Turn To The Son, For The Father's Peace

Weekly questions posed to the elder at the beginning of our letters from home. His response in his email back.

Q1. Do you need anything at this time?

A1. Nope im doing well.

Q2. Does elder Steele like BYU?

A2. He does, he attended BYU before he came out.

Q3. Who can we pray for this week?

A3. GAM as we make the glorious climb up the mountain of the Lord.

students have changed, instructor, instruction, classroom remain #holytemples

We Can Still Today Be Instructed and Feel His Love in His Holy Temples

Wow! Let me first start off by quickly testifying of the power of the temple as Elder Steele and I attended the temple Tues-Saturday! In attending the temple each day I have not only seen but felt the importance of getting to the house of the Lord each week. I have truly felt the love of our Heavenly Father for all of His children as we participated in sacred temple ordinances for which the Lord promised His power will be made manifest through the highest priesthood. This is so true! The restoration happened, I KNOW it did as evidenced by the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon!  

It was so incredible to be able to participate in all the Zone Training Meetings throughout the mission this week. Despite having a unified, well thought-out plan put together ahead of time for each meeting, and as a result of attending the temple each day, the Spirit took us in another direction and we were able to teach our zones, districts, leaders and missionaries based on their immediate and specific needs thereby furthering personal missionary growth and development as we hasten the Lord's work in the GAM.

Photocred: GAM

Our Heavenly Father is so aware of us I promise you he is, there is no doubt in my mind He is there. Lastly, let me testify of the power of prayer. This last week I found myself praying constantly aloud and in my heart and as I did it became so clear to me that it is through the Son that we gain the peace of the Father -- it is to the Savior that we may turn for our Heavenly Father's peace.  May we always turn to Him and give thanks for all that we have. Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings MIRACLES.

Onward to VICTORY!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Glad of Heart, His Holy Name Confessing!

Far and wide we tell the Father's story,

Far and wide His love proclaim!

The Family is Central to God's Plan - Words of A Living Prophet

"No other success can compensate for failure in the home."

David O. McKay

The LORD Has Shown US How WE Can

Click Here To Find Out More About God's Plan For Families

Mountains to Climb

Q1. Are you in need of anything?

A1. Negative

Q2. How is J. progressing?

A2. He is doing okay, however due to our lack of being in the area because we are all over the place we have let the Elders in the Fayetteville Ward teach him.

Q3. Who can we pray for this week?

A3. This week you can pray for the GAM as we get set to ascend in our climb up the Lord's mountain.

Hello Family,

It's such a wonderful experience to be able to sit back and watch the blessings that flow into our lives as a result of our membership in the church, and willingness to serve with Him to the end.

We started the week out with Mission Council meeting with all of our leadership in the mission. One thing that I have come to know for sure is goals reflect the desires of our hearts, the Lord has said there are thousands who are ready and quite frankly we don't want to miss ANY, again who the Lord has said clearly are ready to harvest!

Atlanta Georgia LDS Temple

So as a mission we are setting the bar high! Unitedly, we are going to the Lord with a fervent desire and goal to baptize 70 people. As we ascend in our climb to the top of the mountain to reach another goal of 200 people baptized, and then thousands!! It was received by commitment very well and as we get set to go to the temple with each zone this week, we hope to continue to move on our climb at a quickened pace. By the way I am super excited to be going to the temple everyday this week!!

Stockton Harding, President John R. Harding

This week we helped celebrate Stockton's birthday with President and Sister Harding at Stone Mountain park (the largest exposed granite monolith with relief carving of Confederate notables, surrounded by attractions and recreation in a natural environment - see pictures attached). It was such a neat opportunity to see how President and Sister Harding treat one another and how they respect everyone they come into contact with. When we arrived at the park, President quickly gave us Pass Along cards and we went out searching for families while celebrating Stockton's birthday. Even before entering the park, President climbed into one of the attraction rides and started talking to a man, Elder Steele and I jumped into a bus that was waiting for passengers and began talking with the bus driver, the office elders who also came along went contacting around the ticket booth. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! THERE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE READY!!!

I have come to know with surety that one of the greatest ways I can show my love for someone is to INVITE them to live the restored gospel and to be baptized ASAP...it may sound a little crazy but consider what inviting someone to be baptized really means? Being redeemed, forgiven of sin, endowed with His power and qualifying for eternal life through the sacred ordinances and covenants of the sacrament and temple. There is no other way to be truly happy, therefore the greatest love that I can show someone is to INVITE, INVITE, INVITE. Unless we INVITE, people are not likely to change. I bare witness that there are thousands who are ready!!! How do I know this? Because the Lord has said there are thousands ready!!!. WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN TO SEARCH OUT AND FIND THEM...

