Week 9 Letter: Teaching in the Drive Thru

I am going to start off with the most amazing story ever, Friday we decided to have a walking day. We walked EVERYWHERE!! We decided to walk to dinner, Which was on the other side of town and a we had to cross the free way! We were walking past the McDonald's drive thru and this lady in a mini van rolled down her window and asked if we had a hard copy of A Book Of Mormon, and of course since we are missionaries we totally had one. She then told us she is dating a less active and downloaded the Book of Mormon on her phone, but wanted a hard copy to read. We talked to her a little bit, gave her our number and told her to call or text us if she had any questions.

Also, on our walking day our paths crossed with a 21 yr old girl. She was walking to the library looking for a job. She lives at home with her mom and 2 sisters. Her mom doesn't make enough to support the 4 of them. We told her about family services and then walked with her to the library to show her lds.org... but we also showed her MormonChannel and told her if she wanted to feel good, she should watch some of the videos.

We also found a new investigator this week! We went out with a lady in our ward, we were finding people on a list that our bishop gave us. We found a part member Family. The dad is a member but hasn't been to church in a long time. They are a sweet family with 3 kids. We have an appointment with them this week! We had one last week, but Thursday we were in Springfield and we both starting feeling sick. We got back home and ate some dinner, well, that was a bad mistakes within 10 minutes I threw up.... The most violent Throw up I have ever had.  Sister Stanworth threw up a few hours later. The members that we live with went to the store and got us medicine and Ginger Ale. We are pretty sure that we got food poisoning from red robin.

Can I tell you how amazing the members are that we live with. They feed us every night and buy our food for us!

Saturday we had a pancake breakfast with our ward. We invited pretty much everyone and their dog. We had a pretty good number show up.  After everyone ate, we shared a Easter message!

Well, that is all that I can think of this week! 

I hope ya'll are doing well!!!! 

I love and miss all so much!!!
Know that Heavenly Father is real and he loves ya'll so much! The Atonement is wonderful and can heal you from anything. We never have to walk in this life alone.

Have a wonderful week!!!
Love, Sister Charlesworth 

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Week 8 Letter: Welcome to Rogersville

Sister Stanworth and I have successfully made it to Rogersville. We got here Thursday afternoon, I wish I could say that I miss Buffalo, but sadly I can't. I am liking it here already!!! 

We are living with Members! It is the greatest thing ever!! The members we live with are so wonderful! Sister Clements is so great! Her husband has been out of town so I only met him this morning for like 2 seconds when I was doing situps. haha. I am probably going to gain like 50 pounds while I am here because The Clements have the BEST Milk ever, and I don't even like Milk!!!! But So far we have had root beer milk and chocolate milk. 

This week really wasn't much of a missionary week, sadly. We had so much cleaning and packing to do. Monday we went to Bolivar to have our last Preparation day with our wonder District. We played Quelf. But before that a cute couple in our ward in Bolivar took sister Stanworth and I out to lunch and to get our haircuts. My hair looks great, but sister Stanworth's.... well just had to go get it fixed the next day. It looks super cute now!!!! 

Our last week in Buffalo was the best week there. People were super nice to us. It was a nice change.Tuesday we went to a super cute cafe kind of place. We had been wanting to go there for the whole transfer, but every time we went it was closed! We finally found them open ate got to eat there. It was pretty good, but the best part, someone paid for our lunch!!! and the owner is married to  an Less Active. So we had a nice talk about Mormons with them. 

We walked past the senior center in Buffalo and there was a whole bunch of old people singing and playing instruments. Well some old guy opened the door and told us to go in, so we did. Sister Stanworth even sang for them.

Good News!!!! C and F finally got a divorce! They even asked Sister Stanworth and I be in there wedding. Hopefully, we can make it back there for that!!! We were so excited!! Also pray for their baby J. They found out that he has fluid on his brain and needs to get surgery 

We packed all day Thursday morning and drove to Rogersville, (Rogersville is outside of Springfield MO)Thursday we unpacked and did a lot of boring stuff that needed to get done.The same for Friday. 

Saturday I had my first zone conference. Elder Callister came!  It was a pretty long day, but I got to see sister Goody again and a few other people.Elder Callister Mainly spoke on the atonement. That was pretty great!!

