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

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. 
 sort of like this butIn this color
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

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.

BROKEN HANDS

Spiritual message of broken hands

I have come to realize that there are times in this life when the Lord calls us to serve with broken hands. I mean this in the Physical and Spiritual sense. I took a good fall this week and road rashed my hands with rocks and all. I had to scrub and pick the rocks out with my shoe polish brush and leaves because I had nothing else available to me. My hands were completely bruised and bleeding and it was a very tough situation for me. I wasn´t able to hold anything or make anything without re-tearing open my hands. The same day it happened we got a call from our good friend Carlos that he was in the Hospital, he had Dengue. He requested that I give him the blessing. As I put my hands on his head the Spirit Whispered ¨I have called those with broken hands to serve.¨ The next day our investigator Miguel (who is huge and has a massive scar next to his eye from a broken beer bottle from a bar fight) had a lesson with us. I testified of the Power of the Melchizedek Priesthood that we hold. He has to wait 5 more weeks to be baptized but is a super strong member already. He teaches us out of the books of the teachings of the Prophets. He desires the Priesthood more than anything else. After the Spirit filled the meeting he looked at me and asked me ¨ Elder Hefner will you give me a blessing. You have the Priesthood keys the door that I am trying to walk through and I need help.¨ As I placed my broken hands on his head I pronounced a blessing that I could never forget. I forgot about my difficulties with the language and I received the gift of tongues. By the time the blessing was complete tears streamed down my face and the Face of Hermano Miguel and he said a soft Thank you and embraced me in a hug. I thought of this experience over and over and I have come to realize that the Lord needs those with broken hands to serve. He asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit. After all we are Born To Serve after the example of our Great Exemplar even Jesus the Christ. Was not the Greatest act of service and love ever performed done with Broken Hands? With the concluding words being ¨Father Forgive them for they know not what they do?¨ He is The Way, The Truth, and The Light. All who seek to serve him first must ask ¨How too can I have Broken Hands?¨ I ask all to ask this question. Please search for the truth. He is there. He is waiting. With hands out strecthed asking us to Leave our Nets and follow him. His foot prints are there in the sand. Will We leave the Boat? Will we walk or run? Will we one day stand before him and weep and behold his hands and feet on bended knee with exclamations of Hosana knowing we have given him all that we are? I ask you to search these things and if any find fault He will be there to help you back into the path. In the Sacred name of our Lord and Master Jesus the Christ.

Elder Hefner

My first agua de Coco (coconut water)straight from the Coconut 

Thanks to what I learned at OCSA (Osceola County School for the Arts)

Also I was asked to judge a singing competition of a school of 600 kids!!! President referred me by name specifically to his first counciler and it was beyond amazing!! I felt like I was back home. I was to judge intonation, pronunciation because it was in ENGLISH! And stage performance and conection with the Audience. After they had me give an improv speach to the kids about my music backround and were I have performed. I then talked to all the kids after.. it was so amazing I felt so loved. I also now teach classes of music to the members and non members on how to read music, direct it, sing it and soon how to play piano! it´s so amazing!! And I got invited back next year to judge by the Principal and Head authorities!! and I am learning how to now since I AM THE WARD PIANIST.... lol Only because I read music!! lol

Helping move a house!! The Elders of our District! Elder Olalere is doing all the Heavy lifting.. AND of coarse the Apartment was on the Third floor with stairwells that were so small my shoulders rubbed the walls lol We then road in the back of the ¨Truck holding eveything up and on Dominican streets it was.... SCARY lol

Also how we move furniture in the DR... Try walking like this for a kilometer... Talk about shoulder muscle workout!! lol 

How we defrost our meat... With a hose and in the Washer... 

And The most healthy dinner ever!!! Bacon and French Fries at 10 at night lol

We splurged and went into the city to eat a mexican pizza and Burrito supreme!!!

Ok love you mama!!! I will talk to you next week!! STAY STRONG!!!

Elder Hefner

Hey I am here but I can´t write much because...

Me with two little girls of the family with the baptismal date... So funny story, the daughters are all members but the parents no!!! So we are working with the parents...

The reason for no blog last week - previous week message

Elder Hefner had been very sick, flu, gastrointestinal infection (send him to the hospital) and food poisoning. He could not leave the apartment for a week and had the mission doctor, and a couple of members stay with him during the day. 

