7/18/2022
I’m going to be 100% honest with all of you, this week has been CRAZY! It has gone by so fast! I feel like it’s only been a few days since I last emailed you. I have seen God’s hand a lot in my own personal life this week and I have seen a lot of growth in myself. I have had some hard moments this week but also some really good moments. I received big news .. but it’s a surprise for the end of this email.
To start off the week we did a FULL day of service. I don’t think I was in my nice clothes once… which was kind of nice. We did a major painting project, worked at the food pantry, did crafts with an old lady and cleaned two different old ladies’ houses. All in one day! It was a lot of fun. It was good for me to get away from the everyday of missionary life and focus on the people.
This week was a very busy week. I knew that transfers were coming up and I wanted to make the week count. No regrets! So with that we did a lot of visits of potential people. We visited part member families and unbaptized youth. With this we saw a lot of success. We got multiple return appointments and bran new teaching opportunities! Another visit we did was to an old lady named Kathy. I played my ukulele for her and she cried. So special! Music brings the spirit so strongly! We also had the opportunity to attend a stake relief society activity and met so many people. I won a prize for being the youngest one there lol. We played the game bunko! Y’all should play it!
What a Rollercoaster of a week! I have had to really seek God’s will and be the missionary he needed me to be despite my companions. I was left waking up all by myself most of the week and having to be alone in some missionary work. Why am I telling you this? Not because I want attention or anything but because I felt God’s strength. I like to call it Hand waves from God. I saw little moments where I knew God was with me for that second. Sometimes it would even be as simple as my favorite song came on in the car when I needed a moment, or we all got along in the hardest part of the day, or I saw a perfect scripture I needed. There was one particular moment this week I was extremely tired and had no motivation to keep going. I felt very alone in my efforts. Sister Vaea walked down the stairs holding a box. A diaper box! My amazing mom put together the sweetest package for me. It gave me the smile I needed and the pick me up to keep going. In the package was a cute giraffe bookmark and on it said, “Wisdom arrives to those who rise and stretch and reach toward the light of the Son.” This was my answer. God answered my prayer though a bookmark! I knew I was loved. I also received those cute letters from a lot of you! Thank you all so much for those encouraging words and love. I can’t even tell you how much those meant to me. I love you all so much! Lastly, God answered my prayer this week. I prayed to my Heavenly Father about the anxiety I had with transfers coming up and I KNEW that I would be leaving. I got a very strong impression that I was needed in a different spot. I didn’t know what that meant but I knew when transfers came I would be okay. That changed the rest of the week for me.
I met my cousin Kass! What a crazy miracle right! About a month ago Kass moved to Parma! What! I finally had the opportunity to go and visit with him! So cool I was able to serve in the area he lives!
One funny and embarrassing moment that happened this week was housing inspections! Ahhh gotta love those housing inspections. We knew they were coming, so in preparation we began cleaning up the house. I had just finished cleaning up the main rooms when I heard a small, “knock knock” and footsteps down the stairs. I, still in basketball shorts, ran out the hallway to greet them. Thank goodness we cleaned the house earlier than we thought we needed to because they were an hour early! Sister Turley wasn’t even fully dressed and she bolted down the hallway! We were embarrassed but we got a good laugh out of it. Thank goodness we passed though!
The moment we have all been waiting for…. TRANSFERS! On Saturday night we got a phone call from President Maxwell and he gave some big news. He started out with Sister Turley and told her she is staying here. Then he told Sister Vaea that she is going somewhere else but he is excited for her. Then he said,” Through lots of study and prayer the Lord has asked you, Sister Howick, to become an STlL (Sister Training Leader. So a Zone Leader but for the Sisters) . Are you willing to become an STL for a zone?” My companions both started cheering and clapping( so loud lol). I sat there with an open mouth and said “oh dear”. Then I accepted this leadership position. I couldn’t believe it! When Sunday rolled around and transfers dropped I found out I am going to Star and my new companion will be Sister Jaxson. WOW! I am so excited for this new adventure. I’m excited to get to know more sisters and be their support! I’m scared to have this responsibility and have to give trainings but I feel honored to be trusted with this. I know that through Christ I can do anything my Heavenly Father asks me. Ether 12:27- Weak things can be made strong!
I love you all so much! Hope you all have a fantastic week. Love Sister Howick
Pictures 
– my adorable comp! I’m gonna miss her! She put the flower in my hair so we could match
– Sister Turley captured this picture of us walking into church. For some reason we were linking arms lol 
but I think it’s cute.
– PET SQUIRREL!? Is this legal lol? One person we visited had 3 of them
-Bathroom break at the church, we were exausted
– Last Sunday in Parma
– food pantry
– Sister Vaea playing a piano after a miracle visit to Sophie’s house. Yes it’s dusty in the carport
– My cousin Kass!
