and the relationship I've gained with my Heavenly Father. It is the change I can see in people's lives every day as I see them accept this Gospel. It is the people I've met, and this language I'm learning. Words cannot fully describe the gratitude I have for this opportunity to serve this mission. I have learned the love of the Savior is unconditional and infinite, we need only accept Him into our lives and allow Him to change us. The only thing we can give the Lord in our lives is our heart and mind. We can work with all our strength and might, but if we don't have a loving heart and a mind open to the promptings of the Spirit, that might and strength won't do us any good.
The best experience I've had is working with Jorge and Fabiola. I feel their testimonies grow each time we get to teach them, and I know that the Spirit has a huge affect in their lives, and every day their testimonies grow. The power of prayer and reading the Book of Mormon has changed one, who all but didn't believe in God, to knowing that this church is true and was restored by a loving Heavenly Father through a latter-day prophet.
The strangest thing I've eaten: Peacock...
Difficult to adjust to: The culture was so hard for me at first, and when I would think about how far away from home I was... That was hard. But the past few months have absolutely flown by, and I have gotten lost in this work. I don't think about how far away from home I am, because it doesn't matter. I have been called here by my Heavenly Father, and He knows what is best for me and He has given me the strength to become who I am becoming.
The funniest experience I've had: My first companion in the field was Hna Delgado. She and I were talking one day, and somehow the fact that I sang in the Provo Tabernacle got mixed in translation, and she thought for 3 weeks that I sang in MoTab. Bahahaha and she told the whole ward. I still have people come up to me and say something about how I'm in MoTab, and I just laugh and have to explain that my Spanish speaking skills aren't great, and that I'm actually not in MoTab, just sang in the Provo Tabernacle... :P
My advice: Prepare, prepare, prepare. Read the Book of Mormon and study it every day. Read Preach My Gospel diligently and STUDY it. I read it before my mission, but I never really studied it. And most importantly, gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, of the Restoration, and build a strong relationship with your Heavenly Father. Have faith to trust in His timing and the trials He places in your life with help you become who He needs you to be. Be an instrument in His Almighty hands.
======================
Hermana Kristen Diane Tuft
Chile Antofagasta Mission, Spanish Speaking
May 8, 2013 to November 4, 2014
My mission is the best thing I've ever experienced in my life. It's hard, I'm not going to lie, but oh is it ever so worth it! The best thing that has happened as a result of me serving a mission is the testimony that I've gained of the power of the Atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the meaningful prayers and the relationship I've gained with my Heavenly Father. It is the change I can see in people's lives every day as I see them accept this Gospel. It is the people I've met, and this language I'm learning. Words cannot fully describe the gratitude I have for this opportunity to serve this mission. I have learned the love of the Savior is unconditional and infinite, we need only accept Him into our lives and allow Him to change us. The only thing we can give the Lord in our lives is our heart and mind. We can work with all our strength and might, but if we don't have a loving heart and a mind open to the promptings of the Spirit, that might and strength won't do us any good.
The best experience I've had is working with Jorge and Fabiola. I feel their testimonies grow each time we get to teach them, and I know that the Spirit has a huge affect in their lives, and every day their testimonies grow. The power of prayer and reading the Book of Mormon has changed one, who all but didn't believe in God, to knowing that this church is true and was restored by a loving Heavenly Father through a latter-day prophet.
The strangest thing I've eaten: Peacock...
Difficult to adjust to: The culture was so hard for me at first, and when I would think about how far away from home I was... That was hard. But the past few months have absolutely flown by, and I have gotten lost in this work. I don't think about how far away from home I am, because it doesn't matter. I have been called here by my Heavenly Father, and He knows what is best for me and He has given me the strength to become who I am becoming.
