Hermana Heywood

Kaitlynn in the Chile Puerto Montt Mission

Evening Call with You (Puerto Montt), May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026 · Puerto Montt, Chile (mission home compound) and Herriman, Utah

About a 48-minute evening video call - 10:55 your time, 8:55 mine. I was on the home side, Natalie was in and out of frame, Alexa joined around minute 24 and stayed through the rest, and Mom was off-camera most of the call. You were at the mission home compound in Puerto Montt.

Opening - reconnecting

We had trouble joining. There was muted audio at first and a delay setting up. You said your phone was at 4% and that you had been looking for a charger. You found a converter cable from the wall, not the wall directly. You turned the camera around.

Hair comparisons - Natalie and you

Natalie was in frame at home. You said Natalie is pretty, her hair is so long, and she is so blond. Natalie pulled her hair out for length comparison and noted that if your hair were straightened it would be longer than hers; you both said you could braid each other's hair when you get home. Natalie said she would grow her hair twice as long in three years and said "I don't know how I graduated."

Natalie added a school fact: hair's natural pH level is between 5.5 and 7.5. It was on a test later; it took her about five tries to learn before it stuck.

Phone battery and a voice check

You were worried your phone would die. I said I wondered if your phone had cut out, then heard you again. You said you were still there.

Is it surreal? Serving alongside Snowder again

I asked you if it is surreal being with Hermana Snowder again at the end of her mission. You said yes - "I feel like I'm kind of just tagging along. It's like I'm just watching a movie because we've been in a trio all day long for the past couple of days, and so I'm just following them to lessons and stuff. And so it's like I just don't really exist. I am just like, kind of watching a TV show."

I asked if you see growth in yourself from the last time you served with Snowder. You said yes, and laughed. You said it has been almost a year and a half. I said: "You change a like you grow a little every day. And sometimes it's hard to see how much you've grown. Because you live with yourself every day until you see someone that you started with. And you've got to spend time with someone that you started with, and then you get to see kind of how different you are as you get to interact with that person again so much later in your mission."

You said yes. I added that the last day of my mission, the whole thing seemed like I was watching from the outside; it did not seem real. I compared it to how it might have felt when you were first going to Mexico.

New companion - Hermana Figueredo

I said your new companion seems really nice. You said she is a sweetheart and you get along great. You said it is going to be a little different because you will be getting back into everything, and it is hard for Figueredo to leave her old companion and her old sector, so Figueredo may struggle a little, but it will be okay. It is normal. You are not worried. You added Figueredo is a great person and seemed really nice: a great worker, very powerful, and 24 years old. I said it will take a little bit, just as you have experienced with each of your transfers, for everything to settle.

Video delay - you were writing in your journal

I wondered if my video was causing a delay - I could count to seven before you responded. You checked and said your end seemed fine. Eventually you admitted: you were writing in your journal at the same time. I laughed and said I hope you accidentally write answers to my questions in your journal without realizing it.

Mission map - five areas marked

I said I had marked your last area on your mission map. I have a map of Chile up in my office. Wherever you have served, I have put a number next to it. You said you did not know I had been marking it up and asked to see.

I held it up to the camera. You read off: 1 Punta Arenas, 2 Puerto Montt, 3 Coyhaique, 4 Valdivia, 5 Puerto Montt (your new HLV area). I said it turns out that is only half of Chile. You said Chile is huge. I said I did not know how big Chile is.

Journal - Grandma's memory book

I said I am proud of you for writing in your journal. You said you are not necessarily writing in your journal so much as catching up. You have the big journal Grandma gave you. Inside there are prompts: funny moments from each transfer, area, missionaries, people, special moments, revelation. You have not used it much - you have filled out some things. Your goal is to keep track of these last three transfers, and when you get home catch up the prior transfers from the journal entries you do have, and make this into the mission memory book.

The one you are actually writing in - your primary mission journal, your "golden plates" - is the journal from Grandma Heywood. The memory book with prompts is from Grandma Gardener. I said it sounded like you said "pleats, like on a pants. My golden." You laughed and said no, "my golden plates."

Weekly email draft

I asked if you are going to write an email letting people know you got transferred. You said in 30 minutes you would not be able to send it out until next week. I asked if 30 minutes meant within 30 minutes. You asked, "Do you know how much time it takes me to write an email? Like seven years?" I said I can relate; it took me a long time every week on my mission to write a letter to my mother. You said you have a draft of your weekly email on your phone that you are supposed to fill out during the week, but it makes you annoyed so you do not. You do it all on Monday.

Member gift - green socks

You asked if I wanted to see a gift from a member, because in the trio the members give gifts to Hermana Snowder and Hermana Figueredo, and you tag along and eat food, and sometimes you get gifts for free for doing nothing.

