Words for the Wingmen

Dear Hunter and Family,

It’s been two weeks since I wrote last, for which I am sorry. It can be hard to write while traveling. Wi-Fi can be weird, you may not have a plug adapter for your computer, you may eat some bad hog roast from time to time! You shall hear no excuses from me, though.

We’re in Lake Como, Italy. Tremezzo, to be exact, if you’d like to look us up on the map. Work is tight these days while travel is—gratefully—plentiful.

 I worked half of Monday, and then Tuesday through Thursday the week of October 3rd. My boss wasn’t going to be in the office on Monday—in fact no one was really in the office that day—so I set about during the morning and early afternoon to finish work on my speech that I’d started the week prior and then around three in the afternoon,

AnneMarie the Fair met me at the Parliament and we spent all evening wandering Holyrood park directly behind the Parliament building. In the middle of the park is Edinburgh’s iconic peak, Arthur’s seat. It rises sharply among the heather of the park, giving a full three hundred and sixty-degree view of Edinburgh and the adjacent land. You can nearly glimpse St. Andrews. Together with the other crisscrossing paths across the park, the wild aspect of Holyrood makes for a sharp contrast between the well-manicured lawns and gardens of London’s parks we saw a week later.

Tuesday I spent all day on my speech. It critiqued the BBC’s new charter with the British government, claiming that it didn’t go far enough for the Scottish people (it doesn’t). One fact that quite amazed me was that for every dollar that the Scottish people pay the BBC through its fees, they receive back 55 cents, and that’s a generous estimate once you dig into the ways English companies use loopholes to classify something as Scottish or not.

As with Brexit, however, any power Scotland believes to have received in its entirety from England in the past 15 years or so becomes entirely relative when it comes up against an opposing English opinion. It will be interesting to see where this trend of abuse goes as Brexit continues to unfold. My three newspaper columns that week covered that topic, i.e. Brexit’s abuse of Scotland’s ruling power. While just over 50 percent of Britain voted to leave the EU, Scotland voted unanimously to remain, making the impending exit more sore.

Unfortunately, my nine-page speech was hashed at the last second by the powers that are, leaving me very disappointed. I had tickets to the chamber to see the speech delivered, but ended up enjoying the debate there anyway. Lot of shouting and witty comebacks that Thursday. Then we were off to London. We caught an afternoon flight to London, a bus to King’s Cross Station and we were there in the thick of it. After an obligatory picture at Platform 9 ¾, we ate—of all things—burgers for dinner at a local joint we ran across on our way to the Marriot.

 We also spent several minutes gazing at the skyline from a hilltop vantage point in Regent’s park near our hotel. Saturday was a whirlwind sightseeing day: we crossed Abbey road Beatle’s style, spent all rainy morning in the British museum (wow), strolled down Portobello road (sketchy), visited the banking district, saw Big Ben, the London eye, Westminster palace, Trafalgar square, St. Martin in the Fields, and ate the best gelato we’ve ever tasted (Amorino).

We took the tube between all our stops. The British museum was a personal favorite, boasting an absolutely immense collection. I loved the large Egyptian and Babylonian statues and also the cuneiform library composed of some very heavy stone books.

 As with all the places we visit, my wife and I practice an “I’ll be back attitude” that allows us to see a lot, but not try to squish everything in at once. Sometime we like to relax in the park, watch the swans, take in a local soccer game, whatever. That’s the best part of traveling for us. First on Sunday was Sacrament meeting in the Hyde park chapel, which resembles the Manhattan temple and doubles as a visitor’s center. There were wonderful talks given. Sometimes the spirit seems extra sweet for having made the extra effort to be at church while traveling.

Then we perused the Victoria and Albert museum next door (all the treasures England’s collected from the world part II) and, nearby as well, Royal Albert Hall, Prince Albert memorial—there’s a theme here—and Kensington park. Then Hyde park, Buckingham palace, St. James’ park, and—my favorite part of the day—an organ concert at Westminster Abbey by the organ master himself. He played three pieces by Bach, two fantasias and one trio sonata, three exquisite auditory experiences. More gelato. Bed.

