They're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Week: 3
Date: February 27, 2024
Location: Provo Utah, Provo MTC
Email: lexi.kimball@missionary.org
Companion: Sister Wariner/Utah Sister Allen/Arizona

If you wanna see lit photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/ESS7DE4mVn4tsmFu6

Last day at the cupcake temple
Provo, Utah
February 2024

 Relief society gang
Provo Utah
February 2024

Ok y'all, this is my last MTC email, which is so crazy. On Friday, I head to the airport at 3:30am in the morning, even though my flight is at 8:00, the math ain't adding up. But I head off to the rocky mountains, hopefully there will be a nap time when I get there. 

This past week has been crazy. I said goodbye to Elder Hernandez and Elder Eynon on Wednesday, which was so sad, but they are gonna be the best missionaries. Carter Bowman and Lauren Stone showed up here at the MTC, which is so sick. 

Thursday morning I played a game of knockout with Elder Pearson and Elder Kimball, and let's just say I think I have a hidden talent for basketball, or it might just be the height (thanks dad), but I beat those Elders so bad. At first, they were trashing on me, but I showed them the best Kimball at basketball🙌. But it's ok,  Elder Pearson and Elder Wright later destroyed me at volleyball, which was fine because their team all had matching BYU pathway worldwide shirts, and they thought they were so cool haha🤦. 

Post vball dub district flic 
Provo, Utah 
February 2024

 New members of the MTC BYU crew
(Elder Bowman, Herman Orr, Me, Hermana Stone, and Seur Van Gils)
Provo, Utah 
February 2024

This week I have been thriving on my helping others appointments, where we teach these actors who might or might not be members. But we taught this one girl on Saturday, and it went so well. She was dying laughing at one point, but then crying because the spirit was so strong. It was so powerful that I was able to share my testimony, and so did my comps. It was so good. I definitely felt like it affected her so much. We taught about her purpose and her worth, and there was this scripture that my comp whipped out with her scripture knowledge: 

"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device." Acts 17:29 

This talks about how we should think that God is greater than gold and all the things we think are great because He is. Then I shared how we are God's treasure. We are the things he cares about because we are His children. We are all daughters of God. I think that's what got her, but she started tearing up, and it was the best appointment.

 

Ok, but I have loved my time here seeing Hermana Orr and Seur van Gils (who shocked me because she's actually funny, who would have thought), but we all talk all the time, which has been so fun, and if anyone wants some beautiful pictures of Sister Van Gils, lmk😍😬. The devotionals with them are so lit, very inspiring sisters right there. Elder Cook, who's Elder Kimball's comp, was roasting us hard. It was crazy considering the fact that when he stands up, I'm 5 inches taller, haha but he truly is hilarious. But it's currently been a joke that when I see all the elders like Kimball Cook, Pearson, Wright, and even Hereman Orr (backstabber jk), they stand up like they have to leave right when I was just about to sit down, but we all know they are dying to sit next to me.

 

A book of mormon apart (elder Pearson and Elder Wright)
Provo Utah
February 2024

The district is lit. The DL (district leader) Elder Ryne and all of us were walking to class, and these elders were throwing oranges off the 4th floor balcony and yelled down to us to catch it. The next thing you know they threw the orange down, and the next thing you see is Elder Ryne dropping everything and catching it like a boss. It was crazy. Then they wanted him to throw it back up, which is so hard because you're throwing up and you don't want to hit a window. But he threw it up, and it made it, surprisingly they threw it back down, and he caught it and it exploded in his hands so he had orange juice all over his hands.

 

On Saturday night, me and my comps, if we have time we love doing personal study in the rooms at the end of the hallways and we showed up and some elders were in our spot.  I asked where they were from, and this Elder said Australia, and of course I had to ask him to say some sentences, and one of them was including the H2O reference "Cleo the condensation." He said it, and everyone was dying. They should cast him for H2O 2024🧜😅. But I hard-core convinced them that I had a thick Texas accent, and now every time they see me, they call me Texas haha. I have sincerely met so many Australian and New Zealand people here, and it's literally the best. Sometimes we hit the 5th floor for personal study, and that is where people learn the hard languages. People learning some crazy language truly have a special place in my heart. So shout out to Elder Richey who I swear when he talks it's made up but it's a real language. Armenian is crazy.

