3 February 2014
Hello all!!
It's been an absolutely crazy but fantastic week. We met some great people, moved, had Isabel's baptismal interview (YAYAYAYAY!!!!) and can I just say I love Chañarcillo. :) Hermana Millaquipai is fantastic and I love her lots. She is learning SO much faster than I did when I started and is helping me so very much. :)
This week we had a great district meeting and practiced the whole time making baptismal invitations/commitments, whatever that English word is.... It helped us a lot! We talked a lot about agency, and how if the people say no, it's their free agency, gift from God, to say no. We are here to invite people to come unto Christ, and they have the agency to accept the invitation or not. So that kinda helped me lots to not get nervous or anxious to extend that invitation. Obviously, it is the MOST important for them to see the importance and to accept, but they can say no, and then one day they will look back and say yes. One day they will. :) So we decided it was time to try it again with Roxana. We called the ward Relief Society president to go with us, and we REshared the first lesson with Roxana. The Spirit was so strong, and I was so very grateful for the testimony of Hna Clara. We invited Roxana to prepare to be baptized in March, and SHE SAID SHE WOULD PRAY ABOUT IT. Last time we asked her she said straight out NO and no she would not go to church, etc. But she said she would pray about it and I just was the happiest little girl. :) She actually is out of town for vacation now for the next 2 weeks....so we will see how that praying went. Please keep her in your prayers. :)
So I'm flipping through my planner looking at what to share and I just want to share all of it.... That is a problem. :) We did have a great experience with two less active ladies. Their names are Nevenka and Lidia. Their mom joined the church when she was 30, and raised all the kids in the church. They were all baptized and sealed as a family. Their dad passed away a few years ago, and their mom passed away at 50ish, two years back, just from a sudden heart attack. The kids all kinda stopped going to church when they were in their early 20s, but they do not deny that the church is true... We have been visiting them for months and they never have been to church since I've been here, but we got down to the bottom factor of why and we had an amazing lesson with them. Lidia shared a dream that she had about the tree of life, and that her mom was there beckoning to her to the tree. She shared that she knew that her mom was just waiting for them to all return to the tree and she said she thought it was time. We were just full of gratitude hearing of their experiences and truly how the Lord works miracles in each and every one of our lives.
Aaand Saturday to top things off, the elders moved into our old pension and we moved in WITH Isabel, because her little house that we are going to rent is being a little bit remodeled... So hopefully by next Saturday we will be in our house house. :) We're a little squashed in the meantime, but we're getting along fine AND can I just say it is fantastic living with an investigator? :D We knocked on her door yesterday morning to wake her up for church. :) Hahaha it was fantastic. :) She had her interview with the district leader as we were moving everything in and it went great. She passed. :) She also got up to give her testimony yesterday!! :) Unfortunately....Bishop got up at the same time to end the meeting and didn't see her start to get up...so she sat back down, but she said for sure next month. :) I love her, she is fantastic.
ALSO last thing. I have officially been the ward pianist since Hna Severtson left.... Just so that you know Mom and Miss Erlene (Hodgkinson), those lessons didn't go in vain. :) It's not perfect, but as the bishop's wife told me yesterday, the more I play and practice, the better I get so I should leave the ward playing like a pro. :) And we are singing as a missionary choir for Stake Conference in 2 weeks and as we got there to practice yesterday....the zone leaders asked me to be in charge and direct. So those singing & voice lessons and choir classes didn't go in vain either. :P I love playing and singing, so I was excited to help with that. :)
I have been so overwhelmed this week of the love of our Heavenly Father. He truly does know our needs, and I see His love in the lives of every one of our investigators. They have mostly left town for the time being, but I know that He loves them, and He is cheering them on. It is our choice to allow His love into our lives, or not. I choose to let His love in. That is through the Atonement of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He loves me, and it is our job to help others feel that love that He has for them as well. Even if they may be our enemies, they are His children and He loves them. If He loves them, why wouldn't we? I know this church is true. I am SO grateful to be here serving the Lord and the people of Chile. It makes me so happy to hear about those leaving or getting their papers ready, etc, because I know what a wonderful blessing it will be in their lives and of those they will serve. (Congrats especialllyyy to Nicole Decker for her call to Italy!! YOU'LL BE GREAT!! :D AND for my little brother Spencer for starting his papers. DAH!! I hope you come here to Antofa. Can you imagine? :D)
All my love,
Hermana Tuft
=================
Hello Mom and Dad!
I forgot my camera cord today.....so I can't send pictures. If you saw the pictures, you would understand why. :) We're living in a tiny little room with our suitcases in the living room and all the rest outside in the back patio for the time being. :) It's chaos, but we're happy and doing great! :) I was so happy to hear about your cousin, Sheri Dad! That is such a happy moment, and I can't imagine the sister that first started teaching her and got to go back to see her baptism! I bet she is just SO happy. :) That is incredible. We also do the confermations in Sacrament Meeting, so no that's definitely a church-wide thing. ¿Saben qué? Yesterday we were in Sunday School and JUSTO we were talking about the creation and I was thinking about how much I miss the temple. I miss the temple sooo much. AND I realized that it was EXACTLY a year ago yesterday that I received my endowments. :) That was a great memory for me. Thank you for both being there and helping me enjoy that special experience. I will never forget that day. :) We did do some fun stuff this week with family history work, and we're planning a ward activity for March to get the ward excited to do their family history work and we're going to get the stake specialist involved to have their help. We're very excited about that. I just want everyone to be happy and excited and worthy to enter the House of the Lord. I want them all to see and feel and experience that joy that I have, and will enjoy with my family for the eternities.
The zone leaders are headed to Antofa this week so I will look for the packages. :) If they're here, which I have hope that they are... :) they will give them to me next Tuesday at our zone meeting. :) I'll check with Elders DeGraw and James about the garments. That is such a wierd question to ask elders.... Just so you know, Mom. :) Make sure to let their moms know what wonderful missionaries they are. They truly are working miracles.
Okay! I hope I'm not forgetting anything, but I love you both SO much. Thank you for your love and support and happiness that I can feel over the thousands of miles away. :) I LOVE YOU to the moon and the sun and the stars and back. :)
Con amor,
Kristen
P.S. I got my Chilean ID this week. :D Just thought I'd share that YES, I am officially Chilean (until it expires the 22nd of November...but still.... :P)
Monday, February 3, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
El Poder del Libro de Mormon
Hello All!
