Boys in the Good

Friday, July 18, 2014

End of an Era ;-)

"Fairland 7/8's lost a tough one tonight to Ironton (district champions), in the Ironton Tournament. As a team, we were able to play 15 games since June 14 compiling a 10-5 record and earning 2nd place in the Lucasville Tournament (6 teams), 4th place in the Ohio District 11 Tournament (17 teams), and 3rd place in the Ironton Tournament (10 teams). After 760 round trip miles, I send a huge thank you to every single player and parent who either played for me, helped out coaching, and/or supported us this past 5 weeks! We accomplished a great deal and I hope that everyone had fun and learned a little baseball!"

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Everybody Loves a Wedding...Especially a Princess!!!

Porter's cross country coach and teacher was the groom...a dear friend.

Congratulations!

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Eye See You!

Monday, July 14, 2014

Letter #103

Dearest family,

I pondered writing only a couple of impactful words and sending that as my letter but since it's going to take four days to get home I think I'll write a little more. But just a little. I don't want to try and put my mission into words right now, maybe later. For now, just the facts.

This week we had two more conferences in Londrina and Marília. Maríila was certainly one of the largest conferences in the history in the mission. Both were attended by a wonderful spirit and enthusiasm, perhaps demonstrated by the fact that this week we baptized 43 individuals in the mission, which was above average for a conference week and the week before transfers. The rest of the week we spent getting ready for transfers and working normally in our area.

We were well fed this week, everyone trying to show love through food before I left. Nice to be loved. Saturday we had a bbq at a recent convert's home, and he invited his nonmember family as well. They attended church on Sunday which was fantastic and they will continue to be taught. We also dedicated his house together as the after lunch message. I suffered this weekend from a rabid allergy attack due to the construction near our house and lots of dirt in the air. And I'm making it through that still.

The Bishop also gave us a special Saturday night dinner and Sunday we had TWO dinners! I'm very, very full. Sunday the bishop invited me bear my testimony as the first speaker (again) and it was cheerful. Everyone was crying. . . I said goodbye to all my investigators and converts and friends, although some we'll have a Family Home Evening with tonight. Sunday lunch was a cultural buffet of splendor, which here translates into fish. All fish! We ate a fish whole called piapava. When I get home I'll show pictures.

That about sums it up. its beautiful here now, like spring and windy. Birds are singing. I'm excited, nervous, don't know how it will be to get home, but I'm ready to go.

I love you, for the last time from a letter, until Thursday,

Tanner

Sunday, July 13, 2014

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