YOU are the reason

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sorry--this is all in the most random order, and I apologize.  I just have no time to organize it all. :)



This week, we went to a house that I have been being told by Heavenly Father for weeks that we should stop in and see.  We met these people on the street one day as they were walking back to their house, and we were walking to an appointment.  They told us that some of their family members used to be LDS.  They told us to come by sometime. 

Well, when we went over, they warmly welcomed us in and we got to meet 20 people who are eager to receive the gospel.  Some of them used to be members, and the reasons they're not members anymore, is just because they fell away!  No big reason or anything, they say.  I was overpowered by the Spirit and it spoke wonderful, uplifting, encouraging, inspiring messages to them through my mouth.  I got to speak in Hindi, Fijian, and English in the same sentence, several times!  They were all so impressed and received our testimony with open hearts.  One of them said that he has read the Bible 10 times all the way through while he was in prison, because he had nothing else to do.  Now he is so humble in admitting that he hasn't been keeping the commandments, and he has a childlike willingness to take one step at a time and let his Heavenly Father's love lead him gently back into the full light.  

They took us in their house immediately for dinner.  They are Hindi, but they sat us down on their Imbe (cultural Fijian weave floor mat,) and served us a great Fijian meal!  It had been so long since I had a Fijian meal!!! It was good food for my memory and soul to experience that again.  We taught them while we ate, and they soaked it into their hearts and were touched by the Spirit.  I testified of Jesus Christ with all they joy and power of my soul, to a room full of people, and explained in pure simplicity the calling of Christ and the Father's chosen prophet, Joseph Smith, and Their calling him to Restore the fullness of truth as Christ originally established it.  

We gave them a "Together Forever" DVD (google search "lds together forever" -- and watch it).

And we left.  

When we came over a few days later, they told us, "The kids were all so excited to watch the DVDs that they woke up early the very next morning, at 6AM, and watched all of them.  They loved them!"  They told us that next time we come over, they will feed us a huge meal.  Today, walking into town to come to this email shop I'm in now, emailing, we met them on the street again.  The Lord has prepared thousands in our area--and one at a time, He is leading us to all of them.

Heavenly Father forgets about no one.

If I exist, it must be for a great, grand reason.  
And if I exist for a reason, I'd better (and I do)
know what that is.  And God reveals it to me, 
in direct proportion to how much I give myself
to Him.  Now, by degrees I know its fullness. 
I now live fully all awake and up to it.  I exist.

Got my 1st nap of my mission in Fiji so far!  While my companion was recording some of the members of the ward here, speaking in Hindi, for us to use in teaching lessons, I took a nap.  It was delicious.


I learned on April 15th, 2015, that there is no limit to the uncomfortable growth-inducing experiences I can face and rise up to, and rise higher than EVER from.  Thus, I will only choose and embrace the Out Of The Comfort Zone Only, and therein lies life at its fullest.  There's no uncomfortable thing that I can't take on and overcome.  So, I seek out and embrace only those things that will stimulate the growth and progression and advancement of myself; that I may be a useful tool in my Father's work.  And to join Him in it, forever.





























When you finally put Self on the shelf, 

You'll find the greatest kind of wealth,
Spirit's health, magnified, 100x over! 

This morning, we finally went over to our neighbor's house and set up a time when we can come over and teach them.  They were excited and said that they have been wanting to sit down with LDS Missionaries, for a long time.  We gave them a gift of a Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD from my collection, and a Together Forever DVD, and a "Family Proclamation to The World" pamphlet. 

We've been waiting and wanting to set an appointment with them, since February!!! 
Months can be conquered by minutes.  

Just take 5 minutes and do those things you've always wanted to do--or those things you've been waiting and wanting to do.  Why not do it now, so they're done.  Say, "I will be a doner.  I will do things.  Then, they'll be done.  I AM a doner." ^_^


This week, I learned how to twirl and spin those fire sticks like Islanders do!  

