Come, Help The Good Work Move Along

(This week's letter begins with a section not normally included. Questions we ask of the elder. His responses follow.)

Q. Did you get the packages we and your Grandma Alip sent this past week?
A. Yes I did thank you very much for the goodies and PMG (compact Preach My Gospel).

Q. Are you looking forward to General Conference in 2 weeks? Where will you view the sessions?
A. Very excited not sure where we will be watching it yet with transfers here on the (Oct) 3rd.

Q. What time do your check your emails on P-days? Do you get many emails? Do you email others?
A. We usually head to email around 10:30 here I get emails from ya'll and Elder Byington recently which was cool. I try and just email ya'll and President.

Q. Are you able to print your email letters?
A. Cant really print from the library computer so I try and soak in all ya'lls spiritual thoughts when I am here at the library.

Q. Did you get a chance to talk with President Snow before he left?
A. I talked to Presdient Snow last Saturday and counseled with him about what I can continue to do to be a successful missionary.

Q. Have you had the chance to meet with President Harding yet?
A. President Harding called this morning which was a very uplifting experience for the both of us. He is very excited to be here; he has been non stop going fixin to vist all the zones and zone leaders. He shared his experience with me regarding grandpa giving him a priesthood blessing before he left with yall at the house which was amazing. Kinda weird though hearing a familiar voice from Utah haha. He and I are excited to continue to move in the direction that President Snow has led us.

Hey Family!

That's fantastic news to hear the boys are continuing to do well! I fix and pray for their success on the field and off it each and every day. Continue to be all ya'll can be boys! I am proud of everything ya'll doing and the young men ya'll are fixin to BE. Good Luck this week!

I cant tell ya'll the experience and blessing it was for us to have President and Sister Snow here for the 11 weeks they were in the mission. Seeing them go was harder than expected. I continue to pray that the Lord will bless them now and forever as they are true disciples of Christ in everything they do. But with the change in leadership comes much excitement as President Harding arrived Saturday. He is our Captain Moroni here in the Georgia Atlanta mission and BIG things are fixin to happen down here in the South.

The work here in Sharpsburg is going well. We have found some potential investigators as we provided the faith in which the Lord could provide us the miracles; we are starting to grow our teaching pool out. Other than that we are HOPE-ing to help our investigators now progress and come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.

My thought today comes from Elder Bednar's video segments about the Light of Christ, "Pattens of Light: The Light of Christ", broken down into 3 different videos. I would invite ya'll to watch it tonight for FHE and commit to paying closer attention to the answers we get from our prayers because we do get them. Although it may not be a huge affirmation that we get...I know that it will come to us in our own personal and unique way..I wont give too much of the video segments away but in one part he talks of how as a young man forgetting to say your prayer in the morning and then considers the question, why would our Heavenly Father send an Angel to remind you to pray when He can send you the words of your mother reminding you to pray each day. I promise that as we take the time to wait for our answers in our prayers not only will we recieve our answer, we will KNOW HOW it is we get our answers as well.

I LOVE being out here and wearing the name of our Savior Jesus Christ on my heart each and every minute of every day, what a blessing it is! I wouldn't take any of my experiences back in the past like Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah so great was my pain and heartache but without those pains and heartache I could have never known of the the greater and deeper love that I feel from ya'll as a family and more importantly from our Savior Jesus Christ and healing and enabling from His Atonement. Sorry this is so short. I will have more experiences to share next week as well as pictures.

Love Elder Gautavai

Brigham City Utah Temple Dedication Thoughts

Today is a special Sabbath day, another House of the Lord, the Brigham City Utah Temple will be dedicated to our Heavenly Father. It is the fourteenth temple in the state of Utah and when dedicated will be the 139th in operation world-wide. We will enjoy the dedicatory session via broadcast at the Bountiful Heights stake center this morning as a family (including both of us, Rylee, Junior and Mekelee, Grandpa and Faaagi); our FAMILY temple worship opportunity.

In a sacrament meeting address recently, one of the speakers shared a gospel message which connected the return or coming of the Prophet Elijah as foretold by Malachi in the Old Testament (Malachi 4:1-5) -- his mission in restoring the sealing keys (Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-16) at the Kirtland Temple April 3, 1836 -- and today's missionary effort here on earth. It provides us with a spiritual and eternal view of the work (Moses 1:39) the elder and we are called to do as latter-day saints in inviting all to come unto Christ.