We've had another great week here in Chañarcillo! The dance was great, the people are fantastic, and we are continually finding and talking to just as many people as we can every day. :) Hermana Millaquipai has taken off and is a fantastic missionary! We are learning lots from each other, and I think I will continue learning so much more from her than she ever will from me... :) I love having this experience to train and to look back at all the things I've learned along the way and how much more I have to look forward to learning. :) I love love love missionary work. :D
I was happy to hear that the Hastening the Work stake conference went well and that Spencer did a great job, especially in embarrassing little Lindsay. :) I doubt she was embarrassed, but that did give me a good laugh. :) That also made more sense that we had a pair of sisters for the stake, not the ward.... :) I was running that one through my head and thinking....how in the world does our little ward have a set of missionaries....? But the stake makes more sense. SO exciting still though! :)
[Just decided to ADD this insert: I thought I'd let you know what Kristen was meaning regarding Spencer's talk in stake conference yesterday. They had their youth meeting at 8 am and then they came home to grab something to eat, and Spencer had gone in the bathroom and left his prepared talk outline inside his Preach My Gospel sitting with his scriptures on the counter. So Lindsay was saying to Brian how it would be so funny to take his outline OUT of his PMG and put in blank pages so when he got up to speak he'd have NO NOTES. (I don't know where she gets this streak from!) But she and Brian had a little laugh over that one and then she actually took his outline out and wrote on the top SPENCER LOVES HIS LITTLE SISTER, LINDSAY SO VERY MUCH! SO...when he got up to speak he didn't look at his notes for a couple minutes and then when he looked down to see them, he saw that and chuckled and announced to everyone that his sister had written that on the top. So everyone was cracking up! So that's what we told Kristen. The FUNNY for the day! :)]
Hermana Millaquipai is great. We have worked good and hard this week. It's been a little bit more of a struggle with people continually leaving for their family vacations, but we continue to find and teach, which is the most important, right? :) From what Bishop Martinez keeps saying, February gets a little worse, but it's all uphill from there. :) Roxana will be headed out for the month, as well as Jorge (I think I mentioned him last week....?). Anywho, I was going to say that Hna Millaquipai yes, is Mapuche, which is a native tribe here to Chile. Her mom is from Spanish decent, and she is a native Spanish speaker, although she does know a few words in Mapuche. So I am learning lots more Spanish, as well as a couple words in Mapuche, and she is starting to learn English. :) So we're having a lot of fun with our language abilities. :)
There was a couple thoughts regarding the Book of Mormon that I wanted to share from the week. We went to Roxana's on Tuesday and had a great lesson about prophets and their importance here on the earth. We challenged her last week to start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning, and she accepted. So when we went on Tuesday, she had only read a tiny bit of the first chapter, which was a little disheartening, but we talked about the importance of daily scripture study again, with the importance of prophets, and how the Book of Mormon was the words of prophets. So we set an appointment for Friday, and headed out. On Friday we got to her house, and she had read 7 chapters in those couple days! We were thrilled!! She started out by saying, "Well, I liked most of it, but I got to that part about Nephi and cutting off that guys head, and I didn't like that part." ("Me choqué.") And then she continued to say that after she read that she didn't want to read more, but she was so interested to see what happened that she went back a couple hours later and realized that he had to do that, or else all of his posterity wouldn't have had the gospel in their lives. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude, to my Heavenly Father, and to all of your prayers in her behalf. Please continue to pray for her. She continually needs them, as do we.
That got the both of us thinking about the deep importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives. Roxana still is a little stuck in her ways, but she is reading the proof of what we are telling her. The Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of our religion. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity and blessing we have in our lives to have the Book of Mormon. I testify that I know that it is true. I know that reading that book will help us grow closer to our Savior, and that through its daily study we will become the instruments that the Lord needs us to be.
We ended the week with 2 baptisms in the ward. It's been quite some time that the ward has had a baptism, and we had an 8 yr old little boy named Maximo and a convert of the Elders, name Rosario, be baptized on Saturday. How blessed we are to live in these times where the Priesthood power of God has again been restored upon the earth! I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God that is leading and guiding our church in the way the Lord needs. I am so very excited this week as we help Isabel prepare for her baptism next week. She is so excited, as are we. Please keep her in your prayers. :)
Sé que esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo aquí en la tierra. No hay ninguna duda en mi mente. Estoy tan agradecida que yo tenga la oportunidad y poder compartirlo día tras día. La vida es el tiempo para nosotros a prepararnos a volver a la presencia de un Amoroso Padre Celestial. Sé que El ama a cada uno de uds. Espero que tengan una semana genial y lleno de sonrisas. :D Les quiero muchísimo. :)
Translation by Google:
[I know that this church is the church of Jesus Christ here on earth. There is no doubt in my mind. I'm so thankful I have the opportunity and sharing it day after day. Life is time for us to prepare to return to the presence of a loving Heavenly Father. I know that He loves each one of you. Hope you have a great week full of smiles. : D I love you so much. :)]
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft
=============
Hello Mom and Dad!
I think I pretty much covered everything in the main letter. :) The week has been pretty calm and I have just felt such peace and love. Thank you both for your prayers and support. I feel of that love every single day. I sometimes wonder if Heavenly Father prompts you both and me to study the same things at the same times, because sometimes we have the exact same experiences in the same week. For example, this week Dad, I just studied that talk "We Never Walk Alone" from President Monson. That poem brought tears to my eyes as I reflected back on moments of the mission where I have felt so alone and afraid, but then as I focus on the love of my Savior, that loneliness and sadness seems to disappear and I have all the more drive to share this glad message with those around me. If they all just felt of a tiny bit of that love, they would gladly and happily accept the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. That is our tarea, to help them feel that infinite love and change their lives. Thank you for sharing that with me today. :)
I also teared up as I read that part, Mom, about you worrying about me in the middle of the night and praying until morning. I don't know if something would have happened, or if was just a bad dream, but thank you. I have the best parents, and I am so grateful for the both of you and your example for me, for raising me like you did. Thank you thank you thank you.
We haven't been in touch yet with the stake genealogist, but it's on the to do list for sure this week. The days seem to fly by, even with to do lists.... Also! I have gotten behind, so this week I will be focusing on memorizing the 5th and 6th Articles of Faith, but they are coming. It's not hard to memorize something, but the remembering it part on the spot is where I struggle. :) Hahaha "it's not hard to memorize, it's just the remembering part...." That's a Kristenism at it's finest... :P
How have Grandpa and Grandma been doing? Hermana Millaquipai mentioned this week that she was missing the temple, and then we got to talking about how she hasn't seen the old video, only the new one. So apparently it's gotten to Chile! And then I got to thinking about how Grandma/pa got to go see it in Logan last week. Anywho. A little roundabout. :) I love you both so very much! Have a fantastic week and give everyone my love. :)
All MY love,
Kristen
P.S. And, Mom, we got back safely in a taxi from the bus station last week at 2 AM. :) Aaand last thing, promise Dad, that girl that left for the summer our investigator, Tamara, is from Rancagua, and she lives in Kenna's zone! So we're in the process of working that out so Kenna can pass along her address! We don't have any media access permission for our mission yet... With time... :)
We've had another great week here in Chañarcillo! The dance was great, the people are fantastic, and we are continually finding and talking to just as many people as we can every day. :) Hermana Millaquipai has taken off and is a fantastic missionary! We are learning lots from each other, and I think I will continue learning so much more from her than she ever will from me... :) I love having this experience to train and to look back at all the things I've learned along the way and how much more I have to look forward to learning. :) I love love love missionary work. :D
I was happy to hear that the Hastening the Work stake conference went well and that Spencer did a great job, especially in embarrassing little Lindsay. :) I doubt she was embarrassed, but that did give me a good laugh. :) That also made more sense that we had a pair of sisters for the stake, not the ward.... :) I was running that one through my head and thinking....how in the world does our little ward have a set of missionaries....? But the stake makes more sense. SO exciting still though! :)
[Just decided to ADD this insert: I thought I'd let you know what Kristen was meaning regarding Spencer's talk in stake conference yesterday. They had their youth meeting at 8 am and then they came home to grab something to eat, and Spencer had gone in the bathroom and left his prepared talk outline inside his Preach My Gospel sitting with his scriptures on the counter. So Lindsay was saying to Brian how it would be so funny to take his outline OUT of his PMG and put in blank pages so when he got up to speak he'd have NO NOTES. (I don't know where she gets this streak from!) But she and Brian had a little laugh over that one and then she actually took his outline out and wrote on the top SPENCER LOVES HIS LITTLE SISTER, LINDSAY SO VERY MUCH! SO...when he got up to speak he didn't look at his notes for a couple minutes and then when he looked down to see them, he saw that and chuckled and announced to everyone that his sister had written that on the top. So everyone was cracking up! So that's what we told Kristen. The FUNNY for the day! :)]
Hermana Millaquipai is great. We have worked good and hard this week. It's been a little bit more of a struggle with people continually leaving for their family vacations, but we continue to find and teach, which is the most important, right? :) From what Bishop Martinez keeps saying, February gets a little worse, but it's all uphill from there. :) Roxana will be headed out for the month, as well as Jorge (I think I mentioned him last week....?). Anywho, I was going to say that Hna Millaquipai yes, is Mapuche, which is a native tribe here to Chile. Her mom is from Spanish decent, and she is a native Spanish speaker, although she does know a few words in Mapuche. So I am learning lots more Spanish, as well as a couple words in Mapuche, and she is starting to learn English. :) So we're having a lot of fun with our language abilities. :)
There was a couple thoughts regarding the Book of Mormon that I wanted to share from the week. We went to Roxana's on Tuesday and had a great lesson about prophets and their importance here on the earth. We challenged her last week to start reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning, and she accepted. So when we went on Tuesday, she had only read a tiny bit of the first chapter, which was a little disheartening, but we talked about the importance of daily scripture study again, with the importance of prophets, and how the Book of Mormon was the words of prophets. So we set an appointment for Friday, and headed out. On Friday we got to her house, and she had read 7 chapters in those couple days! We were thrilled!! She started out by saying, "Well, I liked most of it, but I got to that part about Nephi and cutting off that guys head, and I didn't like that part." ("Me choqué.") And then she continued to say that after she read that she didn't want to read more, but she was so interested to see what happened that she went back a couple hours later and realized that he had to do that, or else all of his posterity wouldn't have had the gospel in their lives. I was just overwhelmed with gratitude, to my Heavenly Father, and to all of your prayers in her behalf. Please continue to pray for her. She continually needs them, as do we.
