Sunday, May 31, 2015

The Story of a Puppy

We rescued a puppy...

GIVE A LITTLE MORE

WOW WHAT A WEEK. So to start I haven´t gotten more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep for the past 8 or 9 days. Normally that´s ok! BUT when you´re walking for forever everyday it gets a little rough... I also got food poisoning AGAIN! WOOOOOOO lol It really got to the point that I had to THROW myself out of bed in the morning and just beg for enough strength to make it to the ironing board. The morning of Stake Conference I truly considered not going because of how far my physical limits have been stretched. Then I just had a small feeling to just go a little farther. SO I did and turns out the Lord unfolded his blessings. Mark Chase was waiting for me at the Stake Center. I heard ¨Elder Hefner you are a hard man to find!¨ I can´t describe to you how happy it made me to have him there. I actually looked up and smiled thanking my Father in Heaven for the reprieve. Also President Cornish from the 70 was there speaking and helped answer a lot of the questions I had. ALSO 5 of my less actives showed up to church! AT STAKE CONFERENCE! One of them being the HAITIAN family I am teaching... Mark went to work teaching while I was still left gawking... I fasted as instructed by the Lord and finally started feeling energy again and was able to work despite the lack of sleep. We had a fantastic week last week with 32 lessons with 13 with members! TONO IS GOING HOME with the missionary work... Although something opened my eyes this week.. We were teaching and for the first time someone told me that they did not know who God or Jesus Christ were... It was honestly the greatest experience explaining that we have a loving Father in Heaven and a Savior. I think the lesson this week is that Even when we think we have given our all we MUST give a little more. THAT is when the Blessings come. 
Me with Mark Chase!WOW IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIM... AND SPEAK ENGLISH lol  (Mark served with Tim Sr. back in 1988 - Haitian Creole speaking. Timmy is trying to learn Creole also but what a blessing Mark was there to teach that Haitian family)
Evanine...She is a Haitian member from the ward! and Tono!

The Story of a Puppy

OH anddd We rescued a puppy... Hey don´t worry it is just in our apartment for tonight. Our investigator Yolanda, who has lost her husband and 4 others this year, just lost her dog. Me and the dog were best friends. Every time we came over she would freak and jump all over me. Her dog died giving birth.. SO we found the puppy and she was honestly a sign because we brought her home but she ran away. But today she was waiting on the corner again and I felt like it was the right thing to do... It was meant for Yolanda!! Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.
My first Baptism Frankairo received the Melchizedek Priesthood this week!!!!!! And my practically brother Carols!!!  WOOOOOOOOOO They are best friends and the First and second councilors in the Young Man´s presidency of our ward. They are starting their papers!!!
Read Alma 37 especially verse 37 it is my favorite about prayer and the meaning of a meaningful prayer... But hey I have to go now... I love you a ton mom! Hugs to the family!!

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/37?lang=eng

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.





Friday, May 22, 2015

The Miracles were NONSTOP the day of Tono´s Baptism...

BAPTISM OF TONOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Me and dad were wearing the same stuff... (Tim Sr. had a baptism the same day 5/16/2015)

THEN IT BECAME A COMMUNITY PROJECT

Ok so Saturday we showed up at Tono's House with 2 and a half gallons of paint. We yelled out Tono and he came out and the look on his face was disbelief... THEN IT BECAME A COMMUNITY PROJECT HAHAHAHAHA Everyone just couldn't believe what we were doing! They brought chairs out to watch us paint and so many people passed by asking if we could help them paint their house just because we did a really good quality job! IT OPENED SO MANY DOORS. 
The Before picture... His house was 4 different colors...AND THE AFTER PICTURE... We repainted the windows white and the entire house yellow as to his request... Everyone was amazed because we did a quality job...

