The 2 Sickies, and Father's Day!

16 June 2014

Hellooo!

What a week. :) It's been crazy, but great. One thing that has not been so great for us missionaries here in South America ..... is the World Cup. Psh. Can I say that on Friday, when Chile played .... Calama errupted in applause and we heard shouting "GOOOOAAALLL!" of the 3 goals we did. Wahoo for Chile! : D Needless to say .... we were on the street walking down the empty streets and knocking on doors .... where no one answered ....: P Bahaha. Two more weeks is all. : P But it has really been a great week. :)

I have a lot of news regarding our investigators....:. (They've gone a bit underground and became ill and this and that, but we will not surrender and we are finding continuously, so that is the important thing. :) We have three new families this week, so we're very pleased to start working with them. Ana Maria is one of them, and she's been here in Calama from Bolivia for about three years. This past month, she lost her baby, and has been very upset and sad about it. Luckily, one of her co-workers from another neighborhood gave us her contact and we got right on it. We talked a little about the Plan of Salvation, and she seems genuinely interested and excited to learn.

The other family that we are teaching is a Colombian family that has been here for 8 years. The story about obedience is good. :) So we were doing a lot of walking, as mentioned above ... :), and we were crossing a busy street when I saw Mum (Luz) turning her head to look at us and smiled once hugeee smile. I smiled back, and started to walk away, but the Spirit said otherwise and we ended up almost running in the other direction to catch up with her and talk to her. Not many people smile at us, let alone cross a busy street. So she gave us her address and we stopped by this weekend. We arrived at her house and her husband opened the door and I'm not going to lie, I was preeetty intimidated. I mumbled something in Spanish, and her daughter (whose name is also Luz) went to go see if she was available. And she was not, but we happened to explain why we were there, and the father (Stephen) left. I thought he just left us there to talk to her daughter, but when he returned, he had a smile on his face and said: "Come in." WOOHOO! :) I was so glad that day. So we are excited to start working with them. They are Baptists, and I've never taught a Baptist, nor do I know what they believe... but I'm sure Hna. Albornoz and I will be learning a lot. :)

This weekend Hna Albornoz and I have also been pretty sick. The members are so loving and feed us a lot and then we ate while our small stomachs could not handle it. Sister Albornoz was vomiting all night last night, poor thing... So we're taking it easy and have to get back on track. Thus, "The 2 sickies." :)

This week I was studying in Mosiah 18. It was so interesting, because I’ve read that chapter a million times in my life, but it's really amazing how much more we can learn every time we read the scriptures and understand different things. :) I was very touched by the love that Alma had for the people he was teaching, and also by his drastic change of heart after hearing from Abinadi. Just as he is teaching things he heard Abinadi taught many people, and secretly, he heard the covenants we make when we are baptized by someone with the authority of God, and it says in the scripture that they "clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts!" I loved it.. They were sooo excited to be baptized they began rejoicing saying. "Yes, this is what my heart truly desires." I thought a lot about that as I took the Sacrament yesterday. How many times in my life have I gotten so excited to take the sacrament and renew my baptismal covenants and have rejoiced when Sunday comes? It made me think about the importance of the Sacrament and the true desires of my heart. How important it is for us to have the opportunity each week to renew these covenants we have made with our Heavenly Father, that He may have his Spirit more abundantly upon us!

And with that ... I just wanted to thank my parents, since it was Father's Day yesterday. I have been very blessed to have such a wonderful and loving earthly father who teaches, loves and shows me such a wonderful example. I am also very grateful to the Father of us all, our Heavenly Father. What a blessing to know that He hears and answers all our prayers. What a blessing to know that we are his children, and through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, we are saved and brought back into His presence, and hopefully, we can continue our eternal life with Him and our earthly families. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know it's true!

With lots of love from Calama,
Hermana Tuft
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Hi Mom and Dad!

I loved reading your emails and watching all the adventures that you have had the last week! : D I was thinking of you all on Tuesday as I was falling asleep, going through the temple, step by step next to you all. :) I really am very blessed to have had the opportunity to go to the temple many times before leaving. I never regret it. Spencer will be able to go once a transfer it looks like, so he still have that opportunity to go and remember the blessings and covenants there. I am very glad that you had a great week! :)

As things go with Denice and Andrew, we are still working on them .... We will call the Maples family this week to see if the sister can help us a little along those lines ... Our Sacrament meeting was FANTASTIC yesterday and the members were excited and loving, etc is really difficult here in Calama to work with members, since most of them have a rather complicated work schedule or are studying, so it's complicated things a lot, but we're working on it. A sister told us last week: "All we need as a ward in North Central, is a shot of love." :) So we're working on a "shot of love." :) Keep us in your prayers. :)

I was excited to hear about the missionary sister invited everyone to think of a friend, etc. who needs this message. That's what this life is about. It's all in who you know. :D I would love to hear your comments, and which you have been thinking. :) There is always someone. :)

I don't know why, but it's translating EVERYTHING into Spanish....so if you get this in Spanish, soooo sorry..... That's so fun that Spencer went through the temple with someone who's coming to my mission.  If I train again....I might get to meet him.... Bakan. :D  Are there many things that you'll both be doing as far as last minute preparations, or is he pretty set??  I am SHOCKED that he's already leavingggg.  Freaks me out how fast time is fllyyyyinggg. I wish you all calm nerves and happiness as you get everything ready this week. :)  

