Faith Precedes the Miracle

     A 22 year old was trying to impress his 18 year old girl friend with how fast he could drive on a narrow mountain road in Arizona. He crashed through a guard rail at 75 miles per hour, flipped end to end, and landed upright with no injury to either. The anonymous internet prophets are suggesting that the kid probably now has faith in God as a result of the miracle of his survival:

"If this guy didn't believe in a God before, do you suppose he believes now?  The greater the miracle, the more profound the faith."

 Actually, faith precedes the miracle.  People whose faith is based on miracles have a very shallow and shaky faith.  We need to help our kids and grandkids obtain an unshakable faith that only comes after obedience; and then cometh the visitation of the Spirit as a still, small voice that cannot be denied.  When faith comes after choosing to humble yourself and rely upon God, then God can reveal knowledge to you, and intervene on your behalf, and lead you to safety in a dangerous world.  "For if there be no ^afaith among the children of men God can do no ^bmiracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith" (Ether 12:12).  "A wicked and ^aadulterous generation seeketh after a ^bsign..." (Matthew 16:4).

The Voice of Angels

Sacrament meeting yesterday was a spiritual experience for all who heard Sister Howard speak with the tongue of angels "Angelkunaka Achill-Kausak-Samaywan parlan" (2 Nephi 32:3).  Much more was said that can be written. 

You should have been there: Ñuka Elder Jaguar mana ñuka llaktapi tukui yachachishkakunata killkay ushanichu; palankapak shinaka na yapa shuyata killakankapak charinichu; mayk'an runapish Achill-Kausak-Samaypak ushaywan parlakpika, Achill-Kausak-Samaypak ushaymi paypak nishkata runakunapak wawakunapak shunkuman chayanchin (2 Nephi 33:1).

Christopher gave the lesson in family home evening: "follow the prophet".  Everyone participated, reading vignettes from the lives of the prophets.  Heidi popped corn, Carlene and the girls baked cookies, and their were lots of hugs all around.

Grandma stayed up washing clothes, and Zane and the kids left here at 5:45 am Monday.  Back to work! 

Reunion Activities

Power

Thank God every day when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you want to do it or not; for being forced to work and do your best breed in you diligence, strength of will, patience, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know.

You can gain power to withstand the pressures of life by competing in sports or performing on stage (or speaking in church).  Every shot you make gives you power to make the next shot.  When you compete against tougher competitors you gain power to overcome all things in your path.

Feast upon the words of Christ, for they will give us power.  ""For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do...Porque nosotros trabajamos diligentemente para escribir, a fin de persuadir a nuestros hijos, así como a nuestros hermanos, a creer en Cristo y a reconciliarse con Dios; pues sabemos que es por la gracia por la que nos salvamos, después de hacer cuanto podamos;... (2 Nephi 25:23).

Once we learn about an attribute of Christ, we should work to implement it in our own life. "And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.  Paypak nishkata uyankapak munakpika, payka tukui rurakunapak kishpichinkapak kay allpaman shaman... Y viene al mundo para salvar a todos los hombres, si éstos escuchan su voz; porque he aquí, él sufre los dolores de todos los hombres, sí, los dolores de toda criatura viviente, tanto hombres como mujeres y niños, que pertenecen a la familia de Adán...." (2 Nephi 9:21)

For example, my granddaughters exemplify charity, the pure love of Christ.  Their love is so pure and sincere, that they can even love their grandpa.  My grandsons are full of zeal like Lehi when he tasted the fruit (the love of Christ) and wanted to share with his family; they love to share their enthusiasm for everything they find to do that they enjoy.

Teach the doctrine and principles found in the sacred pages of the Book of Mormon to release the convincing power of God.  Quote, read, or repeat by heart the words of the book.  Missionaries in Ecuador used the Book of Mormon in all their comings and goings, so thousands experienced a change of heart and decided to enter into covenants through sacred priesthood ordinances. The Book of Mormon is a golden instrument in finding and converting the  honest seekers of truth and in rescuing many of our brothers and sisters back into gospel activity. O how great the plan of our God! Oh cuán grande es el plan de nuestro Dios! Ay ñukanchik Achill-Taytaka ninan jatunta yuyarka (2 Nephi 9:13)

Families will be fortified. Many of our children will be saved as they repent and gain forgiveness. "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; ... I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal. (Abraham 2:9-11)

"Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, andalift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children... He aquí, mis amados hermanos, os hablo estas cosas para que os regocijéis y levantéis vuestras cabezas para siempre, a causa de las bendiciones que el Señor Dios conferirá a vuestros hijos. Riki, ñuka k’uyashka waukikunaa, Apunchik-Achill-Tayta Kushik’ushpa kikinkunapak umat ama ima punllapish kumurishpa wichay churaychik." (2 Nephi 9:3)

rnjhoward family 2010

This is the first time we have the whole family with all 4 kids and all 9 grandkids.