Us painting the house... We all signed our names on the roof of the house!! lol 

Us with Tono and his son Carols (One of our new investigators)

Us with Heidi the wife of Carols and Tono...
We now are teaching all of Tono´s family in that house and A family across the street! Tono even said he wants to help his entire family become baptized or re activated! BUT Tono´s baptism was so beyond Spiritual and I truly believe it revived this dead ward... I was SO nervous before the Baptism because it was my first one in Spanish but right as someone was bearing their testimony the Spirit just flooded me and I heard ¨You were born to do this.¨ Right after that my heart stopped beating fast and I entered into the Waters of Baptism with Tono. After the Baptism we were all crying and then It was announced that I would be singing... Guess who forgot? Yea... ME. So I opened up the Hymnario to I Need The Every Hour and just sang straight from my soul and WHOA. After that the Bishop spoke and for the first time I saw this man cry. He extended a loving invitation to Tono and then GAVE HIM A MASSIVE HUG... Tono is famous for his hugs... THEN everyone else wanted to join in but the Bishop said we had to wait until after the prayer hahahahahaha. It was amazing.. ALSO someone payed for our Ruta (taxi) to the Baptism AND on the way we found an investigator that went off the map for 3 weeks and now he is finally wanting to come to church. We also have found a little community to teach! We literally go from house to house right across the street and we have 3 new families there as well... TALK ABOUT AMAZING. Our area has EXPLODED with people. It came at great sacrifice and a whole new level of endurance I have never before known in this life. Also The day Tono was confirmed I received the gift of the interpretation of tongues. I was asked by a member of the Stake Presidency to translate for a Haitian Brother who is a return missionary who only speaks French and English... I hardly know Spanish but I was able to translate all of Elders Quorum for him AND translate what he wanted to say from English to Spanish.... TALK ABOUT AMAZING!!
With Tono and his family

Service Project in ¨The Boonies¨ with some of the familes we are teaching... The lady is Mercedes... She received the lessons 15 years ago and still remembers the names of the missionaries! She feeds us A LOT lol 



Us burning all the trash (no such thing as garbage men out here)


 and Me preaching the gospel to every creature as instructed... He said NO btw... lol

The youth that we are teaching up there... they are SO smart and are reading EVERYTHING and know all the answers to our questions before we ask them... Investigadores de ORO (Golden Investigators) lol


 The zone... only elder Henze left this transfer

 I have to go... I love you mom and dad!!! LOVE YOU MOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH D&C 88:62 through 86!!!! (What he wants us to study this week)

Elder Hefner

 62 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
 63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you;seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
 64 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;
 65 And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.
 66 Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.
 67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
 68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
 69 Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.
 70 Tarry ye, tarry ye in this place, and call a solemn assembly, even of those who are the first laborers in this last kingdom.
 71 And let those whom they have warned in their traveling call on the Lord, and ponder the warning in their hearts which they have received, for a little season.
 72 Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them.
 73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.
 74 And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;
 75 That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfill this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will.
 76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.
 77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.
 78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
 79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—
 80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling where unto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
 81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned toward his neighbor.
 82 Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads.
 83 He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken.
 84 Therefore, tarry ye, and labor diligently, that you may be perfected in your ministry to go forth among the Gentiles for the last time, as many as the mouth of the Lord shall name, to bind up the law and seal up the testimony, and to prepare the saints for the hour of judgment which is to come;
 85 That their souls may escape the wrath of God, the desolation of abomination which awaits the wicked, both in this world and in the world to come. Verily, I say unto you, let those who are not the first elders continue in the vineyard until the mouth of the Lord shall call them, for their time is not yet come; their garments are not clean from the blood of this generation.
 86 Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free;entangle not yourselves in sin, but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes.


I believed that I could NEVER be forgiven...

So this is us golfing! I made that shot onto the green from about 200 yrds away... MY GOLF SKILLS ARE GETTING SO GOOD! I can´t wait to bring grandpa and dad here.. It is a mountain course in FANTASTIC CONDITION that we can see ALL of the island... and the carts are super fun! 


Wednesday 5/13/2015 E-mailHey So I left my keys at the golf coarse and we have to go all the way back now so I don´t know if I can email today... If i can´t today I can tomorrow... SORRY! LOVE YOU! 

