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The Family Is Ordained of God, Testifies of Jesus Christ

Weekly questions from included in today's email to the elder.  His response in his return letter/email:

Q1. Thanks for the update on Elder Evan’s visit..it sounds like it was very helpful and spiritually enlightening to move the work forward in the GAM. How was Elder Oaks visit?
A1. Being at the feet of a member of the 12 on Saturday was probably one of the most incredible opportunities ever.
Q2. Do you have pictures you can send?
A2. Yes I do
Q3. Are you in need of anything at this time?
A3. Negative.
Q4. That’s wonderful news about J!! What a blessing to part of God’s plan to bring salvation to him. Who can we pray for this week?

Greetings!

Wow! what a week, what a week!!..In case anyone has any doubts this is the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth today through a prophet! I testify and offer the following: This is His church and there is no other church that He stands at the helm and leads. You can know of this by simply reading the Book of Mormon from beginning to end. Ever wonder why the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in the Book of Mormon through a family (Lehi and Sariah)?! With challenges and experiences just like us?! To prove to the world that Jesus Christ Lives, that our Father in Heaven Loves us!!

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, sister Oaks, Elder Ulisses Soares, sister Soares, Elder M. Keith Giddens Mission conference

The highlight of the week was our meeting with Elder Dallin H. Oaks (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), Elder Ulisses Soares (Presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy), and Elder M. Keith Giddens (Area Seventy) on Saturday. We gathered in Atlanta with the North mission together about 550 missionaries in attendance..THE ARMY OF GOD! While there each mission was able to take a picture with the brethren and shake their hands. I will send a picture of that soon.  

My thought today is taken from Elder Oaks remarks counseling us to "always have our line' in the water." Elder Oaks shared a personal story about fishing with his grand kids. He said upon returning home his dear wife often asks the question, "did you catch anything while out (for 4 hours)?" Kindly he tells her no and explains the reason for that is he is busy keeping his grandchildren fishing line's out of the trees, from them falling into the water and in general keeping them safe. Consquently he only has his line in the water for about 30-minutes total. 

He used this analogy applying it to us missionaries, however the counsel can be also be applied in all our lives, after all we are all fishers of men, correct? Many times we step outside and as we go through the things of everyday life thinking that we have our line' in the water but never acting on the prompting to share the gospel with everyone. He then told us it's just not good enough to walk around thinking that our lines' are in the water, but that we must ALWAYS have our "line in the water" searching for those who we can invite to, and back to the fold. SO TRUE!

Alma 53:20

Well thank you for your love and support I do feel it everyday out here! 

Till Next Week,

Love, Elder Gautavai

"Arise and Shine Forth, That Thy (HIS) Light May Be a Standard For The Nations.” D&C 115:5

Find out more about Mission Life at LDS.Org

LDS.Org - Hastening The Work of Salvation

Though a familiar messenger...It's about the Message he and all missionaries have been divinely commissioned to share and minister to a world in need!!!

Find out more @ LDS.ORG

Perhaps Today There Are Loving Words Which Jesus Would Have Me Speak

Weekly questions for the elder from home included in today's email. The elder's response follows in his email:

Q1. How did your visits with the visiting authorities go?  We're guessing it was like a mini-general conference for y'all.

A1. Incredible!! Elder Oaks, Soares, and Giddens will be this Saturday

Q2. Do you have an elder Roberts (Tongan) in the GAM? An elder Roberts from Inglewood, CA is serving in our ward/stake from the UT SLC mission and said he has a cousin in Atlanta but wasn't certain if he is in your mission or the North.

A2. Negative.

Q3. Are you in need of anything at this time?

A3. Nope.

Q4. Thanks for J's name and the L's in recent weeks, is there anyone new we can add to our prayers?

A4. Thank you for your prayers. J. was baptized this last week! I think we should pray with much faith for Miah and his family!

**Can you tell grandpa I sent his document back he requested. and should get it in the next couple of days.

Greetings from down South,

It's exciting to see everything moving forward back at home. Likewise, it's very pleasing to hear the success of Ry and Kelee in all that they are doing. I sent an email to Miah and his family today. Thank you for giving me the news and email to write him. 