I am in the best mission in the whole world!!! Last week our mission got over 3100 lessons. that is pretty much a record! 

After the meeting, sister Clements picked us up and she had a few errands to run. We went to kohls and then to Panda Express. She had never been there before, she was kind of scared to try it cos Panda is a new thing out here. But she liked it. She took us to a place called Andy's to get ice cream!!! Best ice cream ever!!!!! We went to a few other places, then went home!

Our new ward is wonderful!!!! They love doing missionary work! It snowed here yesterday, I just love how much everyone freaks out over the snow here. They all act like they are going to die. We did see a car flipped over in the ditch coming home from church. We called 911 but someone had already called it in. Since it was snowing we couldn't go out, we spent the rest of the night studying and talking with sister Clements.

Alright, this week I have learned so much!  As I have struggled the past few weeks, I have really come to learn a whole bunch of things and it seems like this week everything started to make sense. I know that My Heavenly Father Loves me and knows who I am. I know that the Atonement is so real. I am now starting to understand how powerful it really is. I am not 100% ok right now, but I know that I will be. I know that the things I am learning will help me so much during the rest of my mission and my life. I know that Heavenly father knows each of you. He loves you so much!!! He love for us NEVER changes!!

I love you all and hope your week is just wonderful!!!  

I pray for each of you every night!!!

Love, KIM (Sister Charlesworth)

Sister Charlesworth
     &
Sister Stanwoth

Week 7 Letter

I am sorry it has been 2 weeks since I have emailed!
Last week we had to leave to go Ice skating and didn't get back till after 5 and the library closes at 5. Here is What I had written last week before I had to get off and didn't have time to send it. 

Alright, I am just going to send a real quick email because we are going to Springfield and need to drive to Bolivar so we can get a ride there. I am so sorry that my last email so super lame and kind of sad, but things are better! Our ward is really ready to help us with missionary work and things with them are a lot better. 

First I want to start off by telling you about my birthday!!!! It was so wonderful! I got 4 birthday cakes!!!  

OH before I forget, I need to thank a lot of you!!!
Thanks mom for the Valentine/ birthday package, and the other birthday package with the pictures that was a total surprise!
Thanks  Alisha for the earrings and chocolate, grandma thanks for the check they were all perfect.

 I want to finish what happened last week because it was so AMAZING!!!! We got our goal of 21 Lessons!!!!  at like 5:50 we only have one lesson left and we needed to go home to do our studies for the day, and we needed it to be a member present so we called up a lady in our ward headed over to a house and gave a short 5 minute lesson and headed home!!!
I also gave a really awkward lesson on someone's door step Saturday night.
I am so glad all of our hard work paid off.

Alright so last week was kind of not really exciting. I can't even remember what we really did.
Monday we went Ice skating for my birthday! Then we went to Cold stone! They have a cold stone in Springfield! That made me so happy. and they have PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM now!!! That made me even more happy.  

We had a sisters conference this week! That was a super nice change. I got to see sister Goody that totally made me day. 

Our district meeting was so amazing this week! We did the coolest role play. 

OH my gosh I can't believe that I forgot to start off with this but Sister Stanworth and I got our transfer calls really early! We are leaving Buffalo! They are taking us out and closing down the area!!! Sister Stanworth and I are opening a new branch in Fordland Missouri! We are leaving at transfer point which is on the 13th. we have a week and half, to find a place to live and leave this area in good hands with the Elders who will be taking it back. 

Alright, Thursday was an interesting day. We got offered THREE rides when we were walking. That has NEVER happened to us. We told them that we were walking by choice, but thanks for offering.

Yesterday we were stuck in our apartment all day because of the weather. It was super cold and windy with ice pellets. So church was cancelled. People here freak out about the weather so much. Today there is no school because it snowed like 1/16 of an inch last night.  We are going to Springfield again today for a zone outing. I think that will be super fun. 

I realized I haven't really said anything about our  investigators. Even though they are going to be our investigators for 10 more day.

ok I will only tell you about one this week. Jeanie, she will be baptized I know it!! Her husband has been a member all his life and she has a few worries, one being going to church and not liking it! well last week she came to church and loved it. every talk was so perfect for her!!!!  

