4/27/2010 10:15 am

Dear Family!
I hope you all got my email! I tried to send one to Brian, hopefully it worked! So first of all. Dad, I am so happy you got a job! It is comforting to know the Lord helps us when we really need it! I'm so so happy!!!
Now the flight plan stuff! So we leave the MTC at 5 AM on Tuesday morning and we head to Chicago at 8 AM. We get there at 11 AM Utah time. And our flight to Frankfurt Germany doesn't leave until 2:30 PM Utah time, so I'll probably call inbween 11:30 and 2 PM Utah time. Probably and mostly around noon sometime, so be ready! :)
I am super excited to hear you guys! I love and miss you guys tons! Anyways, we should get to Italy about 10 AM Italy time on Wednesday morning April 5th! It's gonna be long but great! I'm so excited!
I told you that I had to get a $70 shot. I just used the debit card, so probably put a couple buck on that then the extra $100 would be nice, just in case something happens at the airports. I get to sit by Elder's Barney and Bolnick on the airplane! So it's gonna be ballin! I think I'm just going to send my stuff home through the MTC Post office.
We get to write you guys on Monday next week so that is when I'll send the other memory stick home! But here are some pics anyways!



Please send anything that you think I might need or that I'm forgetting!
I do think I'm ready and my Italian is decent and my testimony has grown tons! God loves us all so much! We are truly lucky to have this gospel in our lives!
Don't take it for granted like I did Brian! I love you guys a ton! Can't wait to hear from you guys again soon! :)
Love,
Anziano Robert Bona

April 27, 2010 One Week Left in the MTC

Dear Dad,

I think you answer back crepi!?!?! or something like that! ha ha But yes the MTC experience is going great!!!! And yup I only got a week left! I got my flight plans :) ha ha ha ha ha but you'll just have to wait till moms email to hear about them! And I'm so happy about you finding a job!!!!!! I told you that the Lord would make sure everything works out! I'm so so happy for all you guys! I miss you all a ton! Dang, it sounds like Brian is gonna have a ballin summer!! Lucky kid! Thanks for letting me know about sports in the outside world! GO JAZZ!!!!! ha ha ha Cheer hard for me!!! I love you so much and thanks for your great example!!! You are the best! But now i gotta write the rest of the fam!!! You know how mom is!! ;) hahaha

I love you so Much!!!!
Your son,
Anziano Robert Bona


Dear Mom!!!!
I love you!
Things are going great and yes I feel like I'm ready to go to Italy!!!! And yes I got my travel plans!!!!! We fly to Chicago then to Germany then to Milan!!!!! How ballin is that! I will give you exact times when I write you! I don't have much time on the computer so this is gonna be straight and to the point! Yes money would be nice! I had to get a shot and it was 70 bucks!!! Ouch!!! Yes a little shampoo and of course razors couldn't hurt! Deodorant would be nice ha ha ha ha just to stock up! I'll probably just send stuff home through the MTC..... and I haven't gotten Kourtney's letter yet so ya just in case send me her number where i can get a hold of her! And ya you can give her this email! at least I hope so! So do it anyways!!!! ha ha ha ha Yes dad told me about his job and it makes me so so happy to hear it!!! We are spending the whole day at the temple today and we are fasting and I was fasting for dad so that's cool that he got it!!!! :) I'm excited to just get in the temple and chill and read and feel the spirit!!! Send me anything that you think would be useful!!!! You know I'm terrible with all this stuff!!! ha ha ha ha I love you so much and am so thankful for everything!!!! Oh yes I found my memory card!!! ha ha i gotta go but i will tell you more in my letter!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!!! Tell Brian sorry I didn't have time to write him I'm just so so busy!!!! I love him too :)

Love your son,
Anziano Robert Bona :)

50 DAYS/6 WEEKS

Dear Homer ;) ha ha ha

I'm doing great!!! Stuff with my comp and I are going just great! Thanks for letting me know about the Jazz and keeping me updated on that stuff! I am working hard and having a great time! I should be getting my flight plans this week!! How freakin ballin is that!! :) But hey sorry to hear about the job stuff.... I know everything will be OK and will work out. I know it might be hard but just keep on doing the things you are supposed to. The Lord will find a way for everything to work out!! I just know it! You are always in my prayers! You are such a good example to me and I'm so thankful for all that you have done for me and all you do for mom and Brian! You are amazing :) I love you so so much!! And oh I'm glad you go to all three hours of church I wish I was more like you! I love you! I hope you find comfort in praying and reading the scriptures!!! I know I have, and you can too!! You are always in my prayers! I love you :)

LOVE Anziano Robert Bona

Dear Mom!!!

