Matt

One email to rule them all…
Dear privileged readers,
Today is P-day, a beautiful day when Missionaries around the world find comfort and peace and solace in preparing themselves temporally and spiritually for the week of work ahead of them. One might ask himself "what shall one do on such a choice day as this?". Especially when surrounded by the beauties of paradise and while inhaling the pleasant joy of resting from ones labors of serving the lord as if one was taking off his shoes to dip his feet in the river after a long hike. What could possibly productively fill those extacential brief moments of somber reflection and synernization? One might suggest the pleasures of sitting in a smelly Family History Center that has been occupied by sketchy old Hawaiian "aunties" all week and laboring to communicate all that has come to pass in the recent past to people half a world away. Me trying to focus and remember which questions he needs to respond to while other individuals that bear the name "Elder" are making a ruckus around him. Facilities management worker is seeking my assistance on how to delete folders full of missionaries’ photographs of what happens on P-day, that glorious day. What do you say? I just may!
Howzit everyone? Thank you for the letters, especially yours Wendy! Today was the first day I got mail in a month. I feel bad I never write you guys. I'm going to stop writing friends and focus more on family from now on. Wendy! I jumped out of my seat when I heard you had decided to serve a mission! I never cease to be amazed by all the cool experiences you tell me about! That’s so cool! I jumped up and went and told all my companions and roommates before I even realized that they don't know who you are and probably don't care. But I proudly announced it anyway! Also so cool that you're going to BYU Provo, I hope to see you there. Hawaii is great, especially here in Maui. Pres. Monson spoke at our stake conference yesterday from Salt Lake City. I thought the package was from my "dead companion" in the mission dead means they already went home. The weather is way nice here, I love it. It is going to be weird without snow this Christmas but we are going to deck the halls of our pad out with lights and holly we're borrowing from one of our investigators. I love hearing all of your missionary experiences! Thank you for the pictures I loved the smirf outfit.
In other news, Yes Rob I'm still with E. Kau and learning lots of Tongan everyday. I'm excited for your package. Yes, I've heard of Elder Tipoki but I've never met him.
Dad, sorry about your "big letter" getting deleted, I hate it when that happens! Your letters are always so good and inspiring and I really look forward to them. For my personal study today I read E. Ballard's talk from the priesthood session of conference about father-son relationships. It made me really trunky, but it is a super good talk that every male on earth should listen to or read. Thanksgiving should be fine here in the Tongan ward. I'm not sure they even know what Thanksgiving is, but I'm sure they'll make a feast for it. Yes Dad, Elder Kaw and I are finding more and more teaching opportunities everyday. Yesterday we were walking to our car after dinner at one of our member’s apartment when a 22 year old kid chased us down. He told us he wanted to meet with us and set up an appointment with us for Tuesday (tomorrow), so I thought that was really cool. We always take time to say a prayer of gratitude after stuff like that happens, the other elders that live with us said the same thing happened to them yesterday. I love talking to everyone even if they don’t listen to you because you meet the funniest, weirdest people.
We had a Baptism last Saturday. Elder Kau baptized Iolani Maile (15)into the Piilani ward. She's only half Tongan and doesn't speak Tongan but she has tons of friends in the ward. Sorry I haven’t had time to write much about her, we just started teaching her a week and a half ago. She had been taught by missionaries before and had been to church before so we didn't have to wait long for her to get baptized. Her mother and older sister will soon follow her example.
We are also starting to teach a foster child that lives with one of the Tongan families in our ward.
Mom and Dad I love you so much and I pray for you everyday. That goes for the rest of you too. Continue to be the amazing examples that you are. I know that the leaders of this church are inspired of God. I know The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith was called of God. I know that I am called of god, how great is my calling; Shall we not go on in so great a cause? I also know that I have the biggest head ache in the history of my mission so I'm going to sleep away this magical day. Happy P-day everyone!! God bless us everyone!
-Ofa atu
-Elder Prina
(please send this to Rob and send me his email address so I can send it to him next time)
(what do you mean you want me to send it to Rob? Dont you just click a button and add all the people that you send this to every week? or do you just put it on the blog and tell people to read it?)

