Live what you believe

Doing what I do best... Grilling up some MEAN Tacos!!! I marinated the meat for 2 days and it was SOOOOOO TASTY.

New Comp..

My ¨son¨ in the mission Companion Number 5 ! :) The call the trainers ¨Dads¨ and ¨Moms¨ here... I think it is a culture thing lol My comps name is Elder Ramos from UTAH! He is the oldest of 9 kids!!! He is awesome and has a lot of desire to learn. ... maybe you can find the mom of Elder Ramos on Missionary moms and let her know her son is ok and in great hands. I am going to teach him how to cook (He doesn't know lol) By the time these three months are up he is going to be even more of a fantastic missionary than he is now. He has the most important tool though and that is the Spirit.. HE HAS PLENTY OF IT and I am super grateful for a companion who wants to learn and work together in Harmony. I am sure he will receive MANY MIRACLES.

Zone Conference and this week

... mom this area was so dead. We had to work to hard to revive it. BUT The hermanas have 3 with a date that I have help taught. Whenever they have a husband our young man who doesn´t listen very well they call me in and we normally have VERY POWERFUL lessons. But a young man they are teaching has specifically asked me to baptize him. BUT we have an amazing new family we are teaching who assisted church for the first time..: WHICH IS A MIRACLE because they live like 30 mins away and they LOVED CHURCH!!! Turns out a member is one of their best friends and they are SUPER CLOSE with him. We have another who has accepted to be baptized so we are putting a date with her and another Young man who has A LOT of potential to be baptized. The zone conference was AMAZING!. Our mission president is a modern day Captain Moroni. Elder Zivic has such a strong spirit. I found the new family contacting with spirit and the young woman as well.. And we found the young man contacting as well... IT IS AWESOME!

Zone Navarette with Elder Zivic from the First Quorum of the Seventy and his wife and President Castillo... I am on the upper right...

Zone Service Project and Grilling!

Doing a zone service project in my zone! My New Machete :) and fixing up the roofs here. Elder Falogoo (The Huge Samoan WARRIOR) Found a snake while we were cutting and it was sick watching them battle it out as he killed the snake lol Also fixing up the VERY leaky roof!

ALSO...Sharpening our machetes and more slashing and wacking... I miss our gas powered weed wacker .... lol AND LAWN MOWER.

 

 

 

 

Family Home Evening

Doing what I do best... Grilling up some MEAN Tacos!!! I marinated the meat for 2 days and it was SOOOOOO TASTY. Hermana Charo´s son is serving in mexico so she wanted to taste what he was eating everyday. SO we turned it into a giant Noche De Hogar (Family Home Evening) And we invited another family and a bunch of investigators. Two of whom have a date for baptisms!!! WOOOO DISTRICT ESPERANZA!!!!! Btw Hermana Cordova made some KILLER authentic homemade Guacamole! :´)

 

A message to you

The more I am studying the Scriptures and Jesus The Christ I am becoming closer to my Savior. It is really my ultimate goal right now. I want to know him better and I REALLY want to have a relationship with him. Right now I only know the Power of his Atonement. I know the Actions but I fail to know the man. But I am learning a little more everyday.

1st Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Sometimes in this life we have a hard time preaching the gospel. Well maybe it is time we apply this quote to our lives ¨Preach the Gospel and when necessary use words.¨ Live what you believe Brothers and Sisters. When you are in public AND when you are alone. Remember you are the examples of truth.

But hey I got to go now. need to put a good example... Love you a ton.

Elder Hefner

There are very few things more powerful...

HEY! Me teaching basic math at 8:30 at night lol IT WAS AWESOME... But I felt like dad... It was creepy lol

A message for All Mothers

This message is for all mothers who are in need of help. Maybe you have a youth that has gone astray or maybe someone in your family suffers from a crippling disease or maybe you just need the strength to get up and work everyday. There is a quote by one of the leaders of the Church. I know this quote to be the truth because of the example my own mother has showed to me during my short life. It says " There are very few things more powerful than the Faithful Prayers of a righteous mother" - Boyd K. Packer (Apostle in the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.) I believe and know this to be true. Keep your faith. Keep going. Your prayers WILL be answered if you are worthy and trying to do all you can to keep the commandments of our Lord. You are loved. To feel this love all you have to do is reach and and pray. He will send his love through the Power of the Holy Ghost. This I testify in the Sacred and most holy name of my Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen.

