I Read Your Blog

Good Morning!

Okay...I'll get to Matthew in just one second, but I have to tell you a funny story.  We went on exchanges with the Assistants this past week, one of them features my boy Elder Harmon, who came out with me.  Anyways...we rode from Oshkosh to Milwaukee with President and Sister Cutler, which was wonderful! Anyways...the very first thing President says to me when I get in the car is, "Elder Notavi, I read your blog and it sounds like you've done a great job at spreading the Gospel over the course of your mission.  How often do you update it?" In which I respond, "Ummmm...President...I don't update it, my family does. Ha ha ha ha ha!" Elder Harmon could barely hold it in.  I told Elder Harmon he was testing me, and that I passed! 

Mekelee,  Matthew May, & Rylee

Matthew May is looking great! It was good to see the exact same face I saw every single day for 3 months.  He's a solid kid! It's funny he would tell you all of the crazy stories from when we served together...what a pagan! Elder May shared a story with our family on Sunday when he came for dinner. He said he is OCD about keeping things neat and tidy. He told us Elder Gautavai purposely did the following in hopes of Elder May doing what Elder Gautavai can do for himself. That is so funny he remembers when I voluntarily threw my clothes on the couch in hopes of him folding them! They sat there the entire week, because he wouldn't fold them! Ha ha ha ha! Oh man...what a guy!  Haha Matthew May...one word...PAGAN!

What Matt said about the Zone Leader position in contrast to the Assistant position is very true.  The best way I was taught this principle was when someone told me the Zone Leaders "owned" the "culture" of the mission.  I feel this is the case because of how unique the struggles can be in each individual zone, so the Zone Leaders have to be able to adapt to the circumstances, and also be able to fulfill the Mission President's vision.  Likewise to what you said is the Zone Leaders are also able to present trainings that are more focused towards their individual zones.  If all Zone Leaders are doing their job then each zone should be able to overcome their struggles while fulfilling the Mission President's vision.  That's how I've come to see it.

Things are going great for us here in Rapids.  We're working with a pretty good size teaching pool.  It has probably been the biggest teaching pool I've had my whole mission, even in comparisons to Sun Prairie.  We're working with 3 individuals who have baptismal dates right now, and have a solid goal of 5 by the end of the week.  One of the 3 is a lady named Amy, and she is married with 2 kids, so we're hoping to teach her entire family this week as well.

Another person we're really working with is named David.  I can't remember if I told you about him or not, but he's doing great.  He has come to church the past 2 weeks, and he has really demonstrated that he has felt the Spirit in his life.  We're going to be working on helping him to recognize those feelings, and also what those feelings mean, but everything else is going great.  He has been reading the Book of Mormon between our teaching visits, and it has really showed in his humility, and diligence in keeping God's commandments.  He lives with his daughter, so we're going to try and share our message with her as well.  David is preparing to be baptized on August 31st. 

The Sister missionaries in our ward are doing amazing! Sister Hurst and Sister Holloway are dynamite! Just when we thought the zone was going to have a tough week of finding new investigators...the Wisconsin Rapids Sisters decided to find a whoping 12 new investigators! They are amazing, and really push Elder Heath and I.  I was pretty much yelling at Elder Harmon on our exchange to make Sister Hurst a Sister Training Leader here in Wisconsin Rapids! He said they'd keep it in consideration ha ha.

We're currently putting a big focus in the Wausau Zone on our district leaders having the "model area" for their districts.  We're finding with so many young district leaders, they aren't fully understanding the role of the district leader.  Their purpose as a district leader is the exact same as the zone leader and that is to inspire, uplift, encourage, and bless the missionaries in their districts.  It is more than just giving trainings, reporting numbers, and following up with them over the phone.  We feel the best way for them to lift their districts is to lead by example, and maintain a "model area", which means his area is the area each Elder and Sister can look to for advice.  We're really going to emphasis working towards achieving the Standards of Excellence each week within the district leader's areas.

Other than those things everything is going great for us here in Rapids.  Elder Heath and I are doing great, and the Wausau Zone is doing great as well.  We have a Mission Leadership Council this up coming Friday, and we're really excited to brainstorm with President Cutler what the mission needs to achieve our goal of "real growth" throughout the mission.  Elder Heath and I feel there needs to be a bigger emphasis on the "check your progress" of the First 12 Week Fundamental Training Program, and district leaders being the "model area" for their districts.  We're excited to hear the insight of the other Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders.

I was reading in Alma 60 this morning where Moroni is really chastising Pahoran for the lack of support they are receiving.  In Alma 60:26-27 we read "I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them---And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations."  I felt Moroni was telling Pahoran he knew if he left God's blessing upon his people to contend with the people in Zarahemla, God would protect them because of their faith.  I felt Moroni knew if man would be willing to act out of faith in God, he therefore would not be destroyed.  I know faith is wrought by our actions.

Love you guys!

Elder Gautavai