I had better get running.  We're headed to Tocopilla tonight with the zone leaders (hahahaaa Mom I don't think I mentioned this, but Elder Funaro is our zone leader here in Calama and he says HI to the best mom in the world for sending so many goodies to the poor MTC missionaries. :P)  And we'll get back on Wednesday afternoon.  Oh!  The pictures of all of us leaders in Antofa is just a meeting we have the first Thursday of each month and we talk about how we can improve as missionaries and new rules for the mission...  And then with what President and Sister Dalton teach us, and the Assistants, we go and teach/talk about that in a zone meeting and because Tocopilla is so far away, we go to see them while we are down here too. Yep.  That's it. :D   

I love you both LOADS and pray for you lots.  I hope that Grandpa continues to do great and improve lots and that they all keep their spirits up there. :)  How blessed we are to have this Gospel in our lives.  AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY, AND TO GRANDPA!!! I love you lots and thank you for being the example of a good dad in my life.  There are so many people down here that don't even know their dads, so to know mine and know that you are a worthy Priesthood holder and that together, you and Mom help lead and guide our family is such a blessing and a miracle in my life.  :)  

Sending lots of smiles, abrazitos, and a little shell from Ariel with my voice cantando MUCHO para uds, (The family went to Tuacahn to see Little Mermaid while in St. George last week, so that is Kristen's reference to her VOICE and Ariel.)

Hermanita Kristen

El Monte del Señor

Hnas Cassi Smith, Kristen Tuft, Albornoz and Zollinger

Hnas Zollinger, Tuft and Albornoz

Hna Kristen Tuft doing 'I don't know what.' :)

Hna Kristen Tuft at the end of the Andes dusted with snow.

Kristen at the flag/shirt store trying to decide which one to buy???

Hello again!

Truly....the week fleeeewww by. We've been keeping pretty busy, and I loveee it. :D It's incredible how we ask the Lord to bless us with strength to help us get through the day, and He truly does! When we get home, we plan and just about crash into bed. It's been a great week. :)

This week has truly been a learning and growing week. Hermana Albornoz is fantastic and we have been learning so much here in Calama. I think what we have learned most is the importance of prayer and diligence. Truly with hard work, the Lord sees our efforts and can and will work many mighty miracles. :) My testimony has grown incredibly this week, and truly we have been blessed with many miracles. I wish I could share them all with you....

Monday and Tuesday were a little bit rough, but it truly helped us learn and be so very grateful for the rest of the week. And when I say rough, it's just that we did lots of walking and contacting and such. BUT Wednesday, when we were at our most humble point, the Lord gave us 2 beautiful miracles. We found a family of 6 from a reference from the stake president's family and they let us in and said we could come back, and we were super happy and feeling greatly loved by the Lord. Then, (okay quick little story, in all my 2 months here in Calama, we have stopped by she has alwaysss told us through the door that she's sick and can't open....) we stopped by her house and she let us in and let us do a quick little service. Do you realize the miracle that that is??? :D So we were feeling pretty happy. :)

And then Thursday we headed to Antofa for our leadership meeting and received a lot of answers and consuelo. It wasn't anything new but it was what I needed and the whole time I just felt an overwhelming feeling of love. Truly it was incredible. Y así fue el resto de la semana. :D To top it all off, the ward got back from the temple and we had an incredible sacrament meeting. The youth and a couple of the adults that went shared their testimonies and it was beautiful. I truly am soo grateful for the temple. Although we don't have the chance to go during the mission, I feel like the Lord has blessed me to be in the ward when they do get to go. In every ward I've been in, they have gone to the temple and we have had the chance to be strengthened by their testimonies and feel of the Spirit that they bring back. We truly are so very blessed to have temples of the Lord here on the earth today. As Isaiah prophesied,

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains,and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

I feel very extraordinarily blessed to be a daughter of God here on the earth today, to be a representative of Him, to bring His word and His gospel to the people of Chile. I know that this church is absolutely true. There is zero doubt in my mind, and I promise that if we put Him first in our lives, it all falls into place. The trials don't go away, but we become strengthened through them because we know that He is our Captain. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Christ. I know that He lives and I know that our Heavenly Father loves us, because He sent His Son.

Wishing you all a fantastic week. :D
Con amor,
Hermanita Tuft
======================
Hello Mom and Dad!

It sounds like it has been quite a week for you all! Firstly, I just want to thank you for your prayers; I don't know if you've been praying harder for me this past week or not, but I felt your prayers and I felt your love in a way I never thought possible... I wish I could explain it well enough, but truly I felt of your love and prayers and support.

With that being said, :) can I just say I am so happy for the things you are doing! The garden, getting ready for the family trip, Home Teaching, SPLITS :D, mission prep, going to the temple, yep. Everything. :) Please tell Shanny hello for me and give her a big hug before she heads back! They are in my prayers. :) Also, I was very glad to hear that despite all that has happened, Grandpa and Grandma are staying positive and that they are keeping it in the Lord's hands. I cannot imagine all the hardship that they have been through the past 7 months, but it is in the Lord's hands and that is the most important. Please send my love and support and let them know that they are constantly in my prayers.

