Gym Nest

Birthday parties at gymnastic centers are THE BEST!

The boys are SO busy, and happy, and moving so fast they're a blur!

 

 

And after watching a little American Ninja Warrior, they were right at home!

Letter #61

Dear Family, 

My letter is late today but it's for a good cause. Today was preparation day, and we spent it with the President and what a p-day it has been! I´m going to give you the cliff notes version but be sure to get the photos from the site of the mission when Sister Genaro puts them up. That will illustrate it better I think. 

Our week started off well, though I admit to being very worried this week. When something is not equal to the ideal do not settle for less! Do not be lulled into mediocrity and then into ruin! The Book of Mormon speaks of this, the devil´s flaxen cords. Alright, well we worked hard, had quite a few families marked to go to church and our plans were smooth, very smooth. That was our focus, because this week anyone that's been to church once can be baptized Saturday on our mission's "Dia de Branco," or Day of White. It's going to be spectacular ; ) I did 4 or 5 interviews this week all around, even leaving on the spur of the moment to travel to another ward during the church classes. Went well, and the interviewee will be baptized Sunday. One interview was very special in Leonor where I had the opportunity to talk with a very sincere loving young man whose desire to follow Christ in his life is incredible. It was a spiritual experience for me. 

 

This whole week your package, wonderful is not enough to describe it, has been keeping me alive in the mornings and when we get home. Just Nutella and bread and Nutella and apples and Nutella and a spoon. It's been excellent and my companion, who also is a Nutella fan club member has been enjoying it as well. He also gave his first talk here in the mission, and it was pure power. I felt validated as a trainer as he quoted me five times, saying each time, "Elder Schenewark says..." 

 

Sunday almost everyone fell through on their commitments which was highly disappointing, but it was nice to have two men that went, one which is very special to us. We will work towards his baptism this week. Stay tuned. Our mission is 25 away from breaking the record for the mission and our zone is 19 away from breaking the record for most baptisms by a zone in the month. We want to increase that and hit 50 with 21 baptisms this week breaking the record for most in a week and the month and the month for the mission and likely putting us in 3rd as a mission for baptisms in Brasil. We're all about effective logistical measurements here. I mean, it is about accelerating the work! 

So today. We went to the president's apartment at 9: 00 a.m. and ate a wonderful breakfast, introduced first with some reading from the Missionary manual that instructed us on the bounds of our activities for p-day. Then we changed clothes and played soccer, ping pong, fusbol, scripture trivia with water in the face for those who erred. (I bested E. Alves with the correct response to "Who replaced Judas as the 12th apostle?" Huh, huh! ) 

 It rained as we played, cooling us off. We even shot some hoops. President beat me in ping pong but it was close and I got a little arrogant on my serves ; ) I played goalie like a pro stopping Elder Peterson's attack. Our team only lost three times, with a spectacular run of I think 6 wins in a row. I served in Brasil and yes I played soccer. Fantastic, but that wasn't it. We showered, changed and got into a van to go to a churrasco, BBQ where they walk around with loads of delicious slices of cows, pigs and chickens for you to eat. Like Fogo da Chão. Fantastic. Then they gave us all giant chocolate bars. WOW I don't think I'll top this in the mission. Like I said, the cliff notes. But it was spectacular in every respect. It's nice to win.

 

This week I'm going to be playing traveling district leader, going to all the areas to make sure everyone is baptized this week. Next week will be transfers, and because President likes to hint A LOT, I think I'll be going. So I want to go out with a bang.

 

I want to share a quick thought. Have you ever really boiled down why we are here on earth? To become more like our Heavenly Father (see E. Uchtdorf´s talk in priesthood April 2013). We can't do that without knowing how, or without knowing the process to become more like him--the gospel. Thus missionary work is really a prerequisite to living. You can't really live until you know why you're living. And that goes for everyone. The three missions of the church are to proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints and redeem the dead. None of this happens without missionary work and all of it happens by missionary work. Saints are perfected in sharing the gospel and the rest of it is just proselyting. And when you have been warned, warn your neighbor. 

Sunday we were caught in the most epic hurricane storm of Londrina's history that downed hundreds of trees, signs, roofs, etc. Also a first for E. Alves getting caught in the rain. Felt like the world was going to end, and somewhere in that turmoil of flying capybaras and redneck chickens, I thought, the world is going to end! Wouldn't it be sad if everyone wasn't able to hear about the gospel! Share your testimony every day, and you will be happy. Ammon said that the greatest blessing was to be used as an instrument in the Lord's hand (Alma 26). It is : ) And it's even better to do it together.