Elijah’s Promise and Missionary Work

Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–2 states: “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.”

There are many ways in which the power and spirit of Elijah are manifest today. We may not even be aware when they happen. Missionary work is one way. Consider the following:

Missionary work on the earth. Because of Elijah’s mission, missionaries are led to descendants of those who have accepted the gospel in the spirit world. Elder Melvin J. Ballard observed: “It was made known to me that it is because the righteous dead who have received the Gospel in the spirit world are exercising themselves, and in answers to their prayers elders of the Church are sent to the homes of their posterity so that the Gospel might be taught to them, and that descendant in the flesh is then privileged to do the work for his dead kindred. I want to say to you that it is with greater intensity that the hearts of the fathers and mothers in the spirit world are turned to their children now in the flesh than that our hearts are turned to them.”

A pair of missionaries in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission had an experience that demonstrates this principle. While driving near the outskirts of town, they passed an elderly gentleman standing at the side of the road. The missionaries felt strongly impressed to stop and speak to him. They told him that Jesus Christ had sent them to him with an important message. The elders bore strong testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. They gave him a pamphlet with their names and phone number and urged him to read the material and contact them.

About three weeks later, the elderly gentleman phoned the missionaries. He asked them to come to his home and pray for his wife, who was very ill. At the home, which was so far out of town that they never would have stopped at that house during their regular proselyting, the elders administered to the wife, and she was healed immediately. She then asked the missionaries to teach her and her husband. Three weeks later, the couple were baptized. The elderly sister told the missionaries the following story:

"Some time ago my husband came home and told me that he met two young men who said that the Lord had sent them to him. Three days later I had a dream. I dreamed that I was with my mother, who died thirty-five years ago. I have never before dreamed of my mother.

The dream was vivid, just as if it was real. My mother said to me, “My child, I cannot rest.” I replied, “Why, Mom, why can’t you rest?” She answered, “Because you don’t belong to the right church.” I was surprised because I am in the church which my mother and father raised me in.

Then the scene changed, and we were standing next to a beautiful clear pool of water that had three steps leading down into the water.

My mother said, “My child, go down into the water, and I will follow.” I hesitated and said, “No, Mom, you go first and then I will follow.” Then my mother said, “No, my child, you must go first! Then I will come after.”

When I woke, I wondered what the dream meant. Then I became sick, and you came out and blessed me. You taught us the gospel. I learned about the spirit world and that my parents may have heard the gospel. Then we were baptized. When I stood before the steps of the baptismal font, I remembered my dream. It was the same pool of water that I had seen in my dream."

Senior Companion & Trainer - In Him, I Got This!

(Due to an unexpected change in his companion elder Martinez's health, the elder was reassigned in his current area to be a senior companion and trainer - just a little over 2 months in the mission field)

Hey Y'all,

Well it's good to hear the boys did well and good to see that all their hard work before the season is paying off. Keep workin hard and making those around you better...go gettem this week! Kelee when I get some time today I will write you back, yall know I'm not very good at writing letters but I will be fixin to get one out to you Kelee-boy.

I spent Saturday with the AP's driving down to Columbus to pick up my new comp Elder Cotton-Betteridge from Alpine, Utah. President Snow told me he fasted and prayed about it, and asked that I train him as he has only been out in the field for about 3 weeks despite not being fully through the training program myself. In President's words (haha), "you'll just have to find a way to train yourself." He said he has full confidence I will seek and rely on the Lord for that guidance. (haha) I'm excited about the opportunity, and view it in such a positive way, like Nephi I know the LORD WILL PREPARE A WAY (1 Nephi 3:7). Elder Cotton-Betteridge is a great missionary who has an awesome desire to learn and to grow as a disciple of Christ. I too am excited!! We have in only 2 short days together found great chemistry in our teaching and more importantly strong unity in our companionship.

The work here in Sharpsburg continues to move forward. We had to move our investigator's baptism date back. We are fixin to really help our 3 progressing investigators land baptism dates and help them all come even closer to Jesus Christ. We are also in the process of finding new investigators. With the Lord's help we are fixin up new ways whereby we can do this.

