Matt Elder Kua Father passed away.

Malo e lelei,
Last week was kind of crazy. Thursday morning my companion Elder Kau got a call from his sister informing him that his father had passed away the day before. I am fine, its just been a really difficult time for Elder Kau.

His Dad was only 56 years old and died of heart problems. There are 11 kids in Elder Kau's family, some who are still young. Elder Kau will stay in Hawaii and finnish next June like his father would have wanted him to. He is one of the most amazing people I know. The next day Elder Kau had the opportunity to baptize Iris Latu (her daughter is Iolani the one we baptized in November), it was a very emotional night.
Will everyone who reads this please keep Elder Kau and his family in your prayers. Dad, he got your letter a week or two ago and he loved it. He wouldn't stop bragging and telling everyone we talked to that he got a letter "from my companions family" and I didn't. He was so excited he read it out loud and put the card on his desk.
Last Thursday morning The Atonement of Jesus Christ and The Plan of Salvation and The Gospel of Jesus Christ that we teach people everyday became more real than ever before. I know that this is the true gospel and I have seen first hand the blessings that it brings into peoples lives. I know that Jesus Christ can bear all of our pains and deepest sorrows. I Know that we don't celebrate Christmas for his birth alone, for if it were not for the Atonement there would be no Christmas. Merry Christmas, I love all of you, especially you Mom and Dad.

Hope you can feel my love this Christmas, I can defiantly feel yours.
Mom-I get my mail the normal way(out of the mail box) no the zone leaders don't bring it. I have received all the packages and stuff thank you guys so much. I received the package from Stobbes this morning. Bro Stobbe, I had no Idea you lived in Kailua!!! That was my favorite area. Yes, we went to the old building and every fast Sunday Sis. Gonzales (the oldest lady I've ever seen) would get up and give the same speal about how they built the church and it was just the chapel and first and how "all this used to be pastures and farmland, and during sacrament meeting the cows would come stick their heads in and moooooooo" so yeah. Any ways that is tight as bet that you were baptized in Lanikai beach, I miss Kailua.

Mom and Dad and Lisa and Mike Happy Aniversarry!!!!!!!!!
Kristin Congradulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris Miller I was so excited when I heard you are getting your mission call, let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lorie, thank you for the email from Alex. I thought it was funny how he said all the kids in the MTC think he is hilarious (it becauze he is).

Yes, mom I did get the cookies and Chex mix, I love you too.

I will try to get you guys your christmas cards soon but because of the fore mentioned crazy situation they might be weeks/months late.

Oh, Rob I got your Package, it is the awesomest thing ever! Malo aupito!
Ofa Atu
Elder Prina

Rob Changing Flats

I just deleted my whole Christmas email that it took me like an hour to write! AHHH. i love you all.
I look forward to your call. John I'll call you after I talk to mom and dad. Matt I don't know why you wouldn't have got my package yet, I sent it two weeks ago. Thanks for the package and letter Ange. Thank you for the card from the Relief Society.
We are moving to:
3/10 Hassell St. Rockhampton QLD, 4701, Australia

Don't worry if you've already sent stuff, it will get redirected to our new addy.
Sorry I'm in a hurry now, I'm depressed that I just deleted that whole email.

Happy anniversary to Mom & Dad, Lisa and Mike. Happy birthday today to CARSON! Love you bud.

The priesthood works miracles, I'm a witness of that.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.
I love you. Peace.

Scoty and Mark I miss you guys, haven't heard from you in ages.

Thanks for all your love and I hope you all have a great Christmas.

Love, ELDER PRINA AKA ROB

daho dores, fahu ramu.‏

Malo famili, fefe hake?
Things are falalalala here Maui. We decked out our pad with Christmas decor, special thanks to The Jensen Family and viewers like you. Rob, I'm pretty sure I have the same "fiber optics" tree that you have, it was only like 12 bucks at Wal-Mart! Best 12 bucks I've ever spent, I still can’t figure out how it works. I swear it works souly off of Christmas spirit.

I got to see the first Presidency Christmas devotional yesterday, I loved it! The music was the best part! I loved Pres. Monson's talk and the story of "Gate 67". I met the lady who claimes to be the wife of the Tongan guy in the Tabernacle Choir (the brown guy on the front row) she is visiting for a Tongan wedding in our ward.



I want to say thank you so much for all of the packages people have sent me! All the other elders at the pad get more and more Jealous everyday. Rob and Stobbes’ I still haven't received your b-day packages.



