Sister Elly Rex: Anchorage Alaska Mission 2020-2022

         We taught a Russian family this week! First non-member lesson this area has had in 6 months. I told the little girl that we could go and see her chickens after the lesson. First off, those poor freezing chickens! On my way off the ledge, I stepped 2 inches off the path and ended up falling in 7 feet deep in snow and sliding under the pathway. What a great first memory with this family... They probably call me, "The church girl who stepped off the chicken path..."          We attended 2 funerals on Friday. The first Funeral was for a man named Dave! The small service was held at our church building. The family gave their talks and called the funeral, "a celebration of Dave's life". Dave was 63, has 16 children, and 18 grandchildren. The funeral was very reflective and surprisingly, uplifting.          The second funeral we attended was for a man named named Jacob. Jacob was 36 and passed away from a surge...

Springtime in Alaska is the joke. It doesn't exist. The snow is still taller than me on the sides of the roads. I'm starting to forget what grass looks like... oh what JOY! We help sew masks with this woman once a week and I notice that her son, Tyler is always around the house. He is usually doing things for his college physics class around the house. He talks rarely but I got him to talk about his music that he composes! When I asked him about music, he lit up! I told him how my older brother composes the same genre and we set up a time to make a song together! We decided to make our band name, "HAMBO"! We helped him laugh and feel loved. Our song is like techno-jazz? Stay tuned!!  After we left, his mom texted us and thanked us for meeting Tyler where he is at on his journey in life. She said we were an answer to many of her prayers because once Tyler stopped attending church, all of his friends left him and pretended like he was invisible. How sad! But now, he is ...

  "O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people." (Alma 31:31) Do I have patience and faith enough to trust in the Lord through every challenge in my life? Do I have that needed heavenly perspective?  It takes effort to live in Alaska! Especially with the snow! But the Lord loves effort, so that's a win!! Angela, an oldie, is staying here with her son as he goes through some family trauma! We go on walks often with her on the icy, steep roads. She designs jewelry for Tiffany &Co in New York. She grew up in Germany and speaks it fluently. I wish I would have paid more attention in my Mother's German class so that we could speak German together...  We play card games with this 93 year old woman to bring her some joy. I said "we" play but it was basical...

  Many stores have this, "NEW NEW NEW" OR "SALE SALE SALE" slogan on their doors and entering a store like this may be dangerous. I relate this to moving into a new area with a new companion. Everything is "NEW"! My new companion Sister Bailey Turner! She is 24, and has served in this area for 6 months. It is hard to go from knowing and loving each member, friend, and missionary so well and now I don't know anyone(including missionaries). But I'll go where God needs me to be! Sometimes we become distracted from the big signs of good sales and new fun things going on. I know I do, even on the mission! There are always distractions trying to push us away from the truth of the gospel. But nevertheless,   The Gospel of Jesus Christ IS real. The Gospel of Jesus Christ IS true. And The Gospel of Jesus Christ IS for everyone. He loves YOU perfectly in every way possible.  I am in one of the most prettiest areas(where sisters can serve). The houses here ar...

  5.3 earthquakes... What's new! The Alaskan life is never dull;) We spent last Monday at a warehouse of bouncy houses. I made an obstacle course for everyone to complete and I was the ref. It was SO hype!  We spent a lot do time helping build the house we have been working on. It snowed 8 inches again in one night and we had to get all the snow off the plastic dome, to continue working on the foundation because they were going to pour the next day! We would crawl like turtles under the huge plastic sheet and push all the snow into one pile, slit a hole, and push all the snow into that one hole. Then after, I had the opportunity to sew all the gashes in the plastic up! All I have to say is that we must have been running on pure joy because it was negative temperatures and I am unsure how we didn't freeze! I often would joke with the man in charge and threw snowballs frequently. But when were driving away, he grabbed a snowball, and as I was rolling up my window frantically... ...