Goodbye Trondheim
12 years ago
Monday, September 27, 2010
Aloha
Brothers and sisters Aloha!
It's funny like half of our Sunday attendance is tourists every week. Thank you all for your emails! Brother and Sister Stobbe, thanks for sending me all of Scoty's emails! This morning my companion, Elder Gray, and I, and two other Elders drove up to the north shore of Kauai. There is a tiny town up there called Hana lei. It was probably the most beautiful drive I've been on in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oahu is nice, Maui is very pretty, but Kauai is by far the most beautiful island. We drove up to one of the beach parks and just sat and watched the waves come in and listened to church music for 15 minutes. It was very peaceful, we were talking about how amazing God's creations are, how no camera or any device could ever record that scene as well as our eyes. As I looked out and saw the waves and heard them crashing on the sand and felt the warm sun on my skin and smelled the nature all around me and breathed in that fresh Hawaiian air, I could feel how much my heavenly father loved me. Just like when we make Mom a mothers day card, and we want to make it really nice and pretty to show her how much we love her. God wanted to make this earth as beautiful as he could to show his love for us and so we could feel joy. I felt full of joy and peace as we drove back to Lihue. My mission has been the best experience of my life, and the Lord has blessed me a hundredfold for whatever small sacrifices I have made to come here, I wouldn't trade it for the kingdoms of the earth.
Madison Long got baptized last Saturday, E. Gray baptized her and I gave a talk about baptism. I'm starting to get so I don't have to look down as much when I speak. Everything seemed to go perfectly. Sometimes baptisms are very stressful just making sure that everything goes right, but this one went so smoothly and I don't think it could have been any better. Madison is ten years old, she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday and her dad who has not come to church for many years came and watched. Her Mom, Sam, will be baptized next Saturday (the 9th). Our investigator Nolan came to church again yesterday. He cut his hair and is looking a lot better, he is already making friends with people in the ward and one family invited him over for dinner with us. His baptismal date is Oct. 23 so we will see if that will still be possible after we teach him the word of wisdom tomorrow. We also invited Branden Williams to get baptized on Oct. 30th. Branden is 20 yrs. old. He is in the hospital right now recovering from a blood infection but he should be out in a week. He's kind of a crazy kid and he always yells at the nurses but were starting to read the Book of Mormon with him and he's really liking it. One thing that I've really learned on my mission is that it's impossible for someone to come to "full faith" in this gospel and to find lasting peace in "these our times"(E.Holland's: Safety for the soul) without a burning testimony of The Book of Mormon. I really battled within my self to gain a firm testimony at the beginning of my mission and it was a thought that rarely left my mind but through sincere prayer and diligent seeking I have gained an everlasting witness from the power of the Holy Ghost that I cannot deny and that is "woven into the very fibers and sinews of my body"(Gospel Principals Ch.8). So we told Branden to read the B.O.M. until he gets out of the hospital so he can gain a testimony of it and then we'll baptize him. It's hard in Hawaii because very few people can read competently, so we have to read with them a lot of the time, so that they understand. E. Gray and I both have a love for the scriptures and our favorite thing to do in lessons is just to tell the stories in the scriptures and expound on them.
Last week we got to drive over to the South West side of the island and while we were over there we could see Ni'ihau (the island that only Hawaiian people can live on and you need an invitation to go over there). Ni'ihau is the Westernmost island of Hawaii. So, now I can say that I have seen all of the 7 major islands of Hawaii. I have served on Oahu, the main island, Maui, where I could see Lanai, Molokai, and big island, and now I'm on Kauai where I can see Ni'ihau.
Mom: Thanks for the shirts, I will keep them nice so I can wear them when I get home.
Dad: I heard about BYU, everyone sounds real optimistic and says that they're improving despite the losses. There was a High Counselor that spoke in our ward yesterday from Monticello, Utah, after words I asked him if he knew Jason Ramsay, He said "yes I knew Jason and his brothers well, I could throw a rock into their back yard from my house." His name was Brother Barber, he was a really good speaker.
Rob: There are not as many Tongans here as Maui but there is more than Pearl City. I think we have about 6 Tongan families in our ward. One of them is the 2nd counselor to the bishop. Yesterday at church one gave the opening prayer in Tongan. It made me so trunky for the Tongan wards, I cried.
For the Ice cream Sundae lesson you give them a bowl of vanilla Ice Cream and blind fold them. Then you give them a little taste of some chocolate syrup on a spoon and ask them if they want some, you tell them your putting it on but instead you pour on some hot sauce. You repeat the process with caramel and mustard, nuts and bacon bits, a cherry and an olive, etc. You don't have to use those things those are just suggestions. Then you can share a scripture like Isaiah 58 or the one from D&C about keeping the sabbath day holy. You relate the good toppings to things like going to church on Sunday, reading your scriptures, or writing in a journal. You relate the mustard and stuff to things like surfing, working, and playing sports on Sunday. Then you could tell a cool story about an athlete who turned down a big contract so that he didn't have to play on Sunday or something like that.
Well this is getting really long. I was wondering if Eric ever served here on Kauai, if someone could please ask him for me, Thanks.
Love,
Elder Prina
It's funny like half of our Sunday attendance is tourists every week. Thank you all for your emails! Brother and Sister Stobbe, thanks for sending me all of Scoty's emails! This morning my companion, Elder Gray, and I, and two other Elders drove up to the north shore of Kauai. There is a tiny town up there called Hana lei. It was probably the most beautiful drive I've been on in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oahu is nice, Maui is very pretty, but Kauai is by far the most beautiful island. We drove up to one of the beach parks and just sat and watched the waves come in and listened to church music for 15 minutes. It was very peaceful, we were talking about how amazing God's creations are, how no camera or any device could ever record that scene as well as our eyes. As I looked out and saw the waves and heard them crashing on the sand and felt the warm sun on my skin and smelled the nature all around me and breathed in that fresh Hawaiian air, I could feel how much my heavenly father loved me. Just like when we make Mom a mothers day card, and we want to make it really nice and pretty to show her how much we love her. God wanted to make this earth as beautiful as he could to show his love for us and so we could feel joy. I felt full of joy and peace as we drove back to Lihue. My mission has been the best experience of my life, and the Lord has blessed me a hundredfold for whatever small sacrifices I have made to come here, I wouldn't trade it for the kingdoms of the earth.
Madison Long got baptized last Saturday, E. Gray baptized her and I gave a talk about baptism. I'm starting to get so I don't have to look down as much when I speak. Everything seemed to go perfectly. Sometimes baptisms are very stressful just making sure that everything goes right, but this one went so smoothly and I don't think it could have been any better. Madison is ten years old, she was given the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday and her dad who has not come to church for many years came and watched. Her Mom, Sam, will be baptized next Saturday (the 9th). Our investigator Nolan came to church again yesterday. He cut his hair and is looking a lot better, he is already making friends with people in the ward and one family invited him over for dinner with us. His baptismal date is Oct. 23 so we will see if that will still be possible after we teach him the word of wisdom tomorrow. We also invited Branden Williams to get baptized on Oct. 30th. Branden is 20 yrs. old. He is in the hospital right now recovering from a blood infection but he should be out in a week. He's kind of a crazy kid and he always yells at the nurses but were starting to read the Book of Mormon with him and he's really liking it. One thing that I've really learned on my mission is that it's impossible for someone to come to "full faith" in this gospel and to find lasting peace in "these our times"(E.Holland's: Safety for the soul) without a burning testimony of The Book of Mormon. I really battled within my self to gain a firm testimony at the beginning of my mission and it was a thought that rarely left my mind but through sincere prayer and diligent seeking I have gained an everlasting witness from the power of the Holy Ghost that I cannot deny and that is "woven into the very fibers and sinews of my body"(Gospel Principals Ch.8). So we told Branden to read the B.O.M. until he gets out of the hospital so he can gain a testimony of it and then we'll baptize him. It's hard in Hawaii because very few people can read competently, so we have to read with them a lot of the time, so that they understand. E. Gray and I both have a love for the scriptures and our favorite thing to do in lessons is just to tell the stories in the scriptures and expound on them.