Some of the Young Men we teach... THEY ARE INSANE. lol

A message to our Young Men and Young Women

Tell them to follow Christ..I will be back in no time lol Tell them they all rock and to do EVERYTHING NECESSARY to join me out here  in the field. I could not be happier if I had my brothers out here in the field working with me to help bring others to the truth. To know they have my back and I theirs would give me tons of strength to keep going. LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

Thought you would enjoy this picture mom lol.. (This is the Haitian Creole Dictionary Elder Hefner's dad used during his mission. Two Elder Hefner's name at the top of the pages)

The importance of a father and family support

I have literally been fighting everyday to keep going. There have been days were it took all that I had to leave the Apartment. Between my back and my stomach the Lord has been trying me to my limit... Since I got to Esperanza I have lost 11 pounds!!!! I am now 217... I haven't been 217 since 9th Grade... lol... But we have begun to see the Fruits. He is revealing the people who are ready to hear the word. They have taken the form of little children who need help learning math to the man who proclaims that he is a sinner long gone and can never receive forgiveness for what he has done. I have learned that this gospel is for all. The healing and empowering message of The Atonement of our Lord and Saviour is for all to feel and experience. WE ARE NEVER TOO FAR GONE. I was reading an old ensign this week and I now have a new quote pasted into the front of my scriptures.. It goes like this "I Hope to be judged as good a man as my father. Before I hear the words Well done from my Heavenly Father, I hope to First hear them from my Mortal Father" - President Boyd K. Packer. This really touched my heart and I learned the truth of this great message very quickly as the Spirit testified of its message. I am grateful dad that you are back home taking care of our little fold of God. I am so grateful that you and mom never gave up on me and always put a firm example for me to follow. It has beyond blessed my life. I love you so very much. I am grateful one of us will be there for the Birth of my niece. She has been blest to be born into a family of amazing grandparents like you guys. Love you a ton. 

His reaction when find out he will be having a niece

Hey Sorry we lost internet 3 tmes..... BUT I AM HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IT IS A GIRL!!!!!!!!! What a miracle... 

My new bag!!!!!!!!!!! It is a bishop and a little old Abuela who make them by hand on the old manual sewing machines that grandma has... You press it with your foot lol 

Me with my new bag New Bag Equals NO BACK PAIN WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

About his new Mission President

I have been teaching Obedience in all my lessons in District and Zone meetings. I live the white bible the best I can AND Preach my Gospel. I had my interview with him. I told him whatever he says I will do and I am going to stick to my promise. I have a lot of trust in him and his wife. They are both amazing people and they only want the best for us. He is such a Spiritual man honestly.

OH BTW I am singing a duet with Elder Christensen for the Zone Conference for Elder Zivic... We will be singing Brightly Beams our Fathers mercy and the Zone of 20 will join us on the Chorus!!! and That will be awesome for you two..I miss the Temple A LOT... But hey I have to go now... I love you mom and dad.. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!

Elder Hefner

A Pattern in all things...

My new Companion Elder Suero. His dad is Puerto Rican and his mom is Dominican. He was born here but has lived in Puerto Rico and Atlanta Georgia! WE ARE BEST FRIENDS

A message to us and Maryanne... actually to all of us

Mom, before her Homework Read 5 minutes in the Scriptures and Start her Homework with a prayer. PLEASE TRUST ME. I can promise you as a representative of Jesus Christ that she will begin to succeed because the Spirit will be there helping her to learn. Mom Seriously DO IT. Put the Lord First and everything will fall into place. The three things we do most to show our faith in the Lord is Pray, Read the Scriptures and Go to Church. How can you expect her to progress if she isn't doing the basics. Mosiah 2:41. READ AND APPLY. It is medicine to fix this situation.

 MOSIAH 2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

MOM DO WHAT I AM SAYING PLEASE. I promise her grades will improve and it will be less time working. If you don´t you WILL NOT see results. Start with a prayer EVERYDAY before the homework. Read a few verses in the Book of Mormon TOGETHER. After the Spirit will be there and It will be 10x´s easier to work without getting frustrated and without the tears and the work will progress faster. The Lord said he will give us a pattern in all things. If this pattern can help people come to the truth and find salvation for their souls it will help my little sis with her homework.

