Welcome to the Sistrict

 

Week: 2 
Date: February 17, 2024
Location: Mexico City, Mexico CCM
Email: leah.kimball@missionary.org
Companion: Hermana Duersch/ Pennsylvania, Hermana Strong/ Arizona

My temporary district and some missionaries
in my building right after arriving at the CCM!! ! 
Mexico City, Mexico
February 2024

Hi everyone !!! 

Wow, what a week it has been! It has felt all so slow and fast at the same time! I made it to Mexico!!!! Traveling here was no fun let me tell you. The charcuterie board I packed for the plane ride was the best idea I've ever had. While traveling I was all alone and didn't see a missionary until I made it to the travel bus to the CCM! But I had a whole lot of time to read my scriptures and write in my journal! Also, I did get one last HUBCHUB (honey butter chicken biscuit) before I got on the plane!

 

 When I first got here, I was temporarily placed with a new district (new set of missionaries) for the day because turns out the Salt Lake flight to Mexico City was super delayed meaning my whole district and probably 40 other missionaries didn't make it to the CCM until about 10pm at night. Also guys... my temporary district were 3 girls from Mexico who only spoke Spanish. So I got some pretty solid practice in on the first day! It was wild! When I got here we immediately ate and then headed to a devotional where we got to hear Elder D. Todd Christofferson speak from the Provo MTC! 

. Little selfish during our scripture study!
Mexico City, Mexico
February 2024

Some of my bestest friends from byu at the CCM!! Hermana Archibald and Elder Thurman.
Mexico City, Mexico 
Feburary 2024

At the devotional I got to see two of my bestest friends from BYU! It was the reunion of the century! I ran into Elder Thurman and Hermana Archibald! When I saw them here I almost cried. God knew I needed to see some familiar faces to know I wasn't alone. Luckily, now I see them all around campus like 20 times a day, and got to eat lunch with them a couple times! They are one of my biggest blessings here and I'm so sad Hermana Archibald leaves me next week for Arkansas, but she is going to be the greatest missionary! 

 Anyways, the second day I finally got to be with my whole district which is actually only us 5 girls! And we are pretty famous around here. For those of you who don't know, not having any elders in your district is very rare, so we like to call our selves the "Sistrict", we are making CCM history around here. Hermana Gines and Hermana Strong have become two of my bestest friends, they seriously keep me laughing all day and make me a lot less homesick! I just love them so much! Also guys... MY COMPANION (Hermana Strong) AND MY COUSIN (now referred to as Elder Kimball) KISSED AT BYU... small world. Also, this next message is for my brother Clay and my cousin Cael.. everyone knows about your live streams here... pretty awesome! 

Calling home to get our phones fixed!
Mexico City, Mexico
Feburary 2024

Breakfast with the sistrict! 
Mexico City, Mexico 
February 2024

  Anyways, Everyday I'm here I feel my Spanish improving. I have always felt my Spanish to be pretty good, but since I learned through immersion rather than through school, I didn't learn any of the correct grammar for my sentences. So I assume I sound a little childish in Spanish and no one tells me! Luckily, they have a help desk here, which is basically an optional class you can choose to go to when ever you have free time.  That really helps with grammar. And the teacher, Elder Bentley, is probably the funniest guy ever. He and his wife are on a elderly mission here. I really love them, they are so awesome!

 The CCM is seriously beautiful, the weather is gorgeous and I'm getting a tan, it's a win/win. Being here has really felt like EFY (church camp). We wake up at 6:30 the we have 2 classes throughout the day, then do our language study, and then we get go to the help desk. Also, we play pickleball which I'm a beast at.. JK but it's seriously so fun! Also, I'm not sure if I just got lucky on my first week but the food has been pretty BOMB! I told my companions that I'm gonna have to start getting smaller plates so I don't eat my weight in the food here. JK I'd never do that, but so far the food has been pretty amazing! 

 I know my angels sent a Texas Sunset to Mexico!! Quinn and Emma ❤️!
Mexico City, Mexico
February 2024

Hermana Gines, Hermana Strong and Me stoked to hear from the apostle! 
Meixco City, Mexico
February 2024

 Yesterday, my very first week here we had a devotional from Elder Ulisses Soares in person! It was super special! Also you will not believe what happened to us. Seats were filled up to the very back row and I was pretty bummed we'd be so far, but they came up to me and my companions and said. "are y'all a trio?" And we were like "yes" and they were like, "we have three seats we want to fill, can y'all follow me?" Of course we said yes and followed her. I was stoked to get any closer to the pulpit but y'all she took us to the very front row! What a blessing it was amazing! The spirit is so strong and he said something that truthfully I felt the Lord would have him say for me. "It doesn't matter where you're serving, it's about who you are serving." It's so true, and got me pretty pumped for the rest of my mission!

Anyways, y'all I love and miss you with my whole heart, but I've learned so much and the Lord is def looking out for me! 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT. This week I have been super focused on sincere prayer and how can I have a sincere conversation with my father in heaven, while preparing for one of our mock lessons. (We practice teaching lessons to people here in Mexico and it's pretty amazing.) I came across this verse Alma 37: 36

"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

Y'all the spirit here is so strong and I have definitely been praying for strength this week and let me tell you, God answers prayers. The first two days were a tough adjustment but I feel so strong and God is definitely cheering me on! I am stoked to be a missionary and I know this is where I'm supposed to be! I love you all and please pray this week even if it's just once! He is listening I promise! 

-Hermana Kimball 

PS: I have messenger but I can't use it for anyone besides immediate family :( ! SAD I know! But please please email me! While I'm in the CCM my P-days (the day I can respond) will be on Fridays! So I can write back to all of y'all every Friday! Love and miss you all! 

PPS: People think I'm really funny here! Anyways, God is so good! 

Dad: I really miss you, I showed everyone the pics of you hugging me goodbye here. They said real men cry so you def got some cool dad credit! 

Mom: I have been dying to talk to you! I tried to sign to Elder Soares while I was in the front row that he was the mission president to my aunt. I don't think your signing skills have taught me much.. lol

Colton: Trying to keep peve alive and well here. Some of my compañeras les gustan!!!!

Caryn: I think I'm gonna create a Google photos only for you since you happen to be the only person that responds to me!

Taylor: I've used my Canadian brother in law as a way to be cooler than everyone else here!

Bailey: Sorry you're the only big sister left be back in a quick 18!

Clay: I've been praying for you a lot this week.. we both know why 😉 😜 

Lexi: I pray that the food is good in the MTC! You can do this sister! I love you! Also, you get me some cool kid creds here too. Everyone loves that I have a twin serving a mission too!

Bella: Been going on lots of dates recently?

Collins: Thank you for messaging me this week! I love you! And Happy Valentines to you and James 😉 

Capri: I'm dying to hear about what your valentine said about your gift! I miss you! 

Kash: Happy birthday ! I'll pray you enjoy that cake of yours! Let me know if you start walking!