Cool & Freaky Rattlesnack!

Here is our Elder Auna holding a Diamondback Rattlesnack! He said it was "cool and freaky at the same time holding it." So far, he's also got to see chipmunks, skunks and a coyote.

Fortunately, it wasn't alive when this picture was taken. They made sure to take care of it so that it wouldn't get into any homes nearby.

Love for Music! Love for the Elders! Love for our Family!

Today, our family recieved another letter from Elder Auna. He has asked that we keep him in our prayers, and if possible to fast for him as well. He's just facing a challenge among the missionaries he's serving with, especially just this one Elder. The Elder has done nothing wrong or said anything wrong towards Elder Auna, but he feels irritated by him. Everyone feels the same about this one Elder, and everyone's working on making things better with him and for everyone. Elder Auna finds this past week, a challenging and hard one. May we write too him and email him more encouraging words.

Elder Auna we'll be singing in the next Zone Conference, which it'll be in 4 weeks. It was mentioned in a recent email that he got busted by Sis. Sanchez (Mission Pres Wife) and a couple of the others Sisters. They found him singing and playing the piano one day. He expressed his love for music in today's letter, and give THANKS to our Family for teaching him and having him involved in music.

"I know that I'm not the best singer out here, but I know I have a talent for music. A talent I'm grateful that my Heavenly Father gave me. Thank you family for brining music in my life. "

We had sent some church hymns in Hawaiian to Elder Auna, and said he'll be teaching his roomates some songs. Which I find so great and totally awesome.

He also expresses love for each of our family members. "Love you Mom, Dad, Jace, Aaron, Jackie, Elise, Elijah, and the rest of the family."

As the letters come along, I'll do my best to summarize or scan them for you all.

Letters written on Feb 26th, 2009

Mom, Dad, and I each recieved our own letter written from Elder Auna on Feb 26th, 2009. I know that he's busy but I was blessed for recieving a birthday letter. I want to quote a few things that was written in the letter too me...

"I am doing fine as always. I got into a little bike accident just a couple of days ago. I wrote to mom about it, it was funny. Thats what I get for not being nice to all the missionaries that get into bike recks. I'm riding my bike and all of a sudden I'm flying through the airy...Try imagining seeing the Kung Fu Panda flying in the wair in slow motions after getting kicked by someone. HILARIOUS!!!"

Gosh the experiences he'll go through, and the many stories to be told in the future. I'm sure all of us look forward to hearing from him.

Email sent March 11, 2009

Picture taken when Elder Auna first got to the mission field.

Picture taken 2 weeks ago.

hey mom,

Today....has been another crazy day. We did our zone activity around 10am, which is our email time.....so we came after. its was hard to find a computer and we have to go soon. its 1:40 over here. So sorry again for not writing a long email....tell jace and and aaron and jackie sorry for not writing emails to them. but i will next week. Im glad you got my letter. i havnt recieved anything you sent yet. hopefully it will be here today. I havent been at home all day, so i'll check when i get home later today.

Anyways all things are good here. Im sorry to hear about uncle bill... but im glad to here about uncle Kahea.... :)

Tell denise and Jonah My prayers are with them. Tell them i love them too. I miss you all and you will get my letter next week as always.

Love you mom.jace. and dad. eveybody

LOVE,

Elder Auna

ps. oh yeah.....sister sanchez and couple other sister missionaries caught me singing in the primary room the other day when i was on the piano. I was singing oh my soul hunger.....you should have seen their faces.... they were in shock with a smile on their faces.... it was funny.

Well, sis. snachez and the sisters told pres. and my zone leaders....and are making me sing for zone conf. Thats what i get for not making sure nobody is around. Plus my comp....always tells the members how good i sing. Even though i tell him not to say that. dont worry im embracing the oppurtunity to sing...with a grin. you know my nomral grinning face.

To make you a little happy i put an attachment on here with two pictures. One is when i first got here and the other two weeks ago. You can see the weight change in both pictures. In a couple of weeks i'll send more. Ive lost almost 20lbs so far. Its been slow and steady. Although the members feed us alot...im still losing weight, its cool. mainly because of all the walking weve been doing. Elder nash bike is still in the bike shop... so weve been walking or catching ride . everything is good.

Dont worry about the weight ok. i know you say you dont worry. but im jus reminding you not to get worried.

I'll tell more in my next letter home.

loveyahs

3rd letter from Elder Auna

Letter from the Mission President

Email recieved on Feb 25th, 2009

Hey mom....its another p-day. You know how i said I get bored on p-days...well i change my mind. yeah its funny, i find that Pday gives me a break from riding bike....but it doesnt change my love of teaching and teaching and teaching more. My legs get to rest from the hard jurupa hills that we trek everyday. My legs are getting big again because of all the riding. Elder nash is always amazed to see my calfs every time we. Ive been waiting for the bike to arrive, and i just found out it did. I'll be getting it soon. Ive been using another bike while waiting for mine. just a couple of days ago. I got blinded by these stadium lights and didnt see a pot whole...so i ended up fliping over my bike. Im ok...so dont worry. I was actually laughing while lying on the ground. nothing, broken or brusied...so please dont worry. I was laughing so hard I dont why. anyways. If i need more or anything else i'll tell you. Ive been going good here in fotana in the live oaks ward. Ive met alot of hawaiians here, especially the johnson family. They love me so much....they feed us all the time. My comp is surely loving the spam. I'll send a picture soon that we took of with them. Ive also met people who lived in hilo....so its cool. the ward is really making me feel at home. The lord has open many doors for us....even my companion is shocked that we have been able to get into homes that he and other elders couldnt get into. We did some home teaching with brother johnson one night, and to his amazment we got into alot of his homes which he couldnt do for years. one of those homes was the kukahiko home. They open had open the door and they said hey you from keaukaha. he looked like fransis, but i knew that was the older brother. So we a good nite. I was really happy....he decided to call uncle pat and aunty wanda. to tell them i was in the sistahs home. he asked if i wanted to talk...but being obedient i said no. Im not saying that being hawaiian has gotten us into homes.....but its because of the similarities between the me and the people we meet...the spirit definately directs us to the right places. We have been able to teach more lessons. I know the lord is surely blessing myself and elder nash, and sent me here for a good reason. Im gonna write my letters as always....so i'll tell more in the letter. As for the goody box....what ever you want to send is good with me. I miss having poi...but i know its exspensive. so dont rush to send anything expensive. Can tuna...cuttle fish all of that is good. Just dont send chocolate im trying to stay away from that. im greatful for all the things you do for me. Im glad to hear that dad is teaching again. I know the lord is blessing all of us. Remember to keep reading the scriptures. It has been a great tool for me in teaching our borthers and sisters. Love you mom....and i'll write to you again next week. LOve always,Elder Auna