Rob

Rob

Dear Family and Friends.
I hope you all enjoy your Thanks Giving Holidays this week while I suffer cruel and unusual heat in Rockhampton.
Fiona and Junior, if you are reading this, thanks for the letter.
Dad, I’m sorry to hear that you lost the huge email you had for us. I know how that feels. Thanks for still writing.
I want you to know that I am settling in here in Rocky and we are beginning to find people to teach. We didn’t really have much going for us when we got here. But we are starting to form better relationships with the branch than previous missionaries, and they are helping us out.
We have four investigators but none of them are really progressing. Two of them are 18 year old blokes dating young women in our ward. I think the girl's moms are just making their daughters boy friends take the missionary lessons. haha.
We have lots of potentials to visit and a huge area. We have a full time car - 07 Camry. We do have an air conditioner in the flat. Things are good. Today for Pday after we go grocery shopping we are probably just going to write letters. It’s too hot to go anywhere else. And I might cut my hair as well today.
What are all of you guys up to? Fill me in! My new Companion Elder Paki has been out almost 4 months and he is from Sydney. He is a good hard working bloke. He is helping me catch on to all the hard out Aussie expressions they use up here. We enjoy talking about the Detroit Pistons, as they are his favorite sports team for some reason. He knows more about the Pistons than I do.
What happened to our Mailbox?!? Any ideas on who would've done it? I will smite them. haha. Why would someone hit our mail box?
Sounds like your home improvement projects are going well Dad. I’m glad you're keeping busy with what you're best at. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Is everyone getting together or is everyone just doing there own thing this year?
Mom, I'm excited for this 3 way call we are doing for Christmas. That would be awesome if you guys could figure out how to call both of us and set it up at the same time.
Its good to hear we won, and that Unga broke Brown's record. That’s a big mile stone! Tell Harvey to quit getting injured. Harvey will be graduated by the time I get home, eh? Hopefully he'll get drafted into the NFL so I can still watch him smash people when I get home.
Dad did you look up that Israel Falow guy that I told you about that plays for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL? He is the man. We got to shake his hand at General conference when I was down in Brisbane.
Cheer Hard for me when we play Utah. The Wallaces, the senior couple missionaries in our branch from Utah are Utah fans. So I'll have to give him a stick when BYU beats them.
There are a couple of people from America in our Branch. I already asked them and they said they aren’t doing anything for Thanksgiving. I was a bit disappointed. I will most definitely do something special on Thanksgiving. I LOVE AMERICA all day, every day, all the time!
Well it sounds like everyone is doing well. I am alright so you don’t have to worry about me. Does any one have any questions for me? I know I ask a lot of questions in my emails. Are there any questions I can answer for you? Anything you ever wanted to ask a missionary?
Ok, well I love and miss all of you. Have a great week.
If ye love me... Keep my commandments.
Hey Matt. I love you Bro. have a good one. I’m still working on your package, sorry it is taking so long.
Love you, Elder Prina. AKA ROB

Matt and Rob's addresses

Please don’t send Rob’s mail or packages to the Mission Home while he is in Rock Hampton.

Elder Robert A. Prina
1/235
Rock Hampton QLD, 4700
Australia

Please do not send Rob any thing edible.
Australia is very strict about packages with any kind of food.

Elder Matthew C. Prina
Hawaii Honolulu Mission
1500 S. Beretania St. Ste. 416
Honolulu, HI 96826

If you would like to send money to Rob or Matt send the check to Mom and I will deposit it in their debit card account. They don’t have a bank account there.
They would like to get a letter from you.

Matt

Real Quick

Mom and Dad, real quick I just wanted to say that I love you and hope all is well in Provo.
Can you send me Rob's email address, I can't remember it. Yes my suit is holding up well, I dry clean it every once in a while. I'm fine there.
The girl from Michigan is from Grand Rapids, but she never called us back. Rob I've heard of Elder Tipoki but never met him, he has been out for a while, I think he's on big island. No,I don't know the Samoan Tupuolas in Laie. Transfers are this week. Elder Kau and I are both staying. I can't teach in Tongan, yet but I'm working on it. I always pray in Tongan and the members love it.
It is good to hear from you all.
Mark please let me know you're still alive, I need to be better at writing you.
New teaching opportunities are coming up every day.
Kalisi has a date for Dec. 6th and we should have another one for a girl named Iolani who we just started teaching before the end of November.
Rob could you please try to make your emails a little bit shorter, so I don’t spend the whole time reading, while the other elders want to leave by the time I write "dear mom and dad".
K, bye,
ofa atu
Elder Prina

