May The Odds Ever Be In Our Favor!

Hello Family!!

Unfortunately we didn't have a baptism yesterday as our investigator is dealing with an issue that will cause him to ACT upon on his faith. We pushed his baptism date out two weeks. Our other investigator we have not had a chance to meet with this week as he has been out of town. He is set for two weeks as well.

Despite challenges, this week has been another uplifting week filled with great experiences! Because I'm with Zone Leaders I am able to go on exchanges every week and learn from other missionaries. I am always excited to go on exchanges and see how other missionaries are sharing the gospel. We also ACTed on a couple of impressions my comps and I have felt and were BLESSED with being able to get 4 new investigators. In our reactivation ministry we have been working with a less active brother named Jimmy. Jimmy has been dealing with the death of his wife, brother and mother all within the last 3 months. We shared with him the Plan of Salvation. I shared my experience with Grandma Sia and testified of the assurance and knowledge I have that I will see her again through our Heavenly Father's plan. Jimmy said he definitely felt the spirit!  He asked us to come back tomorrow (Tuesday). The Atlanta ward holds a weekly "Night of Ministry" every Tuesday specifically for Home Teaching. As part of the reactivation plan I will go out with a member of the ward and teach and testify to Jimmy some more. 

I was also able to exercise my priesthood in service giving blessings to those in a downtown Atlanta hospital and for brothers and sisters in our ward. We were also addressed by President Snow more on seeing the Prophetic vision of missionary work and in helping the bishop TURN HIS KEYS in Zone Leader/District meeting.  

My companion, Elder Fruean returns home Aug 22 He would love to meet you guys at his homecoming in Kearns. I will get you more information on the meeting. I'm sure it would be a great experience. Elder Fruean is a very inspiring missionary!

[The elder was advised in this week's letter of his younger brother's ARISE-ing AND SHINE-ing FORTH moment D&C 115:5... 

Rylee lead-out on his Bountiful High football team when a teammate and fellow priest quorum brother this past week experienced the unexpected passing of his mother. The BHS football players supported their brother by collecting enough for a floral arrangement, providing cookies for reception and attending the viewing and funeral services 30-Brave football brothers strong! Army of Helaman-style] 

No surprise here as far as Rylee and his leadership. I've known he has IT in him and so does the Lord. Keep WORKing as if everything depended on you two Rylee and Kelee..and keep PRAYing as if everything depended on the Lord.

On a pretty cool note...The co-producer of Hunger Games who is LDS is here in Atlanta shooting the 2nd movie. He is attending our ward till November and is going to take us on set on a P-day!!!! "May the odds ever be in our favor!" haha.

I don't need much at this time. Could you please send those khaki pants down. They would be ideal for P-day and service projects. Oh yeah some more beef jerky and almonds.

The message I want to share with each of you is this. How much FAITH do we have? How much POWER do we have in our faith? We are all capable of parting the Red sea, making mountains move, but it all comes down to how much POWER-WE HAVE IN FAITH that our Heavenly Father will help us overcome or move obstacles because it's the ONLY way.

We all are capable of having the Brother of Jared's level of faith to the point the Lord could not hold back anything from him. May we have the kind of faith that is not only capable of CHANGING us but is also capable of changing our surroundings.

Love Elder Gautavai!!

Worshiping & Witnessing Through Song - Don't Leave Gospel Blessings on The Table

Apostolic View of Missionary Work - Duh!

Hello Family!!

It has been another busy and very inspiring week!! We started the week off getting a baptism date for another investigator for this Sunday. We are pretty pumped!!!

But the real game changer came Wednesday as I was able to go to Zone Leader conference and listen to President and Sister Snow discuss some things. President Snow has completely cleaned house getting rid of all the extra pamphlets missionaries have been holding on to trying to get the mission up and running again. The mission is at all time lows in baptisms and people to teach. President Snow informed us why that is. We haven’t as a mission caught the apostolic view of how to do missionary work.

