Matt in Pearl City

Aloha family and friends,
This past week was good and I continue to learn a lot everyday on my mission. As always I really enjoyed the General Conference. I don't think any of our investigators here in Pearl City watched it but I'm sure my recent converts back in Maui did. In fact I think Kalisi went to Salt Lake to watch it with some other Tongans over there. A lot of Tongans gather in Salt Lake for Conference and have big dances and parties. Did yo know there are 3 Tongan stakes between Salt Lake and Provo?
It continues to prove difficult to convince people to wake up at 6:00 in the morning, put on uncomfortable clothes, and drive all the way to the stake center to watch some old guys talk about a bunch of stuff that they don't really understand half the time (that's what it sounds like to them). It makes me just want to jump up and down and shout sometimes to let people know how awesome it is! GOD is speaking! HELLO! Especially when we've grown up listening to these men our whole lives. They are my Idols, they are my heroes, they are the best speakers I have ever heard, they're entertaining, and most of all you can feel that amazing feeling of the spirit so strong!
I think the "You are my hands" talk by Pres. Uchdorf was my favorite (first talk of the Sunday morning session). I love how he bangs his fists on the podium and talks so much about love. We truly do confuse the sin with the sinner sometimes, I need to repent of that. We need to do less condemning, less forsaking and more forgiving, less renouncing and more rescuing, less mote pulling and more beam casting.
I also liked Pres. Monson's story about the young boy who died after his brother received his mission call, "called to serve on both sides of the veil". All of the First Presidencies messages in the Priesthood session were inspiring. Patience (the one I needed), Diligence (beautifully delivered by Pres. Eyering, my favorite) this one helped me think about something I had never thought of before: how Jesus Christ suffered the most difficult thing any man would ever do, and as soon as he gave up the ghost he went straight to the spirit world and got straight back to work. And we sometimes feel like quitting, and my companion doesn't want to tract in the rain because even though he'll use an umbrella his pants might still get wet. Also I love Pres. Monson's story about the boy who didn't get any mail from his parents. This one was especially special to me. I don't know if you remember E. Lejohn, he was my district leader in Maui and I lived with him for 6 months, he spoke on the tape I believe. Anyway, He was baptized just 3 years ago and is the only member in his family. His parents also didn't want him to serve a mission. His parents also didn't write him for the first 6 months of his mission. He also received a promise from a General authority (Elder Kikuchi, the one who said the opening prayer of the Saturday morning session "Listen to the living oracle of God") who visited our mission that if he continued to write his family every week they would someday join the church. I know that nothing is impossible if we have faith and if it is God's will.
Tonight we will try the 15 steps to quit smoking program on one of our investigators (John), I think it will work better than it did with Lisa because he actually has a strong desire to quit and he knows its killing his health and his family is a great support. If it works there is a good chance he and his family will get baptized.
There is only one Tongan family in our ward and they are less active and the dad is a preacher for the Methodist church. I called sister Tuakoi because it had been a week since I talked to Tongan people and I was going through withdrawals. She asked me "which is the Tongan, your mom or your Dad? That was the best compliment I've had on my mission "Ikai oku ou ha Palangi pe" (no I'm just a white kid) I told her. My time is up. happy B-day Mom, Dad and Valerie.
Rob is that 25 mar thing a license plate?
Love,
Elder Prina