I love you, I am so thankful for you. This week, visit a less active family and invite them to do something fun with you ; )

Love (is sharing the gospel),

Tanner

With All Our Love

Dear Tanner,

Was that my package that arrived last week? _______ Tell me how wonderful it was! _______ Just to let you know, your missing package arrived here in Ohio last week. Items were missing. Do you want me to send May's conference report in your next package, or just November's? _______

I have the best life. I love getting letters from my family and so enjoy hearing about the things that make them such good people. I gave up a long time ago trying to be as funny or as spiritual or as wise and just be me. I was reflecting on the family history portion of the letters. Boy do I have some history! For example. I was asked by the BYU police and joint FBI investigators to go undercover to catch someone fraudulently producing identification cards/licenses to the highest bidders. The FBI was involved as he had allowed someone to gain illegal access to a military base across state lines. I was wired, followed, and drove to meet the man, who made a Montana license for me so I could quickly age and have access to liquor. I guess I wasn't even 21 yet. When the transaction was completed, we waited for him to contact me for the drop off. I can say I was cuffed, pushed into a patrol car, and whisked away under the pretence of being a perpetrator of an illegal activity, but my favorite part was when testifying in court, watching his face when I was sworn in as an employee of the police department to purport the truth! He knew his ship was about to sink. And that's MY family history story of the week. 

For the rest of the history of this week, I'll begin with Elder Hutchins. He wrote about "the corner," "a corner in the kitchen which no one has ever attempted to clean because there was literally an inch of mold and just gunk coating the floor. As we began our regular weekly cleaning I declared to my companion, "That's it, I am taking on the corner!" For a second he just looked at me then his mouth dropped and he just said, "You are one brave guy." I remember your raising the bar in apartment cleanliness earlier this year, and can't emphasize how important maintaining our physical environment is to our spirit.

Naomi wrote that she was "introduced to this idea of calls. She said plan in an hour a day to just call people. Call all of your friends, call the members and chat. Remind them that we're here, make them feel good, and don't ask them for anything." I liked this, and wondered if this is something you had thought about.

Elder Cummings wrote about a game called tako or bats. It's played with two 2-liter bottles, 2 pieces of wood, a tennis ball, and some chalk/a rock to mark the street. Have you ever heard of or played this game?

Elder Peterson wrote that got to work with Elder C and Elder S from Tuesday until last night. That's you, right? He said, "They had a bunch of possibilities there...This week was straight up great!!! The zone ended up baptizing 16 people which ties the mission record for the number of baptisms in a single zone in one week. This was the last week and Tiradentes ended up winning!! Our reward is a preparation day with the president!

Stephen received his mission call last week, just forgot to mention this and where he is going. Sorry! It's the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission. I think he said his friend Jared is also in that mission? Anyway, he and his family are SO excited, and he'll be off the 18th of December.

Hunter golfed in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, with six schools. He qualified to go on to districts, and will golf again Tuesday against sixteen schools. Golf is unique in that he misses all of school to compete, and has make-up work the rest of the week. But he loves it!

Your brother goes into sewing mode every Sunday. Especially since you are in such awe. He asked Breyer what she would like him to make and she said a snake. So he made one out of old baby socks. It's adorable. Then she said cow, so Cooper obliged, even attaching udders. 

He also made a hot air balloon frame out of Legos, and wrapped it in brown paper bag. I liked it better without the paper.

Your sister has said and done a few things this week that make me smile. I am always in a skirt or dress after seminary, while I finish breakfast and lunches for the boys. Sometimes it stays on for a long time before I change into work clothes. Anyway, Breyer said, "Mom, I want to wear a dress like you." That was a first! Your grandmother made her a beautiful fall outfit, that we'll introduce to you first.

 

The boys finished off the season finale of American Ninja Warrior, no one won the crown. The obstacles were not completed by anyone. When that show is on the house is FULL of testosterone. Miller is crawling up the door frame, Sawyer is lunging down the stairs, Cooper is drawing out plans for the ultimate ninja obstacle course...you get the idea. I feel like a yellow traffic light. Nobody ever listens and wants to stop! They're all eagerly awaiting the next installment, America vs. Japan Ninja Warrior...coming soon to a living room near me.

This was Dad's second football game, also away. He was gone from 4 p.m. until midnight'ish. A long time! They did not win, but a boy stepped up Tuesday to work as a kicker, and did everything Dad told him to do during the game, and was perfect! He kicked the ball off, scored Fairland's FIRST ever field goal, and their point after touchdowns. Porter was stopped by a football player on Wednesday, who said, "Your father works with the kicker one day and he looks like a professional!" Heads are spinning on the field in Proctorville. I'm so glad he can contribute doing something he is great at and something he loves to do - coach.

