Come unto Christ...

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Kristen with Hna Arenas doing a ward Family Home Evening in Angamos, Antofagasta.

Helloooo!

It's been another pretty great week here in Angamos. :) I truly am loving it here. I love my companion, the members, our investigators (even if they are a little bit stubborn... :)); it's just all in all a great area. :D

This past week we have experienced some pretty great things. I'm sad to report that we still haven't been able to contact Manuel and Joana yet, because they were traveling, but let's keep the fingers crossed for the next couple days. :) We got a reference yesterday from a ward member of a young couple, so we should be getting in contact with them in the next couple days. I love being a missionary. :D

This week we had our monthly leadership meeting with President, and it was very, very special meeting. We watched a talk that President Uchtdorf gave this June at the new mission president's meeting at the MTC, and that was an incredible growing experience. Basically I learned that we have the chance to share the gospel with everyone, or fear man and not share it. When we don't open our mouths we are basically denying God's power and ability to do this work, because it is His. I loved how he started it out; it was like an Easter talk, as he started talking about the last few days of Christ's life, but then changed his focus to the Sacrament and how it is our weekly opportunity to become closer to Christ. We should look forward to that opportunity, and our investigators should, as well. That is truly when we will know that they have had a "mighty change of heart". :) There were LOTS of other things that he talked about, but it was a very powerful moment/experience. And it just made Hna Arenas and I even that more excited for conference in a month... :) WOOT WOOT. :)

It has been interesting as we have been reflecting on the needs of our investigators, and the testimonies that they are lacking. Last night, we had a ward family night, where we organized it to be for the new converts, but everyone was invited. At the end, we were all in a circle and started sharing our testimonies of what we remembered of our baptisms or of the temple. It was a great meeting, and one of our investigators named Katiuska (I don't know if I've mentioned her....) came with her mom that got baptized a year ago. All the converts that have been great, strong members for years shared their testimony about the Atonement, and that when they finally understood the Atonement is when they decided to be baptized and when they got the answer about the truthfulness of the church.

*Quick little side note: Katiuska has been an investigator for about 4 years, or a little bit more.... She's 23, and just hasn't gotten baptized. She keeps listening to the missionaries, goes to church here and there, goes to the activities with her mom and the members that they rent from, but whenever we (as missionaries in general) have talked about baptism, she says, "Nooo." So we were on exchanges with Hnas Maldonado (Santiago) and Richardson (Orange County, CA) and before we got to her house, I didn't tell Hna Richardson anything about Katiuska, just to see kinda what would happen... And we were there with the Muñoz family (the members that they rent from/live with) and KATIUSKA DIDN'T REJECT THE BAPTISMAL INVITATION. :D She was smiling when we invited her, but wouldn't look at us... I asked her, "Katiuska, can we set a goal for the end of September for your baptism?" So we did, and so we're working towards the 27th of September. The great thing about her is, that if she doesn't want to do it/doesn't get her answer, she won't... Lots of people would for "peer pressure," but Katiuska is a special girl. :) Anywho. We were pretty ECSTATIC.*

So the fact that Katiuska could hear those testimonies last night was great. We need to work more on that with her, about gaining her own testimony, as well as with our other investigators, as well. Ermelinda and Carlina are doing well, also. Just the "mighty change of heart" thing again...

It made me think this morning as I was listening to the EFY theme song from this year... It's called "Come Unto Christ," and I just wanted to share what it says really quick:

Come unto Christ. Come unto Him,
and by His grace be made holy again.
He's calling your name. He's waiting
for you with arms open wide. Come
unto Christ.

Anywho, that's just been running through my head all day, and wanted to share that. He truly is waiting with His arms open wide, all the day long. And truly by and through Him, "we will find eternal life." I know He lives and He loves us. He calls each and every one of us, and hopes that we can hear that call and serve and love Him until the end. I love my Savior.

Con mucho amor y cariño,
Hermanita Tuft
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Hey Mom and Dad!

I saw Hna Albornoz this week at the leadership conference, and she said that Katty is having a little bit of a problem with living the word of wisdom, cause she still goes out for a little drink with her friends.... So they're going to push it back a week or two, but said that she'll keep me updated. I also talked to her companion, Hna Castro from Honduras. Hna Castro's from my group and we were talking about Spencer, so I'm going to send a couple things with her to send to Spencer when she gets back. She's headed to Utah in December, and I said we might be headed to Honduras at the end of November (Kristen doesn't realize it MIGHT be 2015 but was never going to be 2014. Nothing is solid with a trip there for humanitarian purposes yet.), and she said to let her know, because she always goes to help with translation with the dentists! So that was a cool little thing... She speaks English VERY well. Anywho, so she said to check to see what our plans were and let her know.... So I'm just wondering if there are any "set plans"....

Thank you both for your thoughts on Alma 5. I'll have to go back and read D&C 121, Dad. I loved both of your thoughts, and it's interesting, Mom, how your study had a lot to do with some of the thoughts that I have been having this past week. It's interesting how that happens, huh? :)

We haven't had too many cold temperatures here. It sometimes gets windy here in the mornings and at night, but for the most part it's been nice and sunny. When there are big and threatening clouds, Hna Arenas and I get excited that it will rain, cause clouds like that means rain in our houses....but not in Antofa.... :P So I'm glad that you guys have been enjoying a little bit of that moisture. :) We are noticing the leaves and flowers coming up on the few trees and plants here. But suprisingly, there is a lotttt more foliage here in Antofa. :P But nothing like you're probably thinking... :)

Grandma and Grandpa are in my prayers always... I cannot imagine how hard it must be for the both of them, and the whole family. I have had the thought cross my mind that maybe subconciously Grandpa has been holding on for so long to see me come home, but if he is doing so poorly I don't want him to.... I was talking to Sister Brunson (the hermana from St George) and her mom just recently passed away in July, and she shared a story of a kid from her parents' ward in Delta about a grandfather that had cancer and they gave him a few months to live, very similar to Grandpa's, and he said he just wanted to wait until his grandson got home, and he did get home just a couple weeks ago and could see his grandpa. I try not to get my hopes up that that might still be a possibility, but I know like, as you said, Dad, that there is "a time appointed for every man, according as his works shall be." Please let them both know that I am very happy, and doing well, and that if possible to let Grandpa know that I'll be okay if he's not there in a couple months. Let them know that I love them so very much, and I miss them, and I know that I'll see Grandpa again sometime soon... :) Please send my condolences to Grandma about Aunt Janie. Aunt Janie is younger than Grandma, right...?