You held them up. I laughed and asked if they were Grinch socks. They were bright green, hand-knit, tapered at the toe so they slide into shoes. The woman gave them to you today. You said someone got a picture of the socks.

You mentioned Mom (off camera) wanted socks but no one offered her any. You said you would have the member make Mom some too. I joked Mom wants a body sock: a big satchel she could put her whole body in. You said like a sleeping bag, "but it's a public sleep sleeping bag, so I can wear it when I go to Smith's and stuff." I said that is just a snuggy.

Memory - Alexa's snuggy and skating down the street

I brought up the old memory of Alexa's snuggy that Alexa did not take off her body for three months. Then I remembered when you were in a snuggy and packed it full of blankets, and I went skating up and down the street with Natalie. You said yes - "it was the carbar outfit" - you had no fear at that point in your life. Or maybe, you said, you had no inhibitions; you could not remember the word until I said "inhibitions."

Chilean speaking style

You said I needed to try talking like a Chilean: instead of stopping to take a breath and then continuing, just keep talking through the breath. I said maybe that is how I will give my talk on Natalie's farewell. I clarified I am kidding, I am not giving Natalie's farewell talk - Mom is - but I think I might give a talk at your homecoming or both. I riffed an opening: "Hi guys, remember me? It's me, Jason. I'm just here to give a talk to both of my daughters." You said that is perfect.

X-ray joke

I asked what the black thing behind you on the wall was. You said your "bald cheeks." I asked if you X-ray your bum cheeks. You said no, those are the breakers. I said that is interesting, that is where they have the electrical panel.

Bringing Alexa in

I told Mom (off camera) to make Alexa come to the call. You said all you could see was the lamp and could not hear any sound from the home side, so Mom was probably not actually in the call. I greeted Alexa. Alexa came in. You asked why Alexa and Natalie look the same.

Alexa said she needed to brush her hair. You said hey, how's it going honey, and told her to go grab her brush and come brush her hair on camera while she talks.

Alexa's hair - blonde, lemon, sauce

You asked Alexa how her hair got so blonde. Did she squeeze a lemon and go to the beach? Alexa said Natalie put something in it. I said something about "half of sauce, lemon" and excused myself to the bathroom.

Alexa's nails - free, from a friend named Abby

Alexa said she got her nails done today by her friend Abby. You asked who did them and how much they cost - "Are these $30?" Alexa said they were free. You said that is crazy. Alexa said yes, that was really nice, her friend is awesome.

High school update - end of tenth grade

Alexa said she is in school for another three weeks. You said that is awesome and you are glad Alexa has good friends. You asked what grade. Alexa said tenth. You asked what grade she will be in next. Alexa said it is lame to be old; she is turning 15. You said no, "I'm turning 17 this year. My goodness."

Driver's permit and Carrian's

You asked when Alexa is getting her driver's permit. Alexa said end of July. She is working at Carrian's. You said that is super fun and asked if she is being super nice to Mom and Dad so they will take her out driving. Alexa said yes. You said you were not too convinced by that yet, and asked what happened.

Alexa's hard week

Alexa said it had been a hard week. You asked what happened. Alexa said she has not been the nicest causes lately. Alexa said it is hard for her to be happy. She is not sure why, it was just not a fun week.

You asked what makes Alexa happy. Alexa said, "You okay?" You said come stay with you in Chile. Alexa said she would fly there tonight. Alexa moved closer to the camera so you could help her part her hair. You said she had always been a very helpful child.

Background audio - washing machine

A loud sound came from your apartment. You said Hermana Snowder had put weird things in the washing machine. You said Snowder was going to try it again, so if the house exploded, it was Snowder's fault, but she is leaving.

What makes Alexa happy

You returned to your question: why is it hard to be happy? Alexa said she did not know, she was just being grumpy last week. You asked what makes her happy. Alexa said, "I like watching movies and being with my family." You asked why those things make her happy. Alexa said because they are fun. You said that is the truth.

Scriptures and seminary

You asked if Alexa has been reading the Book of Mormon every day. Alexa said she tries to when she reads the scriptures in seminary. You asked if she likes seminary. Alexa said yes. Her hair was bugging her.

Choir concert tomorrow

Alexa said she has a choir concert tomorrow. You said that is really fun, you are excited. Alexa said she wishes you could come. You asked if Alexa got into the harmony choir for high school. Alexa said yes, and that you will get to come to her performances next school year. You said you are so excited and will come to all of them; you will get on the stage and scream "Dan" if you want to talk to Alexa.

What Alexa is most excited about in high school

You asked what Alexa is most excited about for high school. Alexa said choir is going to be really fun and it is going to be nice to have new people, not the same people. You said you are excited to meet new people. Alexa said yes.

