Hey!
Thanks for everything. How are you?
Was it a good week? A lot of miracles? A lot of struggles? That was my week.
How crazy how fast time is going, eh?
Amazing week! Here's the miraculous things that are happening in the land of miracles; Fiji:
In our District, we have a saying... a motto, or our "thing". It came from my first Training. Heavenly Father really tells what those District Trainings are supposed to be about. This formula came directly from Heavenly Father as I conversed with Him about what specifically He wants of His District here in Suva. I'll explain it; under the direction of Jesus Christ I gave a training on 2 words:
Comp...
and
Comp...
In the district, and zone, and mission, everything depends on the companionship. The basic unit of the mission. You have been given your companion as someone God wants to be your very best friend. You have the potential to make or break it. It is all up to the unity in a companionship. It starts with Comp's.
What comes next is what makes all the difference in everything. There are two words, with only a one letter difference. And that one letter changes everything. The two words are
Compete
and
Complete
In our missions, coworker relations, marriage, family, all relationships in life, it is up to us whether we will keep the "L" in it. If learned and lived, this will change our lives and relationships for the rest of our lives. This is an inspired thing to remember in all relations.
The L, is 2 words that transform and determine our companionship and unity at every level. These two words or their absence have all the power:
Love
and
Long-suffering
(then we all read the definition of the word Long-suffering)
Compete with each other,
or
Complete each other.
Both take as equal work, but both don't bring froth the same results.
And so we all are so excited to "Keep the 'L' in it!"
When we do anything, like present our goals in Zone Training Meeting with 30 other missionaries and leaders, after presenting it, I call out "Keep the L in it!" and then our whole district raises one hand in the shape of an L and does a cool whistle tune we came up with, stand for a second and then sit down as a District.
We have probably seen more miracles this week than any other week of our missions yet. This week has been one of the weeks to remember forever, and which will very literally change forever...
_________________________________________________________________________________
I have a Question: do you know of any good group games? Ones that don't require anything... maybe just something simple like paper and pen or coins? I reallllly beg you--if you have aaany good ones, I will use them in a lesson here in Fiji with the natives, and in playing the game, I will give your name credit in front of them :) i want to spice up the way we do things. I want to use more interactive games of any good kind you can offer. Just any game ideas you have, pleeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me :)
What are your favorite games like that? Just let me know.
[bhoward@myldsmail.net]
This week, Shaun and Rachel were baptized!! They have taken an amazing step of faith, and they are so exemplary to all of us! They have transformed their lives. I wish so desperately that you could meet them. They are going to be such a big impact on the world. They are preparing to go to the Temple when it opens, and open the way for their loved one's who have passed on, to receive the fullness of the blessings of the eternal, beautiful and Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have found that if I couple my agency with God's power, I can do and overcome anything.
To me, struggle is joy.
All we have to do is keep moving deliberately forward and upward and outward. That is all our mission is in life. Those 3 directions go toward Christ. Their opposites go toward every sad and bad and discouraged thing.
I have suffered more on the mission than I have in my life ever before, but in different ways. All of these pains, which I perhaps cannot even explain in words, have grown out to be my greatest joys and blessings and assets. The mission is where you belong. Either a full time mission, or the other kind of a full time mission which God has called you to in your current stage. We should always live as if we were on a full time mission. Live consecrated to the Lord, and this level of growth and miracles will be an inseparable component. Choose this path in every way you can, now.
We can define who we become in 20 years by what we become in the 2 years of our mission. These 2 years that are currently in YOUR hands, determine the next 20 :) Hand them over to the Lord, all the way. That requires everything, not some things. He can make us adequate to give it. I have learned that if I am not graceful at rising to what is expected or possible of me, and if I gracelessly handle some things, it's okay; Heavenly Father's grace is enough. I just have to keep myself connected to Him and do anything and everything He directs of me. This is a daily and a weekly thing that is transforming every eternal thing: See things He sees I can change and improve that I don't want to see... be willing to do things I don't hardly believe are possible. For it is in the realm of the impossible that our destinies are met and attained unto fully. If you are living in a different realm, I invite you back to the zone of Children of God, that of the impossible.
Now for the miracles:
We have 3 investigators who were personally visited by Jesus Christ or directed by Him in their dreams after first being taught by us and were told by Him that this path and message is true and is His. It is powerful to listen to them describe it. It is 3 households that have absolutely no connection to each other and are one different sides of Suva, and yet their visitations and dreams are all like this. The Lord really is at the head, and everywhere in this, His true and restored church--His glorious work. I know this is true. I know it is meant for you. I know that the Lord lives, truly as surely as if I walked personally with Him daily. I testify of Him boldly, and live for nothing else.
