18 January 2026
VOLUME 14 – NUMBER 636
Ellie at basketball
Braden
This year we signed Ellie up for Jr. Jazz. She has never played any kind of basketball before, but someone in our ward asked if she wanted to, and she said yes.
She is #5 (per her request) and is having a blast. Mostly, she is just gaining confidence doing something that is kind of out of her comfort zone.
She loves her uniform and loves getting her treats after each game.
Misha and Mable at school field
Isaac
This week I started my new job! I wasn’t actually too excited about the idea of it, but after a couple days of training, I’ve grown to love it. The residents there are awesome, and although there are some difficult days, I still am happy to go back the next time I have to work.
I have a hard time psyching myself out and picking up shifts because I don’t have a permanent shift. So I basically make my own schedule, which is really nice!
Picking up the shifts is the hard part, but once I finally do and I get into work, I don’t regret picking the shift up, and it's worth it!
And what's exciting is next week we go to Disneyland, and I can’t wait. I’ve saved a good amount of money over a good time period to spend on fun stuff, and I’ll definitely be buying some food and stuff in Disney!
Emmett resting in his bouncer
Veidi
This week, I am trying to get ahead in school so I don’t have to go to school in California. My classes are pretty easy, so I can get ahead.
I have also started to pack, so I will be ready to go on Monday morning when we leave on our family vacation. I also like to pack in advance so I don't get so stressed. It really helped, so now I am waiting for the California trip to come around.
Gloria with Emily Lane (started home MTC)
Ashton
Classes have officially begun. I can't believe it is my final semester, and it should be my busiest one yet. I am taking 15 credits, which is the most I've taken since working full-time.
I can't wait to be done, and I've already started my list of things I want to do when I'm graduated and have a bit more time. But so far, through two weeks, school has been great. I've got some earlier mornings and later nights at work.
It's requiring me to be more disciplined, which has been helping me a lot with overall health and habits.
We also started to finish up the regular season of our PFL league. It's been such a fun time and the first time we've actually set up a whole season with a postseason. Kai beat me out for the first place spot.
But I'm trying to get back to the Super Bowl to get my second chance at him. We'll keep you all updated once a winner is crowned!
Braden with Ellie at basketball
Kai
Seminary has started back up this month, and as of lately, I’ve fallen off from taking notes during each lesson. So with the new semester, I’ve made a goal to take notes every lesson like I used to.
There is a saying that my old seminary teacher, Brother Kimball said: “Write everything down.” Even if it might not be that relevant, writing down everything gets you in the habit of not only writing, but of paying attention and listening to the words.
In past semesters, I’ve felt the Holy Ghost more each lesson when I decide to open my notebook and begin writing. I’m super excited for this new semester of seminary to write and learn. I’m also excited to learn more about the Old Testament!
Kai and Owen playing with lightsabers
Caleb
Uff, pretty much all I remember from these two weeks was a whole lot of school and trying to get ahead a little on assignments for the upcoming California trip.
However, I did watch Anaconda with Alex Viehweger. He came down to Provo on Monday. We ate out, I gave him a small tour of BYU campus, and we played ping pong. Good time.
But this is an opportunity to describe all the stuff that I won't write too much about in the following letters due to their repetitiveness in my life. They will still be happening and occupying a lot of my mind and efforts.
My new schedule from now until springtime includes volleyball, weight training, intro to information systems, writing and rhetoric, and Book of Mormon class.
Caleb with his missionaries at the MTC
If you're unaware of what information systems (IS) is all about, I was too until this last week, and I'm still figuring that out. But simply said, it's all stuff related to technology used to help organizations work.
Marketing, which I learned this past couple weeks too, is all about creating, advertising, and delivering things that are considered valuable to people. As you might guess, writing and rhetoric is all about writing better.
I spend about 8+ hours per day on average doing assignments, studying, and attending classes. Then I work about 4 hours per day at the MTC! If it weren't for the extra stress of getting ahead, I'd say my schedule is pretty light compared to the last semesters.
Kai, Veidi, Gloria, and Caleb
Troy
Ashton and Caleb came over for New Year's, and we started a season of PFL (Paper Football League). It has been so fun. Ashton has set up a whole spreadsheet for the season, and he has made all the games so that we can keep track of stats.
I didn't make it to the playoffs. I was too focused on the stats, and I had a ton of them. I just couldn't score enough points to beat my opponents.
School also started, and I am determined to finish as early as possible, so I have been, doing school until 5:00pm each day.
Caleb, Troy, Quinn, and Kai gel blasting
Monte
Last week we had multi-zonas, so we had to leave to go to Cancún at 2:30am on Tuesday. We were in Cancún all day Wednesday, then returned back to Tizimín on Wednesday night. On Thursday we had district council, which took up a bit of the morning as well.
Pretty crazy, but none of this dwindled our faith! We worked our hardest, and in the span of a mere four hours, we found seven new people to teach. Was that us? No. All we did was put in the work and had the faith, and God sent the people our way.
I did unfortunately get sick the next day with a fever, but after praying for strength, I went out and worked as hard as I could. It was horrible, but I know that God gave me the power to do the work that I was sent here to do.
Gloria and Tucker Grappendorf
It was miraculous, because I was shivering in the 80–90 degree weather with 99% humidity. Then we would start teaching, and I would feel perfectly fine. When we finished the lesson, I went back to muscle cramps and shivering like crazy! I feel much better now, so no need to worry. But I know that if you have the faith that God will help you, you just need to act on it.
We also had the opportunity to comfort a return missionary who is going through a divorce. We offered to sing a hymn with him, and he requested Nearer My God to Thee. When I opened my phone, that was the song on the screen, almost like it was just waiting for us to sing it.
God really does work in wondrous ways, and when we sang that song, he told us afterwards that it helped remind him of his days as a missionary. He said that during the hardest times of his mission, this song pulled him through.
Monte in front of a horse
This week we talked to Lili about her baptism. She told us that she will do anything she can to be baptized, but she wants to make sure that her husband is accepting of it. Unfortunately, while he gave her permission, he also told her that it doesn't count for him. Lili then asked us if we could talk with her husband Ricardo. So we will have try to explain the importance of her baptism.
We actually had an amazing Sunday devotional where Elder James E. Corbridge of the Quorum of the Seventy gave us counsel in our missionary work. His message was very powerful. It helped answer the questions that I had about what we needed to talk to Ricardo about. Miracles exist, they really do.
Now on to some really good news! Sergio came to church again on Sunday, and he also told us that he went to hang out with his friends and was able to stay away from any alcohol! He is on route to be baptized this upcoming Sunday. I am so proud of him! He has come such a long way from when we found him, and you can really see the Light of Christ in his eyes.
Joanna reading to Owen
It's honestly one of the things that makes the mission so worth it. When you can see the joy that you've been able to feel personally in the eyes of others that didn't have it before, it is amazing. I honestly can't comprehend how difficult life is without the Guiding Light of Christ.
Elder Allred and I are doing great as we near the end of this transfer. It's so crazy that two transfers have gone by just like that. I am so grateful for the companions that I've had. They have helped me stay positive and stay strong in the work of the Lord.
I love being a missionary, and I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It truly is amazing. If you see someone that really needs help, point them to Christ, because He has the best help that anyone can receive. I share these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Mom reading to children/grandchildren