I just wanted to let you know I'm on board to go help out in Honduras if everything works out okay. :D I would looove that. Speaking of that, it also made me think of the importance that these last 5 months will be for me to focus and do all that I can to help in this work....so if we could keep the "trunky" thoughts to a minimum I would love that.... :) AND with that being said, Hna Severtson ends next transfer, o sea, the middle of August. Hna Matias and Hna Albornoz end in September. :)

Things with Denice have been a little rough this week.... Her husband forbade her and her kids to go to church, and that has been a little bit of a big road bump for what she is willing to do to progress and learn.... DAH. Husbands of investigators have been the hardest to work with. And we do try working with them, but they truly want nothing to do with us.... So please keep them in your prayers, and if you could put their names (Denice and Andres Gonzalez) in the temple, I would be very appreciative. :) BUT WE WILL NOT GIVE UP. :D They're too special to just "let go"... The apple pie was as American as it could get in Chile. :P It turned out great though! The thing is though, is that the Chileans have lots of "Gringo" traditions, including apple pie... But it was really good! :) I had to laugh, Dad, because we can buy root beer in a couple places, but it's VERY rare, because the Latinos also think it tastes like cough medicine.... Not sure what their cough medicine tastes like, but if it's root beer flavored I might like to try it some day... :P Jajaja :) I have been feeling great, and we've been keeping pretty warm. We have discovered what you said about stomping your feet to keep the blood circulating incredibly helpful, however. :) Hermana Albornoz is also doing great. :D We are seeing so many miracles and learning so much together. :) I love being a missionary. :D

Okie dokie. I'd better head out, but I love you both LOADS. I thank you for the time and love you put into your letters. I think Tuesdays you both must walk around like zombies for staying up so late writing me, but thank you. :) (How are you going to do it with two of us....?! :)) I put more pictures on skydrive and I will try my card again. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. Just depends on where I'm at I guess... Thank you!

All my love and felicidad por lo que vendrá esta semana!! I'll be thinking of you all tomorrow night in the temple. :D

Loves,
Kristen

Apple Pie...and a bit of FRIO. :D

Kristen Tuft doing what she loves! Baking! She's making an apple pie to take to an investigator to use as an object lesson.

​

Kristen bowling - what a goon child! ;)   (I miss her MADLY!)

Kristen with the final product! (It's beautiful!)

Hnas Zollinger (from AZ) and Albornoz (from Argentina)

Hna Smith (from Idaho) bowling on p-day.

2 June 2014
Hello from Calama!

It's been quite the week. :) It's been great seeing miracles and growing and learning LOTS and loving the cold weather. :) Calama's so strange... It's FREEZING cold at night, and from about 11 to 5 it's burning hot and you need sunscreen.... Very strange. But this girl's used to strange Utah weather....but still. Strange. :)

We've had a lot of great experiences this week, but most of all I wanted to share about our Paraguayan family. :) So on Wednesday, we had the family night planned and we both felt so great about it all day. When we got there, the house was FULL of people. There was the family that gave us the reference (of 4) and then Denise (the mom) and her 5 kids. And then us two. So there was a full house. :) Denise's husband was working, so he couldn't join us, but we had a great lesson in the which we shared our testimonies and explained our purpose as missionaries. The family that gave us the reference (the Arce's) are from a different ward, but they are fantastic. They are both returned missionaries, and as they were bearing their testimonies the Spirit was so strong. It was a short little visit, but we went back on Thursday and had a good first lesson.

On Friday, it was her son, Alejandro's birthday. So we decided we would use all our apples that were in our fridge and made an apple pie for him, and for the lesson. :) With 5 kids from ages 3 to 13, we're getting a little bit creative. :) And the pie turned out GREAT! Por fin we made an apple pie. :) As we taught the lesson, we talked a lot about all the necessary "ingredients" that the Church of Jesus Christ requires. Those ingredients being prophets, apostles, the priesthood, and revelation. We compared that to the apple pie, and how if you don't have the crust, or the sugar, or the apples, etc, you can't make a good pie. And so it is (a little bit... :)) with the Church of Jesus Christ! :) It turned out to be a great object lesson, and the kids enjoyed eating the pie afterwards. Bueno, nosotras igual... :D

Denise and her family have been here in Chile for about 8 years. They moved here for her husband's work, and they've had quite a rough story. But the good thing is, they are married :) and they are a happy, humble little family. Denise has been very prepared to hear and accept the gospel in her life, but please keep her husband in your prayers. He's more duro en ese sentido... They will need all the prayers they can get. BUT they are a fantastic family and we're so blessed and grateful to get to work with them. :)​

I also was studying this morning in 2 Nefi 28, and verse 30 really caught my attention. It says:

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

I have read that scripture a million times, but this morning it had a lot more meaning. As we lend an ear to the counsel of the Lord, He will give us wisdom. But as we say, "Naw, I know enough. I don't need to read my scriptures, or go to church, or be obedient, etc." He will take away that wisdom and knowledge that he has already given us.

And then, as I was studying some of the footnotes, I found in Alma 12:10 this scripture:

And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

As we hearden our hearts, he will stop giving us wisdom, but as we are humble to receive his word, he will give unto us the ability to know His mysteries. I found that so interesting. And as Hna Albornoz and I were sharing, she said that it was interesting that in Preach My Gospel, we can read the same thing over and over about the lessons, and learn something new every time, as well as in the scriptures. :) We can only learn wisdom from God through the Holy Ghost, and in order to receive those promptings we must have a heart that is open and ready to hear.

Anywho, just a couple thoughts to think on. :) It is so sad to see that truly those that we have talked to that are inactive in the church always seem to think they know more than what God does, and put their faith in their own strength and wisdom, rather in the strength of God. Because truly, in the strength of the Lord, we can do all things. :)

I know this church is true and I am so grateful to be here in Calama to share it with everyone. :) MEMBERS TRULY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. This week our members (bueno, la estaca completo...) is in the temple in Santiago. :) I always seem to be in the ward when they go to the temple... :) LOVE IT. I love the temple and I love that they love the temple and I love the energy they bring back from the temple. I love the temple. :)

All my love,
Hermanita Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!

