Champaign Problems 🥂🌟
Week: 31
Date: September 9, 2024
Location: Champaign, Illinois
Email: leah.kimball@missionary.org
Companion: Hermana McQuigg/Colorado Springs, Colorado
Blog: https://livinlavidastlouis.blogspot.com/?m=1
Lexi's Mission Blog: https://iputtheradincolorado.blogspot.com/
IF YOU WANNA SEE DAILY UPDATES JOIN MY PHOTO ALBUM: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UtSgfakxxo46tkbd6
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| Illinois is so much prettier!! Champaign Illinois September 2024 |
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| Sunday selfie to the champaign 3rd branch!! Champaign Illinois September 2024 |
Hi y'all! What a week! So we got transfer news on Monday night and Pres booked me to Champaign, Illinois. Basically middle of nowhere Illinois! My new comp, Hermana McQuigg, and I got white washed into the area… Which means we both have no clue what we are doing. We came out to the mish the same day and Pres has me leading out the area.. that I don't know anything about. It's been super duper challenging but I'm taking it one day at a time. It definitely has switched up my whole mission lifestyle, no more ghetto city. We all met up at transfers on Wednesday and Hermana McQuigg and I had a 3 hour drive ahead of us.. lots of time to get to know your new comp. Haha! Although, I will say a huge plus is our apartment is so boujee, it has wifi! Slay! Anyways, let me take y'all through this crazy week.
First off, because Hna Bruin dipped out on me early, I got to start my week off with the STL’s. Genuinely one of the funnest slumber parties on the mish I've ever had. I got to stay with them for 3 days until transfers! They got to hit some lessons with me in the Spanish area and I got to hit some in the English area. It was genuinely a wild ride. But I genuinely love those girls so much! We keep joking that they have technically been my real comps on the mish.. so I can now say I've been in a trio out here. Let me tell y'all about some crazy lessons we taught.
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| Hermana Marcela is literally one of my fav people eva!!! Champaign Illinois September 2024 |
We got to teach Jezzy!! Jezzy is the sweetest African American woman with some bright pink hair. She has given herself the middle name Jesus because she's trying to become closer with him! Jezzy has the most bubbly personality and was super energized. She just loves the Book of Mormon and she LOVES the STL's, she wanted to buy us some coffees at Starbs… it was so cute!
After Jezzy, we went and taught one last lesson to Ana.. I love Ana so much I am so excited for her baptism. She was so sad that I was leaving, but I told her I'll email her.. I also might have told her I'd be at the baptism.. but that was before I knew I'd be shipped 3 hours northeast. Ahah anyways I'll definitely be zooming into her baptism! My bestie Hna Singletary is taking care of her now.
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| Last day with Ana 🥲 ! She'll be baptized this weekend!! St Louis Missouri September 2024 |
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| 3 hour drive ahead.. first day as comps✅️ Champaign Illinois September 2024 |
For some odd reason the stake presidency decided to have a quick zoom meeting with the STL’s at 9:00pm Tuesday night which means packing got pushed back an hour… and Sister Fairchild and I were absolutely devastated that I'd be leaving the next day.. So we were up till 3:30 am enjoying our last night as temporary comps. I love that girl! No worries though cause Hermana McQuigg and I stopped for a very necessary soda run!!
After finally arriving in Champaign, I was immediately filled with just overwhelming anxiety… I'm out here all alone, don't know a single person.. and barely know what I'm doing. Luckily, I said the most earnest prayer for a desire of strength and calmness, and instantly I felt better. Sorry to jump into the spiritual thought pretty early but God has so strongly given me the strength I need to push through this change! I miss my old branch, friends, and members, but I'm stoked for the love I'll grow for the people here!
Champaign is actually super elect, they are all single men but they all want to be baptized. In my first two days we had four people talk to us about planning a baptism. So cool! And because Hermana Larsen and Hermana Singletary (who were here before me) will get this email I'mma name them for y'all, we had Efri (who will be baptized pronto), Genaro (also pronto), Sergio, and Rafael! It has been so awesome and they genuinely love the church and God and the spirit they have felt! It has fueled me back up with some fire and I'm stoked to help them make this covenant with God.
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| SO MUCH CORN IN ILLINOIS Champaign Illinois September 2024 |
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| Trio life with Hermana Fairchild and Hermana Burkholder means some bomb rounds of pickleball St Louis Missouri September 2024 |
We actually had such a cool experience with our friend Rafael. We gave him a church tour the other day, and brought some members with us to explain the church service (since we hadn't been to one yet), and when we got to the baptismal font the spirit was so strong. His eyes lit up and you could kind of tell that he's just ready.. That day he was asking us about the baptismal process. THEN, Sunday rolls around and he comes to church and just loves it. We got the opportunity to teach him after church and we got to invite him to be baptized!! So now we are planning for October 5th!!! Literally so exciting! He literally was beaming with joy, and I told him that the only way he can beat opposition is through reading the Book of Mormon. So I'm really excited to see how he grows to love El Libro De Mormon!!
This week was just a tad bit tougher than the rest. You know, I left BellaVilla, which I have so so much love for, said goodbye to my comp, and my fake comps, and left everything I knew my mission to be. Then I get booted out to the middle of Illinois, not knowing what to do, to serve in a teeny tiny 30 person Spanish branch, with a comp that I didn't know. It was tough. But I have been working on changing my motivation. A couple weeks ago, my ZL’s shared a BYU speech with us, that I just love. Here's the link
It's pretty lengthy, but if you have the time it's so worth it. Changing our motive to love, opens our eyes to a greater perspective. The perspective of our Savior Jesus Christ. If only I could show love the way He did. I have been working hard to change my motive to love. Love my new area, love my new lil branch, love my new comp. With time it will come, but through my efforts…everyday has gotten just a bit better. This spiritual thought is a thought of growth. I am constantly learning and growing but I know that I am so blessed to be here.
Also here's a quick quote my mama sent to me this week that I needed, so to all my friends and family going through changes!!
“You may not see it now, but God would never keep you in a season, if he didn't have a harvest ready for you in the next” :))
I love you all and I hope y'all have a very blessed week!! ALSO HAPPY 1 HUNDO AL PROFETA AYYY!!! God is so good!!
-Hermana Kimball 💕
Dad: Can't wait to hit some BYU games with you soon
Mom: Quote queen, please send more, I'm livin' for your tea updates!!.
Colton: Keep sending those tik toks…pls
Caryn: Gosh 1 last month.. til Reese!!!
Taylor: So what type of Asian are you?
Bailey: Who are all these bleach blonde children..
Clay: Big things ahead.
Lexi: Wow so Pres Kotter called me too, and said you'll be SAP soon..
Bella: Okay why don’t you update me anymore..
Collins: I think I've shown your morph suit Tik Tok to probably 600 Latinos
Capri: Hey send me some funny vlogs again
Kash: IDK why I write these since you can't read yet ahah
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