Rob is still in Rockhampton

PSYCHE!
I get to stay in Rocky for another transfer (6 weeks) with Elder Paki! It surprised everyone including me. I thought I was goneskies for sure. No missionary has stayed up north for more that 6 months in ages! I think the last time an Elder was in Rocky for more than 6 months was 12 years ago. So, I will be here for 7 1/2! Oh the tender mercies of the Lord! I'm so stoked. I love Rocky! Elder Paki #1 has written up to me a few times and he tells me how much he misses it up here. He's jealous that I get to stay up here another transfer.
The Transfer calls from the APs were supposed to come on Friday. I was completely expecting one; yet Friday came and went and no calls came from the APs. There still was a chance that they were just slack and might call me the next day. So I was still a bit on edge. Saturday night after we left our dinner appointment at our Branch mission leaders house (Errol Wilson) we saw that we had a missed call from the Assistants. I kind of panicked,I was angry that they waited so long to tell me I was getting transferred. But when we called them back they said they just wanted to know if the Polizzi's Baptism had gone through. It had. (BEST BAPTISM EVER!) I said to Elder Neilsen who I know rather well - so... I'm not getting transferred? He said no, and that I was doing well enough here in Rocky that I got to stay! Elder Nielsen, the AP used to serve up here in Rocky about a year ago, so he understands how cool it is to stay up here for 7 1/2 months!
So, I'm great! How is everyone else!? Mum, have any packages arrived there from me yet? I have the one from Davis Leather that is the Christmas pressy to the grandkids. I sent that one by sea mail early in February so it should be getting there anytime now. I also sent one to John and Sierra 2 weeks ago, and I think that one was by air mail, so it should be there anytime now as well. Anything??
I also just sent a lovely birthday package off to Mark by air mail so you should get that Mark, in the next 2-3 weeks at most. Matt what address did you send my package to??? I would love to get that flash drive back from you with the pictures on it. How long ago did you send it? Like a month?
Mum, I've been enjoying the recipes you have sent me over my mission. would it be possible to get the coffee cake recipe?? I was violently craving it the other day.
I got to watch General Conference finally on Saturday and Sunday!!! GREAT SCOTT! It was THE BEST! Who saw Karlee and Kelee Surprise in he UVU choir?!! I did! I did! I knew heaps of people in that choir! I kept turning to my companion 'I know him!' 'I know her!' 'I've dated her!' It was so funny to see people from the pre existence (or whatever you call it Matt).
Matt I also loved President Uchtdorf's talk! And Elder Holland is amazing as usual! Excellent sermon on Love vs. Lust. "I get giddy just talking about Sister Monson; sometimes we shout it from the roof tops! sometimes even in General Conference!" haha. He's so good at speaking. We get to watch Priesthood session at the chapel at 7 tonight (Tuesday night).
I'm writing today because yesterday was a public holiday here ANZAC DAY 'Lest we forget...' and the library is closed on public holidays. So we had a little time today between service at Vinnies and our trip to Mt. Morgan to see the Polizzi's. ANZAC stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps, which was organized during the first world war to fight against the axis powers in Africa. The Holiday is actually on Sunday, but Aussies never give up any opportunity to have a day off work. They will turn anything in to a public holiday. and if its a holiday on Saturday or Sunday, then its a holiday on Monday too! Haha, Workin' hard or hardly workin' eh Steve?
So, now for the good news. The Polizzis got Baptised on Friday!!! Michelle and the 5 oldest Kids:
Tony, Brendan, Amelia, Chloe, and Atlanta all were Baptized by their Dad Mario Polizzi at 7:00 pm on Friday the 23rd of April 2010. It was probably the best Baptism I've ever been to. What more can a missionary ask for than 6 baptisms at once? (excluding Elder -I baptize 10 people every Saturday- Aldous) Haha, just playing Travis.
I got to participate quite a bit in the baptism which made it extra special to me (especially after teaching the family over the past 4 months). Elder Paki and I sang a duet (I like to look for Rainbows) accompanied by our branch mission leader Errol Wilson, on the acoustic guitar. It was very good. After that Brother Crane was supposed to give a talk he is the Polizzi girl's primary teacher, but he got caught up on the way back from work out of town and called me before the baptism and sadly asked if I could take his place because he wouldn't get back in time (he really wanted to be there). Right after I sang I got to give a short talk. I just told about how it was sort of a stressful day getting everything organized and things for the baptism, but in the afternoon we were walking to the car and I looked up in the sky and I saw a beautiful rainbow, and it reminded me of the duet we were singing , and of the Baptism. It brought immediate peace and overwhelming Joy for the decision the Polizzi's had made. Also brother Crane asked if I could say a few words for him. Then I tried to get my testimony out as I a choked back my Prina tears. I felt the spirit stronger that night then I think I have in several years. I wish everyone in Rocky could have been there. Mario Performed all of the Baptisms worthily and perfectly with the exception of Michelle (his wife, the last one to get dunked), which had to go down just once more, because her dress came up above the water. I got to be one of the witnesses, and I also was asked to give the closing prayer.
Mario stood at the Pulpit, probably for the first time in his life, and gave a moving talk/testimony about his past and the adventure/journey of how him and his family were brought into the church and how the Wallance's miraculously found him and were an answer to his prayer, that he had offered less than a week earlier. It was definately the high light of my time here in Rockhampton, and in my mind the reason I was called here, but there must be another reason, because I have been permitted to stay another transfer. So I will have to find out what that reason is.
I attached some pics of the Polizzi's baptism. The senior couple missionaries standing with the Polizzi's are the Wallace's from Utah; they're the coolest missionaries ever. The Kiwi family is the Leefs, they live out in Yepoon. I told them I might be leaving, so they made us dinner, and took some pictures with me and gave me a sweet New Zealand RUGBY t-shirt. That last one is me mowing the lawn at Rods house (the recent convert guy that gives us mangos and bananas and stuff).
Mum, I'm excited to talk to you on Mothers day, yet surprised at how quickly it has come. Time is just flying by faster and faster.
John how are you? I, like matt, would love to see some of your work from your Art classes.
Mum, you are not allowed in this mission to come and pick us up. I have to go home and be released, like Matt before I can come back. But I really want to come back, and I would love to see Hawaii as well. It is good to hear you got a good deal on the wheel chair ramp and stuff! Another tender mercy from the Lord!

Matt we do have a siser Bistline in the mission, but I don't think I've ever met her.
Woah! times up sorry this was so long. Its been great here in Rocky!
Love you heaps! Elder Prina