It's amazing and humbling to see how the Lord works in our lives. At about the same time you received news of this accident last Friday morning, Sister Evans, Elder Evans wife testified of something that hit me to the core. She testified of the great responsibility that we have as representatives of Jesus Christ at this time. She testified that not only do we have a duty to live righteously and be full of faith for the investigators and members of the church here in Georgia but perhaps even greater for those back home -- family, friends and loved ones -- that will lean on the testimony in which we serve our mission and live our lives. I testify of a loving Heavenly Father who teaches us that He is in charge...as Elder Evans would say we cannot choose what the lord will teach us..we can only choose to prepare to receive his teachings and then ACT.

It feels as though we have literally had Moroni here with us this past Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Elder David F. Evans (Moroni) who was on assignment from Alma (the prophet) sent to align us with the plan giving us counsel on where we need to move our young army. We will now work on becoming a key player in the work of salvation having the faith to find the Lord's way -- through TALKING WITH EVERYONE asking them who do they know?, double our efforts working closely with all ward members, active, less-active, part member families, YSA, youth seeking out their friends and inviting them to be baptized. Thus allowing greater convert retention, returning less actives, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel. Also each missionary AT ALL TIMES, EVERYWHERE will have a soft cover Book of Mormon in their hand to quickly connect each conversation to the Book of Mormon and the wonderful message of the restoration.

In closing I again testify dear family that we will be okay. Our Heavenly Father is at the head, His son Jesus Christ has prepared the way. We have a prophet who leads us now. We are apart of His church, there is no other church on the face of the earth that He leads. The plan is simple. Get on the path and never give up, just keep moving forward with faith and the hope of eternal life. Pray, Read, Obey, Sacrament, Temple, and inviting others, non-members to get on the path as well.

Keep Climbing!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Do We Know What We Really Have?!

Weekly questions for the elder from home in today's email. The elder's response in his email follows:

Q1. Did you get your package from home ok? Was it what you were looking for? (shampoo 3-in-1, snacks). I put a disc with church music in too.
A1. Yes I did, it was all that I was looking for, Thank you!
Q2. Will the GAM be utilizing any of the technology tools? (social media, iPads, etc) in the future?
A2. Here in the next couple of months we will start using the iPads, eventually will be teaching lessons through Facetime and things of that nature.
Q3. Do you need anything at this time?
A3. Nope doing well.
Q4. Who can we continue to pray for or add to our daily/this week prayer list?

A4. The usual would be great, J. who we were teaching is progressing and we are expecting his baptism this week.

** Tell Sole Badger (Mekelee) to look at his email I left him a little note!

Greetings from the South!

Another week has completely blown by us. With at least 4 trips to the airport, transfer planning and prep for this week's arrival of Elder David F. Evans, it was very busy last week filled with opportunities to stretch and strengthen ourselves, our commitment in the hastening of the work of salvation here in the great GAM.

Elder Frances Bernard upon his arrival to the GAM. Photocred: GAM

I had a wonderful opportunity to greet, and to sit and talk with Elder Bernard Tuesday as he arrived in the mission and some more on Wednesday before he was off with his trainer companion to his new area.  

It's quite fascinating to see our Father in Heaven's hand in even the smallest details of His work such as providing the means by which we can support 230 plus missionaries and being able to know at all times how each of them are doing. I have witnessed this time and time again as we search for apartments, cars, member housing, and so much more. Truly remarkable!

This upcoming week we are very excited to be able host Elder David F. Evans, of the Quorum of the Seventy and the Executive Director of the Missionary Department who will be conducting a tour of the GAM. I'm so pumped to hear from him as so much of the spotlight has been placed on missionary work. He will preside over and conduct zone training meetings on Thursday and Friday with all 6 zones as well as Thursday night fireside for missionaries, investigators, less-actives, and recent converts. Under his direction we will hold temple tours, baptisms for the dead for the recent converts, and fireside meeting later that night. The last count we have so is 230 are set to attend. This again should be very exciting!!

Elder Oaks, Elder Soares, Elder Giddens, Elder Evans

The following week over 500 missionaries will be gathered in Atlanta as we will have the privilege to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve who will be accompanied by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder M. Keith Giddens (Area Seventy). We are so thrilled in anticipation of seeing, hearing, and feeling what the next step the Lord has in mind for the GAM.

Photocred: GAM

President Harding continues to show why he is the man whom our prophet has called to lead our young but valiant army here in the GAM. Being able to talk with him almost daily, and to be around him a good part of the week you cannot help but know he holds the keys for missionary work here in GAM. So many lessons have been learned by observing him and following his inspired counsel, it's not hard to KNOW that anything is possible because we have a leader of his stature, faith, and diligence.

