Our Savior's Love Shines Like The Sun With Perfect Light

Hello Family,

Thanksgiving went well! As part of inspired revelation from President Harding, Thanksgiving was a day in which we were asked to set up appointments with all members no matter what their status to share a message to leave a blessing of the Savior's LOVE and PEACE in their homes as part of our sacred calling. We also asked them Who They Knew who could use the same blessing. It was awesome to be able to continue to gain the members trust and see the enthusiasm for the Work. haha Our dinner calendar is pretty much full next month as the members have signed up and are going to bring friends of other faiths to the dinners. We ate Thanksgiving dinner with the Singleton family at the church building along with their extended family. It was fun getting to know each and everyone of them. Nothing out of the ordinary was made for our Thanksgiving meal, pretty much the norm. Ben took us to this place for crawfish unfortunately, they ran out so I didn't get any haha...we will be going back for a big table of crawfish for sure!

This week has been good in determining a balance in our stewardship between attention to our zone and our own area. I was able to go on exchanges this week and help a struggling area within our zone pick-up some new investigators simply by providing a blessing to everyone we came in contact with. As I took the lead, the Elder I was with got really stoked seeing how blessings' of the Savior's love and peace really help people recognize and acknowledge us as representatives of Jesus Christ!

Now here is some fun news we call the "EVERY SOUL FIND A SOUL." Every missionary in our zone and in the mission will find one person (2 per companionship) and bring them into the waters of baptism by Dec 31st. I know we can do it! We are so excited to get out and find those who our Heavenly Father has prepared! We are placing no limits on the Lord! I'm getting pumped up just writing this to all ya'll! 

President Harding and the Assistants one of them being my trainer Elder Morrill (ZL companion in East Point with Elder Fruean) have been in daily contact with us and I have really learned alot from President in all aspects of missionary work and in life. We looked and are using LEAD and LAG indicators to help us achieve EVERY SOUL FIND A SOUL to determine where we need to focus on to bring all that our Heavenly Father has asked.

This next week will BE an exciting week! Elder Corbridge of the Seventy will be training Elder Price and I along with the Stake President on leadership in the Stake on Wed. We will also meet with him on Friday at Zone Confrence as well as another leadership training. It will BE a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow.

I bear witness that this is an inspired work, that the Lord is hastening His work until the gospel has reached every heart on this earth. I know that everything we do in life is centered around the Doctrine of Christ that as we partake of the Doctrine of Christ we are accessing the fullness of the Atonement.

I'm blessed to hear that ya'll are doing well! Very thankful for ya'll and all ya'lls prayers. May the Lord continue to bless all ya'll and may we find ways to help this work go forward!

Love Elder Gautavai

Sr Zone Leader - a_RISE UP! and SHINE, Shout!

Hello Family,

Our Heavenly Father is good and the love He freely gives is beyond comprehension. He is aware of our concerns and challenges we all face. Through His only begotten son Jesus Christ the Savior and Redeemer of the world He enables us to bear our trials and tribulations with patience; and as we bear it with patience the Lord in His timing will bless us a hundred fold! The news of Rylee's scholarship offer was relayed to me by dear brother Patrick haha over our dinner. The feeling of joy that came with the announcement was one filled with peace that our Heavenly Father had answered our prayers showing His tender mercy and love for us. I'm looking forward to getting season tickets for 2015-2016 BYU fall football season!

This week has been a good week. I am still in Sharpsburg and am excited to continue to find and bless those the Lord has prepared here in our area. My new companion is Elder Price who came out with me from the MTC. Elder Price was in my district and housing although we were not companions in the MTC. He was someone I hoped I would get the opportunity to serve with in the field, and now we have the chance to serve together. He is from Kingston Utah, and loves to work hard which is great. He likes to run in the mornings so I guess it's time I start running too. I look at it as another plus, health-wise :)

After a few changes in leadership and missionary departures with transfers, elder Price and I have been planning a lot on how we are going to use our time wisely, serving with greater love and urgency, and adjusting to being on the phone in what seems like all hours of the day haha. Our greatest desire is to get to everyone Heavenly Father wants us to reach and to BE the standard here in the Sharpsburg area. We are so excited for this transfer! The ward too is excited and pumped up about missionary work making it even more thrilling.

