Third John 1:13&14 (Look it up)
Rob
Goodbye Trondheim
12 years ago
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
G'day family and good mates!
How ya goin'? Things have been pretty flat out here in Mudgee as usual.
I was just reading through all of Scoty's emails that Debbie has been sending me regularly this week. Debbie thanks for being faithful in keeping me updated with Scoty's emails. Its so cool to see him growing as a missionary and as an individual.
I have to inquire about the Summit ward boating accident. I know it happened ages ago - but i never really got any real details on what actually happened -
Val, i read in your letter the other day that Sara had to get some number of stitches in her eyebrow. what happened? why did she have to get stitches?
As i have said in recent emails there has been heaps of success on the Gold Coast lately and we have been able to attend several baptisms in the District. But for some reason there has seemed to be a drought here in the Mudgeeraba. As i read Heleman Ch. 1 in my personal study the other day it was obvious why. Because of the disputations and the lack of unity among the government The Lamanites were able to catch the Nephites off guard and strike at the heart of the land where it was never expected. Luckily the satellite cities "round about" were built up and fortified strong holds; and the armies of Lehi and Morianton (or something like that) were able to come in and surround them. So we had a really good comp inventory this week. Bottom line is we are more unified in the city of Zarahemla now. The week started out slow but we found a new part member family to teach and were able to catch up again with one of our potentials. So now we have some solid return appointments and a Baptismal date that we set yesterday with Jodie Eldridge for March 27th. Squeezing it in there :)
Last week the Ward did a special fast for Missionary work in the ward and Our district also had a fast for our "Faith to Find day" we had this past Wednesday. We were glad to report to Bishop yesterday in PEC that the work has increased and that we are teaching more lessons than we have in the last 3 weeks. Jodie has 2 sons: Shale 14 and Tye 13. She is a single mum. They are Aussies. We found them on Brier St. our bogan, humble, housing commission part of our area that i was so glad to find. So keep Jodie and her family, and Ayla and Ammon Daniels in your prayers. They are the Part member family. Can you guess which one is the member? Last week we went to the Q1 for Pday. It is the Tallest building in Queensland and the Tallest fully residential building in the world. You can go to the top and take photos of the view and stuff. I will try to add some pictures.
We had a great District meeting this week where we got everyone involved in some Real plays right off the bat and then we talked about our Mudgeeraba March Madness tournament i Invented. I just add up certain of their key indicators that relate to our district goals like: 100% member present lessons, or 14 hrs finding a week, or Investigators at church - and they get certain amount of points for each. Yesterday was a preseason game. Next Sunday (the 20th) will be a tournament game determining who goes to the finals, and the 27th is the Championship for all the Marbles.... (I'm still deciding what the Marbles are). 1st seed Tweedheads sisters went up against the 2nd seeded Nerang Elders and won. And us - Mudgeeraba went up against Lismore and we won. We have a lot of Basketball fans in the District and its a good fun way to get us all motivated in this March Madness season to reach our goals as a district. So we arent missing the March Madness action at all. We are dukeing it out in the Final Four right here in the Mudgeeraba District! I was thinking about getting our WML Jesse Bogaert to make us some legit Jerseys for it - but that might be going a bit over board.. I don't know. Matt did you add Jesse on face book yet?
Thanks for the Emails Mum and Matt its so good to hear from you. I'm enjoying being busy here whilst it sounds like Matt is dreading the 'drudgery' of boredom and idleness back there. Haha. I love being a missionary. This week on Thursday we have Elder Hamula of the Area 70 is coming for a mission tour. So we are all pretty pumped to go see him this week. A good way to end the mission.
Matt thanks for your FAF prayers - they're paying off. wanna hear something funny. Since we got here to the Robina Library i've had 2 former investigators sit down on the computer next to me. Its funny that you quoted that scripture from Alma in your email Matt - we have that written on a note card and blue tacked to our front door so we look at it every time before we pray and leave the flat. We didn't it put it there, it was there when i got there. That's good to hear that you made a profile on Mormon.org I'll see if i can get an investigator to log on and search for you. that would be crack up.
John wasn't able to hook you up at Myebiz? That's funny that the Cougs Lost the game that you had good seats for and smashed 'em at the game that you had stink seats for. Did you go to the game where Jimmer had like 50 something points? I get pretty regular updates from some cool guys in the ward. I just hear that they have the number 3 seed for the NCAA tourny. Go Cougs!
Matt i think my hotmail account may have been deleted since i haven't logged onto it in almost 2 years. Do they delete them after a while. Cause i tried logging on and it said that Robprinam2@hotmail.com wasn't a valid user name. dumb eh?
I don't know my UVU ID or anything like that. please do some research for me and maybe you might have to go through the files in my desk drawer.
Sounds like you are staying busy Mum and dad. Was it fun to be a full time Mum again for a week up in Twin falls?
Well i have to go before i get kicked off. I love you all and thank you for your prayers and continued support,it really helps. I know the Church is definitely True - Absolutely. I LOVE being a missionary.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
How ya goin'? Things have been pretty flat out here in Mudgee as usual.
I was just reading through all of Scoty's emails that Debbie has been sending me regularly this week. Debbie thanks for being faithful in keeping me updated with Scoty's emails. Its so cool to see him growing as a missionary and as an individual.
I have to inquire about the Summit ward boating accident. I know it happened ages ago - but i never really got any real details on what actually happened -
Val, i read in your letter the other day that Sara had to get some number of stitches in her eyebrow. what happened? why did she have to get stitches?
As i have said in recent emails there has been heaps of success on the Gold Coast lately and we have been able to attend several baptisms in the District. But for some reason there has seemed to be a drought here in the Mudgeeraba. As i read Heleman Ch. 1 in my personal study the other day it was obvious why. Because of the disputations and the lack of unity among the government The Lamanites were able to catch the Nephites off guard and strike at the heart of the land where it was never expected. Luckily the satellite cities "round about" were built up and fortified strong holds; and the armies of Lehi and Morianton (or something like that) were able to come in and surround them. So we had a really good comp inventory this week. Bottom line is we are more unified in the city of Zarahemla now. The week started out slow but we found a new part member family to teach and were able to catch up again with one of our potentials. So now we have some solid return appointments and a Baptismal date that we set yesterday with Jodie Eldridge for March 27th. Squeezing it in there :)
Last week the Ward did a special fast for Missionary work in the ward and Our district also had a fast for our "Faith to Find day" we had this past Wednesday. We were glad to report to Bishop yesterday in PEC that the work has increased and that we are teaching more lessons than we have in the last 3 weeks. Jodie has 2 sons: Shale 14 and Tye 13. She is a single mum. They are Aussies. We found them on Brier St. our bogan, humble, housing commission part of our area that i was so glad to find. So keep Jodie and her family, and Ayla and Ammon Daniels in your prayers. They are the Part member family. Can you guess which one is the member? Last week we went to the Q1 for Pday. It is the Tallest building in Queensland and the Tallest fully residential building in the world. You can go to the top and take photos of the view and stuff. I will try to add some pictures.
We had a great District meeting this week where we got everyone involved in some Real plays right off the bat and then we talked about our Mudgeeraba March Madness tournament i Invented. I just add up certain of their key indicators that relate to our district goals like: 100% member present lessons, or 14 hrs finding a week, or Investigators at church - and they get certain amount of points for each. Yesterday was a preseason game. Next Sunday (the 20th) will be a tournament game determining who goes to the finals, and the 27th is the Championship for all the Marbles.... (I'm still deciding what the Marbles are). 1st seed Tweedheads sisters went up against the 2nd seeded Nerang Elders and won. And us - Mudgeeraba went up against Lismore and we won. We have a lot of Basketball fans in the District and its a good fun way to get us all motivated in this March Madness season to reach our goals as a district. So we arent missing the March Madness action at all. We are dukeing it out in the Final Four right here in the Mudgeeraba District! I was thinking about getting our WML Jesse Bogaert to make us some legit Jerseys for it - but that might be going a bit over board.. I don't know. Matt did you add Jesse on face book yet?
Thanks for the Emails Mum and Matt its so good to hear from you. I'm enjoying being busy here whilst it sounds like Matt is dreading the 'drudgery' of boredom and idleness back there. Haha. I love being a missionary. This week on Thursday we have Elder Hamula of the Area 70 is coming for a mission tour. So we are all pretty pumped to go see him this week. A good way to end the mission.
Matt thanks for your FAF prayers - they're paying off. wanna hear something funny. Since we got here to the Robina Library i've had 2 former investigators sit down on the computer next to me. Its funny that you quoted that scripture from Alma in your email Matt - we have that written on a note card and blue tacked to our front door so we look at it every time before we pray and leave the flat. We didn't it put it there, it was there when i got there. That's good to hear that you made a profile on Mormon.org I'll see if i can get an investigator to log on and search for you. that would be crack up.
John wasn't able to hook you up at Myebiz? That's funny that the Cougs Lost the game that you had good seats for and smashed 'em at the game that you had stink seats for. Did you go to the game where Jimmer had like 50 something points? I get pretty regular updates from some cool guys in the ward. I just hear that they have the number 3 seed for the NCAA tourny. Go Cougs!
Matt i think my hotmail account may have been deleted since i haven't logged onto it in almost 2 years. Do they delete them after a while. Cause i tried logging on and it said that Robprinam2@hotmail.com wasn't a valid user name. dumb eh?
I don't know my UVU ID or anything like that. please do some research for me and maybe you might have to go through the files in my desk drawer.
Sounds like you are staying busy Mum and dad. Was it fun to be a full time Mum again for a week up in Twin falls?
Well i have to go before i get kicked off. I love you all and thank you for your prayers and continued support,it really helps. I know the Church is definitely True - Absolutely. I LOVE being a missionary.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Rob
How ya going my yankee blokes and Sheilas?
How's your week been? We've been flat out like a lizard drinkin'. I've done more Baptismal interviews in the past week than I've done on my whole mission. There is a lot of success in the Mudgeeraba district and the Gold Coast zone right now. Its good to be in the middle of all of it, but i wish our area was contributing more.
Our teaching pool has dried up. We (along with the Mudgeeraba ward and our District) had a special fast yesterday for the Missionary work in our areas and for our "faith to find" day that we are all doing on Wednesday where we will go out in the morning and not come back until we have found someone to teach and Baptize! I have truly come to a greater light and knowledge over the past week of the importance of faith and sadly the lack of it here in the area where we live. No one wants to believe in anything. Faith has been lost... like Elder Stringy's bike.
We got to go down to Lismore (the bottom of the mission) on Friday. We had a leadership training meeting in Brisbane Friday morning and then as soon as we got back down to the gold coast, Elder Hogg and I packed a bag and drove down to Lismore (about an hour and a half drive plus we lost an hour because new south wales is on day light savings time). The Leadership training mtg. was in the morning at Kangaroo Pointe Chapel, next to the temple. When we got there i saw Steve and Toni Crane in the parking lot - they are the family in spent Christmas with in Rockhampton. I was so surprised to see them. I went and had a good chat to them. They had driven down to Brizzy with out the kids to go to a wedding of a friend, and to go to the temple. It was so cool to see them and have a chat about Rocky. I didn't think I would ever get a chance to see them again. What are the chances, eh. Then a missionary that went home two transfers ago rocked up at the end of the meeting- he lives in Darwin (northern Territory), but apparently he had come down to go to the temple too. I will put a picture up of him - Elder Tokaduadua.
I really enjoyed the trip down to Lismore! We got to go on trade offs with Elder Stowers and Elder Ebell - both from Utah. They are some of my favourite missionaries. Elder Stowers is the only other missionary in the mission that has served with both of the Elder Pakis. A woman named Mel and her 11 year old autistic boy named Seth got baptized on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday morning we participated in the "clean up Australia" service project that the Lismore ward had entered. The poster read "Sleep well tonight knowing that you helped in 'clean up Australia' day!" I slept very well that night. haha. The Baptism was a bit stressful to get prepared for with the pants for the person baptizing them, filling the font, the refreshments, and Seth Disappearing right before the Baptism started, but as usual it all fell into place in the end and, miraculously it all went very well. One of their recent converts from last November baptized her and elder Ebell baptized Seth. Elder Stowers did both of the confirmations the next day in Church - which he was pretty nervous about - because he had never done it before. I wish we could have stayed for the confirmations, but we had to go back up to the Gold Coast Saturday night.
Sometimes i wish i was dying in an area that had a bit more going on in it. I really love the members here in the Mudgeeraba ward; they are very supportive of us. I got to Bless the sacrament yesterday for the first time since I've left Rocky. I thanked the young men for the great opportunity.
I've had a bit of heart break on my mission lately with some of my favorite people making bad decisions, and with most of the work in the area falling through. It hurts, but i know that if i get things right with my self, and with my companion that things will look up and that i will be able to end my mission on a good note. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. The Prasads haven't been to church in two weeks now - and Neel is not answering our calls. Jade is also not answering our calls. I am really looking forward to finding a new family to teach this Wednesday.
Matt! good to hear from you mate. What have you been up to lately anyway? Did you get to go to a BYU game with dad? I heard that they lost again to New Mexico, but that they are rated like 3 or 4 in the nation. Make sure they are still in the Madness when I get home. Thanks for signing me up for UVU and BYU and Fafsa junx. I think I'll gets me a new gmail account when I get home. What happens to your myldsmail account when you finish Matt? Does it just shut down when you get released?