Alright! Saturday we got permission to go to a donkey basketball game!! FUNNIEST THING OF MY LIFE. it is exactly what it sounds like.  I will send a video and pictures.
we went with some of our investigators
 

I love you all so much!!! and miss you!!!! 

I know I have forgotten a million things  but oh well!

Missions are so hard!!! But I know that it is totally worth it!!
HURRAH FOR ISREAL!!!!
LOVE, Sister Charlesworth

Week 6

No email from Sis Charlesworth this week. Looking forward to a long one next week.
We did get some Valentines and a couple of sights from Missouri.

Week 5: Short Email (Kimmy's Birthday!)

K well this would make it the second time I deleted my mail, so this is going to be super short. 

This week started off great!!!! Ended not so great. 

I went on exchanges and had some super cool experiences but then I also had the most disgusting experience of my live involving hoarders. 

We had zone training. 

We had a great valentines day and gave everyone we saw a valentines. We also went to empty nesters  and played dominoes.

Saturday was when everything came crashing down. Everything that happened is out of our control and there is nothing we can do to fix it.

Sunday was pretty much the same. 

You know, as missionaries we are put in wards to help the ward with their missionary work. Some wards have wonderful things put in place and other don't and it can hinder our numbers and seem like we aren't working hard.  But I know that things will work out. I am not worried out it. 

This week since it is my GOLDEN BIRTHDAY we decided that we are going to get 21 lessons. with 13 of them being member present. This is a super hard goal considering that we got 1/4 of that this week, but I know that it can be done . On Saturday if we only have 10 lessons I am going to go to every house till we reach 21 lessons.
We also set a goal to get 7 baptisms date by the end of the transfer, which is 3 weeks away. This is  an super goal set in faith. Our area has never had a baptism and you better believe Sister Stanworth and I will be the first!!! 

I love you all so much and I am so sorry for the short email. I am so mad I deleted  two of them and had to start over.  

I love being a missionary!!! it is seriously the greatest!!!  

Hope you all have a wonderful week! and try to set some goals in faith!!! yesterday we filled 100% of our goals so our week of 21 lessons is looking great already!!! 

Love, Sister Charlesworth

Note From Sierra: This week is Kimmy's 21st (on the 21st--hence the golden birthday!) birthday! Send her an email, letter, package, little gift or something etc. I know she would absolutely love it! 

Week 4: Big Droppings in Buffalo :)

Well, HEY!!!!!
This week was kind of sad and hard but it was also so funny!!!!
K i need to start out with a few funny stories (they may not be funny to you, but I they are to me.) 

K so saturday night we drove into Louisberg, we decided to go and find some less actives, We drove up to this one house and a dog came out and started to bark and growl at us, We tried to walk past him but he wouldn't let us past him. We got scared so we decided to get back into the car for a sec. I opened the car door and the dog jumped into our car and  into the passengers seat. My companion opened the door and let the dog out. Then the dog decided he liked us and  let us walk up to the house.

After that house we went to another house, by this time it was dark.  We pulled into a driveway with 2 houses and none of them had house numbers ( hardly any houses have house numbers and it is so ANNOYING) as we walked to the first house, someone from the 2nd house let his dogs out and said "go get 'em" The HUGE dogs came running towards us. I screamed!! and started running,  The man was like oh I am so sorry I didn't know anyone was out there. So we talked to him and have an appointment to come back this week! 

I am really really starting to hate dogs. EVERYBODY here has like at least 5. They keep them all inside and the bark and get dog hair all over you. They also stink so bad!

On Tuesday since it was snowing we had to walk. (mom note--they don't let the missionaries drive if it snows at,pretty frustrating for missionaries from Ut and Id) We met a nice man he told us some cool stories about his son and how he had a brain tumor, and how god go them through it all.  We talked to him for a while and we are going back this week to teach him more.  I met all of our neighbors this week! I love them all, they are so so nice. One of them is going to throw me a tiny birthday party!  D and D are my favorite, It was cool cos I got to share with them why I am on a mission and I told them about the restoration. Give me a few weeks and they will totally be Mormon, by the time I leave this place.

On Wednesday we had to drive to Springfield which is about 30 minutes away. but I have no idea what direction... south maybe? We were there all day long. I was the last one interviewed, but that was great, president told me that the lord has shown him some of the things he has in store for me. I am not sure to be excited or scared from that statement. 