I'm doing really really good! Sorry you got the impression that I wasn't doing good cause W was! It was just a bit rough teaching last week. But this week was totally awesome!!!!! TRC yesterday was amazing. Probably the best one we have had so far! I am helping Elder Dunshee as much as I can. He did so so good! The good thing with us is that we teach by the spirit and we just always teach together! We are getting along great don't worry!!! :)
Haven't gotten the package but I probably will today! Thanks so much for all you do and all!!! I love it so much! I'm excited to get it! Thanks for keeping me updated with the Jazz and all! It's still kinda nice to know whats going on in the real world! ha ha! I'm really glad Brain is doing good and having fun! He is a baller!
Money wise I think I'm OK..... I've used the debit card a few times but that's it ha cash... I'm OK ha but a little extra wouldn't hurt just in case my bags are heavier then they are supposed to be ha but no flight plans yet. We should get them sometime later this week!! I'm so excited for that! I will totally call you guys when I'm at the airport. I'll probably call when I'm in the east coast somewhere when it's not super late here. I'll let you know! I think I might call Kourtney too ha we will see! But um can you send some soap and shampoo!!! That would be nice! ha ha I haven't heard from Kourtney about prom yet but I'm glad to know she had fun ha and I'm glad Seth and everyone else had fun. I gotta go I'm running out of time! I will write you guys today so you guys should get a letter in a day or two!

I'll talk to you later goodbye I love you so so much :)

LOVE your son Anziano Robert Bona :)


April 20, 2010 10 AM

Dear Family,

I was so glad to hear everything is going well. Everything is going way good here too! I'm just super stoked for Italy! Anyways, TRC yesterday was legit! The spirit there was so incredibly strong it was amazing!!! We both bore powerful testimony and asked her to get baptized and just taught her the importance of it and she said yes! It was easily the best one we have done so far!
We should get out flight plans this week so next week I will let you know what's up! About the temple thing...I don't think that you guys need to come. I'll just call you guys while I'm at the airport, then call you again that Sunday! (Mother's Day). I just don't want to risk it being hard to say good bye again! I do want you guys to know I love you all so so much! I think I'm going to try to write Grandpa and Lorraine again today. It's weird that they hadn't gotten my first one! I hope they are doing well! Mom and dad, you guys should go to the temple! Go as often as you guys can! Brian once you turn 12 go do baptisms for the dead all the time! The temple is an amazing place and prayers are definitely answered there! Don't get discouraged about the job stuff. Everything will work out I promise. I know it's hard but remember tithing is important! I know you guys can do it! All you need is faith!
So, ya! I think I'm going to need to send some stuff home like my extra suit and my white shoes! ha Send back the other camera card because I want to send you guys one more before I leave!
Just know it's all great here!!! I love you all so much and am so thankful for you guys! Can't wait to hear from you again!