I also asked President about my card, and he said to talk to the mission financer, so I will get in contact with him today about that to see if he has a solution, but if not, President said that he could take it out of his account, and you could write a check to send to his mom to deposit. I'll check more on that if Elder Adams doesn't have a quick solution... I'll let you know next week for sure! That's so fun that the DeGraw's and Rindlisbacher's will be down in October. :D I was so excited to see Hna Rindlisbacher on Thursday, not knowing that she wasn't a sister training leader for her last transfer! I'll just have to see her up at school. :) It's crazy how we've formed a friendship through you two being friends, and we hardly even know each other.... :P

I did also send Miranda an email last Monday, but don't know if she got it.... I'll send it to you to send it from Facebook then... I worry about that girl.... I want to see her again, or hear from her at least..... :( I did hear from little Britney though... :D)))

Poor little Audrey's eye!!! I hope she's doing better. I have to write Megan today.... I haven't heard from her in a while! Send my love. :) Bahaha and I laughed at that one.... Milo and Myla.... :P

I love you both so very much. I hope you know that and that I'm so grateful for all you do and the blessings that I feel daily by being part of an eternal family. :) KNOWING that we'll all be together for a looong time to come. :)

Until next weeeek (oh how the weeks are flying........),
Kristen
====================
Hey Spencer!!

I love you sooooo much Bud! Hang in there, and know that by keeping the rules you're doing the right. Your companion will see and follow your example. :) This is a great and marvelous work! Te quiero hermanito. Espero que tengas una semana geniallll! Jajajaja lo chistoso de escribir eso en español es que nuestros papas no tienen ni idea lo que estamos diciendo, a menos que hacen trampa y usen google...... :P Jajaja te quiero Elder Tuft. :)
I love you brother. Hope you have a greattt week! Hahaha What's funny to write that in Spanish is that our parents have no idea what we're saying, unless they cheat and use google ......: P Hahaha I love Elder Tuft. :)

La Pequeña Locomotora que Pudo.

Kristen Tuft on her balcony overlooking the OCEAN she loves!

Kristen Tuft and Hna Arenas at a baptism in Antofagasta.

Kristen with Hna Arenas as they first met as companions. August 2014

Self-explanatory, eh? She is happy to eat at McDonald's. Only time. Ever.

Helllooo!

The week flew by, once again. :) It was full of so many wonderful things, that I feel like I will not be able to share them all, but here goes. :)

So we went to work on Tuesday morning, with very little success.... We stopped by so many houses, and nobody was home. Ya okay so we were thinking, "There has to be SOMETHING that we can do before we go to our district meeting." When we suddenly decided to turn down a little pasaje that we've never been down before, in a way to get to the chapel super extraña, but we went with it and there were lots of Testigos de Jehová doing some door knocking... I thought, "Well, qué fome that we walked down this street that these people have recently talked to and are probably not wanting anything more to do with religion right now...." When all of a sudden a lady that was walking out her front door started walking down the street with us. And started talking to us. :D So we talked back to her, (obvio... :)) and her name is Ermelinda. She said that she was going to el centro, but she would love for us to stop by in the afternoon. :D

We went to our district meeting walking on cloud nine and were super excited to go back that afternoon. It turns out that I ended up going out of our sector on an exchange and Hermana Arenas and Hermana Salinas went to visit Ermelinda and had a fantastic first lesson, where they were all crying by the end. So we have met, started teaching and gotten to know Ermelinda, who has a baptismal date for September 20th. WAHOO! :D She is fantastic. She has been having lots of problems with her grown kids, and doesn't know what to do, but in talking last night she said that she wants to show them by her example what they should do, so that they don't follow her bad example from past mistakes. She is a great lady.

We also got to meet with an old investigator again named Carlina. She had a baptismal date for August 9th, but she was never in her house... So we talked to her FINALLY last night and she was super excited, and also has a date for the 20th now. So September 20th is going to be a big day. Keep them in your prayers. :)

We see so many miracles every single day and I feel so blessed and grateful. Thursday afternoon, we were headed to yet another meeting (haha I just realized that all our super great moments this week happened while in camino to meetings.... :P) and we were running about an half hour late... The elders and counselor in the bishopbric were waiting for us, but as we were walking and talking and laughing, we passed by a little family with a dad and a mom and a little baby in a stroller. We were about a block away when I finally decided to stop fighting the prompting I was receiving to talk to them, and we went back. So awkward when we have to go back, but it is what it is. :) Anywho, we started talking to Joana and Manuel, who had just moved here from Santiago a week ago. We asked if we could stop by sometime, and Manuel said, "Sure, next week on Tuesday I start getting home from work at about 6:30, so you guys can stop by then. I think it'll be interesting!" So they both seemed pretty interested and we were SOOO excited because we are on the family search here. And they are a family. :D

Yesterday at church, the stake presidency secretary came to talk to our ward, and started out by talking about the story of the Little Engine that Could. :) I love that story, and had forgotten completely about it... :) There was a circus that needed to get to a little town, because the town was waiting for it. But there was no way for it to get there. One of the big trains said, "No, I've got bigger and better things to do." There was an old train that said, "I'm old and tired, and can't take it all." There was also a modern train that was fancy and new, and all up to date, but he said he couldn't take the circus either. There was just one little train left in the train yard, and it was a little train that didn't have a lot of experience, but said that he would try. There was a hill that one had to climb before reaching the little town, and the little engine was scared that he wouldn't make it. But as he started to climb the hill, one could hear him saying, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." As he reached the top of the hill, the town cheered as they saw him coming, and you could just hear him say, "I knew I could. I knew I could. I knew I could!"

I loved that he shared that little reminder story! Right before him, a recent convert named Marcos gave his first talk, and spoke about faith. He talked about the grain of mustard, and how if we have faith even that small, nothing is impossible. That was just a good little reminder for me. Believing that I can is knowing that it is possible. And as we put all our faith in our Savior, He can make those big hills that seem impossible, possible. I think it was an apostle that recently said, "Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible.'"

Entonces! Si la pequeña locomotora pudo hacerlo, aún más nosotros podemos hacer todas las cosas en Cristo. Sé que ésta es la obra del Señor. Soy un instrumento en Sus maravillosas manos, y estoy tan feliz a poder tener la oportunidad a estar aqui en Angamos. Amo a la misión y ser misionera. Sé que Cristo vive y que ésta es Su iglesia. Les quiero mucho y espero que tengan una semana maravillosa. Requérdate: Eres la pequeña locomotora que pudo. :)

Translation for the Espanol Impaired: (SO - If the little engine could do even more we can do all things in Christ. I know this is the Lord's work. I am an instrument in His wonderful hands, and I'm so happy to have the opportunity to be here in Angamos. I love the mission and being a missionary. I know that Christ lives and that this is His church. I love them and hope you have a wonderful week. Requérdate: You're the little engine that could. :) )

Con cariño,
Hermana Tuft
===========================
Hey Mom and Dad,

I put pictures on today! And I put lotsss on. I finished up the ones I had left from Calama, so there's a couple in there as well. Katty is the one that is in a plaid shirt in front of the church with us. She's got a little darker skin. I haven't heard anything from Hna Albornoz, so if I hear anything about her baptism I will let you know. :) It should be this weekend.... :)

I loved hearing about the week and that all started well with school and such. :) It's still so crazy to me that little Lindsay is in high school. Tell her I'd love to be scheduled in there somewhere to hear how all is going... :) I know that she's a busy woman, between dreaded chemistry (that actually was one of my favorite classes, but MOSTTT stressful, more than college I feel almost...) taking lots of pictures, and volleyball, I know she's a busy little girl. But tell her I love her and that I think about her lots. :)

I know that it's been such a long time, but just like you said Dad, you get excited to write me, I feel the same thing Monday mornings when I can print off your letters. Always brings a smile to my face and a spring to my little step. :) Hermana Arenas is from a split family. Her mom lives here in Iquique (I don't know how that one happened....) and her dad lives in Lima still. They both don't know how to use the computer very well, so they never write.... Her 2 brothers do every once and a while, but that would be very, very hard.