Love, Elder Gautavai

Stop And Wait For Me!

Hello Family,

with Elder Perez (ZL) Photocred GAM

This week has been another eventful week to say the least, excitement is in the air here in the GAM as we get set to move into a new phase to further hasten the Lord's work. We will be revealing this next phase to our Zone, District, and Sister Training Leaders this Thursday at Mission Council so stay tuned for that great report. 

Elder Steele and I have been touring the entire mission. This last week consisted of going on exchanges with our mighty Zone Leaders, conducting trainings as well as planning and administration work here at the office. 

J. was not baptized this week however we are still working with him to remove some obstacles from his path. In our YSA ward this week we had 2 baptisms which is creating even more excitement for missionary work, the Lord's work of salvation! 

Last night Elder Steele and I were able to attend the baptism of Kevin, a man who just 2 weeks before I was transferred elder Perez and I had tracted into. He resides in the home of the last door we knocked on. To see this all come together has been so, so humbling, faith building and gratifying. This experience gets even better...(huge smile) Kevin was baptized in Bishop Kennedy's swimming pool because the plumbing needed fixing at the church so they had to make a quick audible (change) on the spot so everyone drove over to bishop's beautiful home. But wait it gets even BETTER!! While everyone was gathering in bishop's backyard for the baptism, Elder Steele and I received the IMPRESSION that someone here nearby (in the neighborhood) needed to come to the baptism at the Kennedy pool. So quickly, we started knocking on doors around the homes in the neighborhood inviting everyone to the "baptism at the pool." Just as we thought we were going to come up short in finding who the spirit was directing us to, at literally the last house we were at after knocking on the door, a woman named M. came out of her house and yelled for us "TO STOP AND WAIT FOR HER TO COME!" The missionaries will now have a chance to teach her as she invited us to come back over to her home after the baptism to share the glad message of the restored gospel with her and her family. Thankful for the promptings of the Spirit!! Glory to God!! Hoorah for Israel!!

In closing I just wanted to THANK YOU dad for your unwavering stance as we were growing up on things that I needed to do even at times when I didn't feel it was necessary; that I could make those, what seemed like tough decisions the other way. What once was seen by me as an annoyance and a invasion of agency is now being seen as great faith, obedience and consecration on your part. I know God Lives!

Love y'all, Elder Gautavai

Blessed, Honored Pioneer

Addressing Transfer Meeting 25 New GAM Missionaries (photocred GAM)

A1. No sign of the package yet I'll keep an eye out for it. I just moved upstairs not a far move at all. We don't have a key for a mailbox so we haven't been able to get into it so its best to just send everything to the mission office I am there when the mail gets in so I can look for it.

A2. Im currently serving in the Fayetteville YSA ward. It's a blast to be working with the young adults. We cover the whole stake here in Fayetteville, we meet right after the Whitewater ward so I still see all of the great members in Whitewater.

A3. My new companion is Elder Steele from Idaho. He has been out for 18 months is really smart and energetic which is perfect!

A4. Elder Perez is now companions with Elder Moodie who came out a transfer after me.

A5,6. This last week our schedule consisted of alot of traveling around the mission getting the new zone leaders trained on responsibilities and vision. A typical day usually varies as President says we are 24/7 for the Lord so we try and get to bed by 10:30 PM if not we are usually at the office wrapping up some things. We work closely each day with our couple missionaries who work  in the office overseeing mission vehicles, housing coordinators, finance, and secretary. In our free time we proselyte which is uplifting and exciting especially with the YSA's as they are so fun to have gospel discussions with and in sharing the gospel. It's really different as well as they have a lot of activities during the week. Sunday church services go from 2-5 PM after which we go to President Harding's home for dinner and planning session.

A7. I'm doing well right now.

A8. Please pray for J. He is our investigator who we are expecting to be baptized on the 28th.

Love Y'all, Elder Gautavai

Elder Morrill (AP), Elder Price (ZL), Elder Steele (AP) (photocred GAM)

Elder Fuller (ZL), Elder Morrill (AP), Elder Price (ZL), Elder Steele (AP) (photocred GAM)

Weekly letter written to the elder today ahead of receiving his email. The letter per usual starts off with questions directed to him. He responds in his email (usually :) This week his letter consisted of his responses. Keeping super busy no doubt! Being "Exceedingly Valiant!"

