Saturday, May 26, 2012
Remarkable
Karla left the iPad at the hospital tonight, so It must be my turn to leave a post. It has been a while, as I have had the the night shift along with some of my siblings, since I have taken this opportunity. Many nights I watch Elder Schenk as he is sleeping and have a chance to ponder and think about this journey we have been on for 70 days now. We surely didn't intend on this being so public, as we mentioned before, Lora started this blog at the last minute before Karla and I departed for Brazil, as a way for our family to communicate. It has been a blessing to us and our family though, to have so much support and love in our time of need. I wish everyone in this world of ours that are going through hard times could feel the outpouring of love that we have felt. I have personally felt and been lifted up. When we covenant to mourn with those who mourn, bear one another's burdens, lighten others loads, comfort those who are in need of comfort and be of service to our brothers and sisters we are also blessed. That is the essence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This journey has been so much easier for me because of each one of you and your prayers! Perhaps most of the comfort and peace I have felt has come from the Holy Spirit and from my Savior Jesus Christ. Someone said to me the other day, "with so many praying for Britten, Heavenly Father would have to hear their prayers and bless him." I have thought a lot about that. There are so many of our brothers and sisters around us, in this world, in this hospital, even many of you, who are fighting battles and struggling with trials of their own and don't have a public knowledge of thousands of friends and family praying for them. Our Father in Heaven is no respecter of persons, He has a perfect love for All of His children, whether they have a blog or not. He hears and answers each and every prayer and none carry any more weight because of volume. I'm sure that as we humble ourselves and become meek and submissive to His will, like a little child, our prayers mean more to Him. My prayers have changed. Thank you all for your prayers! Several people have commented that Btitten is a remarkable young man. He is, and yet soon I'm sure he will tell you himself that he is ordinary. What has made Britten "remarkable" is simply, his personal relationship that he has had with his Savior Jesus Christ and his understanding of and application of Jesus Christs atonement in his life from a very early age. That is really the only thing that could really make any of us "remarkable". As long as we make sure that we are on Jesus Christ's team there is no way that we can lose. Please pray for all who struggle! All our appreciation and love, the Schenks
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AMEN!!! I can't say anything better than that! I love you guys and LaNae & I so enjoyed our visit with Britten, You & Karla tonight! We are all So Blessed! Britten is a miracle to be alive, to have come so far in 70 days and will continue with many more miracles as he continues in his therapy. What hope would we have without the knowledge of the Restored Gospel in our Day? http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/
ReplyDeleteI posted the picture we took on Britten's FaceBook profile. ;-)
DeleteWhile it is true that Heavenly Father gives no special credence to people with blogs, there is this part of me that wonders, "On that night 70 days ago when the doctors in Brazil said that there was nothing they could do, would Elder Schenk have made it through the night without the prayers of so many? Would he have been able to be removed from the ventilator so quickly? Would he have come home as soon as he did? Would he have been able to walk? To run? To hit that amazing basketball shot while playing with his brothers? We can never really know that answer. Our Heavenly Father tells us, "My ways are not your ways." There are not too many people out there than came from relative obscurity to having a couple hundred thousand people praying for them every day. In James, we read, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I like to think that Elder Schenk's miraculous progress to date (and I think anyone from within the medical profession would term it "miraculous") is a combination of a reward for Elder Schenk's own diligent faithful service to the people of Brazil and the earnest, faithful pleadings before the Lord on his behalf from all of those who love him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kerry Harding. When my Son was in Sao Paulo CTM he was struggling with staying on his mission. My first thought was, We need to pray and fast for him. I wrote up notes to my dear friends in my ward and asked them to join us in a prayer and fast. I belong to a Missionary Mom site and asked them for their prayers. Just like Elder Schenk they put his name in the temple all over the world. I felt like we were calling on the powers of heaven. He talked to the Mission President's wife at the CTM and he chose to serve for 2 years in Brazil, and was happy, and had brought many people unto Christ. I know it was from the prayers of many that his heart changed. Just like you Britten. We are all pleading and rejoicing to the Lord for your recovery. Now we all see that our prayers are being answered. You and your family are a true inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing your personal feeling's with all of us. I truly feel the Holy Ghost each time I read your blog. Patti SlC.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a beautiful post. Thank you! My prayers will be to all that struggle as well as with Britten.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that was such a beautiful post! The Schenk family is pretty darn amazing :)
I used your family in my gospel doctrine lesson today talking about prayer. This post would have been perfect to read in that lesson, because it really beautifully sums up the power of prayer. I am touched so much by your testimonies and feel blessed to read your blog. Thank you for posting this journey, if anything I read and am encouraged to face my own struggles depending more on the Lord! I too will pray for all who struggle.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steven, for your post! It was written so beautifully, so right on. There is power in prayer and we, as a family, are so appreciative of all of the prayers and fasting in Britten's behalf! Thank you for reminding us that we all need to mourn with those who mourn, help comfort and lift one another, and bear one another's burdens. It is also good to remember that Christ has taken upon himself all of our pain, sorrow, and suffering. He can lift our burdens. Heavenly Father loves all of his children!
