14th MONTH - AUGUST

14^th MONTH - AUGUST

August 29, 2016

Hola Fam n Friends!

Our investigator Jaime was baptized and confirmed!!!  Jaime is an early 30’s, Spaniard, studied law, and uses really big words that I don't know in Spanish or in English.  He's super smart and super witty!  We taught him hi-fives and now he does them all the time.  He's a good egg.  Sorry this is really short.  Church is true! I love you!  Study the scriptures!

Hermana Charlesworth 

Iré y Haré y Seré

Jaime Baptism

August 15, 2016

Buenos Amigos Mios!

Crazy week!  Spent Monday and Tuesday in Madrid for consilio, took all the lovely spiritual info that we learned to the zone and did zone training the next day, then had exchanges and flew the Hermanas from Tennerife into our area.  I got to work with Hermana Harper which was bomb because she was my greeny-breaker!  This week Jaime also had his baptismal interview and passed with all smiles! (I will write more about him next week). Sorry this is more factual than spiritual I'm on a time crunch today.  Love you all and keep reading your scriptures! 

Hermana Charlesworth 

Iré y Haré y Seré

Consilio Madrid August 9, 2016

Island Donkey

Rocky Nublo

Snuck past security with my Gofio To-go...! Chacho

Jaime is getting baptized Saturday!!! We're working on his smiles...

¡Hola Fam & Friends! On a plane as we speak, Hermana Freestone and I are headed into Madrid for Consilio.  We took a 5 o'clock GuaGua (bus) to be to the airport at 6 this morning!  Sooooo I’m gonna contact this guy scribbling some architecture plans next to me then take a nap and let you guys read this email!  But I wanted to share with you one of the many many miracles God has blessed us with here in Telde.  I know this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that our Heavenly Father loves us very much, even with all of His heart, mite, mind and strength!  He is a Father of love and we are His children. 

Alicia la Cubana:

Wednesday 1, June 2016

Met a woman named Alicia touching doors, she is from Cuba and works interna looking after an older gentleman (to me the definition of interna would be someone from South America who is a slave to an old person Spaniard, but to put it in better words interna signifies an in-house nurse. Company is usually never allowed in, and the worker never allowed out).  We shared the Book of Mormon with her and she accepted the invitation to read.  We were hopeful but also realistic that we might never enter her home or ever have the opportunity to teach her due to her circumstances. 

Friday 10, June 2016:

Hermana Freestone and I passed by Alicia to check up and see how she was doing.  She had begun to read and the book had quenched a 30-year thirst.  However her situation allowed us little time and seeing that we were still un welcomed in the home, we testified briefly from the doorframe that the book was true and would change her life, and she had to go. 

Thursday 21, July 2016: 

Intercombios with Hermana Tyler, I passed by Alicia, we set an appointment.

Thursday 28, July 2016

Today Alicia was waiting for us and opened the door motioning us to enter (miracle!).  We didn't speak as we entered the home and walked passed the elderly man watching tv from his cot in the living room. We met her in the kitchen. A humble one-man setting with a tiny tiny little wood table. The Book of Mormon sat marked and open on the table.  She had several pages of notes and genealogy charts drawn and scribbled and rescribbled, all neatly organized on the table.  Her entire character beamed, she told she knew the book was true. 

Tuesday 2, August 2016

Today we gathered around the tiny wood table again, the air hot and sticky as always, all of us sweating.  We laid our scriptures out.  We sang, she hummed, and we prayed.  Hermana Freestone and I sat on the edge of our chairs listening intently to Alicia.  She asked if she could be baptized...

Alicia has a baptismal date for September! 

Favorite quotes from amigos this week:

"If anyone turns into a skank after the mission, I will hunt them down..."

-Hermana Pack

"If you checkout, your behind the game."

-Hermana Freestone

"There's a light at the end of the tunnel, but we learn a whole darn lot through the tunnel..."

-Hermana Harper 

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré

Intercambios with H' Jensen and H' Robinson

Island Adventuring

We were checked off the Pack's Clean piso tour and received the golry of a "Celestial Piso". Makin ya proud Mom!

Fresh OJ with the Delgados

13th MONTH – JULY

13^th MONTH – JULY

¡Hola!

Cool news, church attendance this week doubled!  We have about 20 people in our branch and this week between investigators, in-actives, and friends of members we had a little over 40 in attendance.  Our little chapel was filled! I truly love them. After church every Sunday there's no rush and everyone piles on/around the two little green couches that sit in the entryway to talk and help us make plans with investigators for the week. 

I love the gospel.  President Pack couldn't have said it better when he told us, "People are happier when they do it the Lords way." 

I hope everyone is healthy and happy!

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré

La Gran Canaria Rooftop Teaching a Lesson

1 Year Mark with Hermana Graff.  We left Salt Lake together for the Mission.

La Gugua (aka the Bus)

Goat and Papas

July 18th, 2016

Buen Dia! 

