Kaitlynn's Mission

Snapshot

Full-time mission to the Chile Puerto Montt Mission in southern Chile. Started Feb 10, 2025 with home MTC, trained at the Mexico CCM (Feb 20 to Mar 25, 2025), entered the field via Santiago on Mar 25, 2025. Has served five field-area assignments across four distinct areas: Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt (Jul-Dec 2025), Coyhaique, Valdivia, and currently Puerto Montt again (second tour, HLV term). Nine primary companions to date, plus one trio/visa-trip partner (Hermana Garcia), and one trainee (Hermana Juncker). Six confirmed convert baptisms she was present for (Rodrigo, Yasdiel, Yilver, William, Rood, Mauricio), plus Carmen (Punta Arenas) whom she found and who was baptized after she transferred. Mission has been extended by approximately six weeks; return scheduled for the week of September 23, 2026. Currently serving as Hermana Líder Viajera (the mission's female analogue to assistant to the president).

Current Status (as of July 20, 2026)

• Area: Puerto Montt - second tour, new ward sector ~10 minutes from her old Puerto Montt ward; housing in the building next to the mission home (~5 minutes away). On Jul 20 (P-day) she flew to Coyhaique for exchanges with the Hermanas there, her third return to that area.
• Companion: Hermana Figueredo, paired May 18, 2026 (from Argentina; 24 years old; fibromyalgia diagnosed about a year ago, per the Jul 6 call). The companionship remains in a hard stretch: on Jul 13 Figueredo told Kaitlynn directly she was not trying to love her for who she is, and on Jul 20, after Kaitlynn gave feedback Figueredo had asked for, Figueredo cried; Figueredo told her that with everyone else Kaitlynn can be happy but not with her, and Kaitlynn agreed. On the Jul 20 travel call Figueredo (on camera) sent a breakup email to her boyfriend, with the family encouraging her. Figueredo ends her own mission at the ~Aug 10 transfer; about two weeks remained together as of Jul 20. Counsel this week: a companion's feelings are not Kaitlynn's responsibility, and let the senior companion lead these last weeks. See Loving a Difficult Companion.
• Mission President: Presidente Mackay (succeeded Cristian J Gervic ~July 2025; see 2025-07-01_mission-president-transition-gervic-to-mackay)
• Calling: Hermana Líder Viajera (HLV) - mission-specific female analogue to AP. Weekly meetings at the president's house; pickup and coaching of all incoming missionaries; exchanges with leaders across every zone in the mission. See 2026-05-18_hermana-lider-viajera-begins.
• Teaching: three baptismal dates set in the week before Jul 13: Brandon (member wife texted asking to come to church), Annie (first full lesson that week), and a third man whose date they planned to push past that Sunday so he could attend church more first.
• Health: sick through late June and early July (fever on the Jul 6 call, still recovering Jul 13); exchanges were canceled and they worked only their own sector for a stretch.
• Return date: week of September 23, 2026 (extended from standard 18 months). ~70 days left as of Jul 13 (her count), roughly 63 as of Jul 20. Homecoming date still being decided between September 27 and Halloween (Oct 31); on the Jun 15 call she said she does not want Halloween.
• Next transfer: approximately Aug 10, 2026. As of Jul 20, President Mackay told Kaitlynn her final-transfer companion will be Hermana Stewart (a re-pairing; Stewart was her Valdivia companion Apr-May 2026). Figueredo finishes her mission at that transfer. Area still open; Kaitlynn hopes to finish her mission in Chiloé if she does not stay as HLV.
• Post-mission: plans to room with two other returning hermanas at BYU for winter semester (Jul 6 call). As of Jul 20 she has a job lined up back at the hospital (reached out to her pre-mission boss Trent Howell, who will "start her reading back"), and is looking into a phlebotomy class for when she gets home (~8 weeks out). She and Jason are exploring the possibility of her serving near Natalie in Iowa for a week or two after her mission, which would require coordinating between the two mission presidents.

