The Field is White

This transfer has been so great for Miles.  He's super happy with his companion.  The people they have been teaching have had a lot to work through, and this week everything was finished and they were able to be baptized!

He was especially excited about the couple this week.  They were attending church, but they weren't officially married because it is expensive in Brazil.  So a lot of people don't go through the trouble of making it legal.  Miles helped them through that process, which took a month or longer, and they were able to be married this week!  Miles was excited to be invited to watch the ceremony, since only their best friends were there.  The husband is a mechanic and Miles bonded with him over that.  He really wants all the people he is teaching to come to the US.  They were baptized yesterday and it was super special.  Their ward has been really supportive.

Another baptism was their cute little friend Matteus.  Matteus sounds like an extremely energetic kid.  He loves church because he likes to ride the elevator, have nice new friends in Primary, and he gets treats.  Matteus lives with his aunt because there are some problems with his parents.  His aunt was worried that he was too young to be baptized, but Miles talked to her and was asking who will be his role models?  He lives in an area where there are a lot of drug deals and crime.  By the time the kids are 13, 14 they are already involved in a lot of that stuff.  She agreed that having friends and connections at church could make a difference for Matteus.  The Primary president in the ward offered to get him to church each week.

They taught Fiama, who was a referral.  When they tried to contact her from the referral they didn't get a response.  So Miles and his comp walked hours to knock her door.  And finally she was home and they were able to teach her.  Her phone was broken.  She has two young boys who have autism.  She's got a tough life and had some really cool experiences that directed her to attend church and eventually be baptized.

Another person they taught was the girlfriend of one of the members.  He was happy that so many of the ward members came to support all these new members baptisms.  They had only 1 new baptism in their ward in all of last year.  So to have five in one week was very exciting for them.

Miles was definitely frustrated with his bishop for a few things relating to the planning of the baptisms.  But it sounds like they got it all worked out eventually.  I wondered if Miles might have been enjoying having a bit of drama in his life?  Haha.

Last week he got a referral from some of the sisters in another mission.  They had been teaching a lady with two kids.  She straight out asked Miles, "When is my baptism?"  He was shocked and found out that she'd attended church in a different area for three months and that was verified by the bishop there.  But this woman moved to a new ward this week and was baptized there.  Still so many cool things going on in his area,  

When Miles arrived at the train station when he was transferred to San Jose do Rio Preto the departing missionaries told him that this area was "cursed."  He was joking of course but it is tough in some ways.  Miles wishes their apartment was not so many miles from their area.  They walk a lot and nothing is close to where they live.  Although it is a very nice new apartment with good fans and that is a big deal to him.

But despite that, he just loves all these people he's been working with and the idea of leaving is really tough.  He's attached.  He loves cute Matteus.  He talks about him like a parent, which is something he's always done with Soren too.  I think it's sweet.  He says he would stay in that area for ten more months if he could.  But he's thinking he'll probably be transferred.  We will find out soon.

Simone's Team USA trials in DC

Jared recorded her climbs so he couldn't take photos!

Simone was very excited to qualify to go to the climbing Team USA trials.  In climbing, 16 and over are allowed to compete in both the Youth circuit and the Elite Circuit.  Its a lot of comps, but super fun.

Last year she did a North American Cup in Redlands, Vail and then did well enough in those to qualify for Elite Nationals.  And her standing at all 3 qualified her for Team trials.  She did not have big expectations of actually making Team USA, only the top 6 I believe make it but I could be wrong.  There is a formula that weighs how they did over the whole year.  She is competing against all the best climbers in the country that are 16 years and up.  Most of whom are in their 20's and have more experience in these comps, etc.

But it was a super fun experience to get to go.  She loves walking into these comps and seeing these women she's looked up to for YEARS and climbing the same  boulders and even in ISO with them.  They are all very welcoming and sweet to her and that makes her feel super good.  The boulders were very difficult and she didn't make Semis.  But she felt good about it overall and was fine with that. 

Jared had a great time exploring D.C. with Simone and Soren.  I can't believe it was his first time there!  They went to all the big monuments.  Smithsonian, zoo, and lots of good restaurants as well as walking all over and seeing a lot of the sights in passing.

Some places had long lines, like to see the constitution, etc so they skipped those.  They loved the museums though.

They got some great food and had a great time.

I was enjoying my project time at home!  I took the doors off my family room cabinets, painted and redecorated them as open shelves.  They were a beaded glass before and it always kinda bothered me that you could kinda see in but not really.  I also decluttered and dejunked all the books which felt good.  Made lots of donations.  I bought myself some sushi for dinner and stayed up late watching Love on the Spectrum.  I have never been home alone for 5 days and it was great.  Elise and Ethan and the baby were still here so I wasn't totally alone.  But the kitchen stayed so clean, and I really got a lot done. And I've been in a good routine so I didn't want to do another trip (Just took Simone to Sacramento last month) and disrupt that.

Hawaii Photo Dump

We had the best time in Hawaii!  I was sad we couldn't convince Monet and Carson to come along but proud of them for always being so responsible as well!  Initially we were just going to take the youngest two kids.  But then Monet, who loves Hawaii begged to come.  So we found a place with an extra room.  But in the end they decided not to miss school and work and so Elise and Ethan and the baby came instead!  I was not thinking they would be able to swing it with school and the costs etc.  But so glad they did!  It was a blast to spend the week with them.  And we spent a few days in Maui in 2021 with just Monet so she did get her turn.

Our favorite things to do in Maui are kinda always the same!  Black Rock Beach, Ho'okipa Turtles, Mama's Fish House was a fun experience for the first time and so beautiful, Snorkeling at Honolua Bay, Whale watch trip, Duke's, Monkeypod Kitchen, etc.  Jared has bad associations with getting carsick on the Road to Hana and with Soleil we figured that would be a very long day.  Even the ride from the airport was a scream fest after the looonngg flight.  So we took it easy mostly and stayed close to our place!

We tried a new place this time.  We got a great deal at Westin Nanea.  It was very nice.  Quieter and older than the crowd at Maui Ocean Club.  The place was nicer and more modern too.  Although there were things we also loved about the other places we've stayed.

It was fun to celebrate the birthdays!  I woke up each morning and went to the pool to get chairs facing the ocean and just read and relaxed.  It was so nice to visit and enjoy all the whales breaching!  All day we watched them.

Then on Simone's birthday it was the one rainy day.  But we really wanted to do something memorable for her 17th birthday.  So we did a whale watch tour.  We were worried at first cause the water was rough and we all had ponchos but it was very wet still.  But after about an hour we got an awesome show.  Whales breaching over and over again and swimming up close to us (as the boat was stopped the whales swam closer).  It was really fun and memorable and my kids loved it.

doesn't look like a very comfortable place huh!  Bring chairs to Honolua.