It's A Small World After All 🌎

Week: 33
Date: September 23, 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  

Rose ice cream with Hermana Marcela
Champaign Illinois
September 2024

Y'ALL THE WORLD IS SO SMALL!!! LET ME HIT YOU WITH THIS QUICK UPDATE!! 

So first off I need to tell y'all about the MIRACLE OF THE WEEK!!! So on Wednesday night Hermana McQuigg and I got invited to a members house (Hermana Kerly) to eat with her and her family!! She and her sons are from Ecuador and the husband is American, but they all moved from Ecuador in February! As we were eating, the husband started asking all types of questions like.. how many siblings we have, what our parents do for work, and where we were from (in Spanish)… As we keep talking Hermana Kerly, was like (translated of course) “I actually knew an Elder who served in Ecuador and his dad also armored cars, you don't happen to have had a brother who served in Ecuador do you?” And I was like, “I do, but it was a long time ago so maybe a different Elder Kimball." She was like, “Do you have a picture of your brother?”

Naturally I showed her a picture.. and she started freaking out and she was like “QUEEE, NO PUEDO CREER, ELDER KIMBALL”!!!  (“WHAT, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.... ELDER KIMBALL!!)  Then ladies and gents here's the best part she said “ÉL FUE QUIEN BAUTIZÓ A MI HERMANO” (He was the one who baptized my brother).... like you are kidding me. My brother (Colton) Elder Kimball, baptized her brother Jorge Macias in 2015 in the Amazon River… in Ecuador. And now she's feeding me dinner in Savoy, Illinois in 2024. Like God is so real, he sends you signs and people that show recognition of how much he loves you and knows you individually! I love Hermana Kerly and now we will forever have such a special connection! I definitely miss my brother, so it was a very fun/nice touch of home! 

Hermana Kerly and fam 🫶
Champaign, Illinois
September 2024

My bro and Jorge en 2015 

P-DAY WAS SO BOMB!! Me and my besties (my district lol) went on campus this week. We went bowling at Illinois State and walked around the campus. We pretended we were students and walked all over campus town. We even hit the game store to get our #FIGHTINILLINI merch. But it was like 70 dollars, so we passed that up, but the thought was there. I'm gonna see if we can get Pres to let us go to a college football game this Saturday !!🫡😜

We had another wack lesson this week with someone, she told us she won't even touch the Book of Mormon because she thought we are agents from the government. She thought that we were gonna deport her. It was seriously so strange, but we straightened it all out and invited her to church:)) !! 

Sis Taufa gave me Tongan braids after this pic was taken!! 
Champaign Illinois
September 2024

FiGHTIN ILLINI 
Champaign Illinois
September 2024

After working our behinds off this week, we realized we are kinda slumped in a waiting period. We have four friends who want to be baptized but they all have some stuff to clean up or get done before baptism. So big prayers for our friends this coming week y'all! We had a pretty bomb miracle with our friend Luis. We met with him for the second time and soft invited him to baptism, and he said that is for sure in his near future!! I'm so excited for the miracles to come! 

Church was awesome. I'm finally getting a hang of the groove of the new branch!!! We are all good friends now!! Hermana McQuigg and I went early and practiced the music before the big show, and we nailed it this week!! I'm very proud. We also got so many gifts this week, one member gave us a bunch of eggs from her chickens… literally like so many eggs. Another sweet old Mexican member gave us dates.. first time I had a date and it literally just tastes like sugar. But he got me a box of 60 and Hna McQuigg a box of 60… so we are gonna be having lots of dates and eggs this week… yum 😋 🫠

We also had our friend Claudia and her whole family come to church this week, which is such a miracle because the boyfriend has been working every Sunday. Gratefully, he's finally looking for a job that doesn't work on Sundays!! Bless up!! We are hoping to throw a wedding soon for them then get Claudia baptized! YAY big things in store!!

Our friend Mateo came as well!! He's so nice. He's a sweet little Guatemalan man and he actually texted us and asked if he can start meeting with us, and coming to church!! Ahah so it's funny how we have worked so hard on other people and God will always provide! Even if it's a different plan!! 

Anyways, it was a pretty tough week but we press on!! I've been studying patience a lot this week and the entire transfer, and I am definitely seeing how my time here is strengthening me and blessing my future! A big BIG focus this week has been just truly realizing that I'm not going through this alone. Jesus Christ is literally the coolest because he knows what exactly we are going through. He has literally suffered the way we sometimes feel like we are suffering. I'm not saying, I'm suffering, not at all, but I am saying that the atonement of Jesus Christ is strengthening!! It is such a beautiful act of mercy that God gave each of us. With that I just wanted to share one of my favorite quotes.

“The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with the trials of life, because of the Saviors atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace” -Elder Quinten E. Cook 

There is always peace in Jesus Christ's atonement. I am so grateful for him and I am beyond grateful for the way he has strengthened me! I love y'all!  Have the best week! God is good!! 

-Hermana Kimball 💗

Dad: Two more soccer girls to watch for the rest of your life!! 🫶 #mynumba1supporter

Mom: Keep the vlogs and tea coming 🫖

Colton: SO THIS WAS THE COOLEST MIRACLE!! 

Caryn: So how do I find the baby clothes in my size? They are so cute!! 

Taylor: Stalked you and Bailey's missionary love story this week with my district. 

Bailey: Cart girl without the drinks. 

Clay: Jelly you went to the Thrifthood drop.

Lexi: Only you would be known as the biggest smack talker in the volleyball tourney.. ahaha

Bella: Love the new screen saver at work. Keep it that way 

Collins: What even is a adolescent hyperbole? 

Capri: I love your gibberish singing. 

Kash: You are getting too big to be standing on counters..