The funniest experience I've had: My first companion in the field was Hna Delgado. She and I were talking one day, and somehow the fact that I sang in the Provo Tabernacle got mixed in translation, and she thought for 3 weeks that I sang in MoTab. Bahahaha and she told the whole ward. I still have people come up to me and say something about how I'm in MoTab, and I just laugh and have to explain that my Spanish speaking skills aren't great, and that I'm actually not in MoTab, just sang in the Provo Tabernacle... :P
My advice: Prepare, prepare, prepare. Read the Book of Mormon and study it every day. Read Preach My Gospel diligently and STUDY it. I read it before my mission, but I never really studied it. And most importantly, gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, of the Restoration, and build a strong relationship with your Heavenly Father. Have faith to trust in His timing and the trials He places in your life with help you become who He needs you to be. Be an instrument in His Almighty hands.
Much LOVE!
Hermana Tuft
Monday, September 30, 2013
Things Here in Zapahuira...
 |
| Hermana Tuft with a white bunny that looks just like our BELLA. September 2013 |
 | |
| Hermanas Tuft and Matias, 18 September 2013, Chilean Independence Day |
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| This is an older picture I THOUGHT I added but has Mamita and Papito in it, where they live - 18 July 2013 |
Hello All!
It's been another great week here in Arica, of course. :) I love it here so much, and we have started to work more and more with the members, especially since they've been home from their temple trip. We had zone conference this week and tri-monthly interviews, so President and Hermana Dalton were here for the weekend and we had great experiences with those we are teaching. I love this work! I love seeing the change in people's lives as they accept this gospel and accept the Atonement into their lives. It truly is incredible.
To answer a couple of questions, it's been really hot here. It's about 85° from noon to 7 pm, and then the nights do still get a little chilly. Just like summer nights in Utah, we just bring a light jacket and we're fine. :) But that's 85° with really strong sun, so it feels hotter. Or I'm just a 'Lily' and not used to the sun... :P I love it here though so much, heat and all. :) (Dad, that alarm clock that broke in the MTC and then you guys sent me a new one has the temperature in Farenheit and Celsius, so that's been nice! :))
We had a wonderful conference this week. It was with all the zones here in Arica, and we talked a lot about the new goals for the mission and how we are going to get there. We had a mission fast last month to know what goals we should make, and then we wrote President about our thoughts and impressions. Then he looked at all of our impressions and made the goals for the mission accordingly. We are going to be working a lot with keeping people active, reactivation, and working with the families. A lot of time it's so much easier to teach the kids of the family because they are much more accepting, but we need to work more with the families, because this gospel is for families. We are so very blessed to have families in our lives! So the conference was great, and we're excited to work more closely with the ward and with the families that are being prepared for this gospel!
We had our zone conference in the morning, so in the afternoon we got to go out and teach as normal. Hermana Matias and I both had some strong impressions about specific people throughout the conference, and so we went to visit them that night. We stopped by one of our investigator's house. Her name is Andrea and we had the strong feeling that we needed to share with her dad and sister, whom she lives with. We had a great lesson with them. Her dad is Penticostal, and knows a lot about the Bible. Andrea came to church for the first time yesterday as well, so we were excited about that! We'll continue to share with her dad and sister as well. Later that night we stopped by a new member's house. His name is Osvaldo and he has 2 daughters. They aren't members, and don't want much to do with the church, but they'll usually listen if we invite them to. So we started talking with Osvaldo and he told us his conversion story, how he didn't believe in God, but little by little he started going to church and reading the Book of Mormon. He was baptized 3 years after he started meeting with the missionaries (last year about this time) and is planning on going with the ward in February to the temple. (They're going to start going 2 times every year! :D) After he told us his story, the spirit was so strong, and we felt impressed to ask him how he felt like we could help his daughters accept this gospel as well. He got a little emotional, and told us ways he thought they might start listening more. We had a wonderful experience there, and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for them.