Last week we got to drive over to the South West side of the island and while we were over there we could see Ni'ihau (the island that only Hawaiian people can live on and you need an invitation to go over there). Ni'ihau is the Westernmost island of Hawaii. So, now I can say that I have seen all of the 7 major islands of Hawaii. I have served on Oahu, the main island, Maui, where I could see Lanai, Molokai, and big island, and now I'm on Kauai where I can see Ni'ihau.
Mom: Thanks for the shirts, I will keep them nice so I can wear them when I get home.
Dad: I heard about BYU, everyone sounds real optimistic and says that they're improving despite the losses. There was a High Counselor that spoke in our ward yesterday from Monticello, Utah, after words I asked him if he knew Jason Ramsay, He said "yes I knew Jason and his brothers well, I could throw a rock into their back yard from my house." His name was Brother Barber, he was a really good speaker.
Rob: There are not as many Tongans here as Maui but there is more than Pearl City. I think we have about 6 Tongan families in our ward. One of them is the 2nd counselor to the bishop. Yesterday at church one gave the opening prayer in Tongan. It made me so trunky for the Tongan wards, I cried.
For the Ice cream Sundae lesson you give them a bowl of vanilla Ice Cream and blind fold them. Then you give them a little taste of some chocolate syrup on a spoon and ask them if they want some, you tell them your putting it on but instead you pour on some hot sauce. You repeat the process with caramel and mustard, nuts and bacon bits, a cherry and an olive, etc. You don't have to use those things those are just suggestions. Then you can share a scripture like Isaiah 58 or the one from D&C about keeping the sabbath day holy. You relate the good toppings to things like going to church on Sunday, reading your scriptures, or writing in a journal. You relate the mustard and stuff to things like surfing, working, and playing sports on Sunday. Then you could tell a cool story about an athlete who turned down a big contract so that he didn't have to play on Sunday or something like that.
Well this is getting really long. I was wondering if Eric ever served here on Kauai, if someone could please ask him for me, Thanks.
Love,
Elder Prina
Sunday, September 26, 2010
From Rob
G'day mates.
1st off I'd like to say a special Happy Birthday to Scoty, Wendy and Fiona. It's also Fiona's Bday in that she was baptized a year ago! Congratulations!
Thank you for all the emails and for all the stuff I received in the post this week! I finally got my Chrissy Presents now that its September. Haha. It was like Christmas all over again! John thanks for the T-shirt! I love it.
Mum the Lectures on the Prophets of the Chruch CDs were good after i got used to Truman Madsen's monotone voice. You sent me 3 discs and disc 2 was the exact same as disc 1. Me and Elder Lester Enjoyed learning more about the first 3 prophets of the restored chuch. I never really new anything about John Taylor.
John Did you ever get a Mac Book Pro? How did School at UVU go? How did the graphic design courses go? did you make any sweet as projects or anything? John do you and sierra have callings in your ward? What are they? John thanks for the rare letter. I loved it! I'm glad to hear your excitement about the McRib. I thought of you when i saw the billboard saying it was back for a limited time. Sierra i appreciated your personal insights on the atonement, your testimony helps strengthen mine. What are yous gonna be for Halloween? I'm excited to see what the Prina Factory will roll out with next.
Debbie I've been getting all your letters in the mail. I've gotten all of Scoty's emails and the letters from you and Scot. And i just got some emails from Elder Scoty in the mail this morning that I haven't even had a chance to read yet. I loved the "Negro Leagues Baseball" Stamp. That made my day. Your letter took 2 weeks to get here (it arrived on the 21st). But yeah, I've gotten all the mail you've sent me. Thanks heaps. I love hearing from you and Elder Stobbe.
Thanks to everyone who put photos on the flash drive you sent me! I loved the photos of all my cute nieces and nephews. It was cool to see Brock and Jason, and Dustin and Derek and Jake at Kyler and Ellie's Party! Jason was the only one who's wife wasn't in the picture. They're still together right? How are they all doing? The photos were awesome! You're all so beautiful.
Scoty (Elder Stobbe) - Happy Birthday! I got to see some pictures of you today on the flash drive I got in the mail. the family pictures are cool (especially Chucks Lakers Jersey, haha) And it was cool to see you in your suit and stuff before you went into the MTC. I'm proud of you mate.
Wendy - I saw a photo of you too at Nans funeral. How've you been? Happy Birthday Cuz! Hope it was great! I haven't heard from you in ages. I have a post card on my desk to send you.
Mark I should be sending you some stuff soon. You're the man.
Dad, I'm glad you got to spend time with your brothers this past week, even though you missed the game. Sounded like it wasn't the best one to go see anyway. I have a BYU update at church every week now from our high priest group leader who watches the games Sunday morning. Haha.
Thank you again for all the photos of everyone! I loved them.
our investigator Mwewa has been dodging us lately. We're being persistent with him though.
Hope you guys have a good evening with John and Sierra and the kids. give them squeezes for me.
Matt was your email subject the song from that Joseph Smith tribute CD ? It sounds familiar. Matt, we have a Bapt. Date on oct. 9th as well with a girl named Kelly. God Bless and hope all goes well with your dates. I'm praying for you. That is sweet that we both blessed someones home on the same day for the first time. What are the chances. Matt are there many Tongans in your new area? Matt Maui Paki is Paki #1 and Calvin Paki (my DL) is Paki #2. Its good to hear you are writing me. I cant wait to hear from you.
My times up, I'm getting kicked off the computer, but I want you all to know that I love and miss you and I know that the Gospel blesses families more than anything else. I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to see that happen on my mission. I know the church is true.
Love, Elder Prina
1st off I'd like to say a special Happy Birthday to Scoty, Wendy and Fiona. It's also Fiona's Bday in that she was baptized a year ago! Congratulations!
Thank you for all the emails and for all the stuff I received in the post this week! I finally got my Chrissy Presents now that its September. Haha. It was like Christmas all over again! John thanks for the T-shirt! I love it.
Mum the Lectures on the Prophets of the Chruch CDs were good after i got used to Truman Madsen's monotone voice. You sent me 3 discs and disc 2 was the exact same as disc 1. Me and Elder Lester Enjoyed learning more about the first 3 prophets of the restored chuch. I never really new anything about John Taylor.
John Did you ever get a Mac Book Pro? How did School at UVU go? How did the graphic design courses go? did you make any sweet as projects or anything? John do you and sierra have callings in your ward? What are they? John thanks for the rare letter. I loved it! I'm glad to hear your excitement about the McRib. I thought of you when i saw the billboard saying it was back for a limited time. Sierra i appreciated your personal insights on the atonement, your testimony helps strengthen mine. What are yous gonna be for Halloween? I'm excited to see what the Prina Factory will roll out with next.
Debbie I've been getting all your letters in the mail. I've gotten all of Scoty's emails and the letters from you and Scot. And i just got some emails from Elder Scoty in the mail this morning that I haven't even had a chance to read yet. I loved the "Negro Leagues Baseball" Stamp. That made my day. Your letter took 2 weeks to get here (it arrived on the 21st). But yeah, I've gotten all the mail you've sent me. Thanks heaps. I love hearing from you and Elder Stobbe.