This week was a trial of my faith again. I actually gave up at one point and wanted to go home. I have learned that what my patriarchal blessing says is true. Satan is doing absolutely everything in his power to stop me from serving a successful mission. I haven´t slept in almost 6 months and I live in Babylon. The Lord is helping sustain me though. I have seen his hand and he is revealing his hand everyday to keep me going and to make it over the next hill (Literally.) I am tired and my physical body is at it´s limit. I have been sick almost every single day for two transfers straight. I am standing in the Refiners fire and The Lord is pushing on the billows to make this fire hot. He is hammering out all the imperfections and I am learning to stand in the flame, and the only way to do that is to kneel. I learned what it is I need to do through and investigator. He taught me by sharing a scripture I have heard and shared countless times, Heleman 5:12. 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty stormshall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.  I have lived through trials before but none like this. I lost track of everything that is truly important and my new goal is to make a huge coarse correction. I have taken my eyes off the Savior and looked inward and I have been selfish. If you have a problem ESPECIALLY as a missionary you can NEVER turn inward only out. I must now learn who my Savior is all over again and build my foundation on a sure foundation.

Elder Hefner

Needless to say he was very down and tired of being sick. On Friday, Apr 10, 2015 at 1:37 AM, Tim Sr. wrote:

Elder Hefner, 
Son,
I was lying in bed just about to fall asleep and the whisper of the Spirit awakened me and told me that I had to do something that I've never done before or even thought of... I needed to email you and while praying record my prayer to you ...we always say that we are praying for you but the extent... the words...the emotion of the prayers are never conveyed clearly or precisely... Glorianne and Ben put your name in the temple tonight ... Your mom and I are going tomorrow night then we'll add your name to other temples. I'll begin my prayer now...

I love you son. Return with the Honor that comes from knowing you served your God and Savior to the best of your abilities.... trying times .... and overcoming them .... is why we are here.
God bless your every footstep, thought and action against the adversary.
Love, 
Dad

Elder Hefner's response:

Dad I can´t tell you how much I felt the Spirit while reading this.. I needed this so bad. I just fell and messed up my hands now with rocks embedded so deep that I can´t get them out... I am being STRETCHED hard but the Lord is turning me into something. I was feeling so spiritually low and this helped me to recharge my Spiritual batteries. Thank you so much for your prayers. I feel your love from here. Thank you. I am trying so hard everyday to remember all my covenants I made in the Endowment. Thoughts of the Temple keep me going. It keeps me moving and it gives me strength to walk. Go as often as possible please. For me and for those who you do the work for. I miss the Temple so much... I love you a ton thank you for this..
Elder Hefner

A better week

Hey I am here but I can´t write much because I messed up my hands today and can only finger pluck the Keyboard... But I have a lot of pictures for you.. my new comp is Elder Olalere from California. The virus was healed by a miracle... but 2 days after I contracted severe food poisoning... And the week was good.. And All I can say is that the Lord is giving me signs to know that he is still here. It helps me get from day to day

Conference was amazing. I went in with many questions and The Third Session of Conference answered all of them. I was overcome with joy that I wept when I found out Haiti is getting a temple. Everyone gasped at the same time! Now my Hatian Brothers finally get to go do ordinances in the temple!!!! WHAT A MIRACLE!!!!

Our old District 

Looking skinny... lol Making cookies at 6 am for the Zone... They were fantastic and everyone loved them.. Made them with a silver rice spoon to mix and the pot for rice lol... I was making cookies for about 4 hours! 

My new scripture cases... Just because they are a MUST HERE or else your scriptures are destroyed in 6 months.. lol

Me with Elder Flores on his last day with Hermana Gonzalez photo-bombing lol  It was a very hard good bye.

Me with Elder Hudson my former Zone Leader... He´s a great guy!

Me and Elder Clase... He ended with Elder Flores and was the comp of Elder Henze!

Me with Elder Dickson .. He is gone now

 Me with one of my favorite families. They are the best. We helped her son before he left on his mission and now he is serving in Mexico. We really helped her with the transition. We stopped by often and just gave them lots of love. I figured it is what you would have done.

My new comp...Elder Olalere.. he is from Anaheim California and  his dad is from Nigeria and his mom is from Utah.

The bus was literally dug into the ground stuck and it was hilarious lol

This is Elder Olalere. We forgot we were frying tostones and wellllll lol

When two elders know how to cook ... SO GOOD!

And the guy messed up my hair so bad at the barber that We literally had to shave it all off... It was horrible. I LOOK LIKE AN EGG!!! And my hands ... BUENOO (Well).... lol

I love you and I´ll talk to you next week! Please send Sister Pratt the Link to my blog! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Love you !!! have a good week and keep up the missionary work!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS!!!! WOOOOOO

Elder Hefner

Thank You for following the Spirit...

Playing Dominos at the Iglesia (the church)with my two converts Luis y Frankiro..they trashed me... Dominos here is insane lol They play Professional rules and you know how Tio Wilberg takes a while to think and is really good? They do the same but play 30x faster so that a 200 point game ends in 10 mins.. lol Luis stopped by our house at 10 pm when I was sick just to check on me... 