Active Transition Notes (May 18, 2026)

• Left Valdivia Saturday May 16. Hermana Stewart stayed in Valdivia (companionship ended). Three-and-a-half-hour solo bus ride to Puerto Montt.
• Two-day trio at the Puerto Montt mission home compound with outgoing Hermana Snowder (Kaitlynn's original trainer, ending her mission this week; June homecoming) and incoming Hermana Figueredo.
• Mission-side announcement made Sunday May 17.
• The HLV role was created by Presidente Mackay; the title (Hermana Líder Viajera) is unique to the Chile Puerto Montt Mission because Church policy does not allow a sister to be Assistant to the President. Kaitlynn believes Mackay will retain the office going forward.

Mission Extension

Kaitlynn confirmed in the May 4, 2026 morning call that she extended her mission by approximately six weeks. Standard 18-month commitment would have ended approximately August 10, 2026; her actual return is now the week of September 23, 2026. After return she has until January 2027 before school resumes.

Timeline

• 2025-02-09 - Set apart as a missionary
• 2025-02-10 - Home MTC begins
• 2025-02-19 - Ankle injury day 1 of Home MTC
• 2025-02-20 - Travel SLC to Mexico City CCM (Delta DL 628). See 2025-02-20_enters-mexico-ccm
• 2025-02-22 - "Gift of tongues" experience teaching non-member couple at CCM
• 2025-03-01 - Called as STL (Sister Training Leader) at CCM with Hermana Coltharp
• 2025-03-05 - Sick day at CCM (sinus infection, fever, multiple medication doses)
• 2025-03-23 - Final CCM testimony meeting; felt deceased grandparents and Nathan present
• 2025-03-25 - Travel Mexico City to Santiago (Aeromexico AM 10); enter the field
• 2025-03-26 - Arrived Chile Puerto Montt Mission HQ; spent the night in a hotel ("we don't stay in the mission home here, it's always a hotel")
• 2025-03-27 - Flew to Punta Arenas; first companion Hermana Snowder. See 2025-03-25_arrives-chile-field-punta-arenas
• 2025-04-06 - First baptismal date: Carmen (Punta Arenas)
• 2025-04-19 - Rodrigo received baptismal date during intercambios with Hermana Heindel
• ~2025-04 - Hermana Garcia joins as trio companion in Punta Arenas
• 2025-05-04 - Earthquake / tsunami (~3 ft) in Punta Arenas while at zone conference
• 2025-05-12 - Transfer call: stay; Hermana Snowder leaves. (Kaitlynn's May 11, 2026 dictation: this companionship was seven weeks, not the standard six.)
• 2025-05-13 - New companion Hermana Bird arrives; companion photo May 15
• 2025-05-19 - BAPTISM: Rodrigo and Yasdiel (Punta Arenas). See 2025-05-19_baptism-rodrigo-yasdiel
• 2025-05-29 - 100 days in mission; Buenos Aires Argentina Temple visit (visa trip with Hermana Garcia). See 2025-06-02_argentina-visa-trip-buenos-aires-temple
• ~2025-06-08 - Said goodbye to Cristian J Gervic at zone conference; mission president transition to Presidente Mackay (effective ~July 1). See 2025-07-01_mission-president-transition-gervic-to-mackay
• 2025-06-10 - Forced apartment move in Punta Arenas
• 2025-06-16 - Transfer call: stay
• 2025-07-28 - Transfer call; Punta Arenas sector closed; Hermana Bird ends mission; Kaitlynn transferred to Puerto Montt with Hermana Pehrson. See 2025-07-28_transfer-puerto-montt-pehrson
• 2025-08-10 - 6 months in mission (one-third mark)
• ~2025-08-24 - Yessenia's planned baptism date (outcome unconfirmed in available sources)
• ~2025-08-24 - Stake celebration: 100 years of the Church in South America. See 2025-08-24_hundred-years-church-south-america
• 2025-09-07 - Transfer call; new companion Hermana Soares
• ~2025-10 - Presidente Mackay first explicitly named (Oct 13)
• 2025-10-04 to 05 - General Conference (watched at ward members' homes)
• 2025-10-06 - P-day hike of Volcán Osorno with the Puerto Varas zone. See 2025-10-06_volcan-osorno-hike
