Hope of Israel - Rising Generation

Good News That We Bring!

Releasing The Power of The Gift of The Holy Ghost in Your Life

Weekly questions posed in our email letter to the elder this morning. His response in his email:

Q1. How did the climb for August end up?  Did y'all reach your goal of 70?

A1. We ended up for the month of August with 56 baptisms. We had a couple of families postpone Saturday morning. 56 is our all-time high now in the mission. Last August (2012) we had 18. Through Miracle week we accomplished our goal to prove to the Lord that we are worthy of even more miracles.

Q2. That is an amazing surge and increase in missionaries (love it)..did that cause you some longer days getting things in place?

A2. Yes. With the large influx in our mission we had to open up 24 new areas and find 50 trainers. In addition to the increase we didn't have anyone leave last week. Our days our longer now but that doesn't bother me at all as President Harding says we are 24/7 for the Lord...No greater time to do it! It was incredible to see the army of missionaries in the airport! A lot of heads were turning!

Q3. Do you need anything at this time?

A3. Umm, not at the moment.

Greetings from the South!

It has been a great week for the GAM as we finished off Miracle week very strong and on a positive note. As you are aware we didn't have Preparation day yesterday. instead we held our, "Laboring for the Lord day of proselyting." Holidays are great opportunities to meet families at home so with the adjustment of P-day and with our army of 235 strong, we marched out onto the battlefield in search and rescue of those families who have been prepared to receive the blessings that flow from the restored gospel.

As we were traveling throughout the mission yesterday I was amazed to hear of and see miracles happening everywhere, missionaries talking with people at library parking lots, in parks, grocery stores, hundreds and hundreds of missionaries representatives of Jesus Christ bringing the Savior's love and blessing to the people here and inviting them as the Savior would to follow Him and be baptized.  

President & Sister Harding and the Assistants (Elder Steele, Elder Gautavai) Photocred: GAM

Transfer Meeting Photocred: GAM

Transfer meeting this last week was packed! There were in attendance 174 missionaries as we introduced the "Fab 50" into our army signaling and encouraging each to hasten even quicker the work here in the GAM. With this influx in missionaries, Elder Steele and I have done a lot of traveling around the mission picking up necessities for apartments and delivering them to the areas. One night we cleaned out 4 Walmarts stock of Airbeds. Seeing the look on peoples faces wondering what in the world we were doing with so many airbeds was priceless.  

This week we are heading to the Atlanta Temple for mission council with the Zone Leaders & Sister Training Leaders. The following week we will conduct our monthly Zone Training Meeting week at the Temple! The Georgia Fayetteville Stake Conference is coming up on the 15th of September. I received a call from the Stake President's Executive Secretary who extended an invitation to talk on the Hastening of the Work in the Sunday morning general session. This should be interesting!!!

As we continue to move forward in our lives may we always remember to return and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all that he has provided for us. We are who we are today because of either the influence of the gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives, or the lack of influence that it has played in our lives. May we never forget the glorious message we share is that the Savior has restored His Church and authority to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. There is NO OTHER WAY!

Love, Elder Gautavai

Georgia Atlanta Mission Area

We Are One!

Photo/Videocred: GAM

Go Fast Go Hard! 50 New Missionaries Part of Miracle Week in The GAM

Miracle Week- Climb'N To 70

Weekly questions posed to the elder in our letter from home. His email response follows:

Q1. Do you need anything at this time?

A1. Nope, May I invite you to buy the book called the Power of Every Day Missionaries by Clay Christensen and commit to looking at the various ways we can share the gospel. I promise you will find no greater joy!

Q2. We are praying for the GAM, missionaries, leaders, members, returning members, members of other faiths...anyone or anything else?

A2. Continue to pray for the GAM I will explain later the wonderful miracles we can pray for.

Request: I spoke with Bradley Morrill (recently completed mission) a couple times on the phone during his brief visit to Utah. Due to his tight schedule we were not able to meet with him. He expressed his appreciation for your commitment, diligence and faith. We likewise expressed our gratitude for him and his help (as your trainer and fellow missionary). Elder Morrill's brother lives in SLC and will be visiting him again before the end of the year. He would like to meet up with us then. Can you let sister Harding know of our contact.

Response: Yes sir I can do that.

Let me just get straight to the wonderful news that has flooded the GAM. Late this last week we received word from the Missionary department in Salt Lake City that we would be receiving 50 new missionaries rather than the original total of 25. We will have 25 visa waiters joining us this Tuesday taking our total count up to around 230 missionaries, attending transfers will be 175 missionaries as we’ve had to find 50 trainers and open up 24 new areas as a result of the big increase. We believe that with this wonderful great addition in missionaries we will find the THOUSANDS of families in whom the lord has prepared here in the GAM as we climb the mountain of the Lord. How INCREDIBLE is that?!

This last week was huge for us as a mission as we hit an all-time high in baptisms for one weekend with 24, raising our total to 48 for the month. Looking ahead at our goal of 70 for August, the atmosphere and belief among the missionaries is contagious knowing with Faith and Action we will hit our goal as we close out the month.

For this week we have used the effort associated with HELL week in football transferable to MIRACLE week with the missionary work here in the field. We are inviting all Georgia Atlanta missionaries to sacrifice everything they have to work relentlessly; to prayerfully plan out each day to MAKE IT HAPPEN! Each zone will Fast this week on separate days. We will host various conference calls throughout the week to monitor our ascent.

I add my testimony to that of Elder Bednar's. If we truly understood the gospel as the Lord has defined it we would talk about BAPTISM, baptizing all the time!  Knowing this, we should do everything within our power to INVITE those around us to be endowed with His power made possible through the waters and gateway of baptism.

Love, Elder Gautavai