This Week

Hope your week is going wonderfully!  

Here are just a few small highlights from Fiji.

The Self Reliance Course is a blast!  We are so grateful for this direction and initiative. The mission is teaching us how to prepare for our future careers. I know exactly how I will start my career right when I arrive home. 

 The effectiveness of our lessons has boosted in that 10-15 minute lessons are what get people excited about doing something. We taught 37 lessons this week.

We had tremendous success this week in working through members for Referrals!  One of our YSA friends took us to all his friends. Teaching to large groups is my favorite. We teach each, giving away 16 copies of the Book of Mormon that day, to people who are genuinely intrigued!  They want as much as we can give them.  They're all reading we're excited to follow up.  

We had a special experience yesterday.  As we were going to an investigator's house to wish him a happy Father's Day and give a little token of our love, we were opening up the trunk of our car, and a man came past, wishing a happy Father's Day.  When I turned and he saw the Name Badge, his eyes got wide and he shared that he was a very Less Active member.  As we walked with him to his house, we sat down and he shared how destroyed his life has become. It was one of the most powerful experiences of my mission. As we shared the Savior's redemptive capabilities, hope filled his eyes.  As we opened the scriptures, thanks to our Personal Studies, we were led to scripture after scripture that was PERFECT.  The Holy Ghost kept on telling me he needed to hear one specific scripture.  I responded in my head, "I don't remember the reference to that one." The Spirit again prompted it. "I don't know where to find it, it would distract the lesson."  Again, the Spirit pressed, "I know the Scriptures, Elder.  Just let me use your fingers."  I responded in my heart, "Okay."  I opened the scriptures and in an instant, my hand turned open the page right to the verse that had been put in my heart.  Alma 10:6.  Not only did my hand somehow perfectly open immediately up to it, but my eye immediately fell upon it!  Haha, it was almost terrifying.  How real this work is!  How it isn't us!  How we just need to be willing and worthy; He will always fill the rest!

As we read the verse, his eyes widened. His eyes watered.  He said, "can you hand me that.  Show me this verse!"  We did.  He said after smiling, reading it twice over, and laughing in shock.  "That's me... that is meee.  Oh my.  It's time."  

How grateful I am for the Book of Mormon, and for Studies, Preach my Gospel.

Right after this lesson, a Japanese girl just walked up to us and asked what we were reading and if we could teach her.  In a half hour, she went from not knowing anything about God, not knowing anything about why she is on earth, not knowing how her family mattered in God's plan, not knowing even the name of Jesus; to knowing it all and being able to emotionally and excitedly repeat it all back to us! We are referring her to the Japan Elders since she leaves this week.  She wants to learn more and be Baptized! 

This work is so rewarding when we see the Lord doing it, not us.   Just willing and worthy, then do as He prompts.  He is at the head. 

So many other experiences.  

Our District Workshop was so rich.  We had our Ward Mission Leader in Nadi share all he learned from his mission, we had the Sisters help us each make a plan for our full potential and development in this one transfer, we had training on unity, excellence, and discussing unity activities, etc.  

Elder Mokie's birthday was the best!!!  We celebrated well.

Thank you

Elder Howard

Last 12 Weeks

This is it! Sprint all the way.

Long time no type!  Hey!!!

• Finally, rich, effective, powerful short lessons.  We are teaching now about 30 lessons per week to hungry, wonderful souls.  
• Lives are dramatically, and truly changing.  Marriages being restored, healed, made eternal. 
• Making good progress in the Comprehensive Hindi Language Book for all the missionaries that will ever come through this mission after me.  15,000 verb and verb forms noted down!  This will be a groundbreaking breakthrough--the first real book on the Fiji-Hindi Language
• Saints pouring in!  7 people are full strong in serving in capacities in the Wards here
• Focus just on those TRULY INTERESTED, give them priority

Wonderful other Faiths we are teaching are LOVING the Book of Mormon.  They share with us that the writers of the Bible got Christ's divinity wrong, and we are deceived about Christ.  Then we ask them if they have ever heard of the Book of Mormon, and explain it's role and effect on our personal lives.  They brighten up and open the book, happy!  