That got the both of us thinking about the deep importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives. Roxana still is a little stuck in her ways, but she is reading the proof of what we are telling her. The Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of our religion. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity and blessing we have in our lives to have the Book of Mormon. I testify that I know that it is true. I know that reading that book will help us grow closer to our Savior, and that through its daily study we will become the instruments that the Lord needs us to be.
We ended the week with 2 baptisms in the ward. It's been quite some time that the ward has had a baptism, and we had an 8 yr old little boy named Maximo and a convert of the Elders, name Rosario, be baptized on Saturday. How blessed we are to live in these times where the Priesthood power of God has again been restored upon the earth! I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God that is leading and guiding our church in the way the Lord needs. I am so very excited this week as we help Isabel prepare for her baptism next week. She is so excited, as are we. Please keep her in your prayers. :)
Sé que esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo aquí en la tierra. No hay ninguna duda en mi mente. Estoy tan agradecida que yo tenga la oportunidad y poder compartirlo día tras día. La vida es el tiempo para nosotros a prepararnos a volver a la presencia de un Amoroso Padre Celestial. Sé que El ama a cada uno de uds. Espero que tengan una semana genial y lleno de sonrisas. :D Les quiero muchísimo. :)
Translation by Google:
[I know that this church is the church of Jesus Christ here on earth. There is no doubt in my mind. I'm so thankful I have the opportunity and sharing it day after day. Life is time for us to prepare to return to the presence of a loving Heavenly Father. I know that He loves each one of you. Hope you have a great week full of smiles. : D I love you so much. :)]
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft
=============
Hello Mom and Dad!
I think I pretty much covered everything in the main letter. :) The week has been pretty calm and I have just felt such peace and love. Thank you both for your prayers and support. I feel of that love every single day. I sometimes wonder if Heavenly Father prompts you both and me to study the same things at the same times, because sometimes we have the exact same experiences in the same week. For example, this week Dad, I just studied that talk "We Never Walk Alone" from President Monson. That poem brought tears to my eyes as I reflected back on moments of the mission where I have felt so alone and afraid, but then as I focus on the love of my Savior, that loneliness and sadness seems to disappear and I have all the more drive to share this glad message with those around me. If they all just felt of a tiny bit of that love, they would gladly and happily accept the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. That is our tarea, to help them feel that infinite love and change their lives. Thank you for sharing that with me today. :)
I also teared up as I read that part, Mom, about you worrying about me in the middle of the night and praying until morning. I don't know if something would have happened, or if was just a bad dream, but thank you. I have the best parents, and I am so grateful for the both of you and your example for me, for raising me like you did. Thank you thank you thank you.
We haven't been in touch yet with the stake genealogist, but it's on the to do list for sure this week. The days seem to fly by, even with to do lists.... Also! I have gotten behind, so this week I will be focusing on memorizing the 5th and 6th Articles of Faith, but they are coming. It's not hard to memorize something, but the remembering it part on the spot is where I struggle. :) Hahaha "it's not hard to memorize, it's just the remembering part...." That's a Kristenism at it's finest... :P
How have Grandpa and Grandma been doing? Hermana Millaquipai mentioned this week that she was missing the temple, and then we got to talking about how she hasn't seen the old video, only the new one. So apparently it's gotten to Chile! And then I got to thinking about how Grandma/pa got to go see it in Logan last week. Anywho. A little roundabout. :) I love you both so very much! Have a fantastic week and give everyone my love. :)
All MY love,
Kristen
P.S. And, Mom, we got back safely in a taxi from the bus station last week at 2 AM. :) Aaand last thing, promise Dad, that girl that left for the summer our investigator, Tamara, is from Rancagua, and she lives in Kenna's zone! So we're in the process of working that out so Kenna can pass along her address! We don't have any media access permission for our mission yet... With time... :)
Monday, January 20, 2014
Can I just say......I LOVE being a missionary! :)
Hello All!!
It's been an absolutely fantastic week! We've been working like crazy and things have been going great! I picked up my little hijita on Wednesday and said goodbye to Hna Severtson, as she headed to Arica. It was sad, but happy at the same time. Change is happy! :)
So! We had until Tuesday night at midnight to work and do life as normal, Hermana Severtson and I. She and I then headed on a bus for 8 hours at about 12:30 on Tuesday night, and after a long night of sleeplessness and watching how BEAUTIFUL the full moon looked AND watching the sunrise, we arrived in Antofa. I have never been in Antofa during the day, so that was fun to see! It's a beautiful city, and we got to drive in along the coast, so I got to see my beautiful ocean for about 20 minutes. :) I know I was only in Arica for a short amount of time, but I sure got used to waking up and seeing the ocean every day from our house and feeling that breeze. So that was very refreshing. :)
We went to the Institute Building there in Antofa and we ate a quick breakfast and started our meetings. We had a training meeting with President Dalton about training our new missionaries. It was a wonderful meeting. Then we had lunch (PIZZA from Domino's in Antofa! Who'da thought I'd miss that stuff so much. :P) And then we had our "Opening the Sector" meeting where all the new missionaries opened their letters of their assigned sector and new companion.
