August 2, 2026
Hi Lincoln,
Happy Day-off! How are things going in Guatemala?
We've had a pretty calm week. However, there was some big news for Ned. Monday, we took him to get his permit, and we've already logged 4 hours of driving. He's such a good driver, just like you!
Nyle and West became comfortable with riding their bikes the extra distance to Jerez's new home. It's been super hot, but they still braved the trip. I've been working on getting back into the school year. Your brothers came with me on Wednesday to set up my classroom, and we were able to knock it out pretty quickly. Then I took them to Walmart to pick out some ice cream to make some milkshakes (since...inflation...). Ned drove us to all those places. Since our week has been pretty calm, I'm going to have each family member write a short message to you.
West: Hi Lincoln, this week was pretty boring. I've been pretty bored every single day this week, but on Saturday we went to the heritage pool with the diving boards. We grabbed some weights from the lifeguard station to drop to the bottom of the 13-foot pool and try to bring them back to the top.
Nyle: Hi Lincoln, I hope you're doing well in Guatemala. This week has been pretty dull, but some of the highlights include West, Dad, Ned, Mom, and me going to the Heritage Pool. It was super fun mostly because I was able to do many flips off of the huge diving board, including a front flip 360 (or 180, I can't really remember) and a gainer, which is not exactly allowed, but I got consent from one of the lifeguards there on duty. Also, my MTB (short for Mountain Bike) is being really stubborn, and even with 3 or 4 attempts to patch the front tube it has remained popped. It has been super frustrating because I could not ride my bike the whole week anyway. I hope you misssion is going well. See you tomorrow.
Ned: Good day to you missionary Lincoln. I hope your pday has been treating you well! This week has been quite uneventful because I havent had work at all. Brother Seastrunk has been struggling with his hip a lot and had a lot of doctor appointments. It has been pretty nice though because it is the first week this summer where I can do whatever I want. I went to my first tennis intramureals wich was really fun, I have been driving a lot and got to read a lot of Harry Potter. I just beat West reading 2 and three quaters of books before he read a chapter. I'm not sure if he'll ever finish at this rate. Anyways, hope your mission has been going well!
Gwen: This week I went to my first tennis practice and it was really weird. Also, I submitted my BYU application and scholarship applications. I got into BYUI so that's a good backup if I don't get into BYU.
Dad: Hi Elder Hills! On Friday, we enjoyed attending the temple as a family (minus West). It was wonderful to feel the Holy Ghost in the House of the Lord. The lead baptistry guy (Bro. Bachelor), who was my HS geometry teacher pulled Ned aside and told him that since he is the designated driver for our family, to tell the parents that you will be stopping to grab a treat on the way home. We decided to swing by Costco so that Nyle could grab savory pizza slice, Mom, Ned, Gwen and I ice cream sundaes and smoothies; we also grabbed beignets for West.
A week or two ago, I told you we have got your back. Today, I decided to show skin-in-the-game by fasting for you. I pray for you daily that you will find joy in your extraordinary work. Even though it can be hard, I know it is the most important work on the planet. We love you and honor who you are and what you represent. Keep it up! We love you.
We love you so much!
August 9,
Hi Lincoln,
How are things going in Guatemala? We're doing well here. It was our last week of summer, and Thursday marked a year since we sent you off on the plane to Mexico City. Dad was at his annual conference all week at the SouthPointe, and I went back to work on Wednesday. I think I'm ready for tomorrow!
We were busy with last-minute school prep, work, and tennis for Ned. He made the SECTA tennis team again and seems to be playing well. Gwen is still trying to decide if she wants to do tennis this year or work more. This week she and Ned have a dentist appointment, which will enable her to get her last health paperwork together for her mission papers. She's an ambitious young lady!
West went to Cub camp for Brown on Thursday, and Nyle was there to help out as an upperclassman.
Today we enjoyed listening to Wyatt's homecoming address. We tuned in on the YouTube link since we couldn't be there in person. He did such a great job. I'm trying to figure out the best way to share it with you. I think you'd appreciate some of the things he said. Additionally, today I was sustained in a new calling in the Sunday school presidency under Gwen Dennett. It'll be fun working with her again.
Today during home church, we had a summer thunderstorm. It was so nice as it dropped the temp from 116 to 100. Everyone was so distracted by it that we had to adjourn home church and go out to enjoy it. It was such a relief to be able to be outside without melting again. Tonight, we went to the seminary kickoff fireside. We're gonna be busy again;).
We hope you're doing well and are excited to talk with you tomorrow!
Love you!
Mom and Dad
August 16,
Hi Lincoln,
How are things going down there?
We had a good first week back at school. Everyone jumped in, and I think we're all feeling like we're settling into the new year. Gwen has a nice schedule with her open periods and lighter schedule. Ned is feeling like he is comfortable at SECTA and has jumped into Tennis. He has grown a lot since last year- physically and as a tennis player. Nyle is enjoying his 8th grade year and gets to be a student aide, which is a lot of fun for him, and West is adjusting to middle school like a champ!
