Ice skating in the desert

Living out loud

Hey hey hey everyone.. its the great Buck Howard reporting. So this week was another one for the books. We started our week with a fun P day activity (people have now placed this choice over my head, like what we want do for Pday) that I never thought was possible to do here in the middle of the desert! We went ice skating on the most sketch rink in the world.. but we still did in without too many injuries. We had a nice time there but that was nothing in compared to one of the coolest experiences that I had this last week.( I will send you a Picture of the setting of this experience.) So we had transfers this last week and so that means chaos in our mission for the start of the week so as a result our zone leaders said that they wanted to cancel our District meeting in the morning. So I was like okay darn that was my 1st one ever but that's all beside the point. I was talking with Elder Packard and I was like we have 2 extra hours and this last week was a doosy for us... lets go take a little chill pill to get our heads back on straight. So we walked to an isolated part of the beach in our sector... we separated by about 200 yards and set up camp. I pulled out my journal and just started to write everything that had been on my mind.. I was able to kneel down in the sand and offer my own personal prayers in a loud voice. and it was one of the coolest things... here in the mission you don't have the privacy to do that, meaning praying out loud. I was kneeling in the dirt and then a real life angel appeared to me... Not really just making sure you're actually reading the letter ;) but really it was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. Just literally took a view of everything that's going on in my life, who I was, am, and going to be. It was a rad experience. So I challenge you all to do it... Go to a cool place alone ( sorry I know that I am spoiled and can go to the beach, unlike you all) but just go and let everything go for awhile... maybe take your journal or a photo album or something that helps you just lax out. Go and pray to your Heavenly Father in sincere out loud prayer, take your problems, goals, strengths and weaknesses and whatever else it may be and just receive the personal revelation that will blow your mind..  Sorry for the long rant but in really just was such a cool thing for me I want you all to enjoy in as much as I did.

We were also blessed with the Baptism of the Valentia this last weekend.. She is the sister of Marcelo and the daughter of Mitchell... that one guy who has been having miracles going on in his life. (more to come next week with him) such a great change in this wonderful family. ahhhh it just makes me soooo happy.

As of right now we don't have any Baptism dates but we have our sights aimed high and our president has put some crazy pressure on us for the end of the year to reach our baptism goal.. We are going to do it! I love you all and you will hear from me next week.

Elder Howard

Don't be judgin...

Hey family hope all is going well... Its been a great week and here are a few great things that happened in the work of the lord this last week.

We were bless with the baptism of Marcos.. We over came and worked through with all of his problems and everything is good. So we were able to go through with his baptism. He was super stoked about it and the service went very very well.. in fact right after his baptism he came up to right before we started the second part and asked if he could give his testimony. He is a stud!

We have 2 more baptism dates for the coming weeks. their names are Javier and Valentina... great people as well. As a matter of fact we have to go there right now because we have appointments with them both tonight so I have no time to continue to write. Im stoked for the new assignment to be a D leader and hope that I can to a good job.

SO much more has gone on this week but all in all everything is good!

Love elder Howard

ps. He is wearing my pants! so dont be a judgin´

Give it your all...no matter what!

Well another great week coming from the 2nd region here in Chile. I hope you all received my voice messages from the last week! But wow we had a great week and we truly received some miracles from the hand of the lord!! If you remember Marco, the Jehovah's witness investigator that we have been working with lately that we found though one of his friends (who is an awesome member, Hernesto his name) We had a few lessons with him this last week having him be our central focus.. and we he said the thing that EVERY missionary wants to hear! "So yeah elders... Ive been thinkin about it lately. And I want to get baptised... but I know I been be ready if you give me just another week and a half. So yeah lets plan on the 18th Elders"!!! WHAT A BLESSING RIGHT!!! He is a stud... he came to conference this last weekend. When I saw him there I we came running up to me gave me a huge hug and says.. "Elder Howard, I want you to baptise me" heheh it was a great feeling to have and a great way to start off conference!

I as a missionary and as a person who totally dig the word of the prophets could speak for every about the great experiences that I have and and the great things that I have learned. But In this little letter I want to share one of the personal revelations that I received that I think will change who I am and help me be a better missionary. Because really that's what its all about, ADAPTING what we have learned into our own lives. yeah so, it was during the talk of Henry B. Eyring during the priesthood session and the basis of his talk (my interpretation) was how to help other receive their true potential. And he starting to talk to some of the leaders about helping their youth to reach their full potential.. and from then on in made me start to think of all of my priesthood leaders, family, friends, and many other examples in which I have had in my life. And it just hit me how great of help all of these other people have offered unto me over my years and that NOW and forever forward that's my new job to help and be one of these examples for other people. Then I continued to think and long story short I came to a huge conclusion and perhaps a new why of thought. My "little revelation" was that now I NEED TO BE FIRM IN MY FAITH, I NEED TO LOSE THE FEAR OF GIVING EFFORTS WITHOUT GETTING THE END RESULTS INTENDED. If you even understand great, if not, not really important. this had been something that I need to learn. I get scared of giving everything if I don't know how the results will be. I have been and always will be willing to give it all, but for fear of failure I sometimes don't. So that was the major conference highlight for elder Howard.. Now its time for me to "go feed the sheep" :)

I love you all

Elder Howard