Thursday, July 13, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Monday, July 10, 2017
Letter #98
Dear Family and Friends,
Last Monday, we visited an old monastery, built in 1558, above the towns of Vila Velha and Vitoria. We made the hike up the mountain, and were greeted by magnificent views and a morning mass. After that, it was off to the branch president´s house where we enjoyed a barbecue a la American style, complete with BBQ sauce.
Tuesday, we had a huge birthday spread, and at night there was a surprise party (pictures to follow later) at a member´s house. And Thursday, we had pasta and then 5 liters of ice cream we had to eat. Delicious! Yet, the best part happened on Tuesday when we were able to give a blessing to a very sick lady in the branch, and she came up to us on Sunday looking like a different person and told us that she had been completely cured. I have seen so many times the power of the priesthood! It is real, and it works miracles!
Wednesday we had zone conference with the Mazzagardi´s. It was wonderful to meet them, and I have been impressed so far. They are different than the Young´s yet have been called of God. Sis. Mazzagardi is a real trooper and inspiration. She lost her two daughters after they were born prematurely due to her cancer. And, with that cancer, she lost the ability to speak (being tongue cancer). She went two years with out speaking anything, and has spent the last eight years learning to talk again. They have stressed strict obedience and the fact that we are representatives of Christ.
Thursday, we had our leadership council with them, where we could again learn a lot, and know of their faith and courage. Wednesday night, we went to Guarapari to do a couple of baptismal interviews. I talked with Sarah, but she had a doubt, so we decided to put the Book of Mormon to the test to try and help her. After a prayer, she opened it up to a random page and pointed to the first verse she saw. I saw that she had opened to Alma 44, and honestly my faith wavered. The war chapters aren't the best when talking about baptism. But this time, I was the one who really learned a lesson, when the first sentence she read talked about making a covenant of peace. It answered her question, and yesterday was baptized.
For what has to be a new record, it again poured Sunday morning, making four Sundays straight, making it very hard to bring people to church. This time, we left the house at 7;30, and after having rained all night, I thought it would hold off. Alas, it was not to be, and 15 minutes later, the heavens were opened. And we didn't have any umbrella, which is not a terrible problem for us, but when we got to our lead investigator's house, she too did not have an umbrella, and wasn't willing to venture out without cover. So, we pleaded, ten minutes, and went looking for one. And miraculously, we got one, and everyone made it to church on time.
Love,
Elder Schenewark
Last Monday, we visited an old monastery, built in 1558, above the towns of Vila Velha and Vitoria. We made the hike up the mountain, and were greeted by magnificent views and a morning mass. After that, it was off to the branch president´s house where we enjoyed a barbecue a la American style, complete with BBQ sauce.
Tuesday, we had a huge birthday spread, and at night there was a surprise party (pictures to follow later) at a member´s house. And Thursday, we had pasta and then 5 liters of ice cream we had to eat. Delicious! Yet, the best part happened on Tuesday when we were able to give a blessing to a very sick lady in the branch, and she came up to us on Sunday looking like a different person and told us that she had been completely cured. I have seen so many times the power of the priesthood! It is real, and it works miracles!
Wednesday we had zone conference with the Mazzagardi´s. It was wonderful to meet them, and I have been impressed so far. They are different than the Young´s yet have been called of God. Sis. Mazzagardi is a real trooper and inspiration. She lost her two daughters after they were born prematurely due to her cancer. And, with that cancer, she lost the ability to speak (being tongue cancer). She went two years with out speaking anything, and has spent the last eight years learning to talk again. They have stressed strict obedience and the fact that we are representatives of Christ.
Thursday, we had our leadership council with them, where we could again learn a lot, and know of their faith and courage. Wednesday night, we went to Guarapari to do a couple of baptismal interviews. I talked with Sarah, but she had a doubt, so we decided to put the Book of Mormon to the test to try and help her. After a prayer, she opened it up to a random page and pointed to the first verse she saw. I saw that she had opened to Alma 44, and honestly my faith wavered. The war chapters aren't the best when talking about baptism. But this time, I was the one who really learned a lesson, when the first sentence she read talked about making a covenant of peace. It answered her question, and yesterday was baptized.
For what has to be a new record, it again poured Sunday morning, making four Sundays straight, making it very hard to bring people to church. This time, we left the house at 7;30, and after having rained all night, I thought it would hold off. Alas, it was not to be, and 15 minutes later, the heavens were opened. And we didn't have any umbrella, which is not a terrible problem for us, but when we got to our lead investigator's house, she too did not have an umbrella, and wasn't willing to venture out without cover. So, we pleaded, ten minutes, and went looking for one. And miraculously, we got one, and everyone made it to church on time.
Love,
Elder Schenewark
Sunday, July 9, 2017
With All My Love
Dear Elder Schenewark,
Only two weeks and change! So, so excited! Our house will be full, my heart will be fuller.
We spent our July 4th holiday in Tyler, and stayed longer than we anticipated. The swimming pool and company made it hard to leave. And we even had your fireworks.The pool table is being warmed up for your return.
Your cousin Greg is in Hong Kong having an adventure...I've thoroughly enjoyed his culturally expressive photos!
Your brothers make me laugh every day. Today in church Sawyer was giving Porter wet willies in his ear, Porter was tickling Miller's ribs, and Miller was stealing Breyer's pens. All at the same time! Cooper has been keeping busy with his lawn mowing business, and making long boards. Mason and Uncle Roger arrive this week, and Mason has put in an order for one board. Dad and I have been making the list for their Texas Man-cation. From Dallas to San Marcos to Fort Worth, rattlesnakes to roping to fighter jets and barbecue, Dad's got it all covered. Stay tuned!
