Ultimate Worship, Follow Him

Hello Family,

Midtown Atlanta skyline view from Georgia Tech Football Stadium (BYU vs. GA Tech) Fall 2012

Once again it's great to hear of your weekly endeavors and successes back home. Our Heavenly Father continues to guide us here through this mortal sojourn through the Holy Ghost and as we all rely on that guidance we will be blessed beyond measure.

This was another busy week full of teaching and preaching the message of the restored gospel. This week at sacrament we were able to have 8 investigators at church!! What was really exciting to see is that each of them were brought by a member of the Ward Council and fellowshipped into the ward. In an effort to work closely with the ward and stake leaders we planned out a day of service where we will be heading to a local Methodist church to do service for them as well as inviting them to a ward game night coming up in April.

You probably noticed this too...isn't it cool around easter time how all Christian churches promote Jesus Christ! Everyone talks about Jesus Christ during Easter EVERYWHERE!

I am so excited for General Conference in 2 weeks, its like Christmas for us out here in the mission field! To listen to a living prophet and apostles receiving guidance will definitely be a wonderful experience!

Well I don't have a lot of time but I want you to know that I love you all!

Love Elder Gautavai

Standing Taller With The Spirit

The elder was informed of an exciting recent convert baptism in our ward/neighborhood. A great example of the love our Heavenly Father holds for His children and how the Lord is in the details of our lives as President Monson testified in general conference. Nikki -- schoolmate friend of the elder's brother Rylee -- is a remarkable young lady who comes from a wonderful family who love the Lord. She is a Sr. captain of the highly acclaimed 5 time consecutive State Champion Bountiful High school Mandonelles drill team recently crowned 2013 National Champion. Also entering the waters of baptism the younger brother of the elder's friend currently serving a mission and Sr. teammate of Rylee, Tevin - a great young man from a wonderful family too. A testimony of our God's perfect plan of happiness and individual plan for each of us and how we are all connected. Glory to God!!

Nikki (front right)

Tevyn #2, Rylee #3

Hello Family,

Wow!! What a powerful story of conversion you just shared with me about Nikki, that is fantastic! Receiving a remission of sins, being endowed with power (The Holy Ghost), and qualifying for eternal life--so great to hear of this yet another sign of the mighty hastening of the Lord's work.

This week here in the ATL went really well, I am still here in the Whitewater ward and continuing to serve as a solo Zone Leader. I love being able to serve not only those here in Georgia but the missionaries who serve in the Fayetteville zone. Working with everyone strengthens my faith and desire to do even more. I received a new companion Elder Ercanbrack from Arimo, Idaho. He just arrived from the MTC and is 18 years old making me feel old!!..haha This gives me an opportunity to train and be trained by the Lord. How lucky am I?!

With Easter coming up the GAM is setting our visions and our sights high as we desire EVERY SOUL to FIND a SOUL(FAMILIES) and bring them to the waters of baptism and be able to return and report to the prophet that we found all those that our Heavenly Father prepared at this time for Conference. It truly is an amazing time to be serving the Lord, an even greater time to be apart of the hastening of the Lord's work as we make His thoughts our thoughts and continue to bring the world the message of the restored gospel!

"After all we can do!" has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Through fervent prayer, study, revelation, and relentless work we have really been able to do more! Because of the wonderful and sacred gift of agency our brothers and sisters are free to choose whether to accept this glad message or not nevertheless, I strive to feel the peace of knowing that we are truly doing all we can do!

How blessed are we to have the knowledge of the restored gospel in our lives I pray our Heavenly Fathers greatest blessings upon each of you my loved ones back home. This is His work to bring us all back home. Hoorah for Israel!!!

Love Elder Gautavai

He's Got Our Back in Our Quest for the Goal!

Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends.

All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles – April 2009 General Conference

Missionary Work and The Atonement - President Henry B. Eyring and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 

Hello Family,

Hope all is well! Thank you for the message that you sent it really inspired me and is what I needed at this time. I am doing well just trying to press forward with unshaken faith and exact obedience. One thing that I am so grateful for is the beautiful experiences I had with the Atonement before I came out here on the mission. It has definitely prepared me to face the challenges with a clearer view and perspective on how to better serve and love. Hope y'all are doing great. Know that I am doing well also!! Hoorah for Israel!!!

Love Elder Gautavai

To Bring The World His Truth

Hello Family!

It has been a busy week filled with lots of work. Time has gone by so fast, I can't believe transfers are already upon us (next Wednesday)! We had the wonderful opportunity to attend Stake conference this week with the Fayetteville Stake. We were blessed to be able attend both the Saturday and Sunday sessions. It was by far the most powerful Stake conference I've ever been to. We were able to hear from Elder Robert W. Hymas an Area Seventy, President Stephen D. Posey of the Atlanta, Georgia Temple, and our beloved Fayetteville Stake President George Parker who I have a wonderful opportunity to work alongside and coordinate the missionary work and effort here among the members and GAM missionaries. 

The President's invited all the missionaries to attend and to sing in a missionary choir the children's song, We'll Bring the World His Truth, Army of Helaman. 

We were followed by Elder Hymas who counseled us all as members of the church to hasten the work through our missionary efforts. Further, to obtain the power from on high through making it a priority in our lives to get to the temple! (D&C 109:22-23, 35). It was so powerful, the spirit was so strong further testifying of this important work in the world to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. We invited and had 5 investigators in attendance during these sessions. Hoorah for Israel!!!

This week entails yet another busy period a head as the work continues to move forward! It is ever so clear, that the lord is hastening in His work. On Thursday I will have an opportunity to attend Zone Leader Council for the month and be taught by Elder M. Keith Giddens of the Quorum of the Seventy who President Harding reports to each week. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and observe these mighty, inspired leaders and to hear and feel of their testimonies of the Atonement and Doctrine of Christ.

My love and condolences go out to the St. John family as well as my testimony that Jesus Christ is the relief and way. He loosed the bands of spiritual and physical death that we may return and live as families eternally. He has taken upon Himself all the pains, sicknesses we experience that his bowels maybe filled with mercy that He may know how to succor us when we stand in need.

Love Elder Gautavai