Counsel - don't get stuck in the wrong crowd

You said: "I'm excited for you. Just remember not to get stuck in the wrong crowd. I got sucked into the wrong crowd in high school. Did you know that?" Alexa said no, and said sorry. You said your friends were not very good people, "and it made a big impact on me." Alexa said, "It's okay, I forgive you." You laughed and thanked her: "I'm glad that you could find it in you to forgive me."

Irish socks joke

You referenced your green socks again. I said yours look comfy and asked if they are Irish socks. You said, "I feel Irish when I wear them. I feel green lucky charms running through my veins." Alexa said she was going to have Lucky Charms and Mom said no and told her to eat work instead. You said sometimes it happens. Alexa said it was so sad.

Scariest thing about high school - finding classes

You asked what is the scariest thing about high school. Alexa said not being able to find the classes, because that school is huge, and she had to miss the orientation walk-around because she was performing in Matilda. You said it is really big and asked if Alexa is super nervous. Alexa said she does have her classes. You asked if Alexa knows whether she has any classes in the Purple Hall. Alexa said she has not checked. You said if so, the Purple Hall is the most confusing of all of them, but other than that, she will do great.

Choir songs

Alexa said the songs she is singing: "I Want It That Way" (a capella), "From the Start," "Somebody to Love," and "Mamma Mia." You sang back: "How can I resist you?" Alexa said you are the only person who knows her songs. You said either you are the only person who knows Alexa, or you are the same person.

Next year - choir tour

Alexa said next year she gets to go on choir tour. You said that will be super fun and Alexa is going to have to work hard to raise the money. You advised: "If I were you, I would start now raising the money for it. Not spending the money you have so that you can go on choir tour." Alexa said it is nice because she has the Blackridge and Carrian's stuff.

Jobs - Blackridge earnings and Carrian's catering

You asked how Blackridge is going. Alexa said good - she has earned over a thousand dollars so far. You said look at that hard worker. Alexa said it makes her feel thankful.

Alexa added that there are some Carrian's shifts open, but to work a BYU event - someone is having a graduation there and they are catering - her boss Ned does not think she should do it because she is new and they are stressful. You said it is nice that Ned is looking out for her.

Bum hide and princess joke

You asked Alexa about Natalie off-camera; Alexa relayed. You joked about how pretty Alexa's bum is. Alexa moved out of frame. You said Dad is hiding his off-camera too. You riffed: "That's okay, Dad, it's safe to come out. No, it's not. Don't come out. I'm scared. This is scary of you. I don't want to see it any more."

FSY with Abby Price

Alexa said she figured out last week she is going to FSY with a girl named Abby Price. Last year she went with Sophia Montgomery; this year Sophia is going with Abby Sloane, and Alexa is going with Abby Price. They made it so their sessions are on the same week, but it was not on purpose - it just happened, and it made Alexa really happy. You said that will be fun.

Brushing teeth in the kitchen sink

I asked Alexa if she was next to a sink and brushing her teeth in the kitchen sink. I asked if Hermana Snowder is in the bathroom and excused myself to the bathroom briefly.

Time check - 10:55 Chile

I asked the time. You said 10:55 your time. I confirmed a two-hour difference. You said yes.

Alexa's red lips - past and present

You asked Alexa if she had lipstick on. Alexa said no. You asked how she has red lips. Alexa said she does not have lips. You recalled when Alexa was born, she had the reddest lips of any of you. You said, "I remember. I pushed you down the heaven. And then I caught you. And then Bryson kicked me."

Light out - "I made the power outage"

I asked if you had a power outage or if a light went out. You said "that was me. I made the power outage." I asked if you turned off a light. You said yes.

Hermana Heywood Hijo

You rolled into a name joke about Hermana Heywood (Snowder's "mish daughter" lineage). You said in Spanish, the convention is like Alma and Alma the younger - they just call him "Alma Hijo," "Alma the son." I asked: "Am I your daughter?" You said yes.

Senior dinner dance - what girls wear

Natalie weighed in off-camera. You asked what people wear to senior dinner dance, what girls wear. I joked, "Nothing." You said prom dresses, then they went formal - yes, that is formal to the dinner dance. I said prom dresses are "nothing." You said it can be a short one, can be a long one, it does not really matter. The cute church one maybe, like the white one you had from what you remembered.

Discussion turned briefly to boxers and a face Natalie made. You said you decided they wore suits - just church pants. You asked if the senior dinner dance is next week. Natalie said she has already graduated, finished all her hair stuff, and does not go anymore. You said "you bum." You added "Twilight."

Mason starting seventh grade

You said: "Isn't it weird that she's so grown up?" I said Mason is starting seventh grade this year. You said you thought he was going to save you some stories, and "I knew it, he's been too emotional. It's becoming a woman."

Wrap

You said you love us and thanks for talking to you. I said "I love you." You said love you guys.

Cleanup Notes