We had a less active guy named Mahu come to church this week. But no one else other than that. Mum - the guy that called you is Don Wards dad. He is a bishop in Sacramento. He is the father of the only American guy in our ward. I really liked him - he's about dad's age and he says he still likes to play basketball too. I'm so glad he called you. I really like his son and daughter in law - the Wards. He got up and bore his testimony yesterday for his 3 little daughters. He has a great testimony.
We played basketball this morning. My shot was off - and I was a bit had-it from a long hard week. I got an Elbow shot to the face after I rebounded over one of the tallest missionaries in the mission (Elder Baker - 6'7"). I was rebounding well. It swelled up in pain - but i kept my cool and just took a break till the next game. It doesn't hurt to bad anymore and its not a black eye or anything fortunately.
Matt, did you go with Mum up to Andrea's house? How was that? I'm so jealous you get to see the kids. Our WML Jesse Bogaert has 3 cute little kids that love playing with us. I've had some great fill-in Nieces and Nephews since I've been on my mission. Oh that reminds me Matt. I don't know if you get on face book much - but you should add Jesse Bogaert from Mudgeeraba. he's a sweet guy. He's the one that made your T-shirt.
Mum, I hope your shoulders heal up. I pray for you and Dad's health and well being every night. Hope you have a great stay with the Kids up in Twin. Oh, and thank you for the good advice. I always appreciate it and try to apply it.
Dad - I blamed my companions high school for Brandon Davies poor behavior. haha. Those shocking bull dogs. Thanks for the Cougar Blue updates. I hope James goes on a mission. He is a good kid, and he knows the church is true, hes just lazy. Dinners with dad, when mum is away are so fun. Well, I'm being Kicked off. Sorry I didn't have time to send pictures. Hope you have a great week.
The church is true, and prayers are always heard and answered. Love, R.A.Prina
How's your week been? We've been flat out like a lizard drinkin'. I've done more Baptismal interviews in the past week than I've done on my whole mission. There is a lot of success in the Mudgeeraba district and the Gold Coast zone right now. Its good to be in the middle of all of it, but i wish our area was contributing more.
Our teaching pool has dried up. We (along with the Mudgeeraba ward and our District) had a special fast yesterday for the Missionary work in our areas and for our "faith to find" day that we are all doing on Wednesday where we will go out in the morning and not come back until we have found someone to teach and Baptize! I have truly come to a greater light and knowledge over the past week of the importance of faith and sadly the lack of it here in the area where we live. No one wants to believe in anything. Faith has been lost... like Elder Stringy's bike.
We got to go down to Lismore (the bottom of the mission) on Friday. We had a leadership training meeting in Brisbane Friday morning and then as soon as we got back down to the gold coast, Elder Hogg and I packed a bag and drove down to Lismore (about an hour and a half drive plus we lost an hour because new south wales is on day light savings time). The Leadership training mtg. was in the morning at Kangaroo Pointe Chapel, next to the temple. When we got there i saw Steve and Toni Crane in the parking lot - they are the family in spent Christmas with in Rockhampton. I was so surprised to see them. I went and had a good chat to them. They had driven down to Brizzy with out the kids to go to a wedding of a friend, and to go to the temple. It was so cool to see them and have a chat about Rocky. I didn't think I would ever get a chance to see them again. What are the chances, eh. Then a missionary that went home two transfers ago rocked up at the end of the meeting- he lives in Darwin (northern Territory), but apparently he had come down to go to the temple too. I will put a picture up of him - Elder Tokaduadua.
I really enjoyed the trip down to Lismore! We got to go on trade offs with Elder Stowers and Elder Ebell - both from Utah. They are some of my favourite missionaries. Elder Stowers is the only other missionary in the mission that has served with both of the Elder Pakis. A woman named Mel and her 11 year old autistic boy named Seth got baptized on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday morning we participated in the "clean up Australia" service project that the Lismore ward had entered. The poster read "Sleep well tonight knowing that you helped in 'clean up Australia' day!" I slept very well that night. haha. The Baptism was a bit stressful to get prepared for with the pants for the person baptizing them, filling the font, the refreshments, and Seth Disappearing right before the Baptism started, but as usual it all fell into place in the end and, miraculously it all went very well. One of their recent converts from last November baptized her and elder Ebell baptized Seth. Elder Stowers did both of the confirmations the next day in Church - which he was pretty nervous about - because he had never done it before. I wish we could have stayed for the confirmations, but we had to go back up to the Gold Coast Saturday night.
Sometimes i wish i was dying in an area that had a bit more going on in it. I really love the members here in the Mudgeeraba ward; they are very supportive of us. I got to Bless the sacrament yesterday for the first time since I've left Rocky. I thanked the young men for the great opportunity.
I've had a bit of heart break on my mission lately with some of my favorite people making bad decisions, and with most of the work in the area falling through. It hurts, but i know that if i get things right with my self, and with my companion that things will look up and that i will be able to end my mission on a good note. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. The Prasads haven't been to church in two weeks now - and Neel is not answering our calls. Jade is also not answering our calls. I am really looking forward to finding a new family to teach this Wednesday.
Matt! good to hear from you mate. What have you been up to lately anyway? Did you get to go to a BYU game with dad? I heard that they lost again to New Mexico, but that they are rated like 3 or 4 in the nation. Make sure they are still in the Madness when I get home. Thanks for signing me up for UVU and BYU and Fafsa junx. I think I'll gets me a new gmail account when I get home. What happens to your myldsmail account when you finish Matt? Does it just shut down when you get released?
We had a less active guy named Mahu come to church this week. But no one else other than that. Mum - the guy that called you is Don Wards dad. He is a bishop in Sacramento. He is the father of the only American guy in our ward. I really liked him - he's about dad's age and he says he still likes to play basketball too. I'm so glad he called you. I really like his son and daughter in law - the Wards. He got up and bore his testimony yesterday for his 3 little daughters. He has a great testimony.
We played basketball this morning. My shot was off - and I was a bit had-it from a long hard week. I got an Elbow shot to the face after I rebounded over one of the tallest missionaries in the mission (Elder Baker - 6'7"). I was rebounding well. It swelled up in pain - but i kept my cool and just took a break till the next game. It doesn't hurt to bad anymore and its not a black eye or anything fortunately.
Matt, did you go with Mum up to Andrea's house? How was that? I'm so jealous you get to see the kids. Our WML Jesse Bogaert has 3 cute little kids that love playing with us. I've had some great fill-in Nieces and Nephews since I've been on my mission. Oh that reminds me Matt. I don't know if you get on face book much - but you should add Jesse Bogaert from Mudgeeraba. he's a sweet guy. He's the one that made your T-shirt.
Mum, I hope your shoulders heal up. I pray for you and Dad's health and well being every night. Hope you have a great stay with the Kids up in Twin. Oh, and thank you for the good advice. I always appreciate it and try to apply it.
Dad - I blamed my companions high school for Brandon Davies poor behavior. haha. Those shocking bull dogs. Thanks for the Cougar Blue updates. I hope James goes on a mission. He is a good kid, and he knows the church is true, hes just lazy. Dinners with dad, when mum is away are so fun. Well, I'm being Kicked off. Sorry I didn't have time to send pictures. Hope you have a great week.
The church is true, and prayers are always heard and answered. Love, R.A.Prina
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Rob
Hey Elder Prina! I mean MATT!! haha!
Hello everyone else,
How ya goin? I've had a really great week and a 1/2. This week we went to the temple on Wednesday (this morning) so our Pday is today. Thats why you didn't hear from me on Monday.
Stone the crows! I can't believe you're back Matt! I should of told you to go visit Sister Tupuola in Laie before you took off. She is a really cool Samoan sister that went home about a year ago from the ABM (Australia's best mission).
No huge break through's this week. I'm doing a few more Baptismal Interviews for people getting Baptized in the District so that is pretty exciting. No dates in our area yet though. I get to go down to the bottom of the mission - Lismore, New South Wales - on Friday with E. Hogg (my MTC comp. and current zone leader) to do 3 baptismal interviews. Its part of the district I've been in for the past 8 months - but I've never been down there because its so far. So we're really excited for that. We get to stay for the Baptisms the next day too. The Gold Coast zone is still on Track to Smash the record of Baptisms in a month in March. We've found a few new part member family kids and less actives to teach this week. Please pray for Harley(9) and Tayla(12) Farrell. They want to get baptized. Their Dad is very less active and was drinking when we walked up. Their Mum (who they usually live with) is not a member. So please pray that their hearts will be softened and that they will let them get Baptized, and also that they will come to Church.
Jade did not come to Church, and hasn't answered our calls this week so far. We aren't teaching anyone consistently on Brier Cres. yet. But we have a few potential investigators there. We have been praying for and expecting Miracles.
Struth! 5" of snow eh'? That's going to be interesting. I was just saying today that it is going to be weird to go home and not be constantly sweating next month. It has been killer lately, especially on the bikes. So your temps are up in the 30s usually. Matt, was it weird seeing the snow?
There will probably be about 10 Elders getting off the plane when I get home too. Only one sister is going home and shes from Tasmania so she'll have a much shorter flight. Matt did you get to like 'OYM' or Baptize anyone while you were on the flight home? What is the first thing you did when you got home?
I have some Menu requests: IN and OUT, Taco Bell, Wendys, and Cold Stone. I can't remember what we eat in the states either so just Throw anotha shrim on the barbi, eh. HAha they don't even say that here.
Mum, when do I get released?
Hey, you remember that Band that used to live right next door to us? Weren't they called Neon Trees?? Cause I was walking through Big W last Pday and I happened to see this new album for a band called NEON TREES. Mark, is that the same band. Who would've thought that we lived next door to someone and went to Halloween costume parties with people that were so famous... even in Australia mate.
hey... do I get to have a 'friends night' like Matt when I get home? I think I'll ease myself back into it... dont think i'll have any 'boy- girl parties' too soon. Haha, sorry Audrey. Matt try not to make me too trunky these last few weeks. Sometimes I find myself thinking... I wonder what Matt is doing right now. Haha. Keep me focused!
Matt you will have to give your home coming talk to me when I get home. When did you get released? what was your interview like? Do they tell you you have to get married within a year or something like that?
Matt that's cool that you got to go to the PCC and Pearl Harbor before you left. I hope you took some cool photos. I have a few cool Pday ideas before I take off. We might go to the Q1 today, which is the tallest building in Queensland and go to the top of it and get some photos so that should be fun.
It sounds like you had an Epic last week of your mission Matt. Thanks for continuing to keep in touch, sounds like hangin' out and kickin it is pretty stink for you eh? Well make sure you gotta Job waiting for me when I get off the plane. Thanks junx.
Its good to hear that you have at least some plans for the future. I'm still thinking of mine. But I agree that you shouldn't have other people try to make the decisions for you. stuff peer pressure that's like Lehonti. we all know what happened to him. ;)
Well my motto now is "sprint to the finish" and I am doing it whole heartedly. I've been running and biking a lot lately and I always sprint on the final stretch home. So that is to remind me to do that with my mission.
I got to go to the Brisbane temple for the last time this morning. we took the train up there early this morning. I love the Brisbane temple. It was actually Elder Stringfellows first time at the Brisbane temple. It was a lovely session, and I got to see both the Elder Pakis there too because the Brisbane zone was there this morning. It was great.
I love you all and hope to see you all there at the airport when I get home. Mark, I should just get you to fly me from salt lake down to Provo. Actually I would like my niece Audrey to drive me home from the airport. Well I guess we won't worry about it too much until it happens. Hope you all have a great week. Help Matt make that transition nice and smoothly. That's why I have the Ammon Attitude. I'm going to be a missionary forever... perhaps until the day I die.
Love you all Heaps,
Elder R.A.Prina
Hello everyone else,
How ya goin? I've had a really great week and a 1/2. This week we went to the temple on Wednesday (this morning) so our Pday is today. Thats why you didn't hear from me on Monday.
Stone the crows! I can't believe you're back Matt! I should of told you to go visit Sister Tupuola in Laie before you took off. She is a really cool Samoan sister that went home about a year ago from the ABM (Australia's best mission).
No huge break through's this week. I'm doing a few more Baptismal Interviews for people getting Baptized in the District so that is pretty exciting. No dates in our area yet though. I get to go down to the bottom of the mission - Lismore, New South Wales - on Friday with E. Hogg (my MTC comp. and current zone leader) to do 3 baptismal interviews. Its part of the district I've been in for the past 8 months - but I've never been down there because its so far. So we're really excited for that. We get to stay for the Baptisms the next day too. The Gold Coast zone is still on Track to Smash the record of Baptisms in a month in March. We've found a few new part member family kids and less actives to teach this week. Please pray for Harley(9) and Tayla(12) Farrell. They want to get baptized. Their Dad is very less active and was drinking when we walked up. Their Mum (who they usually live with) is not a member. So please pray that their hearts will be softened and that they will let them get Baptized, and also that they will come to Church.
Jade did not come to Church, and hasn't answered our calls this week so far. We aren't teaching anyone consistently on Brier Cres. yet. But we have a few potential investigators there. We have been praying for and expecting Miracles.
Struth! 5" of snow eh'? That's going to be interesting. I was just saying today that it is going to be weird to go home and not be constantly sweating next month. It has been killer lately, especially on the bikes. So your temps are up in the 30s usually. Matt, was it weird seeing the snow?
