One of the fastest and most exciting, most joyfully challenging, and happy weeks of my life so far!
Prepping for a Hurricane!
The category 5 hurricane was supposed to hit us. But category 6 faith from every family in this nation, rebuked the storm and God's hand moved it away from us, according to our faith and His will and purposes.
We spent a long time helping people anchor down their houses for the storm. And since we Elders have absolutely no access to news or radio, we just checked with Heavenly Father if it was okay for us to go out and work, and He told us to go out and work. So, we faced the winds and enjoyable rain, and because we did, we now have 2 more people who are going to be baptized!
The hurricane was supposed to come and wipe out our whole nation. I received a promise from Heavenly Father, that I would live. I continued my work in bringing my brothers and sisters to the Savior and the reward He has in store for them.
The hurricane only rained and hit us while us missionaries were indoors! It was amazing! We went out into the storm, and it was rebuked by us.
The other night, our neighbors were singing and partying, and then we started praying to end the day, and they all got quiet and stopped without even being able to see or hear that we were praying, and then after we said amen, they started again! Heavenly Father works miracles every minute. Faith and action are the power.
The hurricane killed nearly 50 people in the path it did take. We received no harm.
Pray for those dear families who were affected. I know the Gospel will be given to them--I know that they will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and that the Atonement of Christ will indeed make everything that happened, for eternal good. It makes all things more than right.
Language:
Hindi is coming along SO GREAT! The people here cannot believe how fast I am picking up the language. They are so impressed--and it's a joy, because I get to then direct the credit right to where it belongs: to God! The Gift of Tongues as known anciently, is real today in His living and true church.
My name in Hindi "Elder" and "Howard" Haha! Howard looks like Elda! I was meant to come be an Elda in Hindi! :)
Obedience:
This week, Heavenly Father taught me even more about obedience! I love it!
The main reason any mortal disobeys, is because they believe that conforming to anothers' will, will make it so they aren't their own individual person, with uniqueness and identity. If an idea or command doesn't originate in themselves, they immediately react with putting up a wall. We feel that in yielding, we lose our individuality and freedom and unique expression in life.
But the beautiful thing about obedience to God and Jesus Christ, is that, that is HOW WE GAIN our identity; it magnifies our finding out of who we really are--and in obeying, we choose to become the highest god-like version of ourselves. Obedience to Them IS freedom. It adds color and zest and richness and energy to every fabric of our identity. For when we choose to have our identity in Christ, the closer we come to Him, the more original, beautiful, unique, free, happy, fulfilled, joyful and boundless we are!
Come unto Christ and you won't lose yourself; you'll find your BEST self! That's the way obedience to Them works!
Obedience isn't the price... it's the joy! It's the way to joy!
The most important thing about obedience, is our motives and interests behind our being obedient.
Such leaving the world's muck behind and rising about that deplorable mire and actively deciding that as for us, we will "live the higher law as taught by Jesus Christ," then as Joseph says: you "[shall] be a select, ... separate from all the evils of the world--choice,virtuous, and holy."
This week, Heavenly Father taught me even more about obedience! I love it!
The main reason any mortal disobeys, is because they believe that conforming to anothers' will, will make it so they aren't their own individual person, with uniqueness and identity. If an idea or command doesn't originate in themselves, they immediately react with putting up a wall. We feel that in yielding, we lose our individuality and freedom and unique expression in life.
But the beautiful thing about obedience to God and Jesus Christ, is that, that is HOW WE GAIN our identity; it magnifies our finding out of who we really are--and in obeying, we choose to become the highest god-like version of ourselves. Obedience to Them IS freedom. It adds color and zest and richness and energy to every fabric of our identity. For when we choose to have our identity in Christ, the closer we come to Him, the more original, beautiful, unique, free, happy, fulfilled, joyful and boundless we are!
Come unto Christ and you won't lose yourself; you'll find your BEST self! That's the way obedience to Them works!
Obedience isn't the price... it's the joy! It's the way to joy!
The most important thing about obedience, is our motives and interests behind our being obedient.