Our zone went Christmas caroling last night, it was fun but weird to be wearing short sleeve shirts. One of the members from the singles ward here came with us. Her name is Kahala and apparently she is from our high school graduating class. I didn't really remember her but as soon as she saw me she was like "Prina... Do you have a twin?" Its funny how everyone knows you when your a twin.



Mom, noon on Christmas sounds great. Yes Rob, I am jealous that you eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thank you all, for all of your love and support.

If you were good this year maybe you will get a Christmas card from me. I have to go but I love you guys so much and my faith is growing everyday as I learn more and have more spiritual experiences.
Ok, ho ho ho and stuff...
Ofa atu
Elder Prina

Rob

Rob

The nativity play Rob is one of the wiseman

Rob Hey Every body its family night!

Hey Every body its family night! If you hurry you can sit by me!

Do you remember that song? I was just saying that 'cause it’s Monday and tonight is family night. I am teaching an 18 yr old kid named Kered for family night. What are you all doing for Family Home Evening tonight? Mom and dad, you still do FHE right?
Yesterday in Church Elder Paki and I gave talks in a special, missionary centered Sacrament meeting. Our talks were centered on the Restoration. It was a fun talk to prepare and I learned a lot from it. I'll have to make copies of it and send it home.
I wanted to say Happy Birthday to Chase Yesterday! Hope he had a great one. Much wishes from the sunshine state! Love you Chase!
Mom you said that you thought of me as you read Exodous 15: 1-9... I read it and the only thing I could think of was the thing it said about the nostrils... something coming out of the nostrils or something... is that what made you think of me.. HAHA. You're crack up mom.
One of our friends in the ward (Sister Craine, that reminds me a lot of Lisa) showed me my blog the other day. You should put some more pictures on it if you can, that’s what I sent you all those pictures for.
Sounds like Ellie had a sweet baby blessing. I love her name personally.

Thats exciting that Christmas is with the Jensen's at their sweet as place this Christmas. It’s gonna be so freezing cold up there. Is Kristin and Pete going up there too? If you see them there tell them I would love to hear from them once in a while. I miss them! Is Kristin having any more babies yet?
Calling at noon Maui time on Christmas sounds good to me. It won’t be Christmas for me but I don’t care, I’m so excited to talk to all of you, and our Christmas day is pretty packed anyway. Friday morning we are spending at the Craines (one of our favorite member families, with 6 kids between the ages of 4 and 16) Then Lunch is at the Swanns (the District Presidents son, his wife and 2 young cute kids) And that Evening / Christmas Dinner at The Braziers home (They are Sister Craines Parents) Pretty much everyone in the Branch is related, its so funny. Literally everyone is related somehow.
I’m so excited to talk to you guys. Am I going to be able to talk to John and Sierra and Kyler? John, if you aren’t going to be up in Idaho, then email me your phone numbers and I’ll make a special call just for you guys. I can’t go another 6 months with out hearing Kyler. I miss him heaps, give him a squeeze for me.
Thanks for the pictures MATT, those are mean. I love all the pictures of the ocean. I sent some to you since I’ve got to see a little bit more of the sea lately. Did you get my package yet?! Happy Birthday!! haha. I'll have to send you a lil' su'in su'in for Christmas too.
Thanks for the letters Wendy! I got one in the mail for you!
Fiona and Junior if you're reading this Kia ora cuz! Hope you have a good Christmas holiday with the Fanu. Tell Shama that Mona says hello.
Matt you're lucky! You get to play Croquet! Did Elder Simnitt get transferred to Maui as well?? I thought he was with you on Oahu. Tell Elder Simnit that the other Elder Prina says, what’s up.
Matt you're the man for winning that WARHEADS contest, just don’t enter that next time.. Look for the healthier contests. You better be careful! It was pretty scary! I tell you.
I loved your tips for members list, mostly because i've seen most of them too. The Samoan family in our ward the Paua'aias have us over for fresh KFC for lunch most Sunday afternoons.
Is iced tea that big of a thing in Hawaii? We have tea appointments over here... but tea just means dinner.
Matt I got sick this week too! We're like E.T. Twins! Like when I’m dying my little plant in our room is dying too... haha, I don’t know if you know what I’m talking about.
I couldn’t sleep so I finally got out of bed at 1:30 and took some medicine, I sat on my lounge in my room for 1/2 an hour until I couldn’t take the stabbing pains in my stomach any more. I went and woke Elder Paki up and asked if he could give me a blessing at 2 in the morning. Half way through the sealing of the blessing I had to leave my chair and just barely made it to the toilet to spew my guts up. I had been trying to get something out either end of me all night. The priesthood worked fast. I came back and told Elder Paki I didn’t know what to do, I'd never done that in the middle of a blessing before. He just started the sealing over. I slept great for the rest of the night. Elder Paki thinks I have worms, so he is getting me some de -worming tablets today, we'll see what happens.
That would be sweet if you were comps/ trained Elder Unga next transfer what a lucky guy. If you do, tell him the other Prina says, what’s up.

