April 12, 2021: Can I get a plain side of Carrots?

 We have the most amazing bishop in our ward! (2nd amazing next to my dad of course!) but I am amazed about how missionary minded he is. He straight up went to a families house in the ward who hadn't been attending for a couple years now and asked why their 15 year old daughter wasn't baptized. They told her "well, it's her choice!". The next day she came to a youth activity, where we met her! I was so happy to hear this!! I jumped up and down on the thick ice of the church parking lot when bishop informed me of the joy filled news! An AMAZING young woman[Alexis] had asked Trenedy if she wanted to take the missionary lessons and she said yes! AH! 

An inspired conversation- We served at the Mckennel House where we cleaned the lunch room and nursery room. There was a lady named Petra at the front desk who I sensed had something deep going on in her heart. At the end of our service, we asked her if there was anything else she wanted us to help with. When she informed "no", I had the feeling to ask her how her day was. She told us a short, "good! I finish work soon, then I will go home to my mother". I then asked, "how is your mother?" She burst into tears and explained how no one ever asks her questions that are so love felt. She has had a hard time staying strong when she needs to always be happy at work and at home for her family. Her mother has had 5 strokes last year and is really struggling. She thanked me and asked for my number so she can call us to pray with her. AWE!! My heart. 

OKAY SO I may have only gotten a side of carrots at Bdubs while everyone else got wings... but what I did get was a good talk with my new friend Hollie! Hollie was sitting alone at a table in the corner of the restaurant looking not amused. So of course I had to get up from our table and told her her hair was beautiful! She informed me of how our waiter was her daughter who was a single mom working full time and going to school full time. Which later led to a conversation of how her husband wouldn't let her obey a prompting of the spirit warning her to not get out of the car to get the mail. So when she did walked to grab her mail, a car hit her. Ever since then, she has had big medical problems! She asked me how the repentance process worked with forgiving people, like her own husband. We talked for a while, exchanged numbers, talked about our churches, then went our ways. It's cool to look back and reflect on if we wouldn't have gone there, I wouldn't have been able to meet her and help her come closer to Christ through the repentance process. 

Abury & Josh! I did a couples photoshoot for them earlier in the week which was FRIGID! But it went well and we gained a great relationship! Halfway through the shoot, we defrosted in our car! When we opened up the 2nd row of seats, we discovered that our box of 20 Book of Mormons, had tipped and were all over the row of seats! Kind of embarrassed, I started to pile the books in the middle as Josh helped on the other side. I have never laughed so hard that a non-member was helping me stack 20 Book of Mormon's in the back of our car to find a place to sit. Hahaha... Aubry and Josh came to a Sunday dinner with us to the Maiseys house. They got a ton of fellowship and love from multiple families in the ward. #godisgood

There was an Elder that I could tell was having a not-so-good day. His companion mouthed to me, "help me". So as we sat in our car next to them in mini church parking lot, I felt inspired to send him one of my favorite songs titled, "Home is where the heart is". 2 minutes later, I look over and the Elder is crying and his companion gives him a big bro hug and mouths the words, "thank you". The divine inspiration has been so real this week!

Angela Cummings, the sweetest woman EVER! We came by to visit and asked if we could say a prayer with her and Christian. Christian(3) has never said prayers before so we all held hands in a circle and prayed. Christian is a wild child and during this prayer, he bowed his head and was silent. It was so humbling and heartfelt, I have been changed and uplifted by the experience! She bore her testimony of Sister Turner and I, and the kindness we have shown her. I sure love the oldies.

My favorite Tongan family, the Fakatoumafi's! We taught them how to grow their "Fire of Faith" through doing simple actions of faith! I talked or well, the grandma talked to me for a solid 20 minutes after the lesson. She has no teeth and has a really strong Tongan accent. I think the spirit guided me on what she was trying to say because it was a dang struggle! The Fakatoumafi's nicknamed their children, Booga, Fatman, and Mosiey. Reminds me of my little bro, Jacob being renamed Choncho! 

It takes faith to stop the rain. It also takes faith to go through the rain. The storms of life aren't going to go away, we need to learn! This is how we grow. Learn to love growing. 

I love you all! 

Choose joy,

Sister Rex