Note: My e-mail to Elder Hefner on Monday morning read:

My dearest Elder (Son),


How is my Elder? Do you still have the flu? Is the fever gone? Something is up for I had a dream with you last night and your dad told me this morning that he felt he had to put your name in the Temple at Midnight. He said he did in 9 Temples.... So what's up? We can feel something is wrong...

Thank you for following the Spirit..

So I am so grateful you guys followed the Spirit and putting my name on the prayer rolls of the Temples... I wasn't allowed to Leave the house all week by Order of Dr. Luisa... I got a bad virus that kicked me in the stomach pretty good... As well as every other part of my body HAHAHA. Hermana Grange (The medical advisor) felt so bad because I was so sick. I am sorry if my English is terrible porque (because) it has been decreasing more and more... But yea Sunday I was Driven to the Emergency room because I stood up in church and in the words of my Com "Dude you are white but YOU ARE WHITE." I felt like I had no energy and it was pretty crazy. Elder Flores helped carry me to the Car LOL. BUTTTTT This was given to me by the Lord. While in the Hospital the first time we met a man whose sister is a teacher in the CCM (MTC) in UTAH! He asked us "Can you please explain about life after this one for me?... It is my biggest question"... The next time we were there we met a man who lives 2 mins from us! The Spirit touched me so strong that I needed to talk to him and so I went over by myself and he told me he lived there which is a miracle because the hospital is in a really nice area far away from ours... We taught those two men AND the Doctor. Tambien cada vez cuando (also every time that) we had an activity or a service that was crucial for our Ward or Investigators I felt complete strength to go and work... We now have two people with a Baptismal date as well! Elder Flores did it with a member as another member stayed with me in the house and he went to go and teach... He came back and I was so elated. I was able to build the confidence of two of the most active members in the ward during this time as well. I am grateful for this affliction because it was given to me to preach the Gospel. TALK ABOUT MIRACLES!!!

I am fine now mom it was just a virus. I could have gotten it from anywhere honestly. The Doctor said I will be fine by tomorrow and she reminds me of Titi Silvy so I know she is right. It was just a bad virus lol I am HONESTLY SO much better. I am allowed to teach again and I spent a lot of hours in the office with her talking. You don't have to worry anymore I am back in the game and Elder Flores and I are working HARD and with the Spirit!

YES I GOT THE BOX!!! And a package from grandma and the Fishers at the same time!!!!!!! I am pretty sure I set the record for the mission!!!! JK...JK..LOL

Me shocked at all my packages.... AND My face when I saw them all!!! lol It was funny everyone in the zone wanted me to open them!!!! NOT....

THANK YOU SO MUCH I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AND THE DISTRICT AM. I told them you were sending a package with candy for us and ALL of us were jumping up and down!!! HAHAHAHA

Grandma sent me stuff to bake and I am SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!! I am making chocolate chip cookies for the zone Tuesday! Everone in the zone loves you and grandma now hahahahahaha

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE PACKAGE THAT FAR ONLY THE TOP..... YOU SENT ME MUSIC?!!!! OMGOSH I AM SO EXCITED!!!! OH MY GOSH I LOVE YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I asked Elder Hefner: Do you get to watch conference this weekend?

OF COURSE and IN ENGLISH hahahahahaha Hey you really should put going out to teach with the missionaries in front of everything else. If you take anything away from today talking with me it is that. Sacrifice any other time you have, besides going to the temple. Sunday naps aren't important. The testimony of members changes hearts and lives. Please ask if you and dad can go teach with the elders and sisters... even if it is just once a week. I promise you as a servant and authorized representative that if you do this the Lord will bless you with a new job and it will be one you will love.

Us with Elder Martinez from the first Quorum of the Seventy !

Us and Elder Dickson today.. I made cake for the Elders! haha

Thanks mom and dad I will talk to you next week!  Love you! :) Please say Happy Easter to the Family and Ben and Glorianne especially from me! :))))

Elder Hefner

Inspiration to Elder Hefner this week (Heavenly Father has a hand on everything...he knows each of us individually...His love is infinite)

The Comforter

Henry B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Many are praying to Heavenly Father for relief, for help in carrying their burdens of grief, loneliness, and fear. Heavenly Father hears those prayers and understands their needs. He and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Jesus Christ, have promised help [see Matthew 11:28–30]. …

The Savior described the way He helps lighten loads and gives strength to carry them when He was about to be crucified. He knew that His disciples would grieve. He knew that they would fear for their future. He knew they would feel uncertain of their capacity to move forward.

So He gave them the promise that He makes to us and to all His true disciples:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; …

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:16, 27).

In just the past few weeks I have seen that promise of sending the Holy Ghost fulfilled in the lives of children of God who were pleading in prayer that their burdens would be lightened. The miracle of the loads being lightened came in a way the Lord promised. He and Heavenly Father sent the Holy Ghost as the Comforter to His disciples to help."