Something a very good friend of mine told me is that God will take you as you are prepare you. When I was called to be STL In the Islands I almost died. I was so nervous (and excited) because I knew my new responsibilities would include presenting in front of large groups of people, and flying (on average) every two weeks. If you did not know, I DREAD public speaking and I HATE the feelings of turbulence when you fly! So Tuesday night we flew into Madrid for Leadership Counsel and stayed at the mission home until Wednesday morning when we had our meeting, that same night we took our short two hour flight back to the Canary Islands and planned in the plane, what we would present in Zone Training the next morning. Thursday we did our Zone Training with all the Missionaries on la Gran Canaria, Friday morning we did another zone training through Skype with all the other missionaries throughout the islands, and right after that we finished off our weekend with exchanges! Crazy week to start of the transfer and it's only the beginning! Am I still scared of public speaking? Yes, but did God get me through it? Yes! God takes you as you are, prepares you, is patient and loving when you fall, and gives you experiences and opportunities to become better. 

Sorry there's a lot of mission-lingo, hopes this makes sense. Love you!!! 

Hermana Charlesworth 

Iré y Haré y Seré

Eucalytus Tree

Mission Leadership Counsel in Madrid

Zone Training Part 2

Nightly planning in the tub cuz it's hot!

July 9th, 2016

¡Buenas!

Esta semana fue llena de sorpresas!  Primero, cumplí un año en la misión!  Segundo, desde ahora, estaremos las únicas en nuestra área.  Los Elderes y el compañerismo matrimonio se marcharon y ahora solo tenemos nosotras y los 20 miembros fuertes de Telde!  Amo la rama y la gente y su amor me ha cambiado. Sinceramente me siento que he experimentando "el cambio de corazón" (Alma 5:14,26).  Ellos me han enseñado mucho y aunque sufren mucho, siempre tienen sonrisas y una fe inquebrantable.  Es increíble. 

También, por todos quienes me escriben, gracias por su amor y sus correos!

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré 

Here 1 year ago, view from MTC

The Esmoils

Turtles and Service

The Branch of Telde

Familia de Los Leon

July 4^th, 2016

Hola!

This week was buenisima!  We all traveled to the island of Tenerife to have Zone Conference with the Packs, and it was the first time that our whole zone had come together (because we're spread out all over the islands)! 

Loving our investigators and they are progressing!  We had a family of 4 come to church on Sunday and they LOVED it, and sacrificed a lot to come.  We also had a couple and a young man attend.  I love these people with all my heart!  The Church is true.

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré

My 1st Zone Conference in the Canary Islands

Beautiful Flowering Bush of the Canary Islands

Water Fight in the Park July 4th

Water Fight in the Park July 4th

12th MONTH – JUNE

12th MONTH – JUNE


Monday June 27th 2016

Hola Amigos y Familia!

The week was a little rocky with intercombios (aka exchanges...I think) the girls almost missed their plane but we're able to come last minute! The craziest/funniest things always happen in intercombios and lucky for us we get to do them every week! Your totally pooped after but it's worth it. Thank you for your love, emails, and prayers. The mission is amazing, God is great, people are crazy! Enjoy every second of every day. We are incredibly blessed and our possibilities are endless. Love you guys!

Hermana Charlesworth
Iré y Haré y Seré

Pueblo Hopping

Island View From Mountain Top

Gofio. Only found on the Canary Islands and is GOLD.

Island Rooftops

Monday, June 20th 2016

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Primero, me gustaría anunciar que mi amigo Luis que está en Madrid se bautizo!  Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad que tuve de conocerle a ser testigo del hombre maravilloso que llegó a ser. 

También me tocó hablar en la reunión sacramental esta semana.  Hable mucho de los principios del Evangelio pero solo quiero enfocarme en el primero que es la fe.  Siempre he escuchado que fe es una palabra de acción. Siempre he aceptado eso pero nunca lo entendía tampoco entendía como ponerlo en practica.  Me gustaría compartir un relato de la Biblia que se encuentra en Josué. En este capítulo Josué estuvo preparándose para dirigir los hijos de Israel a través del Río Jordán. Dense cuenta que Josué y los hijos de Israel tenían la promesa del Señor que podían cruzar el Río Jordán por tierra seca.  Lo que pasó después, Cuando ellos llegaron al río, en vez de esperar que las aguas se separen ellos ya han empezado a caminar en el agua!  Aprendí que ellos tenían tanta fe en el Señor y confiaron que el podría cumplir con sus promesas.  Después de que ellos caminaron en el río el agua se separó.  Seguramente ellos tuvieron dudas en mente en este momento pero nunca tuvieron miedo.  Ojalá que podamos actuar en fe, aunque no sabemos todo, sabemos que Dios nunca nos falla. 

Les quiero! Y que leen las escrituras!