I love that song (He Sent His Son)! That is one of my favorite primary songs. :) Mom and Dad. I am stinkin scared, cause I seriously cannot speak English. I still write well (I think) cause I write in my journal in English, but when it comes to reading and speaking, we have problems. :) I have seen it in a couple things this week. One was when I read that primary song... I read it first in Spanish and then in English. The second was when I was reading my patriarchal blessing and I was translating it in my head. The third was when I was talking to an hermana that just got here with her husband from St. George. They're the Brunson's, and her husband is the boss of one of the mines here, so she just got back and I met her yesterday. I seriously couldn't hold a decent conversation.... Me está preoccupando. :) Nooo importa. :) Anyway, Hno Thomas asked us to see if there was a musical number that we could put together, so I might suggest that song... :) Thank you! :)

We were actually on exchanges for Hna Arenas' 9 month celebration, but I did a little card for her, but yes I believe we will have to have a pancake breakfast here soon.... :D Today, we borrowed a couple bikes and went on an oceanside bike ride, so that was fun. :) We are about 10 minutes walking distance from the ocean, and I love it lots. :) I do remember reading that book with you Dad. I would like to read it again, cause I don't remember it very well, but it's so true. I read a quote from President Benson today that said something like we will be surprised as to how much we know our Savior and Heavenly Father when we can return to see them again someday. The "Endure to the End" part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sometimes the hardest part, but in the actual "end" it will be the most rewarding as well.

And I did some more studying of Alma 5 por fin. :D I wrote down all the questions that Alma asks in that chapter, and then went over and over them again and again... I decided to rewrite a few of them, that I would like to share:

Have I been born spiritually of God? Have I received His image in my countenance? Have I experienced a mighty change of heart? Do I exercise faith in the redemption of Christ? Do I look forward with an eye of faith to be judged according to my works? Can I imagine the voice of the Lord? Can I look at God in that great day with a pure heart and clean hands? Do I have God's image in my being? Do I have a place to sit with the holy prophets in the kingdom of God? Do I feel the desire to sing the song of redeeming love? Have I been sufficiently humble? Have my robes been washed and purified by the blood of Christ? Do I know that with a certainty? How?

As I reflected these questions in a more personal way, it made me think about the things I am doing well, and what I could do better... I can't wait to hear the voice of the Lord in the last day. I think that will be a wonderful and priceless moment. Meanwhile, I can try to do all that is possible to keep the promptings of the Holy Ghost close and follow in His footsteps. :)

And Mom, how has Jenn been doing?? I will have to write her here soon. :) Thanks for her email! Is she there at the MTC in Provo? Where is Matt Niu going again?? And I can't believe that Nate Oldroyd is HOME!! :) Justina was just saying that she started her last transfer last week and about gave me a little heart attack. Time. Flies. Hey, and if you see Ms. Meacham again PLEASE give her a big squeeze from me. :)

I tried my visa again today in a machine that said visa and it didn't work still.... I don't know what happened, but would it work to try my old card? I don't want to have to have a THIRD card in the mission. Fome. I'll mention something to President Dalton... I don't know Hna King, but I hear she's still in Arica...?

I loved your thoughts from education week! It is so true, because these people are so darn confused about what is the truth and what is not. If they understand the Bible, they would believe in the Book of Mormon, and if they believe that the Book of Mormon is true, as we know, there will be so many blessings unfolded to them. What an incredible blessing that is. I love bearing testimony of the Book of Mormon, and of my Savior, and of the living prophets, because it is something that people don't hear everyday, and I have the privelege of sharing it every single day. :D I know it is true. I can hardly write this without tearing up knowing all the blessings that have come understanding and knowing that it is all true.

I love you both so very much. :) Thank you for being my parents. :D Send everyone my love, and especially Grandma and Grandpa. I hope that they truly are doing alright and know that they are in every single prayer. :)

Love,
Kristen

A Week in Antofa.

Hello All! :D

It has been a GREAT week here in Angamos. I have loved literally every single second. :) I seriously am not used to living in a city, and Antofagasta is a CITY. It's huge and loud and noisy and fulllll of people and apartments and the OCEAN. But I love it. I love it lots. :) I have loved waking up each morning and looking out the window to watch the beautiful sea. :) Love it. :) We have climbed LOTS of stairs this past week, cause a huge part of our area is apartment buildings, and lots that don't have acensores, but it has been a great workout. :P

Something that made the week even BETTER is that we had a BAPTISM on Saturday!! :D Catalina is her name, and she met the missionaries a while ago. She lives with her aunt and family, and her cousin is on a mission in Argentina, but she was never baptized. She had told the missionaries for a LONG time that she wanted to go to church, but they never really paid much attention to her, cause she's 12 and didn't think she was too serious.... But she was. :) So three weeks ago in her interview, Hermana Arenas asked President about her situation and being 12, and living with her active aunt if she could be baptized, and he said yes, of COURSE, so she was baptized this past week, and I had the blessing of being here. :) The young women of the ward have been friendshipping her very, very well and she was so so SO excited to be baptized. (I'm going to try to upload pictures, but the computer's being strange.... Crossing the fingers!) ​

A little bit about Hermana Arenas! She is fantastic. :D I have loved being with her this past week, and truly look forward to our time together. She is from Lima, Peru (the East mission) and has lived there most of her life. The TRULY intriguing thing about Hna Arenas is that her mom actually lives in our mission... She put that on her mission papers and everything, and called President beforehand telling him that, but she came here anyway. :) Her mom lives in Iquique (near Arica) and her dad lives in Lima. She's the youngest of three and her family are converts. She was 8 when they all got baptized. :D She's 20 also, and she's coming up on nine months in the mission this week. :) We're going to celebrate. :)

Something truly interesting from the week, speaking about age, is that we were looking for old investigators from our area book, and came across an address that we wanted to check out. So we headed over there, and while we were waiting at the door, a cute little old man walked up the stairs. We started talking to him and he said, "What are two cute little girls like you doing here?" We started explaining, and he said, "You girls are young! How old are you? About 40?" Okay. I about died. He was a darling old man, but I am defffinnnniiitttttelllllllyyyyyy not 40 stinkin years old. We died laughing at that one, and are going to stop by again to see if we can meet his daughter that lives there with him. :) So, I hope that his vision is failing him, or else I am aging a looot faster than hoped. :P