Thanks to everyone who put photos on the flash drive you sent me! I loved the photos of all my cute nieces and nephews. It was cool to see Brock and Jason, and Dustin and Derek and Jake at Kyler and Ellie's Party! Jason was the only one who's wife wasn't in the picture. They're still together right? How are they all doing? The photos were awesome! You're all so beautiful.
Scoty (Elder Stobbe) - Happy Birthday! I got to see some pictures of you today on the flash drive I got in the mail. the family pictures are cool (especially Chucks Lakers Jersey, haha) And it was cool to see you in your suit and stuff before you went into the MTC. I'm proud of you mate.
Wendy - I saw a photo of you too at Nans funeral. How've you been? Happy Birthday Cuz! Hope it was great! I haven't heard from you in ages. I have a post card on my desk to send you.
Mark I should be sending you some stuff soon. You're the man.
Dad, I'm glad you got to spend time with your brothers this past week, even though you missed the game. Sounded like it wasn't the best one to go see anyway. I have a BYU update at church every week now from our high priest group leader who watches the games Sunday morning. Haha.
Thank you again for all the photos of everyone! I loved them.
our investigator Mwewa has been dodging us lately. We're being persistent with him though.
Hope you guys have a good evening with John and Sierra and the kids. give them squeezes for me.
Matt was your email subject the song from that Joseph Smith tribute CD ? It sounds familiar. Matt, we have a Bapt. Date on oct. 9th as well with a girl named Kelly. God Bless and hope all goes well with your dates. I'm praying for you. That is sweet that we both blessed someones home on the same day for the first time. What are the chances. Matt are there many Tongans in your new area? Matt Maui Paki is Paki #1 and Calvin Paki (my DL) is Paki #2. Its good to hear you are writing me. I cant wait to hear from you.
My times up, I'm getting kicked off the computer, but I want you all to know that I love and miss you and I know that the Gospel blesses families more than anything else. I'm so glad I've had the opportunity to see that happen on my mission. I know the church is true.
Love, Elder Prina
Monday, September 20, 2010
Waiting for the freedom, only he can bring, how much longer Lord we pray.
Iron clad in covenant, our captain and our king, come to wash the flood of filth away.
Brothers and Sisters, Aloha!
187 years ago, on the evening of the twenty-first of September "I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God "I discovered a light appearing in my room "He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness "When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me "He was a messenger sent from the presence of God, "my name should be had for good and evil among all nations. "He said there was a book "the fullness of the everlasting Gospel". . . . I told my mother what troubled my heart.j/S.
I love The Book of Mormon. Our mission just began reading it together, we read two chapters a day and high light all of the references to Christ. I am reading in 2 Nephi in the Isaiah Chapters right now and enjoy covering the pages with highlighter. Isaiah has a beautiful testimony of Christ. Today I read "for unto us a child is born", and I listened to it the other day on the CD you guys sent me.
Every morning at 7:55 all the missionaries in our mission kneel down and thank our heavenly father for our chance to be serving him here. Then we ask him to protect our investigators who have a date to get baptized. Rob you asked about the Cruz family. They have been avoiding us, the dad (Bay) got offended at church because they accidentally didn't get the sacrament and they didn't speak up and tell anyone, he took it personally. However Sam and Madison Long will be baptized on Oct. 9th. Sam is a Thai lady who is married to a less active member. She has an 11 year old daughter named Madison. Sam is quitting smoking right now and is really excited to get Baptized. There are 6 other people who have potential to get baptized in our area right now. We just found out about a bunch of unbaptized keikis (kids) in our ward, so we are going to start teaching them.
Rob, you mentioned you blessed someones home yesterday. I thought that was pretty neat because I blessed someones home yesterday too! It was the first time I'd ever done it but I guess you just say a prayer and ask for protection. You were also talking about Elder C. Paki, is that Paki #1 or Paki #2?
Mom and Dad, thanks for sending the shirts. Did you get my packages? It sounds like you're doing well. Thank you so much for the pictures of Grace and Ellie! I wish you guys were here in Kauai, you would love it here. We have to have a family vacation here someday.
Well, I'm going to cut this short so I can have time to write Rob today, something I've been meaning to do for a long time! Happy Birthday Scoty and Wendy!
Love,
Elder Prina
Brothers and Sisters, Aloha!
187 years ago, on the evening of the twenty-first of September "I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God "I discovered a light appearing in my room "He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness "When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me "He was a messenger sent from the presence of God, "my name should be had for good and evil among all nations. "He said there was a book "the fullness of the everlasting Gospel". . . . I told my mother what troubled my heart.j/S.
I love The Book of Mormon. Our mission just began reading it together, we read two chapters a day and high light all of the references to Christ. I am reading in 2 Nephi in the Isaiah Chapters right now and enjoy covering the pages with highlighter. Isaiah has a beautiful testimony of Christ. Today I read "for unto us a child is born", and I listened to it the other day on the CD you guys sent me.
Every morning at 7:55 all the missionaries in our mission kneel down and thank our heavenly father for our chance to be serving him here. Then we ask him to protect our investigators who have a date to get baptized. Rob you asked about the Cruz family. They have been avoiding us, the dad (Bay) got offended at church because they accidentally didn't get the sacrament and they didn't speak up and tell anyone, he took it personally. However Sam and Madison Long will be baptized on Oct. 9th. Sam is a Thai lady who is married to a less active member. She has an 11 year old daughter named Madison. Sam is quitting smoking right now and is really excited to get Baptized. There are 6 other people who have potential to get baptized in our area right now. We just found out about a bunch of unbaptized keikis (kids) in our ward, so we are going to start teaching them.
Rob, you mentioned you blessed someones home yesterday. I thought that was pretty neat because I blessed someones home yesterday too! It was the first time I'd ever done it but I guess you just say a prayer and ask for protection. You were also talking about Elder C. Paki, is that Paki #1 or Paki #2?
Mom and Dad, thanks for sending the shirts. Did you get my packages? It sounds like you're doing well. Thank you so much for the pictures of Grace and Ellie! I wish you guys were here in Kauai, you would love it here. We have to have a family vacation here someday.
Well, I'm going to cut this short so I can have time to write Rob today, something I've been meaning to do for a long time! Happy Birthday Scoty and Wendy!
Love,
Elder Prina
Sunday, September 19, 2010
It's been an interesting week. Not too much news.
I blessed a nonmembers home yesterday at their request and cast an evil spirit out of it for the first time. That was a cool experience.
We also had a lesson yesterday with an African guy named Mwewa Kolonge. He was born in New York City, lived most of his life in Ghana and South Africa.He has been here on the gold coast for over a year going to Bond University, a really prestigious Uni. in our area. He just started a law degree, so he is very busy. He was a former investigator, but one of my mission goals is to baptize a black person, we're gonna start teaching this guy. So we have been putting all of our efforts in to helping him to have a spiritual experience and feel the spirit at our lessons. We brought a guy with us yesterday to the lesson from our ward. He was excellent fellowship because he just got back from his mission and he's the bishop's son. We applied all the new trainings we have received with him, committed him to read and pray & committed him to be baptized as he comes to know that its true; and we even got him to kneel and give us the closing prayer after resolving his concerns. It was awesome! So pray for Mwewa that he will take that challenge to read and pray to find out for himself that its true.
Last night when we left for our dinner apt. I left our keys in the flat and accidentally locked us out. We don't have a spare key and the flat manager doesn't work on the weekends. So after dinner we had to have our district leader Elder C. Paki in Tweedheads drive up and pick us up, and we drove down to their flat with them and spent the night there on the floor. On top of that they got a call last night at like 10:00 from the A.P.s saying that Elder C Paki's companion, Elder Willie (from Kiribati) was getting Emergency Transferred the next day and that he had to be in Brisbane at 12:00. Elder Paki will be getting a missionary who came out last year, but went home after 4 weeks for past transgressions, and now hes coming back out. He's from Hamilton, New Zealand. So he will basically be re-training him. We all Love Elder Willie and we're all gonna miss him a lot! So were a bit bummed that he had to go. So I'm glad we had to stay at their flat last night so we could spend a little more time with E. Willie before he took off. He is the coolest missionary, he is so humble and nice.
