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