There will probably be about 10 Elders getting off the plane when I get home too. Only one sister is going home and shes from Tasmania so she'll have a much shorter flight. Matt did you get to like 'OYM' or Baptize anyone while you were on the flight home? What is the first thing you did when you got home?
I have some Menu requests: IN and OUT, Taco Bell, Wendys, and Cold Stone. I can't remember what we eat in the states either so just Throw anotha shrim on the barbi, eh. HAha they don't even say that here.
Mum, when do I get released?
Hey, you remember that Band that used to live right next door to us? Weren't they called Neon Trees?? Cause I was walking through Big W last Pday and I happened to see this new album for a band called NEON TREES. Mark, is that the same band. Who would've thought that we lived next door to someone and went to Halloween costume parties with people that were so famous... even in Australia mate.
hey... do I get to have a 'friends night' like Matt when I get home? I think I'll ease myself back into it... dont think i'll have any 'boy- girl parties' too soon. Haha, sorry Audrey. Matt try not to make me too trunky these last few weeks. Sometimes I find myself thinking... I wonder what Matt is doing right now. Haha. Keep me focused!
Matt you will have to give your home coming talk to me when I get home. When did you get released? what was your interview like? Do they tell you you have to get married within a year or something like that?
Matt that's cool that you got to go to the PCC and Pearl Harbor before you left. I hope you took some cool photos. I have a few cool Pday ideas before I take off. We might go to the Q1 today, which is the tallest building in Queensland and go to the top of it and get some photos so that should be fun.
It sounds like you had an Epic last week of your mission Matt. Thanks for continuing to keep in touch, sounds like hangin' out and kickin it is pretty stink for you eh? Well make sure you gotta Job waiting for me when I get off the plane. Thanks junx.
Its good to hear that you have at least some plans for the future. I'm still thinking of mine. But I agree that you shouldn't have other people try to make the decisions for you. stuff peer pressure that's like Lehonti. we all know what happened to him. ;)
Well my motto now is "sprint to the finish" and I am doing it whole heartedly. I've been running and biking a lot lately and I always sprint on the final stretch home. So that is to remind me to do that with my mission.
I got to go to the Brisbane temple for the last time this morning. we took the train up there early this morning. I love the Brisbane temple. It was actually Elder Stringfellows first time at the Brisbane temple. It was a lovely session, and I got to see both the Elder Pakis there too because the Brisbane zone was there this morning. It was great.
I love you all and hope to see you all there at the airport when I get home. Mark, I should just get you to fly me from salt lake down to Provo. Actually I would like my niece Audrey to drive me home from the airport. Well I guess we won't worry about it too much until it happens. Hope you all have a great week. Help Matt make that transition nice and smoothly. That's why I have the Ammon Attitude. I'm going to be a missionary forever... perhaps until the day I die.
Love you all Heaps,
Elder R.A.Prina
Monday, February 21, 2011
Rob's
G'day mates.
Hows everyone goin'? Mum thanks for the info on the Corless family and on Grace Georgia. Sadly Anny Prasad has decided to go back to her old "Christian" Church. I don't know why, she's received so many answers to prayer since she started having the Lessons. She even prayed that sister missionaries would come - and for the first time in years Elders were taken out of our district and sisters were put in. Please continue to pray for Jade. He knows what he needs to do now, we just need to get him to come to Church. He said he didn't like it because the kids were noisy in sacrament mtg. and it was hard to hear the speakers. He says he likes going to the Born again church up in Southport 'cause they put all the kids in a separate room during the "worship service". All of our other investigators have kind of fallen off the map; but we are continuing to find new ones to teach through our own efforts and through referrals. We have really built the trust of the members of the Mudgeeraba Ward. Proof of this is that the Missionary Meal Calendar for February was chock a block with no empty spots. The last Sunday in January, and we even had more members calling us after church and during the week asking if there were any open spots. Getting the second lesson with the investigators is the hard part. We are trying to improve at establishing their motivating factors or "Carrot".
Mum, I wouldn't mind working at Coldstone as a manager, or at Emergency Essentials, or at My Ebiz or whatever. Just something steady. That would be great if you could put in some applications for me. I would consider taking Summer classes at UVU, i guess it all depends on if i have enough Ca$h Money. I don't know about going to work my first day back like Matt. Thats pretty ambitious, but maybe I'll just have one day off. :)
I think its funny how you go to the empty nester's FHEs I remember asking dad if he was going to start going to those after we left. He said something like "I'm not that old" or "maybe not just yet."
Thats great to hear that we have so many faithful people from our ward serving the Lord as missionaries!
Lisa! It was great to hear from you. I miss the Miller family and pray for you and the kids espescially everynight. I'm so excited to come and get to know Easton better when i get home. I can't believe that Christian will be playing for my Highschool football team this next season. Its good to hear that you're getting involved Christian. You're a smart bloke. Make sure you make good friends. Hang out with the right Crowd - or just make your own crowd. Thats what I do. Madison, sorry you had a stink basketball team. We came in second place to Bloomfield Hills every year when I was growing up playing church ball. So in know what its like losing in Basketball. I just got to play basketball this morning. We are doing it every monday morning now with some missionaries and members in the stake. I love it! My baby hook was dominating today. I really appreciated hearing from you Lisa. Thanks for the update on the kids. I cant wait to see them and give em squeezes.
Dad tell Bishop Nelson thanks for the parable of the porcupines. I like that. I reckon you can relate that to companions too. It's good to hear we beat Utah. I love the BYU news dad. I'm so excited that i will catch the End of March Madness. Make sure that the cougars are still in it when i get back!
The Gold Coast Zone currently has more baptismal dates set than any other zone in the mission. 7 in our District right now, not including Peter Garcia who was baptized in the sisters area last night. I had the opportunity to interview him for baptism. He wanted to practice how you get baptized with me. He went back further than i thought he would and i ended up dropping him on the ground and falling on top of him. It was so embarrassing. haha. But he was baptized successfully the following afternoon in one go. He also bore his testimony of Prayer after the Baptism. The record for baptisms in a month in the Gold coast zone is 12 and we have a goal to SMASH that record in the month of March. We will do it. I just wish the Mudgeeraba area was contributing more of the dates.
Today we are going to Byron Bay as a zone (a little coastal hippie town about an hour south of us). Our zone leader, and my mtc companion Elder Hogg doesn't know but when we get down there we are throwing him a surprise Bday party. since its his 21st tomorrow. Its gonna be Awesome!
Matt Congratulations on your faith and the Baptisms in your zone, and area. You are greatly blessed. Thanks for the Pictures! i think its funny how you thought that Mexican guy looked like me.
Mark thanks heaps for the letter. I always love hearing from you. Its great to hear that you are all right and recovering quickly.... because you have to take me flying when i get home!
Matt thats crack up that both of us did big hikes early Pday morning to catch the sunrise and we both found it cloudy and rainy when we got to the top. Matt! I cant believe your last email will be this week! What are you doing for your final Pday!??
Ya, mum, if you could have Matt register for me that would be great.
Our bikes got swiped this week while we were in the middle of the lesson. Its a long story. I don't have a lot of time. But suffice it to say that I prayed to find it and I did. In a random neighborhood. I was literally guided by the spirit, not knowing before hand what I should do. Now I have one of those stories to tell when I get home about being prompted to go down a street! I always wanted one of those stories! :) I know that prayer definitely works and that the Spirit is real.
Matt don't go on any Dates until i get back. I don't wanna have to be playing catch up with you. Remember how i waited 2 weeks for you to get your call so we could open them together!
I'll try to add some photos before I get booted off. I love you all and the Church is definitely true! Thats all there is to it.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
ALOHA
Aloha Everyone,
Thank you all for the inspirational Emails. I'll make my email short today. Andrea, Happy Birthday last week! I was thinking about it that day but realized after I emailed that I never said it! Hope you had a great Birthday/Valentines day. Dad, I would love to watch the BYU game with you on Saturday, that would be the best thing ever. Mom, I would love to go to Idaho to play with cute kids. John, I would love to work at myEbiz with you. How soon can I start? I want to start working ASAP. What would I do? The thing i'm scared of is going home and being Idle.
Mom, for the three dinner Ideas, I don't remember much what we eat back in the mainland but this is what I came up with:
1.Sushi (Sierra)
2.Tortilla soup
3.Roast
Or if you don't want to cook, I heard there's an L&L Hawaiian BBQ place in Provo! We ate out w/ a local family for lunch today at a place called Kimchi #9, man I'm gonna miss local food like that! Rob, no I didn't drink kava, the non members drink it at the Tongan funerals. Mark, thanks for the letter, you were the first and the last person to write me on my mission. I'd love for Mark to be there at the airport. But I'd like the breakfast to be just family if thats alright with you Mark. A lot of amazing things have happened this last week but I'll tell you all about it when I get home. Here's some wonderful pictures.
Love,
Elder Prina
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Let the lower lights be burning, Send a gleam across the wave,
Some poor fainting struggling seaman, You may rescue you may save.
ALOHA,
Mahalo to everyone for all your letters and emails and stuff! Did all my sisters get together and have like a sisters convention or something because you all mailed me on the same week! It was good to hear from you all! Things are going really well here in Kauai, we have two boys getting baptized this weekend-Keli'i Kelekoma (13) and Micah Cardinez (10). This ward needs some good young men so everyone is really excited. The parents are less active so our main goal is to get them in gear. I feel like just giving them a guilt trip for being irrisponsible for their children's spirtual welfare. I saw both the parents come pick up their kids after church on sunday, I asked both of them "are you comming to the baptism on saturday" and they were like "uhhh, um, yeah... probably". I'm greatful I have "goodly" parents who really cared. We had 4 investigators at church on sunday. Keli'i, Micah, and then Clara who is another 9 year old girl with LA parents and Natalia who is a girl in her late 20's that we've been teaching for several months now. Natalia is almost completely ready to be baptized but sadly it will probably be after I leave. We teach her tomorrow so we will probably set a baptisimal date then.
Scot and Debbie, I run into alot of people who remember you from Kapa'a first ward and even some people in our ward. I don't know if you remember Kula Shumacher (he's in Lihue ward) but his daughter Karey married Scott Gonsalves and they now live in Lehi. I remembered that you guys live in Lehi now (at least last I heard you did) and wondered if you remembered them).
Today for P-day the whole zone woke up at 4:30 and Drove to Kapa'a (north east side of the island) to hike the sleeping giant again. This time we planned to watch the sunrise. When we got there it was pouring rain. Half the zone still wanted to go. I decided to "girl out" and go with the other half of the zone for a drive. We drove to kilauea and looked at the light house and the cliffs going down to the ocean. That was pretty cool, and then we drove to anini beach park and took some pictures on the rocks. Hopefully Scot and Debbie read this 'cause they're the only ones who will know what i'm talking about.
Go BYU!!!! Mom and Dad, it's good to hear that you're keeping busy. Mom, I got the shoes, thank you so much! They're really cumfy. You said there are 10 missionaries serving from our ward. Let me try to name them all:
1.Prina
2.Prina
3.Stobbe
4.Selk
5.Miller
6.Riley
7.Riley
8.Who are the other two? It's another senior couple I bet.
Thanks for checking out the Jobs for me mom, I think It would be sweet to work at missionary mall. Maybe you could help me type up a resume the day I get home.
You asked about UVU. I'm thinking about going to BYUI. I've heard a lot of good things about it. I have some of friends that go there. I know that's where Andrea wants me to go. I will need to apply for summer semester as soon as I get home, if it's too late I'll just do fall semester but I heard they're pretty lenient with the applications so hopefully I can go summer. Before then I'll have to find a good job and apply for some grants and financial aid (FASFA). This is the first day of my last real week on my mission and I plan on making it the best week of my mission.
For our Zone Leader Counsel we flew to Oahu where we were expecting to be trained by Steve Allen (director of the missionary department for the church). I guess he couldn't make it. Instead we got to hear from bro. Randall who works at the MTC and lives over by Shawn Lingam (between the MTC and the Stadium) He said Shawn went on a sign language mission to L.A. I was glad to hear that and it gave me flash backs of doing our sign language homework with him at our house in the computer room. I talked to Bro. Randall while we were eating lunch and he asked me who my teacher was in the MTC. I told him Sam Menasco. He said " you were in one of the pilot districts for the new trainings". When I was in the mtc, they were like experimenting on our district and we were always working with the "research and development guys". He remembered our district from two years ago. The new "8 Foundational Principals of Teaching" that ever mission uses were being tested on us in the MTC two years ago. I thought that was Pretty cool. Our other Guest speaker was Brother Lusvardi. He didn't recognize me but I told him I'm in his stake in Provo. I went to school with his daughter Kristin. He always seemed like a quiet guy it was weird to hear him give a big training.
Well this is getting super long. Next weeks should be a bit shorter. I love this work and I Know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore Christ's Gospel.
Love,
Elder Prina
ALOHA,
Mahalo to everyone for all your letters and emails and stuff! Did all my sisters get together and have like a sisters convention or something because you all mailed me on the same week! It was good to hear from you all! Things are going really well here in Kauai, we have two boys getting baptized this weekend-Keli'i Kelekoma (13) and Micah Cardinez (10). This ward needs some good young men so everyone is really excited. The parents are less active so our main goal is to get them in gear. I feel like just giving them a guilt trip for being irrisponsible for their children's spirtual welfare. I saw both the parents come pick up their kids after church on sunday, I asked both of them "are you comming to the baptism on saturday" and they were like "uhhh, um, yeah... probably". I'm greatful I have "goodly" parents who really cared. We had 4 investigators at church on sunday. Keli'i, Micah, and then Clara who is another 9 year old girl with LA parents and Natalia who is a girl in her late 20's that we've been teaching for several months now. Natalia is almost completely ready to be baptized but sadly it will probably be after I leave. We teach her tomorrow so we will probably set a baptisimal date then.