The Role of Councils in The Church - Family to the Twelve

In fact we were taught the HEART of missionary work lies within the WARD COUNCIL and we as missionaries helping bishops "TURN THEIR KEYS." He explained we are doing too much; and if we want to spend all day tracting (which makes for a long day I can testify of that) haha then we can continue to do it the way we are doing it. We have to make sure everyone is aligning in the Ward Council and that they are helping the Bishop rather then advocating their calling. President and Sister Snow are extraordinary witnesses of Jesus Christ! I can see why President and Sister Harding had nothing but good things to say about them. They have a special presence about them that radiates! We have truly seen the blessings of ACTing rather than being ACTED UPON.

President and Sister Snow

We also met our Stake president who is relatively young at 31. Notwithstanding his age you can see that our Heavenly Father has called him for a specific purpose, and he will be able to bring many of sheep back into the fold. He spoke in priesthood meeting on the difference between the authority and power of the priesthood. He said we already have enough authority but not enough ordained priesthood holders using its power to bless the lives of others. Currently we are cleaning house on our investigator list, basically seeing who is looking to increase and ACT on their faith by repenting and being baptized or those who are here for the lessons. It is very humbling...We are also trying to build up and strengthen the priesthood in the ward. There are a lot of young people in the gospel in the Atlanta ward. As I mentioned before, 900 members on the roster but only about 200 who regularly attend. Each priesthood holder has at least 15 assigned families to home teach (haha and I thought 2 was alot). But I truly believe as we see through the Prophet’s lens on how and why we do missionary work we will begin to bring forth the fruits of our labor. I encourage you mom and dad to read Jacob 5 and really see where the branches have been over-growing in the ward and focus on building the roots.  What good is a fruit tree if it doesn’t produce fruit? haha

I went on an exchange Friday with Elder Nyguen in Union City and we stayed in College Park home to T.I. We went tracting and we placed a couple of Book of Mormon and were blessed with new investigators.

Anyways I’m glad to hear Ry and Kelee are doing good. Elder Heimuli and I are excited too for Bountiful football and to hear of the team’s success. I hope you all are doing well including 'Agi and Grandpa. Things are going really good down here. It's hot and humid yet I don’t really notice half the time. I’m down to 228 lbs nevertheless I feel very good. I will eventually get the memory card out. I just haven’t had the time to get over to the Post office. Thanks for the thought I really enjoyed it.  

Till next week

Love Elder Gautavai

First Week In The Mission Field

Elder Gautavai's arrival in Georgia with President and Sister Snow

Hello Family!!!

This first week in Atlanta has been great eh!! I love it down here!!! We are working hard to share the most important message here on earth that Jesus Christ our Savior has restored His church into the world!!!

I am currently serving in a very impoverished part of downtown Atlanta on the westside of the city covering a section called Midtown to an area called East Point.  President Snow asked that I serve here with the Zone leaders and learn and observe from them; so I am currently in a trio companionship. My companion/trainers Elder Fruean from American Samoa loves kelee boys’ rugby pics as he plays rugby and Elder Morril is from Texas.  Both missionaries are outstanding witnesses of Jesus Christ!  We stay in Atlanta with two other missionaries. Elder Fuller from Orem (may sound familiar; he played for Sparta with Chesler) and Elder Christian.  Today for P-day we went to G-Tech University right next door to our apartment and went bowling. haha  We are planning to ride MARTA the subway later tonight and to have positive contact opportunities with the people here.

Family-I have been humbled walking into people’s homes and seeing absolute poverty at its lowest level. Homeless people sleeping under bridges and many other things and distractions Satan is doing to keep people from truth and salvation.  It makes me appreciate my blessings even more.  The Lord has truly blessed our family despite some of the struggles we THINK we had or have.  I thank our Heavenly Father everyday Ry and Kelee don’t have to grow up in these conditions, seeing the struggles these people go through on a daily basis is very humbling.

I am currently in the Atlanta ward (Georgia, Atlanta stake).  The missionaries get fed very well :) the BEST BBQ, fish and cornbread that I ever had!!

We work with alot of part-member, less active families.  The ward has 900 members however only about 200 attend church. Gil wasn’t kidding about people getting up in the middle of a talk. haha It happened once or twice in the meetings.