Elder Corbridge of the Seventy will be here holding Zone Conference as well as leadership training, which will be a very neat experience. I am definitely looking forward to hearing from him regarding his gospel message and gaining insight to his article, "4th missionary", a talk I constantly read and study each day. We also have the opportunity to go to the temple in the next couple of weeks as part of our Zone leadership council -- I am very excited for this. It seems like forever since I' ve been able to go to the temple.

Yesterday, P. was able to confer the Aaronic priesthood to B.S. which was an incredible experience to be apart of. P. is a fantastic missionary and is truly one who has partaken of the Atonement. We were able to give them both the new member lessons on the Plan of Salvation last night and invited them to pray about someone who like them they could invite to partake of the fullness of Gospel and the Atonement.

I bear witness to what Dad testified of, that our Heavenly Father IS GOOD, that He has extended His love and has revealed His gospel to His children through a latter-day prophet, and that we can have a knowledge of this truth through the Book of Mormon.

Continuing to Pray for your Success and Strength!

Love Elder Gautavai

My Lord Will Have Need of Me

(the elder was informed of his younger brother's team' success over the weekend winning their third straight league title in a 7-6 win on a cold, snowy Saturday. The elder spent a lot time before the mission with his brother working on his receiving and route running)

Hello Family!!

Mekelee Boy!! thas' what I'm talking about congratulations on your 3-peat so good to hear you took it to them!! The pictures are awesome they remind me of last year's final!! You'll have to send my "hello" to Isaac Parry, my man looking good in the photo! haha

This has been a really great week! Elder Cotton-Betteridge and I wanted to really continue to go all out with transfers coming up and the uncertainty of what might happen. We tore it up as we pinned our ears back and went to work here in the Sharpsburg Area. As we tried to talk with everyone and using every opportunity to find-teach-and-bless others, we have seen miraculous things happen. We found a grip load of investigators and were able to get them as well as a lot of less active members to church.

With that said I will be staying here in Sharpsburg for another 6 weeks. Sadly, my companion will be getting transferred so I will be getting a new companion Wednesday. With any change, we know the Lord is in charge and we are confident that He needs us where we are assigned. I'm so excited and its been nice to see the Sharpsburg area change from when I first arrived here to now, and the growth in people to teach as well as the saints and their enthusiasm for missionary work. As an example, we have been able to get a team-up everyday this week, which was pleasant. I'm looking forward to continuing and accomplishing the work the Lord has asked me to do here in Sharpsburg.

The Atonement is central to everything we teach and I have really tried to rely on the Spirit this week to perceive how a particular individual needs the Atonement in their lives. I've almost completed the Book of Mormon again as a challenge given by President Harding earlier this transfer and I have felt the Atonement more abundantly in my life as I've read the Book of Mormon. I have also been reading the New Testament of which I have gained a deeper appreciation for. The Bible with the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel.

I'm doing well and looking forward to another great week of missionary work! Praying for all ya'lls success and safety always.

Till next week,

Love Elder Gautavai

God Loves Us, He Always Has, He Always Will

Hello Family!!

Ry and Jr very proud of ya'll and the hard work and dedication ya'll have put in for the last 4 years at Bountiful High school.  It is my firm belief that YOU'VE WON something more than a state title could mean. Just take a look back and find the blessings that have come as you have been valiant young men and priesthood holders. When you do, you'll see what I mean.

Mekelee!! That's what I'm talkin' about!!  You can play with anyone, anywhere you just need to mentally have confidence!! Have fun and leave it all out on the field this week -- you can do it, be strong and be positive! Nice costume by the way!!;)

This week has been another good week of MIGHTY MISSIONARY service. We have been able to have fun and BE creative in our FINDING thanks to some inspirational counsel from Brother Watson of the Church Missionary Committee at our leadership training last Wednesday. I feel more confident talking to people, anytime and anywhere about the message we have been called to share and of its importance. We added a few more investigators and families to our teaching pool and are continuing to work hard and being effective in bringing others to the GATE; knowing it is the ONLY WAY to dwell in the presence of God with our families. I have also been studying a lot of the Gospels in the New Testament and seeing the beauty of the Savior's life -- it is incredible!! Jesus Christ has so much love for us while being meek and humble in every step he took.

