Impact on Your Life: Water Flowing

Bula Vinaka में तुम्हे याद करता है




[What is going on with his eye?!??  Read on...]


The precious and priceless value of You

The Savior sacrificed everything for you. 
Joy and Light, Always Win. 

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That is the message this week. 

These Two Friends will always prove you right.  They will stand by your side if you are faithful to them even in hard and dark phases of this brief sojourn on earth. 

The whole mission here has caught fire with the motto "Attitude is The Key" Choose joy!  CHOOSE.  Smile non stop.  Lift the world.  Shine light.  Invite people to follow Christ through Baptism at any opportunity that ever opens itself.  These are things that the Lord had always been training me on for the past 3 years.  It is wonderful to see small matches of determination and integrity eventuate to a wildfire across an entire nation.  The Lord is working in the hearts of all.  

Light and truth forsake the evil one!  We have one job! Break down the walls of the world that have caked up around our consciousness and let them crash down so light and joy and enthusiasm can pour in and vanquish! Conquer! Come rushing in!  The white flag raising, is the way to raise your potential.  The Lord can remodel our very nature and being if we let Him in.  

Matthew 11!  

"I stand at the door and knock.  If any man will hear, and let me in, I will come in unto Him."  

Ask Him to help you choose joy, choose enthusiasm, choose full potential!  Now the Fiji Suva Mission is doing trainings about it all across each Island of the whole nation and it is changing everything.  

Our dear President saw that the missionaries lacked only one thing:  the key to realizing that attitude is fully in no one's hands but their own.  God has unlocked the door to everyone's minds and light is finally just flooding unrestrained!  A revolution is pouring over the souls of men.  

How powerful it is to see, that only the letters of the words A T T I T U T E as numbered with the alphabet, add up mathamatically to 1 0 0 !  It is 100% If we want to see our full potential, gratitude, love, enthusiasm, prayer simply asking God to help you choose a higher mark to set your eyes up upward upon.  Up Up UP! 

This morning, workers came in to fix things in our mansion.  Everything was trying to go south and rotten(in ways I can't write in email)--but as usual in life; I never let it. I chose to run to a room, kneel, pray, connect to the power of my Savior's Atonement, get up, and He did the rest!  I immediately chose joy, and went about talking with the workers in Hindi and made buddies out of them; then cleaning the whole mansion while singing songs about the Savior Jesus Christ and the Gospel.  The workers listened in, and one of them was like, "I am Christian as well!"  We had a great time.  Let your faith show, for it is to other souls around you, what sunlight is to plants! The world around you will grow green and sweet if you unabashedly and matter of happy factly let your faith show.  The workers want us to come over to their houses and meet them there.  We'll teach them. 

Every time EVERY TIME--ever in our whole lives--we're down; it is always a sign that if you choose Christ, choose to hold to your Covenants with Him, choose joy, choose to pray and then do something, then it is going to uncover the best gift your life has met yet!  The sad or challenging hard times are the wrapping paper for the best of life's gifts--if we choose to be the masters of them and UNWRAP THEM by those steps listed above. 

For instance, Joseph and Hyrum gave everything for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we willing to do the following for Jesus Christ?

Something our Mission President said today:

"172 years ago today, Joseph and Hyrum were killed in the Carthage Jail. When Joseph was attacked and killed by a mob, he was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 135 it states:

3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

"Like Joseph and Hyrum, we as missionaries are asked to do hard things. We know their legacy, what will our legacy be?"

​

That is a question

proving our answer
is our few remaining days' quest.

In all phases of life we learn (1) the Lord loves us and (2) to serve our fellowmen.  We keep learning this over and over.

That which I share is from my heart.  These things are special to me. 

The week produced a lot of fruit, fun, progress and growth only because it was prefaced by a Sacrament Moment that defined all my choices. That defining moment built a broad and steady foundation for the whole week.

The transformation that has taken place:
Nothing is so important to me as to meet the need of one cherished soul.

"Heavenly Father," I said as I held the bread in my hand for many minutes, "I promise this moment and this promise will define and be the power behind all my choices this week."  The Holy Spirit pulsed and poured over me in goose-bump waves over my entire body.  I was filled with what was a real energy, power, and virtue that sprang from sources above.  Like a bucket of warmth and charge of power poured right over my head.  I held the cup for many precious moments of introspection and reflection and as I reflected on the blood of Christ, came these words in my heart, "I ask the Holy Ghost bring this moment to my mind every day and every choice this week."  (John 14:26)

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Later in the week, another experience that connected me to the Savior, was that Elder Hogge was sneezing non-stop and coughing so repetitively that we both agreed it was time to call our Mission Nurse. He was sweating and weak. 

