Better Keep in Touch!

Elder Howard back home on the ranch

Jake, the rancher, went one day


To fix a distant fence.


The wind was cold and gusty


And the clouds rolled gray and dense.





As he pounded the last staples in


And gathered tools to go,


The temperature had fallen,


The wind and snow began to blow.



When he finally reached his pickup,


He felt a heavy heart.


From the sound of that ignition


He knew it wouldn't start.



So Jake did what most of us


Would do if we had been there.


He humbly bowed his balding head


And sent aloft a prayer.



Michael Andrews
never feared the cold

As he turned the key for the last time,


He softly cursed his luck


They found him three days later,


Frozen stiff in that old truck.



Now Jake had been around in life


And done his share of roaming.


But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked --


It looked just like Wyoming !



Of all the saints in Heaven,


His favorite was St. Peter.


So they sat and talked a minute or two,
Or maybe it was three.


Nobody was keeping' score --
In Heaven, time is free.



I’ve always heard,' Jake said to Pete,
'

that God will answer prayer,


But one time I asked for help,


Well, he just plain wasn't there.'



'Does God answer prayers of some,


And ignore the prayers of others?


That don't seem exactly square --


I know all men are brothers.'

'

Or does he randomly reply,


Without good rhyme or reason?


Maybe, it's the time of day,


The weather or the season.'



'Now I ain't trying to act smart,


It's just the way I feel.


And I was wondering', could you tell me --


What the heck's the deal?!'



Peter listened very patiently


And when Jake was done,


There were smiles of recognition,


And he said, 'So, you're the one!!'



Troy knows how to stay in touch

That day your truck, it wouldn't start,


And you sent your prayer a flying,


You gave us all a real bad time,


With hundreds of us trying..'



'A thousand angels rushed,


To check the status of your file,


But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard


From you in quite a long while.'



'And though all prayers are answered,


And God ain't got no quota,


He didn't recognize your voice,


And started a truck in Minnesota '



BETTER KEEP IN TOUCH!

Filled with His Love

Stanlie Gail, fearless adventurer

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with his love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." Moroni 7:48

Joseph Fielding Smith

"We accept without reservation the scriptural teachings that Christ is the Son of God and that he came into the world to ransom men from the spiritual and temporal death brought into the world by the fall of Adam. . . . We must believe in Christ and pattern our lives after him. We must be baptized as he was baptized. We must worship the Father as he did. We must do the will of the Father as he did. We must seek to do good and work righteousness as he did. He is our Exemplar, the great Prototype of salvation" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, November 1971, p. 3).

Love and Happiness

"The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many.  But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification.  The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 275).

"The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many.  But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification.  The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 275). 

Cate and Julian stick together

Julian is teaching physics today

Cate learns from her big brother

World's greatest big brother

When there is love, it shows

"Where is happiness, real happiness? Nowhere but in God. By possessing the spirit of our holy religion, we are happy in the morning, we are happy at noon, we are happy in the evening; for the spirit of love and union is with us, and we rejoice in the spirit because, it is of God, and we rejoice in God, for he is the giver of every good thing. Every Latter-day Saint, who has experienced the love of God in his heart, after having received the remission of his sins, through baptism, and the laying on of hands, realizes that he is filled with joy, and happiness, and consolation. He may be in pain, in error, in poverty, or in prison, if necessity demands, still, he is joyful. This is our experience, and each and every Latter-day Saint can bear witness to it" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, p. 183).

Mingle

All together, singing in the kitchen with
Sister Howard and the Missionaries
of the Temple

"And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me." Doctrine and Covenants 38:24

Mingle for music and meriendas
A few of Elder Howard's Violin and
Viola students

"Mingle together as opportunity affords.  It is important that we do so.

We need others to talk with, to share our feelings with, with whom to share our faith.  Cultivate friends.

Begin by being a good friend to others" (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 429).

Jesus Christ

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!  For we saw him, even on the right hand of God, and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father." Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-23

"We know that salvation is in Christ; that he was the Firstborn Son of the Eternal Father; that he was chosen and foreordained in the councils of heaven to work out the infinite and eternal atonement; that he was born into the world as the Son of God; and that he has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. "We believe with perfect surety that Christ came to ransom men from the temporal and spiritual death brought into the world by the fall of Adam and that he took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance. . . . and that building upon the foundation of the atonement of Christ, all men must work out their salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord. "We proclaim that to gain salvation men must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be baptized by immersion by one who has authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and then press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, keeping the commandments and enduring to the end" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign,June 1971, p. 3).http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/

A Voice of Gladness

Howards and Veras at Las Playas

"Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness!

Veras, Howards, Andrades,
Las Playas, Guayas, Ecuador

A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings from the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy.

