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