• 2025-10-18 - Marcos baptized (an elder's investigator; Kaitlynn sang in Spanish)
• 2025-11-01 - BAPTISM: Yilver (Puerto Montt). See 2025-11-01_baptism-yilver
• 2025-11-10 - 9 months in mission
• 2025-11-16 - First sacrament-meeting talk in Spanish
• ~2025-11 - Zone conference focus on the Atonement; Kaitlynn describes spiritual turning point
• 2025-11-30 - Transfer call; Hermana Soares ends. Hermana Juncker arrives ~Dec 3 (Kaitlynn's accounting uses Nov 30 as the clean transition date)
• 2025-12-03 - Transferred to Coyhaique (whitewash) as a trainer with first trainee Hermana Juncker. See 2025-12-04_transfer-coyhaique
• 2025-12-10 - Zone conference Puerto Montt with Elder and Sister Walker (Seventy); reunion with Hermana Snowder, Hermana Garcia, Hermana Pehrson
• 2025-12-25 - Christmas in Coyhaique; "Best Mom" mug from Hermana Juncker
• ~2025-12-26 - Scored a fútbol goal with her head
• 2025-12-29 - Interview with Presidente Mackay: stays in Coyhaique another transfer; Mackay names her a hermana-AP candidate. See 2025-12-29_mackay-interview-hermana-ap-candidate
• 2026-01-20 - Cerro Mackay district P-day hike (carried a stray dog down). See 2026-01-20_cerro-mackay-district-hike
• 2026-02-09 - Granite spire summit hike above Coyhaique. See 2026-02-09_granite-spire-hike
• 2026-02-10 - 1 year in the mission
• 2026-02-15 - BAPTISM: William (Coyhaique, triple baptism). See 2026-02-15_baptism-william
• 2026-02-23 - Transfer call; Hermana Juncker ends; Kaitlynn to Valdivia (Calle-Calle, Martínez de Rosas) with Hermana Artieda; becomes hermana líder; Hermana Juncker to Osorno. See 2026-02-23_transfer-valdivia-hermana-lider
• ~2026-03-21 - BAPTISM: Rood (Valdivia, Haitian teen). See 2026-03-21_baptism-rood
• ~2026-03-28 - BAPTISM: Mauricio (Valdivia, quit smoking). See 2026-03-28_baptism-mauricio
• 2026-04-06 - Transfer call; new companion Hermana Stewart (Meg Stewart) in Valdivia
• 2026-05-04 - Morning call with Jason: confirmed mission extension and return date (week of Sept 23, 2026); described two recent STL crises (Hermana bitten by dog; "witch" house turned out to be convert with dementia); anticipating possible AP call at May 9 interviews. Source: 2026-05-04_transcript_kaitlynn-morning-talk
• 2026-05-09 - Interviews with Presidente Mackay
• 2026-05-11 - Evening call with Jason and Kristi: end-to-end mission timeline dictation; confirmed Hermana Stewart as current companion since Apr 6; confirmed move at next transfer into housing next to the Puerto Montt mission home; named Hermana Figueredo (Hermana Líder Viajera) as upcoming companion. Beach day at Niebla; cleaned scrapes on Hermana Fano. Source: 2026-05-11_transcript_kaitlynn-evening-call
• 2026-05-16 - Left Valdivia Saturday morning by bus, three and a half hours solo to Puerto Montt. Hermana Stewart stayed in Valdivia.
• 2026-05-17 - HLV calling announced to the mission.
• 2026-05-18 - Transfer day. Begins as Hermana Líder Viajera (HLV) at Puerto Montt mission home compound. Two-day trio with Hermana Snowder (outgoing, ending mission) and Hermana Figueredo (new companion, from Argentina, 24). Sector change to a new Puerto Montt ward (~10 min from old ward). Three video calls with Jason / Kristi / Alexa across the day. Sources: 2026-05-18_transcript_kaitlynn-morning-call, 2026-05-18_transcript_kaitlynn-afternoon-call, 2026-05-18_transcript_kaitlynn-evening-call. Event: 2026-05-18_hermana-lider-viajera-begins.
• ~2026-05-21 - Father's blessing scheduled with Presidente Mackay.
• ~2026-06-04 - P-day day trip to the island of Chiloé by bus and ferry (date approximate). See 2026-06-04_chiloe-day-trip.