I loved reading your letters. :D Busy, busy bodies, but I'm glad you all survived this week and that there are lots of plans in the next three weeks.... Crazzzyyyy. Spencer wrote me and said, "It's true that life after high school is a lot busier." Bahahahaha. After 2 days he's saying that. Bahaha. :D Loved it. :) I bet the two of you can agree. :) This week has been a great one full of miracles and pruebas as well. :) We've done lots of walking and it's been hard to keep the animo up, BUT things are well and we are learning lots. Calama is a stubborn little town, and it's been a struggle to work in, but I am grateful for the times of trial as well as the times of happiness. :) Dad asked about the members, and truly I wish I could explain to you bien ellos. But they have good hearts and say they will help and whatnot, but it's just the following through and commitment they struggle with. Oh Calama. :)

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers and things you shared! I loved the thoughts on Personal Revelation, and also what you both shared about the Restoration. It's interesting, because truly everything is weighing on that one moment, that still hasn't even ended... Every prophet saw our day, and we have quite the responsibility to bring this happiness to the lives of the families the Lord is preparing. I am so grateful for my family that has helped me stay on this path and that has taught me the right. I hope and pray that we can continue to find those families that are waiting for us... :)

I am glad to hear that Grandma and Grandpa are taking it one day at a time... They are in my prayers and hope they can keep their heads up and remember that we are all on the Lord's perfect timetable. That truly gives me such great relief to know that He is in charge. I was also sad to hear about the Braegger's grandpa... :( I'm going to write Britney a quick little note...

I hope that you both have a fantastic week and that you keep a smile on your face and a prayer in your heart. :D I love you both so very much and thank you again for being my parents. Thank you thank you thank you. :) Truly, ¡Hurrah por Israel!

XOXO
Kristen

P.S. I put pictures on and we went bowling with Hna Smith (blonde from Idaho) and Hna Zollinger (brunette from AZ).

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Kristen with her new favorite candy - MILO!

It snowed this weekend after heavy rains, and 50-80 kph winds. She LOVES inclement weather!!

Hnas Albornoz & Tuft in snow in Calama!

Hellooo!

It has been quite the week weather-wise.... Bahahaha. Pobrecita la Hna Albornoz.... Her welcome to Calama was winds of 50 to 80 kilometros per hour. And snow. :D I was just beamingly happy this weekend! Although it has caused a few problems for some houses, it was a fun thing to see. There were lots of people that had water leaking through the roof when it started melting on Sunday... But I'm getting ahead of myself! :)

Okay. So Hna Albornoz is fantastic!! I have been blessed with such wonderful companions. I love them all loads. The funny thing about Hna Albornoz is that I knew her in Copiapó, de hecho, she went with me when we went to Antofa for a training meeting. So we had been companions for a day. :) When I left Copiapó, I wrote in her book of recuerdos, "I'll wait for you in Calama!" So truly, we knew this would happen. :P No, but it was funny to read again and have her saying it was my fault that she was suffering in this frío.... :P We've had a good week. :) On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had a little bit of a struggle of a time because nobody was home. We did lotsss of walking, but we were happy and just kept walking as door after door didn't open. :) With sacrifice, truly comes the blessings. And with lots of faith and prayer brings miracles. We got to see those miracles this weekend.

Thursday was the day that I had my cold that I've had accumulated, and I was absolutely exhausted. So after our study, my companion sent me to bed for an hour, and that ended up being what I needed, just a quick recoup because I've been great since then. Snow and all. :) Friday was when the winds started. And they weren't just a little bit of a bluster, it was knocking-stuff-over power-outage wind blowing... But that helped us out a little bit to have people let us into their homes... :) Blessings come in all different forms. :D

Saturday, we continued with wind and big stormy clouds, but nothing started to fall until 4ish when we were getting ready to leave. And then the rains came pouringgg in. Luckily, I have been carrying my handy dandy little umbrella around. For a whole year....without hope to ever use it. But we definitely had a need for it. :) We headed out and over to the chapel for a baptism of the elders, and it was fantastic. There were only a few people there for culpa of the weather.... But it was very nice. :) As we walked out, we were greeted by snooowwww. Something I thought was impossible in the Misión Chile Antofagasta. :)

Apart from the snow, we truly have been very blessed this week. Yesterday was a very exceptional day as far as finding investigators goes. I have been praying for quite some time that we could be led to the families that are ready to hear this message. Darling and William were one of those blessings, as well as Jazmin and family, and yesterday we were very blessed to find two new families of 4. Also, as we were sitting in Sacrament Meeting, a sister from another ward arrived during the meeting just to pass a reference off to us. She was whispering it all to us, where they lived, about their family, etc. It's a family of 7 from Paraguay that just recently moved here and the family of the hermana had given them a Book of Mormon with assignments and everything. And wanted to arrange a family night for this week. So we got all that set up and are VERY excited and feel very, very blessed. Heavenly Father truly does answer our prayers and deepest desires.