What would we do without the Book of Mormon?  

We would be SO lost!!!

This week, we were led to a woman whom we gave a copy to. She immediately began reading it.  She read the entire first chapter out loud.  We explained the Introduction.  We showed her how Joseph prayed and was answered, and God would answer her.  She knelt down, pressed the book to her chest and closed her eyes with her husband.  She prayed, and waited for the answer.  The Spirit was strong!  They were aglow when we told them about Christ's Church  It was so special!! They promised they will come this Sunday! 

• We had 9 of the people we are teaching come to church this past Sunday... they all came an hour early!  We arrived and there they were!!! We were delighted!  They came completely on their own as families, and felt the peace of the Chapel.   

One of my favorite moments:  Our Returning Member, Aveline, was called up to the podium by Bishop, and sustained in Full Fellowship and bore her testimony for the first time in front of everyone!  She went from learning and getting, to now being the teacher and giver of the Ward!  She fellowships Hindi Sisters that come in, and encourages them to the fold.  She was Less Active for so many long and hard years.  It makes me cry as I type this... to glorify my Savior for what He has done for this precious daughter!!

It is because of people like her that I say, "The Lord blessed me with the deepest prayer of my heart: Extension."  Not going home till November.


You only know something's worth, by working for it.
You only know someone's worth, by serving them.
You only know your worth, when you take time to realize how God serves you.

This week, it really clicked even deeper that we FIND the Lord in the serving of His Children 

BECAUSE

that is WHERE He is. We find only if we lose, we lost only if we keep!  President Layton, this Gospel is the most beautiful thing in the world..s!!!!!

Elder Tony's last day... such a beautiful time!  He is so pure.  Oh, he's one of the purest in the mission.  So humble, so meek, so willing, so peaceable, so loving, so selfless, so full of dignity.  We had a wonderful time writing to each other and hiding gifts for each other.  We had sweet last moments in the work, having fun, and saying goodbyes.  He really loved Nadi, and wrote in the Area Book, showed me the last few locations to know, bore his last testimony and wishes to the Saints, and left happy and ready.

Elder Mokie's first day... we missed each other! This Elder is from PNG!  He and I met a year ago.  There was no adjustment to make--we already click!  He smashed out 16 powerful lessons in 3 days.  We love working together!  Haha.  He is such a gentle, good natured Elder! 

We now have a car.  It is the same car I used to drive.

This is a beautiful day.

It is AMAZING to have perfect click with the Holy Ghost's voice. God waits for us to listen, not the other way around. I know when He's speaking to me.  I know that feeling--and it's right every time!!! President, it is just like President Monson said, "To act on a prompting and later find out it was the answer to someone else's prayer," nothing in life is sweeter.  It is REAL.  I know that when we tune to acting on good, that frequency will grow more natural, and the static will fade. 

More next week! 

Love, 
Elder Howard

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

100 Families Eternal! Thousands, but it's all about the one...

I have never had a more miraculous 2 weeks to report in my life. 

​We took 135 children of God in Fiji through the Temple, and they ALL were touched and want to be taught. Each and every last one of them were Indians, and we were able to have the wonderful privilege of translating the tours into Hindi for them. All of them want the blessings of The House of the Lord. Eternal Family, Do the Work for Ancestors who passed on, or be Temple-Recommend holding members. 

I have never worked harder in my life.  We set a goal of getting 100 of the Hindi people in this area through the Temple and on the path to becoming Eternally United, Happy Forever Families.  We exceeded it!!!! Thanks to Heavenly Father, our striving for exact obedience, pouring our very souls out till we were only running on reserves and empty tanks all day.... MIRACLES shot more than through the roof.  Jesus Christ is the head of this group of missionaries.  I know the success that came to this mission's labor came because no mortal is our leader.  Christ actually lives, and actually leads us personally and directly through the Prophet, even down to our local leaders, and on a personal level.  This work is true, and it is aimed to save and exalt every individual and family in the entire world--all the nations of the earth and each inhabitant therein who will come and bask in the fresh, blossoming, abundant life, and endless happiness, peace, and love that await. This is meant to be yours!   This church is true, and I am a witness that God our loving and personal heavenly Father is real leads each child of His, personally to this gospel.