Good on you doing your testimony on Sunday Matt with out looking at anything. You're the man!
Matt, I’m so stoked to talk to you on Christmas! It had better work this time!
I do miss the snow mom and dad! You guys would be jealous of all the fresh fruits and veggies we get every week though. Our recent convert Rod has thousands of fresh bowen mangoes (the best kind) and passion fruits and bananas and avocados, cherry tomatoes and everything! We also get fresh rock melon (cantaloupe), watermelon, and cucumbers from the nice little ladies that work at the Vinnies (catholic version of DI) that we help out at. They love us.
I’ve eaten more fresh fruits and veggies in the past few weeks than I’ve eaten in the past few years. Smoothies are nice too since we have a blender! Mom and dad can you put that check i sent home in my debit card account, thanks.
Dad, thanks heaps for the email, I'll have to reply next week, seeing I am out of time. I look forward to your call on Christmas!
Love you all,
Elder Prina - AKA ROB!

Rob It’s not beginning to look like Christmas

How ya doing mates?
I keep thinking it’s going to get cold all of the sudden or start snowing any day now. But its not... ha, we are still in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. It did feel like Christmas though a week ago when we went to the Braziers home for a family Christmas activity. Some of their non-member in-laws were there. So it was kosher for us to go. Their house is decked out to the max! Brother Brazier really goes all out. He built a train that goes around the top of his living room and there is a gold angel Moroni statue on the top of the Christmas tree. They did the Nativity scene and dressed up like we do on Christmas Eve. I even got to be one of the wise men! It made me feel a little more at home for Christmas. I took some pictures for you guys, hope you enjoy! I also took a video of going through there home, and they have decked the halls! I'll send that on the flash drive soon. Did you guys get my package yet? Did you get the pictures of my shoes? Any chance I could get some new ones from Missionary mall for Christmas?
p.s. we borrowed a fiber optics Christmas tree from a Maori family in the ward (the Leefs) who were going back home to New Zealand for Christmas. They were nice enough to let us look after there sweet tree.

Love your missionary in Australia

ELDER PRINA AKA ROB

Matt

Malo 12/7/09
I just have time to say hi, I'm going to go play croquet with my buddy Elder Simnitt.
So first of all I have some advice for everyone: "don't put 13 warheads in your mouth at the same time and suck on them for 10 minutes". We went on exchanges and We had a "warhead challenge", yeah I won, unfortunately I am now paying the price and my gums look like I chewed tobacco. I want to go to the dentist just to get a check up, I am brushing my teeth and actually flossing a lot but I want to be careful.
Is Scoty going to have to delay his mission because of his dental work?
Tell him I love him and to put his shoulder to the wheel (or his brush to the teeth). Next:
TIPS FOR MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE ELDERS OVER FOR DINNER:
1.Don’t Be watching a skanty gay R rated movie when the elders come in and then invite them to sit down and watch.

2. When they sit down do not put a glass of ice tea in front of them.

3. Don’t answer the phone, then hang up and say "its okay, it was just my parents".

4. Restrain your immodestly dressed 6 year old daughter from jumping on the elder's back and saying "come here big boy!"

5. Don’t talk about when you were an A.P. and "followed the spirit" to break all the rules.

6. Avoid wearing low pants that reveal your lingerie.

7. Giving them fast food for dinner on Sunday night.

-All of these things have happened to me. Get a clue members!
So anyways I got sick this past week and threw up twice but I feel much better now.
Yes, mom the pants look great, I love them they fit so well.
Yes, Elder Unga is Tongan and I'm pretty sure I will be his trainer next transfer; I'll let you know though.