We also got to meet with Fabiola and Jorge on Saturday, and they are continually reading the Book of Mormon and praying diligently. They are so wonderful!! They changed their wedding to January, because that's when Jorge's family can come up and when they'll been done with school and work for about a month. In the meantime, they continue to go to church and meet with us, and they are learning so very much. They're both planning on going to Conference with us both days this weekend, so we are SO very happy about that. :D Hermana Matias asked Jorge what changed for him, because in the beginning he didn't believe any of it, nor did he want to read the Book of Mormon, etc. It was pure questions from him in the beginning, like he was trying to stump us... He smiled when Hna Matias asked him that, and continued to tell us that he researched a lot in the internet and such, and then when Fabiola started reading things in the Book of Mormon that we had assigned, he started to be more curious and wanted to find out more from us, rather than the internet. He kept saying how much it just makes sense, and how he really things that it's true, but that he wants to finish it to find out for sure. That was completely fine with us. :) He also talked about how he called his family and told them that Fabiola and him were getting married, and they were very supportive in the beginning! But then a couple days ago his dad called and said they didn't want them to get married, that they're too young, they need more time, etc. But Jorge (who was reluctant to accept our invitation to be married so quickly) told him that he knew that this is what they needed to do and that they are getting married. He knows there will be more trials ahead, because he still hasn't told his family about the church, that he wants to be baptized, etc, but he said this is something that they really do want. And that they are preparing to go to the temple the following year. He told us that they just want something small for the civil wedding, because they know "the other wedding is more important anyway". Dah!! We were so very happy. It was an incredible lesson. And I hope that all made sense... :)
We're still working with Jasmin and her brother Nacho, and still hoping to have a family night with them sometime soon to meet with their parents as well... Every time we plan it, something comes up and they can't... :( So we're still working on that one. :) We haven't seen Andres in a while, because he's never at his house these days... We'll continue to stop by and see how he is and see if we can't talk to his mom sometime... She works a lot and is gone most of the time, but we'll keep at it.
For General Conference this weekend we'll all be going to the stake center. We will be watching it live as well, so it'll start at 1 pm instead of 10 am. :) And we'll be watching a rebroadcast of the General Relief Society Meeting on Saturday morning, so NO I didn't get to see Megan Walker!! :( But I will be looking very closely for her on Saturday in her mint green shirt next to the Conductor! :D So exciting she got to do that!! Also, we got a call the other day and it was Paulina Porrus' mom! She'll be at conference, so we'll finally get to meet up with her. I'm pretty excited. :) I love Conference. :) It was weird to think that a year ago I was at home and heard the announcement about the age change, and here I am in Chile on my mission one year later. :) That was a fun thought for me. :)
A couple funny moments and then I'd better head. :) We had the lesson with Andrea and her dad & sister, and at the end we invited Andrea to say the closing prayer. (They're redoing their house and have dirt/rocks for a floor right now, just as background.) She didn't want to say it, but asked her dad to. So he asked if we could kneel, to which we, of course, said yes! So we knelt in these rocks thinking it would be a fairly short prayer...literally 5 minutes later he finished. Hna Matias were dying as we got up and had little gravel rocks stuck in our knees! Hahaha we've been laughing about that one for a couple days. :) Good prayer though... :) Also, Mamita and I have these lovely little "scare wars" and every night when we come in we try and scare her, because she always scares us when we come down for breakfast/to leave for the day/etc. She's always scaring us. AND she gets us every time... Hahaha so the other day we came in and she was eating 'once' (a food they eat a lot pronounced 'own-say') with her son and daughter-in-law, and Papito was watching the news. (He's always on our side... :P) So we sneeked in and we knew Papito could see us out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't turn and we jumped around the corner and shouted BOO and Mamita flew back in her chair and she was holding a KNIFE!! Hahaha so we were very glad she didn't have the reflex to throw it....that would've been very bad, but she was laughing so hard and we finally got her back. :) I love Mamita and Papito, they are so very great, and they said to send their love to the family. :)
I'm not too sure how I like this whole email thing cause I'm not ever sure if it makes sense, but there you go and I hope that some of that did actually make sense. :) The work is hastening, and I feel so very blessed to be a part of it. We are all a part of it! How blessed we are!! I know this Church is true. I know that Joseph Smith restored it and that we have the power of God on the earth today, and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I am so very excited to hear from him this weekend, and can't wait to hear all your thoughts from Conference! :)
All my love,
Hermana Tuft
=================
Hellloo there Family!