Because Monday we were off again, this time to Venice. As it was also our first anniversary, we got a classy British Air flight, complete with bubbly drinks and snacks and classical music playing as we boarded. Venice proved a bit chilly the first day we were there, but we made the best of it, getting lost in the ins and outs of the city’s back-alley bridges.

 We visited Marco Polo’s house, took a boat ride down the Grand Canal, and toured several churches, my favorite being the Palladian designed San Giorgio (our fave, Hunter). We got a good look at the whole lagoon from its bell tower and inside was an impressive Tintoretto. (I’m pretty sure every church in Venice has a Tintoretto, actually.) 

The largest church we toured was St. Mark’s Basilica in St. Mark’s square.  It had jaw-dropping mosaics on the entire ceiling and surrounding walls, many of them gold. Later that day we visited the factory where they make those tiles near the old Jewish ghetto. It’s incredible how many shades of the colored glass they could make. Beyond that it’s a haze of pasta and gelato—umm, more gelato,

Thursday we took a train from Venice to Como. I should pause a moment, however, and add that part of the cultural experience in Venice was staying in the peculiar apartment owned by a Chinese man. He didn’t speak any English, communicating instead with broken Italian phrases and plenty of gestures. These are the things you don’t forget!

We’re still here in Como, though we leave this afternoon for Bergamo, tomorrow for Lisbon. We’ve loved every minute here on the large lake. As I type this, the window is open and birds can be heard singing all over the valley. I can see the town of Bellagio out my window over the lake; mountains rise in front and behind me. Arriving and during our first day it was cold and rainy, but we used the time to relax and feast on more excellent Italian food, of the mountain variety: homemade whole wheat pasta, lots of cheese, potatoes, spinach…gelato. We also toured the expansive villa next door to where we are staying: Villa Carlota. The highlight there were beautiful botanical gardens.

We toured Bellagio the next day, which is on a large peninsula that divides what could be described as the two legs of the lake. Its name is well-known to visitors of Vegas, I’m sure. The highlight was standing at the very end of that peninsula, or perhaps it was riding the boat to and from there. Of course we got more gelato.

Yesterday, we had no way to get to church because the closest chapel was over an hour away and public transportation made it impossible to arrive anywhere close to on time. So, as all good prophets seem to do, we went to the mountains, hiking all day in Alpine splendor, seeking peak after peak, Italy on one side of us, Switzerland on the other. More birdsong in harmony with country cow’s bells jangling in the meadows and the faint sound of boats on the lake below.

I'm sure I've left something out, there's almost no way not to I'm afraid. But we're running out the door to catch a bus. You, as a missionary in Brasil, must know how that goes. I'm pumped to wield my Portuguese skills in Lisbon in a day's time. Let you know how it goes.

Love to all,

Tanner and AnneMarie

P.S. Mom Mom, the Italians have the most incredible vegetable gardens I've ever witnessed. They're all like yours!!!

Letter #61

Dear Family and Friends,

This week I welcomed back the ´´you don´t stop sweating´´ weather. It doesn´t matter if you are walking, running, sitting, or looking at a fan- you´re dripping. I´ve upped my water intake; it´s got to be running at about 2 gallons per day, so I´m feeling good. Elder Cordeiro´s dad works offshore in the gas industry, so he sent some high quality water resistant powerful sunscreen. And a lot of it. I still have a lot of mine, but for now we´re both using this. We might look like ghosts, but you don´t mess with the sun.

And now to explain something I call the `´barata phenomenon.´´ Barata means cockroach. I remember, I think my second week here in Brasil, sitting on the floor eating lunch with a family. And a bunch of cockroaches went scurrying by, startling me, to the point of spilling my drink on the floor. It was hard to eat thinking about these armored pests.And now, I feed them by hand.