Hunter spent Saturday morning taking the ACT, his second and last time. I was at the church for an early morning seminary meeting, a stake Relief Society conference, and a baptism. Including the time it took to put all the tables and chairs away that were left in our gym, I was there from 9:30 - 6:30 p.m. Long day! It was good to see Jarrod taking care of the kids, taking care of lunch and dinner, taking care of transportation...the Manny duties he's not around too often to do. They were in good hands. Even though Breyer never got out of her pajamas, she was happy. The boys' soccer games were cancelled due to torrential downpours, so they kept her busy. Your brothers had to run at Shawnee State in those same rains, and came home wet and tired. Porter has been steadily improving his score. I know he had a 23, then 22.4, then 20.30. He's broken the seven minute mile, we'll have to see if he can whittle closer to six.

I've been thinking a lot of how to share the message of the gospel. I am in Baptist country, and are glad that we at least share the belief that we must follow Christ's example and be baptized. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

But when speaking to friends about the temple usually the ordinance of marriage for time AND eternity is where the discussion is led. But we also perform baptisms for those who might not have had the chance to be baptized here on the earth, by the proper authority.

This is my thesis statement: Understanding that after the crucifixion and death of the Savior, he visited those in spirit prison to begin teaching the gospel to those already gone from this earth, helps us understand that baptism is so essential to our salvation that those who have died without hearing the gospel also must receive this ordinance.

The Bible is replete with examples of this doctrine: "And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited (Isaiah 24:22).

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live...Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice (John 5:25, 28)

"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living (Romans 14:9)."

"By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison...Because of this, is the gospel preached to them who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live in the spirit according to the will of God. (1 Peter 3:19, 4:6)

Understanding that Christ did open the prison doors makes it possible to understand the importance of the ordinance of baptism being extended to those who are dead, through the temples here on the earth. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:29)

And knowing that we are responsible for helping those deceased family members have the opportunity to accept the ordinance of baptism, explains the need for us to search out our family through our genealogical efforts. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened (Revelations 20:12).

There's my thought for the week. I hope it helps you as much as it did me. We love you! We're excited to read about this week's adventures! I apologize for not having a lot of pictures in your inbox...we were without internet all week. I'll get back to work!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Happy Fall!

Letter #60

Dear Family,

You should now that you're stupendous. I've had quite the week. Topsy turvey might describe it, or the idea of a roller coaster heading full on at knee-knocking speeds with only the vague guarantee that someone did the math to make sure you come out alive. Yup. We're just going to go day by day because it's easier.

Monday: We had a Family Home Evening with the Bishop and his family teaching a family he had invited from his neighborhood the restoration. Possibly the most normal lesson I've ever taught. It was almost weird it was so normal and I felt almost at home. We're going to talk to the family again on Friday and see if they've read the Book of Mormon. I was just proud of the effort made by the bishop. More on that later, but also worth mentioning is that the bishop's wife made pancakes and torta de frango, both, well, homemade and Monday ended happily : )

Tuesday: We had zone meeting and it was alright. I had written a special hymn but no one knew the music and so it was, well, alright. Next time I'll preview which hymns they know. We also sang a special version of the mission hymn written by me, of which there is a video that Elder Peterson has. I don't know if he'll send it in his email or if it's too big. We lunched and then worked a little but got wind that the missionaries in Leonor might have an interview so we headed there. And we baptized 3! Fantastic. When I arrived there was a bunch of people playing socer, and I asked the only member I knew who was a member there, and he said no one. . . Next question, who has already been to church twice? I had a great time interviewing everyone, a very spiritual experience, and thankfully all three were baptized. We even had popcorn as a treat : )

Wednesday: After lunch we headed to the chapel to fill the font, while the other missionaries in our ward went to round up the investigators to be baptized. I did two more interviews, everyone passed, we even had a showing of members turn out and a cake, and two more baptisms : )

Thursday: This day was the only day we had this week to work normally in our area and what a day it was! We had a really boring morning, but after lunch we headed to accompany our investigators at light speed. We finally found a family that had been impossible to find the whole week, taught them, marked interviews, threw away coffee, and then on to another house. There, with what can only be called spiritual intervention, a mom that has been impeding her son's baptism for 3 months, signed her permission. Miracles.