It sounds like you all had a very busy and interesting week! I know that you might not have had the results that we were all hoping for in New Mexico, but I know that you all went for a reason. That baby has something to do with the story I think.... Peter Shirts continues to stump us. He was a wanderer while he was alive, and he didn't cease in death... Someday we'll find him, and someday his story will be complete. :) I loved hearing about your experience, thank you so much! I felt almost as if I was there. :) Didn't get to face-time like Elder Davies did, but close enough. :D I'm glad you got to have the experience that you did. Be sure to write about it! :D
The cough has gone! I got the meds from the mission doctor last week in the mail and they seem to have helped a lot. One is for a cold and the other is for allergies, so something in one of them is working. That and lots of prayers. :) Thank you very much! I love you all and hope you all have wonderful weeks full of smiles! :D
Until next week,
LOTS of love,
Kristen
=================
Hello Mom and Dad! Thank you for your emails and love and stories. Oh how I love them so much. I love you both LOADS!! Still no sign of my package, BUT I still have hope. :) It'll come. Someday... :) Hna Howell's mom sent a package and it got here in 3 WEEKS and we think it's because it had the Virgin Mary pictures on it... So sad, but that seems to be the way it works... You said that a couple weeks ago Mom, but yes it does work I believe... If you could sent a couple more things with it when you do send it, that would be great... If not DON'T WORRY. :) I would love to have a couple whitening tubes if possible. I have my retainer/trays so if POSSIBLE that would be great. If not, the whiteness of my teeth isn't really important to anyone but me so... :P Also the half socks that you bought me Mom, those would be great. Probably about 6 more tan colored ones. They sell them here, but they’re out of the nylon fabric so they last for about a day... :( And my prenatal vitamins if possible... I just ran out the other day... That is all... :) AND I'm going to write Megan this, but if Paulina comes the first week of December to Arica the chances of me seeing her are 50/50! If I get transferred on the 20th I probably won't see her, but I think I'll be staying at least one more... But who knows... That would be exciting! :D Thanks for all the news, and thank you for the poem as well Dad. Hahaha I did laugh at the ‘big and small plates’ thing, Mom. It's true, but I love it cause I get the best of both worlds! :) I LOVE YOU BOTH. I hope you both have a fantastic week. :)
Love,
Kristen
It's been another great week here in Arica, of course. :) I love it here so much, and we have started to work more and more with the members, especially since they've been home from their temple trip. We had zone conference this week and tri-monthly interviews, so President and Hermana Dalton were here for the weekend and we had great experiences with those we are teaching. I love this work! I love seeing the change in people's lives as they accept this gospel and accept the Atonement into their lives. It truly is incredible.
To answer a couple of questions, it's been really hot here. It's about 85° from noon to 7 pm, and then the nights do still get a little chilly. Just like summer nights in Utah, we just bring a light jacket and we're fine. :) But that's 85° with really strong sun, so it feels hotter. Or I'm just a 'Lily' and not used to the sun... :P I love it here though so much, heat and all. :) (Dad, that alarm clock that broke in the MTC and then you guys sent me a new one has the temperature in Farenheit and Celsius, so that's been nice! :))
We had a wonderful conference this week. It was with all the zones here in Arica, and we talked a lot about the new goals for the mission and how we are going to get there. We had a mission fast last month to know what goals we should make, and then we wrote President about our thoughts and impressions. Then he looked at all of our impressions and made the goals for the mission accordingly. We are going to be working a lot with keeping people active, reactivation, and working with the families. A lot of time it's so much easier to teach the kids of the family because they are much more accepting, but we need to work more with the families, because this gospel is for families. We are so very blessed to have families in our lives! So the conference was great, and we're excited to work more closely with the ward and with the families that are being prepared for this gospel!