When I come home, I am going to add that to my unicycle abilities.  I will ride a mountain unicycle while twirling action-packed Fijian fire sticks!  -- Thing is, I'm actually serious about that! :D I really will (:

The veil is a thing of the past.  The glass is no longer a glass seen through darkly.  He is revealing me as He knew, as He knows ,and as He grandly sees me.  I am, (one day at a time, as I keep His commandments,) being shown--knowing as I am known.

There is no time for waiting.  We can seize our destiny and full potential in the fullness of the moment He has afforded us NOW. 

From now on, everything Christ. 
All minutes life deals me onward,
from now on are for to everything
be Christ.  All I say, all I do, all I am.

I will live to have all of it point to my Friend, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

April 17th, 2015: "I feel like I'm newly in life, because for the rest of it up till now I have been asleep.  I feel like a newcomer into this great ride called 'Earth Experience.'"

"This is Elder Howard, and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love Elder Howard very much.

From now on, I will "work on the priorities my heavenly Father desires."

"The most memorable heroes are those that were most humble. 

"What are the graduating attributes of mortality? 

"What will make you ready to competently move forward on into the real eternities you're about to go out and brave?

"Aren't I dumb if that's not all I'm working on?"

Our investigators progressing toward Baptism: They know the Book of Mormon is true.  It chaned Kirti.  Soni, (her mother,) said, "Ever since she is going you peoples' church, she different.  Things all changed about her.  On all her tests in school now, she been getting 99'!  Her teacher called me asking 'what magic she is using?'  She studies the Book of Mormon every second and minute free,.  Even when I can't, she is." And Kirti said she wants to finish the book in the next week or so!  Kirti is #3 in her whole big school because she is daily reading the Book of Mormon!  

64 years from now, only the things I do with a focus toward my Heavenly Father, and selflessly to all others around me, will be what are remembered and still making a difference.

On Saturday, we watched "Meet the Mormons," and I understood the Hindi in it!  That guy named "Bishnu," his story--when they spoke Hindi, I understood it!  That was fun.

For the Open House, Heavenly Father blessed it to rain the day before, and the day after.   He preserved the day of the Open House to be perfect weather!  We were sooo grateful!! We couldn't have had the Open House if it had been bad weather.  And the open house was such a success!! 

 How submersed am I in the Scriptures?
If my head is above this water, I won't be able to breath.
I have committed deeply to immerse myself in the Scriptures.
Immersing ourselves in the Scriptures drowns and kills the "natural man" all evil in us. 

One day at a time. 


The Creator Has Time

For you. 

More than enough.  

You are the reason He created time to be.  He has no better thing to do--for He has said that you are His own family and is all He spends all His time FOR. And commanded us likewise of our own children, because He is already setting the example by the amount of perfect attention He stands ever ready to give us. 


Seek Him. 
Cry out to Him. 
You'll find Him.

After this life, all that will go forward is the institution of the Family.

This church is the only one that has the power to seal family for time and all eternities.  All families that are not sealed by this power, will one day be severed from one another. 

This is a poster I made for the Open House we held for the entire public of Lautoka.  I sat down and prayed that Heavenly Father would enable me to do a poster that would glorify His name and convey the sacrifice and love of His Son and the glory and joy of the message of the Restoration: 


You may zoom in an read all of it.  It took me 20hrs to make.  Heavenly Father helped me sooooooooo much!  The inspiration for it, just flowed as I said a prayer, and then went to work.​

Excerpt from a letter to my Mission President:

This week, we had the most successful Open House!  Lautoka 1st and 2nd both were overflowing with joy, unity, tears, testimony and a true and permeating spirit of service.  They want to do an activity like this one was, every month!  Hundreds have been so positively affected by this!

We have 50 new names of 3 pages of people from the Open House who were interested in the Restored Gospel and want missionaries to come over!  50 referrals in a day isn't bad! 