Okay, overstatement. Yet, I have become accustomed to their presence. Only the ones the size of tanks make me weary. That too will pass. As the new becomes the norm, our reactions change. The cockroach didn´t change and become cuter, I changed. I think it´s an important lesson about sin. Sin stays the same, but as we stay around it, we change. We hate it, then accept it, and then love it. The challenge, is to always hate it. Not to yield. I´ve heard that you are the average of the five people closest to you. That might be a simplification, but contains a lot of truth. We have to constantly surround ourselves with people who can help us improve, and not decline.

Yesterday, at about 8 pm as we were working in the center of town, the lights went out on Broadway here. It was very strange seeing the city go from living to almost dead. The only thing moving were cars. The city had become a ghost town. And I thought how important it is that we are getting light from the right source. Maybe it seems like our work, or sports, or money is providing light. Nevertheless, the power will be cut. This light doesn't last. The honeymoon doesn't last forever. As Christ taught, He is the light and the life. As we build our foundation upon him, we will never be in darkness. We will be tried and tested but the King of kings will forever be our lighthouse steering us clear of the deadly shoals, until we make it to the safe harbor of Everlasting Life.

This week I talked about diligence in both sacrament meeting and our weekly district meeting. I really like this scripture from Moroni 9:6

´´And now my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.´´

We all have a labor to perform. A work waiting for us. I am thankful for these opportunity to be a missionary, and work in the field of salvation. As any farmer worth his weight in beans knows, you have to be diligent in planting, cultivating, and in harvesting if you want a good payoff. And, of course, to trust in the Grand Master above, and in his timing with rain and everything else. And we´re trying to do that here, and I hope that you too are being diligent in your life´s work.

Love,

Elder Schenewark

With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark, Porter and friends,

The weather this week caused concern all over. There was unusual tornadic activity and strong winds that toppled trees in the dark on the northwest coast, massive disaster after hurricane Matthew tore through Haiti also caused wide spread flooding in the Carolinas, typhoon Sariki dumped twenty inches of rain in the Philippines. I haven't heard anything so exciting in Brazil, for which I'm grateful. The world is in upheaval in more ways than one.

Shootings and shootings of police officers continue unabated, violent crime is on the rise, and the presidential election is a disaster. Every day I watch mostly women and children walk up the sidewalk to the seventh largest prison in the United States, visiting their family member, husband, son, brother, in jail.  As turmoil increases in my life, even just from being aware of what's happening all around me, knowing we have the gospel in our lives, and a knowledge of our Savior and His plan of salvation, brings that perfect peace that so many in the world are lacking. Thank you for your service. Knowing you're serving, in a force of good nearly seventy-five thousand strong, brings light back into my life, and makes me wonder anew what more should I be doing.

We've finished another round of antibiotics for strep, and hopefully will determine whether or not Miller is a carrier by having him tested. Tomorrow. He and Dad are so thrilled with that assignment. I'm grateful for modern day medicine!

Your Texas aunt came and spent Friday evening and Saturday morning with us. What a delight! She was on a long, round-about way to visit your cousin, thriving in his university life in Dallas. We appreciate her efforts. Sawyer got a fishing partner, I had a walking buddy, and Breyer a new soccer fan.

Breyer still loves school. Not so much the bus rides. She says it's too hot, and she's too hungry. Last night she came into the bedroom, having a bad dream because her braid had come undone. 

Sawyer still fishes. And he still is the only one who catches. Your father cracks me up. It's the location. It's the lure. It's the rod. It's  Sawyer. He's just a bit above average.

Miller has been saving his pennies for a while, and was finally able to order a very basic drone. He has looked forward to the day when I used my card, on his behalf, and will be watching the mail all week. Cooper too saved and ordered, and crashed and burned after a week or two, in a tree across the street.

Cooper, Sawyer and Dad went to the Bell Helicoptor Fort Worth Alliance Airshow. They learned the difference between wing walker (walks up to the wing) and wing glider (already secured on the wing). There were obvious differences between the airshow and those put on by the military, but one constant remained the same. The sun. They were lobsters when they got home last night. And so tired. I'm sure pictures will be coming soon, but know it was one of those kind of male bonding, couldn't be better, kind of days.