Transfers will be coming up on the 14th (next wednesday). I will know by next email what if anything will occur. I love you all, and thank you for your prayers and messages that you share with me each week. I miss all of you but know that this is where I need to be at this time in my life.

Till next week,

Love, Elder Gautavai

Sitting On A Gold Mine For Missionary Work

Hello Family!!!

WOW!!! this has been a very amazing week!! Where to begin....Monday President Harding gave us a call and we went on team-ups with him that night visitng a recent convert who is battling an illness and and some other people. Such a neat experience spreading and testifying of the fullness of the gospel being restored to the earth with President Harding. Like Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah type of stuff or, Helaman and the 2,060 strippling warriors; it was incredible! Tuesday we were on exchanges and learned alot from Elder McCray -- pictured in one of the photos I sent -- on how I can be more effective in studying the Bible. Wednsday I went with Elder McCray to a Leadership meeting where brother Watson who is part of the missionary department and was on the committee that put together Preach My Gospel showed us how we can use Preach My Gospel the way it was intended, and to help us in the Finding aspect of missionary work. He explained that Elder Gonzalez and he were in Atlanta for only an hour and were impressed to say we are "sitting on a GOLD MINE for missionary work."

But this exciting week got even more so as we were able to help B. make his first covenant with Heavenly Father on Saturday morning. P. was one of the speakers and did an amazing job testifying of Baptism and how there is no other feeling like it in the world. We had another recent convert speak as well who did an incredible job. B. was confirmed a member of the church Sunday and recieved the gift Holy Ghost. B. is 20 years old and was introduced to the church by an ex-girlfriend. His family told him the night before that if he went through with getting baptized he would no longer be welcomed or could take part in family functions. But he said he knows the gospel and church are true, that the feelings he has are real and that things that have happened to him are for a reason, that if people would only listen and see for themselves they would know the truthfullness of the message as well. I will tell you more about him in upcoming letters.

 

The game was soo saweet!!! There were about 70 missionaries at the game. We were seated up in the top-right section below us were the Tech students. We arrived about 2 hours before just talk to EVERYONE and have normal conversations to show that we were normal. haha It was Tech's homecoming game so it was a bit crazy. It kinda felt like being one of the MIGHTY WARRIORS in the Book of Mormon walking amongst so much troubles. haha Random people would walk into our section and take a mass photo of us missionaries and even the Tech student section took pictures from below. haha BYU had great support not only from us but on the opposite side which appeared to have nothing but BYU fans.

We got a chance to meet some of the players after the game. They said that they saw us up in the stands and really wanted to play harder and win for the elders. After the game they came over and started fist pumpin and waving at us including Bronco himself haha. I was able to talk  to Riley Nelson, Uona Kaveniga, and Manoa Pikula who all had nothing but love and respect for the family and especially Rylee. I saw coach Kaufusi but didn't get a chance to flag him down oh well..

I love you all so much! Good luck this week with the playoff runs!! Happy to see y'all put Skyline away in neat fashion. haha Continue to be leaders in preparation and execution and take care of the Mustangs!! Kelee boi glad to hear you're doing well. BE strong and BE a leader as well give all you got and y'all MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Love Elder Gautavai

First Observe Then Serve

Hello Family!!

Congratulations on this week's success. It sounds like y'all have been over-and-yonder fixin to be really busy. Playoff time was always a special time to get together and watch Ry, Jr and Kelee play. Kelee boy I'm stoked to hear you're getting to run some receiver routes to get you out in the open. This reminds me of the times we spent fixin and working on your routes and pass catching. Ry and Jr continue to work hard and move forward MAKE IT HAPPEN this week, I am praying for your joy and success.