Love Anziano Robert Bona

HE SPEAKS ITALIAN

One of Robert's friends parent's are going to Chile on a mission, actually as mission president and wife. They are going to the Chile Santiago South or North mission...can't remember which....anyway....
M goes to the MTC several times a week to study Spanish. Today as she was walking the halls..guess who she saw???? That's right! OUR missionary..Elder Bona!!! She said that he wanted to give her a hug so bad (her son and Robert are really good friends-he is going to another mission in Chile in June and they leave in July)....but of course there are rules that missionaries must abide by..so instead of a hug he handed her is Book of Mormon and their hands hugged for a few moments.....
M continued to ask how he was doing and how the MTC was treating him. He said that he really loved it there. He told her that he is always having some type of spiritual experience and that it is wonderful! He also told her that he really loves his companion that they get along so well. He said that in his district there have been other comapionships that have hit the rocks a few time, but that he and Elder Dunshee really are great friends and have a wonderful time together and they have never had any problems!
M then proceeded to ask Robert about his Italian...he said that it was coming along okay. She asked for him to bear her his testimony in Italian. He did it!!! She said he sounded amazing and she was so happy for him! Then Elder Dunshee proceeded to bear his testimony as well. She said that you could tell that he was having a bit more difficulty with the language and Robert had to help him along, but he did it as well. We were so happy to hear that Robert could actually speak in Italian. We were also glad to know the he is helping his companion out as well with the language.
M said that Robert looked like a missionary, spoke liked a missionary and you could see that he was becoming a great missionary!
He passed hugs our way and to tell us that he missed us all "like heck"!
(We miss him "like heck" too!)
As they were talking his friend Coulton (who is going to Athens, Greece) came up to them, so they all were able to visit for a few minutes, then Morgan with his escort walked by and they all said hi! Morgan is going to Raleigh-Durham North Carolina and was just entering the MTC today when they all saw him. I'm sure he was glad to see a familiar face!!!
I have to admit that my eyes teared up for just a minute.
We are so proud of Robert. I can't wait to here him speak in Italian...Finally after 16 years he is speaking Italian again!!!!
Sure do love that boy!!! and miss him "like heck" too!!!

(This is a post from the family blog on April 14, 2010)

13/4/10 4:30 PM

Dear Family!
So basically I wanted you guys to know that I love you all! Like a ton! I already told you guys a lot that yes, the MTC is going great, but I can't wait 'til I get to Italy! It's gonna be so so legit! Ha Ha :)
Yes, I saw Ian and he's doing great! I see all my boys all the time. It's so sweet to see all of us in here all together! I can't wait to see Morgan tomorrow! :)
Favor! Can you find out Anthony's address and give it to me? I've had a really strong feeling that I need to write him. If you could do that it would be great! Also send more of the fruity chap stick, please? :)
Tell everyone in the ward thank you from me! I got a package from then with little notes from everyone and I got all teary eyed and I love them and miss them! Let them know that everything is going great!
Mom and Dad..I hope you guys are going to all 3 hours of church! ha ha! :):)
Can you also send my line of authority? It's something we've talked about here and I just thought it'd be sweet to have! And I'm sending back my original patriarchal blessing just in case, because I don't want anything to happen to it!
I'm glad to know everything at home seems to be going well. Let me know how things end up going with dad's job and stuff. And knowing how the Jazz do is always nice too! :)
The MTC is going pretty good like usual! TRC wasn't that hot, but it was still pretty good. It's just hard to teach when your companion doesn't know Italian. But I love him and he's cool so it's like impossible to get mad at him. And I know that he is trying and he's doing a lot getter lately so it's all good!!!
So. ya, I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I can't wait until I hear from you guys soon!
Love,
Anziano Robert Bona

PS: Here are some pics, enjoy! I love you all!!!!!





This is Robert's MTC District!

This last picture is of Robert and his friend Coulton...they were temple buddies before they went into the MTC. Coulton went in the week before Robert an he is going to Athens Greece!

Tuesday April 6th. 3:15 PM

Dear Bona family, :)
I hope you guys got my email! I got your package and I loved it! :) Thank you so much it made my day! So I just got back from the temple and it was amazing!! Two Italian Elders are leaving next Tuesday so this was their last session and it was so good! I felt the spirit a ton. It was so great! You (mom and dad) should go to the temple every time you get the chance!
I took that one missionary picture that you wanted me to!

