Rob Called to Serve

Oy! How ya goin mates?
This week has been pretty crazy. On Monday for PDay we went to the Croc farm on the way out to Emu Park. It was the coolest thing ever! I've never seen real crocs before. We were like meters away from huge man eating crocodiles. I got some good photos I'll have to send you. I got to hold a baby crocodile, I got a video of a croc jumping to snatch some food that the worker threw out to it. far out! it was sweet!

That evening we went and picked up 10 other missionaries from the surrounding areas in our district at the greyhound station. They all stayed at our flat for two nights for Zone Conference on Tuesday. So it was the first time I had seen other missionaries or President and Sister Richards for about 2 months! It was fun, but we were sure glad when it was over and we got all 10 missionaries out of our flat and got it back to ourselves. It was pretty chockers(full).

The night they arrived the Cranes (the cool members that had us over on Christmas) had a barbie for us at the chapel. Tuesday was zone conference and it was awesome to hear the trainings from President and Sister Richards. We talked a lot about doctrine and how it answers the questions to the soul, and overcomes peoples concerns. President Richards has the most amazing testimony - we are all positive he will shortly be called as a 70 or an apostle. We have had 4 apostles come to our mission in the past year; we think they are scoping our pres. Richards and getting ready to call him as a General Authority.
We got a challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of April and mark all the Doctrine and Principles in it. I have already done that, before my mission. But I'm excited to go back through it again. Also we just barely got a challenge from president to each have a new investigator and a baptismal date set this week. I have faith that we can do that because we have some really good investigators right now. unfortunately, none of them came to church yesterday; but at least they all contacted us and let us know why they wouldn't be able to make it, so that's good.

Tuesday night after Zone conference one of the Elders made everyone these really good enchiladas. Then the 2 Aussie elders (Elder Paki, and Elder Coy) went and bought cheese and bacon Chips (fries) for everyone. So it was really good, but it didn't smell really good in the flat that night with 12 missionaries. Matt, there is a Hawaiian Elder in our district named Tauati. He is from the big island he said. Know any Tauatis?
It was weird being around so many other missionaries. Elder Paki and I concluded that we like it just fine up here with just the 2 of us.
Jack Jensen Happy Birthday! I love you heaps and miss you.

Let me know about Chris Miller's Mission call as soon as he gets it. I'm so excited to hear about it.
Those of you who are flight of the Concords fans: there is a New Zealander Elder in my district named elder Gastraa and his mom's brother is Murray (the band manager) from flight of the Concords. He sounds just like him too. They were playing this game that night called 'killer bunnies' or something and he was like "if you use that card he will be did" and I was like "Did?" "Did, like not alive" HAHAHAHAHAHA
Anyway - you'll only get that if you watch flight of the Concords. Thanks for the mail everyone, i feel loved.
I got the package from the Stobbes and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great to hear from you Scot and Debbie. I loved the BYU football PEZ dispenser, and I'm still a bit confused about the hand warmers "little Hotties". Aren't those from Emergency Essentials? haha.

Sheybe I got your package with the pictures. That was the highlight of my week. You're crack up. I loved the pictures. I forwarded your letter to Elder Finau - he will be really excited to get a letter from a white girl from Utah.
Andrea and Kristin I loved your Christmas Cards I got this week! Kristin that picture of Syd is Hilarious! I'm so happy you made that your Christmas card. I love the kids here in the branch and am friends with a lot of them, and they always remind me of all my cute nieces and nephews back home.
I also got a letter from Alex Ramsay in the MTC this week. So Lori, if you're reading this tell him thank you very much from Rob in your next email to him. He will always be the funniest kid i know.
Is Jake Freeze getting Married?
Mom and Dad thank you so much again for my new missionary mall shoes! They are so nice and convenient, and they fit perfectly! I might need to send you a picture of my missionary mall belt soon too. Its on the way out. Mom, I have sunscreen that I'm using, but I'm still on the look out for a nice Aussie out back hat that is not too expensive.
John and Sierra Moved?!?!?! where did they move? Dad are you feeling better now? Mom sounds like you had a fun new year. Mom its good to hear you are keeping up on your genealogy. good on ya mate.
We have an investigator right now - Jeff who is super keen and has 2 daughters (12 and 13) we have taught him several times and taught his daughters yesterday. We want to watch the testaments DVD with them this week at the chapel and try to line up some solid fellowship from the branch; which Isn't easy with the selection of members we have up here. haha. He could be baptized by the end of January and it would be so cool to see his girls and him baptized together. My companion and I are in the middle of devising a member missionary work program. It is still in the works, but it is going to be revolutionary. It should help with dinner appointments as well!
Did BYU beat UVU at that bball game dad went to? I didn't know they are in the same conference. Is UVU any good? Maybe I could play for them when I come home. HAHA.
Mom, I did set new years resolutions and goals for this year. I am happy to have a resolve for a better year. I am working on a lot of things and am planning how I will be able to talk about my mission when I get home (that is what Elder Holland told us to do when he was here in May.)

I'm back to writing in my journal every night. It doesn't get any easier on a mission to my dismay.
Mom and Dad, I'm working on getting a audio tape, and another shipment of pictures out to you on a flash drive. Matt I hope to get some from you soon.

John, I still haven't got your package yet - when did you guys send it?
Tell Steven Brown congratulations from Me - i will keep him in my prayers.
Its good to hear the family is having fun and doing stuff together. Family is the Best!

Its good to hear Russell and Donovan are married now! We'll have to work on them when we get back. They do have a lot of potential. Did Donovan marry that girl that he was dating that we all hoped he would marry?
John I'm so chuffed (stoked) that you start School and are doing art classes again finally. You're the man. You've always been a good example to me. Thanks for serving the Lord and continuing to be stalwart as a grown man and father.
Well Prina's - it sounds like you have some new missionary work to do in the ward. Better get on that. John - you guys would make some solid fellowship. I promise you that if you fellowship the non members who have moved into the ward that you will begin to feel the blessings and joy of sharing the gospel flow into your life, and that as you forget yourself in the service of others that you will have everything else fall into place for yourselves.
Elder Paki and I have done service pretty much every day this week for members and non members. It is the best kind of missionary work: serving selflessly. We are building heaps of trust with people and we hope that we will be able to see the results as the rest of the transfer unfolds.
I'm afraid I might accidentally lose this, so I am going to send this and then right some more in another email.
I love all of you and I know the church is true, how can it not be? There is just so much.
Have a great week! Cheers, Elder Prina