Thankful for My Inadequacies

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

Q1. Thanks for the pictures of your sweet reunion with Elder Rylee Gautavai both under call..that is an eternal image.
A1. No problem.

Q2. Do you need anything at this time?

A2. Nope.

Q3. Who or what can we add our faith and prayers to this week?

A3. Jeff T. PM family fiancé is not a member.

Sister Deborah Harding, AP's Elder Camree Gautavai, Elder Javier Perez, President John R. Harding

As I ponder and reflect on what has transpired this last week, feelings of love from a loving Heavenly Father are simply too much. On being with and seeing Elder Rylee Gautavai the feelings of gratitude for what the Lord has done with him was enough for me to praise the Lord forever. Simply incredible. I as well believe this meeting was not by chance and that the Lord's hand was involved in this experience that allows us to praise our Heavenly Father, repent, and recommit to stay true to those covenants in which we have promised to live by.

This week went well. With each passing day the constant need for the Lord's guiding hand in our lives becomes ever so apparent. I have learned to be thankful for my inadequacies that give me the reason and opportunity to get on my knees and pray and ask for our Heavenly Father's help. Then as action is taken, experiences are created and assurance of things hoped for ground us deeper into the gospel.

MP Interviews and Mission Leadership Council will take up the bulk of this week as we have Zone Training Meetings in 2 weeks. When we can, Elder Perez and I proselyte and minister. We met with Ben S. yesterday who seems to be coming up out of his slump making it back to church and reading the Book of Mormon again. We also visited a PM YSA that Bishop Richards asked that we go see (Jeff T).  

March 8-9th the GAM will be visited by Elder Quenton L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy. Super excited for another visit from the brethren.

Doing well and continuing to CLIMB!

Love, Elder Gautavai

A Miracle In One of The World's Busiest Airports

with Elder Gautavai's companion and fellow Assistant Elder Perez

MTC companion Elder Pryor

The Gautavai's received a divinely sent care package delivered in one of the worlds busiest airports. Elder Rylee Gautavai spent Tuesday, February 18th traveling to Montreal, Canada leaving Salt Lake City, Utah very early and connecting through Atlanta's Jackson Hartsfield International airport. Elder Gautavai was scheduled to have a 1 hour and 8 min connection to Montreal, Quebec not leaving him much time to navigate through the large airport to catch his next flight. Much to his surprise waiting at his arriving gate was none other than his older brother, Elder Camree Gautavai of the Georgia Atlanta mission who he has not seen for close to 21 months. Through Heavenly help, and the efforts of the GAM mission leaders, President John and Sister Deborah Harding, and Bishop Kennedy of the White Water ward the missionary brothers were able to enjoy a brief but much needed reunion at the airport concourse. Alma counseled his people in the Book of Mormon to always remember the goodness of God in their lives to help them retain the mighty change of Heart. Yesterday's meeting of the Gautavai brothers while both under-active call from a prophet of God helps us/them to remember God's tender mercies and goodness in our lives.

Elder Camree Gautavai's Email on the Meeting:

From: Elder Camree Gautavai
Subject: Unbelievable Reunion
Date: February 18, 2014 at 3:52:25 PM MST
To: Carson Gautavai

Just a few of the mighty army of the Lord.

Big thanks goes to President and Sister Harding for putting this reunion together. Another big thanks must go to Bishop Kennedy in helping us reunite at the airport and escort Elder Rylee Gautavai and the Montreal missionaries to their flight headed to Montreal! The Lord's hand could not have been more evident than it was with this meeting. We surprised Elder Rylee Gautavai at his gate after his flight landed in the ATL. After surprising him there we walked with him to his connecting flight to Montreal, had a brief conversation and watched him through the gate.

Hurrah for Israel!

Love, Elder Camree Gautavai

Elder Rylee Gautavai's Email on the Meeting

From: Elder Rylee Gautavai

Subject: Montreal!

Date: February 18, 2014 at 4:25:10 PM MST

To: Carson Gautavai

Bonjour famille!