Rob Tales from Rocky

HI there everyone.
It was good to hear from you. I've been up here in Rockhampton for a week now. Matt so you know any Maori Elders in your mission named Elder Tipoki? Elder Smith, the Elder that I replaced up here in Rocky asked me to ask you.
Andrea, when The Nielson’s came here to our mission, Sister Nielson asked about a place in twin falls called '9 beans and a burrito' have you heard of that place? She said, “it was the best Mexican food in twin falls”, so I figured you guys would've tried it. Did they email you the picture that they took with me?
Thanks for sending Travis' Emails. Those are fun to read. I haven’t seen him in ages.
Matt when serving on Oahu did you ever know any Samoan Tupuolas? There is one sister in our mission from Hawaii named sister Tupuola, I think she is from Laie. It’s good to hear your Tongan is coming along good. My Samoan has hit a dead end, as there is no one up here in Rocky for me to practice with. It is all white Aussie people up here. There is only one active Islander family in our whole ward.
Mom, thank you for writing a letter to Elder Finau. I could tell he really appreciated that. I think he is writing you back. If you could continue to write him that would be lovely, even though he is no longer my companion. He has been out just over a year now, and his parents haven’t written or emailed him his whole mission. He says that the Islanders show love in other ways. But I know he would sure appreciate some mail. He is training now by the way, in Waterford, the “promised land”. I miss Waterford heaps. But things are alright up here in Rockhampton. The branch is a little weird and crazy in its own little ways. But I love the people all ready.
Matt, I just realized that it is the end of the transfer for you on Wednesday. Can you teach in Tongan yet? Do you think you will get transferred or stay there with your Tongan companion? Matt I agree with you that I want to stay in touch with the people I have had the opportunity to teach on my mission.
Dad, the multiple hits for $18.73 from my checking account are most likely $20.00 withdrawals from the ATM off of my debit card. It is probably $20 Australian but $18.73 American with the exchange rate. That is the only thing I could figure.
Mom, my shoes are falling apart from the inside out like Matt’s. So I am going to send you a picture of them to take to missionary mall to see if I can get some new ones.
That’s cool that Val and Eric went to Aruba for a holiday. Where is that?
Tell Max that I said happy 8th Birthday and congratulations on being baptized, and following the example of Jesus Christ.
Can someone tell Matt Freeze and Aunty Kay I said happy late birthday.
Mom, I don’t know how my blog works. But I want Fiona to be able to get on it now since I’m not allowed to write her emails. If you could allow her or add her or whatever you have to do when she tries to get on that would be great. Her new name is Fiona Tafilipepe.
Mom are you forwarding our emails to Travis? Travis if you get this I thought it was cool that you had the same zone conf. training that we had on emotional bank accounts in companionships. Our president said that if you make 1 withdrawal, then you have to make 5 deposits to make up for it. I thought it was a really good illustration as well. I still can’t believe you are actually there. I’m sure you are doing great.
Matt, thanks for the email. Thank you for your personal testimony of the atonement. I can’t believe you've seen all these people from your "pre existence" (Greg, the Lyons, Nick Houston, Deve Boshard, Josie, Kelsey... etc.) I never see anyone haha. It’s better that way though. That’s tight that Greg came and found you, haha and that is sweet as that you are teaching a girl from Michigan that works at Cold stone.
Mom, I don’t think the Halloween pictures that you tried to send worked. There weren’t any attachments on that email. Thank you for all the work that you do to keep us updated on each other and the family. And thank you for making a sweet as blog for us. That means a lot to us.
I am taking my suit to the drycleaners today. I brought 3 on my mission, but I only had room to bring one up to Rockhampton. It is pretty sad looking, so I am getting it cleaned today. It sounds like the church is keeping you guys busy, having you clean three chapels. That’s good for you and the growth of the church.
Mom, if you guys want to send me packages and have me recieve them you will have to send them to that new address that I wrote in my email last week. We don’t get things sent up to Rockhampton often. Word on the street is president won’t even be coming up this transfer. My first transfer with out having a zone conference or a district meeting, haha. We are kind of banished away from everyone and everything up here. So you send mail and packages and everything for that matter to the new rocky address.
Matt what part of Michigan is the Coldstone girl from? We have 2 'Coldrock's in my new area. I've heard it’s like the same thing as Cold stone. So we're going to check ‘em out next month when allotments come in and I have some money.
Mom thanks for the motivational notes and reminders at the bottom of your email. I am truly blessed with miracles. In Waterford I gave more blessings of healing and comfort than I could count. They all worked. The gospel is true and has been restored to the earth through the young, pure vessel of the boy Joseph Smith. I’m glad I get to be a part of it. I am always trying to do better. I am going to have a very hot Christmas. I sleep with no sheets or blankets on, just like alava lava over me. We even had to turn the AC on last night. Yes, we do have AC and ceiling fans in my new flat, unlike in Waterford. BUT we don’t have a dryer, so I had to hang up my clothes to dry for the first time in my life today.
Mom, thanks for Alex Ramsay’s MTC address! I forgot that he hasn’t left yet. Is San Salvador in South America? Are you going to go with the Ramsay’s to the MTC? Was the whole of the Ramsay family at Josh's wedding? That would have been cool to see. I can’t remember the last time I saw the Ramsay family in its entirety. Probably at Adams mission farewell Party in Michigan. Tell the Ramsay Clan that I say hi, I love and miss all of them. Tell Alex that he will do great on his mission, and that Rob tells him to 'Open his mouth' as the lord exhorts each of us to do, and he will do great!
We are currently only teaching a couple people here in Rocky. But we are getting the little Branch excited about doing missionary work. I am excited to start seeing the momentum grow with the missionary work here in Rockhampton. Today will be a chill pday, mostly cleaning the flat and writing letters. It will be different than having zone p-days with heaps of missionaries every week like down in Logan zone in Waterford. But I will get used to it. I love being a missionary, and wish I was better. I will repent of my short comings and try harder with the things I fall short on. Thank you for always supporting me and strengthening my testimony.
I still look forward to hearing from you what the Atonement personally means to each of you. Hit me back about that. I love all of you and I know the church is true. And I just made a rhyme. I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it.
Love your neighbor, and over look the little things that don’t matter in God's eyes. God Bless. Peace Out. Elder Prina, AKA ROB

