Accidentally hugged a man

I was sitting smack dab in the middle of the middle at zone conference when I looked up to see Elder Dunn coming down my row and maybe he was just reaching out for a handshake, but my immediate response was a little side hug, giving him a little pat on the back. We chatted about how much we love Gary and Debbie, then as I sat back down, all eyes were on me with raised eyebrows. And then I realized "I just hugged a man. In front of all these missionaries as a missionary." 

Whoopsies! 

This whole week had me in tears. My heart really is not prepared for crossing the finish line of serving as a full time missionary. Sports always get me emotional too so of course as Elder Dunn played a video of a man who was determined to finish his race, hobbling along with a torn hamstring and his dad breaking through all the barriers to lift and help carry his son to his finish I was a mess. Through this whole "race" of a mission, my dad has my support, but even more than Gary (who I love with my whole heart) my Heavenly Father has heard every prayer, prayed and unprayed. They are the two guys I always want to talk to.

I really hope that you've taken time to talk to your Heavenly Father this week. 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Grateful for Sister Hicks' closet 

Didn't see a blue sky for a few days 

THE SUN finally broke though all the smoke 

My lack of español really showed in our lessons

Almighty Tobler and Palmer, two sisters I will forever admire 

This palmtree = us after being in the AV

BALLING sisters 

An ~angelic~ crew

Leave it up to the Dunns to leave you feeling loved 

Dead Bunny = Open Heart

Animal deaths? Not phased. But the death of one little bunny led to a night I'll never forget.

When we first rang the doorbell we were skeptical but then a young lady came out and chatted with us from behind their fence, all we could see was her head. One thing led to another and she told us how she was struggling and her walls broke down when she told us her bunny had died that morning. 

Looking into her tear filled eyes you could see her longing for peace that she didn't know where to find. We parted ways but as we walked away I felt my heart tugging and I couldn't stop thinking about her. "HER HEART IS OPEN NOW GO BACK." 

10 minutes later we all sat in a circle on her back patio, the sky slowing darkening but we were full of light as we shared the message of the restoration. She was a different person when we left.

Sometimes it's good to go back.

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

#sleptlikethis

Just soaking in some UV rays

We had too many giggles finding @ this bus stop. "Mormons right?

Picnics all day everyday 

#wokeuplikethis 

Comp or Uber driver? #majorcompinventory

I've been waiting for this day all transfer. A lovely morning locked out of the apartment!!

#needy

Just 4 words: I LOVE THE TEMPLE 

We were like tourists ooh-ing and ah-ing but the biggest smiles and tears came while being inside. God's plan is so grand and while sitting inside I realized that these are covenants I have already made. These are things I can and need to stay true to. Life is daunting, but when we stay true to our covenants, we are "armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory" (1 Nephi 14:14).

The power of God is something I've become so dependent on and is a driving force for why I do what I do. Looking into the eyes of our friends who are learning, the people we come across on the streets, the ones who already know, I see their need for God. 

P5 is full of broken families and a lot of old people, our ward is few in numbers, but they keep on coming because they know that they need God. What need do you have for God in your life?

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

THE LA TEMPLE!!! Felt like home, the place I always want to be. We were all smiles all day!

Lovely Palmdale fires 

A trio for the evening!!! #normalandnatural #haveagoodsabbathday

Ever tried to play 4 v 4 tennis? 

Sister MaKIDNEY Hicks

 *casually comes back from bathroom*

Sister Hicks: what does a kidney stone look like?

We self diagnosed her but then the doctor confirmed: kidney stones!!! 

Me and everyone else that hears her story: did you save it??

Our schedule was thrown for a loop but it led to us finding THE CUTEST family. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world. Families!!! We're out here sharing the gospel even in urgent cares and pharmacies. We have something that brings us joy and we want everyone to experience it!

"When we come to a sense of what the Savior has done for us - what he suffered for us - our natural reaction is to want to show gratitude and love by giving our lives to Him, by obeying Him."

Obedience. That is what I can give my Savior Jesus Christ. How will you show your love to Him?

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

Sister MAKENA Hicks everybody 

DO YOU WANT A PANCAKE OR THE HEAT

Working urgently in the urgent care!!!