When Elder Hogge was sick and couldn't go out and proselyte on this our most important day, after discussing with the Mission Nurse, he at length approached me seeking a blessing.  "I need 10 minutes..." I said, "to prepare myself."  He went to the room to rest, and I brushed my teeth, put on my tie, washed my hands and face, went somewhere private, closed the door and knelt on the floor alone. As I prayed for my companion and tears formed in my eyes for him, I began to picture my Savior kneeling in the room before me.  In the mind's eye, beholding Him so clearly and vividly in the agony of Atonement, He writhing in anguish and soul tearing hurt, crushed under a burden no shoulder's could fit, His face and eyes beholding me and speaking with me from His eyes--not mouth... I withered with Him.  I saw that He did this for my Companion.  He did this for someone He loves.  

Next, the mind and heaven brought that moment's counterpart forward to me, to have the blood of the anguish and burden of pain and sorrow and grief that bore Him under, all wash over me.  Imagining the Savior's blood starting from my head, I imagined it very slowly... purifying out all impurities from my whole system and consciousness.  Things so deep in my nature and in the core of my being were touched.  Going down the whole body, until all natural had been replaced by His virtue.  

I stood up, humbled and in reverent sobriety.  

The sacred blessing was administered upon my companion, and tremendous words flowed from Father's mind and heart through my lips, to the soul of Elder Hogge, and he was healed. 

This was the day of a long planned for and anticipated Branch Activity.  In the Blessing, he had been promised that he would be fine to go and run the activity that evening.  

After the successful completion of a phenomenal activity, Elder Hogge said, "I didn't sneeze once . . . that is a miracle!"  

My heart was warm, knowing His Savior knows Him, and cared to trust one weak and simple as me to be His channel.  

That day, determined in my heart, "I want this kind of service to be the substance of my life."  To see my Savior and me so close that others are close to Him--eyes in my head now see this which eyes in my spirit knew clear all along. 

In District Workshop on Tuesday, Elder Vitiarai gave assignment for me to lead our Training.  It was on the Atonement.  How to access it; flowing into every aspect of our daily lives.

Object: Christ's power flow in every aspect of every day this week.

Started by sharing a story of a Mission President and one of his Missionaries talking.  The Missionary wasn't feeling the Spirit strongly.  The President was inspired to ask regarding his Sacrament partaking on Sundays; to which the Elder surprisingly responded that he had been too busy trying to help investigators to church to actually arrive on time and partake for himself.  

Then reminded us all that The Church, Area, and District Presidencies had all indicated that Sacrament is in Heavenly Father's top 5 priorities for His Children NOW. 

Then gave it over to them to read aloud Alma 33:16. 

"Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son."
Next, Alma 26:12, 

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea,behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

 Asking, 

"Who wants this kind of success in their area?  Who wants to see these miracles flowing freely in their Branch?  Who wants to find those who are truly seeking, contributing members, satisfying personal development of Christlike qualities?" 

Everyone enthusiastic, awake, eagerly affirming this is what we all want. 

Then drawing this picture, 

Showed that God is unlimited and has unfathomable power

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Christ is our only connector to that full power, like a vast reservoir.  From which, a pipe travels to your home, with 5 switches from there to you, in order to get it flowing your electricity, washing, sinks, showers, toilets, and so on. 

1. Heaven's Power 
2. Christ's Atonement
3. Flowing Thru Men

How do we get this flowing in every facet of our life?  

We then read the Sacrament Prayers carefully, drawing out what they felt were the elements in it that most lead us to action and change.  

After discussing that, we then reflected on a formula:

First, we 

1. Remember His Example

• Bore our everything
• Remembers me personally, always
• Exchanges whatever negative I will drop at His feet
• Absolute surrender to Father
• Demonstrated, "Don't quit!" 

      2. How do we access?  "Ask in heart and prayer.  He makes it that simple.  Faith with eyes on Christ is enough.  One deliberate action of change will set it flowing.  Just, through prayer, ask to access it!  Simple."

      Then each member of the District gave separate presentations of the 5 keys,

Elder De Moors, Work
Elder & Sister Petero, Attitude
Elder Howard,(sisters weren't in attendance,) Teachable 
Elder Vitiarai, Exactness 
Elder Hogge, Relationship

And then, 

      3. Just testified, that we had it all along.  the five keys are what gets the water flowing, from God, through Christ, all the pipes and 5 switches, to all aspects of our system, and the work itself: 

• W ork
• A ttitude
• T eachable
• E xactness
• R elationship 

The answer to getting the water flowing, is in the word itself. 