Rob with Elder & Sister Nielson

Matt

Dear family and friends,
This week was good. First of all we had Zone conference on Wednesday which was really good. The whole thing was focused on the Book of Mormon and we had a testimony meeting and at the end they played Elder Holland's talk from General conference. It really gave my companion and I a spiritual boost and I think we are doing better now than we were before. That night we recommitted Kalisi Tau for baptism (the girl that was supposed to get baptized on Nov. 1st). I'm glad she chose not to get baptized on the 1st because frankly she’s not ready. She hasn't read the Book of Mormon, she doesn't have a testimony of Joseph Smith yet and she hadn't even prayed with us in one of the lessons until I asked her to give the closing prayer this week. I told her we will start reading the Book of Mormon with her and we are going to help her gain a testimony. I assured her that it wouldn't be easy, it would take some effort.
Other than that there is not a lot going on in our ward. Please pray that we will find new Tongan people to teach. We went to Coldstone on the 7th and some of the single adults from our ward happened to be there. They were friends with the girl working there so they introduced us to the girl and asked her if she would meet with us. The girl said yes and we have an appointment to meet with her tomorrow. She is not Tongan, she is from Michigan, and she’s pregnant, she seems humble. Elder Kau and I will probably teach her the first lesson and then transfer her over to the Sister Missionaries who are in the English ward.
The very next morning (Sunday the 8th) Elder Kau and I were in the middle of our prayer to begin companion study when we heard a knock at the door. I was expecting the zone leaders or one of our Tongan members when I opened the door I saw a white guy with short red hair. After looking at him for a second and going back to my pre-existence (before my mission) I realized it was Greg. Greg Peck, our boss at Coldstone. He comes to Hawaii about twice a year by himself just to hang out, hike, play golf, etc. It’s funny because just the day before I was asking the girl that worked at cold stone if she had ever heard of him. He said he was just going to church (the church is right next to our pad) and he saw some elders walking and he asked if they new an Elder named Matt or Rob (he didn't know our last name and he always mixed us up). They were like well there’s a Tongan Elder and a tall white cool kid. So he came over and talked for about ten minutes, it was cool but weird to see someone from my previous lifetime. First he asked how Matt was doing, and I was like, you mean Rob, and he was like DANGIT! He said Mel, our girl boss, was having a baby in January and that they bought the building where Earnies used to be (right next to Provo Coldstone) and started a new sandwich store in there called Jimmy Johns that makes more money than the Orem and Provo Coldstone put together. Greg was always a super cool boss so it was good to see him. I remember before I left he said he was going to come find me and go tracking with me, he also gave me $100 the Friday before I went into the mtc. Mom and Dad, did you ever take that letter to coldstone that I sent you guys?
For the 3 way call thing my number here is and I'm almost positive I'll still be here for Christmas. Transfers are on the 18th (next wed.) I know I'm staying, I hope Elder Kau is staying.
Mom, could you please send me the Bancrofts mission address in Korea and ask Scoty or one of our friends to get Kelsey Nielson's address for me(AKA the girl who sometimes eats lunch at our house).
Rob, I'm glad you liked my Package. I think its kinda weird and unfair that you turned 20 like 17 hours before I did even though I'm 8 min. older than you. It reminds me of when 10 years ago when Alex and I would tease you and not tell you stuff because you were so "immature" and said maybe we would tell you in 8 minutes. Haha! Yes, I thought I told you like a million times I have seen Josie and Dev. (Sister Bailey and Elder Boshard). Sis. Bailey is serving in Laie at the Temple VC (on the Northshore of Oahu{the main island[but not the big island]}) and Elder Boshard got sent to Kawaii or the west side of Oahu. I'm on Maui (in between Oahu and the big island). There is only one transfer meeting on Oahu (the main island). You really need to get out a map of Hawaii and figure this out. Yes I got your farewell talk a long time ago, its tight as bet. To answer your question what does the atonement mean to me I would reply that it means that we are given the ability to repent and become clean from our sins so that we can return to the presence of God and live with our families for eternity. It means that we will be resurrected and have a perfect body. It means that Jesus Christ loves us. It means that Jesus Christ felt exactly how I feel right now. It means that we have been redeemed by his blood. It does not however take away our personal responsibility to have faith in him, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. I love you guys. Have a good week.
Elder Prina.