Just wanted to let you know that I made it here to Montreal safe! It was a good flight and wasn't bad. I am now here at the Mission home with President Patrick. It isn't very cold but there is a ton of snow. French everywhere haha. Its for sure different but I am so excited and happy to be here! It was amazing to see Cam today what a nice surprise literally just dropped my bags and ran haha so cool to see him!

I hope you all are doing good. Know that I am doing good and happy here in Montreal!

Avec tout mon amour!

Love Elder Gautavai!

We were first notified by a complete stranger as we received a text message from a passenger on the Salt Lake-ATL flight witnessed the emotional reunion and thought to take a picture and send the picture of the elders on to us at home. Here is his take on the meeting:

Live So That The Lord Can Guide You

Weekly questions from home for the elder in today's email. His response in his return email.

Q1. Sounds like your last couple of weeks have been crazy with the weather and all. Was it like that last winter?

A1. LOL Oh no, this is the second time I have seen snow in two years the first being a couple of weeks previous.

Q2. We saw the pictures on Facebook of the missionaries finishing out their missions including elder Steele and Freeman. How much longer does elder Cotton-Betteridge have?

A2. Cotton-Betteridge goes home in May, a transfer before me. Goleee! I remember when we were young missionaries serving in Sharpsburg!?

Q3. With your previous companions that are still out excluding elder Perez, what are they doing now?

3A. Elder Cotton-Betteridge is a DL in the Fayetteville Zone, Elder Ercanbrack is a DL in ATL West, Elder Demotropolus is in the Conyers Zone, Elder Price is a ZL in Powder Springs and Elder Holt is in his zone. Elder Ward is in the Facer's ward in Sandy Springs.

Q4. Are you in need of anything at this time?
A4. Nope.
Q5. Who or what can we exercise our faith and daily prayers for this week?
A5. Can you pray for the 191 souls who committed to be baptized in the month of February!

Greetings yet again!

Whew another week has passed us by and here we are again. Very exciting to hear the Elder will be traveling through the South on his way to Montreal. Maybe he'll get stuck like many missionaries did this last week and we will have to come rescue him! lol In all seriousness I hope that doesn't happen and that he will be able to get to Montreal safely.

Trainings with Elder Steele (Photocred: GAM)

We have been so blessed here in the GAM through the winter storms that hit the southeast states pretty hard. I believe that heaven had a lot to do with the safety of all the missionaries. You'll remember that last transfer we did a transfer "checkpoint transfer" instead of a normal transfer meeting. It was our first attempt at it. Who would have thought the Lord was teaching us a lesson at that time. This last week President called Tuesday morning 8:00 A.M. and gave us word on the storm headed our way that would hit Wednesday morning. We were planning on having a transfer meeting like we usually do on Wednesday...Well there on the phone President made an executive decision that we were going to go back to the checkpoints and move the mission a day earlier on Tuesday to get everyone safely into their new areas. Quickly we had to come up with a plan, routes and inform all missionaries of where they needed to be so that it would run smoothly..keeping in mind that we also had new missionaries that would arrive the same day requiring us to head back to the airport to pick them up and take them to their assigned areas. At 8:15 A.M. the plan was in place and by 9:00 A.M. we were moving missionaries. Thankfully through the lessons learned from previous transfers, all went smoothly and we were able to place everyone where they needed to be, gathering the departing missionaries and bringing them in as well as rescuing 5 stranded missionaries at the Atlanta airport.

Now some might read this story and think..so what's the big deal?..If you step back and look to see the events leading up to the decision you will note that there could have been no way that we the Assistants could have pulled something off that fast without being prepared before hand. To have it run smoothly like it did just is incredibly amazing..If you look you will surely see the Lord's hand in our lives..giving us the ability to do what we otherwise wouldn't have been able to do on our own!

Great news! Baptisms are on the rise again this month which is so very exciting to see. We will double baptisms this February as compared to last February. The Fayetteville Zone will baptize over 30 people this month which will be a huge blessing of souls receiving Gods greatest gifts. This after all is why we talk about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, remission of sins by baptism and receiving the gift of the holy ghost.