The neatest experience was to hear President Snow's testimony at Stake Conference this week as he and Sister Snow conclude their mission. President Snow has really been a BLESSING in so many ways for me as a missionary. They have also been a blessing for the Georgia Atlanta Mission as well. President Snow has helped reshape the culture of the mission, missionaries and the work out here. He bore strong testimony that "WE ARE WHO WE ARE TODAY NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, BUT BECAUSE THE HOLY GHOST HAS SHAPED US TO WHO THE LORD WANTS US TO BE LIKE."

The gift of the Holy Ghost is an amazing blessing that we as members of the Church have. We have the opportunity to have perfect guidance, the Holy Ghost, with us as long as the spirit is invited and through our thoughts, courage and actions made welcomed to stay. What a blessing this is!! I know that President Harding will come and only add to the spirit that President Snow has left -- it will be hard to see him go. The missionaries especially me are very excited for President Harding's arrival and know that the Lord needs him here at this time for this mission.

Hope ya'll are doing well I pray for ya'lls success and well-being each and everyday!

Love Elder Gautavai

Have I Done Any Good In The World Today?

Hello!!

Thank you for the package that yall sent it was good to get some snacks as well as hear from Kelee-boy and Mom. Congrats on this weeks bounce back wins! keep working hard, keep your head-up and BE positive!

I'm excited for President Harding and Sister Harding coming down in the near future! I know President Harding has a special relationship with our Heavenly Father, he is very in tune and will be a great leader here in the South. President and Sister Snow have laid a great foundation fixin for President and Sister Harding's arrival.

We had a very good week. We have been getting alot of work done visiting with part member families, less actives and meeting with our investigators. The Ward is very appreciative of our hard work and efforts, but we know we can do more, WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE! Saturday we had a FREE car wash for a stake activity inviting all the community to come get their cars washed for "FREE." I emphasize "FREE" because there are alot of churches who fix and say that car washes are FREE, but what they don't say is there is a lot pressure put on people when they show up to make donations. We sat at the entrance and guided people on what they would do and informed them we weren't accepting donations. Once they get past this surprise we let them know our efforts and focus is on the opportunity to offer pure service to the community.

Service seemed to be the theme of the week as we did alot of service in peoples backyards and gardens. Everyone here has a garden it's crazy (in a great way). Most importantly, I love serving people. I look forward to just going out and helping others. Many have appreciated the service. It makes me thankful for all the service opportunities to mow and snow plow our neighbors yards and driveways back home (good neighborly service prepared me for what I am doing now).

P.M. is a recent convert of about 2 months. He is an amazing young man who is the only member of his family. My first Sunday in the Sharpsburg ward he received the priesthood and the spirit that was felt was incredible. P. sits by me in the Gospel Principles class and is never afraid to bear his testimony and ask me questions about a gospel concept or principle.

I want you to know how much I love each and everyone of yall back home and that I am at peace at this time in my life. Each and every day I am coming to know my Savior more and more seeking after Him each and every day as I wake up. I know that families built on the Gospel and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are entitled to amazing blessings so long as we remain worthy of those blessings and are mindful of attending church to partake of the Sacrament each week to be renewed (D&C 59:9-10). 

Don't ever be afraid to be an example of the BELIEVErs. I bear witness that the Lord will put people He is preparing in our paths to talk about the gospel so long as we DESIRE IT. I know and want it known that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the ONLY church that contains the complete knowledge of the truth and the fullness of the Gospel. May the Lord continue to bless yall this upcoming week and look after yall.

Love Elder Gautavai, GO BRAVES!

When There's Love@Home

Today is the elder's Grandma Sia' birthday. In her honor and memory we share this, her favorite Hymn -- arranged in english and samoan. We are certain she helps her grandchildren even now including her 2 full-time missionaries. Love you grandma Gautavai!

Feed My Sheep - Help Others Come Unto Christ

Hello Family!

Sorry we were unable to get to a computer due to Labor day yesterday. My clothes are holding up well. I may need to end up getting some smaller pants though due to my lack of weight haha-- never thought I would ever say that. I make spaghetti and eggs and other things so we are definitely okay as far as meals. Snacks, I could use more almonds and jerky I ran out yesterday. Send Miah and the Benefactor my love and hello's.