Scot and Debbie, I run into alot of people who remember you from Kapa'a first ward and even some people in our ward. I don't know if you remember Kula Shumacher (he's in Lihue ward) but his daughter Karey married Scott Gonsalves and they now live in Lehi. I remembered that you guys live in Lehi now (at least last I heard you did) and wondered if you remembered them).
Today for P-day the whole zone woke up at 4:30 and Drove to Kapa'a (north east side of the island) to hike the sleeping giant again. This time we planned to watch the sunrise. When we got there it was pouring rain. Half the zone still wanted to go. I decided to "girl out" and go with the other half of the zone for a drive. We drove to kilauea and looked at the light house and the cliffs going down to the ocean. That was pretty cool, and then we drove to anini beach park and took some pictures on the rocks. Hopefully Scot and Debbie read this 'cause they're the only ones who will know what i'm talking about.
Go BYU!!!! Mom and Dad, it's good to hear that you're keeping busy. Mom, I got the shoes, thank you so much! They're really cumfy. You said there are 10 missionaries serving from our ward. Let me try to name them all:
1.Prina
2.Prina
3.Stobbe
4.Selk
5.Miller
6.Riley
7.Riley
8.Who are the other two? It's another senior couple I bet.
Thanks for checking out the Jobs for me mom, I think It would be sweet to work at missionary mall. Maybe you could help me type up a resume the day I get home.
You asked about UVU. I'm thinking about going to BYUI. I've heard a lot of good things about it. I have some of friends that go there. I know that's where Andrea wants me to go. I will need to apply for summer semester as soon as I get home, if it's too late I'll just do fall semester but I heard they're pretty lenient with the applications so hopefully I can go summer. Before then I'll have to find a good job and apply for some grants and financial aid (FASFA). This is the first day of my last real week on my mission and I plan on making it the best week of my mission.
For our Zone Leader Counsel we flew to Oahu where we were expecting to be trained by Steve Allen (director of the missionary department for the church). I guess he couldn't make it. Instead we got to hear from bro. Randall who works at the MTC and lives over by Shawn Lingam (between the MTC and the Stadium) He said Shawn went on a sign language mission to L.A. I was glad to hear that and it gave me flash backs of doing our sign language homework with him at our house in the computer room. I talked to Bro. Randall while we were eating lunch and he asked me who my teacher was in the MTC. I told him Sam Menasco. He said " you were in one of the pilot districts for the new trainings". When I was in the mtc, they were like experimenting on our district and we were always working with the "research and development guys". He remembered our district from two years ago. The new "8 Foundational Principals of Teaching" that ever mission uses were being tested on us in the MTC two years ago. I thought that was Pretty cool. Our other Guest speaker was Brother Lusvardi. He didn't recognize me but I told him I'm in his stake in Provo. I went to school with his daughter Kristin. He always seemed like a quiet guy it was weird to hear him give a big training.
Well this is getting super long. Next weeks should be a bit shorter. I love this work and I Know that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore Christ's Gospel.
Love,
Elder Prina
Happy Valentines day Mates!
Happy Valentines day Mates!
I love you all. God so loved the world that he gave His Only Begotten Son, that who ever beleiveth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
I'm glad that the work that we are involved in is a divine labor of love. I have been pondering lately about how my motivations need to be more out of love and less out of having success for myself. I think I will see more people be blessed at the end of my mission if I focus more on loving and serving others, rather than thinking about what I Want to do before i go home.
Happy Birthday Andrea! And Happy Birthday Andrea Nelson too! Hope you had a great day! Thanks for the Valentines Mum, and Andrea. That was a nice little surprise! Valentines day isn't too big over here. I almost forgot it was valentines day until I saw a few people carrying bouquet's of flowers around. Not to mention a bit more PDI than is desirable. I want you to know that I serve the Lord out of my sincere love for him and for those that have done so much to teach me correct principles as I was growing up. Thank you.
Today is transfers. Unfortunately we are not invited, because we found out Sunday night that neither of us are getting transferred. It seems like the Lord never lets you finish a companionship on bad terms. He always keeps you together until you work it out. I wanted so bad for elder Stringyfellow to get transferred. I even told president and the APs and the zone leaders. But he is still here. So I will be learning a lesson of enduring to the end. I have been praying very earnestly to be able to love him and serve him and to lose myself in the work and forget about how he annoys the crap out of me with everything he does. I admit, the prayers have been helping, and things are on the rise the past two days. I may be able to finish the transfer (and my mission) and us both make it out alive.
So I will be dying (finishing)here in Mudgeeraba. My longest area overall at 9 months total (6 transfers). I love the members in the ward here. It's just the nonmembers that I struggle with. No one seems to have any commit in them. But we are improving on all sides through, training, practice, sincere prayer and study; and through our own personal experiences and revelation. As i pray for revelation on what to do when i begin my day or my study it comes! Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
I've found a street, or a little area in our boundaries (by accident), that I have never seen before in my last 7 months in this area. We have been tracting it out and finding heaps of people to teach. We even taught a lady named Jodie that we committed to Baptism and E. Stringy got to extend his first baptismal date commitment for March 5th! It was really exciting. Pray for us and we'll see how we go. It is a very humble lower class area (other wise un-existent in our area) that I was very surprised to find. I said "this looks like all the other areas I've served in! We need to tract here!"
There is a member of our ward who recently came back to church with his family last year when I first got here. Now he is right in the FHC doing his family history and he is sitting behind us right now in the Robina Library doing his family history. Haha! I just looked behind me and another guy from our ward that we are teaching right now just walked into the Library! I love seeing members around!
Matt I love what you said about Walmart! Haha, that's a crack up. We have "Big W" here which is basically the Australian equivalent of Walmart, and that is where we get our photos developed too; and we always seem to see members and people we know in there. In fact the kid that processes the photos is in a partmember family.
We had a special stake conference on Sunday that was broadcast to every stake in Australia and Papua-New Guinea. It was conducted by Elder Patrick Kearon (I think that's his name?) of the quorum of the 70. you know the British guy "besides flip flops are shoes... of a sort" you know - that guy. He conducted the meeting. He was also the opening speaker and spoke about all the disasters in our country's as of late and the amazing response to all of them. The second speaker was Sister Silvia Alredd. The one that Uncle Peter apparently tracted into and baptized (that was my claim to fame on Sunday). The third speaker was Elder Scot that spoke on the sanctity of woman hood. And the concluding speaker was President Uktdorf. Hes the man! He spoke on faith. I was inspired to pray with greater faith. It was a wonderful stake conference (especially the adult session the night before). We got to sit next to our recent convert Hilita and also our investigator Zinia and her dad Neel Prasad. Her Mum Anny didn't come though. We haven't seen her in a few weeks. But its not for lack of trying.
We had this interesting guy OYM of GQ us on the way to the library this morning he just like walks up to us and strikes up a conversation about how he's not a believer he is a knower and talking about all these revelations that he has had and how he met Christ about ten years ago. How He took him through a hospital and showed him how he healed all the children. He was pretty crazy and when he laughed he sounded like he was on something; but he had an interesting insight about the young girl, that Christ raised from the dead. He said "she is not dead, but sleepeth". You know like in the finding faith in Christ DVD "Telita Cumea; i say unto thee Arise!" He said that he believed that was a parable of the Church at the time Christ came to earth. That it was sleeping and Christ came to wake it up. I thought his insight was interesting and can be related to how the Lord reveals or restores his Gospel in every Dispensation. Its cool how you learn new things from people on your mission every day. even crazy's.
Matt your insight on the member referral statistics remind me of a program that me and another missionary from my intake - Elder Hancock came up with. Its called the double the ward program. You go to the Bishop and say "as missionaries in your ward we want to help you grow your ward. We want you to encourage every member in the ward to just bring one friend to Church and to be taught by the missionaries. Just one. Then they all get baptized - and you've doubled the ward. Then you have a new ward that you can do the double the ward program in. Its simple." Sounds good eh. If I'm ever a bishop I will do the double the ward program.
Matt Kava is against the Word of Wisdom. I hope you didn't have any. Those guys looked Samoan. No I didn't eat the bananas - I made one of the elders in my district try one and he said it was yuck. Did you get your line of authority that I sent you.
Matt lets try that Tongan money dance thing when you get home.
Mum, Annie hasn't been coming to church in the past few weeks, so we haven't been able to involve her much. We are still working on finding her a friend.
Yes mum, I would consider UVU summer courses, if I can pay for it.
John said he could get me a job at MyEbiz. I wouldn't mind Cold stone or emergency essentials.
My time is up. I will try to attach some photos quickly. I love you all and look forward to seeing you in a bit. Love your Aussie Elder,
Elder R.A.Prina
I love you all. God so loved the world that he gave His Only Begotten Son, that who ever beleiveth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
I'm glad that the work that we are involved in is a divine labor of love. I have been pondering lately about how my motivations need to be more out of love and less out of having success for myself. I think I will see more people be blessed at the end of my mission if I focus more on loving and serving others, rather than thinking about what I Want to do before i go home.
Happy Birthday Andrea! And Happy Birthday Andrea Nelson too! Hope you had a great day! Thanks for the Valentines Mum, and Andrea. That was a nice little surprise! Valentines day isn't too big over here. I almost forgot it was valentines day until I saw a few people carrying bouquet's of flowers around. Not to mention a bit more PDI than is desirable. I want you to know that I serve the Lord out of my sincere love for him and for those that have done so much to teach me correct principles as I was growing up. Thank you.
Today is transfers. Unfortunately we are not invited, because we found out Sunday night that neither of us are getting transferred. It seems like the Lord never lets you finish a companionship on bad terms. He always keeps you together until you work it out. I wanted so bad for elder Stringyfellow to get transferred. I even told president and the APs and the zone leaders. But he is still here. So I will be learning a lesson of enduring to the end. I have been praying very earnestly to be able to love him and serve him and to lose myself in the work and forget about how he annoys the crap out of me with everything he does. I admit, the prayers have been helping, and things are on the rise the past two days. I may be able to finish the transfer (and my mission) and us both make it out alive.
So I will be dying (finishing)here in Mudgeeraba. My longest area overall at 9 months total (6 transfers). I love the members in the ward here. It's just the nonmembers that I struggle with. No one seems to have any commit in them. But we are improving on all sides through, training, practice, sincere prayer and study; and through our own personal experiences and revelation. As i pray for revelation on what to do when i begin my day or my study it comes! Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.
I've found a street, or a little area in our boundaries (by accident), that I have never seen before in my last 7 months in this area. We have been tracting it out and finding heaps of people to teach. We even taught a lady named Jodie that we committed to Baptism and E. Stringy got to extend his first baptismal date commitment for March 5th! It was really exciting. Pray for us and we'll see how we go. It is a very humble lower class area (other wise un-existent in our area) that I was very surprised to find. I said "this looks like all the other areas I've served in! We need to tract here!"
There is a member of our ward who recently came back to church with his family last year when I first got here. Now he is right in the FHC doing his family history and he is sitting behind us right now in the Robina Library doing his family history. Haha! I just looked behind me and another guy from our ward that we are teaching right now just walked into the Library! I love seeing members around!
Matt I love what you said about Walmart! Haha, that's a crack up. We have "Big W" here which is basically the Australian equivalent of Walmart, and that is where we get our photos developed too; and we always seem to see members and people we know in there. In fact the kid that processes the photos is in a partmember family.
We had a special stake conference on Sunday that was broadcast to every stake in Australia and Papua-New Guinea. It was conducted by Elder Patrick Kearon (I think that's his name?) of the quorum of the 70. you know the British guy "besides flip flops are shoes... of a sort" you know - that guy. He conducted the meeting. He was also the opening speaker and spoke about all the disasters in our country's as of late and the amazing response to all of them. The second speaker was Sister Silvia Alredd. The one that Uncle Peter apparently tracted into and baptized (that was my claim to fame on Sunday). The third speaker was Elder Scot that spoke on the sanctity of woman hood. And the concluding speaker was President Uktdorf. Hes the man! He spoke on faith. I was inspired to pray with greater faith. It was a wonderful stake conference (especially the adult session the night before). We got to sit next to our recent convert Hilita and also our investigator Zinia and her dad Neel Prasad. Her Mum Anny didn't come though. We haven't seen her in a few weeks. But its not for lack of trying.
We had this interesting guy OYM of GQ us on the way to the library this morning he just like walks up to us and strikes up a conversation about how he's not a believer he is a knower and talking about all these revelations that he has had and how he met Christ about ten years ago. How He took him through a hospital and showed him how he healed all the children. He was pretty crazy and when he laughed he sounded like he was on something; but he had an interesting insight about the young girl, that Christ raised from the dead. He said "she is not dead, but sleepeth". You know like in the finding faith in Christ DVD "Telita Cumea; i say unto thee Arise!" He said that he believed that was a parable of the Church at the time Christ came to earth. That it was sleeping and Christ came to wake it up. I thought his insight was interesting and can be related to how the Lord reveals or restores his Gospel in every Dispensation. Its cool how you learn new things from people on your mission every day. even crazy's.