I'm super excited for this week. This Saturday is our P-day. We are allowed to email only today (our normal P-day), but will head-out proselyting right after. Saturday will be an AMAZING day! We are having a Baptism in the morning for our investigator B. who is anxious to take the first step in making sacred baptismal covenants with our Heavenly Father. He is an amazing young man. I am looking forward to telling you more about him soon. Immediately following the Baptism, we will be heading down in the mission vans to the BYU GA-TECH football game. It will be cool to be back in the ATL having spent the first 3 weeks of my mission in and around the GA-TECH university campus. A lot of the members in our ward are going to the game. I believe BYU will have a really good turn out at the game from all the members and fans here in Georgia; not to mention the Georgia Atlanta Mission! I couldn't ask for a better P-Day!

We've been doing a lot of 'finding' lately. With President Harding's leadership and counsel, he has asked us to leave a blessing by virtue of the calling we have as missionaries to EVERYONE we come into contact with. As we are obedient in applying the direction of President Harding our teaching pool has grown and in turn, our Faith increased. I love President Harding! You can feel the LOVE he has for each and everyone of the missionaries. He always refers to us as "MIGHTY WARRIORS!!" I will have the oppurtunity to see President Harding Wednesday during a leadership training conference.

This week here has been really pleasant. We had 3 less active members come back to church! My companion and I had the opportunity to be witnesses at a baptism for a little boy in our ward. It was such a sweet moment as his older brother baptized him. As I was watching him in the font, I struggled to hold back emotions as I reflected back to the memory and feelings I had baptizing Kelee boy. What a blessing that was for me. Baptism is such a sacred ordinance that it is impossible not to feel our Heavenly Fathers LOVE and awareness that He is pleased.

I am very excited to here y'all are doing well. I pray for you each and everyday, more than once during the day. I love and miss you all. It's crazy to believe 4 months has already flown by; meaning 4 precious months less to do the will of our Heavenly Father as a full time missionary. Need to lengthen my stride!

Love Elder Gautavai

The Book Is Always Better

Hello Family!

Words cannot describe how proud I am of all of ya'll!!! Especially Ry....I love y'all and cannot describe how thankful I am I can feel our ENTIRE family growing closer together, what a blessing! Congrats Mekelee on a good win keep working hard, I'm still fixin on getting you a letter out soon.

I'm still here in Sharpsburg...the next transfer will be on the 14th of November. We have a lot of new investigators which is awesome and have a couple progressing really well. B. is working ever so hard for the 27th. We are excited to see the change the Atonement is bringing in him. He will truly be a exceptional member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

This week we took President Harding's challenge to find more creative ways to find as well as double our prayer time. Well, haha I have taken this to heart for example I counseled with the Lord for a good 2-hours one day this week and shoot the revelation I received was just incredible. We will have our fireside on the 11th of November. We have invited President Harding to teach with us, what an experience that will be!

Oh haha one more thing, on the 27th of October President Harding has asked that the whole mission attend the BYU vs Georgia Tech football game. It's $25 a ticket. I was wondering if we have extra money for that?  He feels that it will be great PR for the church and will give us an opportunity to teach as well.  Lemme Know on that!

This week I finished the Book of Mormon and I know now more then ever that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and the Book of Mormon like the Bible contains the fullness of the Gospel...So why do we need the Book of Mormon if the Bible contains the Fullness of the Gospel? Because the Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus is the Christ the Savior and Reedemer of the world. With a loving Heavenly Father who called a prophet, Joseph Smith to Restore The full and everlasting Gospel; and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's Kingdom on the earth today. 

The coolest experience I had this week, was probably sitting here reading the brief reports in y'alls email of the events of Friday night and how much I have seen a change not only in y'all but in me as well. Even though the result didn't come out the way we hoped -- it's OKAY -- I can say with a smile on my face, it's okay, all is well. Keep moving forward, KEEP YOUR HEAD-UP and BE STRONG!

Till Next Week,

Love Elder Gautavai