My companions and I were working with LITERALLY all our heart, might, mind and strength EVERY minute of each day for 2 weeks to bring souls to the Temple.  I am not even exaggerating when I say we laid everything on the table.  Through consecrated work as a companionship and mission-wide family, much sunburn, a lot of hunger, empty dry wallets because of endless back-and-forth bus and taxi fare, endless happiness, stress, satisfaction to last lifetimes, well worked sweat glands, soaked sunday shirts, and a few happily gray hairs, 1,774 people directly told the church they want missionaries to come and teach them and their families as soon as possible...and there aren't even 200 missionaries in the mission to handle that near 2,000 head-count referral load. 

Here in the mission I am at the perfect prime time to see the fruits of these things come to season.  I know that Jesus Christ visits this Temple in Fiji.  Going through the Temple every day and sitting in the Celestial Room and feeling of His actual presence there daily was one of the greatest privileges a mortal can be afforded while in this life.  We each need to get there as often as possible!  On my birthday, I received some of the most heart-warming and vision-sparking prophecies and promises in the Temple just being with and listening to and conversing with heavenly Father in His House.  I know He has personally tailored and has perfectly satisfying and fulfilling promises and gifts planned and READY just for you, waiting for you, to make the choice to accept this gospel and be Baptized in the Lord's church and have every decision and priority you ever make, lead you to the Temple.  This is the way to destroy all bounds set on life and death.  Become limitless!  Become all you're meant to be.  Become close with Jesus Christ.

Since my companion and I were at the Temple almost every day for 14 days, bringing the people we love to the place we love, the media took a lot of photos of our groups.  Thank goodness, because we hardly had a second to stop and do good journaling ourselves.  I also got the overwhelming privilege of seeing again almost every person from my old areas I have finished serving in thus far on my mission!  They came from Bau! Lautoka! Suva! Everywhere!  And I got to have 100s of sweet, excited, happy, huggy, precious, heaven-like reunions!  I got to see people I had loved and labored my whole heart out to serve and teach and help and change in old areas, finally being within the Temple walls and telling me, "Elder Howard, do you remember all those months ago I promised you I would get to the Temple?  Well now I am here!  Are you proud of me?"
22,483 Tour Fiji Temple <<<<  ---- [Editor's note:  This links to an LDS Newsroom article and LOOK who is in the third picture!!!]

12,000 people toured through the Temple on the first week of the Open House.

Doctrine and Covenants – Section 4

 1 Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

 3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

 4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

 5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

 6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

             7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

Indeed the field is white already to harvest. Now is the time for us as Children of God as one united team to see that we serve him with all our heart, might, mind and strength because a marvelous work is already happening as prophesied; we are living D&C 4.

You have a part to play.  Not just a part-- you have an IMPORTANT part to play.  Only you can stop you from doing it.


As a District Leader with a District of 8 Elders, it is of profound meaning to me that the Savior has led everything to this point.  It is special, because I was raised in a family of 7 children and I am sealed and set on the goal of at least a family of equal size of my own after the mission--and Heavenly Father knew it.  That's why He sent me to the perfect training grounds.  I am raising a family of 7 of the Lord's greatest servants.  Their joys are mine, their burdens, mine.  They are so open and united with each other as a perfect team.  It is one of the highlights of my life to serve with such a group of perfect friends.  We will be a lifelong band.  The training and experience I gain in this position in this District was meant to prepare me for the most important role in time and eternity--Parenthood.  I know the principles that have become who I am are being instilled in me because the Lord knows the kind of Spirits that will be sent to me and my not-distant-future-wife.  What you are going through right now, whatever it is, can prepare you perfectly for the grander step ahead.

Nasinu is our area Jesus Christ has entrusted to us as His band of Disciples.  Nasinu spelled backwards is unisaN. 
We are the unisan group.  We are united in everything.  Every week we are going to be getting together for an hour and a half every week to write each other's Investigators and to each other's families.  We are one as the Savior prayed we would be.  There is a feeling of such power in this kind of unity.  We love each other and know when one of the District Members is going through a struggle and just how to lift them and love them and encourage them right back to peak.  I love each member of this family.    