Me and my companion are inseparable and love each other with our whole hearts.  There isn't a smallest degree of anonymity between us in the least!  We hug each other EVERY day.  We pray together EVERY hour.  We laugh with each other EVERY day.  We compliment and edify each other EVERY day.  We are perfectly unified--and I don't know that I am exaggerating in saying that.  We really are thriving.  We're as lush and blossoming in our companionship as Fiji is in its agriculture and forestry! 

We are progressing SO FAR in the Hindi language! 

The Mission truly sets your life.  I believe that.  Your pre mission life is the cement being poured into the form of your eternity--and the decision to serve a mission is the pouring of the initiatory water to the Cement.  The Mission dries the cement.  So I am making sure it dries exactly how Heavenly Father would want it if He were me in my place; exactly how I want it; exactly how We want it.  By the end of my mission, I will be "dried."   I will be immovable in every form of godliness, for all the work of godhood Christ works with me now in preparation for.  My Father is my builder.  I build my life not after the manner which is learned of men--but from that of the highest and most exalted spheres, I build my eternity and that eternity upon which endless posterity will in-turn lay their own frames upon. 

Thank you for the eternal work you are engaged in.  I love you and Sister Layton and all you have used your agency to make of your lives. 

I had thought getting to my night prayers by 10:30 was impossible, and I had near' given up on it.  But, on April 15th, I signed my "Exact Obedience Resolution," and from all therein, it was the first night in Fiji where I have made it to my prayers before 10:30.  I was pleased, because my Father was pleased.  Indeed I can testify that from that, I felt a fuller presence of the Spirit.  This is the first of many, many breakthroughs that will come from that paper He and I wrote.  

Many wait to embrace exact, real obedience.  And I know each of them regret that they didn't do it sooner.  They'll wish they had.  They think they don't need it; and later they'll regret that they once thought that.  When you choose exact obedience in the right spirit and for the right reasons, and by the godly principles which are in Christ, you're not just making a decision... you're making Your Mission.

Only the blind withhold full obedience to God. 

I believe that, and it is my joy to be giving my heart to such. 

That note I signed, advanced me.  It has magnified everything. 

I am excited about it! 

I thought I took a picture of the paper I signed, but I guess I didn't.  I can't find it.  I'll send it to you next week. 

I believe that if we as a mission--each individual missionary and companionship--is as the army of Helaman ~ obedience, you'll get not just as amazing as they got--but MORE!   Once every missionary and companionship can honestly email you and tell you that they have tried and that they can now testify genuinely of exact obedience and the spirit and power that come from living it in the right spirit and principles, then the Fiji Mission will lead the world. 

 Is that not so? 

I am not perfect, but now I am perfect at truly trying.  I'm filled with a fire for it now.

3 Sharks! 10 Joy! 1 License! Hindi Materials!

Aap Log Kaise Hai!!! Bahuut suundarr iss Jiwan!  Hum log bahuut juloom, auld sub cheej acha hai!


From the land of every beauty, and every language,

Konichi Wa!  Bula Vinaka!  Mauri!  Namaste!  Hello!  Rite hai! 


This week, we were in the market in town, and were just going to grab a few things and share the gospel with everyone... and then the Lord blessed us to get really really cheap good deals on everything, so we were able to get a whole lot of fresh veggies and fruit, and...

3 Sharks! 


We were stunned and surprised to see them being sold in the market.  

We stopped and stared... and then said, "Well, let's try a new experience!" And we bought this one gray shark, and 2 hammer-head sharks, all for 5 dollars!

We continued walking on with 3 fins all popping out of our bags, and as we went, a Fijian man stopped us and asked us if we know how to prepare them and cook them.  We said we didn't have a clue.  He gave us a bunch of advice that didn't actually help us, but, we got to spend a long time together talking about the gospel, and he was so happy!  The gospel would have never come to him if we hadn't bought 3 sharks.

