Charlie's 21st birthday is next Monday, September 1st.  So if you want to send him a birthday email by Sunday, he will get it ON his birthday!  His email is charles.flint@myldsmail.net.


Hola familia,
Yeah Hna Wilcox got taken quick! But that makes sense, because she´s awesome. Yeah we were good friends here in the mission. We did a whole musical together. That was hard, jaja. It is a small world! Well it´s especially small when you live near or in Provo :) But she´s awesome. I wish I had here email to congratulate her, but alas, I do not. So before I forget my address is

c/ San Mateo Nº61, 5ºB
03012 Alicante
ESPAÑA

So if anyone wants to send me money or anything :) Just kidding. Well no I´m not kidding, but you know...yeah. So I need to respond to my favorite 10 year old brother. Hey broski, sorry for not responding! That´s awesome that you are the center in football, like you wanted, and it sounds like fun going to Grandma´s. What is your teacher´s name? What is your football teams name? Are you winning all your games? Let me know, and make sure you respond :) So Footloose, awesome! That would be a lot of fun. Lots of dancing! And the Patriarchal Blessing will be amazing. Use it. Sounds like Les Mis should be awesome! I´m suprised that DeGray didn´t get a larger role, but I suppose the Steve Dundford or whatever his name is is awesome too. He did a fantastic job as Jekyll. Or was he Hyde? Hmm...So I heard that the Hale in Orem is going to do Les Mis. I want to try out. Just thought I´d let you know. I don´t know if it would even be possible with school, but I want to try. President gave me permission to figure anything out that I need to for school and I think I¨ve got it all down, I just need to actually put my schedule together, but one thing is for sure. I don´t want to stop doing music and theater. I miss it a lot. I´ve been singing a lot in baptisms and church and stuff and nothing fills me more than sharing my testimony through my song. Really. Some of the most spiritual moments of my life have come through music and I´ve realized something. It´s not just for me that I do it. God has given me a specific set of talents and abilities and almost all of them have to do with music. Well that and a few other things. It´s not that I just want to continue doing music and theater, but that I feel impressed upon to continue. I don´t know. All I know is that when I talk about it or actually perform and share my testimony in that form, that feel the spirit strongly and feel like I should continue. But I need your help. Mom and Dad specifically. What do you think? And tell me clearly. I need help and guidance in this. I will continue, I just want to know how much I should put into it. Should I major in music or in the MDT program? Or should I stick with Psychology and just take some electives? Or should I just keep it as a hobby and something to do at home? Pray with me, and tell me what you feel and think. Your my parents and can recieve revelation to help me. Please do so. Not to pressure you or anything, I mean I still have time to figure things out, but it´s something that has been on my mind. Well at least it is on my mind right now, during the week I don´t think about it.
Today I just wanted to testify that the Spirit can open our hearts and our minds and change us. This week we had a little bit of a situation with one of the people that is going to be baptized in the coming weeks. She is a 15 year old girl and is really one of the best investigators I´ve ever had. She comes every week, she reads and marks what she reads and asks important and pertinent questions. The only little problem that we have is that she lives in our ward, but goes to the other because she has friends there. Not too big a deal, and we talked to the bishops and have it all figured out, but the problem came from some members, "friends" of hers that told her that if she came to our ward that she would lose all contact with her friends and blah blah blah. So long story short, she was very stressed and overwhelmed by the situation and didn´t want to talk with us. On Sunday we finally found out about this, through the bishop of the other ward and pulled her aside to talk to her. We went about it, searching diligently for the spirit. We asked her, who told you that you had to be baptized? And she said, no one I guess. So we asked, then why did you make the decision to do so? And she said, because I felt like it was the right thing to do. And we asked, And where do those feelings come from? From God. Exactly. So who told you that you should be baptized? God did. Does he lie? No. We told her that we wanted the best for her. That we have been praying and talking to everyone we can to help her feel comfortable and come unto Christ. In the end she felt the Spirit and decided to continue. It was amazing to be able to feel the Spirit working through us. I know that the Spirit can change lives. We don´t do that, the Spirit does. But we must be willing and worthy to be guided by it. I haven´t always been willing nor worthy for the guidance of the Spirit, but my goal is to be always. Make it your goal too. I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week!
Con amor,
Elder Flint

