Elder Maxwell

 

I know a bit more about these next pictures and I think it's pretty cool so I will share. There is a town in Miles' mission area - but it's a couple hours away by bus. There are some members on record there and so Miles asked his mission president if he and his companion could go there and check in on the members - seeing who's still there, if they are active, etc. He got permission and so one Thursday Miles and his companion headed out on the bus at like 7am. They got there - Charcas - at about 9:30. Miles and his companion met up with the family that they had contacted before coming over. Miles and Co. got breakfast from this family and then Miles and Co. went through the town looking up the other members. They weren't able to locate anyone - lots of family members or friends, etc. The met back up with the family later that afternoon and had dinner. Miles and Co. taught a lesson and extended a challenge to them to read the Book of Mormon, etc. Then it was back on the bus and home by 7:30pm or so. Miles loved it and thought the town was so pretty! It looks adorable to me. Fun!

Miles was impressed that this town actually had clear/clean water!! 

I love this picture so much!

The children of the family in Charcas. Cuties!!

Then this past Saturday Marco was baptized. Yay!

The ward mission leader, Companion, Marcos' sister, Marcos, Miles, and a couple in the ward who were asked to share thoughts/talks at the baptism.

Love this picture so much, too. :)

New Orleans Travel Meet

The girls got to go to New Orleans for their travel meet this year - so fun! I've never even been there before - lucky girls. They left on a Thursday and got back on Monday, President's Day. Thursday was basically a travel day - flying, renting the cars, driving to the hotel, etc. 

Friday the girls (about 14 team girls and 2 coaches and 2 adult chaperones) all went to the French Quarter and walked around, etc. That afternoon they went to JAMNOLA. Some funky New Orlean's "Fun House." Afterwards, they drove to Baton Rouge, LA - which was a couple of hours away. They were going to a LSU (ranked #2) vs. OSU (ranked #1) gymnastics meet. How awesome is that?! They walked around the campus and even saw the LSU tiger mascot. The girls LOVED the meet - it looked pretty hyped and just super fun. And LSU ended up winning - yay! It was a long day as the girls all had to drive back to their hotel a couple hours away, but it was my girls' favorite thing of the whole trip.

Saturday was competition day. They got to sleep in and then it was the girls getting ready, going to the mall, eating, and competing. Emmy's diamond group competed first and Lucy's platinum group competed afterwards. The different groups went to a mall for a bit while the others were competing - but caught a little of each groups' meets.

Emmy had two really great events: bars with a 9.2 and floor with a 9.3. She's been wanting some big scores and so that was exciting. Beam (8.0, with a fall) and vault (8.25, fell on both attempts) weren't what she was wanting and dropped her All Around score. But overall she still did great and improved overall from her first meet of the season. She ended up taking 2nd place on both bars and floor - yay! Emmy's meet videos. (I don't have her beam routine)

Lucy did great. She was pretty steady and solid on everything! She got 8.95 on vault (8th), 8.875 on bars (7th), 9.0 on beam (4th) and 9.15 (4T) on floor. Then she ended up rocking it with a 3rd-place on all-around - yay! Go Lucy! Lucy's meet videos.

On Sunday the girls went on a swamp-boat tour and saw lots of alligators and cool swampy land/waters. :) They enjoyed that. Then they made their way to a different hotel - closer to the airport. I think they ended the day and trip at some arcade thing. Then Monday it was up bright and early (like 4am) and they made it back to Montrose by noon. 

Here are some pictures, totally out of order because they girls sent me them randomly . . . 

At JAMNOLA.

LSU's mascot. :)

On the swamp tour.

More swamp obviously, ha.

Lucy rocking her 3rd all-around!!

Lucy's platinum teammates.

Gracie, Lucy, and Alaina.

Cha-ching.

Some weird statue-people in the French Quarter area.

Cuties Lucy and Keira. (Keira's dad is my "doctor boss" at the cancer center.)

Emmy's 8th AA.

Emmy's 2nd on the floor.

The beginning of the LSU gym meet - cool!

Emmy and diamond teammate Audrey.

Both girls had a really great time and I am glad they had such a cool experience!