Thursday 5/14/2015 E-mail

Tono has his baptism Interview today right after we finish talking! and we are doing the service Saturday morning as a GIANT surprise. The zone is coming too to help! lol 

So the power of repentance is real. I am not talking about just major sins but the little ones we do everyday as well. We have a divine birthright as Sons and Daughters of God. We are his LITERAL children. How blessed are we to be Sons and Daughters of the One True King. He is very quick to forgive and the Power of his Son´s Atonement will cover ANY sin. Our garments which were once stained red can be white once more. I have learned this lesson personally this week and just wanted to share it with all of you. Most of the time in this life we feel as though we have a weight we can't get rid of. Or if we feel like we have had a tough day it can seem as though we have a massive weight on our shoulders. The power of the Atonement of Christ is for everyone. It is the only thing that can relieve this weight from us. My first testimony came from this power about 3 years ago. I sat one night feeling as though I had nothing left to give and had NO IDEA which way my life was supposed to go. I had done a lot of wrong. I believed that I could NEVER be forgiven. Then something told me read in The Book of Mormon ( Another Testament of Jesus Christ that we read hand in hand with The Bible) and in it I read from 2 Nephi Chapter 4. For the first time in my life I truly called upon the Name of my Savior and the help of my Heavenly Father. Now I am a big guy and I have lifted weights almost everyday of my life. So when I say this next sentence I mean it literally. In this moment it felt as though i had 100 lbs taken off of my chest and shoulders. I felt light and I actually began to smile and weep tears of joy. Sins that I had carried for years were forgiven in an instant and I began my process of coming to Love my Savior. Guys He is THERE, WAITING and LISTENING. He knows our potential. My mom wrote me once and said something that is a undeniable truth. She said ¨Everyday we have the Opportunity to start all over¨ And I testify of her words that it is true. With the help of our Savior, Redeemer and Best Friend we can. He suffered all for us so that we need not suffer at all. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ok I have to go... Our Zone leaders are waiting for us! But I will send more next week! The computer keeps freezing! But your scripture is 3rd Nefi 17!! I read it this morning and it really touched me! LOVE YOU!!!! Talk to you next week! And you need to read it in SPANISH NOT ENGLISH!!!! Ok ttyl!! 

 Elder Hefner

3 Nephi 17
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/17?lang=eng



Thursday, May 14, 2015

GUESS WHAT?!!!!

Me with Tono in a lesson!

TONO IS GETTING BAPTIZED AND SENDS HIS LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. HE is ALWAYS talking about you mom! He told me 4 times this week to make sure I sent you his love and to the Family. The man is amazing! He already wants assignments to go teach. The Lord has answered my fervent prayers because he went from not being able to walk to practically fast walking up and down hills with us! He has progressed so fast. Funny thing is is that he didn't have any ties (He is poorer than poor) So I gave him two of mine. The first time he wore it EVERYONE in the streets was shouting his name yelling Que Guapo!!! (How handsome!) It was amazing. The smile on his face made my week. 

And his new Tie! His favorite color is ... GREEN! He wanted me to take some pictures and send them to you!!!

A mother's love, intuition and gift of the Spirit

First you need to know about my e-mail to Elder Hefner - this is what I said to him:
I forgot...WATCH OUT FOR SMALL LIGHT BLUE CARS!!!

I know the Lord will protect you BUT ...I was awake on Sunday and saw a small light blue car that was going to hit you as you crossed the street. The car was making a left into the street and did not realized you were crossing... You know me...just a warning
Image result for old blue fiat hatchback sort of like this butIn this colorImage result for old blue fiat hatchback
I love you! YES, YOU CAN TELL YOUR COMPANION THAT YOUR MOTHER IS CRAZY!!
XOXOXOXOXO

This is what Elder Hefner wrote in his e-mail:

Also today I had a very interesting thing happen... We had planned on going golfing today but last night I had a incredible bad feeling about it... This morning I prayed for a double confirmation about it and it came again. I even bought a polo shirt for it... I was so excited.. as was my companion. I debated going or not, but I have learned too many times that not listening to the Spirit has led me into dangerous paths. I prayed the Lord would touch my companions heart. I then heard him call the other Elders and tell them, then he said ¨And Yea I have the same feeling too".¨The other Elders in our Area didn't question it and the Other two Elders gave a little bit of a hard time but eventually just said ok.. It was a huge point for me of courage.. 

Mother's Day SKYPE Call

 I am skyping from the Home of Hermano Cruz... Honestly they are my second family here. They feed us once a week and just have such a love for the missionaries. I have headphones and a microphone though! (Our thanks will never be enough to Brother Cruz and his family)  I CAN´T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL SUNDAY!!!

