Yay fasting!!!

Better than Wimbledon🎾: STL vs ZL

    #whoyougotinafight 

    Needless to say Elder Jenson and I gave our missionaries quite a show, I seriously look forward to our pday tennis matches

Missions are such a funny time, just a bunch of 18-20 something year olds laughing and having a good time talking about Christ and finding joy in the little things. My humor scale is a little out of wack but that just means more laughter! 

YSA work: flirty, about to age out or not interested hahaha, we work with what we've got! 

I HAVE SUCH A TESTIMONY OF FASTING!!! I've  always had an "ugh" attitude but it's turned into a "yay!" As missionaries and members we fasted to find- and now we're putting in the work! Taking our faith and putting it to action. We have already seen so so many miracles because of our fast and I am excited for the many miracles in store. "I know" has become such a meaningful phrase to me and I KNOW that this gospel brings true happiness! See where your faith can take you this week! 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex 

The saddest week of pictures: 

Windows down soaking in the smell of rain! 

The beauty of technology: the work still moves on even on rainy evenings wrapped up on a couch 

Just tryna get some sunshine, no thanks to the wind 

Sweaty and styling after showing the elders up #sportygirls 

Shaking in my boots

I was told going to Lancaster would ~expand~ me and boy oh boy was that true! This place has me shaking in my boots!

Things I'm learning:

•there are just some people and situations where we don't say "HI! How are you?!" or wave or make eye contact with hehe whoops learned that one the hard way 

•some YSA guys are really sensitive.. learning how to point ANY and EVERY situation back to Christ

•don't laugh when the elders make salty comments #thatsahardone

•how to text awkward YSA hahaha 

•you get used to gunshots and drugs! (sorry mom just remember how much I love it here!!)

•it's fun to serve with elders!! Somehow I escaped that one for almost 11 months 

Things I NEED to learn:

•how to control my energy hahaha I'M BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS HERE 

•how to slow down, if you have any tips PLEASE send them my way

There is one thing that stops me from shaking in my boots: my Savior, Jesus Christ. My heart aches for some of the people that have come into my life and for too long I tried to be the hero, I tried to fix them, I tried to lift them. But I finally understand that there is only one who can truly help them. Christ understands. He knows. He lifts and comforts. I LOVE SHARING THAT WITH PEOPLE!! Pointing people to Jesus Christ is what brings the most joy to my life.

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

PICTURES: 

LIVING IT UP on Lancaster's finest couch

Getting #swoll spiritually and physically😎

APT 18 FINALLY HAS A COUCH #we'lltakethatthanks

From snow 

To sun!!!

It was a good run #legends 🤧

Only got to sit on it twice but hey, left my mark

Tell me your story- what role does Christ play?

Diving into one of my self-reflective moments:

We had a sweet lesson with a member couple yesterday and we had them tell us their story. It was SO fun to hear their adventures, but not once was the gospel or Jesus Christ mentioned. I asked "what role does the gospel play in your story?" which led to a wonderful, EDIFYING discussion! It got me thinking:

When someone says "tell me your story," when does Christ come into the picture? What role does He play?

This couple had wonderful experiences to share, but if we hadn't asked, we never would have known the impact that Jesus Christ has in their lives. How often do I do that? Christ is SUCH an important influence in my life, He is MY Savior. But do I leave Him out of my story? 

What role does Christ play in YOUR story? Just a thought to think about. I hope, whatever role He does play in your life, you'll take the time to share it. 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

OH YES! I'm leaving Tehachapi and I'm headed to Lancaster, working with the YSA!!! Off to new adventures I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY FOR JESUS CHRIST

PICTURES:

The cutest cute fruit stand 

Always snowing round these parts 

#movienight President Ballard + treats = EDIFYING

Gonna miss these drives🥺

Ah the zone. They always be requesting a pic so here's their feature 

Yum Bear Valley breakfast!

Sister sleepover!!!

WE GOT A WASHER & DRYER, really is the little things that bring the most joy😌

Missionary —> Hairstylist

My fortune cookie: You will learn the value of a hug.

Me: ...😳😖

Anyone that knows me knows I prefer a handshake or a fist bump over a hug, but here I am, learning how to get out of my #comfortzone

As I listened to one of the sisters sniffle and wipe away tears, a battle went on in my mind. "She needs a hug... oh no, oh man, I can't do this... put on your big girl pants YOU CAN DO IT."

And I did. Still don't love hugs. But I learned the value!

We don't hug the people that we meet each day, but there is a warm glow in their eyes as a connection is made. Bear Valley has THE STRANGEST people I've ever met and they have the biggest place in my heart! With each moment together- listening to their life stories, planting flowers, pretending to like their animals- we become more connected.

The most important connection that we can strengthen is our connection to Christ. As I've gotten outside my comfort zone to help those around me, I find myself more connected to Christ. What connects you to Him?