With that thought, I truly have felt so very blessed this past week in reading the Book of Mormon. I have always read the Book of Mormon, knowing that it is true. But this time I have a deeper purpose in reading, as I mark and study all the references of Christ, His Atonement, and His Doctrine. It has strengthened my testimony greatly in how truly it is another testament of Him. It also has been incredible to learn so much about His life from the prophesies of Lehi & Nephi, and from the teaching of the prophets that were written on the brass plates. One of my favorite findings from this week is the following in 1 Nephi 21:

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget,yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;

I loved that part!! Truly, we will never be forgotten, nor forsaken. We are written in the palms of His hands. I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives. He loves us and he suffered for my sins. I am so very, very blessed to be a special representative of Him, that I can learn more of His life and bear witness of what I know. This church is true.

Lots of love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!

I loved seeing all those pictures from the week. :) They always bring a smile to my face. :) I had to laugh that Megan and Mom had their title as "Happy Memorial Day!" and they came in right next to each other. Like mother like daughter. :)

I enjoyed reading your letters, thank you, as always, for the time you both spend to write me what's been going on there at home and how the family has been. It's crazy that Spencer and Lindsay are finishing up school for the year. That Lindsay's going to HIGH SCHOOL and that Spencer's ending it.... How strange. And the fact that he leaves in a month. What? Please put a little plug in for me so that he'll write....preferably this week, because if not it won't happen before he heads out... If he gets his passport. :P Naw, bromita. :)

Before I forget!! I have been meaning to ask about the little bunny creature and how she's doing. No one's mentioned her lately and I would greatly hope she hasn't left the fam. That would not be very happy.... ALSO I was reading about how you're all heading down to St. George in a couple weeks and will spend time with the family/cousins... Did Katherine get married....? Didn't know if she and Cody were still together and what was up there. If she did get married....someone forgot to tell me.... :)

To answer about Hna Albornoz! Whoops, forgot that above... But she's from Santa Fe, Argentina and has been a member her whole life. Her parents are both converts, and her mom served a mission about 25ish years ago. She's the oldest of 3 and she's 22, turning 23 here in August which we could still be together for.... :) We shall see. She has 15 months almost in the mission, and no we don't have senior/junior companion distinguished as sister training leaders, just like it would be for zone leaders type thing. :) Our sector is HUGE, but I have felt very blessed, Dad, that I learned the sector really quickly. We still might have to do a little bit of exploring, but nothing too crazy. :) And it would've been even crazier just being two gringos there in France wandering the cobblestone streets... I'm just imagining Spencer in big ol' Tegucigalpa and imagining what it might have been like for the 2 of you Elders in France. :)

I'm glad to hear that for the most part, every one is doing better health-wise! I always have grandma and grandpa in my prayers, so I hope they will continue to do better. And I hope you all survive the hot temperatures!! Hahaha - please remember us huddled up next to our heater when you're sweating like crazy outside. :) Crazy how that works! :P

I also started to read Elder Bednar's comments, but the other 3 hnas were chatting lots and I couldn't focus like I would have liked, so I would like to get back to you with that next week. Thank you for the thoughts that he shares though. I am excited to read them... :) I also would like to hear both of your thoughts and insights on what you read and studied in PMG last week with the Restoration! I loved hearing about Sharing Time and that the primary kids were writing new verses about the prophets to Follow The Prophet

I had better get going, but send my love and saludos to everyone that way. :) Have an extraordinarily fantastic week. :D

XOXOXO,
Kristen
. :) We are SO very blessed to know there are living prophets that guide us today! What a miracle we have, the knowledge of the Restoration.

Semana de Caleta de Cositas :)

Kristen in Chuquicamata (museum in Calama area)

I'm thinking Hermana Morales here is worried about split ends, by their faces? :)

Headed to a museum on P-Day!

Baptism April 2014 - Hermanas Tuft and Morales

Kristen and her some of her best friends on graduation day 2012 - 2 years later, Kajsia is going to school, Kristen's in Antofagasta, Chile, Kaisa is married, Megan W is in Tacoma, WA Cambodian speaking, Brooklyn is in Resistencia, Argentina, Ashley is going to WA D.C. soon, Megan M is in Washington Vancouver, and Aimee is home from her mission with some medical problems. These girls are going places!

Hello from Calama!!

It's been a crazy and fantastic week. I truly have LOVED every second, although it truly has been a whirlwind. Seems like that's the norm these days.... :) Hermana Morales and I had a great last week together. It was rough to say goodbye this morning, but she's on her way home and her mom has lots of fun plans ready. So it's exciting! :) Just an fyi... Last night she was up packing....so we didn't get to sleep too much and her bus left for Antofa at 5:30, so we're running on little sleep here. :) I'm with the other hermanas, Hermana Smith and Hermana Zollinger, for the day and we've been taking it pretty chill. :) My new companion is Hermana Albornoz! She is from Argentina and I got to meet her when I was in Copiapò so I'm excited to get to work with her. :) She'll get here in a couple of hours and we'll be all set here shortly. :)

I wish I could sit and explain everything that has happened this week in detail, because truly it's been a great week. We had a great experience with contacting less actives again. A couple of weeks back we contacted a lady named Darling as we were searching for an address. We went back a couple of days later and kinda got chewed out by her husband, but he said he was fine if we came back when he wasn't there....? So we went back. But he was there... And he let us in! It was the strangest thing. We were nervous to go back, but come to find out they were both saying they hoped we would stop by soon, and there we showed up! It's incredible truly to see the Lord's timing. Darling and William have been living here in Calama for 3 years and got married last year. They have 2 little girls and they're so adorable. :) We had a great lesson with them, and are headed back tomorrow due to things that came up in their schedules... But we're really excited for them! :)