I love the ward here! It's so great. It's HUGE, but great. :) The Bishop and his councilors are very supportive and we have been working lots with them. We also have been in touch with the Young Women's President and Relief Society too, so that has been great. Everrrryyoonne has references for us, so that has been a wonderful blessing! We're working on actually getting in contact with them... Most people here are working or studying (the university is in our area also) so their schedules are a little weird. But it's great to have so much support and help from the ward! Love it. :)

Yesterday in church, we were in Sunday School, and the teacher was talking about Proverbs and the subject of wisdom, and brotherly kindness. You all might have had the same (or will have) class....? I found in so interesting a comment made by the bishop. We were talking about gossip and how we can watch ourselves better to only speak good, and uplifting things. Bishop Gonzalez said, "Well, if no one wanted to buy bread, the bread stores would be closed. If nobody wants to listen to gossip, no one will speak it." That is so true, and I loved that comment. (I sure hope that my rough translation makes senseee.....) I realized that I do need to watch what comes out of my mouth more. And not just my mouth, but the negative thoughts that enter my head. If nobody wants to hear it, if we don't tolerate it, there will be nothing to be said. :)

I know that this church is true, and I love being a member of it. I love knowing that we can and will return to the presence of the Father, all we have to do is follow in the footsteps of his Son, Jesus Christ. :) I love my Savior and I love being His disciple.

Have a fantastic week!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Tuft
=======================
Hey Mom and Dad!

To answer/comment on your little bullet points Mom, my card works only when I can scan it in Lider or something... But it doesn't work to take money out in cash... So I don't know what to do when it comes to buying souvenirs, etc.... I still am trying to figure it all out.... :( It expires in the spring, so I don't know what's up, but I really do need to take cash out... :(  AND KATHERINE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! Send her my best. That is SO great. :D I'll bring some Milo back. It's good, but it's not that good. :) I heard from Hna Severtson and Hna Smith today, so that was fun. :) I told Hna Smith that you were looking for her, so she might just add me. Her name is Cassi Ann and she's from Rexburg. Love those 3, them and Hna Brewster. I can't believe they're actually GONE.

It truly was super duper hard to leave Calama. I felt like there was still so much to do, but the Lord has other things in store for me here, and the people that I love so much there. :) I think you're right, Dad. The harder it is, the more I feel like I worked and worried and prayed and tried to do what was right. It's when the people made the most difference on me. :) I'm not quite sure how many were elders and how many were hermanas, but there was only one latino, and the rest from "gringolandia" as they call the states. :P I also was surprised at what President said when he told me my transfer. He said that Hna Arenas, as a new sister training leader, needs a good example and someone to really show her what it means to be a sister training leader, so he gave me this assignment. I am sure that we will see lots of other reasons as to why the Lord sent me here as time goes on, but I was super duper worried to get here and find things in shambles.... But it's not. :) The old companion of Hna Arenas just wasn't the best example and kinda did things her own way, and it truly reminds me of the story that Grandma shared last week with us. She didn't really take into account what Hna Arenas had to say, so she just kinda followed.... But she has told me so many times this week that she feels so HAPPY and is grateful to be my companion. And I can say that I couldn't agree more. :)

We don't have Mamita of anything. :) So we're cooking and washing our clothes and we have a DRYING MACHINEEE! :D WAHOOOO!!!! It's about the third dryer I've seen here. From what it sounds like, Spencer will not be seeing one of those for a loooong time - poor kid. He will love every second though. :) I also just started my study of Alma 5 a couple days ago, so next week I'll share my thoughts and such. :) Also, Hermana Arenas laughed when I told her what you asked, Dad, about her musical talents. :) She said, "Tell you dad that I LOVE the piano and guitar, but I don't know how to play either one." :P I also loved the thoughts from President Fischer, and also Elders Bednar and Scott. We do try to do that while tracting, actually. :) We don't knock on doors very often, but when we do I think that would be great. We mostly just talk to people in the street, but I think it would be applicable in those types of situations as well. :) And we will ask the members and less actives this week about their conversions stories! Thank you for the ideas and thoughts. :) It is so true about it being a drip irrigation conversion. When it all comes on at once, and we learn learn learn, but don't internalize, that is when we aren't leaving room for wisdom to come in, which wisdom comes directly from God. Which also leads into Satan not being able to have ANY power over us. We have much more power over HIM. Which is an incredible thing. :)

I love you both so very much! I have to run, and didn't get the picture thing figured out. :( But I will send pictures of the baptism & Hna Arenas next week. :D I love you both so very much! Have a fantastic week! Send my love to Grandma and Grandpa!! Any luck with Aunt Karen's email, Dad?

All my love,
Hermana Tuft

Cambioooosssss.

Hello All!

Okay so let's just first say that I absolutely love the mission. And I love every single aspect of it. Some things a little bit more than others.... One of the things that I LOVE are transfers, but they always seem to come when least expected..... And cambios came!! So I'm here writing from Antofagasta, my new place of residence for the next few months. :) And I'm super excited! I am super duuuperrr sad to leave Calama, but I am excited to watch the miracles from afar...3 hours away to be exact. :)

It has been QUITE the adventurous week. We're actually just here in the bus terminal waiting for the bus of an hermana that's leaving, sooo things are a little bit shaken up in the boat but quickly to be back to normal again. :) I'm excited to get to know a new ward and a new sector with all the investigators and people that I will meet and help and in return learn from all of them. DID I SAY I JUST LOVE THE MISSION?! :D My new ward is called Angamos and it's the southern part of Antofa. My companion is Hna Arenas, and I just told her, "Well, I'm going to be writing my family about you and the only thing I know from the past 10 minutes is that you have 9 months in the mission and you're from Peru." So that's literally all I know. Details to comeee. :)

Okay starting from Monday. We spent the day with Hnas Smith and Wisrock for Hna Smith's last P Day! (We just dropped her off at the bus this morning in fact.) I'm sure going to miss that girl. And we got right to work. Tuesday we had our zone training and did intercambios/exchanges that afternoon. I loved Tuesday. It was a very spiritual filled day as we visited Yobannely, Jaqueline and family, and Yalile. Wednesday was similar, and I truly loved every second. One thing that we really have been focusing on as a companionship, and as a mission in general, is the Book of Mormon, and our investigators and less actives are really learning to love the Book of Mormon and are developing their own testimonies.

Tuesday evening, we got a call from Katty saying that she was headed out of Calama on Friday, cause she hadn't found work. And I just about died. We started praying like crazy. So we went on Thursday morning with the intention of saying goodbye (cause Thursday night we were headed to Tocopilla), and she said she wasn't sure if she was actually leaving.... So we did say our goodbyes JUST IN CASE, and headed out to a conference with President that evening. He was in town, and said he'd love to meet with us, so for the next couple hours we talked about gospel questions and it was such a neat experience!! I sure learned a lot, and it was great to be with him and Hermana Dalton for a bit.