A week full of service

This week...It was rough... And the investigators are rough... But we are pushing through it.. It has been 99 Degrees here almost everyday.. And we are walking more than ever. BUT the working is going.. No baptisms in sight. I had to personally white wash our area... But we should have a few by the time I am leaving. The lessons here take time. Many people can´t read so we have to teach very slowly and very clearly so that they can understand our message. 

Cleaning the house of an investigator of the Hermanas... She has a problem with her hand and can´t clean... 2 bedrooms took us two hours.. 

THE DISTRICT!!

And I hope you like the new skirt I found to Proselyte ;) lol

Cleaning the House of Hermana Mila.. She is Ancient and can´t see AND lives alone... So we cleaned her house and afterwards the Neighborhood lol WITH BRANLY! :) 

Moving the house of Gabot! Our Elder´s Quorum President!!!

Ok I got to go! GLORIANNE IS A BALLOON!!! Hey tell Mary I sent her an Email and that she needs to read it!!! LOVE YOU ALL HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Elder Hefner

WAIT A SECOND! I was afraid!

Hermana Charo Trying on my shoes... LOL Everyone here has tiny feet so we had a good laugh for about 10 minutes as she tried to walk! 

 New Companion and New Mosquitero

THEY FINALLY SENT ME A MOSQUITERO!!! I have been dying!!! We are talking 30 mosquito bites every night. I woke up yesterday with 2 in MY NOSE! I will finally be able to sleep!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO  WOW HOW GLORIOUS ARE THE WORDS ¨Mosquito Net¨ Whoever invented them deserves the Nobel Peace Prize... lol

Yea my comp showed up about 2 hours ago! He seems like a chill guy...His name is Elder Suero.. He has 20 months in the mission and he is from the DR. But he told me he lived in Georgia before so that is pretty chill... I told him I used to go up there alot lol

Dionis (future missionary) learned a lot about How hard missionaries work...I was sad when he left because I love the Kid to death..He reminds me A LOT of how I was before the Mission...

Dionis, Branly and the Sisters

An Amazing Experience

Ok so we were walking home one night and it was about 8:30... In this mission it is perfectly reasonable to say: ok the house is 10 minutes walking away so I can return home and be home ¨On time¨ or a little before. BUT THAT IS NOT HOW THE LORD WORKS. So we were on the way home and I remember thinking ¨Lord what is your will right now? Who needs this message?¨ I then remember clearly hearing (As I waited for an answer) ¨You are going the Wrong direction¨ I looked up at my very confused companion and immediately began walking back the way we came. The Spirit came as I stopped on the corner ¨Right¨ Then afterwards ¨Left¨ Then ¨Contact EVERY HOUSE on this street¨ We went by the first house and they had a family activity so I felt as though it would be wrong to contact them at that time and in reality felt fear. I went to the Second house and began talking with a man when it hit me... WAIT A SECOND! I was afraid! I have NEVER been afraid to talk with someone! I turned around (By which point I am sure my companion thought I had lost my marbles) And I walked up to the house. I was greeted by ¨ HEY! DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH TOO?!¨ It was a young boy who asked and I told them yes. NO ONE HERE SPEAKS ENGLISH. We started talking and then in Spanish so his family could understand. Turns out the kid and his brother were visiting from New York... The family gave us juice and their first question was ¨Why are you guys out preaching so late?¨ My reply was that this was our last visit. The father of the house then invited us to share our message after me doing all my interpretations of the Disney Characters for about 5 minutes which thoroughly entertained the kids lol So we taught the Restoration in about 6 minutes... After that it was followed by about an hour and a half of NONSTOP QUESTIONS which ALL could be answered with the First 2 lessons. Obviously we put a return appt and they were all VERY eager to continue listening. He especially wants a Book of Mormon because ¨If what we say is true the Book would be amazing to read and study¨... Miracle of the Week!

Someone snapped a pic of me reading or preaching lol

Glorianne, Adalyn and Kevin's song

WOW Glorianne, Adalyn and Kevin's song is SUCH an inspiration for me... Really if I ever have a hard day I just put it on and it helps me to relax and IMMEDIATELY invites the Spirit back.. AND MARY DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB!!!!!! (We recorded Maryanne's first talk in Sacrament meeting and Glorianne singing with Adalyn and now Elder Arguelles)

Me with a Recent Convert and Friend Mariany (Also FUTURE MISSIONARY!)