My new companion is Hermana Millaquipai from Chile! She is from Punta Arenas, but has lived in Osorno for the past 3 years. From literally one end of Chile to the other, especially if she goes to Arica. :) She is wonderful! She's been a member her whole life, and her parents are converts from when they first got married. She's the youngest of 3 and is 22. It's been so much fun to get to know her and to see the energy of a new missionary again. :) She is teaching me so much and has so many great ideas in how to help our little Chañarcillo. I'm excited for the chance to work with her. We're going to have a great time together. :) (Plus I'm going to become more Chilean...bakan, ¿no? :D)
So I was there in Antofa for all of 10 hours. :) We headed back to Copiapó at about 6 and then got here at 2 in the morning and headed back to the apartment to sleep. :) The past few days have been great and we have found a good handful of new people to teach. We're planning a ward dance for this Friday, so we're pretty excited for that. It should be a great finding activity! So I'll let you know how that one goes next week. :)
In studying this week and seeing all the same MTC videos again, it's made me think about the excitement I had when I first started, and now how far I feel like I've come. There are always things to work on and improve. The scripture that keeps coming to my mind is in Alma 26:11-12;
"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy and I will rejoice in my God.
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things."
I know that life sometimes might send us a curve in the road, but as we turn the corner and face the unknown, God will bless us with a scenery that we could have never imagined and we will grow from those wonderful experiences. I know with all my heart that this church is true and that Christ stands at the head, leading us through President Thomas S. Monson. I love being a missionary. I love sharing this message of great joy with these people in Chile!
I love you all lots! Thank you for your love and continued support. You are in my prayers. :)
Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft
=================
Hello Mom and Dad!
It's been a busy day so I don't have too long, but I did have to chuckle about your comment Mom about us gringas going to Antofa in the middle of the night and then relying on my "young gringo brains" to get us back! Hahaha we made it back alive, no worries. :D Thank you for all your thoughts and comments about the week, they are always greatly enjoyed on this end! :) Please tell my little Miranda how much I love her and I miss her lots. I would love to hear from her. :) My blizzard package did not come yet... :( Faith! It'll come. :D Also, thank you Dad for those thoughts you shared from your mission. Those circumstances are a lot like the ones that have happened this past week, actually. :) It truly has been a great few days though with my "verdecita". :P ALSO if there is room and you happen to be sending a package, I would LOVE 2 new pair of garments... I would have to get you the size next week if that's okay... And also a downeast white basic tee and the elbow length sleeve one too in white, if possible. If not, it'll be fine, I just have some pretty great sweat stains... :P I am sorry if I am forgetting anything! I've got to run but I will talk to you next week! I hope the FHE goes great tonight. I was thinking about that experience at the Sutt's just a few days ago actually. :) OKAY! LOVESSS!! :D
Tu hijita misionera,
Kristen
P.S. Dad, we're going to be getting in contact with the stake geneologist hopefully this week. Thank you for those thoughts! Perfect timing for me. :) XOXO
It's been an absolutely fantastic week! We've been working like crazy and things have been going great! I picked up my little hijita on Wednesday and said goodbye to Hna Severtson, as she headed to Arica. It was sad, but happy at the same time. Change is happy! :)
So! We had until Tuesday night at midnight to work and do life as normal, Hermana Severtson and I. She and I then headed on a bus for 8 hours at about 12:30 on Tuesday night, and after a long night of sleeplessness and watching how BEAUTIFUL the full moon looked AND watching the sunrise, we arrived in Antofa. I have never been in Antofa during the day, so that was fun to see! It's a beautiful city, and we got to drive in along the coast, so I got to see my beautiful ocean for about 20 minutes. :) I know I was only in Arica for a short amount of time, but I sure got used to waking up and seeing the ocean every day from our house and feeling that breeze. So that was very refreshing. :)
We went to the Institute Building there in Antofa and we ate a quick breakfast and started our meetings. We had a training meeting with President Dalton about training our new missionaries. It was a wonderful meeting. Then we had lunch (PIZZA from Domino's in Antofa! Who'da thought I'd miss that stuff so much. :P) And then we had our "Opening the Sector" meeting where all the new missionaries opened their letters of their assigned sector and new companion.
My new companion is Hermana Millaquipai from Chile! She is from Punta Arenas, but has lived in Osorno for the past 3 years. From literally one end of Chile to the other, especially if she goes to Arica. :) She is wonderful! She's been a member her whole life, and her parents are converts from when they first got married. She's the youngest of 3 and is 22. It's been so much fun to get to know her and to see the energy of a new missionary again. :) She is teaching me so much and has so many great ideas in how to help our little Chañarcillo. I'm excited for the chance to work with her. We're going to have a great time together. :) (Plus I'm going to become more Chilean...bakan, ¿no? :D)
So I was there in Antofa for all of 10 hours. :) We headed back to Copiapó at about 6 and then got here at 2 in the morning and headed back to the apartment to sleep. :) The past few days have been great and we have found a good handful of new people to teach. We're planning a ward dance for this Friday, so we're pretty excited for that. It should be a great finding activity! So I'll let you know how that one goes next week. :)
In studying this week and seeing all the same MTC videos again, it's made me think about the excitement I had when I first started, and now how far I feel like I've come. There are always things to work on and improve. The scripture that keeps coming to my mind is in Alma 26:11-12;
"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy and I will rejoice in my God.
"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things."
I know that life sometimes might send us a curve in the road, but as we turn the corner and face the unknown, God will bless us with a scenery that we could have never imagined and we will grow from those wonderful experiences. I know with all my heart that this church is true and that Christ stands at the head, leading us through President Thomas S. Monson. I love being a missionary. I love sharing this message of great joy with these people in Chile!
