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

​
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 

Blaze Embraced--Fire on Fire!

Fires of life used to burn me, then I became fire in the Lord's hands and now fire just builds my joy and light to a perfect day of endless reaching ray. We can get everything in our life all on one team by getting Christ as our ONLY captain: Trials, joys, peace, chaos, all mesh into blessedness when He's leading the life. Your heart doesn't belong in your chest; it belongs in Christ's hands.  Your only mission in life is to do that--and then the once restricted and painful becomes endless vistas of boundless glory and wondrous rich abundance.

​This has been a great week!

  Elder Mounga has made the full switch!  He talks only in Hindi! On Friday he just said, "Elder Howard, starting tomorrow morning, I want to only talk in Hindi." I was surprised!  This was very out of the blue.

True to his word, the next morning and ever since, even if I talk to him in English, he will usually respond in attempting just Hindi.  His fire is independent and self-sustaining now!  This is the moment of joy for me as his follow-up trainer!  He's wobbling and toddling, but, it IS on his own two feet now!!  It is really remarkable how proper his sentences are and how clearly it comes out now.  HE has caught the desire and the love and is showing the determination.

We come home well-worked and happy every single night.  (:

This has been a wonderful many weeks of learning how people grow and develop... just like plants.  You can't force growth or fruit; you just love it and nurture it and be there for it and work patiently until it chooses to open--all the while just being ready to just keep the sun rays pouring in the windows, the water regularly given, soil favorable, bugs and hostile plants at bay. 

These lessons that have come through lovingly seeing investigators through their hardest trials recently, and in seeing people progress.. these lessons will benefit my posterity. 
Our Mission President has been such a model for us to copy: we come up against a crushing concern with one of our beloved investigators, and in deciding how to handle it we think of him and how he would handle it.  We are blessed with a President who is just perfectly in-line with the Prophet who is EXACT and PERFECTly in line with Jesus Christ who is in line with The Head of All things in Existence. 

Patience, understanding, maturity, giving space and time, and especially love and trust.


That summarizes recent growth.

​Just like in Heavenly Father's words from Jacob 4:41, 47, 49, 61, 70, 75, sometimes we as missionaries or our Mission President may say, "What more could I have done for my vineyard? Have I slackened my hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long."  And when He saw that these tender plants still needed tender longsuffering and gentle patience and for me to be in it for the long-run for the construction of deep roots--He called in reinforcements.

This is our story:

"Wherefore, go to, and call servants that we may labor diligently with OUR might in the vineyard, that WE may prepare the way, that...[we may have] the fruit which is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

"...The Servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.

"And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might... if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up."

4 Prospective Missionaries in our area came to help us almost daily. James, Raymond, Tumeli and George.

"They did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things."

Obedience, the Price.

Joy, the Reward.

Love, the Motive.

Spirit, the Strength, Guide, Enabler, Teacher.

And then finally, in the end after they have labored for a long time, pouring out their love and souls and patiently looking forward to the joy and the fruit and the fruit of the laboring in itself being joy--pressed on and triumphed!  He says then:

"Blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard... ye shall have joy with me."

Then twice it says the words "for a long time," reminding us of both the long time it took to bring forth the strong and self-sustaining tree, and the long time that the now adult tree will bear fruit and bring forth more trees one day.  The LONG TIME is worth it, for it will bring forth fruit FOR a LONG TIME.

These are the sweet lessons that have been the course the Master-teacher had for us this "semester" of missionary service.

These lessons will stay in my heart the rest of my mission and ever after as I will look to the nurturing of my own children, and those sons and daughters of God that will be placed under my stewardship in future roles and leadership ahead, in the days that remain in my time in these realms below, and then to an endless day in the realms from whence I come and at which my soul does and has always truly belonged.

In working with the precious souls in our area of Nasinu 2nd, we have found 4 families that especially stand out amoung all the rest, that are the "Precious Fruit" of the Vineyard of the Lord; and all the trees that are progressing at their own individual rates, are still on the road to the Celestial Kingdom and new life by showing faith in the Savior and embracing the marvelous work and wonder of the Restoration, through to Baptism.

We have been just finding more golden people every day as we go teaching the golden. The Savior's love shines through their lives as they grow and we grow with them. We have found some people who went through the Temple Tours but just never went to the tent and never knew you could fill out the referral papers.  They're good!

We know that the people here in this area are going at the right pace.  People have had so much opposition in coming to church, but, they're still strong and the coming weeks will bear the fruit.  Families are coming together desiring to be Baptized as a family and work toward the Temple, being Forever Families.  It is a joy! April and May will see the fruit.  The Lord's work is steady and consistent.  Learning people's growth pace is a tricky thing, but the Spirit is the key to the mystery of each individual's unique heart.

Now, much to share, so here--I will start with pictures! Yay!

This is Shryna and her family!  She is 10 years old and has more personality and cheekiness and hilarium than almost anyone I've met in Fiji!  She's got a strong testimony and this family has a special place in my heart.

This is Joseph!  He was Baptized and has set a great example for all around him in changing his life and following Christ.  Light is growing in him and he is becoming a light to all around him! 

This is Rihaan!  I met her maybe 6 months ago now.  She is A FIREBALL of amazingness.  She is the ultimate missionary and has an eternal attachment to the Book of Mormon and her Savior Jesus Christ.  She is one of the people who has truly made a whole nature change, true full transformation by following Christ.  She is a true inspiration and will change hundreds if not thousands of lives.  I know it(:

That is me and Elder Mounga making roti's together!  We are Indian in everythin! 

These are pictures of us when we got stranded on an island after the hurricane picked us up and hurled us 100's of miles out to sea.  We are living off of random turtles that swim up to us.  Dolphins are too chewy.  Crunchy turtles are where it hits the spot for us. (;

We are helping our friends build their house.  They are so fun!  They served a 3 year mission when they were a little younger.  I learned how to make my own house.  I don't think I will be buying a house after my mission.  It is too satisfying to build your own and now I know how! 

This is a moth... yep.. .what else am I supposed to say?

more next week! 

LOve, Elder HOward