A Snowy Day

There are a lot of ways to spend a snowy day.  Fishing is always the best way to spend any day.

Boys

Boys like to watch basketball, play video games and eat and sleep.

Rehearsal

It was a miracle.  Everyone came to the rehearsal, and sang their parts, and it was beautiful (tukuilla tantanak'ushpa cantaychik).  If we survive the Saturday blizzard and can travel in the freezing cold on Sunday, it should be a very nice family event.

It must be their mothers.  These kids get good training at home.

Yachachiq - s. Maestro, profesor, educador.

Yachachiy - v.tr. Enseñar, capacitar, educar.

Yachanaay - v.intr. Aprender.

Yachaspa - adv. A sabiendas

Playing

Grandma (Mama-byeham, ñuka warmi) fixed the french toast, but I was the server and attendant for the girls this morning.  After that they bounced for a while, then recorded a pop song called "Fireflies".  They also were enticed to practice the Farewell song for Sunday, because I played their voices in so many ways. They liked the chipmunk style best. (Kantay).

The boys are in the basement watching several basketball games on big screen TVs.  The girls are upstairs playing and playing.  Now Lily has joined them.  They get along very well.

My beloved children (ñuka k'uyashka wawakunapish) are each other's beloved friends (paykuna k'uyashka mashi kankuna)

Granddaughters

I am aware that granddaughters are a great blessing.  For five days all five are here with me.  They smile, laugh, tease, and hug.  They love each other, they love their grandma and they even love their grandpa.  It is clear that their mothers have worked hard to instill in them the best qualities of humanity.  They love to read, tell stories, play games, and help around the house.  They pray and sing and enjoy life to the fullest.

Their singing voices are like angels.  They have the discipline to learn parts and perform any kind of singing or playing of any kind of instruments.  In my dreams I see the future: I become increasingly confused and disabled and old, and my granddaughters become more and more empowered and strong and able, and they care for me, like their mothers cared for them.  They are full of the Spirit of the Lord (Achill-Kausak-Samayta chaskinkichikmi) and speak with the tongues of angels (chayka angelkunapak shimi rimaypi parlay ushankichik), just as their angel grandmother prayed they would.

Prosperity

The people of Otavalo, Ecuador have been among the most prosperous and industrious in the Americas for hundreds of years.  The Cara were talented textile workers and business people in ancient times.  In the 16th Century, Otavalo was an important administrative center for the Incan Empire.  In the 17th Century, the Españoles introduced new tools and fibers that made Otavalo the most important weaving center in Ecuador.  In the 21st Century, they are traveling around the world in a successful campaign to export products of the Andes.  Fifty thousand have managed to resist assimilation, being true to their cultural traditions, including the Runa Simi Kichwa language.

I'm sure their tradition comes from an ancient time when Nephi taught his people to be industrious and labor with their hands, resulting in prosperity.  Chayka ñuka Nefika llaktapurakuna paykunapak makwanpacha imatapish rurashpa kausachun yachachirkani... Chayka ninanta mirarishpa llaktapi ashtakakuna karkanchik.  (2 Nephi 5:17, 13)

The Lord promised Lehi that his descendants and any others who came here that if they "keep the commandments will prosper in this land... ñuka rurachunpacha sakishkakunata katishpaka, kay allpapi mararinkichik..." (2 Nephi 1:9)

New addresses

New Kansas permanent address:

Roy and Janeen Howard

2250 N. Rock Road

Suite 118-127

Wichita, KS 67226

jhoward1948@att.net

2rhoward@att.net

16 May 2010 to 2 November 2011

Send letters and packages to the Ecuador Temple Office:

Elder Roy E. Howard

Sister J. Janeen Howard

Guayaquil Ecuador Temple Mission

P.O. Box 09-04-44

Policentro

Guayaquil

Ecuador

Phone: 593 42 889 388

May 3 to May 15, 2010

Mail letters and packages to the MTC:

Elder Roy E. Howard

Sister J. Janeen Howard

Provo Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84604

(no hand deliveries, faxes, or phone calls)

 

Home page: http://www.cantos.org/rnjhoward

Blog direct: http://rnjhoward.blogspot.com/

Blessings

Tonight we had a wonderful family dinner. Hannah gave a lesson about how much we need and depend upon our families.  Afterwards, the kids asked what we needed to help us get ready to leave.  We reported on some wonderful events and interventions that have helped us along the way.  We heard that Heather and Zane are planning to visit in March.  We feel blessed, like Nephi: Apunchik-Tayta ñukaman miraywan chaskichishkata yacharkami, 1 Nefi 3:8