As a District and Zone we have fasted and worked and counseled together and even prayed many times in simple heartfelt prayer on our knees as a team in chapels to know the Lord's exact and direct will for us and the saints we are bringing into His everlasting Kingdom.  We know what we do now will have an effect with no end.  We are building and shaping eternities.  We are committed to high goals that will forever impact this part of the vineyard the Lord has entrusted to us.  

Some of the experiences of this week were, there was a taxi driver we caught to get to the Temple one day... and we invited him to come up to the Temple.  He did!  He said to us in effect, "I knew it was a decision between working during one of the most prime times to get money as a taxi driver, but I chose God first.  I went through this Temple and felt God.  I am already Christian, but I want this kind of Baptism and to make my family Eternal. You call me any time and I will drive to you and you can teach me."  And, "You have changed us from who we were, to who we are now.  It was God who sent you to us and changed not only our eternal lives, but, who we are.  Our whole nature."  Heavenly Father has members of His family waiting for you to go out and bless.  They are in your home.  They are on the street.  They are wherever you will allow yourself to be the Savior's instrument.  

In the photo in the last section of the email, Elder Mo'uga had accidentally forgot his name tag, and I carry extras with me, so we spent the whole day as "Elder Howards."  Everyone noticed, and as they would comment, we would smile, throw our arms around one another's shoulders and say cheerily "That's how united we are!" So, we had a professional photographer from the media at the Temple take a picture of us.  

Saturday was one of the highlights of my mission.  I have been wrapping my heart and time around my beloved little brother, helping him be ready and able to follow the Savior Jesus Christ down into the waters of Baptism.  This has been about 6 months of labor.  And after fasting, working, praying, and staying with him, and never giving up, the Lord opened the doors.  Hearts were touched and softened and we were all led by the Lord to this day.  The salvation of  One soul is what this labor is all about.  It isn't about the 1000's.  It is about One.  God works with all His children on a personal basis--not mass blob of humanity.  We are children of a perfect and intimate Father.  Nothing less.  He is everything we hope and wish, and more.  I love this family so much and have built so many memories with them.  We even have our own Hindi they invented and we speak with each other!  This family is going to make it to the Temple.  I know the Lord has prepared the way ahead of them.  Riznal asked me to come back to my old area I got transferred out of so I could baptize him and sing a solo at his service.  That was such a sweet privilege.  I tailored a special original musical number I performed for him.  It was one of the days of my mission never to be forgotten.  He will be a great Deacon, great Priesthood holder, Missionary, Leader, Valiant son of God and bring his family to the Temple.  Everyone from this nation and this mission is super-glued to my heart.

I AM A DAD!!!!!!!

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.

​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

4Steps 4Success 4Eternity

Dear Family and Friends--both of which I see as my beloved family--
This might be my last week in Lautoka Fiji

My Report:

I have been living and working every week lately to make it so I could look the Savior Jesus Christ in the eyes and say I have done all the work He sent me to do here in Lautoka.  I won't leave an ounce of possible regret here.

Despite Elder Singh leaving to Suva for his possibly broken arm (turned out to be torn muscles--phew! Yay!!!!!! Our PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED :), and my getting very sick and losing my voice entirely, and my having to go to the Dentist for my teeth, STILL, through

Being Teachable

Exact Obedience

Hard Work

Developing a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ

Elder Singh and I have still reached at least 20 lessons per week, at least 4 weeks in a row now, I believe.  It feels great!  We have really helped a tremendous amount of Heavenly Father's very needy and now satisfied children in Lautoka.  Our converts and investigators and returning members are strong and facing their trials well.  My only worry is about Soni.  She is elderly and we are just doing everything we can to help her in her quest to keep her testimony and become self reliant.  The wards here are excellent.  We are going over with a member family to do a family home evening with them tonight.

Elder Singh is a real leader.  I have learned so much from him and really enjoy our friendship.  We have become one, so strong, and so close.  We laugh hard, work hard, play hard, and serve each other hard.  We've really been there for each other through a whole lot of things, and we've seen a LOT of success.  I thank Heavenly Father immensely for sending Elder Singh back into the field, and especially sending him to me as my companion.