I love you all lots! Thank you for your love and continued support. You are in my prayers. :)
Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
It's been a busy day so I don't have too long, but I did have to chuckle about your comment Mom about us gringas going to Antofa in the middle of the night and then relying on my "young gringo brains" to get us back! Hahaha we made it back alive, no worries. :D Thank you for all your thoughts and comments about the week, they are always greatly enjoyed on this end! :) Please tell my little Miranda how much I love her and I miss her lots. I would love to hear from her. :) My blizzard package did not come yet... :( Faith! It'll come. :D Also, thank you Dad for those thoughts you shared from your mission. Those circumstances are a lot like the ones that have happened this past week, actually. :) It truly has been a great few days though with my "verdecita". :P ALSO if there is room and you happen to be sending a package, I would LOVE 2 new pair of garments... I would have to get you the size next week if that's okay... And also a downeast white basic tee and the elbow length sleeve one too in white, if possible. If not, it'll be fine, I just have some pretty great sweat stains... :P I am sorry if I am forgetting anything! I've got to run but I will talk to you next week! I hope the FHE goes great tonight. I was thinking about that experience at the Sutt's just a few days ago actually. :) OKAY! LOVESSS!! :D
Tu hijita misionera,
Kristen
P.S. Dad, we're going to be getting in contact with the stake geneologist hopefully this week. Thank you for those thoughts! Perfect timing for me. :) XOXO
Monday, January 13, 2014
A Week of Craziness . . . :D)
It's been a crazy week, but great! We've had a great last week together as companions, Hermana Severtson and I. We had cambios on Saturday and she's headed to Arica and opening a sector AND training, and I will be training. So we're both headed up to Antofa together tomorrow at midnight, and then we'll be there for most of the day Wednesday and come back here to Copiapó and get here Thursday morning at about midnight. So it'll be quite the couple days! We're both nervous, but it will be a great experience. A whole bunch of different emotions are running through my head, so if this is a little scatter-brained....that would be why. :)
Okay. So Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal. Lots of walking, talking with people, alto calor, and a few great lessons. :) Wednesday was about the same as well. :) So, we get around to Thursday and we had a fantastic lesson with Roxana. Her "assignment" was to read the testimonies of the Book of Mormon witnesses, and the testimony of Joseph Smith. We got there, started talking about it, and she got shy and embarrassed. We asked her what was wrong, and she said that she had actually read it a couple times because she loved it so much. She then went through and told us exactly what had happened, and how she felt about it, everything. It was incredible. The spirit was so strong! We asked her if she herself had a testimony of the Book of Mormon. She said she thought she did, because it just made sense and she felt something every time she read it. She guards it away from her little daughter so no one will touch it, etc. It truly is amazing. We were so happy! And then, we were just talking and HER HUSBAND CAME HOME AND WE MET HIM!!! That is definitely a HUGE miracle, because we have never ever met him, and she always says that he doesn't want to meet us, but we just happened to be there... So we might just "happen to be there" a lot more often. :) So pretty much, Roxana has a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, we met her husband, and all they need to do now is go to church. Thank you ALL for your prayers, because she needs them, and so do we so that we can help them accept this gospel. By small and simple means. :)
Then, we did our transferly cleaning on Friday morning. (We clean every week, just for the record, but just a deeper cleaning. :)) We cleaned our house super good, got rid of spiders (with a little bit of screaming and LOTS of bug spray) and then we went to shower and get ready to leave for the day. Background information also, we are changing houses and living with Isabel in 2 more weeks. That being said, we were showering in our 2 bathrooms (Hna Severtson upstairs and I was downstairs) and Hna Severtson knocked on the door and said, "Ummm, Hermana... I think that the upstairs bathroom is flooding..." My reaction: "WHAT?!?! And what do you mean you think it's flooding....?" "Well I don't have my contacts in so I can't see for sure!" Bahahaha. My reaction in my head: "Seriously this cannot be happening again. 2nd flood in the 2nd apartment in 2 years." Something must be wrong. Anywho. "Okay. Hurry and call Elder DeGraw (District Leader) and I'll be right out!" So I hurry and rinse off, and she comes back about 30 seconds later... "Ummm...I think it's dripping from the bathroom into the kitchen!" Threw my towel on and ran out and yes, it was indeed dripping through the ceiling. So I run upstairs and it's about 2 inches deep of water in the bathroom and it was all leaking through the floor downstairs.... :)
Needless to say, we called Elder DeGraw, we got things taken care of for now (the main drain is plugged and the water's been dripping for a while), we are not using the upstairs bathroom, and we are moving out in 2 weeks and I could not be more excited. :D Bahahaha but we definitely had a great laugh. :) Lesson I learned the 2nd time around: Just laugh and life will work out. Life's too short to not have fun. :)
Saturday we had a great lesson with Isabel and Obispo. We talked about the 13th Article of Faith :) and Isabel is literally amazing. She just couldn't stop saying how grateful she is that we were sent to her at this moment in her life. She needs the Gospel so badly, and we are so grateful for the miracle that it is to share it with her. She went again to church on Sunday, and we're headed back tonight. She loves reading the Book of Mormon, and is just an absolute golden investigator. I love her lots. :) We are all very excited for her baptism here in a couple weeks.
Right after we left Isabel's, we got our transfer calls and it's just been craziness getting everything ready after that. But life is great and we are super happy little missionaries. :D On Sunday we all 4 missionaries spoke on faith, hope, charity, and love. It was a great meeting! Hermana Severtson played a beautiful Joseph Smith Medley, and it was just great. Lots of people are out of town for summer vacation, so we've started going down in attendance, but bishop just says that's normal for summer, and things will be back to normal in March. We just keep working though and the work goes on!
Also last little thing!! (Sorry this has been so informationalish today!) We were talking about hope as we were walking to a lesson the other day, because that was Hna Severtson's topic to speak on, and she was saying how when she thought of hope she thought of the pioneers. She said how she wanted to share a story about her ancestors, but she couldn't think of one. I asked her who she could share something about and she said, "Well, I know lots of stories of my Webb line, and they came from Nauvoo, so maybe I'll do something with them." I have a Webb line from Nauvoo!! So I got really excited and asked if it was the blacksmith shop Webb and she said yes and long story short, we are cousins. :D No wonder why we get along so well. :) So that is fun! Can't you see the resemblance?? :P
Anywho, I'd better be off, but I love you all so very much. Thank you for your prayers, love and constant support! I know without a doubt that this church is true, that we are lead by a prophet of God, and that Christ lives. We are so blessed! How wonderful it is to live in such a marvelous time. :)
Con mucho cariño,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
I have lots of thoughts on conference talks and the Articles of Faith that I am looking forward to sharing next week, but for this week I have got to run! I am so sorry! But I was so excited to hear that you are all starting to memorize and study the Articles of Faith again! I have memorized 1 through 4 in spanish this week...but need to keep reviewing them. I even used them in lessons, which was cool and definitely a testimony builder that as we study, the words will be given to us in the precise moment that we need them. :)
I am not sure the significance of Cerro la Cruz, but maybe I should ask... Most northern Chilean cities have them, but I think it's a protection/Catholic tradition.... That's my pure guess. :) It was just like climbing to the Y, but it was a fun, short little hike. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss hiking... :P It was fun! :) I would teleport to the top if it were possible too, Dad. :)
Working with less actives is going ok, and we seem to find many more every day. I think most of Chile is inactive. :) It seems like they are all pretty stubborn, and we have tried everything up our sleeves to get them back to church, but with little progress to show for it... If you have any suggestions they would be GREATLY appreciated. :) If you get a second too Dad, I would love it if you could share a couple mission stories. :) I just thought of that, and how I would love to hear. :) How are the ward missionaries doing? What are their names? And do you go out on visits with them ever? I know we LOVE that when members just go with us for a couple hours. :) Just a thought. :)
I loved the thought as well about the Provo Tabernacle/Temple. I cannot wait for that. I get chills every time I reread that story. It is a miracle, and shows us definitely that everything is on the Lord's time table and in His design. Thank you for sharing that thought!
I didn't know about Shannon falling, and WITH TWINS!! I loved that little song though. :) Tell her I'm thinking about her and praying for her. I love her lots. :) I sent a little note for her in the family letter I sent a couple weeks ago. :) Poor girl.... I am glad a little cute family moved in across the street!! How old are their kids?? Love it. :) And I am SO happy you all went to the temple this weekend!! I miss it so very very very much. Words cannot express. :) We are truly SO blessed to have SO many SO close. I am glad you all got to go together. :) Also, you mentioned the Shurtz names you did, and speaking of which, how is the Peter Shirts work going? Any new updates lately? I've been thinking about Elder Davies and wondering how he's been! Send my love!
Kay!! I've got to run!! Next week should be full of stories and pictures of the little hijita. :) I love you both so very much! I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I guess I can ask next week! :)
All my love,
Kristen
P.S. OH! Mom can you send the homemade oreo recipe (I found devil's food cake mix!!) :P
Monday, January 6, 2014
Vale la Pena :)
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| Hermana Tuft brushing her teeth atop Cerra la Cruz 6 Jan 2014. She and her Dad climb to the top of the highest mountain and brush their teeth. |
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| Hermana Tuft with her District on top of Cerra la Cruz |
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| Hermana Kami Severtson and Hermana Kristen Tuft |
It's been an absolutely great week to start off the new year! Things have FLOWN by is all, but life is great and we're still alive in this awful heat. Por lo menos. :P But I am also super happy to hear you're all alive and surviving the freezing cold! Everyone here has been talking about how awful it's been in los Estados cold-wise the past week or so... Wish I could say the same honestly. :) But we are so happy! Because guess whaattt!