We stayed at the home of
Margarita and Walter Andrade
for New Year weekend

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth!" (D&C 128:19)

We appreciate the smiles and
encouragement of Emy and José Vera

"We like enjoyment here. That is right. God designs that we should enjoy ourselves. I do not believe in a religion that makes people gloomy, melancholy, miserable and ascetic. . . .

Hermanas Vera, Howard, Andrade

I should not think there was anything great or good associated with that, while everything around, the trees, birds, flowers and green fields, were so pleasing, the insects and bees buzzing and fluttering, the lambs frolicking and playing

.

"While everything else enjoyed life, why should not we?

Sister and Elder Howard enjoyed their
time at the beach.

But we want to do it correctly and not pervert any of these principles that God has planted in the human family" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 97).

Happy New Year

el Hombre Viejo will be burned at Midnight

We celebrated the New Year with the Andrade and Vera families in Las Playas.

... put off  the old man...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Marvel not that a man must be born again (John 3:3-7).

The burning of the old year is a great
celebration...

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossians 3:8-10).

Celebrate a  New Year with a new
chance for a life of joy

 ...our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Romans 6:6).

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad from tropical Ecuador

We have been invited to spend Christmas weekend at the beach, but we have chosen to stay home and receive your calls.

We are available on Skype: rnjhoward  or at our phone number: 316 854 2224  


New Year's weekend will find us at the beach for 5 days.


Our Christmas Card to you: http://www.cantos.org/rnjhoward/Navidad

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And sudden there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

"In celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ our thoughts turn to that sacred occasion when He was born "The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He promised: "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). Truly, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer who was "wounded for our transgressions ... and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). "Our prayer this Christmas season is that the light and testimony of the Savior's divine mission will come into our hearts and be reflected in our lives and in our homes. May each of us be blessed, not only at this Christmas season, but also throughout the coming year. May our faith in Jesus Christ increase as we follow His example in all we do and say." (First Presidency Message, LDS)

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  We are grateful for our testimony that His resurrection breaks the bonds of death and brings us all home to our Father in Heaven.  We dedicate our celebration this year also to our beloved sister, Stanlie Gail (1 September 1946 to 24 December 2010).

She was a bright light, a shooting star, who cheered us all many times.

We are grateful to have shared time with her nearly every day for the past few months, and pray that her family may receive peace from the Holy Ghost, as our sister returns to the Father who sent her here to be with us for 64 years.



Our Christmas Message: www.cantos.org/rnjhoward/Navidad


(George Albert Smith was the Church President when Stanlie Gail was born)

George Albert Smith

"I thank [my Heavenly Father] for the knowledge that has been burned into my soul; I know that my Heavenly Father lives, I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, and that there is no other name under heaven whereby men and women may be exalted, but the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. I do know that he came into the world in this latter day, that he bestowed divine authority upon a humble boy who was seeking the truth, and the result of that has been the organization of the Church with which we are identified; and there is with it the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe. Knowing that as I know that I live, I bear you witness of it" (Conference Report, October 1927, p. 50).

We need a little Christmas Now

The best known American face in Ecuador could be Abraham Lincoln (penny and $5 bill).  The Ecuatorianos don't know how tall he was, nor howLincoln responded to the man who asked him, "how long should a man's legs be?'  He said, "long enough to reach the ground".  Maybe that is a good way to think of how long a life should be: long enough to return to the Heavenly Father who sent you here.  Lincoln lived 56 tough years.  We appreciate and remember him.

And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln said of Thanksgiving: The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God....

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

We can't wait for anything.  We have to celebrate when we need the celebration, to quote another famous American, Mame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldyKvZdsOZM

Temple Missionaries, Guayaquil, December 2010

New Christy Minstrels version on 33 1/3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ6yFTHnwMg

Mame:
Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For I've grown a little leaner,
Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder,
Grown a little older,
All:
And I need a little angel
Sitting on my shoulder,
Need a little Christmas now.
Mame:
Haul out the holly;
Well, once I taught you all to live each living day.
All:
Fill up the stocking,
Young Patrick:
But Auntie Man, it's one week from Thanksgiving Day now.
All:
But we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute.
Agnes:
It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;
Ito:
So climb down the chimney;
Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.
All:
Slice up the fruitcake;
It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing
Ringing through the rafter,
And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after,"
Need a little Christmas now.
Need a little Christmas now.

Warriors in God's Army

The Aguilar Family: faithful temple volunteers

"And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also." D&C 84:106.

Many families here have been strengthened in their relationships with each other and in their testimonies as they interact with the temple missionaries.  We have come to love and be loved here in Ecuador.

One shining example are Brother and Sister Aguilar. In the year since they joined the church they have come several days each week to volunteer in the baptistery. Besides growing close to the Temple Missionaries, they have also become strong in their own testimonies and ability to serve others.