We were all pretty anxious for transfers, and as we were getting ready to leave, President said, "Well, I do have a couple minutes before my meeting; would you like to know your transfers?" Ummm. YES PLEASE. So he had us come into a room as companionships and President himself gave us our transfers and explained a little bit as to why. So I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen very often and so that was cool. :)

And from there we were headed to Tocopilla, which was quite the visit. :) One thing super cool is that I met a returned missionary, Marcelo Zuñiga, that served with Tom in Concepción! So that was a verrrry small little world moment. (And from what Dad said he had sent the picture that we took... :P) I love Tocopilla, but seriously there are just some super funny things that happen every single time we're there. :) This time, Hna Fontenot and I were walking down the street, and a lady walked up behind us and was sniffling. Or we thought she was, and Hna Fontenot asked if she was alright. Well, we started talking to her, and her name was Gina, and she was a gypsy. And she was pretttty drunk. But she did talk to us for a bit, and we gave her an I'm a Mormon card, and she said she was going to go to church on Sunday. HOPEFULLY she did. :) Oh Gina. :)

The hermanas from Tocopilla ended up coming back to Calama with us and will be there for the week, but in the bus ride we had quite the "terror movie moment". But luckily in the end it wasn't anything. :) We were about an hour out of Calama and all of a sudden a BUNCH of people from the back of the bus started coming forward and a couple went downstairs, and two seconds later a Tur Bus guy came up, so Hna Albornoz and I turned around and sure enough. There was SMOKE coming out of the bathroom. And lots of it. So that was the first red flag. Then two seconds later the bus guy yelled, "CUIDADOOOO!" And superrr hot water flooded the bus, so we all scrambled down and there we were in the middle of the desert. :) Bueno, moral of the story is that Tur Bus is just fantastic and the bathroom pipes overheated and we had a good smelly ride back to Calama. :) Bahahaha oh la misión. :)

And then we got back to Calama and started working lots and it was a SUPER great Saturday, incluso. Katty accepted a baptismal date and is reading the Book of Mormon!!! :D She is getting baptized on August 29th. :D She was a super duper hard one to leave. We've known each other for just 3 weeks, but it has been a fantastic 3 weeks and I feel like I've known her my whole life.

So it has been such a crazy but awesome week. I am so excited for this next transfer. I know we will see so many miracles. I seriously cannot describe the joy I feel in knowing that I am a missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ. I know He lives and I am so very grateful to be His representative at this time in Chile. I'm not perfect, and I learn SOOO much every day. Something that I need to work on that I've noticed this week is listening and acting instantly on the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I do listen and act, but I'm sometimes a doubter and don't act in the exact moment of receiving the prompting. I read this quote from President Monson that I wanted to share. "The sweetest experience that I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or need. And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him."

It made me reflect a lot, and it was perfect with the story that Grandma shared (via Dad. THANK YOU GRANDMA!). We must always act according to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Of course we don't know better than He does, but lots of times we think we do, at least in the moment.

I love you all!! I hope you have a fantastic week! I hope Spencer's had a great first week in Honduras! Can't wait to hear all of your adventures, bud! I hope everything goes super great with Lindsay and that she's feeling better for her volleyball try-outs! I would love to see pictures from the baby blessing of little Milo yesterday. What a doll he is. :) Aaand I hope that Megan and Tom and little (bueno no tan chica ahora) Audrey are doing super great. I love you all lots. I hope you never ever forget that! :D

Love,
Hermana Tuft
=====================
Hey Mom and Dad!

I love you both first off. Thank you for your love and support. :D As I was packing, I was looking at a few notes I have from you both from the MTC and I was reading through those thinking how much everything has changgeeedd. I don't feel like the scared little girl anymore from the MTC. And I like that feeling. I like feeling that the Lord has trusted me enough to help me grow, and you both are a little part of the help of that growth with all your love and support. :)

Okay so no, Hermana Albornoz goes home at the end of this transfer that's starting. :) She goes home with Hna Matias and Hna Rindlisbacher in September. :) There are 23 new missionaries that are arriving tomorrow, so we're seeing lotttsss of changes as we make room for the little army of missionaries to get here. :) One of the new hermanas will be here in Antofa, so we'll get to know her. :) Hermana Arenas and I are the sister training leaders here in Antofa and have a few more hermanas to look out for. But it should be great. :)

And also! Hahaha Mom, that bus accident wasn't the one where all those people died, etc. There were 2 that died, and I don't know about any injuries.... So anywho, just so that doesn't freak you out toooo much. :) And no, I haven't used the doggie stun gun.... There have been 2 times that I have wanted to, but the dogs freak out so fast that there isn't time anyway. But we're safe from harm and bite free. :P

Dad, I was also thinking about how AWESOME that would be to go back to Arica, in a different area, but to be able to see my first ward there in Zapahuira. :) The Lord needs me here in Antofa though, and I know we will see many miracles. It would have been AWESOME, but I guess Arica will just have to wait until I come back and visit....algun dia.... :)

We actually just barely received new instructions from the Twelve and the First Presidency that we will be teaching all 5 lessons before baptism, and then again after. And the missionaries will take the initiative with that, so that's an interesting but cool new change. :) Funny that you should ask JUSTO this week. :) I also was curious if you would be getting the chance to speak this coming Sunday... I'm glad that things went well, but it's a shame that you got things all ready and couldn't... For the next time.... :)

I loved your principle 6. I love rereading those, and applying them to the current circumstances. :) I think learning to accept God's will is one of the most important and powerful tools that we can develop in our lives. I also am going to study Alma 5 this week! I love that chapter, but I've never thought about writing down the questions... :) Thanks!

I'd better run! The bus will be here for the other hermana pretty soon. :) I love you so very much! Have a fantastic week and we shall we talking soon! :)

Love,
Kristen

P.S. Hey Mom, lots of people sent me requests on facebook this week....could you send me a list of who and I'll tell you who yes and who no for now....? THANKS!! :)

Creando Buenos Recuerdos. (Creating Good Memories)

I posted this a few weeks ago. Kristen knew the baby's name would be Milo so that's why she took this picture for us. :)

HELLO ALL!! :D

It has been a fantastic week. I'm getting over the first stomach flu that I've ever had in the mission, but I am feeling better and loving life. :) We had a great week, which included (obviously) teaching, finding, BAPTISMS!!, and our consejo in Antofagasta. So all in all it's been a very busy but great week. :)

We did visits with a returned missionary that is visiting her sister from Peru this week. Her name is Janet, and it was absolutely fantastic teaching with her. She said everything PERFECTLY to our investigators and we were just tickled pink with happiness. :) Katty continues progressing GREAT, along with Agustina. We're working with LOTS of other families, but the two that are progressing LOTS are those two. :)