I bore my testimony in Tongan yesterday, but I didn’t look at a paper, I didn’t even memorize it. I just said it from my heart, it was awesome.

Mom, did you see those pictures of my ward on face book???
Is there anyway you could send press cookies? I could taste them in my imagination during fast Sunday yesterday.
Yes Rob, the funeral did feel like a Puff daddy Music video now that you mention it. Yes, Tongan funerals last all week. No we weren’t at the whole thing we just stopped in for a couple minutes each day because there were a lot of nonmembers there. No, I didn't really know the guy that died.

Well I just want to tell you all that I love you and hope you are all as excited as I am for this up coming Christmas season. God Bless us Every One!

Ofa atu
Elder Prina

Rob I’m dreaming of a white Christmas

Dear Family and Friends
G'day! How ya goin?
ALOHA Matt (ELDER PRINA) I love your emails! They're inspiring for me as a missionary here in the ABM! Hawaii sounds like a Beautiful place!
Matt, were you at the funeral all week? I haven’t been to any funerals yet here in Australia, sounds like it was a beautiful funeral. Like you were in a Puff Daddy Music Video or something. Did you know the person that died? Matt, is Greg Unga Tongan? I thought he told me he was Samoan. But My Tongan companion Elder Finau always reminded me of Greg Unga. They are like the same person. I can’t believe he is going to HHM as well. It’s just a big party down there. All I have over here is Grayson Moulton. HAHAHA. Have I told you he's in my mission? I tell ya, I was devastated when I got sent up here to this Palangi ward. There is one semi active Samoan family, one partially active Maori family and one cool old guy who is from Thursday Island or Fiji he has lived in Rocky most of his life. Every one else in the branch is palangi. haha. But I still love ‘em. That would be neat if you were in Tongan wards the rest of your mission. Tell Elder Kau I say "Siana (SHANA) what up fefe haka bro".
Matt that is a great story about your little Tongan conversation you had with the old Tongan guy in your stake "this guy on the outside is white but on the inside he’s Tongan" That is so cool, I wish that happened to me. Congrats on Lolani's Baptism! Hope you have a white Christmas! I don’t know if we'll have any baptisms this Transfer (ends DEC. 22nd) But we will have several next transfer. Good luck with your Jewish Blokes - maybe you knew them in a former life! Ask if they've ever been to Detroit. What happened to your potential from Michigan who worked at coldstone?

Elder Wallace - the senior missionary in our ward from Layton Utah. Disappointedly had to report to me this past week that BYU beat Utah in over time! Thanks for cheering hard for me mates! Another year of bragging rights! I heard Unga did well too! I’m so proud!
Mom, can you send me that talk that Matt asked you to send him that Mike used in his talk. Thanks.
Mom last week I didn’t have time to write because I was copying all my emails (received and sent) from myldsmail to word documents and then saving them to my flash drive. It took some time. Plus putting pictures from my camera onto my flash drive and stuff. Mom good luck with the RS dinner party, sounds good.
Mom, who’s baby is Eliah Kay Prina? That’s cool that you went to their blessing. It’s good to hear the news about Dad and Lisa. I've been praying since the MTC for them and actually just mentioned them hard out in prayer last night. Good to hear. Good on ya mates! Thanks for the great Email mom.
If anyone asks what I want for Christmas. I want letters! But here is my Christmas list I made:
New Journal (I’ve filled my 2nd)
running shoes (I only have my church shoes up here)
Baskeball shorts (I only have 2 pairs of shorts... in Australia)
Hacky sack (mine looks a bit dead... all the sand ran out)
New ERA hats (1 in 4 Queensland have skin cancer)
After bite (AUSSIE Mossys!)
Aloevera (the sun!)
If john asks - Kache cargo shorts! If scoty asks - a rubiks cube
If Kristin asks - Neosporin!
The church is true and you all rule!! Love, Elder Prina AKA

Rob

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks for The Holiday wishes guys,
No time to write this week.
I'm doing great.

Love you all,

Elder Prina AKA ROB

Matt

Vision 100
Malo e lelei famili,
Mom and Dad, want to see something cool? Get on facebook and search for "DH Maui fine art photography" (I’m not sure if it's a group or if you add it as a friend). There is a lady in my ward who is the ward historian so she takes a lot of pictures. She said she posted a bunch of pictures from our recent one year ward anniversary (amazing Tongan celebration) and I will probably be in some of the pictures. So if you want to see the culture I am now a part of out here, check it out. She said you can also add her personally as a friend (Dannet He) and she will be posting a video of it on her profile soon.