Jazmin and her family are doing great, as well as Khymena and her family. Khymena is headed to Antofa for a few months, so we won't be able to visit her for a while... :( We also have a baptism coming up it looks like in June for the daughter of a recent convert! Her name is Camila, and her mom, Linda, got baptized last year in a different ward here in Calama. They just moved into the ward and we've started working with little Camilita. :)

On Thursday, we had the incredible and unforgettable experience of hearing from Elder Spannaus and his wife. I wish I could have transported you all there, because it was an amazing day. Hermana Morales and I had a leadership meeting early in the morning with the other sister training leaders from Antofa and all the zone leaders from the zones in Calama and Antofa. So we headed out on Wednesday night and stayed the night there. (Can I just say as a little side note, even driving 2 1/2 hours away, the change in temperature was CRAZY HUGE and we were soakin' up the coastal weather. :)) The first meeting we had was pretty short, but we talked about 3 Nephi 27: 20-21 and 27. In these verses, Christ is inviting us to be as He is. We talked about "doing" and "being". Elder Spannaus asked us if we can be something without doing, and the answer is no, we can't. But then he asked if we can do and act something without actually being. (¿Se puede ser, sin hacer? ¿Se puede hacer, sin ser?) The answer is yes. We can pretend to be, with just going through the motions, but actually being someone and something requires effort and we have to work at it. Christ asks, "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am."

I was thinking a lot on that lesson as we started the main meeting. We talked a lot about the Spirit and the influence that it can have on our lives, and going back to the idea of hearts, the Spirit can only have effect on us if we open our hearts to what He tells us. I loved what my Dad shared with me on this subject also this week from Elder Bednar; "In chapter 33 of 1 Nephi he says that the Holy Ghost carries the message unto the heart, not into the heart. So the Holy Ghost will bring it here (to the heart), but we have to act to bring it into the heart. That is the key." As Hna Morales and I talked about that afterwards, we talked about the difference of a testimony. People can bash and deny whatever you say, but they cannot take away your testimony. A powerful way that we have found to open the hearts of the people is just bearing a short and simple witness and allowing the Holy Ghost to bring that message to their hearts, allowing them to choose to accept or no.

Dah. I wish I could share it all, but I wanted to end with a challenge that Elder Spannaus extended to us. As a companionship, we have talked a lot about our testimonies of Jesus Christ and how we know that He lives. Elder Spannaus held up a new and unused copy of the Book of Mormon, and invited us to take the time between now and September 1st to read the Book of Mormon and mark every time it talks about Christ, the Atonement, or the Doctrine of Christ. It was such a powerful moment as he promised us that as we read the Book of Mormon asì, we would gain a testimony of Christ that we have never before had.

I know that my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is a testament of Him, and that it was translated especially for our day by a prophet, seer and revelator named Joseph Smith. This church is true, and I know that as we listen to the Holy Ghost and open our hearts to Him, we can and will see many mighty miracles. I testify of the importance and power of prayer. We have a Heavenly Father who lives and loves us and answers our individual prayers. I love you all and I thank you for your prayers and love; you are continually in mine. :)

¡Hasta lunes!
Love,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!

Can I just say I loved all the fotos EXCEPT for the ones of your bone spur Mom. Thank you, that truly added a bit of queeziness to my little day... :P BUT I AM VERY GLAD THAT IS OFF YOUR HEEL. That is very happy. :D And I'm glad that it went well. I'm also glad to hear that Grandpa's radiation went well. It's incredible what they can do with technology these days, truly it is... Keep me updated on that please. :)

I'm glad seminary graduation went well (CRAZY HE'S ALL GROWN UP AND LINDSAY TOO. So big-both of them.) And little girl Audrey is not so little baby Audrey these days. Què precisosa. :D Please congratulate Lindsay on her art project! That's pretty creative and great of her. Love it. :) Aaand last but not least. Britney in front of the Eiffel Tower might have just about killed me. Love it love it love it. :) She looks so cute and happpy. :)

I GOT THE PACKAGE!!!! That has been an act of faith, truly it has. But it got here all in one piece and I am loving its content. :) The white blazer is a lot too big, but I'm trying to see if I can take it in....? We shall see. :) Please thank Aunt Chelle too! I'm in the skirt she sent today. :) I hope you can see from the pictures the other fun scarfs and dresses too. THANK YOU. AND thank you for the thick tights. Life savers. We're freezing down here. :)

Yes Mom, Paulette Carrasco is the daughter of our newly called 1st councilor for the ward. YAY!! That happened yesterday. :D And Bishop Aguilar is pretty relieved. :) Thank you for putting all our names on the prayer roll. That was something Hna Morales was pretty excited to do, is go to the temple in Santiago tomorrow. :) Thank you.

