Max USA Special Olympics Experience

 

Max at the hotel.

June 3, 2022

Max and his friends

Max was in the church News look at link below.

https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2022-06-17/missionary-2022-special-olympics-usa-games-257627?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cn-social&utm_campaign=facebookpage-en&utm_content=churchnews-en&fbclid=IwAR0tFJQXLzyFJ3RZB_p9SLxF6lG9GygMFvyx6V-0fnCqR5e-OxD3Tb0Dzck 

Special Olympics State Swim Meet October 2021

                                                         Max loved the State swim meet.

      He had the opportunity to swim a 100 IM for the first time.

Max swimming a relay with his swim team.

Max and one of the swimmers from Tempe team

Special Olympics Regional meet

 Max has been looking forward to having the Special Olympics Regional Swim meet for over a year. Covid has made it impossible to have a swim meet and when he found out they were having one he was so excited. He loves to compete, not with others, but with his own personal time. He was not pleased with his times at the swim meet. When he did the 100 butterfly the announcer did not give him time to even get ready on the block. As you can see in the video, he spoke without giving a pause in between, “Take your Mark” and then, the beep a few seconds later. He had the beep go off right after he spoke. This happening through Max off and he was disappointed 😞 that he didn’t have a few seconds to prepare for his dive. 

Max swimming the 100 Butterfly

 Max lane 6 time for his 100 Butterfly. He was not happy with is swim time

I have realized after many swim meets that even a second is a BIG DEAL.

Max swimming the 100 Freestyle 

Max had lots of support at the swim meet

 his Mom, Dad, 

Sister Miriam and brother-in-law Bryce came.

Thank you, Miriam, for filming the heats Max swam in.

 Plus, three of his Aunts, Heather, Vivian and Delia came too. 

Max with Aunt Delia, Aunt Heather and Aunt Vivian. 

Thank you, Aunt Heather, Aunt Vivian and Aunt Delia, for coming to support Max.

 Max with two of the three gold medals that he earned. 

Max with Special Olympics Coach Roger
The day before Max got to swim with some of his swim team in a rely. 

They swam a 4/50 medley. He got to swim the butterfly. 

The rely team

Special Olympics try outs for National 2022

 Max was nervous about trying out for National for Special Olympics.

 There were a lot of great swimmers and we didn't think he would make the team.

But, he did, and we are so happy for him.

 Here are his swim try out times. He had to be able to swim a 100 freestyle in under a one minute and thirty seconds. Has you can see from the videos of him swimming he did stay under that time allowed. 

Monday Schedule

 Elder Reynolds starts his Monday mornings off at 4:30am and sometimes even earlier than that. Before he leaves for the pool he makes a sack of foods to eat for breakfast and gathers all his clothes he will need while he serves at the temple grounds. Elder Reynolds has stated many times that swimming from 5 to 6:15am,  Monday- Saturday makes him feel happy, calm, peaceful and comfort. I have noticed that ever since Elder Reynolds has been swimming he has not needed to have deep compressions or wear a backpack with weights in it to help him. After a good swim of over 140 laps he changes at the pool out of his swim trunks and into his gardening clothes. While traveling to the temple grounds he eats his breakfast. What a wonderful way for Elder Reynolds to start off his week. 

   Elder Reynolds after swim practice. 

We can not forget about Sundays...they are busy days for Elder Reynolds. He attends several different sacraments, during the morning and afternoon, plus he attends missionary devotionals, and Missionary meetings every Sunday evening. Yesterday he shared with us how he learn better ways to study scriptures and have missionary companionship study.

After Elder Reynolds serves at the Gilbert Temple he works in the backyard with his eleven chickens making sure they have food and water. Lunch is a must before he decides what next needs to be done. He loves his garden and studies about planting soils and gardening tips.

We are in the process of putting in a fall garden. Yay!

                                                

                                                

Elder Reynolds also goes over to our friends home to take her barrels up that he put out the night before for garbage pickup. Elder Reynolds loves this lady that he serves and often tells me how much he enjoys being with around her. She has been a blessing to our family. 

He states how special she is to him all the time. 

Elder Reynolds works on laundry, planning his week out and make sure he has everything he needs for the rest of his week. Every evening he checks on his chickens to make sure they are secure in their coop and that they have enough water and food for the following morning and he never forgets about collecting the eggs. 

What is new with Elder Reynolds?

 

When I hear the words special needs in any form it brings me back to my days as a child. I was labeled special needs because of being hearing impaired and blind in one eye. My parents tried to find the best resources to help me and when I went to Devereux Day School and had an amazing teacher, I found that even though I had special needs

 I could succeed.

Now, Max takes on the same role, one of having the label of being special needs. To look back on the last twenty-one years I have realized that Max, now Elder Reynolds has not let those two words stop him from growth. We often think someone with special needs has limits in life, when really, they don’t. They are capable to achieve goals!!! My mother was told I would be a vegetable and to put me in a group home. I’m so blessed that my parents made the choice to not follow the what the doctors had ordered. Now, I’m a mother to five amazing humans and have seven fantastic grandchildren. They all have a role in this big world we live in. Max and one of my grandchildren have been labeled Special needs too. When Max was six, I was told by a child psychologist that he would never reach the education level of a third grader. He has proven her wrong and has achieved straight A’s in algebra and Geometry in high school, with no tutor!

Elder Reynolds is not only a Missionary, but he is a District Leader too! He has not let those two words stop him…He is working towards goals to be the best missionary he can be. To serve, study, and learn just as if he was on a proselytizing mission. So many people think a service mission is not anything big. Well, let me tell you it’s a seven day a week mission. He wears a name tag like all other missionaries. He represents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He reads scriptures, listen to conference talks, has study time with his companion and has rules to follow.

What is a service missionary?

Service missionaries serve for 6 to 18 months (young women ages 19–25) and 6 to 24 months (young men ages 18–25). They live at home and serve locally. They serve as close to full time as their capability and circumstances allow. Each service missionary is provided a customized mission experience uniquely tailored to his or her talents, skills, and gifts. During their missions, it is common for service missionaries to serve in multiple assignments, including approved charitable organizations, Church operations, and stake-assigned service opportunities. Throughout their missions, service missionaries are under the ecclesiastical direction of their stake presidents.

The only difference is he can still swim. He can not attend a swim party, but he can swim laps. Elder Reynolds swims for exercise not for fun. When I mean laps, I mean LOTS of laps. He wakes up every morning at 4:30 to swim at 5am, Monday through Saturday. It’s been difficult at times, but it gives him the opportunity to get his exercise in for the day. Which, all missionaries are supposed to do.

Elder Reynolds has achieved another BIG goal that we are shocked about. He has been selected to attend the USA Special Olympics 2022 games in Orlando, Florida next June!

https://www.2022specialolympicsusagames.org/

Gardening and chickens are still a hobby that Elder Reynolds has continue to keep up even with the hours he is away from home to be a service missionary.