We also were able to enjoy some stormy weather, which dropped the temperature significantly, which was much appreciated. I believe it dropped down to the mid-70's at night--unheard of for this time of year.
Friday afternoon, Gwen had her dentist appointment- the one we needed for her to be able to submit her mission papers. We discovered that she has one wisdom tooth that needs to come out. She has an appointment for September 18th to get it taken out. She will then be losing her braces on October 6th. After that, she should be set. She still met with the bishop today and will meet with the Stake President on Wednesday. We'll see if they let her submit her papers before her wisdom tooth is out. Fingers crossed!
After her dentist appointment, Uncle Eric picked her up and took her with them up to Grandma and Grandpa's cabin. We couldn't go because Ned had to work, and we were booked to clean the church on Saturday.
Ned worked a 12-hour shift on Saturday lifeguarding. He sure works a lot- just like you did! Nyle and West spent the day hanging out with the Robinson and Jerez boys and then went to the Spanish branch's pool party at the Black Mountain Pool. They've also been capitalizing on the extra rain by "skimboarding" on the boogie boards somewhere on the golf course. I guess there's a place on the golf course where the water pools a little and they can slide down it on the boogie boards. Today, we had to pick up Nyle and West's bike from the Jerez's house on the way home from church since they got a ride home last night. They rode their bikes home from their house in their church clothes and looked like mini-missionaries. We had to snap a picture!
I've also included some pictures of the progress Grandma and Grandpa Hills are making on their Logandale home and their office building in Mesquite.
We sure love you and hope you are doing well down there. I hope you're enjoying your companion and the work. We talk about you all the time and are so proud of what you're doing. Can't wait to talk to you tomorrow!
Love
~Mom and Dad
August 23,
Hi Lincoln,
How are you, your companion, and Guatemala doing? We're excited to connect with you tomorrow!
We've been good. It's been a busy week- no more summer boredom here. Gwen has been busy meeting with Bishop and the Stake President, working on getting her mission papers together. She was also able to go to the Senior Sunrise at Basic on Friday. She went with Sierra Larson who switched from going to Pinecrest, over to Basic for her senior year. It's fun to me that Gwen is connecting with Sierra again after all these years. They were good playmates forever ago when we'd swap play dates. It's also fun for me since I get to go to work with her mom.
Ned had his first match for SECTA on Monday of last week, with 3 matches this week. He's busy with back-to-school work, lifeguarding all day on Saturday (12-hour shift) and then back to full days of school and tennis during the week.
Nyle is enjoying his 8th grade year and is still spending time hanging out with the Jerez and Robinson boys on the weekend. Last night he had a little fun with an ER visit after cutting open his shin pretty badly on one of the pedals of his mountain bike. He said he has learned his lesson about wearing shoes while riding his bike. He has 7 stitches to boast of now.
West is rolling with middle school well. He seems to enjoy going there and is looking forward to soccer season with Dad coaching him and Nyle again for another season.
Dad and I are busy with taking care of our house and running around after everyone. It's a busy and good life.
Today we had our cup filled with going to our own ward to watch Mason Hardy give his mission farewell, then we went out to BC to catch Kendall's farewell, then back to the Jerez's to support Bella in her farewell. I was talking to Fara Day, who is putting together a social media video with snippets of pictures of all the missionaries from our stake. She said there are record numbers of missionaries going out now, and a large number are from Southern Nevada. Exciting times!
We love you and are so proud of you!
~Mom and Dad
Hi Lincoln,
Cómo va? We're cruising along through our Summer here. It's been super hot and humid, and we're looking forward to a dip in the heat this week. (Woohoo!)
This past week had a few highlights:
- Gwen submitted her mission papers! The Stake President had to call us on Friday because the Church's mission dentist wanted to know more about her wisdom teeth and braces situation. We had to request some X-rays and send them along as well as the dates for her Wisdom tooth extraction and Braces removal. Now we just wait to see if they want to hear about the wisdom tooth extraction or if they'll issue her call before then. Exciting times for Gwen!
- Ned played three tennis matches and had some success with all of them. His last match was against Centennial, and he was able to play their number 1 and won! He's really improving. We figure it works out to his best interest to play Dad, who, as you know, is quite ruthless on his own kids.
- Nyle continues to heal from his stitches and will likely get them off tomorrow night after his first soccer practice. He and West enjoyed going to Desmond's birthday party last night, which was paintballing.
- West is getting the hang of middle school and took his first big math test.
- Dad and I spent the day touring some new build houses out in BC across the street from Grandma and Grandpa's development. They really want us to move out there, but it is so hard to find a house that matches the one we already have without having to pay extra, so we were just out looking, not too serious. Then, we came back to Henderson for Stake Conference. We felt uplifted by the messages shared there. The conference was based on President Christofferson's latest conference talk: The Character of Christ.
Besides that, we've been keeping super busy with School happenings. We love you and are excited to see how your week went.
Love you!
~Mom and Dad
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