Hoppin on this training train

We woke up one morning just NOT feeling it, but we said "if anything, we're going to have a good miracle morning."

AND MAN DID THAT TURN OUT TO BE GOOD DAY

Entering our lesson with Ben, we went back to the basics, focusing on doctrine. And that was the. most. powerful. lesson. Halfway through, I knew. We're walking away with a baptism date. AND THAT WE DID. "It has to be a Thursday and an even number." Whatever you want Ben, we'll make it happen! 

The quiet warming of the heart. That is what we felt that night!! BEN WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED and we get to be by his side as he comes closer to Christ! 

A simple phone call that dropped me to the ground: I'm training. 

Those poor APs, the first words that came out of my mouth were "oh I can't do that. you don't want me to do that." 

President called me after seeing how shaken I was during our training meeting and did what he does best; helps his missionaries turn to Christ.  

One phrase that turned into a lifelong lesson:

"You can't do it alone. But you can with God. We need him."

We can do all things through Christ! 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Last week with Sister Wood!

Straight FIRE district right here

What a group of sisters 

#embarassing but too funny not to share. Moral of the story: don't be an idiot 

Do what you gotta do for s'mores

Sending this crazy girl home to a crazy world

#cantthinkofasubjectline

 A jumbled mix of experiences because that's what this week was hahaha

• BEN CAME TO CHURCH!!! Over-sized but ironed suit and all with his chains hanging on the side. It warmed my heart as people came up and brought him right in:)
• #talkwitheveryone we stumbled upon a few people and as we followed this motto we got to meet some AMAZING people!!!
• "I'm not fluid." Trying to express I wasn't fully lucid, fluid came out and proved my point lol
• ChRiStMaS time is the best time!! All the lights, the smell of Christmas and our ward Christmas drive thru had me cheesin- listen to some JB Christmas for me
• The Atonement of Jesus Christ has become something more to me than I ever could have imagined. The more I learn about Jesus Christ, the more my love for Him and every single person around me grows
• In church this man was holding out his arms for his little girl to come to him but she just giggled and stayed where she was. And in that moment, I realized how often I am that little girl. I know that Christ's arms are always outstretched, but sometimes I find myself staying where I am, despite that knowledge. Just think for a moment, what holds you back from running to Christ? 
• The unconditional love that Christ has for each one of us in the reason that I do what I do! 

I love how individual the love of Jesus Christ is! #alwaysrememberHim because He sure remembers you:)

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex 

Bear Valley views 

A forced group of friends lol 

The funniest day of my life- started with Sister Wood ripping her pants and ended with a little accident, causing her to wear her coat as a skirt ahaha 

Our "hike" flopped so to mix things up I made everyone get in a line for an Indian Run hahahah did not get a lot of positive feedback on that one

Glowing pink morning skies!

Just one of those days  

Exchanges with the hermanas!!

Behind the scenes of our "safety moment" #almostdiedfromanm&m

[I] wept.

You know when you're in primary and the teacher calls on one of the boys to share their favorite scripture? Grinning they repeat the only scripture they know word of word:

"Jesus wept." 

This verse hit different this week.  

I've gone through phases in my life, some where I cry over forgetting to brush my teeth and others where I can't remember if I've ever cried before. This week? A new cry. We had a lesson that left me shell shocked, unsure of what to think or feel. As I laid on my bed, silent tears streamed down my face. I love this guy that we're teaching so much and my heart wasn't sure how to help him. My comp sat by my side and said the kindest words, "You care too much. Christ wept because He cared and so do you."   

THERE'S NO SAD TEARS HERE only tears of caring:) 

I love where I am and I love what I'm doing!! There are moments where it's tough, but there are so many more moments where I can't keep a smile off my face! As my good friend said, "It's the hard days that make you appreciate the good ones even more." Embrace the hard and love it! 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

***disclaimer: I really didn't weep, I just shed 4 tears. I really am so happy here!!***

We felt like we were at fancy restaurant, all our separate tables, all dressed up with some nice background music #thanksTABCATS 

Our thanksgiving crew!!! Call us #chefs

Just out walking off all the popcorn we consume

7 MONTHS!!! Just me and my fav book

A sweet lady gave us bby Martinelli's to celebrate

The best recess ever:))) Jump roping and 4 square for the WIN

These elders get points for shopping but, for future reference, leave the shopping to the sisters 

Family call!!! So fun to teach them the Restoration!!!

God loves YOU and YOU and YOU and ALL of you

Week 29 - November 23, 2020

You would think I would've learned this by now, but I continue to learn the same lesson over and over again: HEAVENLY FATHER LOVES EVERYONE! We all know that one guy who always brings the conversation back to himself. Sister Wood would try to say something and he'd jump right in and cut her off and thank goodness for masks because I was a snickering. Yet, while he continued on, I had this overwhelming feeling that this was someone that God loves. He was right there laughing along with us, knowing His son perfectly. 

And that is something that never ceases to amaze me, HOW PERFECTLY GOD KNOWS EACH OF US! Something that helps me move forward is trusting that Heavenly Father knows His children, He knows who is having a hard day or could use someone to talk to and He places people in our lives just when we need them. Not only does He hear our prayers, but sometimes He uses us to be the answer to someone else's prayer. 