I know the Lord requires our very best to lead in the Savior's way.  Helping individuals feel His pure acceptance and love, then improve from wherever they are; begin there. The love demonstrated, and to feel then in themselves the light growing, is all it takes for them to walk on--self-fueled and Christ as their co-pilot.


Branch Activity was a blast, and now, all the members are giving referrals of their friends who are ready, left and right!


What word is most important in life? 

For happiness, joy and richness to flood our life, I believe it's this word:


Atonement . (https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&query=ATONEMENT)


Praying for new eyes to see all things from eternity's perspective, and Heavenly Father's eyes, my eyes literally fell under remodeling.

There is a boil on my forehead that has rushed swelling over half of my face.  It looks like what Missionaries and Prophets must look like when they get stones thrown at them, as in days of old.  My eye's like a little water melon and is stuck shut. 

We planned and carried out another Branch Activity this week.  We taught about Eternal Families from these 2 sources:

Earthly Father, Heavenly Father 


We're Still a Family 

Your Mountain. You're Not Alone.

On The Journey of Joy, The Mountain is the Opposite--and that's where we can choose to make our joy a depth that is unstoppable, untouchable, unbreakable.

The Mountain holds the view of all eternities our souls once knew--and will know, and the Mountain holds the prize God designs to be ours: grand and worth all the lifetime we pay for it, in exaltation with Him evermore.

But there remains a path before our feet. 



There yet remain choices when the path gets hard on some days when the summit slips out of our sight... 



Our Savior is a rock climber, a Mountain climber.  He faced all your obstacles that are hurting you now.  He walked the lonely path Himself--and now, He's your friend...

His whole mission is nothing more or less than,

You.

He lived, and lives for nothing apart from being the friend you need to pass all the tests of this life, no matter how hard. 

He is the one, the One who is everything your heart and limbs need to draw the strength to make the monumental journey of the grand climb of this part of the beautiful stages of eternity you now find yourself in. 

Your journey is His specialty. 

Keep walking and reach out to Him, Look for Him, Speak to Him, Invite Him, Love Him, Show your Trust and Yearning for Him, Believe, and you'll realize in your deepest sorrows and pains and trials, you were never walking alone.

Most importantly, 

I Testify, 

You're Not Walking Alone Right Now:

Because He Lives, All He Does is walk you to peace eternally.

The Journey is Joy, 

The Path is Obstacles, 

But Obstacles are the Way Joy Becomes the Journey.


You've Felt the Journey is Long.

'Tis but a Small Moment.

You Belong. 

You are Strong. 

Ahead, is always a brighter, glorious dawn for those who keep walking and keep seeking Christ and relying on Him who loves us and yearns to lift and bear the burdens that make our hearts groan--for those who keep actively choosing joy.


This life isn't meant to be convenient or easy or without pain.  
This life is meant to change us forever.  To set the course for that eternal state we are about to enter.  

The best thing in life that can happen, might just be your heart breaking.  I have found that a broken heart, a paining heart, is a heart that grows.  A heart that climbs even in the storms, even in the mob attacks, and even in the heat of the dry and long desert day... that heart becomes one like God, one that leans on the Savior, Christ; one He can use, one that brings itself to seek Him and one that finds Him, one that brings glory to His name.  

Broken soil yields grain.  Broken bread feeds man for one more day.  Broken things mend stronger. Gold goes through the hottest heat before its' true and fullest value is revealed and brought to the surface.  

And His is a voice that can only be received by a "broken heart" and "contrite spirit."


If life ever leaves you feeling broken or alone... 

       You are being prepared for your heavenly throne:

"Thine adversity and thine affliction shall be but a small moment, and then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high." (Keep reading and go to the link further below, to site the scripture reference.)

Broken things change. 

They are brought to a point where they can choose if they want that change to take them in a positive, or negative direction.  

Let God shape you.  He's not just sending you out on the race of life... He's running it with you, closer and more lovingly by your side than your eyes or heart can see.  The race's end leads to all you can boundless be; even as He.  The race's end leads to being like Him, and the heights and depths of the joy that is in store for those that endure faithfully and with a perfect brightness of hope even when all around is dark and painful, they gain a level of joy that becomes regardless of circumstances--one that turns all things that come it's way, positive!  One that is the never-ending happiness the scriptures speak of the righteous receiving as their greatest and deepest reward in exaltation in evermore. 

"O God, Where Art Thou?"

The above is what this week's message is about.  And to get the juice and richness of what this lesson has to offer you in your hard or happy times, you're going to have to read it for yourself.  

Take the time.  

Skip down a little in it, to where the actual lesson is.  And pour over the scriptures. 


God told me this is what was needed for me to write this week.  