We had our zone conference in the morning, so in the afternoon we got to go out and teach as normal. Hermana Matias and I both had some strong impressions about specific people throughout the conference, and so we went to visit them that night. We stopped by one of our investigator's house. Her name is Andrea and we had the strong feeling that we needed to share with her dad and sister, whom she lives with. We had a great lesson with them. Her dad is Penticostal, and knows a lot about the Bible. Andrea came to church for the first time yesterday as well, so we were excited about that! We'll continue to share with her dad and sister as well. Later that night we stopped by a new member's house. His name is Osvaldo and he has 2 daughters. They aren't members, and don't want much to do with the church, but they'll usually listen if we invite them to. So we started talking with Osvaldo and he told us his conversion story, how he didn't believe in God, but little by little he started going to church and reading the Book of Mormon. He was baptized 3 years after he started meeting with the missionaries (last year about this time) and is planning on going with the ward in February to the temple. (They're going to start going 2 times every year! :D) After he told us his story, the spirit was so strong, and we felt impressed to ask him how he felt like we could help his daughters accept this gospel as well. He got a little emotional, and told us ways he thought they might start listening more. We had a wonderful experience there, and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for them.
We also got to meet with Fabiola and Jorge on Saturday, and they are continually reading the Book of Mormon and praying diligently. They are so wonderful!! They changed their wedding to January, because that's when Jorge's family can come up and when they'll been done with school and work for about a month. In the meantime, they continue to go to church and meet with us, and they are learning so very much. They're both planning on going to Conference with us both days this weekend, so we are SO very happy about that. :D Hermana Matias asked Jorge what changed for him, because in the beginning he didn't believe any of it, nor did he want to read the Book of Mormon, etc. It was pure questions from him in the beginning, like he was trying to stump us... He smiled when Hna Matias asked him that, and continued to tell us that he researched a lot in the internet and such, and then when Fabiola started reading things in the Book of Mormon that we had assigned, he started to be more curious and wanted to find out more from us, rather than the internet. He kept saying how much it just makes sense, and how he really things that it's true, but that he wants to finish it to find out for sure. That was completely fine with us. :) He also talked about how he called his family and told them that Fabiola and him were getting married, and they were very supportive in the beginning! But then a couple days ago his dad called and said they didn't want them to get married, that they're too young, they need more time, etc. But Jorge (who was reluctant to accept our invitation to be married so quickly) told him that he knew that this is what they needed to do and that they are getting married. He knows there will be more trials ahead, because he still hasn't told his family about the church, that he wants to be baptized, etc, but he said this is something that they really do want. And that they are preparing to go to the temple the following year. He told us that they just want something small for the civil wedding, because they know "the other wedding is more important anyway". Dah!! We were so very happy. It was an incredible lesson. And I hope that all made sense... :)
We're still working with Jasmin and her brother Nacho, and still hoping to have a family night with them sometime soon to meet with their parents as well... Every time we plan it, something comes up and they can't... :( So we're still working on that one. :) We haven't seen Andres in a while, because he's never at his house these days... We'll continue to stop by and see how he is and see if we can't talk to his mom sometime... She works a lot and is gone most of the time, but we'll keep at it.