So they dropped us back in Robina at the Library and after this we are going to walk over to the flat manager's place and get him to come unlock our flat for us, i think he's got a master key.
It's good to hear you guys are doing a lot of work in the garden mom and dad. Mom do you really eat Beets? a lot of people here eat 'em on sandwiches and stuff. I cant help but gag when I'm forced to eat them. I usually try to sneak 'em into my napkin or something.
its good to hear that you are keeping busy with those Jobs too. Mum, who are your visiting teachers? Its good to hear that you are writing your life history. That is a righteous endeavor. Thank you for praying for our investigators! It always helps. They need all the prayers they can get. We had 2 of the less actives we have been working with lately and one of their non member girlfriends come to stake conference yesterday. So we were excited about that. Hilita the girl that got baptized is now telling us that her dad probably wants to come down from Brisbane and take the lessons from us. So we are way excited about that!
Mum, it wouldn't be too bad of an idea to just give us money for our birthday, but then again, stuff is so much cheaper their (its more than twice as expensive for most stuff over here) that it might just be a cheaper, better idea to buy the stuff their and then send it to us. But if people do want to send money could you please just have them put it on my debt card, that way i don't have to pay a fee for exchanging U.S. currency for Australian. Thank you for asking, but I'm pretty good on garments for now. I was going to ask for a new white shirt, but E. Willie just gave me one this morning that fits me perfectly, its even the same kind as the rest of my shirts. So that is a little tender mercy.
Matt, hows the Cruiz family doing? I have been praying for them? How are your 7 Bapt. dates going? Where exactly are you living now geographically? Where is Kawaii in relationship to all the other islands? Are you sort of banished from everything else in that area? Is there many Tongans in your area?
Well I don't have much to say. Sheyene thanks for the letter it made my week! Lisa what is your family up to? Ange what are the Jensens up to? Val hows the fam? Kristin how is it with 2 little girls and Pete out of town? John - what up Junx? where ya been? Havent heard from you in ages.
Hope everyone has a great week! Fairdinkum!
Love you all, always thinking of you
Elder R.A.Prina
I blessed a nonmembers home yesterday at their request and cast an evil spirit out of it for the first time. That was a cool experience.
We also had a lesson yesterday with an African guy named Mwewa Kolonge. He was born in New York City, lived most of his life in Ghana and South Africa.He has been here on the gold coast for over a year going to Bond University, a really prestigious Uni. in our area. He just started a law degree, so he is very busy. He was a former investigator, but one of my mission goals is to baptize a black person, we're gonna start teaching this guy. So we have been putting all of our efforts in to helping him to have a spiritual experience and feel the spirit at our lessons. We brought a guy with us yesterday to the lesson from our ward. He was excellent fellowship because he just got back from his mission and he's the bishop's son. We applied all the new trainings we have received with him, committed him to read and pray & committed him to be baptized as he comes to know that its true; and we even got him to kneel and give us the closing prayer after resolving his concerns. It was awesome! So pray for Mwewa that he will take that challenge to read and pray to find out for himself that its true.
Last night when we left for our dinner apt. I left our keys in the flat and accidentally locked us out. We don't have a spare key and the flat manager doesn't work on the weekends. So after dinner we had to have our district leader Elder C. Paki in Tweedheads drive up and pick us up, and we drove down to their flat with them and spent the night there on the floor. On top of that they got a call last night at like 10:00 from the A.P.s saying that Elder C Paki's companion, Elder Willie (from Kiribati) was getting Emergency Transferred the next day and that he had to be in Brisbane at 12:00. Elder Paki will be getting a missionary who came out last year, but went home after 4 weeks for past transgressions, and now hes coming back out. He's from Hamilton, New Zealand. So he will basically be re-training him. We all Love Elder Willie and we're all gonna miss him a lot! So were a bit bummed that he had to go. So I'm glad we had to stay at their flat last night so we could spend a little more time with E. Willie before he took off. He is the coolest missionary, he is so humble and nice.
So they dropped us back in Robina at the Library and after this we are going to walk over to the flat manager's place and get him to come unlock our flat for us, i think he's got a master key.
It's good to hear you guys are doing a lot of work in the garden mom and dad. Mom do you really eat Beets? a lot of people here eat 'em on sandwiches and stuff. I cant help but gag when I'm forced to eat them. I usually try to sneak 'em into my napkin or something.
its good to hear that you are keeping busy with those Jobs too. Mum, who are your visiting teachers? Its good to hear that you are writing your life history. That is a righteous endeavor. Thank you for praying for our investigators! It always helps. They need all the prayers they can get. We had 2 of the less actives we have been working with lately and one of their non member girlfriends come to stake conference yesterday. So we were excited about that. Hilita the girl that got baptized is now telling us that her dad probably wants to come down from Brisbane and take the lessons from us. So we are way excited about that!
Mum, it wouldn't be too bad of an idea to just give us money for our birthday, but then again, stuff is so much cheaper their (its more than twice as expensive for most stuff over here) that it might just be a cheaper, better idea to buy the stuff their and then send it to us. But if people do want to send money could you please just have them put it on my debt card, that way i don't have to pay a fee for exchanging U.S. currency for Australian. Thank you for asking, but I'm pretty good on garments for now. I was going to ask for a new white shirt, but E. Willie just gave me one this morning that fits me perfectly, its even the same kind as the rest of my shirts. So that is a little tender mercy.
Matt, hows the Cruiz family doing? I have been praying for them? How are your 7 Bapt. dates going? Where exactly are you living now geographically? Where is Kawaii in relationship to all the other islands? Are you sort of banished from everything else in that area? Is there many Tongans in your area?
Well I don't have much to say. Sheyene thanks for the letter it made my week! Lisa what is your family up to? Ange what are the Jensens up to? Val hows the fam? Kristin how is it with 2 little girls and Pete out of town? John - what up Junx? where ya been? Havent heard from you in ages.
Hope everyone has a great week! Fairdinkum!
Love you all, always thinking of you
Elder R.A.Prina
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Unsafe Area
G'day Mates! How ya' goin'?
Unfortunately I live in a place called Babylon. But luckily we got to go to the House of the Lord this morning in Brisbane and get away from the world for a few hours. That is why I'm writing 2 days late. Today is our temple day so that = Pday. I love talking to people on the train. Even if they're all atheist Aussies.
Just to clear things up I am still here on the Gold Coast in the Mudgeeraba ward with Elder Lester from Temecula California (outside of Sandiego). Matt your email hasn't been working , it always says delivery failure notification for some reason. Hopefully this one gets to you but if not Mom could you just forward them to Matt? Sorry if this email doesn't make sense. There's this really annoying kiwi chick who is talking loudly on her mobile phone on the computer in the library and I cant even hear myself think!
Matt, congratulations on the Cardinas family in Pearl City! You're a PMG missionary! Way to get the investigator to pray at the first lesson! Revelation through Prayer! You said you set a date with them for Oct. 9th. We are trying to set a date with the Pagel family for the 9th as well. Her husband is finally back from working in Papua New Guinea, but he goes back in 3 weeks for another 6 weeks of work. So we have to teach everything fast before he leaves again. They don't have a great sense of urgency so that is something we've been trying to instill in them. They live on a big piece of land, probably an acre or 2 (I'm not sure how big an acre is) But they have a couple of horses and things like that. Roland (the dad) said that when he gets home from PNG it usually takes his about 4 days to catch up with all the garden and yard work that needs to be done. So we went over yesterday morning and I used the whipper snippered (weed whacked) for 2 hours while E. Lester shoveled horse poo in their pattock (field). We figured we'd go the Ammon route and soften their hearts through service. Please pray for the Pagel Family. They're so close yet so far away.