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré

Rooftops of the Canaries / Las Azoteas de Las Canarias

When people feed us / Cuando las personas nos alimentan

Life is to enjoy! Not only endure / La vida es para disfrutarla y no tan Solo para tolerarla

12 Month - June


Fam and friends,

This past week we had Mission Leadership Counsel and they flew us and the Zone Leaders into Madrid to participate.  Five other girls and I stayed in the mission home over night with President and Hermana Pack and it was so fun getting to know them and their family! We got in late, changed into our jammies, and President and Hermana Pack cut us a watermelon and then showed us their fruit sticker collection.  I adore them.  The next morning the other missionary's joined us for the meeting and it was amazing!

I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve, love, and improve.  I love the mission and I love our Father and Savior very much.  On the flight over Hermana Freestone leaned over and said, "God loves his missionaries so much!  Right now he's flying us from the coast of Morocco to Europe." We are very blessed!  This transfer we made big goals in counsel meeting and we're ready to help the rest of the mission achieve them.

Miracle this week, during her religion class in school, Alejandra (16 year old girl from our rama), stood up and shared her testimony on the atonement.  The teacher was interested and accepted the invitation to have the missionaries come teach the class.  Of course under legal obligations we could not testify, but we could still invite the spirit.  We showed a very basic video about the Mormon church and then left the rest of the time open for questions.  We spent 1 1/2 hours talking and answering questions with the class! When the bell rang nobody got up to leave, instead they ran up to us with more questions!!!

Needless to say the islands are crazy!  I love our branch and the people here are bomb!

"Exaltation is our goal, discipleship is our journey." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Hermana Charlesworth
Iré y Haré y Seré

Sand from the Sahara Desert.  We are closer to Africa than we are our mission home!

Back in Madrid with Companion Herman Freestone

Mission Leadership Council

Saved 2 cats then ....

Pueblo Outside of Telde

11th Month – May

11th Month – May

May 30, 2016

I'm headed to the Canary Islands!  President called Saturday morning and asked, "Hermana Charlesworth are you worthy and willing to serve where the Lord needs you?" My new journey is taking me to Telde where I will serve as an STL (Sister Training Leader) and my new companion will be Hermana Freestone!

Love you all!!! Study your scriptures.

Me toca a Telde en la Gran Canaria! Allí seré la Hermana Entrenador por las islas con la Hermana Freestone.  Estoy muy animada, nerviosa, y agradecida por la oportunidad que tengo servir con los misioneros allí!

Nunca podría olvidar me tiempo en Barrio 4 con me compañera la Hermana Barcenas y con la magnífica gente por allí.  Pensé que tendría más tiempo para escribir pero empezamos trabajar ya!

Cuídense y les quiero!

Hermana Charlesworth
Iré y Haré y Seré


Goodbye Spain




Flying to the Canary Islands



Flying into the Canary Island Airport



The Canaries



A Metro (Subway) in the Canaries




Mikaela with New Little Friend

Wednesday May 25th

Hola Familia y Amigos!

This past couple weeks have been buenisimo!  Why?  We are almost 100% healthy!  I'm loving the mission, we see miracles every day.  God is great, God is tender, but I've learned that God will also test our faith.  Always put your trust in him, he's your Father and he loves you dearly. 


SCRIPTURE POWER!  Keeps me safe from sin, SCRIPTURE POWER!  Is the power to win.

Scripture Power!

The Gang

Parque de Europa

Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening)

Thursday May 12th 

Hey Fam and Friends! 

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while!  Thank you for your emails and prayers!  This past week I took a visit to the doc and he announced me as "critical condition" but no worries he took some blood (didn't even cry mom), gave me lots of drugs, and commanded bed rest for a bit. 

This week to prepare for Elder Bednar (who comes Saturday-where having a group discussion, so if you have a question for him pass it to me!)  I've been reviewing his general conference talks for the past ten years. Something I noticed as an ongoing theme, or something I've learned, is overcoming the natural man.  Elder Bednar stated that the number one question in the test of mortality is, "Will I respond to the inclinations of the natural man, or will I yield to the enticing’s of the Holy Spirit and put off the natural man?"  I invite you to meditate this question and remember, "You can have what you want or you can have something better." -Elder Holland. 

I know that Christ is our Savior and that he lives. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that he loves each of his children.  Our MTC President always told us "Don't do anything that would make me (Dad) sad." Our Heavenly Father extends the same invitation, "Don't do anything that would make me sad".  As we know, opposition is necessary for us to be able to use our gift of agency.  When we fail, and no matter how many times we fail, we are saved through the atonement and grace of our Savior.  Apply the atonement, repent!  Change your direction, and remember that your direction is ever more important than your speed. 

I love my Heavenly Father, my fam, and the mission!  Study the scriptures! 

Hermana Charlesworth

Iré y Haré y Seré

Photos:

My little Spanish amiga Daniela💕

 

Taco Tuesday with menos activo Maria

Renfe (aka: the above-ground train) 

Grandma & Grandpa Leathum finished their mission!