Thursday was a cool day- We went to Bolivar ( about 20 minutes away)  and stopped to see some less actives. Sister H came with us. ( I LOVE HER!!)  Our timing for every visit we had was just wonderful!  After we ate dinner at the Hurds.

Friday- We pretty much wasted 70 of our miles trying to find a house of a Potential  and we also had a dinner appointment . but it almost worth it cos the way there was so much fun! Missouri is really hilly. Sister Stanworth and I were laughing the whole time, cos you know when you go over hills sometimes it makes your stomach jump? well that happened the whole way there. 

Side story- We have a box in our car called TIWI, I started driving this week and everytime  I speed he says " check your speed" and it makes me jump everytime. Sister stanworth was like  Sister ya got to stop doing that.

Saturday- we tracted all day and no one let us in. It was so sad. We actually got yelled at a few times.

We still have our investigators with dates, but we found out that they can't get married for  6 months after C gets a divorce, so that was kind of sad. 

Sunday- sister Stanworth and I are officially the worst missionaries ever!!! we have kind of accidentally skipped church. Long story short-- we were told church was going to be cancelled because of the icy roads, so we started to study and then one of our Less actives called us and asked why we went at church. No one told us that church was back on. We felt bad so we walked to visit with some people we have been trying to get a hold of.

That is pretty much my week!!!! Saturday can be counted as my first hard day as a missionary!! 

The sun is shinning today!!! which makes me very happy it hasn't come out in days!!!!!
I love being a missionary!!! I am really hoping this week we can find more people to teach, cos I am really sick of knocking on people doors,
I totally understand the importance of member involvement!!! GIVE MISSIONARIES reference, they desperately need them!

but I am doing well!!!
I haven't cried yet (shocker right)

I love you all and thanks so much for your prayers and support!!!!
have a wonderful week!!!!

Hurrah for Israel!!!

Love, Sister Charlesworth 

***if you are interested Kim's MP's wife has a blog,  Sis Shumway doesn't update it very often but you never know when a picture of Sis charlesworth might show up.

 http://oklahomashumways.blogspot.com/

Week 3 (In Missouri!)

Alright!!!
Well hey!!!! 

It is so weird that the beginning of the week I was in Provo. Now I am in Missouri. I honestly  have no idea where I am at. I am just in a town called Buffalo. It is a small town where everyone smokes, missing several teeth and all have small dogs that stink up their house.

Alright on to my week!  

 Tuesday I really don't remember what happened. we had great dev. by brother Martino about member and missionary work.  So it was a pretty good end to my stay at the MTC. 

Wednesday- We all woke up at 1;30 and went to the airport.  We fly to Denver in a tiny plane and then flew to Tulsa in an even smaller plane.  We met the president and did all the stuff new missionaries do. We had a lovely dinner and went to bed. I was seriously so tired that day, but it was still wonderful. My mission president is wonderful and I LOVE Sister Shumway

Thursday- We woke up super early to start the transfer loops. Here in my mission since it is so big it takes all day to get the missionaries to there new areas there are several stops and drop off spot. I feel bad for the Assistants. They spend all day driving. We leave around six in the morning and they don't get back till almost 7 that night.  

I met my trainer. Sister Stanworth she only has 2 transfers left. I Love her. She is great!!! 

We got to our apt, and I  got to unpack and relax for a little bit then we went to dinner and taught some lessons. I taught my first lesson. Sister Stanworth said that I did really good for it being my first lesson. K we also had a little miracle but i don't have time so make a list of stories and I need to tell you and I will tell them all to you on mothers day.  

Friday- We had MCM  at our missionary leader homes. we just have less active visits today. We are helping a few women quit smoking. We also had a really really weird encounter with some old lady. I will have to tell you that one later too. 

Saturday- This was my first day tracting. It was freezing. We placed one BoM and that was about it. No one ever answers their door here. but we have to start doing more walking around town cos last month they ran out of miles like 5 days early. Our area also cover tons a little towns that are 20 or more miles away. We only get to go to those area once or twice a month. 