Matt, I cant believe you finally got transferred. Kauai, eh? What do you think about it? Are there many Tongans there? Congratulations on getting the Tuakois back to church in Pearl City. Isn't that the best feeling when you see that less active walk in the door? Even if its during the opening song.
The regional Stake conference sounded Epic; featuring speakers like Holland and Packer, and Julie Beck, I wish I was there! We have stake conference next week where they are going to be making stake boundary changes, so our ward is going to be getting a lot bigger (we're stealing members from all the surrounding wards).
Give Kyler and Ellie Big Birthday hugs for me. Its too bad that BYU lost to air force. At least you didn't have to watch it Dad. What's the news with Max Hall and Harvey Unga. Are they going for the NFL draft or anything like that? Do any other Cougars have their eyes on the NFL?
Its so great that you guys get to get together so often as a family. Hope we do a lot of stuff like that when we get back as well.
Lisa, how is your foot? How did the operation go? Are you recovering? geez! Take it Easy! You're working too hard or something.
Mum, do you print all of our emails out? That will be a good record.
I'm glad you guys have been blessed with plenty of work. I pray for you every night. Be careful at those jobs.
E. Lester is the bubble master. He just gets his hands all wet and soapy and then blows bubbles through his fingers! Its like magic! I told him he needs to turn it into an object lesson some how.
Thanks for sending the package!
Matt, God Bless you in your new area, I hope you can get it all figured out in 6 Months! That's awesome that you have 7 baptismal dates!
Matt, can you make me a copy of the Mario Fasciano talk CD and send it to me. That would be great! I reckon you will train again next transfer. Good luck with all the people on the stop smoking program in your area! It works! I've seen it work several times on my mission.
That Nolan kid sounds awesome. That is such a cool story. Hes like Golden Nolan.
Matt, how do you do the ice cream sundae lesson again about keeping the sabbath day holy, what are the toppings and stuff?
Guess what? I've eaten KFC for 4 days in a row now! Whats with the members here and K fry?
Mom and Dad, thank you so much for teaching us the right things growing up. Enjoy the time you have to relax with family, you deserve every minute of it.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Love your Aussie Missionary
Elder Prina
Monday, September 13, 2010
Lihue ,Kauai! "the garden island"
Aloha Everyone!
I am sitting in an air conditioned Family History Center in Li huet Kauai! I never thought I would go off Island again but here I am on "the garden island" of Kauai, the most green and beautiful island of Hawaii. My new companion's name is Elder Gray from Mesa Arizona, he's super cool and we have a lot in common. The Kauai zone has 8 missionaries in it which is the same as the Pearl City district that I just came from and it's the first district/zone I've been in without sisters. My companion will die (go home) in 5 weeks (same as Elder Naulu) but he isn't trunkey at all despite his trunkey girlfriend and family. I am amazed at how focused he has stayed, he is a lot of fun to be around. We have been listening to the "Mafia to Mormon" story on cd by Mario Fassioni, it is a recording of the fireside he did, I'm wondering if its the same one we went to because he said "there are two people in this room right now from my original ward" was that you Mom and Dad? Elder Gray thinks it's a really cool story and I think it's cool how he talks about George Romney and Bro. Newby and all those Michigan People. I was sad to leave Pearl City but after 6 months it was my time to go. The only down side to coming to Kauai is that I will most likely be here until the end of my mission so I will not get to go to the temple in Laie with my recent converts when it opens back up in November. Kauai is much like Maui, very laid back, quiet, super dark at night, no big buildings or roads. About half of our sacrament meeting attendees were tourists. Everything here is so beautiful I hope we get a chance to go on some hikes while I'm here. With Elder Gray leaving in six weeks I have a lot on my plate and I need to learn everything quickly.
We have 7 people with a baptismal date right now. First there is Sam and Madison. Sam is a middle aged woman from Thailand who is married to a less active member. She is super solid and is currently working on quitting smoking. We had a fast with her yesterday and others from the ward joined us, she felt it helped her a lot. Her daughter Madison is ten years old. She will be baptized on Sept. 25th, Sam will be baptized a few weeks later (she has to be smoke free for three weeks before she can be baptized). The next family is the Cruiz family, a local Hawaiian family with three kids in elementary school (two, old enough to get baptized) The Mom, Hokulani, is also working on quitting smoking right now and she also participated in the fast. She is having trouble getting work off on Sundays right now so she didn't make it yesterday but her husband, Bay, and the kids came. Elder Gray and I had to speak in Sacrament meeting so we were not able to sit next to them. For some reason while the sacrament was being passed they weren't passed the sacrament. After church that day Bay told us what happened and he seemed very upset and offended. We told him we were sure it was just an accident but he told us he felt very unwelcome and uncomfortable and singled out. He said he wasn't sure if he wanted to attend our church anymore. This shocked us and his wife and we didn't really know what to say. Elder Gray and I have been praying very hard to know what to do but I know that the situation is in the Lord's hands and the spirit will tell us what to do. Please pray for the Cruiz family. Please always make visitors feel welcome at church. The last person with a baptismal date is Nolan Nerell. About halfway through our gospel principals class yesterday a lady from our ward opened the door and signaled from E. Gray and I to come out into the hall way. When we came out she was standing with a really tall kid wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a beany. She said this is Nolan, he just walked in and said he wanted to join us. So we talked to him in the Hall for a couple of minutes and he told us he just had a feeling he needed to come to our church today. He told us that he had been thinking about it for the past six weeks but he would always wake up at 10 and figured he was too late. He said he woke up at ten today but he just decided to walk to the church to see how far it was from his house. So he walked over here in about 10 min. and then decided he would just walk in and see what happened. He told us that morning he woke up, drank a beer, smoked half a cigarette and then asked himself "what am I doing with my life". He is 32 and looks like he's 18, he lives with his parents in an old folks home, they are Jehovah Witness but he says he doesn't agree with anything they say and he doesn't feel anything when they talk to him. It sounds like he has had a rough life and it may take him a while to get stable before he can get baptized but he is humble and he has a sincere desire to change. We took him to gospel principals and elders quorum with us and then told him we'd meet him back at the church in a couple hours for a lesson. He agreed so we met up with him at 3:00 and taught him the Restoration and watched the DVD. He liked it and we invited him to be baptized on October 23rd, he said yes. He said he is from Orange County, California originally but he has lived here for a few years. It was funny, when we asked him if he knew anything about Joseph Smith the first thing he said was "um... he liked to wrestle.. um, and he got shot" I thought that was funny but I'll keep you posted on Nolan's progress as well as the others.
Just a few Items of business before I go. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE! I can't wait to see you! But until then please send me pictures John!
Mom: I need white shirts (short sleeve), I used to have 6 and now I only have 3, I don't know what happened. I actually bought one today but I was wondering if you could send me two more so I could have one shirt for each day of the week. I put that for my birthday present but If you could, I need it as soon as possible, It's hot here so wearing long sleeves is a pain. I left two boxes full of stuff for elder Naulu to send you guys that wouldn't fit in my luggage to come to Kauai, He should be sending it to you today. It's just books and letters and stuff that I don't need anymore, I'd rather you not open the boxes until I get home. Did you get my packages with the T-shirts and stuff?
Well I need to go but I just want you to know that I'm doing great and I'm learning a lot and I'm sharing the things you taught me my whole life with others. Take pride in the fact that all of the good things I've accomplished on my mission are a result of your hard work in raising us right. Never forget that.
