Calling All Anime Experts

Week 1 - April 30, 2020

Oh, this big old smile that never leaves my face? It's called the MiSsIoNaRy glow. And it's here to stay!

When I was called English speaking, communication was the least of my worries. Little did I know that my whole district would be fluent in another language: anime. If anyone knows any basic terms or phrases I can throw into their convos I would love you forever. Because right now, if we're not talking gospel, I just smile and nod at everything. I've never been at such a loss for words!

Oh and they rap too! I walked away from our group chat for not 10 minutes to come back to find one of the elders had whipped up a track and was "spitting fire," making up some good old missionary lyrics. My mouth dropped and I died laughing. I am in for a wild ride with this crew. Everyone is totally different and I love every single one of them! In all honesty, I needed that anime language barrier to be able to see these guys in their element. Listening to people talk about things they are passionate about brings the biggest smile to my face. I am learning to love each person for who they are. It is amazing how easy it is to love people when you see them as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do. I am blessed to have such a powerful group of people to train with! Despite our differences we all get along really well and every one of them has such a good heart. 

Being set apart as a missionary was an experience I will never forget. You can bet your bums I cried the whole time. I was overwhelmed with God's love for me and His desire for me to share His love with others. I have never been so sure that I am in the right place at the right time. Like Lehi tasted of the fruit and desired to share it's goodness, my life has been full of the goodness of the gospel and I want every person to feel God's love for them and know of their divine worth.

Speaking of Lehi. 

A GIFT: Jenica and I once had an experience with a certain crumbl cookie that strengthened my testimony of how Lehi felt after eating the fruit. Biting into this cookie brought a feeling that I had never had before. I wanted to shout to world and let everyone know how good it was. I had a desire for everyone to taste it so they could feel the same happiness that I felt. I turned to Jenica and said, "I feel like Lehi must have felt after eating the fruit from the tree of life. EVERYONE NEEDS THIS." It's all about the little things. Simple experiences that seem silly, but when you apply the lessons learned to your life, you will find that the gospel is real. As a missionary, my desire to share the joy that the gospel brings is 1,000,000,000 times stronger than my desire to share that crumbl cookie. In 1 Nephi 8:15, Lehi beckons his family "with a loud voice" to come and partake of the desirable fruit. (Most of you know I have just one volume for my voice: loud, so I thought this was quite fitting:')) With my loud voice, I invite you all to read 1 Nephi 8 and evaluate your life to see which group you are currently in. I hope that you have the desire to be a part of the group who "press their way forward, continually holding fast to the iron rod." Make the decision to follow Christ and hold fast to him. 

There's my spiritual gift for y'all. But that's not all. Heavenly Father cares not only about spiritually blessing us, but temporally as well. AND GUESS WHAT CRUMBL COOKIE FLAVOR IS FEATURED THIS WEEK. The BUTTERFINGER cookie. The very cookie I was talking about earlier. So go treat yourself, partake of the goodness of this desirable cookie while feasting upon the desirable words of the Book of Mormon. 

*disclaimer* I hadn't eaten all day and this warm crumbl cookie hit different. So if you try the butterfinger cookie and it's not all that you imagined, just remember the concept. When you experience something good, don't hesitate to share it with others! 

Hold on to the good. There will always be something that goes wrong, that scares you, that discourages you. The adversary is a strong worker my goodness! But God is stronger!!! As we remember the good and keep it close, there will be nothing that can take away the joy and peace that come through Christ. 

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

All smiles after being set apart

My cutie lil district 

First day!!!

Missionary tag! It hadn't come when I started my first class and I was a little 

bummed but it made it that much sweeter to finally put it on when it came!