• 2026-06-15 - HLV exchange blitz to Coyhaique and Puerto Aysén (first Aysén visit); four calls across the day. Countdown: 98 days left (~14 weeks); homecoming date being decided between September 27 and Halloween (Oct 31). Described Mackay opening many long-closed areas (Chaitén, Futaleufú, Palena, Hornopirén, Chile Chico, Puerto Williams, Falkland Islands) and thinks the mission may split. See 2026-06-15_coyhaique-aysen-hlv-blitz. Source: 2026-06-15_transcript_kaitlynn-coyhaique-blitz-day.
• ~2026-06-26 to 29 - HLV emergency travel to the south: President Mackay sent Kaitlynn and Hermana Figueredo to Punta Arenas and Coyhaique to keep a struggling sister (trained harshly by Hermana Artieda, who was ending her mission) from going home. Revisited her first area, Punta Arenas, ~a year after serving there. Met a German-Chilean gospel contact (Nicholas/Wilhelm) on a shuttle bus. See 2026-06-29_emergency-travel-companionship-rescue. Sources: 2026-06-29_transcript_kaitlynn-emergency-travel-call, 2026-06-30_transcript_kaitlynn-evening-call.
• 2026-06-30 - Transfer day. Kaitlynn stayed paired with Hermana Figueredo (after a near-miss: Figueredo had texted President hours before the call about training another struggling sister, which would have split them). Hermana Artieda ended her mission at this transfer. Kaitlynn's countdown: ~12 weeks left (stated Jun 29). Heavy HLV transfer-week schedule (leadership council, incoming-missionary handoffs, a convivio).
• 2026-07-06 - P-day family catch-up while recovering from a fever; errand to get medical tests for Hermana Figueredo (fibromyalgia, diagnosed a year earlier); BYU winter-semester housing plan with two other returning hermanas; counsel on controlling her own reaction rather than the other person after a hard companion week. Source: 2026-07-06_transcript_kaitlynn-family-catchup
• 2026-07-13 - Three-call day. Morning: homesick and openly "trunky" at 70 days left; three new baptismal dates (Brandon, Annie, a third moved back to be safe); three zone-conference presentations delivered while sick; Jason's charity-study challenge; member-guided Volcán Osorno trip that day (her third). Midday: packing call with Natalie, two days before her MTC entry. Evening: sustained counsel session after Figueredo told her directly she was not trying to love her for who she is; call ended with a plan to pray and apologize that night. Sources: 2026-07-13_transcript_kaitlynn-morning-call, 2026-07-13_transcript_natalie-kaitlynn-packing-call, 2026-07-13_transcript_kaitlynn-evening-call
• 2026-07-20 - Three-call P-day while traveling to Coyhaique for exchanges (her third return). Morning (departing Puerto Montt): thanks for Jason's two emails, Natalie's send-off and drop-off recap, "trunky" vs. thinking about home, the returning-missionary "plan," and the idea of serving near Natalie post-mission. Midday (bus into Coyhaique, Figueredo on camera): Figueredo sent her boyfriend a breakup email; Kaitlynn confirmed a hospital job with Trent Howell; learned Hermana Stewart will be her final-transfer companion; long counsel on how to counsel with a differing opinion (the "music of the gospel" passage). Evening (companion had cried after asked-for feedback): sustained counsel that a companion's feelings are not her responsibility and to let the senior companion lead. Sources: 2026-07-20_transcript_kaitlynn-morning-departure, 2026-07-20_transcript_kaitlynn-coyhaique-travel, 2026-07-20_transcript_kaitlynn-evening-call, 2026-07-20_sms_kaitlynn-companion-cried.
• ~2026-08-10 - Upcoming transfer; she stays with Hermana Figueredo through it (Figueredo ends her mission), then pairs with Hermana Stewart again for her final transfer (per President Mackay, Jul 20); area still open; Kaitlynn hopes to finish in Chiloé
• ~2026-09-23 - Return home (week of)