Love, Elder Prina
I am sitting in an air conditioned Family History Center in Li huet Kauai! I never thought I would go off Island again but here I am on "the garden island" of Kauai, the most green and beautiful island of Hawaii. My new companion's name is Elder Gray from Mesa Arizona, he's super cool and we have a lot in common. The Kauai zone has 8 missionaries in it which is the same as the Pearl City district that I just came from and it's the first district/zone I've been in without sisters. My companion will die (go home) in 5 weeks (same as Elder Naulu) but he isn't trunkey at all despite his trunkey girlfriend and family. I am amazed at how focused he has stayed, he is a lot of fun to be around. We have been listening to the "Mafia to Mormon" story on cd by Mario Fassioni, it is a recording of the fireside he did, I'm wondering if its the same one we went to because he said "there are two people in this room right now from my original ward" was that you Mom and Dad? Elder Gray thinks it's a really cool story and I think it's cool how he talks about George Romney and Bro. Newby and all those Michigan People. I was sad to leave Pearl City but after 6 months it was my time to go. The only down side to coming to Kauai is that I will most likely be here until the end of my mission so I will not get to go to the temple in Laie with my recent converts when it opens back up in November. Kauai is much like Maui, very laid back, quiet, super dark at night, no big buildings or roads. About half of our sacrament meeting attendees were tourists. Everything here is so beautiful I hope we get a chance to go on some hikes while I'm here. With Elder Gray leaving in six weeks I have a lot on my plate and I need to learn everything quickly.
We have 7 people with a baptismal date right now. First there is Sam and Madison. Sam is a middle aged woman from Thailand who is married to a less active member. She is super solid and is currently working on quitting smoking. We had a fast with her yesterday and others from the ward joined us, she felt it helped her a lot. Her daughter Madison is ten years old. She will be baptized on Sept. 25th, Sam will be baptized a few weeks later (she has to be smoke free for three weeks before she can be baptized). The next family is the Cruiz family, a local Hawaiian family with three kids in elementary school (two, old enough to get baptized) The Mom, Hokulani, is also working on quitting smoking right now and she also participated in the fast. She is having trouble getting work off on Sundays right now so she didn't make it yesterday but her husband, Bay, and the kids came. Elder Gray and I had to speak in Sacrament meeting so we were not able to sit next to them. For some reason while the sacrament was being passed they weren't passed the sacrament. After church that day Bay told us what happened and he seemed very upset and offended. We told him we were sure it was just an accident but he told us he felt very unwelcome and uncomfortable and singled out. He said he wasn't sure if he wanted to attend our church anymore. This shocked us and his wife and we didn't really know what to say. Elder Gray and I have been praying very hard to know what to do but I know that the situation is in the Lord's hands and the spirit will tell us what to do. Please pray for the Cruiz family. Please always make visitors feel welcome at church. The last person with a baptismal date is Nolan Nerell. About halfway through our gospel principals class yesterday a lady from our ward opened the door and signaled from E. Gray and I to come out into the hall way. When we came out she was standing with a really tall kid wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a beany. She said this is Nolan, he just walked in and said he wanted to join us. So we talked to him in the Hall for a couple of minutes and he told us he just had a feeling he needed to come to our church today. He told us that he had been thinking about it for the past six weeks but he would always wake up at 10 and figured he was too late. He said he woke up at ten today but he just decided to walk to the church to see how far it was from his house. So he walked over here in about 10 min. and then decided he would just walk in and see what happened. He told us that morning he woke up, drank a beer, smoked half a cigarette and then asked himself "what am I doing with my life". He is 32 and looks like he's 18, he lives with his parents in an old folks home, they are Jehovah Witness but he says he doesn't agree with anything they say and he doesn't feel anything when they talk to him. It sounds like he has had a rough life and it may take him a while to get stable before he can get baptized but he is humble and he has a sincere desire to change. We took him to gospel principals and elders quorum with us and then told him we'd meet him back at the church in a couple hours for a lesson. He agreed so we met up with him at 3:00 and taught him the Restoration and watched the DVD. He liked it and we invited him to be baptized on October 23rd, he said yes. He said he is from Orange County, California originally but he has lived here for a few years. It was funny, when we asked him if he knew anything about Joseph Smith the first thing he said was "um... he liked to wrestle.. um, and he got shot" I thought that was funny but I'll keep you posted on Nolan's progress as well as the others.
Just a few Items of business before I go. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE! I can't wait to see you! But until then please send me pictures John!
Mom: I need white shirts (short sleeve), I used to have 6 and now I only have 3, I don't know what happened. I actually bought one today but I was wondering if you could send me two more so I could have one shirt for each day of the week. I put that for my birthday present but If you could, I need it as soon as possible, It's hot here so wearing long sleeves is a pain. I left two boxes full of stuff for elder Naulu to send you guys that wouldn't fit in my luggage to come to Kauai, He should be sending it to you today. It's just books and letters and stuff that I don't need anymore, I'd rather you not open the boxes until I get home. Did you get my packages with the T-shirts and stuff?
Well I need to go but I just want you to know that I'm doing great and I'm learning a lot and I'm sharing the things you taught me my whole life with others. Take pride in the fact that all of the good things I've accomplished on my mission are a result of your hard work in raising us right. Never forget that.
Love, Elder Prina
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Matt gets transferred
Dear family and friends,
I don't have too much time. I haven't been getting Rob's emails for about two weeks so I had to get on the Blog and read them, they were both ridiculously long so now I have little time remaining. Rob, did you have transfers last week? You stayed on the gold coast? What is your companions name? Congratulations about Hilita! That is so exciting!!
We have only had one baptism since I've been here in Pearl City. Kirk Kaopuiki. It seems the only way we find success here is through complete miracles. I know we are somewhat indirectly connected to it by striving for complete obedience and working hard, but for the most part it's completely, entirely, all God.
With Kirk, we didn't even know him and he called us out of the blue one day and told us he wanted to be baptized.
Last week but we recently started teaching a family of five that was a media referral from the temple visitors center in Laie. The Cardinas are a Mexican family that lives on the millitary peninsula in the Pearl City First Ward. They have an 18 year old daughter(shes the one who requested missionaries to come over) a 16 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. They have had LDS friends in the past which got us in the door. Plus the dad is a huge Raiders fan so he got along with Elder Naulu right away. We taught them for the second time last Friday and Invited them to be baptized, the whole family was there and they all said yes. I've never been in a lesson like that before, it was like something straight out of the preach my gospel DVD's. We all felt the spirit very strong as Isabelle the 18 year old daughter gave the closing prayer. She said she had such a strong faith in Christ but she just didn't know what to do with it. We taught The Gospel Of Jesus Christ and said just what Peter said when he was asked similarly "what shall we do". "repent and be baptized"(Acts 2:37-38). I am excited for them to get baptized on Oct.9th but unfortunately I will not be here.