Thank you also Dad, for sharing those thoughts from Elder and Sister Bednar with me. I really enjoyed reading those. It has been a long process for me discovering that, yes, it does have to do with me and how I teach to have investigators accept what we are saying, but it has a lot more to do with how they receive it. With Maria Rojas, the baptism we had a couple weeks back, she was VERY Catholic her whole life. Her daughter is a member and whenever the missionaries would stop by, Maria would go hide in her room. Until about 4 months ago, she had been listening to the missionaries for about a year, but never accepted to be baptized. Then she had a cardiovascular problem and lost feeling to a half of her body. She received a priesthood blessing and has been recovering remarkably fast. It is incredible that after so much time, effort, and lots of prayers that the Lord helped soften her heart and now she is a strong and active member of His church. It is incredible. Thank you for sharing. :)

I had better get going, but I do love you both so very much. :) Thank you for your love and prayers and packages and thoughts that you both share with me. I would love to hear what both of your thoughts are next week on the first lesson in Preach My Gospel. It's the Restoration, and truly every time I read it I find something new, and I would love to hear both of your comments. :)

All my love,
Kristen

P.S. I did get that 120 off to Elder James. I don't know if he's in Copiapò but the office has it. :)

The Strength of a Testimony

Kristen got her first of two boxes, in just 2 weeks (vs. 3 months going through the office.) Warm clothes have arrived!

Hna Kristen Tuft with Hna Morales contacting in the streets of Calama.

Hello All!

I truly am having a difficult time starting this email..... :) I feel like I just talked to you all yesterday....oh wait... :) And this week has been pretty tranquila, BUT nevertheless it was a great week and we have had a great time working here in Central Norte. :)

Just a few small things that happened this week. We are working on a musical number as a zone for a conference with Elder Spannaus of the Seventy this week, so we prepared that a little bit last week as the zone. We also headed to Tocopilla again (3 1/2 hrs away) so that was great as well. Truly Tocopilla is the cutest little port town and the missionaries there are truly working many mighty miracles. I love going there to visit and see how excited they all are. :)

We also have been working a lot with a lady named Jazmin and her family. She has 5 little kids and 3 of them normally join us, but we haven't found out a way to get the other 2 oldest to come down yet... Tarea por esta semana... :) Jazmin was an old investigator of Hna Morales and Hna Richins and kinda disappeared one day and then reappeared when we were walking by a park and she invited us to her house the next day. She is progressing great and she made it out to church yesterday! She got pretty sick during Sacrament Meeting... But the ward was great and helped out a lot and we got her home safely. :)

We also had a pretty incredible experience with a lady whose whole family are members of the church, aka siblings, and she never joined... Her brother was the stake president here in Calama a few years back and has since moved, but we did get to meet with Edith this week. I met her when I first got here, but she never has been able to receive us. I truly have a strong testimony that when we are prepared and rely on the Spirit to teach, instead of what we think we can do ourselves, it makes all the difference. Edith felt the Spirit as we testified and we hope that things will continue working out for her as far as her desire to learn and grow closer to our Savior.

I wanted to close by sharing my testimony that I truly know that this Gospel is true. I don't know if I say that in every email, but I truly do know it. I know that as we bear testimony of the truth, we have the gift of the Light of Christ inside every one of us and as we bear witness of Him, the people will be able to see and feel the difference. The things we know as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are not new. We knew them before we were born, and had to relearn them and walk by faith in order to come to know again for ourselves. Heavenly Father loves us and He answers our prayers. I am so grateful and humbled to know that He knows each one of our needs individually and specifically. I am so grateful that He gave me the opportunity to learn and grow these past few weeks with my companion, Hermana Morales. She's headed home next week, but she is such a strong and wonderful example to me. I love my family and I am SO grateful that I could talk to them for a bit yesterday. I know that we will be together forever, whatever happens in this life as long as we are faithful. The work of temples is true. We are an eternal family, and all families can and will be together forever, according to their faith to act accordingly. Our Savior, Jesus Christ lives! I know that He lives and because He lives, we have the hope of beautiful future in the world to come.

Con MUCHO amor de Calama,
Hermana Tuft
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Hello Mom and Dad!

First of all can I just say you all looked great and happy and it was good to chat. :) I love you lots and lots. :) It was great also to talk for a couple minutes with Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Karen, too, for a couple seconds. :) It was really hard for me to hang up, but I know that whatever happens will be the Lord's will. Grandpa didn't sound too great.... He sounded really tired and sick... I hope that he isn't in pain and that they both will be alright. I was talking with Hna Morales last night, and it was interesting because I had a wonderful memory that came to mind as I got to go to the Brigham City temple with the both of them before I left and I got to be in the prayer circle with Grandpa. It brought a couple tears of joy to my eyes, and with that I do know that things will be okay. He'll be a wonderful missionary on the other side and I know that he'll be mindful of what we are doing here.

I did get the one package this morning and hope to get the other soon... :) Keep that as a little prayer in your hearts! :) Thank you very, very much. I'll get that 120 to Elder James somehow. And truly Hnas Quevedo (Yanina and Rosita) are wonderful people and I love them lots!! That's awesome they're going next summer!! They were going to go this fall for General Conference, but I guess not... Fun stuff. :) I also haven't had any problems with bed bugs or fleas, although there are a great handful of sisters here that have had their fair share of lice that I hope to stear clear from... Yich... :(

I saw that senior pic of Spencer and about DIED!!! He is not the little kid I know... But he looks like a missionary and that is exciting and wonderful. Glad he finished the season well. I'm also glad that I could help a bit with voice/acting up stuff. :) So sad to hear that she doesn't want to finish with piano.... She will regret that... I use it as much as possible here, because nobody plays.... I hope your surgery also goes well this weekend!! And that no headaches follow....

I would be so very grateful if you could put Jazmin Varas and family on the prayer roll, as well as Khymena, Edith Gonzalez, Mario Aguilar and family, Jaqueline Rojas and family, and Isabel Neyra, as well as Pia Diaz. Thankkk youuuu. :D

AND quickly, before I forget... I took a picture of our Spanish line that I'll send... :) Prooooff. Very interesting... It comes from the Tuft side!

