September 6, 2021: A Wet Bible

 A woman gave us basil, and told us it was spinach. I believed her and put the "spinach" in my smoothie. BIG MISTAKE. Basil in smoothies are no bueno. 

We got a service referral from our Facebook page. His name is JesseLee! We called him and he asked us to help his family move apartments. Then he asked, "Do you know where my records are?". Turns out he was born and raised in the church in Homer, Alaska! He explained that he did some not-so-good things in his teenage years but wants to return to our church for his family. He asked us to share a discussion with his family after we helped them move. So, we did so! I have never met a family so desirous to learn the gospel and to change. His 2 elementary aged kids, LOVED the lesson and his Ex-wife told us she wants to read The Book of Mormon as a family every night. When the family you're teaching gives themselves their own invitation, you know they are truly desirous to learn more about our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

JesseLee's daughter, Jasmine, accidentally spilled sprite on The Book of Mormon we gave them... but his Son, JJ was so excited to have the book that he joyfully said, "Yay! Thank you for the wet bible!!". 

It was also cool because I asked JesseLee to say our closing prayer. He looked very surprised, but said a beautiful prayer. In the prayer he thanked God for his family, us, and  for God to help him change  to be the Dad that his kids deserve. He informed us after that, that was the first prayer he had said since he was 12. My heart is full for this family! Sadly they moved out of our area so other missionaries have to teach them, oh well:)

Usually when people ask where I am from and I say Oklahoma, they ask where Oklahoma is. But this week, every single person that I have met has a connection to Oklahoma. Whether it be they have family there, used to live there, bought a dog there...it's crazy! So I guess, thank you mom and dad for raising me in Oklahoma so I can relate to so many people. 

We served with Melissa at her clothing design shop. She brought us pizza and Dr. Pepper. Me and Sister Brockbank have never tasted DP before so we decided to try it! After we told Melissa of our pleasant experience. She was so appalled that she gave us caffeine. It was a great way to share our beliefs on the word of wisdom, or of the blessings that we receive from not partaking of Black/green tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances. Her daughter later informed us that when she came home, she told her, "You will not believe what I did today... I made the Mormons drink Dr. Pepper". (For all of you who are wondering, yes, I can drink caffeinated drinks at a healthy rate;) haha)

I was sitting next to Dejuan(85 years old) in stake conference. I asked what I could do for her this week. She instructed me to, "come over and make me a chocolate cake". So we did just that! We made cake and read the "chocolate cake" conference talk by Cristina Franco. When the cake was finished, she asked for a 1/4th of the cake to eat. We gave it hesitantly because this old woman was OLD and did not need sugar. She gave half of her piece to her OLD dog which she swore that she feeds her dog chocolate cake all the time. Don't worry, we called and checked up on the both of them the next day and they were okay:) 

Deciding to serve a mission means making BIG sacrifices. But it also means BIGGER blessings! A mission is the best experience an individual could have. I'm thankful God chose me to be a missionary. I hope that those of you who aren't thinking about serving one, to pray about it;)

Choose JOY,

Sister Elly Rex

Pics:

-free cornsogs for all missionaries 

-JesseLee &fam

-Dejuan&McKenna&Chocolate cake

-President Smith &a turkey leg

-Gold Cord lake

-my fav klove artist performed while I was finding people at the fair:,)