In fact I am leaving tomorrow. I am getting transferred off Island again. I have grown to love it very much here in pearl city and the Pearl City First Ward has become like my family. But I am excited to see what the lord has in store for me. When I got here to Pearl City I was really wondering what the lord had in store for me. I had been In Tongan speaking areas for one year and wondered what on earth I was doing in an English speaking ward. I soon learned that there was one Tongan family in our ward. The Tuakois were less active and the dad was not a member. The dad had had bad experiences with past missionaries so when we came over he usually wouldn't even look at us. We visited with Teisa, the mom, and Maka and Nela, the two boys (in their late 20s). None of them came to church for a very long time. It was then I decided that their family was the purpose I was put here in Pearl City. We would try to visit them at least once a week, we would eat, talk, laugh, and always share a message. Usually we shared one of our cool missionary visual lessons. The two sons loved this and looked forward to us coming over. When Elder Naulu came they were so happy to have a Tongan elder as well as a palangi that spoke Tongan. Soon the dad (Alone[Aaron]) warmed up to us a little and would smile at us and say "malo e lelei". One day we came he approached us with a large bag of mangoes. I would call Teisa every Sunday morning and remind her about church. A few weeks ago she came. She is very big and has to walk everywhere with crutches, this makes getting around very difficult and she often exclaims Oiaue! (BET!). She really wanted her son Maka to come with her before I got transferred, she told us how much he loves us coming over. We visited them twice last week and Invited Maka to come. On Sunday I was so happy when the two of them walked through the chapel doors and sat down. Maka is about 6'5" and like 500 lbs., he is a bouncer at a bar and can put on a real mean face but everyone that knows him knows he is the funniest, smiley-est Tongan kid out there. Most people in the ward new them from when they were active and everyone came up and talked to him. It took six months but he finally came to church. Maybe that wasn't my only purpose here in Pearl City, many other family's have been reactivated, but he came, so now I can go.
Happy Birthday Kyler! I still remember the night you were born. Shared had just taught me to throw cards, I stayed up for like 3 hrs. sitting on my bed trying to thow a card through the little hole in the top of my hamper. Then the phone rang and the Stobbes came and picked us up!
Rob- No need to send the shirt card thing, I found the one sierra sent me in the mtc and figured it out.
Oh, my time is up! Thanks so much for the emails mom and dad, you guys are having so much fun and I'm so happy for you, you deserve every minute of It.
Love,
Elder Prina
I don't have too much time. I haven't been getting Rob's emails for about two weeks so I had to get on the Blog and read them, they were both ridiculously long so now I have little time remaining. Rob, did you have transfers last week? You stayed on the gold coast? What is your companions name? Congratulations about Hilita! That is so exciting!!
We have only had one baptism since I've been here in Pearl City. Kirk Kaopuiki. It seems the only way we find success here is through complete miracles. I know we are somewhat indirectly connected to it by striving for complete obedience and working hard, but for the most part it's completely, entirely, all God.
With Kirk, we didn't even know him and he called us out of the blue one day and told us he wanted to be baptized.
Last week but we recently started teaching a family of five that was a media referral from the temple visitors center in Laie. The Cardinas are a Mexican family that lives on the millitary peninsula in the Pearl City First Ward. They have an 18 year old daughter(shes the one who requested missionaries to come over) a 16 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. They have had LDS friends in the past which got us in the door. Plus the dad is a huge Raiders fan so he got along with Elder Naulu right away. We taught them for the second time last Friday and Invited them to be baptized, the whole family was there and they all said yes. I've never been in a lesson like that before, it was like something straight out of the preach my gospel DVD's. We all felt the spirit very strong as Isabelle the 18 year old daughter gave the closing prayer. She said she had such a strong faith in Christ but she just didn't know what to do with it. We taught The Gospel Of Jesus Christ and said just what Peter said when he was asked similarly "what shall we do". "repent and be baptized"(Acts 2:37-38). I am excited for them to get baptized on Oct.9th but unfortunately I will not be here.
In fact I am leaving tomorrow. I am getting transferred off Island again. I have grown to love it very much here in pearl city and the Pearl City First Ward has become like my family. But I am excited to see what the lord has in store for me. When I got here to Pearl City I was really wondering what the lord had in store for me. I had been In Tongan speaking areas for one year and wondered what on earth I was doing in an English speaking ward. I soon learned that there was one Tongan family in our ward. The Tuakois were less active and the dad was not a member. The dad had had bad experiences with past missionaries so when we came over he usually wouldn't even look at us. We visited with Teisa, the mom, and Maka and Nela, the two boys (in their late 20s). None of them came to church for a very long time. It was then I decided that their family was the purpose I was put here in Pearl City. We would try to visit them at least once a week, we would eat, talk, laugh, and always share a message. Usually we shared one of our cool missionary visual lessons. The two sons loved this and looked forward to us coming over. When Elder Naulu came they were so happy to have a Tongan elder as well as a palangi that spoke Tongan. Soon the dad (Alone[Aaron]) warmed up to us a little and would smile at us and say "malo e lelei". One day we came he approached us with a large bag of mangoes. I would call Teisa every Sunday morning and remind her about church. A few weeks ago she came. She is very big and has to walk everywhere with crutches, this makes getting around very difficult and she often exclaims Oiaue! (BET!). She really wanted her son Maka to come with her before I got transferred, she told us how much he loves us coming over. We visited them twice last week and Invited Maka to come. On Sunday I was so happy when the two of them walked through the chapel doors and sat down. Maka is about 6'5" and like 500 lbs., he is a bouncer at a bar and can put on a real mean face but everyone that knows him knows he is the funniest, smiley-est Tongan kid out there. Most people in the ward new them from when they were active and everyone came up and talked to him. It took six months but he finally came to church. Maybe that wasn't my only purpose here in Pearl City, many other family's have been reactivated, but he came, so now I can go.
Happy Birthday Kyler! I still remember the night you were born. Shared had just taught me to throw cards, I stayed up for like 3 hrs. sitting on my bed trying to thow a card through the little hole in the top of my hamper. Then the phone rang and the Stobbes came and picked us up!
Rob- No need to send the shirt card thing, I found the one sierra sent me in the mtc and figured it out.
Oh, my time is up! Thanks so much for the emails mom and dad, you guys are having so much fun and I'm so happy for you, you deserve every minute of It.
Love,
Elder Prina
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Labor day, the day on which to do no work...
Good day mates.
Your favorite Aussie Missionary here. Its not labor day here, but I hope you enjoy yours there. How ever Yesterday (Sunday) was Fathers Day here. So happy Fathers Day Dad! I appreciate you being the great hard working father you were and are to me. WORLD'S BEST DAD. Thanks especially for the BYU football update. I was surprised that it was even brought up in Elders Quorum yesterday, as BYU sports usually aren't a topic of common conversation here, even among members. But the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast Titans both lost Friday night, so they must have been looking for a victory to talk about. Haha.
Happy Birthday Kyler! Give Kyler a big squeeze for me and tell him that I miss him.
Tell Kris and Pete congrats on the baby blessing, I wish I could have been there for it. You guys just like started having all these sweet family gatherings after we left it seems like.
So BYU kicked off against Washington,eh? who are they? are they supposed to be good? How is BYU looking? Who do you like better Dad; Heaps or Nelson?? What do you mean they will be independent? What will that constitute? Are they going to be able to play Utah this season? Whats the deal? Who is in the West Coast Conference? So BYU basketball will be in the west coast conference now?
It sounds like Mum is pretty exhausted, let her rest and give her a big hug for me when she gets up. Try not to labor too hard on your labor day. how is that good'ol Snapper running? I haven't mowed a lawn in a while, no one in these rich areas will let us mow for them.
How are all my brothers and Sisters doing and their families? What is Lisa, Andrea, Valerie, Kristin, and John up to? Thanks for the letter Val!
Matt did you have a package in the mail for me? I haven't gotten anything yet. was it addressed to the mission addy or to my flat address (16 Arbour ave)? Next time I send you something I will include the example of the missionary shirt cards and the MRS. Johnson newspaper article. How did you hear about that anyway? did mark write you?
Mark thanks for the letter it made my week.. possibly month. Your letters are always the most fun to read. Did you get the package I sent you with your birthday present in it (the bullet pen)?? I will be sending you a flash drive soon with some cool pictures on it.
Can you please tell Sister Andrews thank you for that Valentines card that the Andrews sent me back in May. I just saw that this week and remembered to thank her for the love.