Matt your insight on the member referral statistics remind me of a program that me and another missionary from my intake - Elder Hancock came up with. Its called the double the ward program. You go to the Bishop and say "as missionaries in your ward we want to help you grow your ward. We want you to encourage every member in the ward to just bring one friend to Church and to be taught by the missionaries. Just one. Then they all get baptized - and you've doubled the ward. Then you have a new ward that you can do the double the ward program in. Its simple." Sounds good eh. If I'm ever a bishop I will do the double the ward program.
Matt Kava is against the Word of Wisdom. I hope you didn't have any. Those guys looked Samoan. No I didn't eat the bananas - I made one of the elders in my district try one and he said it was yuck. Did you get your line of authority that I sent you.
Matt lets try that Tongan money dance thing when you get home.
Mum, Annie hasn't been coming to church in the past few weeks, so we haven't been able to involve her much. We are still working on finding her a friend.
Yes mum, I would consider UVU summer courses, if I can pay for it.
John said he could get me a job at MyEbiz. I wouldn't mind Cold stone or emergency essentials.
My time is up. I will try to attach some photos quickly. I love you all and look forward to seeing you in a bit. Love your Aussie Elder,
Elder R.A.Prina
Monday, February 7, 2011
Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow
Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling, and I'll return to you somehow.
Aloha Family and Friends,
Thank you all for your emails, they are an inspiration and a motivation to me. I've had a good P-day so far. I went to Walmart and got some pictures developed. I love going to Walmart here because it's like going to Day's Market back home. We always joke that we should just go proselyte in Walmart because we always see so many people there (active members, less active members, Investigators, Tourists from Utah, Potential Investigators, People we met when we were tracting and People that think we work there) not just from our ward but from the whole island.
Today for P-day we are going to go bowling (great activity for Kauai huh?) we were going to do a hike but it rained all day yesterday so it would be way too muddy. I love people, there are some people in each area on your mission that you just fall in love with. One thing that stuck out to me in last general conference is that one of the apostles told us to enlarge our circle of friends. We are a social people. I love working with people and meeting new people and I know that helping other people brings a special kind of happiness. Making friends is doing missionary work, just by being around you your friends will see your good example and want to learn why you are the way you are.
I recently read Alma chapter 4 about the consequences of the members of the church not setting a good example. The entire progress of the church was stopped. "How important we are, How important you are"- Mario Facione. Lehi said, "how great the importance to make these things known unto the children of men" As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are literally the hands and arms of the savior. Like Pres. Uchdorf said "we are his hands" and it is our responsibility to help others to fully access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One thing that I learned on my mission is that no one knows what the word "Atonement" means, NO ONE. Not many fully understand that the Atonement was the most important event that happened in the history of the world. So many think of missionary work as merely tracting, all those who are familiar with this work know there is a better way-Pres. Hinkley. I know that way is through the Members of this Church. Every single baptism that I've seen on my mission has come as a result of a member referral or working with part member family. Statistics show that 60 percent of member referrals in Hawaii are baptized. There is about 26,000 active members in the state of Hawaii. That means if every active member in Hawaii referred one person in the year of 2011, just one person in a whole year, then we would baptize 15,500 new converts in one year, that is the equivalent of about 3 stakes! That is about 15 times our goal for 2011 but that is cold statistics right there. Just imagine the impact it would have if each member of the church throughout the world referred one person this year!
Anyway, everything is going prety good here, we are working on keeping our recent converts active, they are all coming to church for the most part but I just wish they would be more involved and more excited to be there. I'm excited about the two young boys that we're teaching right now because they're really liking coming to church and youth activities throughout the week. Keli'i is 13 and Micah is 10, they both have less active parents but they're cousins are active so they come with they're cousins every week. The lessons with them are starting to go really well, they volunteer to say the prayer, ask really good questions, and let us know how they're doing on they're Book of Mormon reading. Kelly Machado who got baptized back in November and confirmed on my Birthday is doing good, she goes to seminary every morning and comes to church every week. Her older brothers are reactivated now and one blesses the sacrament and the other passes. The oldest brother (koa) is preparing to go on a mission and comes with us every Monday night to teach Keli'i and Micah. Keli'i and Micah will be baptized on the 19th and we were thinking it would be cool to have Koa baptize them since he's getting ready to go on a mission, that would be a way good experience for him.
To answer some of your questions: no mom I did not get my shoes yet but I look forward to that day. I'm sure I could get a full time Job at cold stone for possibly up to $9 an hour + tips if I just ask. They like me there. If you want to go set something set up with them mom just go to the one at the mall around 11:00 am and ask for Mel. Shes the girl with the blond hair, you've probably met her before. I'd love to start working the day I get released (Friday night?) if possible and at least work there making a little money until I can find a better job. Let me know if you could work that out. When you said sister Stratford did you mean January Stratton? I forgot they were in Peru, I still have the B.O.M. she gave me... actually I sent it home in that box with the chocolates.
Rob, no that wasn't Samoan kava! That was at a Tongan funeral! And no they weren't less active, the guys in that picture were the Lavakas, 1st counselor in the bishopric, EQP and assistant ward clerk. Haha, Did you eat the dried Bananas? I know they look gross but they taste really good! That's cool that you met another GG Girl. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Grace her first name and Georgia her middle name? I met a lady named Grace last week too.
Dad, I love hearing about BYU doing so good. Jimmers the man! He was my favorite his first year before he was so famous. What mornings are you playing Basketball right now? Can we play my first morning home? I like the can lights Idea in the Kitchen, I cant wait to see what it looks like. I loved the big florescent light but if I remember correctly it wasn't working when I left. I said a prayer for you when I got the email. In the Tongan Culture when someone in the family needs money, everyone helps out. It costs a lot of money to fly from Hawaii to Tonga. If someone needs to go over there they will usually have a big dinner or something and invite all their family and friends, during the dinner some of the girls will do traditional dances and everyone throws the money at the girls to help out. The family members go around and pick up all the money and count it until they have enough. Some of the really old Tongan guys get up and dance too around the girls, it's really funny. I don't know if that would work in our family but I'll certainly be willing to help in anyway I can when I get home. I love you and miss you.
Love,
Elder Prina
Set me free to find my calling, and I'll return to you somehow.
Aloha Family and Friends,
Thank you all for your emails, they are an inspiration and a motivation to me. I've had a good P-day so far. I went to Walmart and got some pictures developed. I love going to Walmart here because it's like going to Day's Market back home. We always joke that we should just go proselyte in Walmart because we always see so many people there (active members, less active members, Investigators, Tourists from Utah, Potential Investigators, People we met when we were tracting and People that think we work there) not just from our ward but from the whole island.
Today for P-day we are going to go bowling (great activity for Kauai huh?) we were going to do a hike but it rained all day yesterday so it would be way too muddy. I love people, there are some people in each area on your mission that you just fall in love with. One thing that stuck out to me in last general conference is that one of the apostles told us to enlarge our circle of friends. We are a social people. I love working with people and meeting new people and I know that helping other people brings a special kind of happiness. Making friends is doing missionary work, just by being around you your friends will see your good example and want to learn why you are the way you are.
I recently read Alma chapter 4 about the consequences of the members of the church not setting a good example. The entire progress of the church was stopped. "How important we are, How important you are"- Mario Facione. Lehi said, "how great the importance to make these things known unto the children of men" As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are literally the hands and arms of the savior. Like Pres. Uchdorf said "we are his hands" and it is our responsibility to help others to fully access the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One thing that I learned on my mission is that no one knows what the word "Atonement" means, NO ONE. Not many fully understand that the Atonement was the most important event that happened in the history of the world. So many think of missionary work as merely tracting, all those who are familiar with this work know there is a better way-Pres. Hinkley. I know that way is through the Members of this Church. Every single baptism that I've seen on my mission has come as a result of a member referral or working with part member family. Statistics show that 60 percent of member referrals in Hawaii are baptized. There is about 26,000 active members in the state of Hawaii. That means if every active member in Hawaii referred one person in the year of 2011, just one person in a whole year, then we would baptize 15,500 new converts in one year, that is the equivalent of about 3 stakes! That is about 15 times our goal for 2011 but that is cold statistics right there. Just imagine the impact it would have if each member of the church throughout the world referred one person this year!
Anyway, everything is going prety good here, we are working on keeping our recent converts active, they are all coming to church for the most part but I just wish they would be more involved and more excited to be there. I'm excited about the two young boys that we're teaching right now because they're really liking coming to church and youth activities throughout the week. Keli'i is 13 and Micah is 10, they both have less active parents but they're cousins are active so they come with they're cousins every week. The lessons with them are starting to go really well, they volunteer to say the prayer, ask really good questions, and let us know how they're doing on they're Book of Mormon reading. Kelly Machado who got baptized back in November and confirmed on my Birthday is doing good, she goes to seminary every morning and comes to church every week. Her older brothers are reactivated now and one blesses the sacrament and the other passes. The oldest brother (koa) is preparing to go on a mission and comes with us every Monday night to teach Keli'i and Micah. Keli'i and Micah will be baptized on the 19th and we were thinking it would be cool to have Koa baptize them since he's getting ready to go on a mission, that would be a way good experience for him.
To answer some of your questions: no mom I did not get my shoes yet but I look forward to that day. I'm sure I could get a full time Job at cold stone for possibly up to $9 an hour + tips if I just ask. They like me there. If you want to go set something set up with them mom just go to the one at the mall around 11:00 am and ask for Mel. Shes the girl with the blond hair, you've probably met her before. I'd love to start working the day I get released (Friday night?) if possible and at least work there making a little money until I can find a better job. Let me know if you could work that out. When you said sister Stratford did you mean January Stratton? I forgot they were in Peru, I still have the B.O.M. she gave me... actually I sent it home in that box with the chocolates.
Rob, no that wasn't Samoan kava! That was at a Tongan funeral! And no they weren't less active, the guys in that picture were the Lavakas, 1st counselor in the bishopric, EQP and assistant ward clerk. Haha, Did you eat the dried Bananas? I know they look gross but they taste really good! That's cool that you met another GG Girl. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Grace her first name and Georgia her middle name? I met a lady named Grace last week too.
Dad, I love hearing about BYU doing so good. Jimmers the man! He was my favorite his first year before he was so famous. What mornings are you playing Basketball right now? Can we play my first morning home? I like the can lights Idea in the Kitchen, I cant wait to see what it looks like. I loved the big florescent light but if I remember correctly it wasn't working when I left. I said a prayer for you when I got the email. In the Tongan Culture when someone in the family needs money, everyone helps out. It costs a lot of money to fly from Hawaii to Tonga. If someone needs to go over there they will usually have a big dinner or something and invite all their family and friends, during the dinner some of the girls will do traditional dances and everyone throws the money at the girls to help out. The family members go around and pick up all the money and count it until they have enough. Some of the really old Tongan guys get up and dance too around the girls, it's really funny. I don't know if that would work in our family but I'll certainly be willing to help in anyway I can when I get home. I love you and miss you.
Love,
Elder Prina
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Mt. Warning in the Morning Mt. Tambo in the Arvo
Dear family and friends.
I don't have much to say. Matt thanks for the package. It was awesome. Nice photo with the Samoan's kava... crack up.
Andrea Nelson. Thanks for the letter and photos. Good to hear from you. Happy Birthday on the 13th.
Happy Birthday Tucker. It seems like there are B-days in our family every week. I can't wait to be a bigger part of them.
Mum, you said Lisa took Christian and Madi to do baptisms. Is Madi already old enough to go to the temple?? stone the crows!
Mum and Dad did you know any Corless' in our stake back in Michigan? Like from the Sterling Heights ward, or do any of my brothers and sisters' know any Corless'? I just talked to a girl in our stake that just got back from serving in Idaho - and she said she served with a girl from Detroit, named Elder Corless. I thought the name sounded familiar.
When is Georgia Grace's Birthday. We just tracted into a lady today who has a little 5 year old daughter named Georgia. I said "that's a cute name, I have a niece who was recently born named Georgia, but her full name is Georgia Grace." Then she said "that's my Georgia's middle name too!" She said she was born on May 27th. We got a return apt. with her for next weekend and I told her I would find out when My Georgia Grace's Birthday was. If she was born on the same day that would be really weird. We got a lot of return appointments that day, from just that little one hour of tracting, even one with some Aboriginal Kids.
The work here has been about the same. Transfers is a week from tomorrow. I reckon E.Stringy will get transferred, Probably up north too. I told President that i would like to serve with E. Paki # 1 for my last transfer, so we'll see what happens. :)
Zinia was our only investigator at Church this week, and we dropped a few people this week. Please continue to pray for Annie Prasad and Jade Angangan that they will keep their commitments, and especially come to Church! We have lessons with both of them set up for this week.
Hilita bore her testimony for the fist time yesterday, and so did Neel Prasad. The Spirit was so strong. things like that help me through the little dry patches.
Well once again the time is gone and I'm getting timed off before I have time to send photos or answer your questions.
I love you all. I love being a missionary and I love the Lord, and know the Gospel has been restored.
We hiked Mt.Warning this morning with our ward mission leader for p-day. It is the first place in Australia to see the sunrise only problem this morning is that their was no sun. :)
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
I don't have much to say. Matt thanks for the package. It was awesome. Nice photo with the Samoan's kava... crack up.