We had our consejo with President Dalton this week, and it was just what I needed. There were so many answered prayers that came in many different ways. It was super strange to be saying goodbye too, to Hermana Severtson and Hermana Rodriguez that go home next week.... Seems like yesterday that Hermana Severtson and I were in Copiapó together. :)

Something that President shared really hit me hard. He started out by saying that we, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, have existed for at LEAST 6,000 years (being the existence of the earth). Try for just a second to wrap your head around 6,000 years. Learning, preparing, and being SOOO excited to come here to earth to get a body. And then we got here, and we will live here for just a SLIVER of time, and then be resurrected here in the not too far future. And then we go on LIVING in these wonderful (but then perfected) bodies, having the rest of 6,000 years and millions more, thinking about what we did here on earth. His question for us was are we creating good memories? Are the things we are doing right now what we will want to remember for an eternity? And the beauty of it is, is that if they are not the things we want to remember, we can rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and forget those bad things we have done, and just be left with the good. So, my goal this week has been to create the BEST memories possible, because I sure want to look back at this time, time that we will never get back, with a smile on my face. :)

Then came Saturday. And what a MIRACLE that was. :D Camila has been waiting to be baptized for almost 3 whole months. AND SHE GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. :D The super strange thing was that, because she moved just a few weeks ago, we weren't in charge of her baptism. It was like having a baptism without all the drama that comes with the interview and filling the font and getting the program ready, etc. BUT not that I'm complaining, just saying it was a very peaceful day. :) We did a musical number and it was a beautiful service. She was so happy. :)

We invited Katty and she said that she was going to go, but didn't arrive, and we were anxiously waiting and waiting and waiting, when she called us saying that she was almost there, and so we went to wait outside. And she literally got there for the closing prayer.....whoopss.... BUT the Lord truly works in mysterious ways and there was another baptism of the Hermanas de Caspana that was starting in about 10 minutes so we asked an hermano to take us over there and made it just in time for the opening song. :) There was a family that was being baptized: a dad, a mom, and their 8-year-old. They have 2 other little kids, so it was beautiful seeing them all there together and super happy. After the baptism, while we were waiting for them to change their clothes, Katty started asking us when we were baptized, and how we could choose when we were 8, but yet we still didn't know everything, etc. So then the family got back, and I hadn't told her what I was going to, so I thought I'd just wait for after. We finished the service, and Hermana Albornoz went to congratulate them, and I turned to Katty and told her although I didn't know all that I do now about the church and that my testimony isn't the same, I knew that I needed to follow the example of my Savior and the good things my parents had taught me. And I have never, ever regretted that decision. We both started to cry and she expressed her desire to follow Christ, but was scared and needed help. :) So we talked for a bit and then she went and talked to Nicole, the mom that got baptized, and asked her why she did it. So they were talking for a bit as well and everything turned out super super good. Katty went to church yesterday, and is trying to find work, so we are PRAYING that she does so that she can stay here in Calama. Cause if not, she's headed out to a different city to find work at the end of the week.... :( But the ward has been helping and looking, so our hopes are high. :)

I know that this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives! I love being here making great memories and hope that you all have a great week doing the same. Make the most of it. :D

Love,
Hermana Tuft
=========================
Hey Mom and Dad!

Can I just say that I have never missed you two more than I did this weekend when I was super duper duuuupppper sick throwing up Saturday night? It was awful. I ate something that made me get sick and literally threw up all night. Blegh. I haven't thrown up in about 10 years I figured. So that makes me even more of a pansie when it comes to that kinda thing. BUT. I'm up and living and alive today. :) And even made it to church yesterday thinking I'd be okay, but ended up looking like a ghost, which was a bit of a shock to the members that say my skin is already ghostly white. :P Needless to say, I did sleep all afternoon yesterday and we're headed for round two of naptime as soon as we're done here. :)

Hermana Albornoz obviously helped and was great with me, but the thing that gave me the most comfort is thinking about your words saying that in moments when you two were far away, I could always remember those feelings of being taken cared of and of love. And as I was laying in bed waiting for the next wave of nastiness, I could just imagine Grandma and Grandpa Tyler there taking care of me, rubbing my feet and giving me 7-Up and saltine crackers. And that truly helped me the most, as ridiculous as that sounds. :)

I was very sad to hear that Grandpa Tuft has been declining a little bit more every day... I wrote them a quick note last week, but I bet Grandma's just been super busy and I don't know if Grandma would even be able to read the letter to Grandpa... I had my hopes so high that he would be there in a couple months more, but if he's so miserable and not able to do anything, it would be best if he could rest and not be in any more pain... All in the Lord's timing. Maybe he was just waiting for little Milo to make it. :) Please express to them my love and concern, and that they truly are in every prayer.

I am glad that the family reunion went well!! :) I was actually just reading my journal on Saturday from last year, cause Pia got baptized exactly a year ago. :) And I had written about the family reunion and how sad I was that I couldn't go, but then it was interesting because I didn't even know if it was this past weekend or not this time around... :) Funny how much I feel like I've changed. :) And OBVIOUSLY the family is important, and I'll be there next year, but I was super glad this time around that I was here. :) I can't wait to see the Ogden Temple. I bet it's incredible. It looks a TOOOON different. How's the Provo Temple coming along?? I am so darn excited for that temple. They're all special. But I love that one already. :)

Pablo & Claudia are doing well, but they're super busy bodies and we haven't been able to have that family night that we were planning.... Wednesday. :) Denice and Andres are in a similar situation and hopefully they'll be available today... Alicia and Sebastian have been super extraños.... So we'll see what's up there... And we were supposed to go to Yobannely's last night....but I was not able to..... So there all here still....de a poquiiiitttoo.

I also LOVED that story from Mark Christiansen. That is incredible truly. What a miracle it is that he could go back and JUST in time. The Lord's timing is truly something incredible. We have transfers this weekend, and IF I don't stay, I would loovvveee to go back to Arica. I've had it in my prayers, BUT I'll go where he wants me to go very happily. And maybe that means staying here. WHO KNOWS. :) President shared with us this past week how we does transfers, and it truly is an incredible process. A three-day process, but an incredible one. So what I'm saying is that yes, President does know what's happening with me at this moment in time. :) But what's more important is that the Lord knows and it's all in His hands. :)

Mom, Amalia did not go to church, again. :( :( :( We'll see what's up. Maybe it's just not her time...? But we're not giving up on her just yet. President and Sister Dalton were up there last week for interviews, and were with us about a week and a half ago... :) And no I was not on that bus LUCKILY. Cause in our bus we were sitting up front, right where the bus crashed.......... And Elder Funaro jokingly said, "Be sure to buckle up!" right before we left at 5 in the morning, and I didn't do it.... I know you are shaking your head, but just so you know, on the way back I WAS with my seatbelt. :) Hermana Rindlisbacher was super good, just said that she hit her head on the seat in front of her and woke up... AND I didn't know that she goes to USU as well!!! So that will be fun. I'm sure we'll be great friends. :) Plus, Justina asked me today if we were still on to room together in the spring, and I had talked to Megan about living with her for a bit, and I would love to, but I would also love to have a campus life (NOT like Davis Hall again. Never again.) BUT I would also love to live with my sister. But I think that I'll plan on living on campus at least for spring, and maybe stay up there and live with Megan for the summer....? We shall see where the wind blows me. Truly I'm not ready to be thinking about these things right now. WHERE IS THE TIME FLYING MAKE IT STOPPPPP. Anywho. :)

I love you both so very much. I am so glad that you both taught me to love the Gospel, and to love my Savior. I'm SO excited for Spencer to be headed out into the field this week, and know he will do great and be protected. Angels will truly be round about him, as they have been with me. And if he needs to take my angels for a little bit, that's okay, cause I think I'm in a little bit safer place... :) :D

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEK. I hope you can both go to the temple before little Lindsay gets back. :) LOVES!!