You'd think the sky was a nice sunset but really it's just poor AQ

A GOOD DAY WITH THESE TWO

One big team

#partypalmdalezone

Google helped with our diagnosis 

Sneak peak at for all the parties we'll be throwing come November. President didn't know what he signed up for when he put us together 

What I believe

 "What happens now? Now that I believe?"

"What do I need to do to be baptized?"

"I want to come back to church." 

"I want my girlfriend to learn what I learned from the missionaries." 

"I am willing to open my heart. I want to become like Jesus Christ."

"What changed for you when you chose to believe?" 

Every line has a person and their story behind it. But more than any experience we had this week, I want to share what I believe.

I have felt God's love in my life, it fills me, as 2 Nephi 4:21 describes. Every time I look into the eyes of the people we come across, my heart gets a little softer. God has opened my eyes to see people where they are which = a lot of tears from Sister Rex. Sometimes my heart hurts because of the hard things that others go through, but other times it hurts because of how often I fall into sin, "nevertheless I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions... and he has filled me with his love" (2 Nephi 4:18-21).

I believe in Christ. I believe that He lives and that no matter what "sins easily beset you" He will help you when you turn to Him. I love the Prophet Joseph Smith. Everything that I know about Christ is because of him. This is the ongoing restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I will stand forever. Where will you stand?

I've always believed it's true; but now it's real.

Love big! Love hard! 

Sister Rex

Sister Thacker wears Christmas earrings every 25th of the month - Merry August Christmas!!!

Just some action shots of me eating breakfast. Enjoy.

You mess with Jessie you mess with us 

Farewell Sister Thacker 

The happiest group of sisters! The elders question how these ladies are always so happy

SISTER REX x 2

Sometimes missionary work be like: 🥴 #awkward 

Just a 20 year old

 Our POV: sees young guy sitting on road, let's go see how old he is!! 21?? YES YSA are who we've been praying for! He asked what's up?! He WANTS to talk to us?? Yes OF COURSE you can walk with us while we teach you the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This guy was just soaking it all in as we walked around the block, dropping all our big guns Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, THE true church of Christ, baptism and he was nodding and saying "yeah!" to everything we said!!! 

And then all he wanted was our instagrams. We laughed at what was probably going through his mind while we were pouring out our souls 

His POV: 2 girls want to talk to me? Sure I'll listen to whatever they have to say and then get their instagrams

Sometimes I forget that I'm just a 20 year old girl out trying to share the gospel and that not every person is searching for truth, but when we find the ones that are it makes everything else worth it. Some of those sweet moments from this week:

•Jessie really took our invite to heart, praying to want to want to change 

•Michael's whole countenance changed when he learned what repentance means 

•Forsi's tears of sadness turned into tears of joy when we showed her the Book of Mormon is available in Persian. "My language! I forgot my sadness! God is good!" 

God IS good and He helps me forget my sadness. 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

Actually answer those questions for yourself

It was a SWEET EXPERIENCE to look into the eyes of Elder Renlund and then to hear him say with such quiet confidence, "I know that He lives." 

This week was full of anticipation as we waited to gather together as a mission to learn from an apostle of the Lord. And it left my heart absolutely FULL

Con of trying to have an open heart all the time: I pour my heart out to everyone these days and it gets STOMPED on ahahah YSA are Class A punks #leavethemloved

We are teaching some BALLER guys, we can't keep up with how much they want to meet!! #pray4girlstojoin they each WANT the gospel, they WANT to learn, they NEED Jesus Christ. They see how real Christ is and it's eye-opening. Sister Renlund posed a few questions that really got me thinking:

"How real is the Savior in your life?

 What can you do to make Him more real in your life?" 

Love big! Love hard!

Sister Rex

I rest my case of why I would never choose to live in Lancaster. 

The 2 most precious hermanas #bestsnacksuppliers

Peep Sister Tobler's missionary clothing line coming to you October 2021 

Sister Thacker almost had to lower me behind this dumpster HAHA

WHEN YOU FEEL IT. THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

What sillies left all these doors open...

We always regret the frosty but it hit the spot in the moment