So where is God?   The heart aches... the heart cries out, and the heart breaks, and who is there in the world to hear or understand it or speak the melody it needs to be made whole again?  Where is God?

He is where you call out to Him, from the heart.  And He is where you then live for Him and His great causes and purposes, from the actions of your will.  He is where you let Him in.  

He's trying to come in every door. 

He's in whichever door you open.

Where is God?

Where He's always been.....            

I testify 


He's right with you. 

I don't promise that.

      --- > He promises that. 

And as His representative, only a messenger, He has commanded deliver this promise to you this week.  

Consecration: the why I THRIVE

The Simplest Key
The Grandest Door. 

The Key, that will open 
Endless Doors, worlds without end...

That is what I have gained and learned from our Heavenly Father this week.

And that is what I would like to mix into my account of this week's work. 

May what Heavenly Father uses me to share this week, bless your life, as you read with your heart and mind tuned to whatever He might say to your mind and heart as you read and ponder the following:

This week, we have more success than ever!! And tonight we have 2 baptisms!! The best baptisms I have seen in my life yet! 

Back at the time period of my most recent Birthday in January of this year, the Hindi program was struggling so much and seeing no success so much that it was about to shut down permanently and pull all plugs and call it a wasted effort.

There were a few small things that happened, which barely kept the program alive.  

It has been a joy to watch the phenomenal and unbelievable explosion in progress and advancement the program has made in these short months since that time when all hope was lost and hanging nearly by a thread!  

Heavenly Father put me in the program in February, and I have been able to watch the work transform dramatically, and now it has more thrive and drive than any of us can totally work with!!! 

There are literally 1000's now who are ready to hear the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!  The truth will go forth boldly and nobly until it has sounded in every ear.  No unhallowed hand can stop this work, and now it is growing at rates that are beyond human.  The Lord is magnifying all of us. 

Why? 

I will never be the same, because this week, the Why finally went to my heart and is pouring out in all my actions, thought and very being.  I am changed and can never go back.  The Lord has changed me forever, by opening my eyes to the fact of this one word's power:

Consecration. 

Please read here: what to do in order to gain your exaltation This is the center and focus of this week's entire email message... and perhaps the central message and key to all the grandest things ahead of all of us in our glorious potentials and destinies if we will choose it.

It is the fact that, we cannot give the Lord any sacrifice, for we have nothing to give which is not already His. 

So we give our heart, and then we are one with Him and He is able to use and exalt and glorify His work through us by His enabling power.  Herein is the fullness of joy that I am always so excitedly talking about !!!! 

All the ends of the earth are invited unto it, for it is the eternal doctrine of Christ.  He set the perfect example of it for us all.  He consecrated all and saw none of it as a sacrifice, but as His joy and work with the Father.  It gave Him an eternal perspective, and it made His influence in life, eternal unto endless day.  So, each of us now may. Think of the grandest music and the most heart and soul wrenching and edifying and moving symphonies you have EVER heard in your life, and think of all those most exalted moments in golden sunlight that your soul can remember of your time in this walk on earth, and think of every most epic movie that ever was, is or will be.  

The vibe of my life matches and is it tune with all these things, because the Holy Ghost is with me and I follow it--even that the uppermost rule of my being is to follow it.  

I testify that Christ is how we reach life's fullness of potential.  It is only through Him and His atonement and His mercy, His name, His love, His enabling power, that we can change... we can.  We can be as He.  We can be every best thing we can imagine, and much much more.  Even into the reality of eternity, of which I am able to testify of with absolute certainty. 

I know Jesus Christ is the only way.  I know He is the only truth, the only light, the only way, and the only hope.  He is the fullness of all that is pure and uplifting and edifying and good and eternal. 

One of the congregations we are working with here, (the Lautoka 1st Ward) hasn't had a Bishop or bishopric for 8 months, and just yesterday they were finally called!  We have a new bishop!  

This is such a blessing! 

 We have been teaching about 20 kids in Koroipita, and they are progressing so well!  They are such bright minds.  Their testimonies are so strong. 

I believe that the only reason God ever gives us anything, is to see what we will do with it.  


Think about that, and it might change... everything.


Any and all seeds that you plant, whether sooner or later, will produce something.  Either they will grow, or at least something will have grown in you the planter, for having been willing to plant the seed.  So go out today and every day, to plant good.  Always live foreseeing the outcome of your actions whether it leads to long term positive, or negatively short term darker things. 

Walk in the Light. 

I invite everyone to consecrate their lives. 

This is the door that has led to all of my joys and successes. 

I love all of you! 

_Eternal Missionary, Elder Howard
Hindi, Fijian, Japanese, English speaking 
Fiji Lautoka