Such leaving the world's muck behind and rising about that deplorable mire and actively deciding that as for us, we will "live the higher law as taught by Jesus Christ," then as Joseph says: you "[shall] be a select, ... separate from all the evils of the world--choice,virtuous, and holy."
Investigators and baptisms!!
I have gone on probably 30 different exchanges so far in my mission. One this week was with the District Leader here. While we were on exchanges, we had a lesson with one of our investigators, and miracles beyond our power ensued.
We walked in, and the father of this household, was sitting in the living room where we usually have our lessons and meetings, and he was smoking, drinking Grog/Kava, and then grabbed a beer. But when we came in, slowly, little by little, everything changed as we petitioned Heavenly Father from our hearts. The father got up on his own accord; he walked out and happily joined the mosquitoes outside! We were free to begin teaching!
This investigator is named Bobby. He is one of my best friends. I love him more than I can explain. He is changing from the inside out. He is committed to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, into the waters of Baptism, and be baptized by one holding the Priesthood Authority directly from God Himself, and make a covenant with his Father in heaven. That will be one the 29th of this month. Before then, he has committed to stop smoking, and stop drinking coffee and tea and bear, for ever. For the rest of his life.
Tonight, we met with him, and he started out being more or less energetic and present. But as we went on, we discussed his plan to quit smoking. He told us that at work this week, he was working and all his friends were in a group smoking, and they invited him to join them. They tried to convince him, and he stood up to all of them, with love and light in his eyes, and said, "No. I won't do that. I have decided I want to change my life. I'm leaving that behind. I want to be Baptized, and to change my life." They asked if he is sure. He said, "Yes. This is something I want to do. I'm absolutely sure."
His friends were inspired and surprised.
He is amazing!
We told him we wouldn't move on with the lesson, until we had a written plan with him of how he was going to quit smoking--permanently. He's going to fill his life with positive things--for that's the only way to flood out darkness; by filling out all your being with only light so there's no room for darkness. For light will always be more powerful than darkness. The smallest candle is more powerful than a world of the darkest dye and hue.
As we continued with our lesson with him, slowly,for the first time, all the several TV's were all turned off (usually they're all blasting horrid things). All the people in the house started to be mysteriously drawn away from their various tasks in which they were engaged, and left the house. The seemed suddenly and subtley called away to do errands outside.
We were talking about the Priesthood authority and power that Created this earth and all worlds, and sustains and governs all the creations of the Almighty. We were talking about how in this church, the Lord Himself has committed this same power and authority to man in His kingdom in these last days, and that this power can heal the sick, cause miracles, give added power and strength to those who need it, and give counsel and advice directly from God the Father through the direction and inspiration of His holy Spirit upon a worthy Priesthood holder whenever a child of God requests a blessing.
Bobby requested such a blessing.
Interestingly enough, to our surprise, by the time Bobby asked for this blessing from our hands and for his added ability to lose the desire to smoke and replace it permanently with positive habits and lifestyles--once he asked us to give him this blessing, the house was empty and quiet for the first time.
We closed the front door of the house, and set a chair in the middle of this humble home, and proceeded to give a Priesthood Blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.
This blessing was filled with power. We could feel peace and purity and light and love from our Father in Heavenly, in the very air. There seemed to be a subtle, yet powerful aura of power and energy around us. Beautiful words flowed from heaven, through my companion's mouth. Things directly from Bobby's loving, eternal Father.
The amazing and striking thing was that right as we closed the blessing and ended it, all the members of the household began to be drawn back to the house. They pulled back in and began to walk toward the door. We opened the door right up, and as they opened it at the same time, things picked right back up to the busy and loud way they usually are in that house!
Then we taught a lesson about Faith in Jesus Christ and how it is the motor to every good thing in our lives. Without it, we go in circles and make it nowhere and don't progress. And we taught about Repentance. Repentance is the way to joy. The call to repentance is always uplifting and encouraging. God invites us to just come up and leave our old sad ways and lose all the pain and guilt of the past.
