Sharlotte Hanusa to serve in Riverside, California, Spanish-speaking mission

Members of the Cowley 1st Ward gathered on Sunday, Nov. 30, to hear from Sharlotte Hanusa as she prepared to leave for full-time missionary service. By that point, Sharlotte had already completed her first week of at-home missionary training.

On December 4, Sharlotte flew to Mexico City, where she will spend five weeks at the Missionary Training Center studying Spanish. On January 7, she will continue on to the Riverside, California, Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she has been assigned to Spanish-speaking congregations. The Riverside area, located about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, includes large Spanish-speaking communities and a mix of urban neighborhoods and surrounding foothills.

In her farewell remarks, Sharlotte reflected on her path to missionary service.

“I didn’t always want to serve a mission, but the thought was always somewhere in the back of my mind,” she said.

That thought became clearer when her older brother, Jackson, began his mission in Ecuador.

“When my brother left on his mission, that thought became more prominent, and I wanted to serve just like he was,” she said. Sharlotte also credited her parents for helping her through moments of uncertainty, noting, “I turned to my parents, and through faith, they helped me navigate those challenges.”

She spoke warmly about her first week of preparation and the friendships she’s already formed.

“For the last six days, I’ve basically lived in my room studying, and, honestly, I have loved every single second of it,” she said. “In this short week I know I’ve made lifelong friends.” Looking ahead, she added, “We are stoked to meet in person in the Mexico City MTC.”

Throughout her talk, Sharlotte emphasized a message centered on hope, healing and the Atonement. 

“Our message of redemption and repentance as missionaries is a message of joy,” she said. “I know everybody has the opportunity to feel joy and forgiveness.” She also expressed enthusiasm about serving in another language, saying, “I know I will carry this knowledge to the people I serve in the Spanish language.”

Sharlotte concluded with a heartfelt farewell to her home congregation.

“Because I see you all as friends and family,” she said, “I’ll just say, hasta luego, mi familia.”