Amo mi Calama :)

Heellllooooo!

This week has been absolutellyyyy fantastic. I seriously can't explain my happiness. :) This week has been super great. And something that made it even BETTER is knowing that little baby Milo was born!! :D He's going to be a pretty tall dude. :)

Where to start. :) There are two experiences específicamente that I want to share. :) First of all, we did change chapels and they officially started the remodeling today. They've been unloading stuff at the church allll day long. I think it'll be more like 8 months of remodeling.... They said 3 to 8 months. But there's loottts of stuff. :) The other chapel is pretty far away, but we got there well yesterday, and didn't have AS many people as normal at church, but this chapel is a little bit smaller, and the sacrament room was full. So that's a good sign at least. :) Now just for the 30 members that didn't come....we'll be a pretty full house. :) Love it. :) We had LOTS of investigators that were going to go to church yesterday, but JUSTO we ran out of minutes on our cellphone on Saturday night.....so we couldn't call or pick all of them up.... But the miracle is that 2 people still went so we were pretty happy. Yesterday was a pretty stressful day, but we made it through alright and saw lots of miracles. :)

One of our new investigators from this week's name is Katty. She's from Ecuador and has been living here for a couple years. She works here and sends money home to her son, and wants to go back as soon as possible. Her son is 5 years old, so naturally she wants to be with him.... But the Lord knows our circumstances, and Katty has felt pretty lonely here in Chile. She doesn't have any family, etc, so when we stopped by looking for a less active member, she opened right up with a bunch of questions and we set things up to come back the next day and teach her the first lesson. When we got there, she had read the first pamphlet ENTERO and told us exactly what had happened, almost as if she was the missionary....it amazed us. We brought her a Book of Mormon, and invited her to church. She was pretty hesitant about accepting the Book of Mormon, but took it and said that she would read it and that she would go to church with us for all 3 hours. :) And she did. She left as soon as sacrament was over (we're finishing with Sacrament meeting now), but she gave us a hug as she left and started crying. We are very excited for Katty. :)

We also had an amazing experience with another family that we've been working with. I don't know if you remember me talking about Claudia, Pablo, and Claudio.....? I honestly can't remember if I've talked about them.... But! We had a great experience with them this week. They have been reading the Book of Mormon for this past month that we've been stopping by, and they love it. We found them in our Area Book from a couple elders that were here last year that got transfered and then no one ever stopped by again.... So we called them up, set up an appointment and have been stopping by ever since. We read with them this week 3 Nephi 11, when Christ comes and teaches the people about His doctrine. We invited them to be baptized, and lo and behold.... Pablo was baptized when he was 14!!! Missionaries have been stopping by for monttthsss. And he hasn't ever told anyone until this past week. Even Claudia was shocked. Anddd he recieved the Priesthood before he became inactive.... So we were pretty blown away with that lesson, but he shared his experience with us and said he knew that this church truly has the truth. He kinda had a Joseph Smith experience as a young boy, and went to lots of different churches and learned about all of them, but this church called his attention the most. SO. We are going to put a bit more focus in them so that Pablo can become active again, and possibly baptize his family..... :D Claudia said she still wasn't sure, but this week will be going with us to CAMILA'S BAPTISM (pleaseeeee keep that in your prayers, that all will go well for Camila's baptism this weekend....) and Pablo said yes. Sooo. We're pretty excited for their family. :D The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. AND what's more is that Claudio last night asked us about the picture at the beginning of the Book of Mormon with Nephi and his family in the boat, and so we explained it, and then Pablo chimed in and started explaining the Liahona and that it worked according to their faith and obedience, etc. DAH. Qué felicciddaaaaddddd. :D

So if I could sum up the week in one word it would be GENIAL. I love being a missionary and I love this work. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and that it was restored by the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love my Savior and His great sacrifice for me. I know that through Him, one day I will return with my family to live in the presence of my Heavenly Father.

I hope you all have a FANTASTIC week. :D

Con muchísmo amor,
Hermana Tuft
======================
Hello mis padres queridos! :)

I was SOOO happy to find out about little Milito. He's adorable. :D I can't wait to meet the little guy. :) I'm just looking through your emails as I go so I can answer and respond to everything, so here goes! :) Hna Albornoz's tooth is doing well. :) She hasn't said anything about it, and everytime I ask, she says it's good. :) She's had lots of health problems in the mission, so most of the time her stomach is bothering her, and she has been forbidden to eat with mamitas cause they give us lots of food. Luckily, our mamita Ely right now is SUPER great and doesn't get offended if we can't finish and cooks pretty healthily. Pero a pesar de eso....I've still gained lots of weight here in Calama. No. Importa. :P Things are going well with our ward council. We've become a lot more united and work a loooottt more together. We just changed relief society presidencies a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't be happier with the new president. :) So things are going well. :) Aaand I can honestly say that my health has been super good. Everrryoonnnee is sick right now with pretty bad colds, so we've been eating our fruits and veggies, saying our prayers, and keeping really bundled up so we don't get sick. A sore throat here and there, but overall great. :)

I loved hearing about Jenn's experience last year! I would love to write her, if it would be possible to get her email..... It's interesting because I feel like now at the endish I have so much time to write everyone.....so I don't know if that means my letters home are shorter or what....whoops. :) I hope Lindsay has a great time there in Arizona and doesn't get toooo burned. :) She went with Kaelyn Staheli right?? I'm also super glad that the fire there didn't get too bad.... That's a scary moment.... And Mom, I don't have sound on this computer, so hopefully I can change computers right before I get off and watch that video. I'm excited to see it. :) (I will post it for anyone else interested.)  http://history.lds.org/article/sister-missionaries-video?lang=eng

I'm really glad that you guys got to go up to Brigham City for Pioneer Day. I bet Grandma and Grandpa really enjoyed that. :) I thought that Grandpa wouldn't be able to be here before Spencer left, so to know that he is doing relatively well is fantastic. They are always in my prayers. If he's still with us in November....the first thing I want to do is go up to see him. :) I know that this is the Lord's timetable though, so I put all my trust in His hands.

