June 7, 2021: NICE PIT VIPERS

 We hiked lots this week! We hiked Little O'Malley peak with the zone on Monday, Huffman Peak with the Miners on Thursday, and the backside of Flattop on Saturday with our neighbor! I'm in heaven!!!

Our ward mission leader's wife who is 35 with 4 kids, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer this week and was called into an emergency surgery Wednesday. The ward came together Tuesday night and held a ward fast during the time of her surgery! About half the ward showed up and the spirit was so strong. I had never heard of a ward fast that wasn't on the first Sunday of the month. I was amazed at the faith the members of our congregation had with the healing power of the atonement to heal this woman's body during her emergency surgery. I love the blessings that the Savior gives to us and our loved ones through applying faith into our daily lives. 

German lady, Rita!! Elder Jennings invited us to come and help this VERY German lady named Rita, brush her doll hair collection. Calling it a collection is an understatement... she has thousands of dolls in 2 rooms. It was SO creepy! So many fake and plastic eyes following us around... 

We forgot to buy butter at the store on Monday to make cookies for people... so we tried the next best thing, the gas station! Sadly they didn't have any either. Kinda a funny situation though! Thankfully we got some from a member:)

We drove by a members house one night and I had the impression to turn around and talk with them. Thankfully we did because that family needed it right then! They are building a house that was supposed to take 6 months but has now taken over a year. They talked about how literally everything has gone wrong with the project and how they both received revelation to build this house. We shared with them, "If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me"(Moroni 7:33) and continued to bear testimony about the power of gratitude. We invited them to say a prayer of gratitude every night of everything that had gone right with their day. We offered one with them and went on our marry way. 

I am thankful for the experience to help heal others with the knowledge that I have through having a personal relationship with and testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I have BIG faith for BIG miracle in our area. I know that if we put forth effort to find more people to teach, then the Lord will prepare someone for us to teach. We have been trying really hard this week to talk to everyone we see and try to share a scripture with them. Our favorite place to go is the Potter Marsh Boardwalk. One day, we asked every single person we walked by if we could share a scripture with them. EVERY SINGLE PERSON SAID NO. We were feeling "eh" and decided to just go home when I felt the prompting to say hi to one more person. When I said hello, the man stopped and actually had a conversation with us. I asked if he wanted to hear a message and he said, "YES"!!!

He was from Pakistan and held an amazing conversation. He asked for our number and said he wants to visit with us soon. I was amazed that we almost gave up when a miracle was right in front of our eyes. Lesson learned! 

Shout out to Lauri Gosney for helping me spread the gospel through reppin' some sick Pit Vipers. I've had a bunch of kids and adults come up to me just talk or compliment them. Who knew that fancy sun glasses could be a finding technique for a missionary! Me and Hermana Holman shout at each other in an Australian accent, "NICE PIT VIPERS" every time I put them on. Pit Vipers bring me joy. 

Choose Joy,

Sister Elly Rex

- Huffman Peak w/Miners

- Flattop w/Jen

- Building Imre's 2nd Chicken coop

- Volleyball friday @ServiceHS

- Brushing Creepy Doll Hair 

- Walks with Angela

- OYMing @Potter Marsh

- Carrying Jim's ghetto roofing