I love Elder Singh so much and it is thanks to him that I have gained a deeper level of following the Spirit and being exact in my obedience in ALL things.  My nature has been changed in wonderful ways just by my friendship with this stellar missionary.

I have completely changed, and I love the change I see.  My pride has gone down the drain and I don't miss any of it a bit.  I am one with all my brothers and sisters in the work and am lifting them up and they are lifting me up. :) I am more humble than I have ever been in my life, and I truly have embraced the FULL joy of being fully teachable before the Lord.  I am seeing REAL and lasting change for the eternal best!

I can search my heart, and I can say before heaven, that I really have been exactly obedient in all things this week, except for this morning I was ironing my shirt while memorizing scriptures to help some of our investigators, and then realized it was about 9 and got started on today's comp at 9:03, and besides that there was only the fact that I didn't do a full 30 minute workout while I was really sick.  I just did a little because I knew that was wise and proper principles to govern by.  Besides that I can tell you that I really have been exact in all things the Lord has asked of me with the rules.  And I am connecting fully with the full power of a real relationship with Jesus Christ like never before. I am able to defend Him and see Him personally defending me.

I have learned full Hindi and am so excited about it.  I love it and am still excited for what more I can improve on. Elder Singh said there isn't really much more I could do to improve, just practice what I have and keep moving forward every day.


The other day, when Elder Singh had to leave for Suva, I was given 3 new companions.  With them, I had to find a way to feed all of them and how we would manage our plans for that day with the changes that had been hurdled to us.  The Lord told me, "Look at all the yesterdays where I blessed everything to work out, and from that, looking unto me, know that I know what you face and will provide and bless as I have all yesterdays."  I took great comfort in that and moved forward.  As we got to a Family Home Evening that night, we planned a fun game and played it and shared what Heavenly Father told us those people needed from Him, and then they surprised us by telling us they had felt inspired by heaven to provide 3x more food than originally planned!  We were given the perfect amount of food out of nowhere!

The next morning, we all got up and I led us in a workout.  We had so much fun and could hardly move later.  They requested an ab workout, and from my pre-mission life, I ran Fitness Motivation BSH and taught people all these things. It was so fun to lead the workout with my friends, these great Elders.  I love this work and have so much fun and make so many memories every single day.

This is a good key/map for the Sanskrit Hindi Language.  This is the language I write and read in often here in Fiji.  It is a sound-system.  It is so fun and makes a lot of sense.  I really love the language.


Our dear sister who was Baptized just last week, had her birthday and we bought her balloons and cake and brought them over to her as a surprise gift.  We had so much fun. She is so strong in her testimony.  She went over to her neighbor's house who is a Hindu, and read the Book of Mormon with her and is so loving and humble and faithful.  She is growing in her knowledge and faith and happiness.  She is such a bright and valiant spirit.

Elder Singh taught me how to make Indian Curry!  I am learning how to cook all Indian dishes!!!




​This is a drawing I did for one of our families here.  They have changed their lives.  They are working toward the Temple.  The husband is one of my heroes.  We are both the youngest in our families and have such a close bond together.  He has quit smoking.  He used to be associated with the worst and most abominable lifestyles and was a completely different kind of person, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ has fully changed him and his family.  That is what this fullness of Christ's restored Gospel does.  It changes any life that will try it out and turn to the Savior Jesus Christ.

There was another family we started teaching this week.  They are Muslim.  Their beliefs are very different, but we are loving teaching them.  I love them so much.  The head of the household looks just like Brother Corbett from before my mission.  I love this family a lot.  The Book of Mormon has now entered their lives and is a planted seed that will bring them unto Christ.

The Mission is such an experience!

I simply testify that we can have our relationship with Heavenly Father as strong as we choose.  He is really there.  He really lives, and He will be along side us as close as we choose to make ourselves to Him.  I know He loves each of us personally and that this restored gospel is His as He has personally repeated and I declare that He has invited all the ends of the earth to come and see.  Try it out.  This message will change your life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

_Elder Howard