Sawyer and Miller are wrapping up their all star baseball season, yesterday and then next week finishes it off. No rings since their first tournament but hopefully next will they'll finish strong. Playing, watching and baking in 100 degrees isn't pleasant, just Texas.
The boys have their first golf tournament this week. They're so excited to play with you. They haven't been on the course since December. We're going early in the morning to drive, just for fun. And other golf related news around the home? The boys bought an X-Box for $20 at a garage sale. Their biggest find was the golf game. Just for you.
Tanner is having success at work. Ranking ahead of all the new hires, and surpassing their weekly and monthly goals. He heads to Orlando in the morning for a floor show, and will earn $7 for each person he can get to sign up for a free trial of his accounting product. AnneMarie's belly has finally popped enough to make her look like she's expecting. And, within the week of your and her birthdays, your niece made her presence known with a resounding kick.
We, your parents, are trying to become more literate in the fast moving world of technology. We don't have cell phones, but now Instagram accounts so keep up with our children. And spent the last thirty minutes laughing at Cooper's humor evident in the posts under his pictures.
In a picture of his sunburn from scout camp, "Good news, the sun burn doesn't hurt anymore. Bad news, Michael Jackson has been reincarnated."
"So my parents don't know this, but every now and then I sneak outside for a quick smoke. I've smoked chicken. I've smoked brisket. However, today I thought I'd try something different...shish
kabobs."
"A new CIA torture method has been leaked. It's known as sunburned feet and I got to beta test it for them. Thank goodness for a hammock and little sisters to ease the pain."
"If anyone (local) needs a good-lookin, fun-loving guy on a good-lookin, seriously-overpowered mower to cut their grass, give me a ring."
"This is how many glasses of water it takes for three guys to cool down after the BLAZIN heat of the GHOST PEPPER hot wings at BDUBS. Faces were red, tears were shed, we feel like we should be in hospital beds."
"Pulled pork on the left. Brisket on the right. Me in the middle deciding which to eat first."
We were studying Section 24 this week in Sunday School, and I have been pondering on the Law of Miracles, vs. 13-14. This section was given when the Church was newly organized yet persecution "had become intense."
"Require not miracles,
except I shall command you,
except casting out devils,
healing the sick,
and against poisonous serpents,
and against deadly poisons;
And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it."
I find it interesting that even though there might be intense persecution, we're not to require miracles.
We fed the missionaries last night, and they shared with us how the missionary leaders in the mission office spoke of daily miracles that occur in the Fort Worth mission. I know from my parents' experiences they too experienced daily miracles with their missionaries. I know of the miracles you and Tanner have shared with us. And I know that your miracles are from your work. Physical, mental, emotional, through faith. And we're so proud. Keep up the good work.
Love,
Mom
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Friday, July 7, 2017
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Letter #97
Dear Family and Friends,
This week saw the end of Pres. Young´s tenure as mission president. And the arrival of Pres. Mazzagardi. Pres. Mazzagardi pulled a surprise and arrived a day early on Friday. I´ll be forever grateful for the Young´s service and the sacrifices they made to be here. I've learned a lot and have been eternally blessed. I am sure that the Mazzagardi´s will be fantastic and I am excited to meet them personally on Wednesday.
I also finished the Book of Mormon again this week. It is another blessing in my life. Every time I read it, my testimony grows. I know it teaches the precepts of our Heavenly Father. Following its teachings, we will not be led astray. I've been studying about repentance, and one part that struck me was in Ether 15. Coriantumr, the wicked king, had been warned by the prophet Ether to repent, and after fighting wars and seeing countless deaths, he remembered what Ether said. It says, "He began to repent of the evil which he had done; he began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophets, and he saw that they were fulfilled thus far, every whit; and his soul mourned and refused to be comforted."
We know what then happened. The entire nation was destroyed. Why? Because Coriantumr began to repent. He never finished the process, and never truly changed, only mourned. This was the moment where the history of that people was changed, and thousands would go on to die. We face pivotal moments too, where we can choose to repent or not. The scriptures teach us we only have two choices. Repent, or suffer. Repentance is not suffering, but not repenting is. To reach our destiny, we must walk the path of repentance, every day.
Love,
Elder Schenewark
This week saw the end of Pres. Young´s tenure as mission president. And the arrival of Pres. Mazzagardi. Pres. Mazzagardi pulled a surprise and arrived a day early on Friday. I´ll be forever grateful for the Young´s service and the sacrifices they made to be here. I've learned a lot and have been eternally blessed. I am sure that the Mazzagardi´s will be fantastic and I am excited to meet them personally on Wednesday.
I also finished the Book of Mormon again this week. It is another blessing in my life. Every time I read it, my testimony grows. I know it teaches the precepts of our Heavenly Father. Following its teachings, we will not be led astray. I've been studying about repentance, and one part that struck me was in Ether 15. Coriantumr, the wicked king, had been warned by the prophet Ether to repent, and after fighting wars and seeing countless deaths, he remembered what Ether said. It says, "He began to repent of the evil which he had done; he began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophets, and he saw that they were fulfilled thus far, every whit; and his soul mourned and refused to be comforted."
We know what then happened. The entire nation was destroyed. Why? Because Coriantumr began to repent. He never finished the process, and never truly changed, only mourned. This was the moment where the history of that people was changed, and thousands would go on to die. We face pivotal moments too, where we can choose to repent or not. The scriptures teach us we only have two choices. Repent, or suffer. Repentance is not suffering, but not repenting is. To reach our destiny, we must walk the path of repentance, every day.
Love,
Elder Schenewark
Monday, July 3, 2017
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