Hola there mi familia,
Sounds like things are about to get a little more quiet at home and a little more stressful for the kids. But school is always a good thing. It blows my mind that you are already in the school year though! It seems like you all just escaped and now you´re back. What´s up with that?! But no worries, you´ll all have fun. Tell me a bit about Les Mis my brotha. Are there people I know participating? Who are the principal characters? Is Justin involved? Just curious. Say hello to the Allreds for me, I still can´t believe that Abby is going to BYU! And that Ammon is a senior! And that Skyler is at UVU! And I haven´t even started! When I get back I´ll be at the same level as Ammon :/ Did you realize that? I just did. It´s a bummer. Sounds good about the birthday stuff. I´m just wanting to be able to survive when I get home, I don´t need anything flashy. President Deere asked me in the last interview what I wanted to do when I got back before going to school. I told him my ideas, but realized I really didn´t have much of a plan. If you hear of anybody that needs help during those few months before I go to school that would be awesome. I kind of want to shadow Bro. Roby at his work to kinda get an idea of psychologist life. I could even help with his finances if he needed it. Or I could just do snow removal or construction or whatever. But it would be nice to have a few bucks before I go to school. But I guess we´ll see what happens.
So this week we had a baptism! It was great. She´s a lady from Bulgaria that was super prepared. It was a little tough to teach her, because her Spanish is limited, but we figured it out.I love baptisms :) I´ll send you pictures soon.
So I was thinking this week about something that I read in Jesus the Christ. It was talking about an experience that the Savior had with some of his disciples. These disciples had gone into the city and began to eat at some kind of function without having washed there hands before eating. The ritual of washing hands before eating was one that was greatly taught by the pharisees at the time. It was accepted by them and a commandment, as part of the law. But it was merely tradition. When the Pharisees rebuked the disciples and then the Savior the Savior responded "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Mark 7:7 I thought about how often that takes place in the world and in our own lives. There is a disctinct difference between what the doctorine teaches and what the world teaches. And not even just that, sometimes we become so focused on the traditions of the church that we forget about or ignore what is the real doctrine. And if we look at it closely, was it something wrong that the Pharisee were asking? Absolutely not. Washing your hands before you eat is something that is good. Ask any doctor or any mother :) But the problem came from the Pharisees teaching it as a part of the law, as a commandment. Do we do this? Sometimes I think we do. I had an experience in church that showed this. Now first off, I love the members of Spain and my purpose in sharing this is not to belittle them, but to illustrate my message. In church yesterday we spent the entire hour of Priesthood meeting talking about how the priesthood holders should direct people to seats and pass the sacrament and did not get to the lesson until the last 2 minutes of class. Now there is a time and place to teach these things, but in this case it was not teaching that was going on, it was a debate about what is the best way to do it. It made me think about this. The sacrament is extremely important and the meeting is essential to our sunday worship, but we cannot let our focus on how to best open the doors and fill the benches with members blind us from the true importance of the meeting. It is a doctrine that sometimes hurts. It´s one that can cut deep, because many of us are very loyal to our traditions. But we must be able to differentiate between the two. As a missionary there are things that are the same. In all parts of the church and outside. And the way we differentiate is by knowing the doctrine. And the way we do that is by studying the scriptures. Study them, they have changed my life. President Monson said, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." Let us love and teach pure doctrine. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Con amor,
Elder Charlie Flint

Sorry about not emailing yesterday, we had interviews with our mission president and he stole our pday. The nerve :) So we changed it to today. So that is why I´m emailing today. We went to an awesome museum today. Just thought you should know. If I had a camera that worked I would have taken pictures and sent them to you. But no worries, my comp took lots. Things are going really well here. Just hungry for details that are lacking in your past email :) Seriously though!  Sounds like your summer is coming to a welcome end. I sure hope it ends here soon too. It´s SO hot. And humid. And Europeans don´t wear clothes when it is hot. So cold weather is a welcome gift for the missionaries here. But things are going really really well here. The Lord has blessed us with some incredible investigators that are progressing really well. We should have a baptism this Sunday of a woman from Bulgaria. She hardly speaks any spanish, but we teach using the church provided materials and the scriptures. She is so incredibly prepared. She doesn´t even drink coffee or tea! She has no vices that are holding her back. She has had a love of the Bible ever since she was young and now shares that love with the Book of Mormon. She is truly a convert of the Book of Mormon, not of the missionaries.
So my thought today is going to fulfil two purposes. First to express my feelings of gratitude for you, Mom and Dad, and also to help Mom with her lesson this next week. So here it goes.

