ONE MONTH

March 30, 2010 10:10 AM

Dear Family!
I hope you guys got my email this morning! I told you a lot there so this one won't be too long or anything so, let me know you got it!
So first of all I LOVE YOU GUYS so much! I miss all of you! Tomorrow I will have been here 4 weeks already! It's gone by so fast and at the same time it feels like I haven't seen you guys in forever!
Stuff here is just the usual! Food is harsh but the spirit is great! I love the TRC and practicing teaching people! It's cool! I've gotten a lot better at it for sure! The MTC isn't bad at all! I like it here! It'd be perfect if you could be with your family! Ha ha!
I just can't wait to get out of here and be in Italy! I'm so excited for that! I'm glad to hear all is going well at home! Yes, I wrote Grandpa back a while ago and I'm going to write the Barker's right after this! I wrote Eric last week.
Thanks for keeping me updated with sports! Let me know about the NCAA stuff and let me know who wins it all!
I love every little thing that I get from you guys! It's like Christmas when I get something!
Conference is going to be ballin! I hope you guys have a great conference weekend and a great Easter.
I love how you guys are reading the scriptures! I'm in Alma and they are talking about the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's! They (the scriptures) are such good examples! I love them so much! Brian- Learn to love the scriptures now! Don't be dumb like me! Always listen to mom and dad and be a good boy! I love you dude!!! :) :)
So pretty much you guys are the best family and I can't wait to see you guys! I can't wait for your next letter you send!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love Anziano Bona!
PS: Here are a few pics and a note from Anziano Bolnick!

Dear Judi,
I heard you wrote on my facebook! (By the way, my GF has control over my fb, not my parents, they're not too happy that I'm here) But anyways, I just thought i would say hey back! And thanks for all the food you send Anz. Bona, we all certainly enjoy it :) Thanks!
Anziano Bolnick

For Mom and Dad

Dear mom and dad!!!!

I've been doing pretty good! This last week was kinda rough not gonna lie but it's ok because this week has started off really good so hopefully it will continue!! Last week was just hard because we got pounded on with the language!! But it's ok i think i'm getting better at it!
dad guess what.... i go to trc on monday's and yesterday i balled it up!! my companion can't speak italian very well at all, so during the italian section we had to talk with them for 15 min and i pretty much did the whole thing! it was pretty cool and stuff! The language stuff is coming along slower then i wanted but at least it's coming! haha
mom thanks for getting in touch with kourtney and i think it's a great idea that you are going out with her and jessie. they probably need a talk from judi! it always helps! i loved them! haha
But ya i can pray and bear my testimony in italian. we learned that the first weekend we were here haha now is just like conjugating in the future and past and just a bunch of wierd stuff! ha it's hard but it's ok.
Yes i'm so so excited for conference! i think it's going to be amazing and hopeully a lot of prays will be answered in it! i know they will be! No i didn't get the donuts yesterday but i talked to coulton and he did! haha he says hi and thanks!!
Ya i see jordan all the time. on sunday we sat by each other during the movie and we just talked and chilled the whole time. it was nice to talk to someone ya know!! we are going to try to get a pic of all of us by the temple! when i do i'll send you the memory card so you can put them on facebook or whatever! haha
Thank you guys so much for your support and everything! i pray for you guys every time i pray! i hope everything at home is going well!! i also do enjoy the packages and everything hahaha
i love you guys so so much! Take care of brian i know you guys will!!

Love Anziano Robert Bona!! :)

PS i'm going to write you guys as well so you'll get a letter in the mail sometime soon!! and yes kourtney did write me twice last week :) haha Love you guys!!!!

For Brian

Hey little dude!!!

How are you!! :) Thats so dang cool that you got to go to the jazz game! keep me updated on how they are doing and stuff!! But that's good read the scriptures every day! there are some of the best stories in there and you really will learn a lot and you will get so many blessings!! keep up the good work! i'm glad everything is going well! i miss you a ton! i love you so much!! keep on taking care of mom and dad. They need it! Whats going on in the ncaa tournament!?!?! let me know :)

i love you so so much!!!!! i miss you!! be a good boy and listen to mom and dad!!

