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.