Growing up I always knew what was right and what was wrong. I could never call that which was wrong right because I had two incredible examples and teachers. Two teachers that worked as a team, and two examples that were steadfast and sturdy. They taught me how to read the scriptures, even when I could hardly keep my eyes open. They taught me how to pray, even though I didn´t know what to say. And they taught me how to keep the Sabbath day Holy, even when I just wanted to stay in bed. As a child, and even as an adolescent, I didn´t understand the affect that my parents had on me. I struggled to see the "why" of everything they did. And the honest truth is that the "why" didn´t really matter. What mattered is that they could see further than me. They had gone through the same things I was going through. As I serve on the other side of the world, I wish I could bring the scripture study, the family home evenings, and the love that I felt in my home into every home I enter here. I am eternally grateful for the solid testimonies my parents shared. The steadfastness and regularity of the family centered activities that strengthened the beginnings of my own testimony. They taught me what it was to be a missionary, what it was to be a worthy priesthood holder, and because of them I am who I am today. The family is an essential part of our Heavenly Father´s plan for us, and parents have the heavenly responsibility of raising their children in righteousness.

I hope that helps. I truly and grateful for the both of you. Dad for your constant testimony. I remember waiting during testimony meeting for the moment when you would get up. And almost without fail, you did. And I always felt the spirit during your testimony, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Mom for your constant love and support. I always knew and know that I can go to you for whatever problem I have. I didn´t take advantage of that for a lot of my adolescence and I mourn for those moments I missed. But I will not miss another. I love you both so very much and the rest of  you too. I look to the end of my mission nervous, and with a lot of dread. But the one shining light is that I will be able to see you all again. That makes it okay. I love you and hope you have a wonderful week.
Con amor,
Elder Charlie Flint

2 weeks

 August 4, 2014

Hello Family,
So you´re already dreaming about me coming home! Sheesh, I still have a few months left! :) Just kidding, I suppose it is just natural. But no worries I´m working hard. As hard as I can really. It sounds like your vacation in Oregon was awesome! It is a little disappointing that you couldn´t wait one year to have me and Cassidy and Sarah there too, but whatevs :) We´ll have our own return missionary cousin party. And AJ´s not invited! Just kidding, that would be mean. I do miss the beauty of nature though. Here in Spain, and really Europe in general, the beauty is found in the creations of man. Often times inspired by God, but what I really miss is the beauty of what God has created. When I get home I´m going to take a tent and go into the mountains. No really, I just decided this. Hear ye, hear ye, all who are interested. A few weeks after I get home, I am going to plan a weekend camping trip. It will begin a Friday and end on Saturday night or very early Sunday morning (so we can still get to church). I just want to be in the mountains. I know it will be cold, freezing cold, but it´s something I want to do before my life goes absolutely insane with school and stuff. I promise I´m not trunky, I just want to inform you. There are three things I want to do when I get home. First; share some awesome stories and talking time with all of you (meaning my family :) ), Second, go to the mountain of the Lord (meaning the Temple) as quickly as possible, and third; go to the mountains of the Lord (meaning the mountains). So now you know. Plan accordingly :)
So my thought for you all this week comes from the Bishop of my ward here actually. Well it doesn´t come from him, but was inspired by his teachings. Yesterday we were in the church doing numbers (my favorite part of the week :p) and afterwards our Bishop was giving a fireside talking about works of art and the doctorine found within them. We did not plan on going, but my comp entered while we were doing numbers and I couldn´t convince him to leave afterwards. I soon understood why. Our bishop is an amazing teacher, and the things he taught, using old catholic paintings was incredible. The biggest topic was the trinity. For me that has always been a confusing subject. God the Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are different, but one. What? That makes no sense! They aren´t the same, but they are one. I always just stuck with the generic, they are seperate beings, but one in purpose (which is true) but I never actually understood that. I said it, I taught it, and I testified of it, but I didn´t really know what it meant. I came to understand what it really means and the simplicity of it as the Bishop taught, and more importantly as the Spirit helped me understand it. I don´t want to rob any of you of the opportunity to find your answers for yourself, so I´m not going to talk now about all the things I learned but I do invite you to investigate the subject. My purpose for bringing this all up is this. It allowed me to understand the idea that we have to come to know God to receive eternal life. "To know" in Hebrew is a much more powerful term than ours in English. In Spanish it is a little more powerful, but not nearly as powerful as the Hebrew. It is a relationship much more intimate. So intimate that at times it is used in the Bible as a euphamism for a sexual relation. To know in Hebrew is to truly understand and commune with that person. Enoch and his people walked with God, Moses spoke with him face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend. We must come to know God. And how does that relate? Well first off, who is God? I always thought of it as just the Father, but it is not so. God is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, who is one Eternal God without end. We must come to know each of them, who are one. That is my challenge for each of you, and what I am working on right now. Coming to know my Father in Heaven, my elder brother Jesus Christ, and my ever faithful companion the Holy Ghost. Search the scriptures and search to find those things that can be learned, but not taught, as Pres. Packer puts it. I love you all and hope that you all have a deep love of the scriptures, I do and that love grows every day as I find the hidden treasures that lie within. Have a fantastic week!
Elder Flint