This week we had a cool experience. We were going along the Gold Coast High Way in a suburb called Miami, on the coast and we were about to cross the street when we heard this old lady behind us yelling Wait! Wait! We thought she was calling to the lady standing next to us at first. But then she pointed to us. This came to our surprise. She looked like she was in her late 70s or Early 80s. She spoke with a thick european accent. She said that she was Catholic but her daughter had joined the Mormon Church. Her daughters husband had passed away and she moved up to live with her mother, bringing her 12 year old daugter with her, but her Daughter hadn't been able to find a church (meeting house) since she had been on the gold coast. She said that when she used to live with her daughter in Sydney that she would have the Elders over for dinner several times a week. at hearing that I asked for her address and phone number. Thats the first time I have been chased by an old lady on my mission, she said that she had been following us for a couple of blocks trying to catch up with us. My darn long legs wouldn't let her catch up. I'm glad she shouted to us before we crossed the street. So we have a new person to go see now.
We also caught up with a former investigator this week named Mwewa Kolonge from Africa, he lived part of his life in NYC. and is now attending BOND University (in our area) I am really excited to begin teaching him.
Last week as we were waiting for the bus to take us to Hilitas baptism I had a young man spit on me from a passing car. I thought about how when we are persecuted, and reviled, rejected and spit upon, how we are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best Life this world has ever seen. I am greatful to be a witness and a disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer, who descended all things to over come all. After that thought came a smile came upon my face and I stood a little taller... And I got on the bus & a girl said she would come to church... and the story of my mission goes on. But it sufficeth me to say that I've learned to love the trials on my mission and just soak it all up with the experience.
Another cool thing is that the guy who is sitting at the computer next to me right now said "You Mormon Boys?" we got talking and hes from L.A. and worked in Texas with a while. He started asking me about Glen Beck who is a Fox news reporter I guess. When he said Beck I started thinking John Beck and thought he was talking about the quarter back. We talked about FOX, Shawn Hannity, Football, Politics here in Australia (he said Australia is 'screwed' with the current election we find ourselves in the midst of, which is currently un decided.) He said that when he was working in Texas he interviewed "one of our modern prophets, President Benson" I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I asked what did you think of him? And he said - He was a good man - like all of you Mormons. hes still sitting next to me so im going to try to get his address and go and see him this week. He looks like he is in his 60s. He said he married an English girl from Canada, that he met in Hawaii, and now they are living here in Australia. So pray for me on that one. Hopefully we can have a good chat with someone who got to sit across the table from a prophet.
Well thats about it for this week. I love and miss everyone, and I know the gospel is true. Hilita is doing well, and is looking forward to going to the temple now. We don't really have any other investigators now, so pray for us that we will find some this week. I'll try to attatch some pictures now. Peace.
Fairdinkum Aussie Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
Pictures:
Elder Lester: The Bubble Master
and The Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) Night Skyline
Your favorite Aussie Missionary here. Its not labor day here, but I hope you enjoy yours there. How ever Yesterday (Sunday) was Fathers Day here. So happy Fathers Day Dad! I appreciate you being the great hard working father you were and are to me. WORLD'S BEST DAD. Thanks especially for the BYU football update. I was surprised that it was even brought up in Elders Quorum yesterday, as BYU sports usually aren't a topic of common conversation here, even among members. But the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast Titans both lost Friday night, so they must have been looking for a victory to talk about. Haha.
Happy Birthday Kyler! Give Kyler a big squeeze for me and tell him that I miss him.
Tell Kris and Pete congrats on the baby blessing, I wish I could have been there for it. You guys just like started having all these sweet family gatherings after we left it seems like.
So BYU kicked off against Washington,eh? who are they? are they supposed to be good? How is BYU looking? Who do you like better Dad; Heaps or Nelson?? What do you mean they will be independent? What will that constitute? Are they going to be able to play Utah this season? Whats the deal? Who is in the West Coast Conference? So BYU basketball will be in the west coast conference now?
It sounds like Mum is pretty exhausted, let her rest and give her a big hug for me when she gets up. Try not to labor too hard on your labor day. how is that good'ol Snapper running? I haven't mowed a lawn in a while, no one in these rich areas will let us mow for them.
How are all my brothers and Sisters doing and their families? What is Lisa, Andrea, Valerie, Kristin, and John up to? Thanks for the letter Val!
Matt did you have a package in the mail for me? I haven't gotten anything yet. was it addressed to the mission addy or to my flat address (16 Arbour ave)? Next time I send you something I will include the example of the missionary shirt cards and the MRS. Johnson newspaper article. How did you hear about that anyway? did mark write you?
Mark thanks for the letter it made my week.. possibly month. Your letters are always the most fun to read. Did you get the package I sent you with your birthday present in it (the bullet pen)?? I will be sending you a flash drive soon with some cool pictures on it.
Can you please tell Sister Andrews thank you for that Valentines card that the Andrews sent me back in May. I just saw that this week and remembered to thank her for the love.
This week we had a cool experience. We were going along the Gold Coast High Way in a suburb called Miami, on the coast and we were about to cross the street when we heard this old lady behind us yelling Wait! Wait! We thought she was calling to the lady standing next to us at first. But then she pointed to us. This came to our surprise. She looked like she was in her late 70s or Early 80s. She spoke with a thick european accent. She said that she was Catholic but her daughter had joined the Mormon Church. Her daughters husband had passed away and she moved up to live with her mother, bringing her 12 year old daugter with her, but her Daughter hadn't been able to find a church (meeting house) since she had been on the gold coast. She said that when she used to live with her daughter in Sydney that she would have the Elders over for dinner several times a week. at hearing that I asked for her address and phone number. Thats the first time I have been chased by an old lady on my mission, she said that she had been following us for a couple of blocks trying to catch up with us. My darn long legs wouldn't let her catch up. I'm glad she shouted to us before we crossed the street. So we have a new person to go see now.
We also caught up with a former investigator this week named Mwewa Kolonge from Africa, he lived part of his life in NYC. and is now attending BOND University (in our area) I am really excited to begin teaching him.
Last week as we were waiting for the bus to take us to Hilitas baptism I had a young man spit on me from a passing car. I thought about how when we are persecuted, and reviled, rejected and spit upon, how we are standing shoulder to shoulder with the best Life this world has ever seen. I am greatful to be a witness and a disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer, who descended all things to over come all. After that thought came a smile came upon my face and I stood a little taller... And I got on the bus & a girl said she would come to church... and the story of my mission goes on. But it sufficeth me to say that I've learned to love the trials on my mission and just soak it all up with the experience.
Another cool thing is that the guy who is sitting at the computer next to me right now said "You Mormon Boys?" we got talking and hes from L.A. and worked in Texas with a while. He started asking me about Glen Beck who is a Fox news reporter I guess. When he said Beck I started thinking John Beck and thought he was talking about the quarter back. We talked about FOX, Shawn Hannity, Football, Politics here in Australia (he said Australia is 'screwed' with the current election we find ourselves in the midst of, which is currently un decided.) He said that when he was working in Texas he interviewed "one of our modern prophets, President Benson" I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I asked what did you think of him? And he said - He was a good man - like all of you Mormons. hes still sitting next to me so im going to try to get his address and go and see him this week. He looks like he is in his 60s. He said he married an English girl from Canada, that he met in Hawaii, and now they are living here in Australia. So pray for me on that one. Hopefully we can have a good chat with someone who got to sit across the table from a prophet.
Well thats about it for this week. I love and miss everyone, and I know the gospel is true. Hilita is doing well, and is looking forward to going to the temple now. We don't really have any other investigators now, so pray for us that we will find some this week. I'll try to attatch some pictures now. Peace.
Fairdinkum Aussie Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
Pictures:
Elder Lester: The Bubble Master
and The Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) Night Skyline
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