As far as our investigators go, we have 2 two we invited to be baptized and set a date for July 28^th.  We are excited about their baptisms! I want to tell you a little about each. Matthew who we met Wed. is a young man who is 18 yrs old. His dad is one of the biggest drug dealers in East Point.  About a week before we met Matthew his dad was arrested and his little brother was taken away and is now in a foster home.  Matthew is currently living in a friend’s office.  We shared with him 3 Nephi 28 and the miracles that Christ performed and testified to him that this can happen in our lives also through our great faith. We helped him understand the gift of the Atonement.  Matthew is very excited for his baptism.  Darrol our second investigator is blind and has learned to rely on the spirit to help guide him each and everyday.  He lives in an area where Young Jeezy grew up so its kinda scary going over there but the spirit can be felt even there, where you wouldn’t think so it's OK.  We set a goal for 4 more baptismal dates, we will have to work hard with exact obedience to reach it.

There is a lot more to tell you but so little time. I ll write more next week.  Thanks for the pics they are awesome. I will get a letter off with my memory card this week. 

I leave you with this; the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and through it we can answer any question if we seek with a sincere heart and ask our Heavenly Father.  How can it not be true? The Book of Mormon has been one of the most falsely critiqued, speculated on religious literature.  However no evil man could have wrote it, nor would any good man want to, only through Jesus Christ our Savior could this book be translated.  Lastly, I use to think my mission would CHANGE me.  I have found that this is not the case...the Lord is CHANGING ME...my mission is bringing me closer to Him so that He can.

Love Elder Gautavai

A Blessing of Duty and Love

A Joy Beyond Measure!


I couldn't help but think of the elder when I heard this very inspiring arrangement of a wonderful latter-day hymn.  Well done bro. Alex and sis. Carmen. Take a listen!

DELTA Flight 1524 to Atlanta, Georgia

What a blessing it was to talk with the elder this morning from the SLC Intl. Airport as he was set to take off for the field. Despite the challenges with conversing on a pay phone from the terminal, it was great to hear his voice and feel the joy and happiness he has for his call and mission.  Rochelle and I are humbled and grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who loves all His children and is active in the life of our Missionary!  Elder Gautavai sends his love to all and is thankful for everyones support, expressions of faith and prayers.

God speed Elder, We Love You!! - Mom & Dad

Make It Happen!

Elder Gautavai's last email from the MTC received this evening as we were holding FHE in Bountiful. What a joy! He leaves for the field tomorrow morning leaving the MTC at 5 AM MDT for an early flight out of the SLC international airport. He will travel to Atlanta with 3 other elders in his district plus an additional missionary. They will be welcomed by Elder Lowell M. Snow, who is the Mission president.

Hello Dad,

That is such great news of Elder Talbot I will send him a note before I leave.. the news of Harvey Langi is exciting the Lord truly has a role in our lives no matter where we are and what we do. I would invite you to read in 2 Nephi 28 and in the last verse 32 change "gentiles" to your name and anytime it says "them" or "they" replace it with "you." The Lord will always be there and I believe this is the case in Harvey's situation as well.

Im excited to leave the MTC but sad that my time here is up. I love it here I ve made eternal friends who I know I will see here or in the next life. My PURPOSE has become more clear as I am to invite others to COME UNTO CHRIST by helping them recieve the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me: yea and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance: and this is my joy." (Alma 28:9)

In closing I had the chance to talk one last time to my beloved instructors Brother Sikahema, Nate and Medeiros who are extraordinary priesthood holders. Their advice to me was to MAKE IT HAPPEN!...We as missionaries don't pray to persuade an investigator to change, rather we pray for God's grace and power through the atonement to CHANGE lives...through our faith that can happen. I know and testify I am where I need to be.

Love Elder Gautavai

Enduring It Well

From (cousin) Elder Richard Gautavai - Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mission | Jan 2012-Jan 2014 | (Sun Praire, WI) 9 July 2012

Good Morning,

Thanks for your weekly emails, they definitely boost my spirits, and I definitely need it for the beginning of the week! I will definitely keep Elder Gautavai in my prayers as well.  I know that the transition from leaving Utah and the MTC to the mission field, wasn't as smooth as I thought it was going to be.  But I personally felt the Savior pick me up through my trials, and I know that he will do the same for Elder Gautavai.  I will be praying for Elder Gautavai's success, and for the growth of his personal testimony.  I'm so excited to have this opportunity to serve on the Lord's team, and to progress this glorious work forward w/Elder Gautavai.