We didn't get the chance to make apple pie, but HOPEFULLY this week. We have made brownies and banana bread though and they're big hits. :) Glenda and Agustina have been on hold.... But I'll keep you posted... Thank you so very much also for your thoughts, Dad. I loved that thought from Dr Griffin. :) Hna Morales does well with English, but definitely understands it better when she reads it so I let her read that part and we both liked it lots.... :) Thank you. :) It truly does make an incredible difference when we give our whole heart to Him. He can make it whole, but sometimes we do hold it back. It's incredible how that ties in with Charity and Hope, and also faith. I've loved studying that chapter of PMG, along with the Atonement. And with that, I have been meaning to ask you both if you had your own Preach My Gospels that you've been studying... I heard that challenge from Elder Ballard again this week, and I would love to be able to share bits and pieces with each other of our weekly studies... Just a thought. :)

I would also like to thank you for your experience of your journal entry from last week and memory from this week. I took a moment to write all the things I'm grateful for in my journal and didn't even touch the tip of the iceberg, but it's nice and good to remember all that the Lord has blessed us with. I also have been reflecting a lot on Grandma's experience, along with that of all the ancestor stories you both have sent (and I have loved those by the way, thank you!) and I have been reflecting on my own conversion... I have been so very blessed to know that these things are true, but there isn't a moment that I could explain that would be considered "my conversion story". It's been a journey of 20 years. :) I have put Moroni's challenge to the challenge every time I read it, and I always get a very warm and reassuring feeling that yes, it is true. I can almost hear our Heavenly Father say, "Kristen, you've known it all along. It is true." And that every time has come as such a warm and reassuring comfort, that even though I know, He will always give reassuring moments of "Yes! It's true!" And I feel that every time we share the first lesson. It's a daily recurrence that I am so very eternally grateful for.

I love you both lots! Happy Mothers Day again! I hope it was a fantastic day. :)

All my love,
Kristen

CORAZONES

Hello All!!

Yes, it has been yet another crazy week. But I feel like I've been getting more used to the craziness... It means that there's lots of work and I love that. :D

Today Hermana Morales, Hermana Smith, Hermana Zollinger and I are in San Pedro de Atacama and we've been paseando MUCHO así que...no tenemos tanto tiempo para escribir.... But I will write SUPER fast and hope to get it all in. Because we still have to drive back to Calama. :) But it's been a great and beautiful P Day. :D

This week, we had our conference in Antofa and it was an incredible conference. We talked a lot about el corazón, and what is interesting is that the whole week we have been hearing about hearts and their importance and symbolism. It has truly gotten me thinking. I looked it up in the index of the Spanish scriptures and it talked about our disposition and the will of man. It is the fountain of every emotion and feeling. We talked about what it means to have a willing, humble, and contrite heart. Hermana Dalton asked some pretty deep questions that I wanted to share, that truly have made me think and reflect a lot. Do I have a pure heart? Can I share my heart with others? If that answer is no, does that mean that my heart is focused on the pure doctrine of Christ, or on things of the world?

I also have thought a lot about Nephi and his brothers, as I have started the Book of Mormon again. Their hearts were so hardened that even when they saw an angel, they turned from the Spirit that surely was present. That got me thinking about how sad it truly is to see people that have set their hearts on things of the world and have hardened their hearts on the things of God, the things of a loving Father in Heaven. I loved that question: Do I have a pure heart? I would love to hear your thoughts. :)

Afterward, to end our meeting, we had a special testimony meeting where all of the missionaries in consejo that are leaving in 2 weeks bore their testimonies. I truly love being a missionary and love being able to share this happiness with others. The Spirit that was present in that meeting was indescribable. It is something that I truly hope and pray to never forget. The opportunity we have to be missionaries is so short. This week I will be hitting my year mark... I can't tell you where this past year has flown, and I have 6 more months to continue making the most of the time that the Lord has given me to be here in the north of Chile. My little brother got his mission call this week to the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission, leaving at the end of June. I could not be more happy and humbled at the chance we get to have to be out serving the Lord at the same time. I was SOOO excited to get the news and I know that truly, Spencer, you will be such a fantastic missionary. I love you lots Bud. :)

In regards to investigators, we had a very special experience with finding new investigators this week. We were challenged to find a new investigator for every name on our ward list, so we were looking for a less active, and as we were talking to her neighbor, she let us in and we shared with her, her daughter, and granddaughter. The lesson we had was a normal first lesson, where we shared about the Restoration y todo, but there was such an incredible and overwhelming spirit there that was unforgettable. In thinking about it after, it truly came from them. We can invite the Spirit as missionaries and help others to feel it, but we can't make them accept that feeling... What was special is that they accepted it and asked wonderful questions, and honestly I can't explain it very well, but it was incredible. :)

And in regards to Jaqueline, Khymena, and Agustina, we haven't been able to see them this week... They all have been busy and working and out of town because it was a long break from school weekend... So unfortunately in regards to them, there isn't much new this week... But next week for sure. We should be seeing all three tonight and tomorrow.

I have got to run, but I love you all so very much. I know that this is the Lord's work and I am so blessed and grateful to have this message in my life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church here on the earth that is led by prophets and apostles.

With all my love,
Hermana Tuft
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Mom and Dad!!

I am so sorry I won't be able to respond to anything truly today.... I have to run but I will talk to you all on SUNDAY at 5 your time. :D Lots of love!

Hermanita Kristen