Antoinette Miller, 9, looks back as she listens to her father, Luke, preach during a worship service Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Living Water Mennonite Church in Provo. According to Pastor Luke, the church is one of only two established places of worship for Mennonites in Utah.
Winter has passed (despite snow falling in the valley yesterday) and Spring is slowly but surely settling into Utah.
April was a month of ebb and flow. It seems assignments often fell on the same days, and other days we photographers had to rustle up some art/stories for the front pages.
I began last month finishing up a Monday Close-Up on the Living Water Mennonite Church. According to one of the church's pastors, the Provo church is one of only two Mennonite churches in all of Utah. I had held onto the story idea for a couple of months, and decided to dig into the story around Easter. I stopped by one of the church's services, a home bible study, and a birthday party for a family's son in the church. I planned on also photographing the church's Easter sunrise service, but a previous long-scheduled personal commitment forced me to miss the service. Since I often work on Monday Close-Ups on my days off, it's sometimes difficult to juggle personal and professional obligations. Regardless, having the ability to work on stories like this is what I love about the Daily Herald. Read more about that story here: https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/faith/the-living-water-mennonite-church-provides-community-for-utah-s/article_07839808-1ac3-503b-ab3e-e339c2d55c28.html.
Otherwise, April was a mixed bag of sports, more breaking news than usual as well as several feature and news assignments. One assignment that stood out was the funeral for two teenagers that were murdered and thrown into a mineshaft, Their bodies were found at the end of March. I've only covered a few funerals while working for newspapers, but this one was far and away the most emotional. Assignments that task me with looking into the face of people going through hell and pressing the shutter, while also doing my absolute best to respect their wishes and privacy, is a difficult and emotionally-trying thing to do. However, despite all the grief, seeing people come together under such trying circumstances can be uplifting. Getting a front row seat to document the spectrum of good, bad and otherwise of communities is probably my favorite aspect of being a photojournalist.
Now, graduation season is upon the newspaper, and spring sports playoffs will soon follow.
Beth Miller prays as she holds her son, Adrian, 3, beside Kendra Gingerich as the women of the congregation take part in a Bible study during a worship service Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Living Water Mennonite Church in Provo. For part of each worship service, the men, women, and children break into separate groups to take part in Bible studies.
Elliot Miller, 11, looks to Archie Williams as he takes notes during a worship service Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Living Water Mennonite Church in Provo.
Luke Miller preaches during a worship service Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Living Water Mennonite Church in Provo. The church currently holds services in a renovated garage, but hopes to build a more permanent place of worship soon.
Ethan Mast, 11, gets airborne as he jumps with other children on a trampoline during a birthday party Friday, March 30, 2018, at the family home of Pastor Luke Miller in Provo. Though varying from group to group, Mennonites can use various pieces of technology. However, the emphasis is usually upon what the technology is used for rather than what the technology is itself.
Elliot Miller, 11, soon to be 12, blows out the candles on his birthday pie Friday, March 30, 2018, at the family home of Pastor Luke Miller in Provo.
From left, Lane Mast, 10, Julien Palreiro, 12, Elliot Miller, 11, Ethan Mast, 11, and Ocean Palreiro, 9, joke around with one another as Elliott's mother gets a camera to take their picture during his birthday party Friday, March 30, 2018, at the family home of Pastor Luke Miller in Provo.
Brigham Young Cougars middle blocker Price Jarman (1) tries to get away from a hit from UCLA Bruins libero Sam Jones (14) as setter Leo Durkin (4) tries to get to the ball during the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship between Brigham Young University and the University of California Los Angeles on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Santa Clara Broncos Katherine Sanchez (21) collides with Brigham Young Cougars first baseman Allie Hancock (27) as Sanchez runs to first base after her hit during the first game of a doubleheader between Brigham Young University and Santa Clara University on Friday, April 6, 2018, at Miller Park in Provo.
Brigham Young Cougars infielder Brian Hsu (13) juggles the ball allowing Utah Utes outfielder Erick Migueles (15) to safely cross first base during a game between Brigham Young University and the University of Utah on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Miller Park in Provo.
Skyridge pitcher Carter Smith (26) bites his lip as he leaves the mound at the top of the fifth inning as the Falcons trail the Timpanogos Timberwolves 4-0 on Friday, April 27, 2018, at Skyridge High School in Lehi.
Lehi outfielder Tyson Eager (24) misses a catch during a game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Orem Golden Tigers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Lehi High School.
Brigham Young Cougars assistant coach Luka Slabe cheers after a BYU point during a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals match between Brigham Young University and the University of Southern California on Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Orem's Dallin Lee (2) successfully steals second base and beats the tag by Lehi's Ray Santa Cruz (4) during a game between the Lehi Pioneers and the Orem Golden Tigers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Lehi High School.
Fans react while Justin Timberlake sings as he crosses a runway-style portion of the stage during the "Man of the Woods" tour at its stop Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Attendees dance during the grand entry of a powwow held Friday, April 20, 2018, at Lockhart Arena on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem.
Kylysta Otteson, "Breezy's" oldest sister, wipes a tear as she looks at the remains of her sister while she's consoled by Cassie Anderson after a memorial service for Riley Powell and Brelynne "Breezy" Otteson held Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the Tintic School District office building in Eureka. The two teenagers were murdered and their bodies thrown into a mineshaft in December. Their bodies were found on March 28.
Aurelia Berryhill, of Elk Ridge and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in media arts, looks to the crowd as she and fellow soon-to-be graduates process before Brigham Young University's Spring Commencement Exercises held Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Kevin Baillargeon, 13, plays with a drawstring on his mother's, Marisa Baillargeon, hoodie as he sits with his sister, MaKayla Baillargeon, 14, and caregiver, Matt Williamson, while they answer questions from a reporter Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at their temporary home in American Fork. Kevin was born with phocomelia syndrome, which leaves him with no limbs. Local schools have teamed up to fundraise for the family's medical expenses.
Chloe Evans, 14, left, an eighth-grader at Spanish Fork Jr. High School, jokes around with Shae Johnson, 13, also an eighth-grader, as they fold paper while students from local schools create origami flowers for victims of the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Spanish Fork High School.
BYU senior Lauren Holbrook, studying public relations, poses for a portrait next to the "Tree Of Wisdom" art installation Thursday, April 5, 2018, on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo. Holbrook has had three heart transplants.
Jordan Thomas, 10, of Lindon, works to move a rock with fellow Pack 1121 scouts during a service day at the Boy Scouts of America's Camp X on Saturday, April 14, 2018, in the countryside southwest of Cedar Fort.
Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy speaks to community members during a primary campaign kickoff party held Friday, April 27, 2018, at the U.S. Senate candidate's home in Alpine.