It saddens me to hear of the week for the boys but I want them to know to keep their head up and stay positive moving forward with FAITH and continue to WORK hard, effective and with more FAITH. New week ahead filled with new opportunities to go after greatness. Love you boys!  

As I have studied the Plan of Salvation more and more I come to a realization that everything is going to be okay because we know of the Lord's plan for us, its more than walking out on friday night lights or playing soccer in front of hundreds of people. Unfortunately, Friday night didn't go too well for Elder Martinez and I with our investigator as we were getting ready to teach him satan lobbed a few obstacles in our path so that we couldn't teach him that night because of some other commitments he had to fulfill. But like the advice to keep your head up and stay positive, so too have Elder Martinez and I. We were able to schedule another appointment to meet with him this Wednesday.  

With some events that have occured in this last week we were able to teach a young man by the name of C. As we were teaching him the restoration the impression came to me of something that President Snow counseled us "everyone is worthy of a baptismal date." As I acted on this prompting C. immediately said "I was waiting for you to ask me that" and joyfully said yes and asked what he needed to do to be prepared. We set a date and are meeting with him to help him to progress towards the date. I'll have more news about him hopefully soon.

In conclusion I want to share some thoughts about the Apostle Peter. There was a singular moment in time when Peter became the apostle Peter that we all are familiar with. After Christ was crucified and everything was over Peter and the other apostles had no idea what to do next. So they went to the thing they knew how to do well, they went fishing (John 21). After a terrible night of fishing on the water they saw a man on the shore in the morning who asked them how their fishing went? After replying to the man that they had caught nothing the man then replied to set their nets on the right side of the boat.  Once they followed they could not pull the whole catch in for it was too numerous. Discovering it was the Lord, Peter jumped off the boat and swam to Him. Christ then asks Peter 3 times one simple question, "Do you love me?" After the third time of Peter replying Yes Lord, He then answers "FEED MY SHEEP" (John 21:15-17). And as Elder Holland put it "we can't go back"...as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - the call to missionary work is not for just 2 years, it is forever, to FEED HIS SHEEP. We cannot go back to the way we once were. I've come to love my Savior too much to GO BACK. It's because of Him I am here, and it's because of Him that ALL things are possible.

Continue to WORK as If everything depended on YOU and PRAYing as if everything depended on the LORD and I know that He will MAKE IT HAPPEN.

GO BRAVES!

Love Elder Gautavai

I'll Answer, Dear Lord, With My Hand In Thine

The elder's cousin Elder Richard Gautavai is currently serving in the Wisconsin Milwaukee mission. His weekly letter to the family shows just how transformative the mission can be and has been in his life. Here is an excerpt from our other Elder Gautavai in Wisconsin.

Good Morning,

Man, sounds like a tough outing for the Braves this past week. It should help them to make adjustments again, as they were probably flying pretty high after a 2-0 start. It will be one of those games that can impact them for good, if they choose to use it that way.

Bummer about Mekelee's team as well. It sounds like Stansbury's little league program could dominate their high school program. But maybe Stansbury is an up and coming team. Tell Mekelee to keep his head up, and to continue to work hard.

The past week was really frustrating for Elder Gautavai here in Sun Prairie. Man, we worked hard this week, and we just couldn't seem to have anything fall into place. But I can tell you how much I have loved serving the Lord.  Struggling to find people to teach, long and hot days, running out of ideas, not knowing where to go, it has all been a part of my mission, but man have I enjoyed it.

This week was a great week for myself to strive to make changes in my character to fit to whom the Lord wants me to BECOME. I'll BE what He wants me to BE. It was a week full of questions, and even some set backs, but it was a week for me to commit myself to surrendering myself to the Lord. It was a week for me to really box away the memories from home, and refocus my attention on the work here in Sun Prairie. Mentally it has been very draining, but I have seen glimpses of the potential that the Lord has in store for me if I continue to come unto him.

Thank you for yor examples, and your continued love and support. I'm very thankful to have been blessed w/such a great family. I would just like to re-iterate what I said in my email to Agi, and that is, I want you guys to know that I'm working hard here in Wisconsin. I'm doing my best to do my best. It has been a time for me to really stretch and grow, and really rely on the Lord more than ever. I'm thankful for our Savior, and especially for His love. Thanks for all you guys do, and continue to stay ROOTED in Christ.

Elder Gautavai