One of the dearest families I have ever had the privilege of serving--the Bibi family--has had more miracles than I can believe. This week, they have inspired me and surprised me every day. Asmin and her son and daughter, Junior and Nafisha. They live in a wonderful little humble home, and have faced immense trials and struggles in their life. But, one day, Heavenly Father just put us in the right time at the right place and we met them and our lives and their lives have been forever changed because of it. They used to be Muslim's. But, since the first day they heard the message of the Restoration, from the living Savior Jesus Christ through His authorized representatives, they have dropped EVERYTHING to follow Jesus Christ. They have made bigger and more dramatic changes than I've ever personally seen anyone do. Heavenly Father spoke to their hearts on the first day He put us in their life, and they knew it was true. They have given up all ties to their old lives. Their example has helped me personally rise to a level above who I was before.
We went over to their house to do service for this family that has become like our own family, and just cleaned up their compound all day. Dear sister Bibi has a hard time walking, and has never been able to clean up parts of her compound. Heavenly Father knew her heart and needs and we were blessed to be there and enjoy serving at their home. After we cleaned up and planted and worked half the day, we later came back... she told us that after we did that service with them, she wept in uncontrollable tears of joy and gratitude to the Lord as she thanked and thanked Him. They hadn't known that their compound was so big and beautiful. We went home with warmth and joy in our hearts, at a level out of this world. There's no feeling more fullfilling and satisfying than to know, Heavenly Father worked through you to meet a need you didn't know about, for the heart of one you love with all your heart.
Junior had been holding back for weeks, and then, to our surprise, the whole family came out and told us that everything has changed and they know it is true. The are all committed to be Baptized as a family on Oct 31. Every impossible and impassible roadblock that was in their way from powers in and out of this world, have been miraculously removed. We are speechless and now all of us are also doubtless. Jesus Christ has a way over all our barriers, all we have to do is only follow Him, and that fully, now.
This is a dog that this family has named after me. It's name is "Coco Howard"
Haha(:
More to say, but more next week.
Look forward to hearing from you. Let me know what I can do for you.
Love,
Elder Howard
Suva Fiji Hindi
This is a scripture case a friend of mine made for me. It's me on my unicycle with a helmet and twirling fire torch.
Thanks for everything. How are you?
Was it a good week? A lot of miracles? A lot of struggles? That was my week.
How crazy how fast time is going, eh?
Amazing week! Here's the miraculous things that are happening in the land of miracles; Fiji:
District back in Lautoka (some members of it)
District here in Suva (all members of it)
In our District, we have a saying... a motto, or our "thing". It came from my first Training. Heavenly Father really tells what those District Trainings are supposed to be about. This formula came directly from Heavenly Father as I conversed with Him about what specifically He wants of His District here in Suva. I'll explain it; under the direction of Jesus Christ I gave a training on 2 words:
Comp...
and
Comp...
In the district, and zone, and mission, everything depends on the companionship. The basic unit of the mission. You have been given your companion as someone God wants to be your very best friend. You have the potential to make or break it. It is all up to the unity in a companionship. It starts with Comp's.
What comes next is what makes all the difference in everything. There are two words, with only a one letter difference. And that one letter changes everything. The two words are
Compete
and
Complete
In our missions, coworker relations, marriage, family, all relationships in life, it is up to us whether we will keep the "L" in it. If learned and lived, this will change our lives and relationships for the rest of our lives. This is an inspired thing to remember in all relations.
The L, is 2 words that transform and determine our companionship and unity at every level. These two words or their absence have all the power:
Love
and
Long-suffering
(then we all read the definition of the word Long-suffering)
Compete with each other,
or
Complete each other.
Both take as equal work, but both don't bring froth the same results.
And so we all are so excited to "Keep the 'L' in it!"
When we do anything, like present our goals in Zone Training Meeting with 30 other missionaries and leaders, after presenting it, I call out "Keep the L in it!" and then our whole district raises one hand in the shape of an L and does a cool whistle tune we came up with, stand for a second and then sit down as a District.
We have probably seen more miracles this week than any other week of our missions yet. This week has been one of the weeks to remember forever, and which will very literally change forever...
_________________________________________________________________________________
I have a Question: do you know of any good group games? Ones that don't require anything... maybe just something simple like paper and pen or coins? I reallllly beg you--if you have aaany good ones, I will use them in a lesson here in Fiji with the natives, and in playing the game, I will give your name credit in front of them :) i want to spice up the way we do things. I want to use more interactive games of any good kind you can offer. Just any game ideas you have, pleeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me :)
What are your favorite games like that? Just let me know.