Last night Hermano Aguilar had a dream that he was dressed as an ancient warrior in full armor.  He felt strong and confident and happy.  He then determined to reach out to the inactive members of his ward.  We told him that next Tuesday when he goes to the temple he will be clothed in the Garments of the Holy Priesthood, which will be a fulfillment of the prophecy embedded in his dream.  Then he will be a warrior in God's army:

"Behold, I have commanded my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., to say unto the strength of my house, even my warriors...those who have hearkened unto my words, I have prepared a blessing and an endowment for them, if they continue faithful. I have heard their prayers, and will accept their offering..." D&C 105:16-19.

They are very happy.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Nathan and JoAnn enjoy a quiet dinner at home in Spokane
surrounded by snow.

Everyone did there own thing this year.  Zane made a special meal for friends.  Heather went to a friend's parents.  Jess and Carlene's families were together.  Nathan and JoAnn were alone.

Thanksgiving Dinner in Guayaquil with the Temple
Missionaries on Sunday, Census Day, 86 degrees outside.

We were working, so we held Thanksgiving celebration on Sunday with all the temple missionaries.  It is Census Day. Everyone had to stay home all day, so we had a special Sacrament Meeting, and then we had dinner and celebrations, and then Ward Choir Practice.

Everybody Likes to Go Their Own Way

"Everybody likes to go their own way - to choose their own time and manner of devotion."

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist of romantic fiction

It has always been that way.  We can disagree, but if we complain about the choices, the real problems begin.

These mushrooms don't belong on the
temple grounds, but they are there...
so I created a scene where they
really look good with the temple.

For example, Lehi's big challenge in saving his family, was that everybody had a different idea about what to do and where to go.  Even his wife "had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness."  When she was finally consoled that her sons were safe, "she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons... and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them."

I felt like complaining about my
orchestra and the late arriving
musicians.  However, I said nothing,
and afterward received many
compliments about how wonderful
the music sounded.

Nephi was devoted to following his father, but shares with us his own ideas, not those of his father. "I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work."

 Everyone likes to make their own choices, and we can't take away our children's agency.  We can teach them and bear witness.  When Lehi realized he had a son who did not complain, but did what he was told, he said, "go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.... I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded... And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord."

Lily is reading, because that is the
example she sees around her.

So, we are glad for this news from Jess: "We are in Chapter 5 of 2 Nephi and reading about 3-4 days a week.  Not perfect but much better than we ever have.  Even Lily gets in on the fun.  She get really excited when it is her turn to read and pronounces very well.  It is fun to have all the other kid's reading by themselves and helping each other out."  Everyone is having fun reading the same book.

I am going to read with them, and hope to get involved in their discussions on Skype (or here in the Blog).  We can disagree, but if we complain about each other, that is very destructive to relationships.

Tropical fruits in the Temple gardens

There is no evidence that Lehi's family disagreed on this point: "we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind."  I guess everyone likes to eat.

Gratitude in your heart

Flores del Templo de Guayaquil November, 2010 "Walk with gratitude in your hearts, my dear friends. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings which are yours. Be grateful for the tremendous opportunities that you have. Be thankful to your parents, who care so very much about you and who have worked so very hard to provide for you. . . . Express appreciation to everyone who does you a favor or assists you in any way. "Thank the Lord for His goodness to you. Thank the Almighty for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who has done for you what none other in all this world could do. Thank Him for His great example, for His tremendous teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help.  Think about the meaning of His Atonement. . . . Let a spirit of thanksgiving guide and bless your days and nights. Work at it. You will find it will yield wonderful results" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Liahona, Apr 2001, p. 30).

The First Thanksgiving

Spanish settlers celebrate the
First Thanksgiving in Florida, 1565

It is traditional in America to imagine that our Thanksgiving Day celebrations are based on "the first Thanksgiving", or the one in which the Europeans celebrated thanks by holding a special dinner with the indigenous people.


September 8, 1565 Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and his 800 Spanish settlers founded the settlement of St. Augustine in La Florida, the landing party celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving, and, afterward, Menéndez laid out a meal to which he invited as guests the native Seloy tribe who occupied the site.

