February 7, 2022: Juneau is my spirit animal

I left the Matanuska ward. Our last visit, was with Bishop Matt Adam's family. He told us that we have influenced the Youth to serve missions and that they have more girls wanting to serve missions than boys! Sophie, his youngest daughter told his wife, "I want to serve a mission now because if those sisters can do it, that means I can too!". I am so thankful that I was able to influence the youth in Palmer to work towards a deeper devotion to Jesus Christ. 

But now, I'm in Auke Bay Ward! Which covers the coast of Juneau. It snows and rains a lot here. But I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. We walk the streets with our snow shovels and help people shovel their driveways. By the time we are done talking with them inviting them to hear about the restored gospel, it has already snowed so much that we would have to shovel again! 

I feel like I am living in a fairytale. Everything is white, bright green, or coastal blue. I have never met people so kind and happy. For example, It was pouring down freezing rain and we passed a group of people running up a hill with the biggest smiles on their face. People talk to random people at the gas stations and instantly become friends. People are always walking outside despite the weather. I can feel the spirit everywhere I go in Juneau, and that is the most beautiful thing. 

With 2.5 feet of snowfall in 2 days, Juneau has has had a lot of cars getting stuck. So one time we saw a man in a minivan who was stuck at the bottom of his steep driveway. We pulled over to help. He declined our offer twice until we insisted in helping. He was so grateful that he stopped in the middle of his busy road to get our number, names, and thank us. We knocked his door later in the week and he told us that as soon as he said a prayer to God for help, he looked up and we were at his car with shovels. He recognized us as Angel's sent from the Lord to answer his prayer. We helped multiple other cars get out as well, I love it! 

We pulled over to say a prayer to find someone to teach and Sister Younica accidentally pulled us into a ditch. Our car was floating on 3 wheels! 5 cars stopped who wanted to provide help and we got out! The people in Juneau are so kind and always willing to help out. Again, I LOVE IT. 

Rhonda Bear referred herself to us through a Facebook ad. She was fostered by a family in our church and was baptized when she was young. She stopped attending shortly after. We went by and she was full of love and a desire to return to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her spirit head so strong and her desire was so real. 

She compared the darkness that she had been feeling to, "A cat with an eyepatch, a dog with three legs, and an octopus, walking through an endless desert". She told us that our presence has helped her see the light in the world and we have become her beacons of light. One of the things she vaguely remembered from the church was the 13th article of faith, so I started singing the song and she joined in rapping it. We all rapped the article of faith together and the spirit was so strong. She told us whatever God needs her to do to have more light in her life, she is willing. I asked if she was willing to join us at church this Sunday. She said absolutely. 

Fast forward to Sunday morning, she wouldn't respond to our texts so we decided to follow a prompting to drive to her apartment and knock on her door at 8am. She opened the door, wearing a rainbow unicorn onesie and started getting ready for church. She was so thankful for us following a prompting. During sacrament meeting, she kept patting her heart when she felt the spirit. She told me that meeting us was the best thing that has ever happened in her life. I love her. 

We knocked on Kim's door and she recognized us right away. We stood in the pouring rain for the next half our. She told us that she reads The Book of Mormon every night because it is the only thing she has found that makes her nightmares go away. She came to church once a couple years back and felt a feeling she had never felt ever before. She told us that she knows she needs to be at church to feel it again. We explained that the Holy Ghost was the feeling and Sister Younica said, "Kim, if we promise to get you a ride to church, will you promise to come?". She agreed that next week, she will be ready. When we left she exclaimed, "I like Sister missionaries more. Elders talk, Sisters listen". Funny how sometimes, all god needs to have a miracle happen, is to have a listening ear. 

Again, the spirit is strong in Juneau, Alaska. I love the people, the vibe, and the beauty. 

Choose JOY,

Sister Rex

Pics:

-Sister Younica (from Utah)

-a rookie mistake 

-Laura&Patrick Baez

-Elder Birch(my rexy bestie) on the plane to Juneau