We found an absolutely amazing investigator this past week and she is getting baptized in a couple weeks! Her name is Isabel (she's the lady that we will be renting our house from) and she is just fantastic. She has had a really, really hard life, especially the past year or so with lots of family trials. She lives alone, and as we went over last Monday to do our contract stuff for the new pension, she asked us what we did and what we taught. It kind of took us a little off guard, because we were planning on having a quick lesson with her after, but she asked us as we were filling out the papers. We taught the first lesson and she started to cry. She was just so happy and felt that peace and love that she has been looking for. She accepted the baptism invitation and was just beaming. She came to church yesterday, loved it, and come to find out she knows quite a few ward members already from just living here in Copiapó her whole life. It was just such a beautiful miracle that we were blessed with this past week. I have been so excited (haha since last Monday night... :P) to share her story. Obviously it's only just begun, but we felt so very blessed to be a part of that beginning.
In other news, we have been working a LOT this past week with less actives and their families. It's been incredible to see the change that the less actives have made to make it possible for their families as well to receive this gospel. We still have a long way to go, but families truly are forever, and that's what we are here for, as missionaries, to help others become families for time and all eternity. I feel so deeply blessed to be sealed to my family and that I can live with them forever. How incredible it is that we live in this, the fulness of times, with the fulness of the gospel here upon the earth.
For New Year's Eve, we ate with a family here in the ward, the 4 of us missionaries. They are a great family! Hermana Maria Lydia and her husband, Claudio, have been on a mission and are getting ready to go again soon. They are such wonderful helps to us as missionaries, and are wonderful examples as well to the ward. We ate dinner with them, and then headed back to the pension. Hermana Severtson and I were up until just a few minutes after midnight in order to see the fun fireworks. New Year's day was just a normal day. :) We did change our district meeting again for this last week to Wednesday, so that was helpful, knowing that everyone was sleeping. :) (Our neighbors even went to bed, so we did actually get a great night's sleep! :P)
I'd better be running this week, but I just wanted to share my testimony that I know that this church is absolutely true. There is no doubt in my mind, and the gospel has brought such light and happiness into my life, and the life of those that I have had the oportunity to share it with. Sometimes the road might seem hard, but His yoke is easy and His burden is light, all we need to do is put our trust and faith in Him. He suffered for us all, but He also knows the things that bring us happiness and joy, and is just waiting for us to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Christ lives and loves us. I know that to be absolutely true.
All my love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
Thank you for your letters and spiritual thoughts this week! I loved reading through that beautiful primary song and reading the couple thoughts from the Priesthood session of conference. I remember singing that song in Primary, and reading back through it brought back some of those memories and also had more meaning these days. I couldn't help but tie the 2 thoughts together, about Dad saying Christ is always there to help us get back up, with his hand outstretched and saying, "You can do it now!" Our invitation every day is to "Live like His Son," and we can only do that as we accept His loving hand to help us get back up. The Atonement of Jesus Christ continues to bring more and more meaning into my life. Although I will never fully comprehend it, I can learn so much and apply His sacrifice daily. So thank you for your thoughts!! Every week they help me more and more. :)
I'm so happy to hear that all went well with the New Year, that you stayed up late and had a great time with the family. :) That's what it's all about, right? :) Little Audrey is just growing up so very fast!! Tell Lindsay and Spencer too, to just relax a little, and enjoy the ride. Not to get lazy, but just to be happy DURING, not just AFTER the work is done. :) Any new news with the mission papers, Spencer?? I'd better run cause I want to get a few pictures sent too, but I love you both so very much. Thank you for all the love, support, and patience with your little Chilena. :) You are both the very best. Pero enserio. :)
I'm so happy to hear that all went well with the New Year, that you stayed up late and had a great time with the family. :) That's what it's all about, right? :) Little Audrey is just growing up so very fast!! Tell Lindsay and Spencer too, to just relax a little, and enjoy the ride. Not to get lazy, but just to be happy DURING, not just AFTER the work is done. :) Any new news with the mission papers, Spencer?? I'd better run cause I want to get a few pictures sent too, but I love you both so very much. Thank you for all the love, support, and patience with your little Chilena. :) You are both the very best. Pero enserio. :)
Thank you for all the pictures! I loved them lotttsss. :) It's
also great to have an update of the friends :D I am SO excited for
Megan Marchbanks!! FUN!!! Both the Megans are in Washington....hahaha
:)
To the sun, the moon, the stars, and back,
Kristen
P.S. I just thought we could both keep a little check up on each other, as you all are memorizing the Articles of Faith, I'll keep asking you if you'll keep asking me... Just a little bit of motivation for the both of us... :) I'm hoping to do at least 1 through 3 memorized this week... :) LOVE YOU!!!
To the sun, the moon, the stars, and back,
Kristen
P.S. I just thought we could both keep a little check up on each other, as you all are memorizing the Articles of Faith, I'll keep asking you if you'll keep asking me... Just a little bit of motivation for the both of us... :) I'm hoping to do at least 1 through 3 memorized this week... :) LOVE YOU!!!
Monday, December 30, 2013
¡Feliz año nuevo!
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¡Feliz año nuevo! It's so absolutely INSANE to me that it's going to be 2014 in 2 days.... Where did 2013 fly?? But I can honestly say it's been one of the most insane and best years ever, and I look even more forward to the adventures of 2014. I hope you all do too! :) I've been thinking about new years resolutions, but as of today.... I don't have any.... One more day! :)
New Year's will be a lot like the Christmas celebration around here, but this time it will involve a lot more fireworks and dance parties. So that will be interesting! We're excited. Hahaha not really...we might not be getting much sleep tomorrow night.... :) Christmas though is more family involved, and New Year's is more friends/partyish. Much like it is back there at home. (Have fun at the neon dance Spencer and Lindsay!!) :)
The week ended absolutely fantastic. It has been SO much hotter the past couple weeks, but we're loving the work and we are seeing lots of progress. By small and simple things great things truly are brought to pass. One thing that we actually have set as a New Year's resolution is to memorize the Articles of Faith in Spanish. We have been studying them a lot lately, and sharing their simple but profound teachings with a lot of members, and less actives as well. I actually had an Article of Faith pass-along card the other day and someone asked what we believed, so we shared with her, and then I gave that card to her. The Articles of Faith truly are powerful teaching tools, so that has been a testimony for me that yes, all Primary kids should definitely learn them and then keep studying them as well. I don't think I've actually studied them since Primary, as bad as that sounds.... So that's the weekly challenge for you all! :) Just take a few minutes to go back through and read and study the Articles of Faith. :) I know there will be things learned and greater understanding gained.
Something fun I wanted to share was from a lesson we had last night with our ward mission leader, his wife, and their cute little primary kid. We talked about the story in Luke 10:38-42 (I'm pretty sure that's the reference....) with Mary and Martha, and how we must choose the better part, as Christ explains. It is a great reminder that sometimes we overlook the most important things and say, "Oh, I can read my scriptures later," or "I'll just go to that one hour of church," and we justify. Martha was cleaning her house, probably just because she knew that was what she needed to get done that day, but she didn't stop when the Savior stopped by to teach them. It made me just wonder if we stop to do those little things every day. Do we allow Christ to teach us, to heal us, to make us better than we were the day before? Do we choose "the better part" on a daily basis?