Sunday- I met the ward. We share a ward with the elders. We meet about 20 miles away in a town called Bolivar. That is where most members live and 70% of all the investigators are. It is kind of hard being so far away from everyone. We  had dinner at sister B's house then she came out with us to a Less active house, where we taught her the plan of salvation. E is wanting to come back to church after being a catholic for the past 8 years. We tried to meet with our less actives but they wouldn't answer the door. Sister Stanworth got something in her eye and couldn't see so we went to a members house so she could get eye drops. the members house we went too was the H's they actually have a son who is serving in the family history mission on the 6th floor.  we talked to her for a while and then headed home, to finish my training.

just some other random things. There really isn't much work to do in Buffalo. We have to get creative to find ways to fill our days. This area has only been open for 6 months. Everyone in buffalo is poor and 60% is on disability.

They do have so many cool places to take pictures. I wish I had my camera with me so bad!!!
I can't wait till spring. I am told it is so pretty here. 

My apartment is pretty big. I have my own bathroom and I have a full size bed! it is so wonderful!!!

K I know that I missed so much but I am so out of time. The librarians really don't like us and get mad if we go over our time limit. 

Love you all!!!!
Have a wonderful week!!!

LOVE, SISTER CHARLESWORTH 

 

Week 2 Letter

I seriously can't believe that I am leaving Wednesday!!!! We have to leave a 2:30 in the morning! So tomorrow is the last day in the MTC. I am starting to get a little nervous. 

This was so strengthening and so hard. I guess I will just tell you a day by day.

Monday: It was super nice to go to the temple and wear pants for a few hours. But monday night at class was a totally different story. but it is kind of a funny story. 

Our teacher Brother Usevitch taught a lesson and then we had to role play using the plan of salvation. Well, we were all confused and didn't really understand what we were doing, so my companion started to cry. So we left the room. When we came back another companionship left too cos they were so frustrated then another sister started to cry so by the end of the night we all were out of the room crying and my teacher faced looked so scared and he really didn't know what to do. So he gave us a lesson on stress management.I love all of my teachers, we have like 15 because most of the don't have classes because of the low numbers of missionanies. We also had a lesson with our TRC investigator! I love her so much we had 4 lessons with her and at the last lesson my heart was so full of gratitude for her. She really is an amazing person. She loves family history so we told her all about our family and i got to tell her about grandma and grandpa mission. I am going to miss her.

tuesday- was a hard day. I was throwing up so much and I was getting so frustrated from being sick I just wanted to feel normal so I just broke down and cried. Then I went to the Dr. and they gave me some pills to help with the throw up.  I took a little nap and went to class. We also started our TRC investigator. and I totally invited her to be baptized. It was so scary but I am so happy i did it. My companion face was so funny when she heard me ask  our investigator.  My companion and I were super nervous, but we had a really good lesson and we were so proud we made it through. We had a devotional that was wonderful, but I forgot who spoke. I got a priesthood blessing after the devotional . 

Wednesday- this was the first day I actually felt hungry and wanted to eat!! I am so grateful for the priesthood cos i know that is the reason I felt so much better.  As a district we made goals to be exactly obedient. Sister Goody and I were seriously running everywhere so we could make it to our classes on time. This was by far the best day ever!!! Being obedient really does bring miracles. All the new missionaries came in. Since Sister Goody and I are zone leaders we got to give our zone a tour. well, we still don't know our way around so that was pretty fun trying to show people where to go when we had no idea ourselves. 

Thursday- We had in field orientation all day. But I had a dr. appointment and so did sister goody so we missed most of it. but it was still good! and I learned lots. Thursday night in class was tough but so wonderful!!!!  I have learned that I am really hard on myself. I learned how important it is to trust in heavenly father.  We had another lesson with our investigator. It was our last one. we knew we had to commit her to baptism. So we did. and she accepted!!  

Friday- not much happened, but my companion was sick so she slept all day and i got to study. so that was nice. but i  realized how powerful the spirit is if you just listen to it. I was able to role play an amazing lesson to a sister in my district. after I was done. I couldnt remember one word I said but  it was amazing to hear the things that other sister had to say about what i just said. 

Saturday- not much happened either, but at night we had the hardest time focusing.  As we were role playing  street contacting I just laughed the whole time. we were all laughing so we had to say a prayer to help us focus. after we were able to focus and learn a lot. 

Sunday- my favorite day. Janice Kapp Perry came and talked for relief society. That was so wonderful! We sang lots of songs! I belong to the church of jesus christ made me bawl for some reason it hit me so hard. 