My message today is similar to that of Nephi's drive to finish the job.  It's similar in the sense that we must endure.  No matter what life throws at us, no matter what sort of trial we face, no matter how unfair life may seem at some point in time, the last principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ states that we must, "Endure to the End."  As we endure to the end, continuing to develop faith in Christ, we have been promised all that the Father has, and eternal happiness w/our eternal families.

The principle of enduring to the end brings me to a particular story in the Doctrine and Convenants.  In section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we read of the Prophet Joseph Smith's trials and tribulations as he lay hopeless in Liberty Jail.  As he continued to lay in utter dissappointment and loneliness, he said this, "O God, where art thou?" While there are many ways for us to cope w/our trials and tribulations, Christ had a very specific answer to this particular trial that the Prophet was facing.  In verses 7 & 8 of the 121st section of the Doctrine and Convenants, the Lord says this to the Prophet, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shat triumph over thy foes."  At a time where even the Prophet felt divine withdrawl (just as the Savior did on the cross) and felt that God wasn't with him, I testify that that is when the Savior picked him up and carried him through his trials.  If we "endure it well" as the Savior says to the Prophet, we can find happiness in this life and the life to come.
  
As we continue to endure both the good and the bad moments of life, remember the counsel that the Savior gives to the Prophet Joseph to endure it well.  Then can we be exalted on high, and reign in eternal happiness w/our eternal families.  I know this is true.

Love you guys!


Elder Richard Gautavai

Finding Your Sacred Grove Spot Daily

Hi Dad,

Everyone sounds like they are doing well. The attachments you sent have really been inspired and spiritually uplifting. It has been a very busy week and time has flown by. I have been a bit under the weather but doing well. I had the oppurtunity to go to the temple last P-day and experienced our Heavenly Fathers love for His missionaries through prayer as a blessing was asked for each missionary in the room. That was a great experience. Our teachers have been phenomenal! Brother Sikahema (Bro. Vai Sikahema's third son) is very inspirational and bold; teaching us to be confident in what we are teaching. Also Brother Medeiros who served in Hawaii when Miah was there has shown us characteristics of Christ and teaching us that Commitments bring about Conversion. Hahaha funny enough my two other teachers are Brother Nate (Ausitn Nate from Inter brother') and Brother Johnson (who served with Ryan Nelson in Nebraska). So it's a very small world...My goal is to hit the mission field and become so powerful like the many missionaries in the Book of Mormon that "those who heard it could not disbelieve."

Anyway, If I could share two experiences first, the power of prayer is incredible and how that when simple yet sincere is often the most powerful. The two things I have learned is everyday before I report to the Lord I run to get showered and dressed and then take myself to a "sacred grove spot" that I have found for myself. Then I report to the Lord conversing with Him and counseling with Him. Once I close and I think this is key is that we really take a moment on our knees and ponder and wait for our inspiration to come or as Brother Sikahema puts it to hold Heavenly Father to His promises and wait for your revelation. It has truely blessed my life as well as those investigators we have taught. 

The second experience comes from my fasting as Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi Seventy, Emeritus who spoke last night counseled. He said fasting allows you to report to the Lord clean so you may recieve your answers. My testimony of Joseph Smith has grown incredibly; he was truely someone who was clean in every way. I would invite you to read D&C 76 as it is the last time the boy Joseph saw our Father in Heaven before he was martyed as well as 2 Nephi 28 and in the last verse change gentiles to your name and anytime it says we or them change it to you and you will see our Heavenly Fathers mercy for everyone.

Time is flying but I am the happiest I have ever been. I have met ETERNAL friends here and have a love for each and every person here. Although I may not see these elders and sisters in this life I know that we will see each other again in the next. I bear testimony the gospel of Jesus Christ is true; and the church is the only complete church on the earth today. That we have been and will continue to be guided in this last dispensation by prophets who have been called by our Heavenly Father. That there will be no more dispensations until our Savior returns. I testify I am sent here as a missionary because our Heavenly Father and Savior are not here at this time to be missionaries. 

I will email everyone else later.

Love Elder Gautavai