Ever flip off your whole ward on your first Sunday? Yeah me too.

Home girl Sister Rex got 5 weeked out of Lancaster YSA and is now in Santa Clarita YSA! All I have to say is: THIS PLACE IS UNREAL

Driving around we've got Six Flags in view, any and every store, and there's GREEN and PALM TREES. No desert here!! But all city = no parking. We feel like "real old school missionaries" out walking down the streets, Book of Mormon in hand, ready to talk to anyone and everyone we come across! 

Santa Clarita already knows me a little too well. After getting the 2nd shot I was OUT OF IT. Sister Sherwood said it best, "you're you but with no control." Which led to a week full of absolute giggles and #embarassingmoments for Sister Sherwood:') But the one that tops them all: my middle finger. 

Let me just say- I don't flip people off!!! Sunday we ended up teaching the whole ward in 2nd hour. It was quite a tender lesson actually, sweet experiences and tears were shared. As we were talking about Christ's scars, I was showing the scars I have on my middle finger. No one realized it until I realized and of course I let out a loud "oh no!" and hid my hands from view. I went right along, continuing to talk about Christ, but it was too late. Every head was shaking with laughter and no one could make eye contact with me without bursting into giggles. 

Every day is full of giggles and the gospel of Jesus Christ, I love it!! I love Sister Sherwood, I love Santa Clarita and I LOVE Jesus Christ! It's the best is when the gospel and giggles go hand in hand:') What got you giggling this week??

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

See ya never LanCRUST

The first and last time we'll ever hug;)

FINALLY PALM TREES

Every day I try so hard to get a picture of the pretty flowers and this is all I have to show for it

Green Santa Clarita!!

Before our 2nd shot: 😀

After our 2nd shot: 🤒

Shh last week's quiet lil email

Careful what you pray for because God always delivers! 

I prayed that I could feel more sadness and anger and boy, have we been through the wringer this week and it was NOT FUN. Except there were some moments that were just so unfortunate we couldn't help but laugh 

But amidst "one of those weeks" we had some simple and happy moments that were only so sweet because of everything else that was happening. One particularly rough morning Sister Bishop stepped into our room to pray and I knew there wasn't anything that I could say to help her. So I did the only thing I could- I went to my knees and prayed for her. And I relearned a simple truth: God speaks quietly. My mind was loud, there were so many answers I was trying to sort through. But underneath it all there was a little whisper. 

Loud: NO

Whisper: yes 

Sister Bishop came out and through tears we both shared similar answers. Now Sister Bishop and I aren't huggers so after a tender moment of God answering both of our prayers, we had a nice solid fist bump :) 

God speaks in quiet ways. He doesn't force us to do anything, He won't fight for our attention, but He is always there, quietly answering us. My world is filled with so many loud voices and too often God's quiet voice is the one I lose. But I am so grateful that He consistently whispers those quiet, reassuring thoughts. He's there! ALWAYS!!!

How are you going to search for God's quiet voice in your life? 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

PICTURES:

•Bye crusty Lancaster!!

WRECKED: heat pack tucked into the skirt with ice on the burnt finger #doingreat

Hermana Rex for the day!!!

10 minutes later: car completely stuck in the sand

"Oh this is the PERFECT place to stop"

Had to get a pic of me and my main man Joshua

The heavens open after a rough day 

What's sadness?

 You know in Inside Out when Rylie lost Joy and Sadness? Well somewhere in all the joy of being a missionary I lost Sadness and Anger. My joy is full!!! That's all I feel!

I was ~lovingly given some correction~ that I need to work on feeling sadness and anger. Funny stuff to work on huh! 

Looking through a feelings wheel I started laughing. This is what they want me to feel?! Agitated? Discouraged? Isolated? 

But then I realized that's what Jesus Christ does. Not only is He the source of all joy, but He feels every heartache, every sorrow, everything. Christ feels so that He can understand. In order to become more like Him, I need to open my heart to feeling sadness #🥺🤧 

Send feeling tips my way!! How do you feel sad? How do you deal with anger? 

I know that Christ can love so fully because He feels it all. Whatever you are feeling this week, turn to Him! Allow Him to strengthen you so that you can be there for others. He allows us to feel so that we can more fully love. 

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

PICTURES: 

Cutie Joshua trees 

Musical Road THE BIGGEST FLOP, don't believe all the hype the internet gives it #aMUSTsee

Day 1 of my Sadness Journey

What a crew- don't ever make us lead KIs again

No one said anything about @ home surgery when they called us to be STLs but we're ready for anything!!

GREEN! Left crusty Lancatser for the day 

Zone conference!! #success didn't mess up our demo this time🤜🤛

Always gotta get that selfie 

•Hahahha okay this ones only for me, these elders kill me 

LOVE WHERE YOU ARE

 "Love where you are because you're not going to be here long." 

I LOVE WHERE I AM!!! I hope that each one of you are enjoying where you are, make the most of EVERY DAY because time is precious. 

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

PICTURES:

Sister Bishop!!!

Cutie sunset 

Where we spend our evenings- out knocking!

THE DESERT. MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. WHERE I AM.

She burnt her finger and had it soaking all day behind the scenes of zoom lessons ahaha 

Happy easter!!!!

The zone🥰

My sisters!🦄

Just some easter crafting 

You already know we kicked booty @ tennis