Yep, to answer your question about loosing hair. We all lose hair here in the northern part of Chile. It's normal with the terrible water here, cause there's so many minerals and crappy stuff from the mines... Hna F. talked to me about it, and knows that it happens to everyone... :) It also gets super fried from the sun and the water, hence my hair has changed colors..... But we use lots of moisturizers for hair and I wash my face with the little towelettes that you sent me. :)

Thanks for all your support. I love learning from all your weekly experiences and thoughts that you share. :) Always gives me a great big smile. :D Also, thank you so very much for keeping our investigators in your prayers always. We can't pray enough for them. :)

Until next week! :D

Loveee,
Kristen

Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven.

Hello Family and Friends! :)

It's been a great week. :)  I seriously love life and I love the mission. :)  I wish I could share everything that we have learned and experienced this week, but it's just not possibleee.  But here goes. :)

We got back from Tocopilla on Monday night and had intercambios on Tuesday with Hermana Smith and Hermana Wisrock.  We had a great time in intercambios and I learned a lot.  Hermana Smith and I made pumpkin cookies (unfortunately without the chocolate chips....) and shared them with our companions.  Hopefully next time they'll work out a little bit better to share with others... :P  On Wednesday, we had a great lesson with Amalia from 2 Nephi 31 about baptism and the Holy Ghost.  She is progressing great!  She has had a fear about going to church... She says that she'll go, up until Sunday morning when we call, and then she ends up not coming with the Valencia's for reasons fomes.... But keep her in your prayers and she'll get there next week. :)  We also had a great family night with the Valencia's about eternal families and talked about "The Family - A Proclamation to the World."  Thursday was great and not so great, but it turned out well and we learned loads.  It truly is incredible the power of a simple testimony. 

On Friday, we had interviews with President and got ready for the activity that evening. Everything was ready to go at about 5:30, and the members started to show up at about 6:15 (it was supposed to start at 6... :P) and a few things changed and we ended up starting at almost 7, BUT it was fantastic and we saw lots of miracles along the way. :)  The biggest miracle that we saw was with Denice and her family.  We called them to make sure they were coming, and she said a friend had just had a son pass away, so they were headed to his viewing to help and support.  But she said that she and her husband, Andres, would be able to drop the kids off and pick them up afterwards.  So they dropped them off, and ANDRES GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SHAKE OUR HANDS AND THANK US.  He hardly ever talks to us.... So that kinda took us aback, and then as we were ending, he came to pick up the kids, and ASKED US to come over any night this week after nine at night when they were all home so we could visit them.  WAHHOOOOOO!!!! :D  So we will definitely stop by this week, hopefully tomorrow, and visit their whoollleee family.  Together.  Truly, we were so grateful and amazed. :)

Saturday was also great.  Things worked out in a way that Camila is not getting baptized at least for a couple more weeks.  :(  The elder's are working with them, but it's hard because they can't visit them unless it's with another member... So it's been a struggle, but she is still just as excited and we are praying that everything will work out alright... Yobannely's been sick this week, so we haven't been able to visit her, but we did see her in the street and she said that after we left, she and her dad, Ivan, kept talking about what we had said, and she said he wants to apologize for being so "pesado".  So hopefully that goes well, and that as you said, Dad, that he will have the desires to read the Book of Mormon and know more.... :) She said her pareja, Carlos also was interested.  So good things to come. :)

Yesterday was our last week in our chapel.  I don't know if I mentioned this, but we won't be in Central Norte for about 8 months because they're going to do some serious remodeling... So we're headed to a chapel that's in the centro casi, and it's a couple miles away... So yesterday Obispo Aguilar talked about sacrifice, and mentioned the movie we watched on Friday, 17 Miracles, about the sacrifice of the pioneers.  We don't really celebrate Pioneer Day down here, but we sure have been remembering a lot about the pioneers and the sacrifices that they did so that we could be here today, and for the sacrifices that they made for the cause of Christ.  They knew it was true, and knew that sacrifices truly would bring forth the blessings of Heaven, and that is still true today.  According to our faith, we will and do see miracles every day, in different ways that the pioneers saw them perhaps, but they are there. So we are excited to see the sacrifices of our little Central Norte and the blessings and miracles that we will see.  I love Calama. :)

I know this church is true and that Jesus Christ lives!  Wishing everyone a fantastic week. :)

Love,

Hermana Tuft

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Hey Mom and Dad!

I hope that I answered everything almost... :)  We were so sad about Camila.  All in the Lord's time.  :) Please keep her in your prayers.  Okay.  With Jaqueline... :P  She is not married, nor baptized, but when they lived in Santiago, she would go with her kids and with the ward and wait outside.  She wanted to go to the temple so that her kids could go in, and was saying that she finds such peace in just sitting outside waiting.  That's the story. :P  But yes, the plan was to be married at the end of the year.  She and her husband aren't doing so well..... I mean, I guess he's not even her husband, but they've lived together for 15 or more years.  Anywho. Keep her in your prayers too as well please.  :)

I loved hearing about the week and that all is well there. :)  Lindsay and Grandma and Grandpa are in my prayers.  I hope that all will work out well with Grandpa being in the care center... Things will always work out. :)  I need to write them a quick little note....

I also wanted to mention that YES I do get pictures and I love them. :)  I just don't always remember to respond... :)  Poor little Todd Staheli!! That picture made me hurt for the little guy.....  And the bathroom looks great, Floppy too, and little Audrey of course.  She's so bigggg.  And yes, I loved the picture of Ash!  She looks so different!!  Do I look lots different to you guys....?  Be honest por favor. :)

OH!  And Sharing Time went relatively well. :)  I was kinda crowd control while Hna Albornoz taught, and then we helped them sing, "Let the Holy Spirit Guide".  It turned out well. :)  I cannot image having 50 kids, Mom.  We had 10, and I was stressing out... :P  It turned out well. :)  

I loved the thoughts that you send, Dad.  I enjoyed the sunrise. :)  I also have been thinking a lot about the thought from Elder Scott, how as we make goals of things we have never done before, we must act accordingly and do things we have never done before.  We talked about that as a mission a couple months ago with Peter walking to Christ on water.  We talked about how most of the time we talk about Peter having such little faith, but at least he got out of the boat.  The other apostles just stayed there watching.  Not to undermine the other apostles, but we have talked a lot about Peter and how we must get out of the boat and let the power of the Atonement be the difference.  By staying inside, we don't give room for the Atonement to make miracles happen.  So we're working on jumping out of the boat. :)  An elder said something that I loved.  He said, "God wants us to live in the water."  Not falling in the water per sé, but rather if we get out and start to fall, that we can pick ourselves up again by grabbing the hand of the Lord that is always outstretched.  :)  

I love you lots.  I hope you are all doing so well and that you have a GREAT Pioneer Day this week.  Thanks for all the stories and the news and the pick-me-ups. :)  I love being a missionary. :D

Lots of love,

Kristen