In a recent e-mail conversation with Maxine Morarie she told me a little about Howie’s home going. He was very young, having gone on ahead of us in 1994. At the left is a picture taken shortly before Howie's death. Thank you Mark for finding this picture and letting me use it.

I remember Howie at Tambo as a fun, all around kid. He was into sports, the soccer team shown below, and loved music. I was Ruth in the "Pirates of Penzance" and Howie was Frederic. It was great fun.

One of the fun things I enjoyed at Tambo was going out as a group on the week-ends. Mostly this was when the moon was full. Usually we would walk to first bridge, on the road to Cochabamba. I can remember walking along with Howie and my friend Bonnie Ziegler talking about the big and little issues of life. When the moon was full, it was like we could reach up and pull it down. And the stars had no competition with any city light. The night sky was awesome. We did not realize, as we cheerily enjoyed the outing that we would look back on many of those casual activities as some of the great moments of our lives - at least it is true of me.

When you are young you think you will all be around for a full life time, but with Patty Morgenroth’s home going the students at Tambo all faced the sober truth, that it was not a given we would grow old in this life. The high school students, as a whole, re-evaluated our own lives and faith. This is also how I felt when I heard of Howie's home going. I sometimes think the Lord calls the best ones home so He can enjoy more direct face time with them. I know, that's a bit whimsical.

I wish I had known Howie as a beloved School Principle. As I read the account below from his mom, I had tears in my eyes. Tears filled with a joy that Howie’s life, although too short for us left behind, was one of impact on the world he inhabited. That his death was a testimony to the Lord he loved and served.

Below is a bit of the story Mrs. Maxine Morarie shared with me recently.

“Yes, It was very hard to see Howie have to leave his family. We plead with the Lord to spare him for his children's sake, but God is good all the time, and his ways are past finding out. The marvelous thing is that his son John (21) and daughter Meghann (19) both love and follow the Lord. He would be so pleased to see them ... or maybe he does???? (Heb. 12:1)

When he was in the hospice so many people came to visit him and to tell him goodbye it was amazing. He was in the hospice 17 days.. He couldn't speak because the cancer had destroyed his voice box, but he communicated with each one by writing his part of the conversation .... Invariably the person would ask for the page from the notebook he wrote on. He'd hold up one finger ... and resume writing, signing the page: I am at perfect peace. I'm going home to see my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Howard Morarie.

He wrote to me during this time, "Mom, this dying isn't all bad. When I was a principle I couldn't say all I wanted to say to staff and students, but here I am witnessing freely to all who come!"

Mike is so musical and plays the guitar and sings so he would take his guitar into Howie's room, and he said it was like Aaron being Moses' voice. Howie would size up the situation of whoever was in the room at the moment. He'd motion Mike over and write the song he wanted Mike to sing... and Mike would deliver the message!

Carol Ann was often at the hospice, and invariable he'd want her to rub his feet and legs. He was writing "goodbyes" to people, and one day Carol came and he handed her a note. She thought, "Wow, I'm going to get a special "goodbye" too! But when she read the note it said, "Sis, can you rub my legs!"

He chose his little sister Trish (early 20's at the time) to pass his words on at the memorial. She felt so honored.

While in the hospice he was informed that he had earned his doctorate. Professors from Colorado University came to inform him. He died soon after, so when it was awarded, Howard and his wife Julia walked together for it. He accomplished so much in his life time.

I could go on and on... it was a sad, sad time, but also a glorious time! I miss him still... and so do his siblings... and I think we've all over glorified the situation... but it seems to comfort us and help us to see that God even used his death, and that it wasn't in vain.

Howie had married a girl from Mexico that he met on a trip with his Spanish students to Colima, giving them the experience of living with families there to perfect their speaking and understanding. Julia was a young doctor and for Howie it was love at first sight. They had been married only 7 years when he died. Julia is wonderful... and very much a part of our family still. “

If any reads this and has memories to share, I hope you will.