Powder

Life is perfect.

Each hardest chapter of life, as we remain faithful, ALWAYS comes through to the highest, best vista we've ever reached.  Press on with joy, my friends!  The Savior is so ever by each one of our sides. 

Transfers happened!!  What an adventure it has been!

Elder Mounga and I had a tough time leaving each other.  We really came out of it maybe even closer than any of my past companions.  We have so much love and understanding and memories built up.  That really is one of those companionships where both of you know you've got it for lifetime.  I love that wonderful Elder with all I've got.  He is going to be companions with one of my former companions now!  Elder Luatua and I just swapped areas!  He will be perfect with Elder Luatua.  I know that's an inspired companionship.

Leaving Nasinu was a time that has drilled itself into the eternal memories of my heart. 

Our last District Meeting was one of my favorites.  We had so much fun, I organized catering for lunch and we had an amazing recent convert over to share his conversion experience and to answer our questions about seeing through our investigator's eyes.  We learned about teaching simple lessons, communication skills in companionships, receiving new companion insights from Elder Delfin, and great trainings.  We had one last Unisan Family sleep over.  It was fun.  I will love and miss each of these Elders.  We've grown close--but Elder Forbush and I are so happy we're sticking together. 

You may not see the changes you make in others while you're with them.  Plant seeds of light no matter how dark life can get.  Plant on.  The plants will grow.  

I was transferred to the North Islands of Fiji!  Leaving Vitilevu, and going to Vanualevu!  This Island is called Labasa (pronounced Lambasa). It is stunningly gorgeous and the Hindi is finally not broken, but closer to full pure like India and I am on my 2nd Indian companion.  This one is actually from Bangalore. His name is Elder Hariprasad.   We literally don't even hardly speak English.  Haha, you would laugh if you could see it!  I don't use much English--and I'm basically Indian except for my skin color. 

It was so refreshing to see Elder Luatua again at the airport.  We're so happy we'll be going home in the same outtake now, due to my extension!

This area and this companion are an instant favorite, and the fresh air of a new chapter is brighter than ever.  How grateful I am for the Lord's perfect and inspired direction in sending me here.  I reaaaally do mean it. Leaving Nasinu was VERY hard and heart wrenching. I am forever attached to the people there.  They've been so dear to me and I have literally poured out all my sweat, heart, blood and tears for them.  We had very emotional good byes for kind of more than 24 hours straight.  Though I will forever have such a chunk of my whole soul there with those I love deeper than I knew love goes,  already I have had unforgettable memories in this new adventure in Labasa and recreated who I am even more and am loving every minute on higher vistas than my feet had--as of yet--landed!  

Oh, the Lord always knows what He is doing!  My advice:  Trust Him; it won't all be okay if you hold out faithful--it will be SO MUCH more than just "okay"; better than you even want!

English is a "burden" between us in this new companionship--we just love being totally free and flying in Hindi together.  Certainly no limit to the depths of thing I have to learn from this exceptional Elder.  Turns out we had been praying to be each other's companions pretty much since meeting one another 4 in February--and now (being the Year of Miracles,) we both got our wish, finally!  This area is through and through a dream come true for me! 

This new area has a Branch (Smaller than a regular congregation called a Ward).  They are so pure, so sweet, and on day two we're all best of friends! My companion and I are already hitting the ground running and working hard, as well as putting together Branch Activities.  From Elder Hariprasad's initiative, we are putting together a great Activity that just exactly helps this Branch.  This Branch Activity focused around understanding what it is like to be a new Convert in this church. 

We live in what is famously known as the Party House of The Mission, I guess you could say.  Its nickname is widely known as "The Pink Mansion."  It is probably the biggest flat I have ever rented.  Lautoka was huge, and this, really is a mansion.  We host missionaries all the time here and I'm just pumped for all the fun and miracles and relationships I know I will cherish forever.  I am grabbing this whole experience God has given me, with both hands.  

We sat down together even before weekly planning and had a great talk in establishing understanding and expectations, trust, back rounds and just laughing and having the day of our lives!  We're kindred spirits in too many ways!   Thick as thieves.  We are supportive of each other in everything and talked about how short our missions are and how we can make the most of them though this sibling fun, hardworking, miracle season through the Lord's 4 Keys of Success(Personal Realtionship with Jesus Christ, Being Teachable, Work Hard, Exact Obedience)..  We talked about how not all days would be sunny, and we can't read each other's minds, so we need to be brothers and be open and there for each other.  He agreed that obedience is a sure chain to bind us unitedly to triumph through any hard day that might come.  He lovingly placed his hands on my head and gave me a Priesthood Blessing in helping me know any counsel or direction the Lord would have for me in making the full joy and potential from this area.  It was inspired and flashed me through with fond and tender feelings for all the people I love and hold in my heart from past areas.  Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh emotions. 

 Elder Hariprasad is so easy-going, loving, selfless, considerate, obedient, focused, on top of the area, knows why he is out here, is open and communicates freely about matters, a leader.  We workout crazy hard each morning!  He does kind little things like cooking me meals randomly.  It doesn't feel like companions as much as it does actual brothers.

We really do use Pure Hindi here, and little Fiji Hindi.  Interestingly, the Spirit had kept prompting me before Transfers that I am supposed to study Pure Hindi deeper.   I have all these armies of words and knowledge of Pure Hindi that I have kept stored in my brain, and now am finally able to unleash it in lessons and on the street.  The people here generally seem to really prefer the Pure Hindi, and we love it!  We read together in the Hindi symbols and talk to each other in it, just great thanks to Elder Hariprasad's expertise and willingness to show me the ropes.  

We went around and now already I am fully at home here and know the members and investigators and am meeting the many, many less actives.  We have broken down all the walls and the District and Branch Members are like family.  We have the young adults all recruited with us going around doing the work every day!  

I am happier than ever, but more expanded than ever.  As my companion said, "Satan keeps smaking you and everytime you keep on turning around and smiling!" Growing and gaining from the hardest life has to offer.  But, thre have been completely ground-to-bits moments.  The deep wells of my heart have been dug deeper to receive more. When I was down in tears pulling through a deep valley of labor and love for the people around me, the Lord reached through the darkness of my wondering if I have done enough and brought me to my Savior who gave me the strength to expand.  Expanding in depth is quite an experience.  Let life do it to you.  Keep eyes on the Savior, and never let them slip.  He will pilot us, always. 

Allow Christ to break you down to nothing.  

My new favorite word is Powder.  

Once you allow yourself to be fully ground down to powder, then you may feel empty, but Christ is on the job site.  That should be all the hope you should need.  Let God destroy what you were, no matter how good it may be.  In the sense that you fully yield to let Him make of you what you can't see ahead. Let God build.  To be ground to powder in his loving hands is just to lose the "d" and by losing the devils of any degree hidden in your nature anywhere, you through being powder, can then be Power.  

Life is better than ever! 

I packed up all my belongings and sorted it down to just 15kg I could take with me to the island, and then boarded a small plane.  I passed my first area, Bau.  Memories flooded like crazy!  Beautiful journey.

We have tigerdiles, not crocodiles



_Elder B. Howard
Labasa Hindi