Andrea Nelson. Thanks for the letter and photos. Good to hear from you. Happy Birthday on the 13th.
Happy Birthday Tucker. It seems like there are B-days in our family every week. I can't wait to be a bigger part of them.
Mum, you said Lisa took Christian and Madi to do baptisms. Is Madi already old enough to go to the temple?? stone the crows!
Mum and Dad did you know any Corless' in our stake back in Michigan? Like from the Sterling Heights ward, or do any of my brothers and sisters' know any Corless'? I just talked to a girl in our stake that just got back from serving in Idaho - and she said she served with a girl from Detroit, named Elder Corless. I thought the name sounded familiar.
When is Georgia Grace's Birthday. We just tracted into a lady today who has a little 5 year old daughter named Georgia. I said "that's a cute name, I have a niece who was recently born named Georgia, but her full name is Georgia Grace." Then she said "that's my Georgia's middle name too!" She said she was born on May 27th. We got a return apt. with her for next weekend and I told her I would find out when My Georgia Grace's Birthday was. If she was born on the same day that would be really weird. We got a lot of return appointments that day, from just that little one hour of tracting, even one with some Aboriginal Kids.
The work here has been about the same. Transfers is a week from tomorrow. I reckon E.Stringy will get transferred, Probably up north too. I told President that i would like to serve with E. Paki # 1 for my last transfer, so we'll see what happens. :)
Zinia was our only investigator at Church this week, and we dropped a few people this week. Please continue to pray for Annie Prasad and Jade Angangan that they will keep their commitments, and especially come to Church! We have lessons with both of them set up for this week.
Hilita bore her testimony for the fist time yesterday, and so did Neel Prasad. The Spirit was so strong. things like that help me through the little dry patches.
Well once again the time is gone and I'm getting timed off before I have time to send photos or answer your questions.
I love you all. I love being a missionary and I love the Lord, and know the Gospel has been restored.
We hiked Mt.Warning this morning with our ward mission leader for p-day. It is the first place in Australia to see the sunrise only problem this morning is that their was no sun. :)
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Aloha Everyone,
I'm still pressing forward here in Kauai and loving every minute of it. We had 2 baptisms on Saturday I'll have to send you the pictures next week. Chathan Idica-Butac (10) and Sola Fahina (21). It was a great Baptism, I gave a talk about Baptism and Covenants, Elder Parker "suffered them", and then our ward mission leader gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. I got to do the confirmations the next day in Sacrament meeting. Right now we are just trying to focus on helping them to make friends and build their Testimonies so they'll stay active.
I'm looking forward to being able to have more contact with my converts when I get home. I just want to call them every Sunday morning and make sure they go to church.
I was glad to hear we beat SDSU I wish I could've been there with you guys! I was bummed about the Lobos game:(.
Thanks for the package Sierra, I got it last Wednesday but I haven't even had time to open it until this morning. Those were really good pictures, Did you guys do a Utah Temple excursion or something?
Dad thanks for the update on the world, I won't dwell on it but it's good to know. I am definitely going to ponder and pray about my schooling. Of course I've always wanted to get into Graphic Design or Industrial Design, but I'll have to think about what's going to get me a good Job. A wise Tongan Man once told me almost two years ago, "If you don't have a major, major in business, if you do have a major, minor in business, that way you always have something to fall back on".
I've thought a little bit about where I should work when I get home (so I can pay for school). The thought came to mind that instead of taking a few weeks to find a job, I could probably start working for Coldstone the day I get home and just do that until I find a better job. That way I can at least be making a little money rather than NO money until I get a better job. Or did you want me to work for you when I get home. You've started a good business and I think Rob and I could Make a valuable contribution to it if we really put some effort into it and add a little of our creativity and charisma. An old Japanese guy in Pearl City once told me that he knew a guy who started a cleaning company years ago and now he's a millionaire. He said he carries a toilet around in his truck and does seminars showing people how to clean a toilet. Just let me know what YOU think would be good for me, those are just my ideas.
I was just thinking today how much I miss my sisters! When you think about it I have some of the coolest sisters in the whole world, and there's four of them!!! I can't wait to see you.
Lisa tell Tucker Happy Birthday for me!
Mom, I did not get my shoes yet but I'm looking forward to them. I sent you a package today with some of those chocolates in it, I hope that's the kind you wanted. The Elder's name in Ogden is Pauli Ta'amale I don't know if he's left Hawaii yet.
Rob, I got your package with the T-shirt but I haven't gotten another "envelope" yet. I want to go to Australia with you someday!
Love
Elder Prina
God our strength will be pressed forward ever called to serve our king!
I'm still pressing forward here in Kauai and loving every minute of it. We had 2 baptisms on Saturday I'll have to send you the pictures next week. Chathan Idica-Butac (10) and Sola Fahina (21). It was a great Baptism, I gave a talk about Baptism and Covenants, Elder Parker "suffered them", and then our ward mission leader gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. I got to do the confirmations the next day in Sacrament meeting. Right now we are just trying to focus on helping them to make friends and build their Testimonies so they'll stay active.
I'm looking forward to being able to have more contact with my converts when I get home. I just want to call them every Sunday morning and make sure they go to church.
I was glad to hear we beat SDSU I wish I could've been there with you guys! I was bummed about the Lobos game:(.
Thanks for the package Sierra, I got it last Wednesday but I haven't even had time to open it until this morning. Those were really good pictures, Did you guys do a Utah Temple excursion or something?
Dad thanks for the update on the world, I won't dwell on it but it's good to know. I am definitely going to ponder and pray about my schooling. Of course I've always wanted to get into Graphic Design or Industrial Design, but I'll have to think about what's going to get me a good Job. A wise Tongan Man once told me almost two years ago, "If you don't have a major, major in business, if you do have a major, minor in business, that way you always have something to fall back on".
I've thought a little bit about where I should work when I get home (so I can pay for school). The thought came to mind that instead of taking a few weeks to find a job, I could probably start working for Coldstone the day I get home and just do that until I find a better job. That way I can at least be making a little money rather than NO money until I get a better job. Or did you want me to work for you when I get home. You've started a good business and I think Rob and I could Make a valuable contribution to it if we really put some effort into it and add a little of our creativity and charisma. An old Japanese guy in Pearl City once told me that he knew a guy who started a cleaning company years ago and now he's a millionaire. He said he carries a toilet around in his truck and does seminars showing people how to clean a toilet. Just let me know what YOU think would be good for me, those are just my ideas.
I was just thinking today how much I miss my sisters! When you think about it I have some of the coolest sisters in the whole world, and there's four of them!!! I can't wait to see you.
Lisa tell Tucker Happy Birthday for me!
Mom, I did not get my shoes yet but I'm looking forward to them. I sent you a package today with some of those chocolates in it, I hope that's the kind you wanted. The Elder's name in Ogden is Pauli Ta'amale I don't know if he's left Hawaii yet.
Rob, I got your package with the T-shirt but I haven't gotten another "envelope" yet. I want to go to Australia with you someday!
Love
Elder Prina
God our strength will be pressed forward ever called to serve our king!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
How ya goin'?
FAR OUT MATES!
How ya goin'?
Elder Prina here on the Gold Coast, just thought I'd drop a line on this Beautiful Pday. Its been an alright week. We had a good lesson with the Prasad family, but her boss scheduled her to work on Sunday, even after she requested it off. So she wasn't able to come but Neel Prasad still brought Zinia, who loves Primary, and I just found out that she is the 'president' of her class and calls on people to say the prayers and stuff. She's a Legend. My recent convert Hilita Williams, who got baptized here in Mudgeeraba back in August gave the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting this Sunday for the first time. She is a pro at praying. It's because we applied the training to have her kneel and pray on the first lesson. She's a Legend.
Elder Stringfellow is.... still here. I'll send you a video of him. We played basketball at the stake center this morning with the zone leaders, our ward mission leader, another area in our District, and a few other guys. It is a lot of fun and we are going to make it a regular thing. I love basketball. Speaking of which. Mom. You could've said a bit more about the SDSU game than just "it was really exciting"... like maybe.... WHO WON??! haha or the score maybe. haha. That's a shame that they ended their winning streak. Dad how high are they in the Rankings now? Jimmer sounds like he's a fairdinkum Legend.
Last week for Pday we went to this place called Spring brook with these waterfalls. I'll have to send some photos.
Sierra thanks heaps for the photos of the kids! They're priceless. I am expecting your letter. Did you send it to the mission office or to the flat in Robina? Did John get his Chrissy Present i sent him (the t-shirt)? Matt and Dad, did you get the envelopes I sent you in the mail yet?
Sierra that is sweet as that you saw President And Sister Richards!! They are my Favorites! I thought that they might be in your parents ward or stake when i heard they were moving to highland. Tell your parents to make friends with them - they are the coolest, nicest people ever. President Richards plays basketball so you should get him to play with our dads. I always wanted to play basketball with him my whole mission, but I never served in the office, or even in Brisbane for that matter.
Mum, thanks for the advice with getting Anny involved more in the Relief Society. We have already talked to her about finding someone in the RS to fellowship her. But I think it would be a great idea to get her a responsibility.
How about we make a goal to save money to come to the Gold Coast! Its way better than Kauai! The people here have cooler accent.
That's cool that you got to go see your Dad and spend time with him and your sisters. Give them all hugs for me. Make sure the snow doesn't all melt before I get home.
I know that the Church is true and that miracles happen every day. I'm getting kicked off the computer now. I love you all so much.
Love, Elder R.A. Prina
How ya goin'?
Elder Prina here on the Gold Coast, just thought I'd drop a line on this Beautiful Pday. Its been an alright week. We had a good lesson with the Prasad family, but her boss scheduled her to work on Sunday, even after she requested it off. So she wasn't able to come but Neel Prasad still brought Zinia, who loves Primary, and I just found out that she is the 'president' of her class and calls on people to say the prayers and stuff. She's a Legend. My recent convert Hilita Williams, who got baptized here in Mudgeeraba back in August gave the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting this Sunday for the first time. She is a pro at praying. It's because we applied the training to have her kneel and pray on the first lesson. She's a Legend.
Elder Stringfellow is.... still here. I'll send you a video of him. We played basketball at the stake center this morning with the zone leaders, our ward mission leader, another area in our District, and a few other guys. It is a lot of fun and we are going to make it a regular thing. I love basketball. Speaking of which. Mom. You could've said a bit more about the SDSU game than just "it was really exciting"... like maybe.... WHO WON??! haha or the score maybe. haha. That's a shame that they ended their winning streak. Dad how high are they in the Rankings now? Jimmer sounds like he's a fairdinkum Legend.
Last week for Pday we went to this place called Spring brook with these waterfalls. I'll have to send some photos.
Sierra thanks heaps for the photos of the kids! They're priceless. I am expecting your letter. Did you send it to the mission office or to the flat in Robina? Did John get his Chrissy Present i sent him (the t-shirt)? Matt and Dad, did you get the envelopes I sent you in the mail yet?
Sierra that is sweet as that you saw President And Sister Richards!! They are my Favorites! I thought that they might be in your parents ward or stake when i heard they were moving to highland. Tell your parents to make friends with them - they are the coolest, nicest people ever. President Richards plays basketball so you should get him to play with our dads. I always wanted to play basketball with him my whole mission, but I never served in the office, or even in Brisbane for that matter.
Mum, thanks for the advice with getting Anny involved more in the Relief Society. We have already talked to her about finding someone in the RS to fellowship her. But I think it would be a great idea to get her a responsibility.
How about we make a goal to save money to come to the Gold Coast! Its way better than Kauai! The people here have cooler accent.
That's cool that you got to go see your Dad and spend time with him and your sisters. Give them all hugs for me. Make sure the snow doesn't all melt before I get home.
I know that the Church is true and that miracles happen every day. I'm getting kicked off the computer now. I love you all so much.
Love, Elder R.A. Prina
Monday, January 24, 2011
Good morning and Aloha!
Good morning and Aloha! 1/24/2011
Today we are going to Kalapaki Beach park for a picnic with the zone. We will play frisbee, hacky sack and Portuguese horse shoes. We have a really good zone this transfer.
Our area is doing great, we had two Baptismal interviews yesterday and they will both be baptized this Saturday (Chathan Idica {10} and Sola Fahina {21}) I thought Sola was older but when her husband was filling out her baptismal record yesterday I looked at her B-day and it was 11/8/89. We are focusing on talking to more people right now and the lord is really blessing us. There were so many people at church on Sunday, less actives, part member families, investigators, non members, everyone! The chapel was packed to the back. The only problem is that all of the tourists get there on time and all of the less actives and investigators get there late so we're always stuck in the back where it's really tough to feel the spirit. I got to help pass the sacrament yesterday, I really enjoied that.
We have 3 more with a date to get baptized. One is 10 years old and his mom is a less active member but his auntie and cousins are active his name is Micha Cardinez and he will get baptized on Feb. 6th. His cousin will also be baptized on the 6th, his name is Keli'i Kelekoma (13) and also has less active parents. Their auntie brought them to church yesterday and they are coming to mutual on Tuesday nights too. The other kid is named Quinton Higley(17), his dad is a returning less active member and his mom is a nonmember. He's dating one of the less active girls in the ward (not a good example at all) but he is a really good kid and may go to SUU when he graduates.
