Making Mission Memories in Mongolia

We made it safely back to Mongolia and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the hot (or at least lukewarm) water was back on! What we weren’t expecting was the color of that "hot" water—let’s just say it looked more like tea than something you'd want to bathe in. Thankfully, after running it several times over a few days, it cleared up and now seems perfectly normal. On Thursday, we jumped right into zone conference with our new mission leaders, President and Sister Kunz. It was a full day of inspiration and connection. These gatherings are always something we look forward to—it’s a joy to meet together and feel renewed in our purpose. We also arrived just in time for Mongolia’s biggest celebration of the year: Naadam . Rooted in Mongolia’s nomadic and military traditions, Naadam is a national festival that highlights the "three manly sports": wrestling, archery, and horse racing. These ancient competitions were once training for warriors and, over time, ...

  This week’s blog looks a little different. Instead of writing from Mongolia, we’re writing from Arizona—where we unexpectedly returned to celebrate the life of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband, Dean. His passing brought a swirl of emotions, tender memories, and sacred moments that we will carry with us forever. When we first got the call, we wrestled with the decision to come home. The cost was high. The travel was long. But something kept tugging at us—and now, having been there, we can say with certainty: we are so glad we came. The time we shared with family—hugging, remembering, crying, laughing—was a gift. A healing breath. A reminder that our families are eternal and will be together forever.  We all agreed Grandpa had impeccable timing. We were home for Keesa’s birthday, for the 4th of July, and for the first family gathering in the Flake’s new home—a place that somehow already felt like the heart of the family. Keesa and Louis graciousl...