We're going back to share with him again in a few days because he wants to read what we gave him and learn so much more.

The Lord works in mysterious ways :)

We got home after sharing the gospel with a whole bunch of other people including our Taxi drivers and everyone who Heavenly Father prepared to be taught by us.  Once we were home, we had to leave the sharks sitting in our sink to stink, because we had lessons and meetings to get to right away.

When we came back, I said a prayer and then Heavenly Father guided and inspired me as to how to properly gut and clean and prepare the sharks.  I was amazed at how incredible all of His sacred and beautiful creations are in this world.  

The sharks are all gutted, cleaned, chopped up, in our freezer, and ready to eat over the next few weeks!

_______________________________________________________
I have learned how to drive!  I even drove all over all the back-roads and learned everything about stick and the Lord has magnified all my abilities! Plus, I'm confident now and will be getting my license on Wednesday.

I can now understand literally almost everything Hindi people say.  I have now learned the language, and I can lead lessons, teach lessons, answer questions, interpret, read some, write some, ask questions, go on splits where Elder Moka isn't even there to help me in Hindi.  He has made me self sufficient to stand on my own 2 feet in the Hindi program and in most everything in our companionship.  We are thriving in our closeness with each other and with all our investigators.  

I have been speaking near fluently and effortlessly in all 3 languages every day.  I can switch between Eng., Fijian and Hindi easily and people understand and enjoy my languages.  I am very serious about the work and am progressing faster and higher than ever thanks to Heavenly Father.  I have no limits when I'm powered and enabled by Him, and that's exactly what has happened. 

We are picking up more and more Hindi investigators.  They don't speak much English, so our Hindi speaking is truly sprouting and thriving and flourishing by the day. I am ready to move the kingdom forward in every way the Lord can use me.

Elder Moka and I have such a beyond strong, and perfect, close friendship.  We're more than companions.  We are more than best friends.  We are perfectly unified, in all the indescribable ways me and Elder Nawahine were, and in some other ways too.  This has become the most flourishing relationship of laughter, respect, perfect unity, happiness, selfless service and enjoyment I've had my whole mission so far.  We love each other.  We pray together every hour of the day almost.  Every night and every morning, we pray, and then at the end of the day we hug each other sincerely and we always tell each other we love each other and do nothing at all but edify and compliment and build up and improve each other.  I have the best companion!!!!! 

I am ready for anything the Lord wants! ^_^

We finally got Hindi materials!! In sanscrip hindi symbols!! Pure hindi!  Pamphlets and Book of Mormons are flying out to people now every day!  We are so excited about these brand new materials that have now started to come for the first time ever!  We are using them and the people are so appreciative of them!! 

The Lord is flooding us with golden investigators!!  

Me and Elder Moka; we love you, we love the Lord, we are eager to do all He requires of us. 

In the next couple weeks we will be having an incredible Open House and Devotional for the whole of Lautoka to come tour our Chapel and know what the Church is all about in focuses like Family, Service, Chirst-like Lifestyle, etc.  It's going to be a huge success.  We are so grateful.


I had someone throw a balloon at my face, and it didn't pop.  Haha!


Here is something I read this week about Gratitude:

PLEASE READ IT!   IT'S TOO GOOD NOT TO READ! 

Confuse Every Trial: Smile!

This week, we had a problem with someone we are teaching.  They made choices that have hurt us a lot.  I can't say details, but to watch them choose to fall, was one of the darkest and saddest points of my mission.  But, now I can testify that fasting works.  Fasting turned this darkest point of my mission, right over to the very brightest and excruciatingly joyful point of my mission yet.

That point topped all pains.  And when I handed it over to the Savior, He turned it around to top most ALL joys I've ever had in my life.

I testify of what the Atonement of Jesus Christ can do.  

Because of Him, all dark, sad, painful, can be turned around for joy and hope and positive change.  

