Hey!!!!! How are you? How are things going in your area? In your life? It's been a little while. Here is what has been happening in Suva Hindi for Elder Howard:
(Please reply. I want to know how things are going with you! :)
I am Training a brand-new missionary! Elder Datoon!!!!!! He just arrived in the field, and is incredible!!!! He is from Canada, but his nationality is Philipino. He is 18 and is a fireball of consecrated perfection!!!!!
Our first day together, we sat down and gave each other Priesthood Blessings by unified request from one another, and to dedicate our companionship and sanctify it and strengthen one another. We really have everything in common and deliberately chose to make this companionship legendary in its unity, fun, success, President Layton's 4 keys, love, exact obedience in ALL things and just purely full potential. I told him our first day, "My mission isn't about me. It really has now become all about you and everyone else. My whole purpose is to help you reach your full potential." We had great discussions like, "Did you have a best friend back home? What was his name? What qualities and what reasons made that person your best friend?" He is AMAZING!!!!!
In a conversation I had with Heavenly Father a week or two before transfers happened, He told me many things He wanted me to do when I met my trainee, if I were to train. Some of those things were, that Heavenly Father told me I should suggest the idea that the two of us give one another blessings there in the house on the first day. Also to, every night before bed, write a note on a sticky pad paper--Find the strongest moment of unity, fun, enjoyment, success, meaning and joy of the day together, and put it down on paper and hide it in his bed, suitcase, journal, or anywhere he will come across it throughout the next day. God and I talked about how this will make it so in our minds we'll always have those powerfully bonded moments to draw back on if there are ever weak moments of the relationship that might come in days ahead. So, I build those wonderful moments each day, and then write those immediately down simply in my planner, so that at the end of the day in private I can just quickly transfer the moment onto a sticky note and leave it for Elder Datoon.
Heavenly Father taught me that by doing this, I would see that as a child of God and disciple of Christ, I am to impact my circumstances, as always. He said that by this principle, I would be able to control the companionships' positive memories of one another daily. I would control the measure of unity with Him and him.
I have learned that relationships are like blinking. To the other people outside the relationship, it seems they just are always moist, functioning well and good with no secret or work to it. But it is constant good little things done deliberately and consistently one moment to the next, that keep the two eyes healthy, united and usable to the full maximum glorious potential.
I love life.
Life is good. Always.
Thanks to the Atonement, and the most powerful trait: Gratitude.
Access the power of those 2 things.
Our house is like a Temple. Not only is it now blessed, but it is as organized and clean as the Temple! I told President Layton, "You need to send someone over for a flat check!" We are so proud of it and the perfect habits we have established. We love being here, it is just like the Temple in a lot of ways. We just keep everything perfectly organized and clean.
Elder Datoon can already fully introduce himself in Hindi. His pronunciation is perfect! He has already invited (in perfect Hindi) an entire family to be baptized. He has been EXACTLY exact in his obedience. Before he arrived, I put a strip of paper in our main room in the most prominent spot, saying "Exact Obedience." And it has been just that since day one. We are exact on the beep of our watches' hour chime to transition to the next studies or whatever it be. He has already established really wonderful relationships with almost every member of both Suva 1st and Suva 3rd. They all know him and love him. The Bishops met him and the Relief Society Presidents, and everyone. The investigators all love him. I love him with all my whole heart.
I have to tell you honestly, that I have never seen any missionary in the Hindi Program pick up the language as fast as he is. He hasn't even started his first full week and he is already successfully leading the mission rally IN FULL HINDI in our companion study sessions! He introduces himself to everyone we meet, and he does it with the most spot-on pronunciation. I am honestly impressed. I am very very impressed.
(Please reply. I want to know how things are going with you! :)
I am Training a brand-new missionary! Elder Datoon!!!!!! He just arrived in the field, and is incredible!!!! He is from Canada, but his nationality is Philipino. He is 18 and is a fireball of consecrated perfection!!!!!