Juan de Oñate celebrates the first Thanksgiving in New Mexico, 1598 On April 30, 1598, Juan de Oñate's pioneers made camp along the Rio Grande and prepared to drink and eat their fill, for there they found fishes and waterfowl. Villagrá wrote, "We built a great bonfire and roasted meat and fish, and then sat down to a repast the like of which we had never enjoyed before." Before this bountiful meal, Don Juan de Oñate personally nailed a cross to a living tree and prayed, "Open the door to these heathens, establish the church altars where the body and blood of the Son of God may be offered, open to us the way to security and peace for their preservation and ours, and give to our king and to me in his royal name, peaceful possession of these kingdoms and provinces for His blessed glory. Amen." Samoset greets Pilgrims in  Massachussets, 1620 Surely the people of Plymouth Colony were astonished when Samoset strode into their village. It may have been his attire and his request that astonished them most. Samoset, clad only in a belt, in rather good English, welcomed the people of Plymouth, then requested a beer. The drink he was given, then he quickly disappeared. But this was not the last the Pilgrims would see of Samoset. A few days later Samoset returned to Plymouth. With him was a friend, the captive Squanto. It was Squanto who showed these would-be farmers some down-home Indian tricks for making crops grow. He showed them the Indian way of planting corn in hills and the trick of planting a dead fish with the seeds for fertilizer. Pesquantum teaches survival in America to the Pilgrims, 1621 The settlers didn’t actually get to Plymouth until the dead of winter on December 26, 1620. They had to find land and make shelter quickly before the winter weather got any worse. This winter was terrible and about half of the settlers died in the cold with very little food. What people did survive accredited the survival to John Carver, William Bradford, William Brewster, Edward Winslow, Myles Standish and a local Native named Squanto. This friendly Indian taught them where to fish and how to trap and later how to plant and grow corn. He also taught them how to hunt and what plants were safe to eat and what plants could cure illnesses.  They celebrated a special dinner in 1621 to celebrate their first harvest. President Lincoln establishes Thanksgiving Day in 1863 The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.... It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. This year we celebrate Thanksgiving in the tropical paradise of Guayaquil, Ecuador.  The temperature will drop down to 69 degrees from a high of 86.   We are surrounded by people who love and appreciate us, and are enjoying better health this year than last year.  We have all the abundance of guanábana, guineo, mango, papaya, seviche, camarón, arroz, pollo, hallacas, humitas, arepas, etc. that we can eat.   We are working on the ward Christmas program, teaching music lessons, working on quilts, and enjoying life, but we miss being with our children and grandchildren, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, uncles and aunts.  Be sure to call us.

Grateful to be of service

December Flores Navideñas in Guayaquil

 We are more grateful when we have experienced the opposite of what we have.  For example, we now have sufficient health to do much of what is required in the temple, whereas last year we were more limited, due to our health.

However, our gratitude is not selfish, as in, I am glad to have health.  We are grateful that the Lord has given us an opportunity to serve and qualified us for the work.




"But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." Doctrine & Covenants 59:23

President Nash with Emy Gabriela Vera.

"In that spirit I invite the Latter-day Saints to look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership. It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of-and carry-a current temple recommend. The things that we must do and not do to be worthy of a temple recommend are the very things that ensure we will be happy as individuals and as families.

"Let us be a temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing" (Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, November 1994, p. 8).

Show Gratitude

Details about Thanksgiving:

http://www.cantos.org/sermoncitos/thanksgiving.html

Turkey and the Corn

as told by Barb Begay

It is said that long, long ago all the Diné were starving.  All the wild vegetation was unyielding, causing the animals to starve as well.

Wild Turkey

One day Turkey, our hero, came upon the starving Diné.  The Diné said to Turkey, “please help us, there’s no one to help us.”

Turkey said, “I know you have been wasteful with the food you were blessed with.  You did not appreciate what was given you”.  

The Diné begged Turkey and admitted that generous food given them had not been appreciated.

Turkey told the Diné to sit in a circle and think about how wasteful they had been.  Turkey said, “this has to stop.  I will help you only this once.  If you are wasteful with what I am about to share, you will perish.

The Diné were happy with the offer and promised to never be wasteful again.

Turkey positioned himself in the center of the circle.  With head held up high and wings spread out, he danced his proudest dance.  He danced a beautiful dance.  Then he shook himself, and out dropped one black kernel.  He shook himself again, and out dropped a yellow kernel.  The third time he shook himself, a blue kernel dropped to the ground.  The fourth time, he dropped a white kernel.

The Diné people were so happy, they said to Turkey, “we will forever be thankful to you.  We will show our gratitude by forever regarding your feathers as a sacred symbol in our ceremonies.”  Turkey acknowledged the gesture and danced proudly away.

Turkeys in Ecuador

To this day, the Diné teach that one should not be wasteful, even in times of plenty.

Our community activist

Heather and Friends

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

Heather is in the news again her good works in the community.

Motorcyclists from all over the region will hit the streets at 11 a.m. Saturday, taking different routes throughout the city without a police escort to let Lubbock know they exist in traffic. They’re scheduled to ride on just about every single major street in Lubbock between 11 a.m. and noon.

Other residents involved in the “See Us, Save Us” group include: Molly Harris, Kelly Jasper, Heather Cook, Rachel Cass, Tisha Crawford, Blair Dickerson, Teresa Deal Buehner, Carmen Fuller, Cecilia Thomasson Parks and Patricia Hart.


Lev. 25: 18-19
  18 ¶ Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.
  19 And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.