P-Day in Santiago!

I have to go... Ttyl mom & dad!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!! Love you a ton! ttyl! TIME TO GO PREACHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Hefner

I remember asking ¨Lord is this what you want?¨...

The New Hermana in my District from California! SHE´S THE BEST! and With Hermana Bonilla! 

WOW WE HAVE BEEN GOING HAM THIS WEEK WORKING...

and the Lord has opened the Windows of Heaven! The work has EXPLODED here. The Lord has showered down blessings and we have so many new families we are teaching.. Approx 8 or 9 then another 4 or 5 investigators. Let me tell you I have never walked  so far in my life but it has paid off. The Lord has been amazing. We have over 9 BRAND NEW FAMILIES! Most of which are family members of the Members here who we ¨Accidentally¨ Ran into while contacting! WOW and most of them are GOLD TOO!!!! It is so amazing to see what the Lord does. BUT we have to listen. One night in Planning we got into a routine of teaching in Certain areas certain days. As we were finishing the normal planning. I remember asking ¨Lord is this what you want?¨ The answer came clear as day NO. lol I then crossed out all our plans and backup plans and but down the names of a few members in a certain Neighborhood or ¨Barrio¨ (We have about 9 Barrios that we teach... ) That day we got 2 brand new families who were references and one of them was from Hermana Mila.. The oldest Missionary in our ward. This lady can´t hardly see ANYTHING and glasses don´t exist out here, but we finished a lesson with the Family of Hermano Iglesia and she comes in saying ¨There you are! LET´S GO! I have someone for you to teach!¨ We then show up with Hermana Mila and the kids of other members wanted to come with us. We walked into a house with 3 Members and 2 missionaries and began to talk. The Spirit strongly told me to start teaching the Plan of Salvation instead of the Restoration and by the end of the Lesson we were all basically in tears. Hermana Mila bore a testimony that could of raddled the foundations of Hell itself. That one testimony sealed the deal. It was so soft and calm but packed such a spiritual punch that the Investigator at the End of the lesson literally just said ¨Wow that message was so beautiful. Everything you are teaching is amazing.¨ We will be returning Friday again and next week putting a baptismal date! :D SORRY HAD TO WRITE AT LEAST ONE EXPERIENCE! But literally couldn't tell you ALL the Spiritual experiences we have had this week!  I applied some secrets Brother Hoglund sent me and they worked amazingly! It was a very humbling experience doing my first interviews.... It was such a heavy feeling feeling the trust of the Lord in me with these Missionaries... The ward now has new confidence in the Elders as we showed them Our new progress form..We are working hard and I LOVE IT... 

Classic Missionary Shot! hahaha This is the road to church in Barrio La Fe! 

And Glorianne this is the most Expensive bottle of coke you will ever buy.... (They left out the RD Peso Sign) lol

ALSO I bought this as my tribute to dad... IT IS MY NEW P-DAY BAG!!!! LOLOLOL I feel like a women.. Just because I have never been so interested like I am now in Bags and shoes every time I walk into a store.. I FOUND SIZE 13 SHOES TOO!!! They are waterproof shoes that look like boots but cut off at the ankle! THEY ARE PERFECT! So you guys don´t need to send me shoes for the rest of my mission!! WOOOO

PLEASE STOP PRAYING FOR THE RAIN TO MISS US!!! PRAY FOR IT TO HIT US... WE NEED IT REALLY BAD...

 So it looks like I will be here for Christmas if everything go as planned! I am going to be training after this transfer and Training is 3 months minimum lol And just think about it.. After this skype only one more left... OH CRAP!!! lol  

Love you too! I just converted Glorianne and Adalyn's Song and Maryanne's talk online and I am downloading them now!!! THANK YOU MAMA!!!

But hey I need to go now.. I love you  a ton.. Time to go cook popcorn then walk with trash bags full of Popcorn to Church HAHAAHAHA lol BIGGER HUG IN RETURN!!!! :) lol Tell dad to read his email when he gets home!! and to send Brother Gasque a Giant hug from me!! LOVE YOU G2g!!

Elder Hefner #3 :)