Rob

G'day family and friends I have some news. On Friday the 6th I got a call from the APs telling me that my plane to Rock Hampton left the next day at 4:40. Transfers is on Tuesday the 10th (tomorrow) but for those who are getting transferred 'up north' the APs contact on Friday and I leave on Saturday.
So on my Birthday I was saying good bye to everyone in Waterford and on an hour plane trip north to Rock Hampton Australia. Everything is here is different than Waterford. The worst part is that everyone up here is white, I’ll get used to it. I was in Waterford for 6 months, so coming up here on a plane feels a bit like coming on a whole different mission. Being 'up north' in our mission is a bit like being banished. haha.
We never see other missionaries except for about twice a transfer (6 months)
My new companion is Elder Paki. His name is Maori but he is pretty much Australian. He grew up in Sydney and his mom's Australian and his dad is part Maori. When he and his previous companion Elder Smith picked me up from the airport I didn’t think they were missionaries. I'll have to send you a picture of what they looked like that night.

The mission is just different up here. We don’t go to district meetings, zone conferences, transfer meetings, pretty much any meetings for that matter. I’m going to miss Elder Cook's mission Tour because we don’t get to go back down to the kangaroo point chapel in Brisbane for that, and he not coming up North. I’ll miss the mission basketball tournament tomorrow at the Karawatha chapel. All the zones are competing against each other. I had to leave heaps of stuff at the mission home because you can only bring one bag with you on the small airplane.

The thing I was probably most disappointed about is that Mi'i Haletema, the little 9 year old that we were having a baptism for on Saturday got baptized at 5:00 about 20 minutes after my flight left. So I missed our baptism. It was hard saying good bye to Fiona and her family, they're the best. They made me a slide show of there wedding and at the end it had a message that said see you at the temple in a year. The mission president lets us go with people we've taught to see them go through the temple for the first time and get sealed. I’m looking forward to that. They are actually moving right now too, up to Redcliff, the ward that I was trained in.
I am now in Rock Hampton Branch. First branch I've ever been in, and we have senior couple missionaries in our ward from Layton Utah, there names are the Wallace’s, they're cool. Elder Paki and Elder Smith are great. We just saw Elder Smith off at the airport about an hour ago this morning to go back down to Brisbane. I was sad that he had to go. I was all ready used to being in a 3 companionship for last transfer, so it was a little weird when we left the airport this morning and it was just Elder Paki and I. We're not going to see other missionaries until president comes up here for Zone conference. Apparently my MTC companion Elder Hogg is the zone leader up here in Cairns. I wanted to go to Cairns but if you come up north you don’t move around up north, you just go to one area up here for 4 and a half months and then you go back down to Brizzy.
It’s hot and humid up here. But we have a Camry instead of a Corolla and a pretty nice flat with ceiling fans and air conditioning. So I have nothing to complain about.
I like my companion; he seems like a good guy. I am picking up a lot of Aussie things from him. It will be a good couple transfers.
Can you guys email me some pictures of John's families Halloween outfits and Kyler's missing tooth?
How have all the chapel cleaning jobs gone? Anymore work?
Tell the Stratton’s I say congratulations on their Mission call and thank Sis. Stratton for being a solid Sunday school teacher.
Tell the Dabczynski’s and the Brown’s I said congrats to their kids.
It sounds like the weather this past year in Utah has been great. There are mountains here in Rocky, something I haven’t seen for 7 months.