For General Conference this weekend we'll all be going to the stake center. We will be watching it live as well, so it'll start at 1 pm instead of 10 am. :) And we'll be watching a rebroadcast of the General Relief Society Meeting on Saturday morning, so NO I didn't get to see Megan Walker!! :( But I will be looking very closely for her on Saturday in her mint green shirt next to the Conductor! :D So exciting she got to do that!! Also, we got a call the other day and it was Paulina Porrus' mom! She'll be at conference, so we'll finally get to meet up with her. I'm pretty excited. :) I love Conference. :) It was weird to think that a year ago I was at home and heard the announcement about the age change, and here I am in Chile on my mission one year later. :) That was a fun thought for me. :)
A couple funny moments and then I'd better head. :) We had the lesson with Andrea and her dad & sister, and at the end we invited Andrea to say the closing prayer. (They're redoing their house and have dirt/rocks for a floor right now, just as background.) She didn't want to say it, but asked her dad to. So he asked if we could kneel, to which we, of course, said yes! So we knelt in these rocks thinking it would be a fairly short prayer...literally 5 minutes later he finished. Hna Matias were dying as we got up and had little gravel rocks stuck in our knees! Hahaha we've been laughing about that one for a couple days. :) Good prayer though... :) Also, Mamita and I have these lovely little "scare wars" and every night when we come in we try and scare her, because she always scares us when we come down for breakfast/to leave for the day/etc. She's always scaring us. AND she gets us every time... Hahaha so the other day we came in and she was eating 'once' (a food they eat a lot pronounced 'own-say') with her son and daughter-in-law, and Papito was watching the news. (He's always on our side... :P) So we sneeked in and we knew Papito could see us out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't turn and we jumped around the corner and shouted BOO and Mamita flew back in her chair and she was holding a KNIFE!! Hahaha so we were very glad she didn't have the reflex to throw it....that would've been very bad, but she was laughing so hard and we finally got her back. :) I love Mamita and Papito, they are so very great, and they said to send their love to the family. :)
I'm not too sure how I like this whole email thing cause I'm not ever sure if it makes sense, but there you go and I hope that some of that did actually make sense. :) The work is hastening, and I feel so very blessed to be a part of it. We are all a part of it! How blessed we are!! I know this Church is true. I know that Joseph Smith restored it and that we have the power of God on the earth today, and that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today. I am so very excited to hear from him this weekend, and can't wait to hear all your thoughts from Conference! :)
All my love,
Hermana Tuft
=================
Hellloo there Family!
It sounds like you all had a very busy and interesting week! I know that you might not have had the results that we were all hoping for in New Mexico, but I know that you all went for a reason. That baby has something to do with the story I think.... Peter Shirts continues to stump us. He was a wanderer while he was alive, and he didn't cease in death... Someday we'll find him, and someday his story will be complete. :) I loved hearing about your experience, thank you so much! I felt almost as if I was there. :) Didn't get to face-time like Elder Davies did, but close enough. :D I'm glad you got to have the experience that you did. Be sure to write about it! :D
The cough has gone! I got the meds from the mission doctor last week in the mail and they seem to have helped a lot. One is for a cold and the other is for allergies, so something in one of them is working. That and lots of prayers. :) Thank you very much! I love you all and hope you all have wonderful weeks full of smiles! :D
Until next week,
LOTS of love,
Kristen
=================
Hello Mom and Dad! Thank you for your emails and love and stories. Oh how I love them so much. I love you both LOADS!! Still no sign of my package, BUT I still have hope. :) It'll come. Someday... :) Hna Howell's mom sent a package and it got here in 3 WEEKS and we think it's because it had the Virgin Mary pictures on it... So sad, but that seems to be the way it works... You said that a couple weeks ago Mom, but yes it does work I believe... If you could sent a couple more things with it when you do send it, that would be great... If not DON'T WORRY. :) I would love to have a couple whitening tubes if possible. I have my retainer/trays so if POSSIBLE that would be great. If not, the whiteness of my teeth isn't really important to anyone but me so... :P Also the half socks that you bought me Mom, those would be great. Probably about 6 more tan colored ones. They sell them here, but they’re out of the nylon fabric so they last for about a day... :( And my prenatal vitamins if possible... I just ran out the other day... That is all... :) AND I'm going to write Megan this, but if Paulina comes the first week of December to Arica the chances of me seeing her are 50/50! If I get transferred on the 20th I probably won't see her, but I think I'll be staying at least one more... But who knows... That would be exciting! :D Thanks for all the news, and thank you for the poem as well Dad. Hahaha I did laugh at the ‘big and small plates’ thing, Mom. It's true, but I love it cause I get the best of both worlds! :) I LOVE YOU BOTH. I hope you both have a fantastic week. :)
Love,
Kristen
Monday, September 23, 2013
El Monte del Señor
 | |
| Hermanas Tuft and Matias in Lluta with....Hermanas! |
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
==========
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
===========
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
Monday, September 16, 2013
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
======================
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
======================
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
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
======================
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
======================
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
Monday, September 9, 2013
Cambios and HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLEEEE!!!
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| Hermana Tuft with Hermana Matias and an investigator who is 14. |
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
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