With All Our Love

President Monson gave a great talk on the Finishers in life. "In life, as in business, there has always been a need for those persons who could be called finishers. From the very beginning to the present time, a fundamental question remains to be answered by each who runs the race of life. Shall I falter, or shall I finish? On the answer await the blessings of joy and happiness here in mortality and eternal life in the world to come.

David commenced well the race, then faltered and failed to finish his course. So it was with Judas Iscariot. He commenced his ministry as an Apostle of the Lord. He ended it a traitor. Job did not falter. Job became a finisher. Paul, at the conclusion of his ministry, could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7.) Like Job, Paul was a finisher.

Times change and circumstances vary, but the true marks of a finisher remain. Note them well, for they are vital to our success. The Mark of Vision. The Mark of Effort. The Mark of Faith. The Mark of Virtue. The Mark of Courage. The Mark of Prayer. These, the marks of a true finisher, will be as a lamp to our feet in the journey through life."

These past two years you have lived by those marks of a finisher. You have fought the good fight, and have finished your course. You have kept the faith, and it's indeed time to come home. Well done.

 OOPS!

Got a sweet note from Fabio Pereira, "Thanks Sis. Schenewark...This last week it will be a sad week... Love your son so much! Thanks for him! Love all of the Schenewark family!"

You've been asked to speak in church next Sunday, on "the Christlike attributes you've developed on your mission." (This should be great, as it could be different than everything else you have to talk about, yet can be the same!)

Hunter's been helping the Israelsens get their house ready to sell, mostly working on the deck, and painting inside. He and his trusty sidekick Cooper bring home unwanted leftovers, such as luggage, BBQ sauce, pens, white surgery coats labeled "Dr. Schaff, Cabell Orthopedic Surgeon, etc. So today in church Hunter leans over and points to the pen Miller's using, advertising, "When you need a Houston fertility specialist." Could NOT stop laughing!

Dad and your brothers got to go to a fireside tonight given by Elder Bednar. He said he likes to keep coming back to this area because it has the least percentage population of LDS youth. He said this area and Arkansas, where his kids grew up, need him the most.

I found an article from a May 2014 visit to Brazil. Elder Neil. L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the Church’s growth in Brazil. “It’s amazing to see the progress of the Church,” he said. “The Church is expanding and growing every year. This has been a great blessing for us to be eyewitnesses.” Elder Russell M. Nelson also adds his excitement at the Church’s influence in Brazil, calling Brazil “part of the heart of the Church.” He added that when he comes to Brazil he “sees the future of the Church.”

You're now a part of our future, beginning this Thursday! Come home, Tanner!

Love,

Mom and Dad