We are working hard and the lord continues to bless us. My companion holds me very accountable (just with little stuff) and sometimes my natural man tells me to fight back but I have a little wrestle in my soul for a few seconds and then I try to humble myself and listen to him.
Mom: Thanks for sending the Shoes they are much needed. I think someone gave us some of those chocolate balls for Christmas I'll dig them out of our never ending junk food storage and send them to you. I just dry cleaned my suit last week so it should still be nice when I get home. Do you know the name of the guy that Christ miller talked to. I just found out that one of the Tongan kids from my previous ward is going to the Ogden Utah mission. His name is Pauli Ta'amale. See if Chris Miller knows him.
Dad: Jimmer's the man. I'm excited to hear the outcome of the sdsu game. GO COUGARS! What Hatch family are you talking about? The one that was in Rock Canyon ward? Are you talking about Bryce Hatch? It sounds like you all are having a blast out there.
Give everyone my Aloha.
I love you,
Elder M Prina
Today we are going to Kalapaki Beach park for a picnic with the zone. We will play frisbee, hacky sack and Portuguese horse shoes. We have a really good zone this transfer.
Our area is doing great, we had two Baptismal interviews yesterday and they will both be baptized this Saturday (Chathan Idica {10} and Sola Fahina {21}) I thought Sola was older but when her husband was filling out her baptismal record yesterday I looked at her B-day and it was 11/8/89. We are focusing on talking to more people right now and the lord is really blessing us. There were so many people at church on Sunday, less actives, part member families, investigators, non members, everyone! The chapel was packed to the back. The only problem is that all of the tourists get there on time and all of the less actives and investigators get there late so we're always stuck in the back where it's really tough to feel the spirit. I got to help pass the sacrament yesterday, I really enjoied that.
We have 3 more with a date to get baptized. One is 10 years old and his mom is a less active member but his auntie and cousins are active his name is Micha Cardinez and he will get baptized on Feb. 6th. His cousin will also be baptized on the 6th, his name is Keli'i Kelekoma (13) and also has less active parents. Their auntie brought them to church yesterday and they are coming to mutual on Tuesday nights too. The other kid is named Quinton Higley(17), his dad is a returning less active member and his mom is a nonmember. He's dating one of the less active girls in the ward (not a good example at all) but he is a really good kid and may go to SUU when he graduates.
We are working hard and the lord continues to bless us. My companion holds me very accountable (just with little stuff) and sometimes my natural man tells me to fight back but I have a little wrestle in my soul for a few seconds and then I try to humble myself and listen to him.
Mom: Thanks for sending the Shoes they are much needed. I think someone gave us some of those chocolate balls for Christmas I'll dig them out of our never ending junk food storage and send them to you. I just dry cleaned my suit last week so it should still be nice when I get home. Do you know the name of the guy that Christ miller talked to. I just found out that one of the Tongan kids from my previous ward is going to the Ogden Utah mission. His name is Pauli Ta'amale. See if Chris Miller knows him.
Dad: Jimmer's the man. I'm excited to hear the outcome of the sdsu game. GO COUGARS! What Hatch family are you talking about? The one that was in Rock Canyon ward? Are you talking about Bryce Hatch? It sounds like you all are having a blast out there.
Give everyone my Aloha.
I love you,
Elder M Prina
Sunday, January 23, 2011
G'day family and friends
G'day family and friends,
Its good to hear from you this fine day. As usual its a B-E-A-UTIFUL day on the Gold Coast. Its been a good week. We didn't quite hit twenty lessons like Matt. But we had more lessons this week then we've had in over a month. We are finding new investigators but the problem continues to be holding the second appointment. Everyone on the Gold Coast seems like they are on Holiday [mentally, and in all other respects]. everyone just tells us to pop by, or 'call in' while we are in the area. So we struggle to get people to hold appointments. Annie and Zinia Prasad came to church this Sunday, and Annie went into Relief Society. Annie's Husband Neal Prasad, who has come back to church in the past 6 months, since I've been here, spoke in sacrament today. It was very special and a bit emotional for me. He hasn't spoken in church in over a decade. It made me feel like we've had some other success' here, though we haven't had any Baptisms lately.
Elder Stringfellow and I are getting along well. We work towards a common goal and nothing else matters. Jade didn't come to Church this week. We found a new guy to teach named Cameron. He is 23 years old and a bit of a drifter. He has some interesting beliefs and is really into "your thoughts become reality" "sacred Geometry" "star trek" and he wants to join the free masons and go "intergalactic". He listens to us and has committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. But he says that he wants to join the free masons cause he reckons that is the real stuff. We find some "one in a millions" here on the Gold Coast. Pray for us to find some Elect families so we can take home Matt's title of liberty broom.
We've had some success with getting a few less actives and recent converts back to church. There is a lot of them here.
How was sister Lisa Prina's homecoming talk? I wish I could have heard it. I want to go ask her about all of her mission stories and see all of her cool mission pictures when I get home.
Tell Sara B happy birthday for me! They all look so big in the photos! I can't believe it! Is Ellie already talking and saying stuff?!
I get home March 30th, so a little over a month after Matt. All the hype will have died down by then. haha. I come home with a huge group of Missionaries. We're gonna put a big dent in the mission. My MTC companion, Elder Hogg, is actually my zone leader right now, so i get to see him very often. We went on a trade off just on Saturday and reminisced about our missions and the good times. We had a really good group of missionaries in our intake. I arrive at around noon on march 30th. Look forward to seeing you then. Its good to hear you like your t-shirt Matt. i hope john got his.
well I'm being kicked off the computer. I love you all and hope you have a great rest of January. I know the scriptures are true.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
Its good to hear from you this fine day. As usual its a B-E-A-UTIFUL day on the Gold Coast. Its been a good week. We didn't quite hit twenty lessons like Matt. But we had more lessons this week then we've had in over a month. We are finding new investigators but the problem continues to be holding the second appointment. Everyone on the Gold Coast seems like they are on Holiday [mentally, and in all other respects]. everyone just tells us to pop by, or 'call in' while we are in the area. So we struggle to get people to hold appointments. Annie and Zinia Prasad came to church this Sunday, and Annie went into Relief Society. Annie's Husband Neal Prasad, who has come back to church in the past 6 months, since I've been here, spoke in sacrament today. It was very special and a bit emotional for me. He hasn't spoken in church in over a decade. It made me feel like we've had some other success' here, though we haven't had any Baptisms lately.
Elder Stringfellow and I are getting along well. We work towards a common goal and nothing else matters. Jade didn't come to Church this week. We found a new guy to teach named Cameron. He is 23 years old and a bit of a drifter. He has some interesting beliefs and is really into "your thoughts become reality" "sacred Geometry" "star trek" and he wants to join the free masons and go "intergalactic". He listens to us and has committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. But he says that he wants to join the free masons cause he reckons that is the real stuff. We find some "one in a millions" here on the Gold Coast. Pray for us to find some Elect families so we can take home Matt's title of liberty broom.
We've had some success with getting a few less actives and recent converts back to church. There is a lot of them here.
How was sister Lisa Prina's homecoming talk? I wish I could have heard it. I want to go ask her about all of her mission stories and see all of her cool mission pictures when I get home.
Tell Sara B happy birthday for me! They all look so big in the photos! I can't believe it! Is Ellie already talking and saying stuff?!
I get home March 30th, so a little over a month after Matt. All the hype will have died down by then. haha. I come home with a huge group of Missionaries. We're gonna put a big dent in the mission. My MTC companion, Elder Hogg, is actually my zone leader right now, so i get to see him very often. We went on a trade off just on Saturday and reminisced about our missions and the good times. We had a really good group of missionaries in our intake. I arrive at around noon on march 30th. Look forward to seeing you then. Its good to hear you like your t-shirt Matt. i hope john got his.
well I'm being kicked off the computer. I love you all and hope you have a great rest of January. I know the scriptures are true.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
Monday, January 17, 2011
What more can he say than to you he has said...
Aloha,
Thank you all for your emails and the pictures of Sarah b's B-day. It sounds like everyone is doing well. Everything is tight as Bet here in Lihue Kauai.
Last week was probably one of the best weeks of my mission. We found 5 new investigators and we have 2 with a baptismal date right now. Rob mentioned finding a lot more investigators on his own efforts, we've been seeing the same here. Elder Parker and I have made a covenant to do a windows to heaven at least 5 days out of the week as well as to OYM (open your mouth) at least 10 people a day which is hard sometimes because we have so many lessons, we hit 20 lessons last week and we plan on getting more this week (this Wednesday we have an appointment scheduled for every hour of the day). Our zone theme this transfer is "Find a Family", I made a mini "Title of Liberty" out of a broom stick and My dead companions old shirt and made a tight "find a family" stencil and sprayed it on there. Which ever companionship gets the most OYM's in a week gets to take home the title of liberty for a week and sign it. Ever since we covenanted to talk to more people we've been seeing miracles everyday! To help us find a family we are looking for doors that have a bunch of shoes in front of them when we knock on doors. 5 of our 10 OYM's need to be "shoe houses". It seems like every time we go tracting now we end up teaching a lesson, The lord isn't making us knock that much, sometimes it's the first door we go to. I know that when we have faith that these people are out there and we commit to doing everything to find them, and then we go out and go to work that God Will Lead Us to find them.
I'm loving Kauai, it's so beautiful here, it would be a fun vacation spot. They have a nice Marriott here, good restaurants, a zip line jungle tour, mountain atv's adventures, Helicopter rides, beautiful hikes, huge beaches, and the most beautiful drives on earth.
It's been kind of cold here. Last night it got down to like 12 below. (12 below 70) one of the members let us borrow a little heater. Any thing below 70 here is freezing, I don't know what I'm going to do back in Utah. Can you have like a big coat waiting for me when I get off the plane? Like Rob I'm really looking forward to my last transfer and I think it will be my best.
To answer some of your questions: Yes, Rob I got your package with the T-shirt, thank you so much it's tight as bet. Yes, Mom you can open those packages I sent home, they are your Christmas gifts.
Well I hope you all have a great week, I love you very much and Pray for you every day.
Love,
Elder Prina
Thank you all for your emails and the pictures of Sarah b's B-day. It sounds like everyone is doing well. Everything is tight as Bet here in Lihue Kauai.
Last week was probably one of the best weeks of my mission. We found 5 new investigators and we have 2 with a baptismal date right now. Rob mentioned finding a lot more investigators on his own efforts, we've been seeing the same here. Elder Parker and I have made a covenant to do a windows to heaven at least 5 days out of the week as well as to OYM (open your mouth) at least 10 people a day which is hard sometimes because we have so many lessons, we hit 20 lessons last week and we plan on getting more this week (this Wednesday we have an appointment scheduled for every hour of the day). Our zone theme this transfer is "Find a Family", I made a mini "Title of Liberty" out of a broom stick and My dead companions old shirt and made a tight "find a family" stencil and sprayed it on there. Which ever companionship gets the most OYM's in a week gets to take home the title of liberty for a week and sign it. Ever since we covenanted to talk to more people we've been seeing miracles everyday! To help us find a family we are looking for doors that have a bunch of shoes in front of them when we knock on doors. 5 of our 10 OYM's need to be "shoe houses". It seems like every time we go tracting now we end up teaching a lesson, The lord isn't making us knock that much, sometimes it's the first door we go to. I know that when we have faith that these people are out there and we commit to doing everything to find them, and then we go out and go to work that God Will Lead Us to find them.
I'm loving Kauai, it's so beautiful here, it would be a fun vacation spot. They have a nice Marriott here, good restaurants, a zip line jungle tour, mountain atv's adventures, Helicopter rides, beautiful hikes, huge beaches, and the most beautiful drives on earth.
It's been kind of cold here. Last night it got down to like 12 below. (12 below 70) one of the members let us borrow a little heater. Any thing below 70 here is freezing, I don't know what I'm going to do back in Utah. Can you have like a big coat waiting for me when I get off the plane? Like Rob I'm really looking forward to my last transfer and I think it will be my best.
To answer some of your questions: Yes, Rob I got your package with the T-shirt, thank you so much it's tight as bet. Yes, Mom you can open those packages I sent home, they are your Christmas gifts.
Well I hope you all have a great week, I love you very much and Pray for you every day.
Love,
Elder Prina
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Touch in the mud
1.Currumbin wildlife sanctuary.
2. Touch in the mud pday
3. " "
4. Elder Stowers & I(from draper ut.) - we are the only two missionaries in the mission who have served with both Pakis (1&2).
G'day mates!
G'day mates! I hope you're all doing well. I haven't gotten any emails as of yet today. Not much news as of yet this week. The Elder Neil. A. Anderson Mission tour got canceled last Friday because of the massive floods in Brisbane. They just went to Sydney instead.
My companion e.Stringfellow and I are doing well. the work in Mudgee is still slow, but we are finding and teaching more people through our own efforts. The Prasads came to church again this week. Annie didn't go to relief society though, she says she thinks its boring. Haha, I don't know what to say to that.
The members in this ward are great and they are taking really good care of us. And they seem to be getting more missionary minded. I could be here until I die (come home). So I am giving it all I've got in this area. Final stretch. Today is just a normal Monday pday. I think we are just doing some activity with the zone at the stake center. We weren't able to tie down Jade for a lesson this past week and he didn't come to church either because he said its to early now that we've switched to 9 AM. So i was pretty disseminated in him. (Devastated).
