Matt Sept.7,2009

How's it?‏
From: Matthew Prina
Sent: Mon 9/07/09 2:54 PM


malo e lelei kakai kotoa pe,
ko au elda prina. Oku ou ofa aho kotoa pe heni i hawaii. Oku ou ofa ngaue fakafaifekau. hoku lea fakatonga sai pe. Oku ou fie lea he lea fakatonga poto lelei ka oku ou si'i si'i pe. ofa atu.

Hello everyone,
Elder Prina here. I love everyday here in Hawaii. I love the missionary work. My Tongan is coming along. I want to speak Tongan fluently but I'm just so so right now. I love you.

As usual Rob pretty much said everything I wanted to say. I have also been craving black people lately. There is a black kid named Justin (12) who lives next to our Tongan branch pres. who we wanted to teach but since hes not Tongan the elders in Honolulu are teaching him. We're tight though because he comes to Tongan night with all the youth on Tuesday nights and talks with me about hip hop and stuff. His dad grew up on 7 mile and he said hes been back there a few times so I enjoy talking to him about Detroit, basketball, Bonnethugs and braids. I'm pretty sure hes getting baptized.

Our branch president's wife takes care of this old guy in a wheel chair with M.S. named Rich. They bring him to church and someone translates for him in sacrament and then we just teach him during class. I think he loves talking to us because he's surrounded by Tongans all the time and he can communicate better with us. He is really a smart funny guy. When ever anyone asks him what disease he suffers from he says "well I have M.S. but I suffer from stupid people". We taught him the restoration yesterday and he really liked it and said he would pray about it. I think he has the potential to be baptized.
Speaking of Baptism, on Saturday (the 5th) Cody Faaborg, our 15 year old investigator that lives on the marine base got baptized. His parents hesitated to give us permission at first (his mom's Jewish and his dad's catholic) but seeing it was something that he really wanted they gave him the green light. His parents came to the baptism and it was a very spiritual experience. We watched the restoration dvd during the intermission. My old comp. Elder Aldridge baptized him and I had the opportunity to confirm him yesterday in sacrament meeting, which was a first for me.

Rob you talked about Tim. Our recent convert Mike Brett is just as cool. He ordered his own triple combination off the internet and is now teaching Primary. Rob I love hearing you talk about Tongans, I love their broken English too. My old companion Elder Stewart that went home is sending me the Tongan text book on cd so I'm psyched for that. I'm so jealous you got a Tongan companion, does he speak any Tongan? "faa fe tai lava" is Samoan right?
Yes! I eat plenty tarrow and mei (breadfruit) and tapioca and lu pulu (beef wrapped in tarrow leaves), and ota (raw fish) and cooked bananas and otai is the greatest thing ever. oku ou ofa he meakai faka Tonga. I love the Tongan food, your making me hungry.
My hushpuppies are fine, its just the little blue bubble thing on the insole leaked out all the blue glue stuff and its just a mess and it flops around so hopefully I can send them a picture and get new ones. Its not super urgent.

A Tongan member actually bought me some new shoes and I didn't even ask her. I forgot I even told her they were giving me trouble. The Tongan people are so generous. Oh, did I mention I ate pig stomach? It was actually really good. I haven't had horse (hoasi) yet but I want to try it. Yeah Rob, you really should invest in some slip-on's they're so much easier.

When is fathers day in America? I didn't miss it did I?
The weather is really nice as always. No there's not really seasons despite what the locals think. Its just a little bit cooler in the "winter" and a little bit hotter in the summer. We've had some scorchers lately but in Hawaii a scorcher is like 95. It rained yesterday so that was nice. But we don't really get big storms in Hawaii, its just like wimpy rain.
Yeah, we all drive corollas here, I'm lucky I have an '09. I've been in a car my entire mission, I like it and I still manage to stay in shape somehow despite all the Tongan food (I attribute that to all the fasting we do).

I have been living on disposable cameras, is there any chance you guys have a digital one just laying around at home somewhere or maybe you could find a cheap one at DI for me?
I didn't know Lincoln was leaving this week. Lincoln, have fun in Ca., your going to love the work, "it's the best" (in nacho's accent).
Ok, now the moment we've all been waiting for: craorrraoww (that was the growling cougar noise that they play over the loud speaker)
BYU!!!!!! Dad I was expecting a full report of the game from you. All I heard was that we beat number 3 Oklahoma 14 to 13 and that Max Hall was amazing. What a good way to kick off the season! I miss watching football!! All the high schools are having their home coming games right now. All the Tongan kids are on the teams. Anyway, Dad just keep me posted on their rank and their successes.
I met a guy with the last name Mosher the other day and It sounded like a Michigan name. Wasn't there like a Marilyn Mosher in our ward in Michigan. Wait!! is that the lady who paid us like 100 bucks to rake her leaves!?
Everything is going well here in Hawaii, My new companion isn't quite as obedient as elder Aldridge but he's a much better teacher and is super funny and good at talking to people and getting along with people. I'm just doing my best to stay obedient so God will continue to bless us.
My email has been working better lately so don't even worry about it.
Lisa, how is the football season going for the kids so far? Are you keeping up on the scrapbooking??
Andrea, are you and the family going down to Utah for Prina Reunion at Strawberry Reservoir? Is Audrey in High School now!!!???

Valerie, how is Emily doing? She is so cute, please send more pictures.
Eric, how is work going, any exciting stories?? If you have time could you write me a little bit about where you served on your mission?

Kristin, did you get my letter? I miss talking to you on the phone.

John, just a few more weeks until Ellie is born right? I'm so excited to see the girl version of Kyler.

Mom and Dad, I miss you and think about you all the time. We were having dinner with one of the military families and his dad called and he came back a couple minutes later and was like, sorry that was my dad. I was just like "lucky".
Anyway I can tell this email is dragging on so I'll talk to you guys later (in 1.5 years). Love,
Elder Prina