I bare witness this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is only two choices we have in this life; whether we are willing to follow the Savior and his teachings and be guided by him, or go some other way, (any other way, every other way, going it alone) sure to leave us full of grief and despair. In our ward we had a baptism Katie H. She bore her testimony saying: "We as members of the Church don't know how lucky we are to have all of our questions answered through the gospel of Jesus Christ." How true that is!!! The Gospel answers every question. One step closer to Heaven, Keep CLIMB'N, WE HAVE MORE MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB, now and FOREVER!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Flashback - The Elders of Fall

AP's Elder Gautavai, Elder Steele Photocred: GAM

GAM Missionaries Attend BYU vs. Georgia Tech to Meet and Talk with Fans

Sorry Busy Change'n Me, The World!

I apologize for the late response. 'Been very busy today traveling picking up missionaries and transporting them to the airport.

I love you all!

Elder Gautavai

I'll Go, I'll Say, I'll Be What You Want Me To Be

Elder Heath, Elder Richard Gautavai - Wausau ZL - On Wisconsin!

Periodic check-in of the elder's cousin, Elder Richard Gautavai who is currently serving as a Zone leader in the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission. Elder Gautavai entered the mission January 2012.

Good morning, good morning!

We here in Wisconsin Rapids were very impressed with this past weekend of General Conference. I felt the Lord's voice in many of His servants, and I felt his call to do more, to become more, and to lengthen our strides. This past conference answered numerous amounts of questions for me here in the field, and my faith has increased. I left General Conference with a clear understanding of part of the Lord's vision for me.

I want to thank you for what you said before I came into the field (I will address this later). As you know, I was strongly impressed a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to return home on January 3rd. I was so sure. But after much asking, seeking, and knocking, I decided that January 30th was when I should return home.

Upon calling President Cutler and informing him that I would not be returning home for school, I was immediately racked with thoughts of torment and regret. I had never before been plagued by so much doubt and confusion. For the next couple of days I felt that I was making the wrong decision, and that everything was wrong. I was then attacked again to finish my mission casually, and even worse, as disobedient as I could. As I felt these feelings, my faith began to grow. I knew that the Lord loved me, and I knew that He is not the author of confusion, and He began to speak peace to my soul.

I will share with you the thoughts that I left with Rylee concerning my decision to labor in the field.

Yes, I have decided to come home on January 30th. I actually changed my decision, but I have received a confirmation from the Lord that January 30th is an acceptable time for me to return home. I will share with you 2 things that helped me to make this decision:

1 - President Cutler, lovingly, suggested that the First Presidency had full intentions on every missionary, regardless of schooling, should serve for the intended 2 years. I felt a deep impression that this is exactly what the Lord would have for all of his children, and that demonstrating faith in the Lord's commands always brings increased testimony.

2 - Elder Perkins, a Seventy in the church, came to our mission and taught us that one way that missionaries can model their lives is after that of the mission president's and his wife's. I was touched deeply by this statement as both President Jones and President Cutler have moved me to exercise greater faith than I ever have before. I thought back to a letter that President Cutler had written me where he talked about how he had postponed his early arrival for school to labor in the field. I see how this small sacrifice has brought him to a greater and deeper understanding of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it touched my heart that this is a path worthy of following.

While there have been other things that have influenced my decision to stay in Wisconsin for the additional 3 weeks or so, your father's voice has also rung through my mind. Right before I went into the MTC he told me that, "nothing is more important here at home than the things you will do for the next 2 years."

I testify that serving a full-time mission is a commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as obeying the Word of Wisdom and going to church each Sunday is a commandment, serving a full 2 year mission is the same. President Monson has said, "that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty, an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much."

I would encourage you to share this wonderful knowledge with those of your friends who may struggle with the choice to serve a mission. It is a commandment of God, and it has changed my life forever. The Lord himself declared this in the Doctrine and Covenants saying, "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen."

I can't help but say thank you for reminding me more than 20 months ago that there is nothing more important than serving God, and putting God first. I now know that Satan is doing all that he can to thwart the work of our Father in Heaven and deep inside individuals as well.

I have felt the song of redeeming love, and am grateful for this wonderful work that we are blessed to engage in. I love this Gospel, I love this church, and I love the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that we may all find safety as we lose ourselves in the service of the Lord.

Love you guys!

Elder Gautavai

The Heavens Were Open This Weekend, Wide Open!

General Conference - I Got Time For That!