The next three weeks I know will just fly by with mission president interviews each day followed by mission leadership council then off to the temple for zone trainings. I would have it no other way..being busy, busy, busy.

By the way huge miracles off the Book of Mormon Musical are being realized as many who came saw the integrity the missionaries showed despite being laughed at and ridiculed. Stay tuned for stories!

Till Next Week,

Love, Elder Gautavai

Seeing Companions and Brothers Conclude Their Missions

A view of the elder's last day with 2 Assistant companions who return home today to their families with honor. Elder Steele and Elder Freeman are battle-tested missionaries and brothers to Elder Gautavai. His new companion who will also be an Assistant to President Harding is a previous companion, Elder Perez who the elder is so stoked and excited to serve with again. Elder Perez will like today's elders end his mission in 6 weeks. Elder Gautavai has been blessed with wonderful missionary companions who love the Lord and the work of salvation.

Photocredit: Georgia Atlanta Mission (GAM)

Another Testament Of Jesus Christ - Invitation To Come Unto Him

From: Elder Camree Gautavai
Date: February 10, 2014 at 9:35:11 AM MST
To: Rochelle Gautavai
Subject: LEARNING BY FAITH!

Good Morning Mom,

Bountiful's Elder Perez and Elder Gautavai

Zone Training Meetings were fantastic!! I can't believe I'm sitting here right now emailing you already! So my new companion is ELDER PEREZ! haha woohoo! So stoked he is my new companion. He will go home next transfer so he'll finish his mission as an assistant -- he totally deserves it! 

Great to hear that everyone moves forward despite life's challenges. If we remain faithful, I testify we will receive all the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for us on time! In due time, Gavin too will make the correct decision I have absolute confidence in that.

Saturday night AIB TV a local TV station was filming at the Book of Mormon Musical downtown Atlanta and requested to interview missionaries. President Harding gave us a call and asked us to go down and contact people.  

Mom I felt like Alma going to the Zoramites haha...I have never been called so many names and been laughed at quite like this..That was not the point though...I tell you these things because I testify that the spirit of God guided us and directed our every step and conversations to someone, to the one. We had a couple of wonderful conversations with those who were outside the theatre despite many that didn't go so well. I felt the spirit of the Lord. We were not confounded before them I know this for a certainty. This is His church and through FAITH to call upon the Lord and then ACTING or taking action upon the faith, at the end of the day I grew immensely from this experience! Truly no matter what anyone says or does, I will keep going because I know that this is the Savior's church, and that He stands at the head of it! I felt so much love for all the people in attendance that night regardless of their response and I know it was the Lord who made it so and possible.

Well there is another snow storm headed to the ATL on Wednesday (12th) which could disrupt transfers. However, the weather will not effect the hastening of this great work!

Answers:

1. That was our first ever sisters training. The sister training leaders conducted it and Sister Harding was in attendance.

2. We have not had a chance to do the baby blessing yet.

3. Most Sundays we do have the opportunity to teach at the mission home.

Love, Elder Gautavai

Last Week With Mighty Warrior Missionaries Steele and Freeman (Current and Previous Companions)

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

Q1. Did you get the talk Dad sent you? Is it what you/sister Harding remembered? Have you used it?
A1. Yes it is thank you we haven't had a chance to use it yet.
Q2. When is transfer this month?
A2. Transfers is Wed. (Feb. 12th).
Q3. The African-American elder from Riverton not sure his name? When does he return? He’s been in a number of your pictures…(BTW, thanks for the photos keep them coming haha)
A3. Elder Crawford? He is in the transfer after me.
Q4. Need anything at this time?
A4. Nope.
Q5. Who can we exercise our faith and prayers for this week?

Assistants - Mighty GAM Warrior Missionaries with Sister Harding and Stockton Harding, Elders Freeman, Gautavai, Ereckson and Steele
Photocred: GAM

Greetings from the South,

Another great day of missionary service! This week has flown by us yet again with trainings and transfer planning we never have trouble keeping ourselves busy around here. Being fully engaged in this the most important work is certainly exciting.