 

"I looked out the window, and what did I see?" Sadly, it wasn't popcorn popping on the apricot tree, BUT my friend Mimi from my old life was running to the temple, and on her way back, I saw her through the window, which was sooo fun. It made my day. I got to do some of my sign language skills to talk to her haha. Also, she just got called to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and we are neighboring missions, which is soooo awesome🥳.

 

On Sunday, the food was soo bad, but the service was impeccable. I saw some friends from BYU: Cash, Kalli, Livvy, Parker, and Cole. They needed some service hours, so they served us food. It was amazing to see them, especially since I won't see most of them for 2 and 1/2 years. And seeing them in hairnets got Hermana Orr, Stone, and I dying. 

 

GREAT SERVICE (Sister Stone, Herman Orr, Livvy, Me, Kalli, Parker, Cash, Cole)
Provo Utah
February 2024

It's gonna be so sad leaving the MTC. I have gotten to be able to make a lot of friendships and strengthen some old ones. I know the missionaries here will be in tears when I leave, especially Elder Kimball. I have learned so much here, and I have had so much fun with everyone here. And if y'all have seen Pitch Perfect, there's this song called "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone,"  but I sing it all the time because of the lack of good music, and I only know like three sentences of it, so my district is over it. But I'm so glad I was able to be here in the MTC, but I have had so many fun memories and so many spiritual ones. I love everyone there, and they have all had an impact on my life.

 

Ok I know I talked about this last week, but a friend of mine sent me this section of a talk when I really needed it so it really had an impact on me and made my week.

This talk is by Elder David A. Bednar.

"Enoch bowed himself to the earth … and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?”  

Notice that at the time of Enoch’s call to serve, he became acutely aware of his personal inadequacies and limitations. And I suspect all of us at one time or another in our church service have felt much like Enoch. But I believe the Lord’s response to Enoch’s pleading question is instructive and applies to each of us today. 

“And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance. … “Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.”

 Enoch ultimately became a mighty prophet and a tool in God’s hands to accomplish a great work, but he did not start his ministry that way! Rather, his capacity over time was magnified as he learned to abide in and walk with the Son of God." Here is the link to that talk “Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore Walk with Me” by Elder Bednar.

 

All the great prophets and missionaries did not start off that way. We all have to start somewhere, even though sharing the gospel might be hard. We push through because the Lord will provide a way. I am an instrument in His hands, and He will guide me. I know that this mission will strengthen my relationship with the Lord, because so far it has tremendously. I have faith in Him, and I know he has faith in me and in all of y'all.

 

Ok I love you y'all and since I leave this week for the field. My P-day is officially Monday, and I cannot use Messenger, so feel free to email me.

 

Sister Kimball 

 

Dad: I miss you tons here, and thank you for being 6'4; it truly made me a basketball pro.

Mom: Thank goodness I didn't get your height.

Colton: How's house shoppin?

Caryn: Colton reminds me of a girl who really wants a promproposal so funny.

Bailey: How's SoCal?! You better watch the OC and tell me all about it.

Taylor: I know you're a skater, but are you now gonna be a surfer?

Clay: Keeping you in my prayers brother.

Leah: I'm just waiting for the day we have the same P-day so I can actually talk to you. I miss you, sister. 

Bella: Why does everyone here think we look alike? Honestly, I don't see it.

Collins: Remember, don't highlight stuff that you think is historically important, but highlight the stuff that has MEANING and I love your texts and miss you.

Capri: I saw your adorable testimony! I miss you!

Kash: I'm sorry someone ruined your birthday video, gonna be a day no one forgets.

Jack: Wait, I forgot. Do I do a Jack one? I don't know if we settled this or not.