Friday: We had a triple division to help cover all our appointments and other jobs. We taught 90 lessons with a member before 5 o'clock and it was hot. We taught in the street, in the bus, on the curb, wherever we could, and then at 5 I headed with E. Wheeler to Aula 2, to do 3 more interviews. Two passed and were baptized Sunday. We also hung out a little with E. Peterson, Chambers, and Silva, while the ward put together a very enjoyable ward talent show. E. Alves, when he came to pick us up, ran into his uncle and aunt and cousins who are memebrs in Aula 2.  But his uncle saved the day and gave us a ride home, with E. Zioli, the other assistant to the president who crashed at our house.

Saturday: Lunched and headed to do 3 more interviews, and E. Zioli did our interview. All were baptized afterwards. Finished my journal! : )

Sunday: We had few people go to church, but we headed early to the executive counsel meeting. We had 9 confirmations in our ward meeting and I gave a short talk as one speaker didn't show. I spoke about drawing down the blessings of heaven through obedience and sacrifice. And buillding up Zion. Then after lunch we received a call from Pr. Genaro that we would have a meeting with the stake president and bishop in half an hour all the way across the city. We ran, and got lucky that the bishop was passing by and picked us up.

 

We were actually excluded from the meeting but from what I can tell it went well on the side of the members, the president making lots of concessions. I thought worthy to mention was the Oscar Wilde like scene of comedic confusion afterwards as the stake president and 2 bishops and mission president fought, yes, scrabbled over ME! I felt pretty well loved and that my efforts to support both sides of the issue had produced not only peace but amiability.

I´m now at the beck and call of the stake president and two wards and president, trying to improve member/missionary efforts in the work. We are trying to turn this steam engine lugging perambulously in one direction around and get it going smoothly in the other. Out with the old, in with the new. Efficiency people! And conversion!

Well that's the grainy facts. There's some unfinished thoughts in here, but it's all the news that's fit to print, in fits of print.

The wave is coming. I'm so glad you are doing such a marvelous work at home. Keep it going! I love you so much,

Tanner

p.s. Got a package right now!!!!
p.p.s. We won the mission competition again! Our zone baptized 16, the mission record and 9 in my district. I did 11 interviews this week. Whew!

With All Our Love

Dear Tanner,

Our internet is down, and does not look like the repairman will be coming until Friday, so I’m typing this on a word document that your father will help me then send. Sometimes in small ways I’ve become so dependent on technology, your letter, for instance, and am in a bind when it doesn’t work!

So I can’t look up your last week’s letter, but I seem to remember your closing with a question: Who are you going to baptize?”

So let me begin by answering. He’s a ten year old boy that’s friends with Sawyer. His mother has been in my cub scout group for three years, we’re beginning our fourth. She called me up this week and told me she is a member of our church. She wanted to know how to come back to church, where the church met, and how she could get her son taught. I about died on the phone. In a good way. Apparently last year, when we were working on our religious requirements for the Bear rank, I had a father that’s working on his theology degree speak, and when he was listing off a bunch of religions, I said, “That’s me!” to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons. I have no recollection of this, but she tucked that little thought away until she was ready. So her son will be joining the church, and will have Sawyer and Ethan Israelsen ready to assist him in those endeavors. Perhaps her husband will even listen as well. We’ll be sure to have them over for family home evening. She came today like she said she would, and arranged to have her son taught by the missionaries. Her father has come down from Teays Valley and done all our wood projects, and last week’s auto maintenance requirements. I love him! I’m so happy to hear he’s an active member of his ward, and has been telling her to talk to me for a long time.

The missionaries told us that tracting 1000 individuals might produce 1 baptism. Visiting 68 referrals also brings 1 baptism, so I’ve decided that I’ll provide the missionaries with 68 names, and hopefully they’ll get a baptism. .... But I have given them 29 names, so I’m almost halfway there!

Greg had some interesting thoughts on what he’s eating: “Dogs, rice and chicken every day and what makes it all worth it (although the rice and chicken are pretty good) – a flood of gospel doctrine. I love the amount of opportunities that we have to learn.”

Naomi once again made me laugh. Your dad and I read an article that talked about a study where participants lowered their blood pressure by seven points with hour-long laugh sessions every other week. That could add up to a fifteen percent reduced risk of death from heart disease or stroke! Not that you need to worry about that, but I was reminded of the study when reading your cousin’s letter. She said, “We actually went and did some touring at some old hospital called Hotel Dieu. It was pretty cool, but I was just itching to contact people inside of there. I’m not really into the tours of old things. Show me the castle, show me the moat, let me try on a suit of armor and have a sword fight!” (So unlike your father!) She also said, “We had a lunch with a wood nymph named Nelly. She’s not really a wood nymph but she sure looks like one! She is a super spiritual bus driver!” And I saw the picture. I wouldn’t have thought of her as a wood nymph, but once Naomi described her as such, the description fits!