Mom's questions:

Q1. We sent you the requested items in a package last Tuesday, July 16 via USPS priority mail addressed to the mission office. Well, according to the package tracking online it's still in their sort system as of yesterday in the ATL. It arrived in Newnan but for some reason it wasn't showing as being delivered. There may be a chance it could be on its way back to Bountiful? (hopefully not). Are we good to send things to the mission office? We don't have the best of luck sending stuff there. We'll keep trying.

Q2. Are you still in the same complex with the transfer? (upstairs). What is your physical address now?

Q3. Tell us about your new companion, name, where he's from, how long out etc…

Q4. Who is elder Perez' new companion?

Q5. What is your area now? What ward?

Q6. What do your days look like now?

Q7. Need anything besides (temple, socks) the stuff we shipped/trying to get to you?

Q8. Who can we add to or continue to pray for on our daily prayer list?

Hello Elder Gautavai,

Happy start of another great week in the mission field! Hopefully the past seven days have been glorious for you despite and even because of challenges you may have endured that lead to improvement and growth (again it's part of the plan, your plan Heavenly Father has for you). We are truly humbled and grateful for the Lord's hand made manifest in your life and call to serve. We feel the goodness of God as a result of your decision to serve as a special witness of the restored Gospel and Jesus Christ, and even more so the manner in which you have chosen to serve Him (4th missionary). Glory to God! Congrats on the new calling and assignment. God bless you to BE equal to the task!! We are so excited!!!

We are pleased to see God is real to you made evident by your desire and commitment to not only LAY DOWN your "weapons of war" that would hinder or distract you, but most importantly and the real difference maker, "BURY them!!!!!!" (Anti-Nephi-Lehies)

"They took their swords, and all the weapons which had been used for the shedding of man's blood, they did bury them deep in the earth." Alma 24:17

"And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war for peace." Alma 24:19

I believe the Lord expects us to be exact or as I like to view it, "exceedingly" committed to all He asks us to do. Sure we can do things just to do them and hence be obedient or more accurately -- compliant. However, it's when we are exceedingly committed through testimony, faith, commitment, magnification and ACTION when we see the true level of discipleship the Lord expects (Alma 53:20). And oh the blessings of being on the same page with the Godhead.

I know you're super busy. Enjoy your day, week and mission. Everyday "Wake Up and Do something More!!!!" Share the gospel through your talents and gifts!!! Pioneer day is this Tue/Wed..to honor our pioneers I leave you with this wonderful thought about them and I believe a connection to what you are doing in this great work of salvation as a modern day pioneer (They, The Builders of the Nation hymn 36)

Service ever was their watchcry;
Love became their guiding star;
Courage, their unfailing beacon,
Radiating near and far.
Ev'ry day some burden lifted,
Ev'ry day some heart to cheer,
Ev'ry day some hope the brighter,
Blessed, honored Pioneer!

We love and pray for you!!! Come Unto Him, Wait on the Lord. 

In Him,

Dad

If You Keep Your Covenants, Your Covenants Will Keep You!

The elder's cousin checking in from the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission, On Wisconsin!

Good Morning!

I will have to be short as we are a little short on time! But thanks so much for your email, I enjoyed it! Everything is going great for us here in Wisconsin Rapids! We're always looking to improve our charity (especially for missionaries), but it allows us to stretch and grow, which has been a blessing! 

We had a tough week in the Wausau Zone with just about everything, so we're really focusing this week on continuing to maintain a "model" area, and getting down to the bottom of all of the discouragment!! 

I was reading in Alma 56 this morning and verse 8 really stood out to me. Heleman writes saying, "But I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken." I've found a lot of strength in learning more about the people of Ammon as they are premier examples of keeping covenants. What I got from this is that others are blessed when we choose to keep our covenants. I've seen this amongst missionaries all the time. Being a Zone Leader...there's automatically room for missionaries to infer inequality between myself and them. I've found that as I've stressed exact obedience in my life, it has given me the ability to lift the missionaries around me. 

Thanks again for your wonderful, wonderful examples. My mission has been impacted in many ways by the shining examples that I was able to see in the home. They help me every day to choose the right! 

Love you guys! Elder Gautavai