Dynielle Became a Missionary! 🫶

Week: 57
Date: March 10, 2025
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Email: leah.kimball@missionary.org
Companion: Sister Searle /West Jordan, Utah
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  

 

Car selfies all day everyday!
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

Hey everyone!!!

I hope y’all have had the best week!! Our friends in the YSA are AWESOME! Here’s my update!!!

Tuesday, we got to go to the temple!! I saw some of my cutie friends and, of course, got to be in the temple! It has such an indescribable peace—I just love being there! Afterward, I took my companion to my literal fave place ever on the way back to Springfield—FITZ!!! Everyone needs to put it on their bucket list. The root beer floats are actually so good! Then, we drove two hours back up to Springfield.

 I LOVE FITZ SO MUCH!!!
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

Yummy bowl with our member friend Tamara 
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

Wednesday, we had a FIRE lesson with our baseball friends from a couple of weeks ago! They randomly asked to meet that night, so we took our bestie Abby and taught them the second half of the Plan of Salvation!!! This week, they brought their friend Trent to the lesson, and he was LOVING it!!! His sister is actually dating a member in Utah! Also, Ethan, their member friend, is preparing to serve a mission—the connections and the Spirit are UNREAL! At the end of the lesson, Trent was like, “Okay, so when are y’all coming back to teach us more?” LIKE, SAY LESS!! We are so excited! We’re heading back there tonight!!!

This past week, our recent convert Trent (a different Trent) lost both his dad and grandpa. It was really sad, but we were able to offer him a priesthood blessing. Elder Horning (our district leader) gave it to him, and it was so powerful! I don’t think I’ll ever forget that blessing—the Spirit in the room was truly undeniable. Trent told us he could definitely feel his guardian angels. It was so awesome! I love the priesthood so much!

Aniya: mid prayer making her cat fold its arms lol 
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

MY QUEEN ANIYA!! 
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

A few updates on our other friends!

▪︎ Halen is doing amazing! He quit smoking this week to prepare for his baptism on March 30th! He told us it’ll be tough, so everyone keep him in your prayers! He came to church and reads from the Book of Mormon every day! (Also, yes, this is the same guy who needed demons cast out of him. 🫠) He recently told us that since meeting with us, he’s been getting the help he needs for his mental health! SO GOD IS GOOD!

▪︎ Elizabeth has been taught 92% lol, and she’s ready to be baptized! BUT she had the flu, then had to babysit, and then got pink eye in both eyes… So, we had to push her date back again to March 30th so she can get her three church attendances! Please keep her in your prayers!!

▪︎ Demeji from last week has literally gone off the grid. No texts, no calls. We dropped off treats at his house twice, but no response. The treats were still on his porch days later. So at this point, I’m just praying for his safety!

▪︎ David was referred to us by Trent (our recent convert) and came to church last week! We taught him all week, and then he told us he’s leaving for Kyle, Texas, until April 10th… BUT we got him a ride to church, and he still attended in Texas!! SLAY!

New friend alert! We met Aniya, who is so cute and cool!! She’s 19 and wants to be BAPTIZED!! AYEE!! She had never really heard of Jesus Christ before, so this has been a super unique experience. She told us she has a lot to learn, but she has a goal to be baptized before the end of the month!! Wow! I just love it here so much! Also, she had her cat fold its arms during our prayer!! HAHAHAHA I LOVE PEOPLE!

 Temple with some cute sisters!!! 
St Louis Missouri
March 2025

.Car Selfies Part 2 
Springfield Illinois 
March 2025

Sister Searle and I mid stressful lesson lol!
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

Lastly, our friend Larry is impossible to teach lol. He’s straight from the hood of Springfield. We invited him to be baptized on March 30th, but he has Word of Wisdom concerns and struggles to answer our calls… not sure why lol. We went to his house to check on him, and he was just sitting on the porch scrolling through Insta reels and told us he’s a busy guy lol… but then he still came to church and had a fire lesson!!! So he’s a little confusing, but we’re rolling with it. 😆

Yesterday, our sweet friend Dynielle from the YSA branch gave her farewell talk before leaving for her mission in Saratoga Springs, Utah! She moved here with her mom from the Philippines just four months ago, and when I got here, we became so tight! She invited Sister Searle and me to be a part of her setting apart. It was literally just us, her mom, the branch president, and the stake president. So special. Watching her mom put on her name tag had me and Sister Searle SOBBING! #MissYouMom! It was such a tender experience, and I’m so grateful she invited us!

Another selfie at the temple with
Sister Fairchild and Sister Searle! 
St Louis Missouri
March 2025

DYNIELLE IS NOW A MISSIONARY!
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

 Could not be more happy with the newly Sister Martinez!!
Springfield Illinois
March 2025

Anyway, life is SO GOOD over here in the Springfield YSA! I love this area with my whole heart and feel so, so blessed to serve here!!! 💓💓

Spiritual thought of the week

Matthew 16:25

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

This verse totally speaks for itself, but it has truly been our motto this transfer! Sister Searle and I have been seeking the pure joy that comes from losing yourself in the work of the gospel! YSA has taught me so much about myself. Most of all, it has taught me the kind of member I want to be when I go home! The habits I’m working on now—I want to carry them into my future life, future husband, and future family! This experience has taught me how to sacrifice while still finding joy.

My mission has been hard, but it hasn’t been painful. I love serving Him, and I wouldn’t trade the people, the experiences, or the joy I’ve felt in these past months for anything!! 🫶🫶

I love y’all! I love Jesus Christ! He is truly risen! 🌟 God is good! 🩷

- Hermana Kimball

Dad: Can’t wait to call you on St. Patty’s Day! (It’s a Monday—don’t fret.)

Mom: I never swam on Sundays.

Colton: Busy season socks. No one else messages me.

Caryn: I live for your weekly photo dumps, no joke.

Taylor: Can’t wait to see baby longboard!

Bailey: We need more pics of your life!!

Clay: Congrats on the engagement… for your friend Coleman!

Lexi: What is our life HAHAHAH. Everything is unfolding… #CaliSlay

Bella: FREEDOM.

Collins: Hope Honduras is amazing! Send vlogs!

Capri: Didn’t know you were a PJ model!

Kash: Lord of the Rings!

Reese: Your smile!!! 🌟🫶