Companions

In chronological order. Full list: _Overview.

1. Hermana Coltharp (Lexi Coltharp; Home MTC + CCM)
2. Hermana Snowder (Teya Snowder; trainer, Punta Arenas)
3. Hermana Bird (Kadrianne Bird; Punta Arenas)
4. Hermana Pehrson (Shayla Pehrson; Puerto Montt)
5. Hermana Soares (Ingrid Soares; Puerto Montt)
6. Hermana Juncker (Jessica Juncker; Coyhaique, trainee)
7. Hermana Artieda (Cristal Artieda; Valdivia)
8. Hermana Stewart (Meg Stewart; Valdivia; Apr 6 to May 18, 2026)
9. Hermana Figueredo (Eleonora Belén Figueredo; current, since May 18, 2026; HLV term; stayed paired through the Jun 30, 2026 transfer)

Plus one trio/visa-trip companion: Hermana Garcia (Punta Arenas trio Apr 2025; Buenos Aires visa trip Jun 2025).

Areas

In chronological order. Full list: _Overview.

1. Mexico CCM (training)
2. Punta Arenas - 2 baptisms (Rodrigo, Yasdiel)
3. Puerto Montt - 1 baptism (Yilver); first tour Jul-Dec 2025
4. Coyhaique - 1 baptism (William); served as trainer
5. Valdivia - Calle-Calle zone; Mauricio, Rood baptisms; ended May 16, 2026
6. Puerto Montt - second tour; current; HLV-term housing next to mission home; new ward sector

Confirmed Baptisms (Kaitlynn's Service)

Plus Carmen (Punta Arenas), Rodrigo's aunt and Kaitlynn's first baptismal date, who was baptized in the ocean in late 2025 after Kaitlynn transferred out of Punta Arenas. Kaitlynn's own tally counts only those she was present to baptize, so Carmen is not in the table above.

Mission Callings

• Hermana Líder Viajera (HLV) - current. Called at the May 18, 2026 transfer. Mission-specific female analogue to assistant to the president. Weekly meetings at the president's house; pickup and coaching of all incoming missionaries; exchanges with leaders across every zone. See 2026-05-18_hermana-lider-viajera-begins.
• Sister Training Leader - first called at CCM (March 1, 2025) with Hermana Coltharp; reaffirmed in the Valdivia transfer (Apr-May 2026). She has stated she "loves being a leader… loves being able to help people." Pattern: other hermanas call her companionship first when they need help. The HLV role superseded STL on May 18.
• Trainer - December 2025, with Hermana Juncker in Coyhaique.

Themes Surfacing Across Sources

• Spanish journey: from "Don't Speak No Spanish" to teaching, talks, and Portuguese on the side. By May 11, 2026: "I'm good friends with all of the [members]" once the language gap closed.
• Ward as family: especially the Familia Ruiz in Punta Arenas; pattern repeats in each area. May 4 call: she contrasted Chilean ward dynamics with Utah, noting members feed missionaries every day and missionaries are integrated into family home evenings and weekly worship in a way she did not see at home.
• Recurring trials and growth: physical (ankle, illness, scar, peed on by dogs), emotional (transitions, goodbyes), and spiritual (companionship strain, hard weeks). Pattern: harder weeks are often followed by growth language.
• Spiritual turning point: Nov 2025 zone conference shifted her stated motivation for serving from social to centered on Christ.
• Friend-of-friend conversion chain: Carmen → Rodrigo. Family connections seed multiple baptisms.
• Leadership identity: across multiple sources she has stated she loves being a leader and loves being a person others come to for help. STL role consistent thread since CCM. May 11 call: she named a theology of callings - nobody is called because they are better than someone else; "the reason you're called to where you are is because God needs you, your specific skill set and where you are."
• Mission is for the missionary: May 11 call. Kaitlynn and Hermana Stewart have been discussing how the lasting value of the mission is the missionary's own conversion, not just the convert's. "We get to bless other people on the way, but really, it's about us."
• Post-mission interest in psychology: emerging in May 4, 2026 call. Kaitlynn says her current companion's psychology background has her "thinking about studying psychology."
• Alexa as a post-mission focus: May 11 call. Kaitlynn stated belief that one reason her mission was extended was so she could come home and "love Alexa" and be her friend before Alexa goes off with "dumb friends."

Sub-areas

• _Overview
• _Overview
• _Overview
• _Overview