Elder Neilson of the quorum of the 70 came on a mission tour here last week. I talked to him and got a picture with him and his wife since he knows you Andrea. His wife is a crack up, they both had good talks. He opened a question and answer session to us and I asked him a question.
How is your project on the storage room going Dad?

Happy Birthday again Matt! How did yours go?? I spent mine on a plane. But guess what! I turned 20 before you!! ha! I’m older now! I've been 20 for way longer than you! I just needed to get you back for never letting me forget that you're 8 minutes older than me. So yes, I am older than you now.
Matt how do you like having a Tongan comp? Is it hard to communicate? I loved being with Elder Finau - he was the man and I learned a lot from him.
Thanks for the news on Travis mom. I haven’t heard from him in ages. Mom, what did you and Dad do for Halloween? Did you go to any parties or anything fun? Did you get many trick or treater's?
How much snow do you guys have there now? We are coming into summer here. It will be the hottest summer I've ever had with temps probably in the 40's (that’s Celsius)
Oh yea, I almost forgot. I need to give you guys my new address. Mail – doesn’t make it up north much. Actually they don’t send packages up at all. My new address is:

1/235 Dean st.
Rockhampton QLD, 4700
Australia!

Stobbe’s - if you haven’t sent that package to me yet, send it to this address. If you've all ready sent it then I probably won’t get to open it until I go back down to Brisbane in approx. 4 an half months. Thanks though.
Tell Sister Aldous thanks for forwarding Travis's Email. It was good to hear about him, sounds like they're having baptisms out the Wazoo in Madagascar.
Matt did Kalisi end up getting baptized? Have you personally baptized any people yet? How is your teaching in Tongan going? Congratulations on Micholo and Rich Getting baptized.
I'll try to send the pictures next week. It’s going to be an interesting week getting used to things here in Rocky.
Love Elder Prina, AKA ROB

Rob

11-1-09 FAMILY, ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME?

Hello all the people back home?
This is Elder Prina. Today is Monday the frist of November 2009 at 10:50 A.M. - Pday! It’s some ones birthday today isn’t it... is it David Maxwell Jensen’s Birthday? Happy Birthday! I am at the Marsen Library in the Waterford. I've been here since the end of May... almost a quarter of my mission. I love it here. Transfers are a week from tomorrow on Tuesday the 10th of November. I think I will probably go, seeing that I have been here for some time now, and I feel like I have accomplished what God sent me here to do.
Today for pday I think we are going shopping, grabbing something quick for lunch at the flat, and then going to a park in Karawatha for zone barbeque where I will probably write some letters and play some touch and gridiron, and maybe some dunk ball, because there are some short hoops there.
Thanks for the emails and letters and gifts everybody. Matt your package was the best. It made my month. The stuff that you're up to, meeting Famous Amos, baptizing the nations, just to name a few. You inspire me to be a better missionary. Thanks Bro. Happy Birthday. I should have a Package in the mail for you in about a week. So you will have some late Birthday gifts and wishes from me. Oh and thanks so much for the Tongan badge! That’s sweet. Apparently I’m not technically allowed to wear it proselyting.
It was hilarious to hear Nick (Elder) Houston's Voice.
Mom, thanks for the Program from Lincoln's farewell Sunday and the wedding invitation for Josh Ramsay! That was sweet, they look happy.
Thanks to all the kids and family who wrote me notes and drew me pictures during the family reunion at Strawberry Reservoir. I love and miss all of my nieces and nephews HEAPS! Give them squeezes for me.