[bhoward@myldsmail.net]
This week, Shaun and Rachel were baptized!! They have taken an amazing step of faith, and they are so exemplary to all of us! They have transformed their lives. I wish so desperately that you could meet them. They are going to be such a big impact on the world. They are preparing to go to the Temple when it opens, and open the way for their loved one's who have passed on, to receive the fullness of the blessings of the eternal, beautiful and Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have found that if I couple my agency with God's power, I can do and overcome anything.
To me, struggle is joy.
All we have to do is keep moving deliberately forward and upward and outward. That is all our mission is in life. Those 3 directions go toward Christ. Their opposites go toward every sad and bad and discouraged thing.
I have suffered more on the mission than I have in my life ever before, but in different ways. All of these pains, which I perhaps cannot even explain in words, have grown out to be my greatest joys and blessings and assets. The mission is where you belong. Either a full time mission, or the other kind of a full time mission which God has called you to in your current stage. We should always live as if we were on a full time mission. Live consecrated to the Lord, and this level of growth and miracles will be an inseparable component. Choose this path in every way you can, now.
We can define who we become in 20 years by what we become in the 2 years of our mission. These 2 years that are currently in YOUR hands, determine the next 20 :) Hand them over to the Lord, all the way. That requires everything, not some things. He can make us adequate to give it. I have learned that if I am not graceful at rising to what is expected or possible of me, and if I gracelessly handle some things, it's okay; Heavenly Father's grace is enough. I just have to keep myself connected to Him and do anything and everything He directs of me. This is a daily and a weekly thing that is transforming every eternal thing: See things He sees I can change and improve that I don't want to see... be willing to do things I don't hardly believe are possible. For it is in the realm of the impossible that our destinies are met and attained unto fully. If you are living in a different realm, I invite you back to the zone of Children of God, that of the impossible.
We have 3 investigators who were personally visited by Jesus Christ or directed by Him in their dreams after first being taught by us and were told by Him that this path and message is true and is His. It is powerful to listen to them describe it. It is 3 households that have absolutely no connection to each other and are one different sides of Suva, and yet their visitations and dreams are all like this. The Lord really is at the head, and everywhere in this, His true and restored church--His glorious work. I know this is true. I know it is meant for you. I know that the Lord lives, truly as surely as if I walked personally with Him daily. I testify of Him boldly, and live for nothing else.
One of the dearest families I have ever had the privilege of serving--the Bibi family--has had more miracles than I can believe. This week, they have inspired me and surprised me every day. Asmin and her son and daughter, Junior and Nafisha. They live in a wonderful little humble home, and have faced immense trials and struggles in their life. But, one day, Heavenly Father just put us in the right time at the right place and we met them and our lives and their lives have been forever changed because of it. They used to be Muslim's. But, since the first day they heard the message of the Restoration, from the living Savior Jesus Christ through His authorized representatives, they have dropped EVERYTHING to follow Jesus Christ. They have made bigger and more dramatic changes than I've ever personally seen anyone do. Heavenly Father spoke to their hearts on the first day He put us in their life, and they knew it was true. They have given up all ties to their old lives. Their example has helped me personally rise to a level above who I was before.
We went over to their house to do service for this family that has become like our own family, and just cleaned up their compound all day. Dear sister Bibi has a hard time walking, and has never been able to clean up parts of her compound. Heavenly Father knew her heart and needs and we were blessed to be there and enjoy serving at their home. After we cleaned up and planted and worked half the day, we later came back... she told us that after we did that service with them, she wept in uncontrollable tears of joy and gratitude to the Lord as she thanked and thanked Him. They hadn't known that their compound was so big and beautiful. We went home with warmth and joy in our hearts, at a level out of this world. There's no feeling more fullfilling and satisfying than to know, Heavenly Father worked through you to meet a need you didn't know about, for the heart of one you love with all your heart.
Junior had been holding back for weeks, and then, to our surprise, the whole family came out and told us that everything has changed and they know it is true. The are all committed to be Baptized as a family on Oct 31. Every impossible and impassible roadblock that was in their way from powers in and out of this world, have been miraculously removed. We are speechless and now all of us are also doubtless. Jesus Christ has a way over all our barriers, all we have to do is only follow Him, and that fully, now.
Haha(:
More to say, but more next week.
Look forward to hearing from you. Let me know what I can do for you.
Love,
Elder Howard
Suva Fiji Hindi
This is a scripture case a friend of mine made for me. It's me on my unicycle with a helmet and twirling fire torch.
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