ReplyDeleteBritten has shown also how faith and a positive attitude can make all the difference in the healing process! Keep up the amazing work!
Love you so much!
Melanie
What a beautiful post and reminder of the glorious power of prayer. I was reading a passage not too long ago about being willing to submit ourselves to the Lords will and becoming almost childlike when we go through trials... We become what he has asked us to be... submissive, meek, and humble. I have come closer to God, reading of your experience. I can only imagine the powerful testimony you have gained because of your willingness to turn to God for comfort and peace. If only all of us had the fortitude to get through trials with as much grace and hope as your family. We continue to pray for Britten and a speedy recovery! Love, Loren and Carrie Yost
ReplyDeleteThank you for allowing us to follow along this journey. Britten was a friend of my daughters in high school on the swim team. I remember just before he left on his mission he took the time in Walmart to stop and talk to me. Such a great guy! I am so thrilled with his progress. And lifted up by your faith. I hesitated to write and take up your time before, but I'm sure there are many more of "me" following and hoping and praying (including my daughter). Know you are loved by so many more than you can imagine. I'm a widow and I know without a doubt that there are also many more on "the other side" watching over your family. God bless. -Alice Carlisle
ReplyDeleteElder Eyring's father once said about his terrible battle with cancer, that he was called to go through that trial because he believed Heavenly Father is looking for men and women who have great strength and courage. I believe, as he did, that strength and courage only comes from facing trials with complete humility. As we humbly plead for help from Heavenly Father, we are blessed with the strength and courage to accept and face our trials. Your family has been a great example of that principle. I believe that is why this blog has been so important to so many, because in one way or another we all relate to the struggles your family has been going through. It helps us face our own trials as we not only plead for help for ourselves, but unite our faith and prayers in Britten's behalf. I believe the Savior is pleased when we unite our hearts in love and support of each other, and He does honor those pleadings. We love you and will continue to pray for your family. Thank you for your prayers in our behalf too!
ReplyDeleteLove, Aunt Laura
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly miraculous. Thank you for such wonderful posts and comments, Steven, Danny, Aunt Laura, Melanie, and others. My heart is also warmed and the Spirit touches me whenever I read this blog or think about Britten and all of you. I am so grateful for the healing and eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for eternal families and for the Love of God. I am ever grateful for difficult and trying times. It is those times that I am closest to my Heavenly Father. Oh, how He loves each one of us! My soul bursts with joy to think about His love-filled and eternal Plan.
ReplyDeleteOur Devotional talk today at BYU-ID was given by a great man in the music faculty- Jon Linford. He talked about Beauty: how Beautiful things make us happy and where we can find beautiful things. Truth is beauty- the Gospel is beautiful. All around us there are beautiful things. To me, out of all the trial, pain, and disappointments of this life, beauty blossoms. I think Britten knows what I mean. It is truly a beautiful thing to trust in the Lord and wholly depend on Him, growing and changing and becoming like Him. I'm grateful for that. :)