I am now coming to the Savior in ways beyond what I've ever known.  Jesus Christ and I really are now becoming as close as He always hoped and yearned for. And though I get to experience His pain at watching Heavenly Father's children make sometimes painful wrong choices, I know that is part of coming to know His depth of love.  

I fasted for everything this week... we have so many struggles and challenges and people making painful decisions in their lives. Things here in the mission, and things at home.  I testify that fasting works true and undeniable miracles.  I testify Heavenly Father is there.  He is living and literal and personal.  His plans are the best. 

I have received perfect peace and joy in the midst of every kind of circumstance, pain, trial, challenge, turn of events and all emotions and situations.  And I can testify that He hears every word of your prayers.  And I can testify that we can have true, rich, shining, full, lasting, deep, real, tangible joy and happiness and peace regardless of our circumstances.

That comes through turning to Christ and living His gospel with all our hearts in all things.  Then all things only effect us positively.  

In this work, all we need to do is be ready to be used.  It is the Holy Ghost that does all the work through us.  This work really isn't mine.  It really isn't me.  I'm His hands.

At the beginning of Tuesday, it was the darkest day of my mission yet.  And by the end of the day, literally everything had 100% switched around to the most exquisite joy I've had on my mission yet.  And through it all, I was joyful.

Fasting changed everything.  It changed people's attitudes.  It filled my hungry soul.  It is one way to empty yourself of unrighteousness so you can be filled with the Holy ghost.  Fasting is the way to "hunger and thirst after righteousness," as the Savior taught. 

Salvation is certainly not a cheap experience at all.  It is joyful.  It is exhilarating.  It is our work and our glory, to work with the Father to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children.

At the end of the day, the Lord had worked everything for good; and people's hearts and situations were on the path to being changed fully.  When we walked in the door at the end of the day, we fell on our knees and cried unto the Lord, praising and thanking Him, with overflowing souls and hearts.  

It'll be interesting to see how the Celestial Kingdom can top this joy I felt.  Yet I know it's a reality awaiting.  My joy tank is brimmed and stocked for years!  Haha! It was joy I didn't know mortals were capable of experiencing!  

This work requires everything. 

And I'm willing to give it.

Love is my motive.

Because He Lives; I can do all things.

A loving Heavenly Father (Part 2: Prayer)

So, Life.  What's it all about?  Why is it?  And how can we make the most of it?

How do we individually and personally reach Life @ it's Fullest?

​We approach our loving Heavenly Father, and give our lives to Him.  

And mean it.  Trust His love.  Feed all the light and good and faith and joy and divinity and righteousness and happiness inside of you!  Feed it and starve ALL the bad.

What does He do then?

He Himself can then teach us.

How?

This gospel of Jesus Christ.

The beauty and perfection of the gospel God our loving Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, restored in our day and age--personally and permanently, to bless the lives of all the children of God.

I would like to suggest that life at its fullest is accessed very largely through prayer.

​This is a picture my companion took without me knowing.  We had had a long day, and this restaurant didn't have anything but expensive cola drinks and juices.  We wanted water, but they didn't have any.  We walked over to our table and sat down.  Heavenly Father heard our prayers and desires.  A waitress walked over and surprised us by giving us a jug full of water, and two cups!

It was a small thing, but it impacted us hugely and we felt our Heavenly Father's love and kindness. 

I stopped what I was doing and immediately thanked Him.

He hears us.

He always hears us.

The Bible Dictionary says this about Prayer:

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are His children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

There are many passages in the New Testament that teach the duty of prayer (Matt. 7:7; 26:41; Luke 18:1; 21:36; Eph. 6:18; Philip. 4:6; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes.5:17, 25; 1 Tim. 2:1, 8). Christians are taught to pray in Christ’s name (John14:13–14; 15:7, 16; 16:23–24). We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ—when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart.

Book of Mormon references on prayer include 1 Ne. 18:3; Alma 34:17–28;Ether 2:14.