Cooper decided at the last minute the stake costume dance might be fun to attend, and stayed up late Friday night making his costume: a unique Iron Man, in a suit, with his chest lit up underneath his shirt. I hope we have pictures. He went straight from the air show, so his Iron Man version was sunburned. 

Porter sent you a little note last week. I don't know if you saw it, as it was added after I hit the enter button, so I sent it again. He loves you dearly. He's thriving on campus. He loves his roommate, and calls him his other brother. Two times so far this semester I've received calls from an unknown person, letting me know they've found his wallet. This week it was his dance instructor. He needs to pick up the take-a-picture-of-Porter-for-his-mother habit, soon. I miss seeing his face. His famous sightings this week include Gladys Knight, who was in town over the weekend.His cheek is still burning from her kiss. And, she netted him the weekly Stud, vs. Dud, award. He's won Stud the last three out of four weeks. This week's Dud went to a boy who asked four girls to homecoming, and they all said no. He threw out a Dud moment, and got second place for getting hit on his bicycle by a car. He's fine. As is the bike.

We enjoyed his phone call tonight. He always makes your Dad laugh. Just like you and Tanner. He showed us all the free things he's collected while at school, and modeled the college athlete look. He's been on ESPN three times. He even had a classmate from Granbury text to ask him if he had actually seen Porter.

Found a nice picture of your grandparents on Facebook...don't they look wonderful?

Your grandparents are great examples of Elder Robert D. Hales conference talk, "Come, Follow Me” by Practicing Christian Love and Service. He said, "As the Savior’s latter-day disciples, we come unto Him by loving and serving God’s children. Our Christian love and service naturally begin in the home. if we have not fully done so yet, let us turn more toward forgiveness, kindness, and love. Let us renounce the war that so often rages in the heart of the natural man and proclaim Christ’s caring, love, and peace. We follow Him by loving and serving one another and keeping His commandments."

Of which you are doing. And we're striving to do more here.

May you have a wonderful week! I hope your box arrives! Be good. Stay safe.

Love,

Mom

Bad Bass Boy

"It's all about the location...find that sweet spot and work it!"

College Correspondent

Hey Hunter and family,

Like Mom said, it has been pretty uneventful this past week. I did participate in BYU Dance Sport, and made it to the SemiFinals (sorry Mom, I beat everyone in my class).

As for your questions, I'm taking American Heritage, Mission Prep, Book of Mormon, Bio 100, Art History and International Ballroom Dance.

As for the question about me going on dates, I'm surprised you even felt it necessary to ask. Of course I am, welcome to BYU. Provo is the date capitol of the world and it's showing. I went on five dates this last week (I dedicated one of them to you) and still kept the wallet fat.

Ultimate Frisbee is still rolling, we're 4-0, I had another 5 touchdown, 5 assist game. The other team had some players on BYU's team who asked me if I'd be interested in joining the school's team. I told them I'd have to think about it.

I've been reading a lot of Jean-Jaques Rousseau, and I really liked his writing, "Man is free yet everywhere he is in chains." Go break some of those chains down in Brazil.

Muito amor,

P-Schen

Meeting in the Middle

Daily Doodles

The Neighborly Wedding

The Dad, and Dad working out the details

Breyer's "best friend," Chloe

Chloe and Porter

Letter #60

Dear Family and Friends,

First the transfer news: I´m staying! Not much of a surprise since I´ll continue training Elder Cordeiro. Everyone in the district stayed here, so we´ll continue our work together.

This week has been a good one. We received a referral from a member and have been teaching a woman named Marta, who is simply looking for more in life. She went to church yesterday and loved it. And, we've continued working with Manoel, who went to church again, but continues to have problems with smoking. But, now his mom is helping a lot. She went to church as well and loved it. In her words, a couple of doubts and questions she´s had for years were answered. She loved how we talk about the family.

And yesterday, Igor, after being confirmed, bore a powerful testimony in the fast and testimony meeting. it was very special. This past week, I read Mosiah 5:2, and when Igor was speaking I remembered it.