I don't have much time as we are getting ready to pick up new missionaries tomorrow and expecting another snow storm here in Atlanta on Wednesday we anxiously await and ensure that every missionary is safe here in Atlanta. My new companion is ELDER PEREZ! haha I'm super excited to be serving with him again. Elder Perez has done such a wonderful job of leading the Fayetteville Zone for almost all of the last year. He will undoubtedly finish strong here as an assistant as this is his last transfer -- we are excited to work miracles together once again!!

I absolutely cannot thank our Heavenly Father enough for the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is as prophesied, the greatest and most important blessing in our lives. I testify through experiences this week that if we are exactly obedient when we need his help he will be there. As we open our mouths we are promised that we will not be confounded before men. I testify of this truth and its impact on me has been incredible.

I love y'all and continue to pray that the Lord will bless you for all your efforts in moving this work forward!

Till Next Week,

Love, Elder Gautavai

The Gospel Enables Us To Battle The Spiritual Storms of Life

Weekly questions from home to the elder in today's email. The elder's response in his return email.

Q1. Applications have been submitted for college return for fall of 2014. Do you have any questions on this?

A1. Thank you for getting all of the applications done. You did more than I was expecting for that I am grateful!

Q2. Are you in need of anything at this time?

A2. Sister Harding recalls either Ry or I giving a talk in the Relief Society room or somewhere at church about seeking higher ground? If we have a copy of this or if you know at all what I am referring to we would love a copy here in the GAM.

Q3. Thanks for the update on who you are working with. Who can we exercise our faith and pray for this week?

A3. I will send you a list of names here in FEB. It's quite the list!

Greetings Family,

I love it Dad, Bad news time flies, Good news, we are the pilots! While Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy and the Executive Director of the Missionary department was here that was a powerful lesson that I learned from him. Instead of looking at what others can do..What can you do to improve the situation! It's a refreshing feeling to know as we learn from the gospel that we are in control!

What an amazing experience of ministering! We must always be on the Lord's errand! When we ACT in faith the Lord will show us how and who needs help! What a powerful experience!

I have never been so excited to see SNOW in my life! I'm sure I was part of a handful of people that were delighted with the snow that fell from the skies!  

The unusual freezing temperatures and snowfall shut down the entire ATL area for about 4 days contributing to many auto accidents, even some fatalities. Upon reflection I learned a couple lessons from this experience I would like to share. The first lesson is that the ATL area was not prepared for a 2 inch snow storm as it is again uncommon for this kind of weather. The resources to respond quickly are not in place and consequently it took a couple days to clean up and return to normal.

I believe an analogy can be applied to our spiritual lives. If we are not prepared or cast even the smallest amount of fear, give in to temptation and sin, or don't have the right resources (the gospel) in place to support us in our lives..we run the risk of being turned upside down by even minor trials, hurt feelings and many other things. We in turn like the ATL become a mess taking sometimes days, weeks, months, years, or even a whole lifetime to return back to the correct path that leads to exaltation and eternal life. 

I've seen that from personal experience and in the experiences of many others in the last couple of years. It's unfortunate to see those who were once solid faithful members of the Church become so caught up in petty and trivial things that throw them off the path--path that always leads to overall happiness. As a result generations become affected until eventually the missionaries and ward members are sent to lovingly bring them back.  

Help'n all to find and safely return to the Path
Georgia Atlanta Mission

The second lesson I learned is how we can through an eternal perspective and by obedience to the gospel be protected through trials, and can even recognize the blessings even through the most difficult trials. Some may not recognize it at first, however the hand of the Lord is always present guiding and protecting them. We often overlook this because we are so caught up in the "why is this happening to me mode or attitude?" As we take a step back and see the gospel in our lives, we then begin to recognize we were helped the entire time! The key again is faith as a principle of action and obedience to gospel principles.

This week we have Zone Training meetings. This means we will be traveling and doing 2-a-day meetings as well as transfer planning! So excited for the week ahead and the opportunity again to bring more souls unto Him who has overcome all. Look to God & Live! Keep Climbing!!

Love, Elder Gautavai