Our first day together, we sat down and gave each other Priesthood Blessings by unified request from one another, and to dedicate our companionship and sanctify it and strengthen one another. We really have everything in common and deliberately chose to make this companionship legendary in its unity, fun, success, President Layton's 4 keys, love, exact obedience in ALL things and just purely full potential. I told him our first day, "My mission isn't about me. It really has now become all about you and everyone else. My whole purpose is to help you reach your full potential." We had great discussions like, "Did you have a best friend back home? What was his name? What qualities and what reasons made that person your best friend?" He is AMAZING!!!!!
In a conversation I had with Heavenly Father a week or two before transfers happened, He told me many things He wanted me to do when I met my trainee, if I were to train. Some of those things were, that Heavenly Father told me I should suggest the idea that the two of us give one another blessings there in the house on the first day. Also to, every night before bed, write a note on a sticky pad paper--Find the strongest moment of unity, fun, enjoyment, success, meaning and joy of the day together, and put it down on paper and hide it in his bed, suitcase, journal, or anywhere he will come across it throughout the next day. God and I talked about how this will make it so in our minds we'll always have those powerfully bonded moments to draw back on if there are ever weak moments of the relationship that might come in days ahead. So, I build those wonderful moments each day, and then write those immediately down simply in my planner, so that at the end of the day in private I can just quickly transfer the moment onto a sticky note and leave it for Elder Datoon.
Heavenly Father taught me that by doing this, I would see that as a child of God and disciple of Christ, I am to impact my circumstances, as always. He said that by this principle, I would be able to control the companionships' positive memories of one another daily. I would control the measure of unity with Him and him.
I have learned that relationships are like blinking. To the other people outside the relationship, it seems they just are always moist, functioning well and good with no secret or work to it. But it is constant good little things done deliberately and consistently one moment to the next, that keep the two eyes healthy, united and usable to the full maximum glorious potential.
I love life.
Life is good. Always.
Thanks to the Atonement, and the most powerful trait: Gratitude.
Access the power of those 2 things.
Our house is like a Temple. Not only is it now blessed, but it is as organized and clean as the Temple! I told President Layton, "You need to send someone over for a flat check!" We are so proud of it and the perfect habits we have established. We love being here, it is just like the Temple in a lot of ways. We just keep everything perfectly organized and clean.
Elder Datoon can already fully introduce himself in Hindi. His pronunciation is perfect! He has already invited (in perfect Hindi) an entire family to be baptized. He has been EXACTLY exact in his obedience. Before he arrived, I put a strip of paper in our main room in the most prominent spot, saying "Exact Obedience." And it has been just that since day one. We are exact on the beep of our watches' hour chime to transition to the next studies or whatever it be. He has already established really wonderful relationships with almost every member of both Suva 1st and Suva 3rd. They all know him and love him. The Bishops met him and the Relief Society Presidents, and everyone. The investigators all love him. I love him with all my whole heart.
I have to tell you honestly, that I have never seen any missionary in the Hindi Program pick up the language as fast as he is. He hasn't even started his first full week and he is already successfully leading the mission rally IN FULL HINDI in our companion study sessions! He introduces himself to everyone we meet, and he does it with the most spot-on pronunciation. I am honestly impressed. I am very very impressed.
We are almost exactly a year apart, so I can honestly say I understand him almost perfectly. We are thriving together, and we're just a perfect match. The love and unity of our companionship is influencing everyone around us--and the best part is that we can see it clearly! We just watch it spill over into the lessons, the households, the wards, and everyone in the stores around us.. we realized from minute one in our companionship, that our unity would determine the strength of everyone in our district and zone and teaching influence. We love to watch the Lord's powerful positive influence penetrate everybody He places around us. It is just so fun to watch!
He blessed the Sacrament in church this past Sunday. We talk in Hindi, we talk in Fijian, and in English, and in song. We both love singing, together.
We started his training on the first day and have already finished week one.
The other morning, right when we woke up, Heavenly Father taught me a really meaningful and richly symbolic, cool handshake for our companionship. Elder Datoon and I spent a little while both excitedly putting it together. We love it and really want to explain it next email.
We committed to exactness in all things and perfect unity. We wear color matching ties and share ties and sing together and constantly laugh and just have a very strong and solid, close friendship. Every night and every morning after comp prayer, we hug, say I love you and go straight to work. We work out for the full 30 minutes every day!!! I LOVE IT!
