March 15, 2022: Letter from Bishop Eddie Hakala, Rabbit Creek Ward

 Dear Bishop and Sister Rex,

Thank you for raising up such a wonderful daughter and disciple of Jesus Christ. We have LOVED being around and associating with Sister Ellyn Rex. She has blessed so many lives by her service, example, and unconditional love. While serving in the Rabbit Creek Ward she became such a great friend to our youth and they loved being around her. We miss her already. 

I really appreciated the courage of Sister Rex. She was not only fearless in sharing the gospel and inviting others to come unto Christ, but she was also willing to share life experiences that were challenging for her. She created safety in sharing from the heart by first sharing from her heart. Her willingness to share included a beautiful psalm that she sang while playing the piano. I will never forget when she shared that with our family. It touched all of our hearts. She has the courage of a lion!! 

Sister Rex was also so quick to serve and bring relief and support to those around her and within our ward. She and her companion would add so much to our ward council meetings by sharing their experience of visiting home-bound, or less-active members of our ward. There was one sister that my wife ministered to who only knew of my wife and the two Sister Missionaries, including Sister Rex. The dear elderly sister passed away with those ministering sisters in her heart and mind. They used to play "Kings Corner" with her when visiting. 

We are grateful for the service of Sister Rex and her sharing the gospel and the love of Christ with the people of Alaska. Her service has no doubt been of great sacrifice to her and your family, but I know the blessings have been felt and recognized. I also know that the LIGHT that Sister Rex brought to our people will be multiplied many times over as her testimony lives on through the lives that she touched. 

We look forward to crossing paths with Sister Rex in the future and would LOVE to host your family if you visit the great state of Alaska. We will no doubt be in the Provo area often as our newly returning missionary son will be there this fall. And depending on the wisdom teeth, our graduating son, Chad, will either be in Provo attending school, or embarking on his own missionary service. I know your family lives in OK, but I think I recall Ellyn talking about MAYBE ending up in the Provo/Orem area. Anyway, it will be great to see her in the future and will definitely keep in touch. 

ALSO, thank you so much for your thoughtful letters as Sister Hakala and I embarked on this new calling as Bishop and Bishop's wife. It's been one year exactly since my sustaining and I have learned and grown so much. Your insights and shared experiences were very well appreciated. You and Sister Rex are so kind and thoughtful - it's easy to see how you helped create and mold such a wonderful daughter. If I was any kind of letter writer, I would have email you and sent you a letter earlier, but I am happy to do so now. 

Anyway, please pass on our love and appreciation to Sister Rex for her service. Also, our love and appreciation to you and sister Rex for preparing and sending her off into the mission field. Take care!

Eddie Hakala, Bishop

Rabbit Creek Ward

907-575-5136