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

PICTURES:

Out adventuring per usual

Ultimate trust... out here dying hair!

"There's no going back, you're going blonde!"

Pretty morning trail run

WANNABE HORSEGIRL

Chloe wasn't having it:/ love her tho!!!

Future business partners? #keepitclassy

Out adventuring per usual

#fearNOman

 For better or for worse, I be fearing no man out here in Tehachapi 

After a series of wild events, we were standing on the porch of an alcoholic who was shooting his bb gun and growling at us to his delete his address. I just stared into his mascara coated eyes and chatted away. 

We're fearless but we're not stupid, we've been putting together ~The Clark Case~ and boy oh boy do we have a story!!! I'll keep you posted on any interesting leads but right now all we know is that God places people in our lives for a reason and He works in MyStErIoUs ways. 

Every single day is an adventure here- we live to find joy in the simple moments! God has SHOWERED down miracle after miracle here, opening our hearts to a lot of heartache with a lot more love. 

Fear not.

Isaiah 41:10,14 - FEAR NOT I am with thee, I'll strengthen thee and help thee

Isaiah 42:1-5 - FEAR NOT I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, I am with thee

Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-36 - FEAR NOT to do good, look unto me in every thought, doubt not fear not

And most importantly 

1 John 4:18

PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

PICTURES:

TETHERBALL BBY

2 happy girls soaking it all in

The YUMMIEST strawberries for a cute fruit stand on the side of the road!

Golden Girls!!!💗

Oh how we love our district of sisters + these fellas

One of those nights you want to last forever 

If you only knew the pain that went into building this chicken coop

Building the kingdom of God one chicken coop at a time 

Nothing gets us laughing like watching people's reactions during meetings 

Whoopsies

 These are my days NEVER to be forgotten. A week of spiritually defining memories right here!!! 

     •Everyday we break down our walls with the wrecking ball of vulnerability, we have our "vulnerable" alarm goes off at noon

     •Unmute did me dirty again, I was humming hymns in my head and sung ONE line out loud "gird up you loinsss" when our stake president made a comment about it. My eyes went HUGE and I HIT THAT MUTE button as fast as I could 

     •My heart has been tugged in a million directions, GOD IS SO GOOD, THE SPIRIT IS SO STRONG and I have the tear stains to show it;)) 

     •Jerry warned us it would be an adventure to get to his off the grid cabin and we accepted. And an adventure it was!!!! Lost and got a little old lady stuck in the snow, Jerry got her unstuck with his wench and then we had a lesson on top of a beautiful mountain, sitting in the back of our car surrounded by the stillness of nature. Took a moment to soak it all in and just BE THERE

"It doesn't get easier, it gets better." 

This week was the best not because we hit all our KIs, not because it was easy, but because it was stretching. Stretching is painful but that is what strengthens us and brings us closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. 

We are helping people wherever they are at come closer to Christ. That is what life is all about and it has made my heart SO SO BIG I LOVE IT!!! Somehow my heart keeps on growing:') 

Wherever you're at, you can take one step closer to Jesus Christ. How are you going to stretch so that you can be closer to Him?

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex 

PICTURES:

A glowing sky to match my glowing heart!!!

Enjoying our pretty drive up to Jerry's 

This woman thought she was gonna have to spend the night in the mountains ahahaha

Whoopsies!!! Sorry Sister Burroughs and thanks Jerry!

DREAMY VIEWS, this is where he lives!!!

Hehehe sharing LoVe

A lesson I'll never forget 

Frosty wonderland!

Two girls always searching for adventure 

Cutie comp + cutie views

DREAM BIG

9 WORDS 4 YOU:

"If you can dream it, you can do it." 

President Gordon B Hinckley himself said "there is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it." YOU CAN DO IT but it must be WITH Christ. Have the desire and get to work and big things start happening.

See what You + Christ can do.

9:00 pm the night before Valentines Day the sisters we live with ran in and said "we received revelation that we need to make valentines for all of our less active families." We GRINDED and made 100 cutie valentines, this is a wonderful work we get to be apart of;) Our week was full of delivering our own valentines and man, it was a good week. I LOVE the people here!!!

Valentines day is THE BEST holiday, ALL ABOUT LOVE!!! And the thing I love most about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it's centered on love. Because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you, they have high expectations for you. They want you to become something great, they are on your team and they love you. Return their love by dreaming big and working to achieve those dreams! 

If you can dream it, YOU CAN DO IT with Christ

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

PICTURES:

Docmenting this: I like oatmeal!! I always forget that

FIRST CAFE RIO IN 9 MONTHS #cheatmeal

Bear Valley viewsss

CHEF SIMPSON 

FOG town

Pls appreciate the matching valentines fits: black and white hearts with cutie pink headbands #festive

Bear Valley viewsss

In my favorite place:)) 

 

Lil kung fu panda action

Cutie Tehachapi streets