 July 28, 2014

Hello Family mia,
Sounds like you guys had a good week and are in for a great time in Oregon. I´m glad Ammon didn´t forget Spain again. Embarrassing. I´m liking the ideas about the vacations and what not when I get home. I would quite enjoy that :) I also believe that BYU does not have a spring vacation, so that is kind of a bummer, but we´ll figure things out. I hope you have a great time in Oregon and that things go really well. So about the money thing. Umm, I don´t know. I feel awkward telling you how much I want! Basically I´m just spending most of it on you guys anyway haha. So it all depends on how many souvenirs you want :) But I definitely think the best thing would be just getting stuff that I will use and that will be great. Also, if you could look into FAFSA financial aid. I´m not sure if I´m even elegible not being a high school senior, but if I need to do something to apply for it and I need to do it soon, that would be good to know. Oh and by the way, we get fed pretty often, and they always give us LOTS of food. I´m gaining weight :( But I´m hoping to hit up the gym when I get back and I´m hoping to be able to control my diet a little better when I´m making my own food. 
So these last couple of weeks I have really been able to see the hand of the Lord in the work. I am not the perfect missionary, nor am I the perfect son of my heavenly or earthly parents. I have made many mistakes and sadly, I continue to make many mistakes. My heart is in the right place and I desire to do that which is right, but the flesh is weak and many times I fall. But like Nephi I have seen many tender mercies from my Father in Heaven. It constantly amazes me how much patience and love our Father in Heaven has for us. How many times he lifts us up, brushes us off and sends us back into the ring. And not only that, but he is with us in the ring, fighting side by side so that we can return to our Father in Heaven. This last week we were stopped by some missionaries of another religion in the street (I won´t say what religion, you can imagine that on your own) and they began "teaching" (more like bashing) us. As we calmly explained our beliefs and the reasons behind them, they (quite flustered really) threw scriptures and explanations and justifications at us from every side. We did not fight, because that drives away the spirit, but kindly listened for a moment, shared our testimonies and left. But one of the things they said surprised and saddened me. They talked about how only 144,000 people will truly be saved (a false idea from Revelations) and they rest will remain on the earth. They will live with Jesus Christ, but they will not be truly exhalted. And they told me that they had no hope of being saved. They said it had been revealed to them to know that they were not one of these "chosen ones." I testified to them of the love of the Father and told them directly that He wants to save every one of his children. That there is always hope, and that he loved each of them. My words fell upon hard ears, but I felt the spirit testifying of that truth. The Lord does not pick favorites. Each of us has the same opportunity to receive all that the father has. I´m sure if it would do us any good, he would save each of us (but we must remember who´s plan that was!). But he knows the importance of our own growth and the importance of agency. Let us make our Father proud and happy. Let us do all we can to return to Him. I am not perfect, none of us are. But we can become perfected through the atoning sacrafice of our elder brother Jesus Christ and an effort on our part. I love you all and desire to be with you for eternties. Let us all strive for that gift, the gift of eternal life.
Con amor,
Elder Charlie Flint