´´And they all cried with one voice, saying; Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.´´

I've really seen a change in Igor, through the spirit. And I've seen it in my life as well. When we have the Spirit, it changes our hearts. Who we are. It´s interesting that in this same address, King Benjamim teaches that it is through listening to the spirit that we conquer the natural man. Just because we can´t physically see the Spirit doesn't mean it isn't powerful. It really is through the Spirit, that we are sanctified, change, and work toward perfection.

Love,

Elder Schenewark

With All My Love

Dear Elder Schenewark, boys, and friends,

In your honor, we'll begin calling our egg-in-the-hole breakfast hole-in-ones. Just sayin'!

Ryder Cup news? The United States won for the first time since 2008 at Valhalla, and featured the most lopsided American victory since a 9-point win in 1981 at Walton Heath. As in 2008, the U.S. never trailed during the tournament. Ryan Moore defeated Lee Westwood by 1 hole to reclaim the Cup with three matches still in progress.

Breyer went down with strep Thursday morning. So glad I wasn't working. Then Miller woke up Friday morning. Sick again with strep. So sick. He had a 104 something fever by the time we got to the doctor's office. He had just finished his medicine a week ago today. Now he'll be tested after he finishes the medicine to make sure he's not a carrier. He fell asleep tonight crying, not wanting to have his tonsils taken out. He's scared to death.

Miller didn't get to play soccer due to strep, his second weekend, but I never got this posted from last week. He was trying to convince Breyer that eating a peanut butter cracker would help her nausea go away. "Breyer, just chew and chew and chew. Then it's like pudding, and you can swallow...I hate pudding." Kids do say the funniest things!

I was cooking chicken soup, for your sick siblings, and Breyer was watching me sprinkle spices over the pot. "Mom, you're acting like a witch. With her pot. And the gross stuff that bubbles." Sometimes when she goes to bed she's grumpy, and everything bothers her. Sometimes it's the boys' choice of music. Sometimes the room is too light because of the moon. Tonight she was hot. So Dad brought her a pack of frozen bacon. For her back. Too funny.

Sawyer was challenged in band...he fights every week to keep his third chair. Most challengers are 8th grade girls trying to get past the skinny 7th grade boy. He spent a good portion of today watching videos on different ways to tie ties. Sometimes he reminds me so much of Tanner.

Cooper had a jv tennis match...he won both games. His season is beginning to wind down. He helped a lady move, and brought home a lawn mower tractor with a trailer. It has a few things to fix, but he's on it. This would be amazing! Mowing the back third is tiring!

Porter didn't feel like he had much to write about. I missed hearing from him. He did mention that he didn't make the class championship in the last two dance reviews. He  knows he needs to answer your questions though!

Uncle Aaron and Anna drove two hours north to see Stevie play volleyball. How sweet is that? Anna's playing volleyball as well at Algonquin. Go Tomahawks! Love our family.

\
 Kayla is doing so well on her mission. This was my favorite thought of hers this week: "I finally understand now when people told me before my mission that missions are hard. I always thought they meant the rules and getting up early and working 14 hours a day with people constantly slamming doors in your face. That's not what makes a mission hard. It's the heartache you feel for these people and the hardships they go through and the heartbreak of someone you have grown to love when they decide they don't want to hear your message anymore. That's why a mission is hard, because you love the people unconditionally. I finally understand Christ's sacrifice and the scripture found in 2 Nephi 33:3 "For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry." "

Just so you remember the Lunenburg gang a little more clearly:

And those Hutchins.

Speaking of politics. They've decided to make a run of it.

It was nice to find THIS on Facebook:

And this: Can's believe she's a senior!

I found this quote in this month's visiting teaching message, by Elder L. Tom Perry: "We believe that strong traditional families are not only the basic units of a stable society, a stable economy, and a stable culture of values - but that they are also the basic units of eternity and of the kingdom and government of God. We believe that the organization and government of heaven will be built around families and extended families."For some reason this quote, and having your brother there, made me think of Scotland and their clans. They had the right idea about building their society around families. I'm thankful for our clan.

Lots of love.

Here's to your package arriving this week!

Mom