love Anziano Robert Bona

Tuesday March 23rd

Dear Family, !!! :)
I hope you guys got my emails today! Dad, I'm sorry I didn't get to email you back! I really did enjoy that scripture though! Thanks! I did read all of it though! The Italian is coming along slowly but at least it's coming along!
My typical schedule is like different everyday! Some days I have class in the mornings and other days I have it at night! It's all messed up but we are all getting use to it now!
The food here is interesting...some days it's really good and other days it's freakin terrible! But one thing that stays the same each time is that it is all so fattening and really will make you fat!!! I'm doing my best to not get fat but I don't know if I'll be able to hold off for 6 more weeks!!!
The towels are great though! I love it! Shaving pretty much sucks like always! I haven't used the electric one I've only used the real razor! I hate doing it, but it's okay! I did get my hair cut! It turned out OK! I won't complain because it was free!
If you see anyone that I love, please give them my love :)
But, my companion isn't "peter priesthood" he's actually funny and stuff! I love him.
Keep me updated on how things are going and about dad's work stuff!
I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!
Can't wait until I hear from you again!
Love,
Anziano Robert Bona

Dear Mom,
Sorry I forgot to mention this in my letter! Can I get a bottle of Dr. Pepper??? and some of that lotion I use for my face? I get way dry after I shave! If so that would be great!
Thanks for all that you do!! I love you tons!

Hello Judi!
This is Anziano Lesa.
It's been great being here and learning with (and from) your son. He's great and I know ( as all wise men do) that he gets that from his mama. Thanks for doing such a great job with him!!
Anziano Lesa
PS: Thanks for the treats. Anziano Bona is a great sharer! :)

Mama Judi!
I gotta let you know that your son is the greatest companion I could ever have. We're best friends no doubt.
Thanks for providing all of us with treats.
I've learned so many good things about you.
You're a saint!
Love,
Anziano Dunshee

As you see, all my companions love you! And so do I! :)
I can't wait to hear from you soon!
LOVE YA!!!

P.S. Tell the family hi and I love them too! And possibly a few more envelopes would be great too! If not, that's okay!
Love you all!

Dear mom :) aka JUDI!!!!!

Can i just say i love you so so much!!! I love your packages they make me so dang happy you have no idea!!! keep em comin!! haha But ya everything is going well over here! I did get a hair cut and it doesn't look terrible but it's not great either! ha I'll probably send some more pics home in a week or so!

Elder Dunshee and I are getting along pretty good!! He is a nice and funny kid. It's just hard to stay on task because we both love to joke around so much! But it is ok cause we have been getting way better at it! And yes of course i write in my journal!! I love doing it every day! It's the one place where i can just vent and get away for a bit!!

If there are any people in the ward or anyone else you think i should write or say thank you too just send me their email!!

Tell dad i wont be able to respond to his email because we only get a certain amount of time a day to be on the email and my time is almost up!! Tell him i love him so very much!! I pray for you guys and especially him everyday!!! I too will be fasting for him!!! :) but yupp two fast sundays down 22 more to go!!! hahaha jk I love it here don't you guys worry!!!! i'm also gonna write you guys a letter too so you'll probably get it in a day or two!!

Goodbye guys i love you all so dang much!!!! Miss you! and i can't wait until i hear from you guys again! :)

LOVE Anziano Robert Bona

March 16, 2010 Tuesday

Dear Mom and Dad,

First of all I hope you got my email. I sent it earlier this morning. If you didn't then let me know your email just to make sure you guys get it! I hope you did!
I feel the great hear and i love it! It seems like almost every day here we have an amazing spiritual experience.
I am not in the same room as Elder Bolnick. Elder Lesa is a guy in my room. He is half Samoan and we just seem to get along good. He's a bigger guy with glasses. There are 13 of us in our district, 8 Elders and 5 Sisters. I love my teachers. There names are Brother Tulini (sp?) and Brother Clarke. They really are amazing and they invite the spirit so well.
Doing laundry isn't bad at all. Today was the second time we've done it and I'm already a pro! Tuesdays we go do a session at the temple at ( blank), and on Sunday we to to the temple for a walk around (blank). I think you guys should come to my last walk around the temple in two months :) ha ha!
How was Jordan's farewell? I've heard about Scott and that is just awesome!!!
How have you guys been? Sorry dad about the work but I pray and hope you find something soon! But, yeah, everything here is going great! Thanks so much for all the packages you have sent. I love it! They completely make my day. :)
Thanks for everything, I love you guys so much! I can't wait to hear from you!
I LOVE YOU!!!

Love,
Elder Bona


Dear Brian,
I'm so glad you're doing good! That makes me so happy! But, yeah, my comps name is Elder Dunshee...you're right it does sound like that! I love it and him!
Ya, I have seen Coulton! He says HI!
How did your game go? How did your ballroom competition go? I hope you did well on both! I'm sure you did because you're a baller! I love you so much dude! You're my favorite! I look at your picture every night!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Keep being a good boy and keep helping mom and dad out! I love you bro!

