Hermana Heywood

Kaitlynn in the Chile Puerto Montt Mission

Evening Family Call with You (Valdivia), March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026 · Valdivia

Evening family call. Two heavy threads: Hermana Artieda yelled at you over a choice you hadn't made fast enough, and Mackay's email thanking you for your testimony was read aloud.

Artieda yelled at you - the companion stress

You couldn't say much on camera (Artieda was in the room). You asked Mom to relay; Mom: "There was a little thing with your companion about you not making a choice. Or she yelled at you - and it just felt like it's been off the past couple of days even before that. When you talk about your feelings, she just is like... she doesn't come in. She doesn't listen to her about her feelings, which makes it irritating to say her feelings."

Your read on Artieda's personality: "She's got the type of personality where if you don't do it, I'm just going to do it myself. If you even hesitate for 50 seconds, it's like, 'whatever, I'll just do it myself.' Basically - if you're not perfect, that's too bad, I'll just do it myself."

My framing: "Hard moments are when you build and use what you have... I think you grow the most in the hard moments." Reframe: "What can I do that, even if she's still totally going crazy, makes me a better person?" Even if Artieda is being unreasonable, find what's grow-able about it.

Mackay's email - read aloud

Mackay sent you an email after the Mar 16 interview. You read it aloud:

"Thank you for the remarkably powerful testimony you shared with us during our interview. That's a moment I know I will never forget. Thank you for extending your official release date to September 23, 2026, and I'm excited for what the Lord has in store for you."

Mom: "What a compliment to your testimony... That's the biggest compliment we could have as parents for you. That your testimony of the Atonement is so strong. That's like the greatest joy we could have - that you get it, that you know it and believe it, and that you are able to share that with others."

The September 23 date is now official.

Mauricio - fully quit smoking

Per you: Mauricio "completely dropped smoking - hasn't smoked for two and a half weeks." (So approximately March 6 was his quit date, which lines up with the Mar 9 "down to 6/day" mid-arc state.) He keeps thanking the hermanas; his pockets thank you because he was buying cigarettes every day. He's reading the Book of Mormon every day; already in 4 Nephi (he started two weeks ago).

The Haitian boy's baptism

The 13-year-old Haitian boy you and Artieda had been teaching (older brother of Mathel from the Mar 8 transcript) was baptized this week. Earlier in the month he had backed out because he thought he had to be perfect post-baptism. The shift came when his friend (a member of the church) got suspended from school for a few days, which moved the kid's framing: "This week can you get baptized? I want to get baptized." Your wry take: "So, moms - let your kids get suspended so that all of my kids can get baptized."

BYU-Idaho summer semesters

You floated the new plan: take spring and summer semesters at BYU-Idaho too. Mom and I agreed it's smart. Lighter loads each semester; possible to spread the work. Lets you be at the BYU football fall semester games with me without missing class.

My Elders Quorum counselor calling story

You asked me: have you ever said no to a calling? Yes, once. The Elders Quorum counselor calling under bishop Tyson. I had said no on the spot; left; felt physically sick to my stomach. Heavenly Father's response was clear: "You idiot. How much do I need to make you? Apparently I need to make this so obvious that you have a visceral reaction." I called back, accepted.

I continued: I served seven Elders Quorum-related callings in the years after; was always scared each time; kept accepting. Then a related thread about my Elders Quorum counselor period coinciding with my mother's decline - I sat on a bench outside her assisted living center the Wednesday before being formally called in to the bishop on Sunday, knowing she was on her way out. My brother Dave came out and sat next to me; I couldn't remember anything Dave said. My reflection: Heavenly Father makes up gaps elsewhere - even when blood brothers don't offer much, gospel brothers (Rob, Derek, Dave + Jake on my current team) do.

Sabbath day theology - Sunday vs. Saturday

Mauricio asked you why the Sabbath is Sunday and not Saturday (he's a Bible fanatic, used to keep Saturday). Your answer:

You also referenced Mosiah 13 and the wicked priests claiming they followed the Law of Moses (they didn't).

My framing in response: "To me it's a detail. The core of the gospel is that we worship, not when."

The scripture-study transformation

You shared a before-and-after picture of your relationship with scripture. As a teen at home, sitting in your bed with a goal to finish the Book of Mormon in a year, falling six chapters behind, crying: "I hate this book, this is trash, why am I doing this?" Falling asleep mid-chapter. Reading it because tradition.

Now: "I spend my free time reading the Book of Mormon. Because this book has so much power... I have fallen in love with this book. It brings me so much peace to read. My Book of Mormon is so marked up. It's crazy how marked up it is."

Mom's "look for ways to serve your roommate" lesson

Mom shared the advice her brother Chadwick gave her during a hard college stretch with her roommate Joy: look for things you can do to serve her. "So that's why I always tell Dad to do stuff for me." (Me: "It's true.")

Ward mission roster - who's currently going

Family chatter on the active mission count from the Herriman ward:

Plus: Natalie coming up; Leah possibly.

My new hire - Justin Brown

Brief work mention. My new IT hire is Justin Brown, 24-26 years old, very young in his career. I think he'll do really well.

Closing - Mom's frown

Sign-offs. Mom's "frown that nobody else can do" - captured in screenshots. You told Natalie to be the family's spy on returned missionaries when she serves; Natalie was late to "do her stalker job."

Cleanup Notes