While we were teaching, Elder Hendrickson (District Leader I was on exchanges with,) was thinking in his head, "I wish that Danzel was here.. *one of his investigators*...these are things that would really benefit him to hear." Right when he finished thinking that, Danzel and his brother walked in! They'd never come to this house before This was the first time! They joined the lesson because they had no food at their house, and came here because they were hungry and were invited by Bobby's brother.
The blessing for Bobby worked! Bobby hasn't smoked since, and there is an incredible light about him. He is being prepared by the Almighty, to enter into a new life through the water's of Baptism.
He is Hindi. We have lots of jokes and personal inside jokes in Hindi which we laugh about. We have such a strong relationship.
We told him we wouldn't move on with the lesson, until we had a written plan with him of how he was going to quit smoking--permanently. He's going to fill his life with positive things--for that's the only way to flood out darkness; by filling out all your being with only light so there's no room for darkness. For light will always be more powerful than darkness. The smallest candle is more powerful than a world of the darkest dye and hue.
As we continued with our lesson with him, slowly,for the first time, all the several TV's were all turned off (usually they're all blasting horrid things). All the people in the house started to be mysteriously drawn away from their various tasks in which they were engaged, and left the house. The seemed suddenly and subtley called away to do errands outside.
We were talking about the Priesthood authority and power that Created this earth and all worlds, and sustains and governs all the creations of the Almighty. We were talking about how in this church, the Lord Himself has committed this same power and authority to man in His kingdom in these last days, and that this power can heal the sick, cause miracles, give added power and strength to those who need it, and give counsel and advice directly from God the Father through the direction and inspiration of His holy Spirit upon a worthy Priesthood holder whenever a child of God requests a blessing.
Bobby requested such a blessing.
Interestingly enough, to our surprise, by the time Bobby asked for this blessing from our hands and for his added ability to lose the desire to smoke and replace it permanently with positive habits and lifestyles--once he asked us to give him this blessing, the house was empty and quiet for the first time.
We closed the front door of the house, and set a chair in the middle of this humble home, and proceeded to give a Priesthood Blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.
This blessing was filled with power. We could feel peace and purity and light and love from our Father in Heavenly, in the very air. There seemed to be a subtle, yet powerful aura of power and energy around us. Beautiful words flowed from heaven, through my companion's mouth. Things directly from Bobby's loving, eternal Father.
The amazing and striking thing was that right as we closed the blessing and ended it, all the members of the household began to be drawn back to the house. They pulled back in and began to walk toward the door. We opened the door right up, and as they opened it at the same time, things picked right back up to the busy and loud way they usually are in that house!
Then we taught a lesson about Faith in Jesus Christ and how it is the motor to every good thing in our lives. Without it, we go in circles and make it nowhere and don't progress. And we taught about Repentance. Repentance is the way to joy. The call to repentance is always uplifting and encouraging. God invites us to just come up and leave our old sad ways and lose all the pain and guilt of the past.
While we were teaching, Elder Hendrickson (District Leader I was on exchanges with,) was thinking in his head, "I wish that Danzel was here.. *one of his investigators*...these are things that would really benefit him to hear." Right when he finished thinking that, Danzel and his brother walked in! They'd never come to this house before This was the first time! They joined the lesson because they had no food at their house, and came here because they were hungry and were invited by Bobby's brother.
The blessing for Bobby worked! Bobby hasn't smoked since, and there is an incredible light about him. He is being prepared by the Almighty, to enter into a new life through the water's of Baptism.
He is Hindi. We have lots of jokes and personal inside jokes in Hindi which we laugh about. We have such a strong relationship.
He is coming to church every week.
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Soni and Kirti are some of our other investigators. They have been Hindu all their lives, but now they are Christian and are committed to taking up a new life in Baptism next month on the 19th! They say that in all their years as Hindu, not one prayer was ever answered, and they received no happiness. Even in other Christian preachers, they felt nothing; but with us, they saw blessings in their lives and felt happiness they'd never known. All their prayers are truly astoundingly answered, and they are seeing incredible blessings in every single day since we started coming and teaching them.
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