Love,
Elder Bona

(There was some editing done to these letters)

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Dear Mom and Dad,
Geez, it feels like forever since I've seen you guys! I miss you guys a lot and love you so much! Today (Tuesday) is my p-day so this is when I'll be writing you guys! I think I'm to go fix my email later today, so I'll let you know when that happens!
Dad, I actually read and understood most of your last letter! I won't b able to answer back in Italian for a while though! You can keep writing me like that! It helps me to practice. I loved the Homer references it made me laugh! :) Take care of mom and Brian for me.
Mom- thank you so much for all your packages and food! They are exactly what I need!!! All my companions love them too! You're already the coolest mom in the whole MTC! Judi!!! :) ha ha!!
Both of you - so far after the first week I don't want to come home yet so I think that's a good start! ha ha! But seriously. It's going ok! My companion is an interesting guy! His name is Elder Dunshee and he is from Bountiful Utah. He's funny and makes me laugh. We get along okay and I love him. He has a good heart and that's what matters. Yes, I met Jake Barney. He is a really nice guy, but he is not in my district so I only see him at lunch and gym and a few other things. And the other guy is Elder Bolnick. He is probably my favorite one here. He is in my district and we seem to get along really well. Most of the other guys are pretty cool too! Anziano Lesa is one of my favorites too! The Italian is coming along kinda slow, but it's ok. It's just kind of frustrating at the beginning. I love classroom and doctrine stuff though! There is such a great spirit here it's awesome! My testimony has grown so much just in this first week. This is exactly where I'm suppose to be at this time of my life! :) So far, so good!
How'ss is it back home? How's work? Dad got a job yet? :( I pray for that to happen every time I can. I promise everything will be okay! Just have faith! :)
How is grandpa and Lorraine?
Oh, thanks for keeping me updated on sports! I really like that a lot!
I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! Can't wait until I hear from you again!
Love
Elder Bona


excerpt from Brian's letter:

Dear Brian,
What's up my dude??? I've been really good! Just doing my thing over here! You'll love it when it's your turn! Thanks for your letters and for your picture! I loved it all! Italian is kinda tough, but it's coming along! My companion is a nice guy. I love him! But guess what?! I love you more!!! I'm glad things at home are going okay! Are you taking care of mom and dad? If not you need to be! You're the man of the house now. How's school going? How are all your friends? If I know you, which I do, then I know they are doing good! I taught you well!
I love you man! You're the best!
Can't wait until you write me again.
Later bro!,
Love,
Elder Bona

March 4th, 2010 9:50 PM

Dear Mom, Dad, and Brian!

First of all I just want to let you guys know that I enjoyed your letters so much! I almost cried :) but I didn't! I love you guys so much!!! I miss you guys a ton! But don't worry everything is fine! The spirit here is so good and so strong that it makes it a good place to be! Oh! I need hangers! For some reason I don't have any! Once again, I need hangers! I haven't been able to set up my e-mail stuff! I don't know my password or anything like that! Hopefully I can get that all fixed on my p-day, which is Tuesday! I will be able to e-mail for half an hour on that day! My companion is ok. He's a nice guy but kinda nerdy and quite. But we seem to get along okay so that is good.
Sorry I got to keep this one short, my Branch Pres. said so. But everything is okay so far. Tell everyone hi for me! Especially my special friend! :)
I'll e-mail you when I get my e-mail all fixed which hopefully is this Tuesday! Can't wait to hear from you soon!!!
I love you all so much!
The church is so true! I know it!!!
with love,
Robert


Here is Robert's address for whoever would like to write him:
Elder Robert Louis Francesco Bona
MTC Mailbox #112
ITA-Mil 0505
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

FAREWELL AND MTC

This past weekend was Robert's farewell. It was amazing to see how many of this friends showed up. Our ward normally has 290 people and that Sunday there were about 500. After our church meeting we had a "small" get together at the clubhouse. It was a nice way to say good bye to some close friends.




Giovanni took Robert up to the Provo Temple a few days ago to take some pictures. Here are a few of our favorites.



This morning we took a few last pictures before we dropped Robert off at the MTC. It was raining, but there were some Elder's who were willing to get a bit wet and take our picture for us.
Also there are a few in front in of the house before we left, then Judi and Brian in the car after we dropped him off..trying to smile!






We are so proud of Robert and his desire to serve the Lord. He will be a great missionary and do great things!

Buon Lavoro Anziano Bona! Sei un ragazzo speciale! Ti vogliamo bene!!!