I hope that the natural disasters in Queensland soften the hearts of the many Godless Aussies. Australia has been well over due for some humbling natural disaster. But people are really starting to pull together as communities to work on putting Queensland back together. I hope that they also begin to open their hearts.
We've heard a lot of negative things from people we've tracted into and talked to recently. Holding to the Iron Rod of the scriptures helps me to keep my head up and look forward to these last days and know that if we are prepared we shall not fear. I love the Book of Mormon. You can learn so much from it about so many different aspects of life.
Mark are you all right? we talked to James Miller on the phone on Christmas and he said you got in a scooter accent or something. I haven't heard from you in a while so i just wanted to make sure you are still alright. Hope you are, 'cause i still would like to go flying with you as soon as I get home... (after we go to Wendys of course.)
Hope you all are doing well. Please keep - The Prasads, The Pagels, Jade, and the Mudgeeraba missionaries in your Prayers.
John and Matt did you get your Christmas Pressies? Hope everyone is having a wonderful new year and is able to fulfill all of their Resolutions. That is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. Change.
Love you all, hope you have a great week. Remember who you are and what you stand for.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
My companion e.Stringfellow and I are doing well. the work in Mudgee is still slow, but we are finding and teaching more people through our own efforts. The Prasads came to church again this week. Annie didn't go to relief society though, she says she thinks its boring. Haha, I don't know what to say to that.
The members in this ward are great and they are taking really good care of us. And they seem to be getting more missionary minded. I could be here until I die (come home). So I am giving it all I've got in this area. Final stretch. Today is just a normal Monday pday. I think we are just doing some activity with the zone at the stake center. We weren't able to tie down Jade for a lesson this past week and he didn't come to church either because he said its to early now that we've switched to 9 AM. So i was pretty disseminated in him. (Devastated).
I hope that the natural disasters in Queensland soften the hearts of the many Godless Aussies. Australia has been well over due for some humbling natural disaster. But people are really starting to pull together as communities to work on putting Queensland back together. I hope that they also begin to open their hearts.
We've heard a lot of negative things from people we've tracted into and talked to recently. Holding to the Iron Rod of the scriptures helps me to keep my head up and look forward to these last days and know that if we are prepared we shall not fear. I love the Book of Mormon. You can learn so much from it about so many different aspects of life.
Mark are you all right? we talked to James Miller on the phone on Christmas and he said you got in a scooter accent or something. I haven't heard from you in a while so i just wanted to make sure you are still alright. Hope you are, 'cause i still would like to go flying with you as soon as I get home... (after we go to Wendys of course.)
Hope you all are doing well. Please keep - The Prasads, The Pagels, Jade, and the Mudgeeraba missionaries in your Prayers.
John and Matt did you get your Christmas Pressies? Hope everyone is having a wonderful new year and is able to fulfill all of their Resolutions. That is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. Change.
Love you all, hope you have a great week. Remember who you are and what you stand for.
Love, Elder R.A.Prina
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Flood the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ
G'day mates,
Its good to hear from yous.
Here is the news:
Last week was transfers on Tuesday. Elder Christensen got transferred to Gympie (which is now flooded badly). I stayed in Mudgeeraba with a trainee (greenie). But he didn't come in till the next day. So I stayed the next day in Mudgeeraba with Elder Bezzant (who is also waiting for his trainee) Elder Bezzant has been out for 22 months, but I've never served around him (just a clue as to how big our mission is). He was actually trained here in Mudgeeraba so it was fun to talk to him about certain things and people, and how things have changed in the area in the past 22 months, and what things are still the same. He got to visit a few people that remembered him from the beginning of his mission.
Wednesday night we drove the hour 1/2 up to Brisbane to the mission home to pick up our Trainees. I got Elder Stringfellow from Provo, Ut. He attended Provo High. We are getting along great!
We dropped E. Bezzant and his trainee (E. Pond from North Salt lake) off in their area, Logan. I told him I would trade him areas. I would rather train in Logan than in Mudgeeraba. I thought for sure I was getting transferred. I'm determined to find out this transfer what the Lord needs me to do here. I have a few ideas. We have 2 families to baptize - The Pagels and The Prasads who have both seen small glimmers of hope recently and our investigator Jade. We have appointments set up to teach all of them in the next week where we will be committing them all to baptism. Please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they will receive an answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is True.
Its been a fun week with E. Stringfellow. He's the typical greenie. His accent rings in my ears, it is so full of Utah. We are nothing a like except for the fact that we are here to serve the Lord. So that is what we have been rolling off of. We are doing great so far. He Likes ball room dance and Science.... so yea, that's how a like we are.
Its been raining all summer here. Hasn't been much of a summer. I don't mind it; but yes, as you may have heard there is terrible flooding in Queensland. I have been thinking my whole mission that the wicked worldly people of Australia were well over due for some natural disasters. So I guess this is it. North and central Queensland got flogged. I'm fine.
I have just been told I have to get off the computer. I'll try to finish this on a different one.
Love you all,
Elder Prina
Hey, sorry about that. I just hopped on another computer.
The flooding has hit northern and central Queensland pretty hard. It hit Brisbane really hard yesterday. The city was partially evacuated and is pretty much shut down today. Public transportation is getting shut down too. The Gold coast where I am is alright and it is actually sunny outside today for the first time in ages. We are going to play touch in the mud today.
My new companion is great and we are working really hard and he's had a few really good teaching experiences so far. The ward is great and our new ward mission leader is awesome. The Prasads have been coming to church regularly, I'm not sure what Annie's hang up is.
The Pagel's whole family came to church for the fist time in a while and we set up an apt. to teach the dad, Roland, before he goes back to Papua New Guinea. We've found heaps of new potential investigators through our efforts, and I'm realy looking forward to the work this transfer.
Elder Neal L. Anderson is visiting our mission this Friday in Brisbane along with Presiding bishop Richard C. Edgeley, and Tad Callister so hopefully the flooding hasn't effected that plan that would be a bummer. I am really looking forward to it.
It sounds pretty cold and gloomy there. I'm sure that having loving family close keeps your lives warm though.
Matt, that's awesome that you finally got to go to the Laie temple! Our temple trip got canceled today because of the flooding! That was disappointing. That would be so cool if the Lantz's came to visit; especially since we will be back then. they are the best!
Did you guys get my Christmas cards? I just sent you another small Christmas gift dad and Matt. Matt and John did you get your packages yet?
Mum, it sounds like you are keeping busy with family history, baking, exercising, and entertaining. I can't wait to go snowboarding with you and the Montez' when I get home! Hopefully the snow isn't all gone by then.
Dad, its good to hear the good BYU news among the bad Albion village news. Remember to count your many blessings. We've gotten through every thing else as a family, I'm sure we can get through this. My Goals are set high for education when I arrive home. I will take your advice to pray faithfully about what I should go into when I get back.
Thanks for the pictures last week. I'll try to send some today.
I'm thankful for the lords tender mercies and for the little miracles that i see everyday. I know that there is no way that The Church could not be true. Your testimony's are a strength to me. I love and miss you all.
Be the change the world needs.
Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
Its good to hear from yous.
Here is the news:
Last week was transfers on Tuesday. Elder Christensen got transferred to Gympie (which is now flooded badly). I stayed in Mudgeeraba with a trainee (greenie). But he didn't come in till the next day. So I stayed the next day in Mudgeeraba with Elder Bezzant (who is also waiting for his trainee) Elder Bezzant has been out for 22 months, but I've never served around him (just a clue as to how big our mission is). He was actually trained here in Mudgeeraba so it was fun to talk to him about certain things and people, and how things have changed in the area in the past 22 months, and what things are still the same. He got to visit a few people that remembered him from the beginning of his mission.
Wednesday night we drove the hour 1/2 up to Brisbane to the mission home to pick up our Trainees. I got Elder Stringfellow from Provo, Ut. He attended Provo High. We are getting along great!
We dropped E. Bezzant and his trainee (E. Pond from North Salt lake) off in their area, Logan. I told him I would trade him areas. I would rather train in Logan than in Mudgeeraba. I thought for sure I was getting transferred. I'm determined to find out this transfer what the Lord needs me to do here. I have a few ideas. We have 2 families to baptize - The Pagels and The Prasads who have both seen small glimmers of hope recently and our investigator Jade. We have appointments set up to teach all of them in the next week where we will be committing them all to baptism. Please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they will receive an answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is True.
Its been a fun week with E. Stringfellow. He's the typical greenie. His accent rings in my ears, it is so full of Utah. We are nothing a like except for the fact that we are here to serve the Lord. So that is what we have been rolling off of. We are doing great so far. He Likes ball room dance and Science.... so yea, that's how a like we are.
Its been raining all summer here. Hasn't been much of a summer. I don't mind it; but yes, as you may have heard there is terrible flooding in Queensland. I have been thinking my whole mission that the wicked worldly people of Australia were well over due for some natural disasters. So I guess this is it. North and central Queensland got flogged. I'm fine.
I have just been told I have to get off the computer. I'll try to finish this on a different one.
Love you all,
Elder Prina
Hey, sorry about that. I just hopped on another computer.
The flooding has hit northern and central Queensland pretty hard. It hit Brisbane really hard yesterday. The city was partially evacuated and is pretty much shut down today. Public transportation is getting shut down too. The Gold coast where I am is alright and it is actually sunny outside today for the first time in ages. We are going to play touch in the mud today.
My new companion is great and we are working really hard and he's had a few really good teaching experiences so far. The ward is great and our new ward mission leader is awesome. The Prasads have been coming to church regularly, I'm not sure what Annie's hang up is.
The Pagel's whole family came to church for the fist time in a while and we set up an apt. to teach the dad, Roland, before he goes back to Papua New Guinea. We've found heaps of new potential investigators through our efforts, and I'm realy looking forward to the work this transfer.
Elder Neal L. Anderson is visiting our mission this Friday in Brisbane along with Presiding bishop Richard C. Edgeley, and Tad Callister so hopefully the flooding hasn't effected that plan that would be a bummer. I am really looking forward to it.
It sounds pretty cold and gloomy there. I'm sure that having loving family close keeps your lives warm though.
Matt, that's awesome that you finally got to go to the Laie temple! Our temple trip got canceled today because of the flooding! That was disappointing. That would be so cool if the Lantz's came to visit; especially since we will be back then. they are the best!
Did you guys get my Christmas cards? I just sent you another small Christmas gift dad and Matt. Matt and John did you get your packages yet?
Mum, it sounds like you are keeping busy with family history, baking, exercising, and entertaining. I can't wait to go snowboarding with you and the Montez' when I get home! Hopefully the snow isn't all gone by then.
Dad, its good to hear the good BYU news among the bad Albion village news. Remember to count your many blessings. We've gotten through every thing else as a family, I'm sure we can get through this. My Goals are set high for education when I arrive home. I will take your advice to pray faithfully about what I should go into when I get back.
Thanks for the pictures last week. I'll try to send some today.
I'm thankful for the lords tender mercies and for the little miracles that i see everyday. I know that there is no way that The Church could not be true. Your testimony's are a strength to me. I love and miss you all.
Be the change the world needs.
Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
Hey everyone
Hey everyone,
I am enjoying my mission here in Kauai. This wed. is transfers and I'm staying here with Elder Parker. Elder Parker is good to keep me going till the end. He holds me very accountable. For Zone Leader Council we flew to Oahu on Thursday night, We stayed overnight and went to a session in the Laie Temple. It was the best experience of my mission. I know God Loves us and he answers prayers. Thank you for your prayers.
Love,
Elder Prina
*We received a wonderful letter from Matt's Mission President with Matt's coming home date, Friday Feb. 25th at 7:23AM. The six elders coming home will fly all night.
I am enjoying my mission here in Kauai. This wed. is transfers and I'm staying here with Elder Parker. Elder Parker is good to keep me going till the end. He holds me very accountable. For Zone Leader Council we flew to Oahu on Thursday night, We stayed overnight and went to a session in the Laie Temple. It was the best experience of my mission. I know God Loves us and he answers prayers. Thank you for your prayers.
Love,
Elder Prina
*We received a wonderful letter from Matt's Mission President with Matt's coming home date, Friday Feb. 25th at 7:23AM. The six elders coming home will fly all night.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Happy New Years
This is a link to a Music Video that I made for a song that I wrote when I had 6 months left on my mission. Its a Parody of the Creed song "One Last Breath (6 feet from the edge)". There is a great guy in our ward named Ben Gilgen who is a professional musician. He recorded me in his studio on a pday and then took the video of me singing it on his phone. He's hilarious. He sent me the link to send to you guys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDpq55RZcfA.
Its kind of embarrassing, just remember its a parody - its meant to be funny not serious. Its featuring my now former companion, Elder Christensen saying "FAR OUT!" in an Aussie accent in the chorus'.
I love the members here in the Mudgeeraba Ward, and I've gotten pretty close with some families. I love being a missionary and getting to work with the people here in Australia.
Enjoy.
Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
p.s. you can also find it by just typing in "elder prina" in the search bar on you tube.
Its kind of embarrassing, just remember its a parody - its meant to be funny not serious. Its featuring my now former companion, Elder Christensen saying "FAR OUT!" in an Aussie accent in the chorus'.
I love the members here in the Mudgeeraba Ward, and I've gotten pretty close with some families. I love being a missionary and getting to work with the people here in Australia.
Enjoy.
Love,
Elder R.A.Prina
p.s. you can also find it by just typing in "elder prina" in the search bar on you tube.
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