He eats so healthy, just like me. He has fully and with his whole heart embraced the culture. The very first night, we went straight out to working hard and eating with the people in their humble settlements. He loved eating in the dark with his hands in a mosquito infested settlement with no power. He is just a constant battery of positive gratitude and happiness! We are loving every second of the work, and Elder Datoon is growing and progressing very fast.
The Mission is blessed with one of the most consecrated missionaries I have yet had the honor of observing in the field yet.
And I want you to know, I love you. Thanks for all you are. I'm glad I know you.
I love the area, and I just love everything in life. I can walk absolutely anywhere and up to absolutely anyone and make instant best friends with them! Whether it is a group of people smoking and drinking, or a perfect little family, or a punk haired dude on the street, or someone that doesn't even speak one of my 3 mission languages, my people skills have become perfected. Any age group, any class of people. Every moment of my mission is now having fun, giving it my all, having no regrets, and building around 30 new strong friendships per day. I love people and know how to work with them, no matter their backround or nationality or lifestyle. This gift Heavenly Father has given me, I know will bless me all the rest of the days I have here in His work on this earth, and in every eternity to come. Throw me in any situation, and with the Holy Ghost and all the skills He has developed in me, I am able to really enjoy it and make the best of it. I really have a lot of fun in the work, and everyone around me does too. We are at the brightest and highest point of our missions. My people skills are now my strength--and I love it! I know how to influence and lead and love and build up others, while building their respect for me and our mutual unity. I have a special and unique friendship with each of the members and missionaries now. The members flock around our dinner list. We have wonderful relationships with everyone.
I know the area very well and am able to navigate.
Junior(Shameer, Asmin's son whom you witnessed the baptism of), is receiving the Priesthood and being advanced to the office of a Teacher next Sunday! He is coming out teaching with us EVERY day! He goes to school and helps his mom, and always makes time to come out and teach with us! He is a completely changed person. I would say, that he is perhaps one of the very greatest results of the mission Heavenly Father sent me on here to Fiji. My heart overflows with pride in him whenever I see him. He is fixed on serving his own mission and forever staying strong in the Restored gospel. He speaks of his mission and wonders how he will finance it, but then always tells us, "Elders, my favorite word from the scriptures is 'faith'--I will live it." He is doing his part. He is a powerhouse in every lesson!
All of our Recent Converts are doing very well!
We successfully handed over our entire Nasinu Area to the Hindi Elders over there. We dedicated an entire day and all the numbers for key indicators we gathered from that days' work and gave it all to the other Elders. We are so proud and pleased that our Area Book was up to date and ready to hand over and that we were able to build powerful relationships with the incoming companionship that will now be taking over for us. We had such a wonderful day. I gave gifts to Rachel and Shaun and made them promise me they would do 3 things, "Read the Book of Mormon every day. 2) Take the Sacrament there in the chapel with the members, every week. 3) Meet me at the Temple in February." They agreed. Many tears were shed and we handed them over to the other Elders. Shaun wants to serve his own mission, and Rachel has many referrals for the Elders now.
I was also pleasantly enjoying the blessings of exact obedience as well. My Fijian is more fluent than it even was on my 11th week in Bau! I have reaped the blessings of exact obedience. I haven't studied the language ever since I was called to the Hindi program except for exchanges where that was necessarily done. And thanks to that obedience, I feel near-fluent and free in Fijian still! I had a wonderful time joking with the natives and teaching them and playing games with the children and conversing with everyone and just basking in the glow of the Spirit that has preserved my tongue. I am also able to answer just about any question Elder Cobabe or Elder Datoon ever have about the language. I really am just enjoying exact obedience and all the mission life has to offer.
I feel perfect unity and love in our district. They each have strong relationships with me and one another. We have build very strong mutual respect. They know I love them and we all love talking and edifying each other and being together and getting the work done and being fully obedient. I am proud of the work and efforts my district is putting in. We are about to make a lot of very positive changes in the way we approach the work in this district.
So much more to say... SOOOO much more to say, but no time at all. Please respond, so I can hear more about your week. You are loved.
.
_Elder B. Howard
Suva Hindi
No comments:
Post a Comment