Mom, I finally got the pants sewed up by a lady in the ward so I'm excited to finally wear them.
If you guys have time, I think Elder Kau would enjoy another letter.

We had a Tongan funeral this week (they last all week) so that took up a lot of our time. It was the best funeral I've ever been to, even though I didn't understand everything I felt the spirit really strongly. We went to the cemetery with the whole ward for the burial. It was the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen. I apologies if I made it sound like Maui is not a pretty place. Pretty much just the place where we live is ugly (Kahului is the biggest city in Maui), but the country is beautiful. When we walked into the cemetery I leaned over to Elder Kau and said "Hey Elder, I'm pretty sure we're in heaven." You could see the beautiful ocean and the green mountains and green rolling hills and there were trees and all of the Tongan guys in our ward were in all white suits and white imitation Air force ones and they sang "God be with you till we meet again" in Tongan. I literally almost cried because I was with all of the people I love here in the most beautiful place on earth and I said to myself, "this is what its going to be like someday".
While I was at the funeral I had a short conversation (in Tongan) with one of the Tongan members from the other Tongan ward in west Maui. He took my hand and rubbed the top of it with his finger and said "This guy, on the outside he is haole (Hawaiian for white), but on the inside he is Tongan". I can’t tell you how happy that made me.

There is some speculation on whether I will be in a Tongan ward my entire mission. There are a lot of new Tongan missionaries coming in (Greg Unga will be here in January). I'll go where the lord wants me to go but I really don't know what I would do with myself if I got transferred to a Palongi (white) ward.

My companion and I have had our rough patches but we have grown so close, and lately have been really tight. Elder Kau knows how hard I try to learn the language and live the culture and I know how hard he tries to be obedient and work hard and we have a respect for each other like we were brothers.

The Baptism of Iolani went great and we are continuing to teach her as well as the rest of her family. Iolani was part of something very special called Vision 100. Ever since I've been in Hawaii our mission has been attempting to do something quite extraordinary: to baptize 100 people in 1 month. Every month we come close but we never quite hit it. This past zone conference our mission president told us he needed to repent because we were going about this all wrong. He told us we needed to purify ourselves before the lord could fully bless us. He stressed repentance and exact obedience (please read 3nephi ch.3) and promised us if we would seek to first sanctify ourselves that we would be more powerful teachers of repentance and in general and God would bless us to achieve vision 100. This morning we got the call: 101 baptisms for the month of November.

We are currently teaching Iolani's Mom and older sister. The Mom (Iris) will get baptized in the next couple weeks so I'm looking forward to a white Christmas!!!!!!!

Today I went to Lahina, the other side of the island. It's pretty much a tourist town. Our members work there carving and selling Tiki's. We went and talked to a good friend, fo'o. While we were there I met two young Jewish guys (about 22) who were selling those things that spin around in the wind that you hang on your porch. For some reason I felt this strong desire to go talk to them, almost like I was already good friends with them. I went right up to them and just started getting to know them. I talked about missionary work and a little bit about the restoration (because the said they came here from New York). They were both originally from Israel and I shared with them my strong desire to visit someday. They told me to quit wishing and just go. I told them a little about our basic beliefs (they knew all the things we couldn't do) but mostly just got to know them and make friends with them. For some reason the whole drive home I couldn't get these two guys off my mind. They were so nice and I had the strangest feeling that I had known them before or that we had a special bond somehow. I hope we go back again next p-day and talk to them more.

Well I guess all I have to say other than that is GCOUGARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'Oku ou ilo'i mo'ui a sisu kalaisi, oku ou ilo'i palofita mo'oni a Thomas s. Monson, 'oku ou ilo'i he Tohi a e Molomona oku he folofola ae Otua, Oku ou ilo'i oku mo'oni a e siasi. Oku ou ofa he ngaue, oku ou ofa he kakai faka Tonga. Oku ou oua fie osi ko eni. Oku ou ofa kimoutolu. Mamata mou i mahina taha fa pe!
Ofa atu.
Much aloha,
Your boy-Elder Prina

P.S. For Christmas:
-ties
-cds, motab, christmas, reverent.
-deposit money into my debit account.

Thanks

Lisa, please ask Mike to send me the story of the boy who gave his life to save the world, that he shared in a talk in sacrament several years ago.