There is a website created by mission doctors that has good information for missionaries. It is at www.Missionarymedicine.com. One of the reasons they allowed missionaries to email missionary friends in other missions is that communication is very important in helping missionaries cope with depression, anxiety and stress. Have you heard about this website? I would preview it first but I have no internet!

Our home teacher came over tonight in his car he created as a replica of the Barney Fife car for the town of Mayberry. The old Andy Griffith show. Dad thought it looked like Grampy’s police car, so we took a picture, and then found one of Grampy, August 1964. It’s pretty close!

Speaking of Grampy, his doctor is trying to put him on a pill developed by Pfizer that has a high cure rate for his type of cancer. She’s waiting for approval from his insurance company. I told him to stuff that. He’ll take the pill with or without approval. I said we’d all buy a pill, and buy a pill again, to get him on that medicine. Maybe Uncle Rich has some strings to pull that would get him the medicine no matter what the insurance company says. I’m still waiting to hear from Uncle Rich about his other medicine that is still in trials and reduces spleen size. It would be good to get Grampy on that as well.

Dad found an article that described the world’s ugliest fish, and it’s actually an endangered species. We so thought you needed to see this fish, also one of Heavenly Father’s creations ;-)

Hunter’s golf match this week was at Gallipolis. He placed third overall with his 43. The season is quickly wrapping up, and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) is this week at Shawnee State. Dad and Hunter went their Saturday, and Hunter played 18 holes in preparation for Tuesday. He would really love for his school to win! Dad even took notes and pictures on each hole to help him remember.

Cooper so enjoyed your comments on the squid he made, he was inspired to make more! He created an eight banded armadillo (no room for the ninth), a probiscus monkey, and a spider. He actually told me because of his sewing he’s thinking about doing something for children in a children’s hospital for his eagle scout project. He also has a cemetery / flag fundraising idea for his project as well. He just had his board of review for star rank, and can begin officially working on it in six months.

Your two youngest brothers, Sawyer and Miller, played soccer during the week at their practices, and again at their games on Saturday. You would enjoy watching them both play. They hustle, they trick and turn, steal, stop and slide. Sawyer scored 3 out of 4 goals, and one when he was on defense, to rest. He saw a clear shot all the way down the field and went on a run. Miller scored the only goal when he ran his Miller special, which is to kick the opening kick, and barrel straight through for the goal. It only works once in the game, but he’s been very successful making goals on the first kick-off.

Porter and Cooper have been gradually improving their running scores. It’s amazing how that can happen when you don’t have knee pain or asthma to deal with! But they both thoroughly enjoy the social aspects of the cross country team, especially the weekly dinner, of which they only let me bring cinnamon rolls! And there’s never enough, and they go fast and first!

Ranger continues to defy all odds and is aging in reverse. He’s growing hair where he never did before, has increased his speed in the dash out the door, and has built up his testosterone levels so his bark is even more fierce than before!

Aunt Shirley is coming to Ohio next week for Uncle David’s ship reunion, and I was so tempted to make the drive! Although she found out her cousin is able to attend, I still was going to visit, until the budget decided otherwise. Seven hours of gas is just a bit too much. How sad to have family so close and be unable to go!

Your father was finally approved to be an assistant football for Fairland high school by the school board. So he went to a few practices this week, and traveled on the bus to his first away game. They lost. He did say he enjoyed being back on the side lines, had a good chat with the head coach on the way home. 

Well, that’s the weekly wrap up! We love you. We’re looking forward to your letter, and hope that you’re well, feel loved, and happy.

Love,

Mom and Dad

National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist!

Students recognized in program

September 14, 2013 @ 12:00 AM

The Herald-Dispatch

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Several area high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship program.

The students include Zachary B. Stevens from Huntington High School; Titus R. Willis from Grace Christian School; Ian S. Burcl-Gonzalez, Cart J. Sutton and Brodie T. Wallace from Cabell Midland High School; Hunter H. Schenewark from Fairland High School; and Dennis B. Chertkovsky, Joshua A. Hill, Tyler Jones, Shakthi Raman and Elijah G. Spade from Winfield High School.

There are approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide in what is the 59th year of the scholarship program. These students were selected from about 22,000 high school juniors who entered based on their 2012 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

next step is to become a finalist, which includes such consideration as participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards. About 15,000 seniors are expected to be named finalists in February.

National Merit Scholars winners will be announced in several phases starting in April 2014.

Princess Potato Head