A companions dream

Hey Dad don´t worry about me being homesick... That has been conquered completely!!  I also told my companion that we need to be doing more. I don´t think we have been doing enough and frankly I think we have the Potential to be a great example to the Mission... But in other news... I HAVE STARTED LEARNING CREOLE!!! It is for a Haitian family we are teaching... Also last night my Companion had a dream that President Douglas changed his mind and wrote me a letter saying I would be transferred to a very Specific Area with the 2nd highest Haitian Population in the Island.. After that he Said I would be Transferred to Da Jabon for the Rest of my Mission... It is ALL Haitians... As I started learning the Language I was beyond excited and touched with the Holy Ghost... It actually felt more natural for me to speak than Spanish.. My Comp Believes I should have been called to speak it originally... So we will see if your feeling comes to pass... I hope it does. I can´t begin to tell you how much I love these people... Thanks for your love dad!! Talk to you Sunday!!
Me with my Haitian Family that I am learning Creole For!! Yes, we have the opportunity to teach many Haitians... It is honestly something Incredible... 

Guess what!! I am using a portion of the money Amy sent to surprise Tono.. His house is so beat up and run down.. So I am buying Paint and we are going to surprise him and paint his house... He wants it the same color and I already confirmed it secretly!!! 

I love you too!!!! I can´t wait to see you all and my boys!!! Fair warning I am darker than Abuelo... lol But I have to go!!! Talk to you later!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hefner

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

What does it mean to be an instrument in the Hands of the Lord?


To be an instrument

So this week President Douglas asked us to think about what is means to have ¨An eye single to the Glory of God¨ I pondered these things for quite awhile and the other night I received my answer. As I sat in a Stake Missionary devotional I felt the Spirit Enter and remind me of a very important lesson I learned before my mission. I listened to what was said to my heart and what was brought to my remembrance. What does it mean to be an instrument in the Hands of the Lord? As a performer this lessons means something a little different to me. I thought about the Hundreds of times I have played and something interesting happened every time. People would walk up to my friends like Pedro or Jon and compliment them on there music and how well they played. When a musician is really listening and has a top of the line instrument the sounds he or she can produce really (what I believe to be called) a song of the heart. He or she pours out their soul and heart through this instrument and in turn all others around a blessed to be in their presence. So my question is..: Are we a top of the line instrument? Do we let Heavenly Father pull our slides adjust our settings and fine tune us? Is he able to use us to proclaim the most beautiful melody ever created, The Gospel of Jesus Christ... Are we able to say that Our Lord and Master, The Perfect Musician, Can use us to share the song of his love with all who have the eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to feel it? Are we the best we can be for him. After all all things are for his Glory. The Lord was an example of this in The Garden of Gethsemane when He said ¨not My will but Thine be done.¨ He must receive the credit for ever good work. We must not keep anything for ourselves. When we let pride or vain ambition enter into our hearts the The Musician finds himself with an unplayable instrument. After all an instrument in it´s case is nothing until the Musician picks it up, assembles it to his desire and starts playing as he knows how. Let us all be instruments of the Lord in doing His work and following His will is my prayer in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Elder Hefner


My week was amazing but I am super sore... we did 11 hours of service yesterday... Five of which were in the sun using nothing but tiny shovels to clear out a half acre of land... ALL THE GRASS y TODO. MIRA QUE DIFICIL!!! (and everything...look how dificult)lol

A Miracle

 OMGOSH WE HAD A MIRACLE THIS WEEK!!!! The Miracle was TONO!!! HE CAME TO CHURCH. I believe he has cancer and by the way his body is degrading I believe he will die soon.... I can´t begin to describe how much i feel abuelo´s love when I am with him mom.. HE WALKED 2 miles in the hills to get to church this Sunday and was the first one there at 8:30!!!! We have about 10 investigators and 7 with a date right now!

Dominican Air Conditioning... We normally just lay down on the Tile and sleep just because it is WAY cooler lol 
me eating Morcilla... It is Fired Pig´s blood.... ¨Kid´s do not try this at home¨ should have been the warning label... 

A Dominican Kitchen... This is where we prepared the food at the Service project

WE REALLLLYYY BLESSED THE FOOD BEFORE WE ATE!! It was so good!!!
Elder Henze ( My brother from another Mother) and Hermanas Reyes and Gonzalez. They are AWESOME!!! Some of my greatest friends here!
Also...I am known here among the Members, missionaries and investigators for my love for dogs... 

Helping her move a second time...Her house caught fire due to electrical failure.