Brother stephan Allen spoke for the Dev. Last night. He got up and said he didn't write a talk cos he had no idea what he should say so he told us if we needed an answer to our prayers to pray and hopefully he would answer it. MY PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED!!!! it was so amazing. My testimony totally grew!!!  

 

Today was my last time at the temple for a year and half. I felt the spirit so strong and I am grateful I got to be there with my district. I love those sisters so much and I haven't missed you guys that much cos I feel like they are my family!!! 3 of them left to go to Las Vegas this morning and it was so sad to see them go!!! 

I am loving the person I am becoming and so grateful I chose to come on a mission. I  know if I were to come home right now  I am a stronger and more faithful person BUT I am going to be an even better person at the end of my 18 months!!! I can' wait to learn so much more!!!!! 

Over all this week I learned it is so important to rely on the spirit and miracles happen. 

I apologize for any bad english and grammar. I don't have time to read over it!!! 

Just know I love you all so much and miss you soooo much!!! 

Thanks for all the emails and letters!!!
KEEP THEM COMING!!! I LOVE THEM

have a good week and remember who you are!!!!! 

love, 

SISTER CHARLESWORTH

Week 1 Letter

Well Hey!!!! 

Words can't even express how happy I am that I get to Email. I lucked out with my P-day on  Monday!!!! That means I get 2 P-days in the MTC. cos we are leaving super early next Wednesday. 

I have made it 5 days! and holy cow hardest 5 days of my life, but the most wonderfullest 5 days!!!!  Every time that I was feeling home sick and started to get the thoughts of "I can't do this or I just want to go home". some sort of miracle would happen and my thoughts and Attitude changed!! Like I would find a picture that you put into my suit or talked to someone from my mission and tells me how wonderful my mission president is.  I can DO this!! I can do HARD THINGS!!! and with the strength of the lord I can do ALL things!!!

So I LOVE LOVE LOVE my companion!!! She is just like me!!! She is from Idaho and is going to OTM (oklahoma Tulsa mission) too! My district is ALL Sisters!! that is the first time that has happened EVER!!!!  We love it!! I love all of them!!  our zone only had 4 elders in it but they just left this morning. We have a district of 6 elders and district of 6 sisters coming in Wednesday! Sister goody and I are the sister zone leaders so we just to go and talk to them and give them a tour on Wednesday, which could be bad cos we get lost ALL THE TIME! it is kind of funny.  

so some amazing things I have learned this week!!! 

Laughing is so wonderful!-- Thursday everyone in my district was tired and we were so sick of sitting and starting to feel down, so someone cracked a joked and we laughed for like a hour and it just felt so nice to laugh,. So sister goody and I do it quite often now. 

Friday we were doing personal study and a random teacher walked in, ( most teachers don't have anything to do cos the the small number a missionaries here.) and just started to teach us a lesson! IT was so amazing we joke that he was an angel! but seriously he is so smart and amazing it wouldn't surprise me if he is one of the three nephitites.

Yesterday Sister goody and I had SO many meetings!!! We sat all day long! Yesterday during relief society  sister wixom spoke and it was so good! She showed the video of where Christ is among his children and heals them. I cried so hard. I just pictured myself being a missionary being able to heals Christ children but teaching them the gospel.  Her talk was so good! I just love being here. 

It was so weird putting on pants today. 

Something that I learned that has helped me so much is at night I think of some miracle that happened during that day! 

So I challenge you to do that this week! I promise you will be amazed of the things you can think of. 

I am sure I have more to say but I can't really think right now. 

Tell people to email me!! I only had a email from  you!! it was kind of sad!!

Tell them to write me!!!! 

Sorry for my typing and english skills but I really don't want to go through edit it. 

I love you all so so much!!! I miss you tons and tons!!!  

LOVE, SISTER CHARLESWORTH

Mom Note- A little miracle that Kim mentioned in a shorter email. 5 minutes after she walked into the MTC, she ran into the Grandma of her best friend who is headed on a mission to Tanner's Mission. How wonderful to see a friendly, familiar face at the perfect time. She also requested letters- snail mail or  Dearelder.com, She said that reading them at night in bed really helps with the homesickness.