We finished up the lesson, and as we were about to sing a closing song, we asked if there was anything we could help them with. Their 9 year old son, Benjamin, jumped out of his chair, got really excited, and then 2 seconds later, sat down embarrassed. We asked him what is was we could do for him. (It seriously was just the cutest little moment of excitement, and then pure shyness. :)) He had his head down, and shyly said, "Well, I was just wondering if you guys could write the prophet and ask him to send me a Book of Mormon for my friend...." It was just the sweetest little experience. :) So, we told him we could definitely set things up for him to get a Book of Mormon to his friend. :)
It's truly been another great week here in Chañarcillo. :) This work is absolutely incredible and I am so very grateful for this chance I have to be here on the Lord's errand, to be here with my wonderful companion, and to be learning and growing so very much every day. The work continues to go forth, and He truly is hastening this work. I know this church is true, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in our lives.
All my love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!! :)
Can I just say it was a lot of fun to chat with you all for a few minutes last week?? :) That was a fun little Christmas present for me. :) I also am SO very grateful for the package and all the goodies and beautiful clothes you sent. Thank you SO much. :) Hermana Severtson and I were feeling like very spoiled little missionaries on Christmas morning... Thank you. :)
I am also so very grateful for the chance that I had to talk to Grandpa and Grandma for a little bit. I will forever remember that experience, and it is well written in my journal. :) I want to write them and ask them if they could both write and then email/or even mail... their testimonies to me... I would love and cherish that forever. They both look like they are doing well and are happy. I hope and pray that all continues to go well for their health, and most of all that Grandpa will stay happy and alert, and not be in pain. Cancer is something I loathe so very much, and I wish someone could find a cure, but until that day I will just have to sit back and be patient, and know that above all else, God is in control, and He truly is our loving and merciful Heavenly Father. Thank you once again for running up there for the afternoon and getting things set up so that we could talk for a little bit. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! :)
Also, I sent a letter this morning...hahaha for Christmas.... Just a little late, but keep a look out for that. :) We also talked to Elba this week, so she wrote a quick note for her missionaries that I put in there... :) Those names don't sound familiar, although there are a million Villarroel's here in Chile, so I will watch and look around for those 3 people. :) Aaand my carnet is just a few papers, my visa, and a picture, and no it's just a temporary thing.... But still. It gives me a Chilean ID number....so I FEEL Chilean... :D Maybe it's just to make us feel good... :) So no, I could not stay the rest of my life, sadly enough.... ALTHOUGH. Apparently the governments are changing that rule, so you'll not have to have a huge fee between Chile and the US when you fly in and are from one of the 2... Fun stuff. That means I'll be able to come back as much as I want!!! Hahaha just kidding. :P
Hey really quick.... Please tell Kaisa and her husband congrats for me and take pictures. :) I love her lots! And any news about MMarchy and her mission calll.....? Alsooo crazy that Chaz gets back this month!! Aaand how are Ash, Jenn, and Kajsia doing?? Maybe you could do a little fb stalk for me.... Weird how I have more contact with friends in the mission than with those at home... :) I love you both so very much! Thank you for your love and support and for everything you do, your thoughts you share with me, prayers, concern, etc. :) I love you both LOTS!!
Con mucho amor,
Kristen
Monday, December 23, 2013
¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!
Hello hello!
It's been an awesome week and we are very excited for the week to come! Everyone is just full of happy Christmas cheer. :) We have had a week LLENO of Christmas activities, and more this week. But I absolutely love it. We go home every night just absolutely exhausted, so I just wrote for the first time all week about it in my journal.... (I used to do so good writing every night, but these past few days has been not the best....) So I decided to just do a run through kinda like I did in my journal... :)
Okie dokie. So Tuesday morning we had our district meeting and we practiced a little bit as a zone for Thursday's singing at the hospital. We were having a great lesson at about 9ish that night, and the lights turned off!! Haha so turns out that Copiapó had a black out from all the Christmas lights so the electricity just went off... There are a lot of lights... :) We were having a lesson with a girl named Tamara. She's up here for school, but is from Rancagua. So we've been teaching her and she actually leaves tomorrow for summer break... :( She won't come back until Marchish, BUT I am going to ask for her address and send it to Kenna. How cool would that be if Kenna was in her ward... :) Anywho. She is great and progressing great. We are leaving her with a Book of Mormon tonight, so we hope she'll read it this summer and get her in touch with the missionaries down there. :)
Thursday we went to get my carnet! I will officially be Chilean soon. :) That afternoon we went to the hospital with the zone and sang to the little kids, and sang a couple songs on every floor of the hospital. That was fun to bring a little Christmas cheer to those people in the hospital at this time. :) We had a lesson that night with Andrea, and she is progressing slowly but surely. She knows there is something different about the church and we explained that feeling she always feels with us is the Spirit, and that she can have it with her all the time. She wants to know if it's true, but she just needs to pray... So we're planning on doing an activity with their family to do prayer rocks this week. Keep her in your prayers please. :)
On Friday, we did service in the morning for a new investigator and her daughter. She has Parkinson's so it's hard for her to get around much, and her daughter is in a wheelchair. She was so very grateful, and we were grateful to help. We have been excited to meet and start working with them. :) Then we had intercambios with our sister training leaders that afternoon until Saturday morning. We had a great time! I was with Hna Brewster (from Salt Lake) and Hna Severtson went to their sector to be with Hna Delgado. We went to visit a couple who have been investigating for about a year or more. Missionaries stop by every once and a while, but not consistently. When we planned on Thursday night, Hna Severtson and I both felt like we should visit them. So we did and Hna Brewster and I stopped by. It was a missionary moment that I will never forget. The Spirit was so strong and I just felt such peace as we retaught the first lesson. They normally have TONS of questions, but after we finished, they just both sat there and stared at us... I kinda thought for a second they hadn't understood a single word that we had just said, but they did and they just smiled. They said they have never understood Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon very well until then, but the time was right and the Spirit was able to work through us. It was a very special experience!
Sunday we sang again in the plaza, and with both zones here in Copiapó this time, so that was another fun thing and then we did contacts until it was time to go to the rebroadcast of the Christmas First Presidency Devotional. That was a great meeting. I loved how someone talked about how Christ could have come in a manger of gold, but he came in a humble pesebre, showing us that it's the things that don't necessarily have much worth, in means of money and riches, that have the most worth in our lives.
Another thought that I loved was that we can all go on our own spiritual journey to Bethlehem. It is so incredible that the wise men could follow a star in order to find the newly born Son of God. We have the same "star" in our lives. It's also the same fruit that Lehi partook of in his dream, and it is the same star that Nefi saw when he asked of the significance of the fruit. The love of God is His Son, Jesus Christ. I hope that all get the chance to read the Christmas story in the Bible, and in the Book of Mormon as well. How beautiful is this time of the year!