I'll be sending home the memory card next Tuesday so you'll get more then!
How was lunch with Jessie and Kourtney?! Did she get my letters? I sure hope so! Let me know!...
But I'm glad you guys watched conference! It was just amazing! The talks I loved: ALL OF THEM!!! ha ha
I did enjoy Elder Holland's talk on love and lust. It was so deep and good! I love when Elder Bednar talked about watching out for warnings and warning signs. I think if we all do that it will be a lot easier for us to stay out of trouble and what not! I hope Brian listened to David L. Beck's talk because he will 12 soon and he should totally do the Duty to God program! (Actually I know he didn't because it was in the Priesthood session~ so make Brian watch it!) :):)
I loved President Uchtdorf's talk on patience! I loved Eyring's talk on diligence! And President Monson's talk during priesthood was unbelievable as well! Mom you need to watch it when you can because it was the best one I've seen so far!! I loved it! I also loved the talk about Mothers! Thanks for being so good to me mom! AKA JUDI!!! I love you!! :)
Pretty much this was easily the best conference I've ever heard! And the only one that I've heard the whole thing! How sad! :( It's okay because I'll watch all of them from now on!
Things here have been normal! It's just really repetitive but it's not terrible. It could be worse. Last week just was a bummer because I was sick, but now that I feel good we are all systems go and I'm ready! I think I told you about TRC in my email but if not I'll tell you again! It was amazing! It was the first time we've had to teach a whole lesson in Italian and we were kinda nervous but we were blessed by the Lord so it went great! :) Hopefully we can do even better next week!!!
My companion and I have gotten way close. We've had a few heart to hearts and it's been great! We get along so so good! I truly do love him and hope the best for him!
How are you guys doing? It sounds like everything is going well and it makes me so happy to hear that! Sorry I don't write in Italian. I can't read or write in Italian! My brain is handicapped sometimes!
Dad I love you so much and look up to you a ton! Thanks for everything! I pray for you every night! I know that everything will work out with your job and stuff!! Just don't throw any sandwiches and all will be good!!! :) ha ha!!
Just have faith in Christ and all will be okay! Here is a cool little something that I have and I though it'd be cool for you guys to have one too! (see post fellowship of the unashamed).
I love you all so so freakin much and I miss you all a ton! But it's okay I know you guys and myself will be fine!
I can't wait to hear from you guys soon!!! Thanks for your great support and your prayers!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love your son and brother,
Anziano Robert Bona

FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tames visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith; lean on His presence, walk with patience am uplifted by prayer and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast; my goal is heaven. My road i narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know and work 'til He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My Banner will be clear.

Elder Eyring

GENERAL CONFERENCE

Dear Mom!!! And this is for dad too even though he didn't send me an email!!! hahaha :P

Yes this weekend was absolutely amazing!! I'm so proud that you guys watched all of the sessions!! Guess what?! I did too! and I didn't even fall asleep! ha ha! All of them were my favorites! I will give you more details about which ones I liked the most because I don't have my notes with me right at the moment! I think that's great that you guys watched the priesthood session talks! They were all so amazing! I had 10 questions that I had going into conference and all of them were answered! The Lord really does answer our prayers! TRC yesterday was awesome! It was the first time we had to teach totally in Italian, and it went amazing! We committed him to be baptized and he said yes and I almost jumped through the roof!!!!! :) It was so nice just to see that it is possible and I just felt so good when someone would say that they accept the gospel and accept Jesus Christ as their savior. The gift of tongues truly does work. When the Lord wants you to talk He will help you!!! The Italian is coming along slowly but its OK. It's still a bit frustrating but I just don't let it get to me!! I just gotta be patient and that's what I'll do! :) ah!!!! I did write Kourtney but it got sent back to me so I sent it back so I hope she got it yesterday!!! Please ask her for me and if she hasn't gotten it yet please let me know so I can write her again!!!! I think that's great that you talk to her every once in a while and that you guys can just talk like you did on Saturday!!! Overall everything here is OK. I got pretty sick right before conference but I'm feeling so so much better now!!! The food here kinda sucks and makes me use the restroom a lot but it's OK hahaha ;) Sorry to hear about dad... I'll keep him in my prays.... I love you both so so much and miss you guys a ton!!! But this is where I want to be and I know everything will be OK!!! I'll write you guys later today and give you more detail about things! Let me know how today goes with Kourtney and Jessie! Take care of Brian and keep me updated on sports!!!!!

LOVE,
Anziano Robert Bona :) :) :)