SO TAKE TIME TODAY TO PRAY AND BE STILL. Think of someone that you can reach out to, I promise someone will come to mind! And then of course REACH OUT gotta #putyourthoughtstoaction

As our friend Ben put it, "Satan is a sly dog." Satan is working hard but we are working harder!! Ben was planning on coming to church but came outside to find 4 flat tires. We had a few moments like that this week, where we had everything planned out but then found that we had some flat tires we had to fix first. Despite the challenges, THIS IS A GREAT WORK!!! 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Volleyball QUEENS

Keep the Sabbath Day Holy pizza 

Outdoor church!!! 

Cutie pink sky and moon 

Jamming to 2021 Youth Music THIS IS A GREAT WORK. HITS DIFFERENT

The sunsets get better every. night. 

7 Seconds

Week 29 - November 16, 2020

Within the first 7 seconds of meeting someone you've already come up with assumptions of who a person is. 

My first 7 seconds with President: he told me I'm too casual

DO NOT EVEN WORRY, I'M STEPPING UP MY PROFESSIONAL GAME but this experience struck me. While I have time to show him that I can improve, there are plenty people that have only seen 7 seconds of me 

Sometimes 7 seconds is all we have. If 7 seconds was all you got with a person, what would you want people to know? 

I'VE ENTERED THE MISSIONARY WORLD, this is big you guys!!! My head is full of hilarious experiences from this week, but the most important thing: Christ has come up in every. single. conversation. IT IS AMAZING! There is so much power that comes with His name. There was one night where a woman shared her hard experiences and I felt like I was surrounded by darkness. But the moment I opened my mouth and spoke of Jesus Christ and the hope that He is, there was a physical difference in that home. We left with hearts full and the light of Christ bursting through the dark.

I've gotta dash, people need more Christ in their lives, but let me leave you with this:

What are you going to do with your 7 seconds?

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex 

SISTER WOOD AKA THE BEST EVER

Tehachapi sunsets bbyyyyy

Literally my favorite district, full of sisters and two hilarious elders

Tehachapi sunsets bbyyyyy

My new bestie, call me a horse loving cowgirl 

My guilty pleasure, popcorn and the Safety Zone

Cannot get enough of these mountains 

Big Girl Moves

Week 28 - November 10, 2020

Cue your best heartbreak playlist.

Tears streamed down my face as I sat by myself in the back of a big plane, flying over tree-filled Ohio for the last time. Not my finest moment, puffy eyed and sniffling under a mask. I would have laughed at myself if I wasn't so #emotional 

NOW PUMP THAT HYPE PLAYLIST, I'M A CALI GIRL NOW😎

Flying alone terrified me, but being 20 does something to a person. All grown up you could say, chatting with anyone that sat close to me. You would have thought me and these 40 year old men were long lost besties by the convos we got into. Each time I was the one that talked first, but then it ended up with them telling me about their lives, things that were tough, showing me their projects, laughing at "kids these days" and discussing religion. That's right. Religion. A missionary's forte. But more important than discussing our differing beliefs, we built a relationship. 

So, my friends, be ~wisely~ bold and be the one to talk first! You will be amazed at who needs to be seen and heard. We are here to become one not only with the Savior, but with the people around us. 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Asking for a friend: who knows who Paul Cardall is? If you do I have a funny story 4 u

Big 20

No better way to celebrate than TEXAS ROADHOUSE

Dinner of ~champions~ second and last freezer meal I hope I consume 

Good Jafternoon #iykyk 

One last spooky night in Hiram

We did indeed die hahahha

Go listen to his stuff, world renown for a reason!!! 

Just our pal Paul 

Everyone woke up to send us off at 4 am, if that's not true friendship idk what is I LOVE YOU GUYS

Petition to bring back pioneer dresses

Week 27 - November 2, 2020

I've always been in such a rush to grow up but this Halloween I felt like a little kid again and it was nostaglic. The seniors threw a party for us sisters, planning out our whole night and ending it all with trick or treating around the site. We walked out into the night with glowsticks as our flashlights, bags in hand and christmas lights lining our paths. It was MAGICAL, bringing back all my sweet halloween memories. Breathing in the chilly air and looking around at all the sisters going two by two, grinning and giggling as they moved from building to building I teared up. Life moves so fast and it's these little moments that I treasure the most. 

My sweet sister Lily was baptized! And man, does that make me feel like an old goober, the baby of the fam making big girl decisions. It was so tender to hear how aware and ready she was.

"Let us not underestimate the capacity and potential power of today's children to perpetuate righteousness. No group of people in the church is as receptive to truth, both in efficiency of learning and with the greatest degree of retention." 

Remember the simple joys of being a child! Give them credit they deserve, for aren't we all trying to "becometh as a child"? (Mosiah 3:19)

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Sorry not sorry I JUST LOVE THESE FITS shawls are IN ladies

Butter churning is hard work!

Who did it better, Eyres or us 

Never felt more myself #bringbackthedresses

Sister Ferrell hit the big 20! 

Just a bunch of pioneer women hanging 

LILY'S BAPTISM 

A day in the life🤧👍