September 16, 2021: The JOY of FIFTEEN

Me and Sister 'BB' LOVE Mexican food. So we treated ourselves with some BOMB Tex-Mex. Alaska Tex-Mex cannot be related to Oklahoma's but it's what we've got and I'm thankful for it. We walk out of the hole in the wall Tex-Mex restaurant into an alley way. We see a woman smoking outside. We turned our heels toward her and started talking! She opened up instantly & asked us if we had any pamphlets to give her. Sadly we didn't because well... Tex-Mex!! But we did have a Book of Mormon. She asked to have it & we willingly gave it to her. She told us it made her look good holding the book in one hand and a cigarette in the other. #cute

Meg and Carl, the goat people tried converting us to become Jehovah Witnesses. Sadly for them, we have a rock solid testimony that Jesus Christ lives and that modern day revelation exists for each one of us. They got fired up when I explained that I was grateful for Adam and Eve's decision to partake of the fruit so that I can be here on earth and be the person I am today. Yikers:)

Me and 'BB' invited everyone and their dawg to church this Sunday for our musical number. AND EVERYONE AND THEIR DAWG CAME. No joke!!! Fourteen non-members attended ALL for the first time ever. Travis, Kristen, Cole, Demetris, Raelynn, Becky, Marla, Donovan, Inez, Joann, Sumar, and Linden. I have never felt so JOY filled in my life. We fasted for the ward to help us out because we were super worried no one would reach out to our friends. But we tried our best to prepare the members and let Jesus Christ's grace do the rest. Grace works. The whole ward welcomed in every one of our friends into our service with open arms and a smile. It was SO powerful to see grace work miracles today. 

Demetris!! Our first meet and greet was him, walking back from his apartment dumpster and smiling big at us. Of course, I had to roll down the window to say hi. He laughed big and said, "You're cute. Can I getcha number?" I thought he was drunk because he was so happy. So I gave him OUR number and explained we were missionaries! A month passes by and he calls us asking to learn more about our church. We go by for a lesson, learn that he is looking for friends and he is trying to win more custody for his 7 year old son! He rejected our invite to church 3 times but in the end... HE CAME. What a sweet experience. I'm excited for him to start his journey with Jesus Christ. Also, it turns out that he wasn't drunk that one night, he is just super smiley and loves to laugh. Sometimes I wonder if people think I'm "drunk" because I get SO joyfully excited. #drunkonjesus

It felt like the most exhausting week of my entire life. I love striving to do all I can on my mission. I only have 6 months left :(

Choose BIG JOY,

Sister Elly Rex 

Pics:

-some of our friends at church

-ran into JJ&Jasmine at their grandma's house?! 

-If you watch top chef Kennedi Torres, one of our youth, is on the current season and went to finals. We had a big party. 

-Ryders hockey game

-Zone conference 

-Beth's barney colored shack 

-Eklutna lake