Sé que esta iglesia es verdadera y que Jesuscristo vive. Este tiempo del año es lo más precioso, y me encanta que yo esté aqui en Chile. Estoy super agradecida que tenga la oportunidad a compartir estas nuevas de gran gozo con todos. Espero que todos puedan hacer lo mismo, especialmente en eses tiempos de la Navidad. Les quiero MUCHO y que tengan un Navidad super felices. :)
(I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives. This time of year is the most precious, and I love that I am here in Chile. I'm super grateful to have the opportunity to share these tidings of great joy to all. I hope everyone can do the same, especially in times such as Christmas. I love you A LOT and hope you have a super happy Christmas. :))
Con todo amor,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
I was so sad to hear about Sister Elaine Staheli.... I hope their family is doing okay. She had a hard go these past few years though. I am very happy to know that she is no longer in pain. It sounds like you've all had a very busy and fun week! I'm glad to hear about Lindsay's arm doing a little better and that Spencer's concert went well. :) I also am very excited to talk to you all on Wednesday! I hope that 1 your time will be okay! I haven't gotten anything back from Mom yet.... My excitement though will not get in the way of the work though, I promise. There's too much to do and too little time. :) Thank you for talking to Elders Manning y Fenn Mom! We'll be awaiting his letter. :) I loved that story too Dad, of that missionary story in the Ensign. That is just what I needed to read. There are discouraging moments, but when I keep stories like that in mind, I feel like my efforts might be farther reaching than I realize. :) YAY also that all that Uncle Mark stuff is dealt with!! :) Merry Christmas Mom! :) Also, your story Dad, reminded me of going to the hospital to sing to the kids this week! That would be so fun to read to them! Unfortunately, the hospital is in another sector... :( Maybe one day. :) We have not moved into our new house, just random side note. :P Someday... :) We also had a GREAT less active and brownie giving experience... :) I might have to share that on Wednesday if you remind me. :) I will definitely want to see the snow too! So save a little for me... :P I love you both so very much! Talk to you soon!! :)
All my love,
Kristen
P.S. Freaked me out that picture of Kaisa in a wedding dress.....whattttt? So happy for her though!! :) And Jaden and Carolina! Fun stuff. :) Thanks for the pic!!
It's been an awesome week and we are very excited for the week to come! Everyone is just full of happy Christmas cheer. :) We have had a week LLENO of Christmas activities, and more this week. But I absolutely love it. We go home every night just absolutely exhausted, so I just wrote for the first time all week about it in my journal.... (I used to do so good writing every night, but these past few days has been not the best....) So I decided to just do a run through kinda like I did in my journal... :)
Okie dokie. So Tuesday morning we had our district meeting and we practiced a little bit as a zone for Thursday's singing at the hospital. We were having a great lesson at about 9ish that night, and the lights turned off!! Haha so turns out that Copiapó had a black out from all the Christmas lights so the electricity just went off... There are a lot of lights... :) We were having a lesson with a girl named Tamara. She's up here for school, but is from Rancagua. So we've been teaching her and she actually leaves tomorrow for summer break... :( She won't come back until Marchish, BUT I am going to ask for her address and send it to Kenna. How cool would that be if Kenna was in her ward... :) Anywho. She is great and progressing great. We are leaving her with a Book of Mormon tonight, so we hope she'll read it this summer and get her in touch with the missionaries down there. :)
Thursday we went to get my carnet! I will officially be Chilean soon. :) That afternoon we went to the hospital with the zone and sang to the little kids, and sang a couple songs on every floor of the hospital. That was fun to bring a little Christmas cheer to those people in the hospital at this time. :) We had a lesson that night with Andrea, and she is progressing slowly but surely. She knows there is something different about the church and we explained that feeling she always feels with us is the Spirit, and that she can have it with her all the time. She wants to know if it's true, but she just needs to pray... So we're planning on doing an activity with their family to do prayer rocks this week. Keep her in your prayers please. :)
On Friday, we did service in the morning for a new investigator and her daughter. She has Parkinson's so it's hard for her to get around much, and her daughter is in a wheelchair. She was so very grateful, and we were grateful to help. We have been excited to meet and start working with them. :) Then we had intercambios with our sister training leaders that afternoon until Saturday morning. We had a great time! I was with Hna Brewster (from Salt Lake) and Hna Severtson went to their sector to be with Hna Delgado. We went to visit a couple who have been investigating for about a year or more. Missionaries stop by every once and a while, but not consistently. When we planned on Thursday night, Hna Severtson and I both felt like we should visit them. So we did and Hna Brewster and I stopped by. It was a missionary moment that I will never forget. The Spirit was so strong and I just felt such peace as we retaught the first lesson. They normally have TONS of questions, but after we finished, they just both sat there and stared at us... I kinda thought for a second they hadn't understood a single word that we had just said, but they did and they just smiled. They said they have never understood Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon very well until then, but the time was right and the Spirit was able to work through us. It was a very special experience!
Sunday we sang again in the plaza, and with both zones here in Copiapó this time, so that was another fun thing and then we did contacts until it was time to go to the rebroadcast of the Christmas First Presidency Devotional. That was a great meeting. I loved how someone talked about how Christ could have come in a manger of gold, but he came in a humble pesebre, showing us that it's the things that don't necessarily have much worth, in means of money and riches, that have the most worth in our lives.
Another thought that I loved was that we can all go on our own spiritual journey to Bethlehem. It is so incredible that the wise men could follow a star in order to find the newly born Son of God. We have the same "star" in our lives. It's also the same fruit that Lehi partook of in his dream, and it is the same star that Nefi saw when he asked of the significance of the fruit. The love of God is His Son, Jesus Christ. I hope that all get the chance to read the Christmas story in the Bible, and in the Book of Mormon as well. How beautiful is this time of the year!
Sé que esta iglesia es verdadera y que Jesuscristo vive. Este tiempo del año es lo más precioso, y me encanta que yo esté aqui en Chile. Estoy super agradecida que tenga la oportunidad a compartir estas nuevas de gran gozo con todos. Espero que todos puedan hacer lo mismo, especialmente en eses tiempos de la Navidad. Les quiero MUCHO y que tengan un Navidad super felices. :)
(I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives. This time of year is the most precious, and I love that I am here in Chile. I'm super grateful to have the opportunity to share these tidings of great joy to all. I hope everyone can do the same, especially in times such as Christmas. I love you A LOT and hope you have a super happy Christmas. :))
Con todo amor,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!
I was so sad to hear about Sister Elaine Staheli.... I hope their family is doing okay. She had a hard go these past few years though. I am very happy to know that she is no longer in pain. It sounds like you've all had a very busy and fun week! I'm glad to hear about Lindsay's arm doing a little better and that Spencer's concert went well. :) I also am very excited to talk to you all on Wednesday! I hope that 1 your time will be okay! I haven't gotten anything back from Mom yet.... My excitement though will not get in the way of the work though, I promise. There's too much to do and too little time. :) Thank you for talking to Elders Manning y Fenn Mom! We'll be awaiting his letter. :) I loved that story too Dad, of that missionary story in the Ensign. That is just what I needed to read. There are discouraging moments, but when I keep stories like that in mind, I feel like my efforts might be farther reaching than I realize. :) YAY also that all that Uncle Mark stuff is dealt with!! :) Merry Christmas Mom! :) Also, your story Dad, reminded me of going to the hospital to sing to the kids this week! That would be so fun to read to them! Unfortunately, the hospital is in another sector... :( Maybe one day. :) We have not moved into our new house, just random side note. :P Someday... :) We also had a GREAT less active and brownie giving experience... :) I might have to share that on Wednesday if you remind me. :) I will definitely want to see the snow too! So save a little for me... :P I love you both so very much! Talk to you soon!! :)
All my love,
Kristen
P.S. Freaked me out that picture of Kaisa in a wedding dress.....whattttt? So happy for her though!! :) And Jaden and Carolina! Fun stuff. :) Thanks for the pic!!
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