Mom and everyone thanks for the flash drive with the photos on it! I loved the video of Kyler and the glove full of water! John you're the cake master. Its good to hear that you have prayerfully decided to go into art not doctor type stuff! You could make money doing anything art wise. You're a genius!
Matt have you seen Jess Peterson's friend Josie over there yet? Have you seen Dev Boshard yet? What Island is Transfer meeting on, or is there several? Matt did I already send you my farewell talk or did I forget?
Ange, thank you so much for the check! I don’t really know what to do with it!?! I don’t have a bank account out here. Mom if I sent it home to you could you deposit the check into my debit card account. What do you think is the best thing to do with it?! Thank you everyone for the sweet birthday stuff! I have already opened a lot of it because I couldn’t wait!! It was good to see so many pictures of you on the flash drive!
Mom thanks for getting me addresses I need! You guys are the best at supporting missionaries! Sister Arthur told me in church yesterday that she was doing a search for the ABM (Australia Brisbane Mission) on google or some search engine the other day because her husband went to the same Mission. And she found Matt’s & mine blog! Can just anyone see it? I thought that was a little weird.
Mom you said that at Strawberry Resevoir that you guys had a "marshmallow shooters fight" in the camper. Just wondering what that was. haha.
Mom how come Lincoln only got to talk for his mom for 3 minutes at the air port? Have you heard any news about how he is doing on his mission?
That’s crazy that Omniture got bought out by Adobe!! Is Josh just going to retire now and have more money then he knows how to roll around in? haha. Tell him to remember his teacher’s quorum and all that we have done, hahaha.
How does John like his new job? Sounds like he is in a pretty good situation and he’s keeping busy.
I can’t believe Kyler can talk in complete sentences, he better be at home for Christmas so I can chat with him on the phone! Oh and Matt and I are going to try again to set up a 3 way for that! I love that he remembers me! I miss him so much. Mom thanks for the advice in your letters it helps. I’m glad you guys care enough about us to give us your best advice.
That is so cool that Sierra is the cub master and john is the Scout Master, that’s a dynamic duo. John and Sierra I’m psyched to see your Halloween costumes, they are always amazing! Hit me up with pictures some time.
Pete I haven’t been attacked by any wild rabid wombats yet.. I'll keep an eye out though. Thanks for the words and prayers.
Max thanks for your sweet drawing.
Blake Jr. it sounds like you're the best (in nachos accent) at football, basketball and everything you do, keep it up. I'll have to teach you how to play rugby when I get home so you can smash me.
How did Halloween go? No one really celebrates it in Australia so it was lame! We only got two trick or treaters - 2 -13 year old boys in the ward - and neither of them were even dressed up. We were all disappointed. Did all my nieces and nephews have a fun sugary Halloween?? I want to hear what everyone dressed up as!
That’s too bad that BYU lost bad to TCU. Keep cheering for me loud all you Prina’s back home.
Well, I’m just about out of time and I haven’t even read all of your emails yet, just moms. So I'll hit you back about those ones next week.
Matt be expecting a Birthday package from me soon with a tape and a flash drive full of pictures and videos! Your tapes were the bombskies.
This week we had 2 new investigators. We met Fiona’s Cousin Karina at Fiona and Juniors wedding. Now Karina and her Partner Vinni (both Maoris) have had the first 2 lessons and know what the spirit is and have expressed to us what it feels like. Vinni: "Woah wait, I just had a weird feeling while we watched that (the resto. DVD)
We have told them to continue to look for that good feeling. It’s something that none of us can quite explain, but once you feel it you want more. Fiona told them that it felt like being stoned. Apparently they all know what that is like. They describe it as a spiritual high. Feeling the Holy Ghost is truly the best feeling and I feel it all the time as I have spiritual experiences here on my mission. I know that the Holy Ghost is real and that we can have it with us at all times. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet just like Moses was. I know that God loves us and that’s about all that matters. As Nephi states: I know not the meaning of all things, never the less I know that God loveth his children. (Paraphrased). I know he loves all of you and no matter what point you are in your life. You can still make it to the top. and that’s what the atonement means to me. What does the atonement mean to you? Hit me back about that. Those of you who have sent letters, I will try to write back or email you back eventually.
I love you all, God be with you.
Love ya mate,
Elder Prina AKA ROB