Saying goodbye to Cristo Rey...Esperanza here I come... a Badge of Honor

The Zone of Santiago Sur!!!! 

6 Months in Cristo Rey - Memories for Eternity

Me with my first baptisim ask! Luis Duverge he is going to receive the higher Priesthood soon!

 With one of my favorite families in La Cebita... I planted deep seeds there...

Me with Familia Rosario... They were the family I was with when I received the call from dad about his heart... 4 of them are completely reactivated and Hermana Luisa and her husband Luis will get baptized next transfer!

And me with Jorge and Pepin from the ward

Saying goodbye to Tono was rough...  But he is happy and one of THE MOST FAITHFUL MEMBER OF CRISTO REY!

With Hermana Teresa... She promised me she would be reactivated in the next year...

Me with all the kids at our Noche De Hogar! 

And Me with Familia Cruz and Frankairo my other baptism! While I have been there Hermana Cruz, Milagros, Vianessa, Betico and Beatriz have all been completely reactivated and Vianessa's husband is being baptized next transfer... They are working on their papers to be married!!!! Also we have 3 other baptisms happening next transfer in Cristo Rey that I will return for...A lot... Alot of Goodbyes... We have 3 people ready to be baptized but they shut down Cristo Rey B so Elder Olalere has ALOT of work now... As it was we couldn´t pass by everyone..All the Baby Boom missionaries from the age change are leaving so they have to shut alot of areas... We have 26 leaving and only 8 coming in... I will return for the Baptisms this next transfer!! 

Esperanza - New area, new companion, new responsibilities

Wow... I am overwhelmed right now honestly... All this at once has been crazy.. From Junior Companion to a bunch of responsibilities at once... So.... I am in more than just a new area... I have been called to be Senior Companion and District Leader.... I don´t know what the Lord is thinking but I am going to need your prayers. GOOD NEWS IS MY COMP IS AWESOME! He has 3 months in the field... My companion's name is Elder Galleguillos ! My area is a campo (the country)..... I have huge mountains in my backyard and the house never has running water and hardly electricity... MY AREA IS HUMOUNGUS.... It is INSANE!!! lol 

Me and my new comp Elder Galleguillos...I am his ¨Step-Dad¨ in mission Terms... his first companion after his trainer!

Dad's surgery on Tuesday...WHY ARE YOU EVEN WORRIED? lol He´s going to be perfect LOL Don´t stress over that ! The Lord will provide as he always has and always will as long as we are obedient and Faithful in Keeping his Commandments. Please rest assured that your missionary has NO WORRIES! ALSO NO ELECTRICITY hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha :D and don't worry all the stoves we have run on Gas... And there are parts of our area where we actually HAVE to ride a motorcycle... President said so hahahahaha This is so different from home... This area is as hot as Florida... But imagine living in a house in Florida without AC at night... needless to say I packed away Grandmas blanket for a little while......... lol

A badge of honor

I want you to know I have found my Purpose as a missionary. It came the morning right before I was called to this Position... I was Reading and It hit me so hard when I was reading the Scriptures. I read IN Doctrine and Covenants 64 It says 

 25 Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today.

 29 Wherefore, as ye are agents, ye are on the Lord’s errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord’s business.

30 And he hath set you to provide for his saints in these last days, that they may obtain an inheritance in the land of Zion.

 31 And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it.

 32 But all things must come to pass in their time.

 33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

 34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days. 

That For me is the Door... The Key To open it was found in D&C 121

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men,and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

These Scriptures have forever changed my mission... And when I knelt down to pray after having found them. I gave thanks and I distinctly remember telling the Lord... ¨Ok Lord I know you have been waiting to call me to lead... It is time for me to lead. I will do thy will and be thy Instrument¨  Mom and Dad I am so happy to be here. I am learning through the toughest of trials but IT IS WORTH EVER MINUTE. Just for Tono everything I have gone through does not have a comparison. I have discovered what Hope through the Atonement is.. Now i am searching to really know my Savior. I want to know him more than I know myself. I truly feel as though I am loosing myself in this work. Leaving Cristo Rey was honestly harder than leaving home. These people are my family. I would give anything to make sure I see them once more in the first Resurrection. One of the 12 said in a devotional to the Missionaries that ¨One of the badges of Honor you will wear as you kneel before the Savior will be the Badge you wore while you were a missionary¨ Now my only goal is to be able to walk hand in hand into The Celestial Kingdom with these people... I can´t imagine Eternity without them. I love you a ton. Dad, the Lord will bless you with a Speedy recovery if your goal to recover is because you want to build up his kingdom faster before his coming. Always remember that and it will go super fast... Love you a ton mom and dad
Elder Hefner

New House Service and New House for US!!!

Giving Service!!! Building a house! We were preparing the  foundation..They don't have machines here.... lol This is one reason your son is losing weight so fast! lol

New house!

 No, I didn't get transferred I am here still... This is about 6 and a half months in Cristo Rey  and I love it!!! I will probably only  get to live in the new house(BTW we are so blessed!!!!!) for another week  because I am the Oldest one in the area so to speak and everyone says I am getting transferred... To me it isn't that big of a deal but I feel like there is still more work to do in Cristo Rey! 

We are at a new internet center and It has many problems... I am sorry...It took me 20 mins just to sign on to my email lol  I think I will find a new place to write next time... IDK if I am getting transferred next P-DAY so it is a possibility that I won´t be able to write and I will have to write on Thursday... I am sitting in this internet center without AC Using a COMPAQ Computer that is the same model as THE FIRST HOME COMPUTER with a keyboard from 2001. I have had to switch machines 3 times. UGH!!

Thank you for all you are doing and sending... I really feel spoiled with all you guys send...Hey I need to go soon... I am sorry I couldn't send anything this week... I really tried but every time I did it got erased...

lol i have to go... Love you both a ton!!! Talk to you next week!!

 Also eating with the zone in  wendys!! 

 

TO WHO MUCH IS GIVEN...

We helped this family find a dead rat!

Check out the ladder I used!!! HAHAHAHAHA the funny thing was we watched Facing the Giants with this family before so we all had a really good laugh!! Talk about a Giant rat!!!

¨To who much is given, much is required¨

We have about 25 investigators and over 30 less actives... We haven´t stopped... BUT WE are going strong... your son has turned into a bold missionary. If the members of the ward aren' t doing there part the missionaries can´t bring more people to Zion. It is the same as if The ward is a boat and the people missing and the callings not being fulfilled are holes. What good does it do bringing more people into a sinking ship? How do they expect us to retain recent converts if they don´t give them callings or at least FELLOWSHIP THEM. To prove what has been said, That night we sat in a lesson with a once strong member of the Church. She said ¨Elders with all respect you guys are awesome but you shouldn't be the ones here.¨ .... Talk about an ow... Brothers and Sisters as members of the Church you affect the blessings received. A law as been irrevocably decreed in Heaven before the Foundation of this world. THERE we promised that we wouldn't let our beloved brothers and sisters fall into forbidden paths. We would do EVERYTHING possible to find them and bring the lost sheep home. If we are not we WILL NOT be found Spotless before our Savior at the last day and we will ask ¨ whose blood is this on my garments?¨ and THERE we will be shown all those who could have been saved if only we had put the things of the Lord first before the things of the World. I testify that Jesus the Christ lives and that this is his work. If we are not doing his work we are not fit to carry the title Disciple. To be a disciple means we have to walk the path. This week I have rolled the same ankle three times. There were days where I thought I couldn't leave but everyday I left and saw miracles. Christ walked some-odd 80 kms JUST TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST. If we want to be disciples we must not just Hold on to the Iron Rod we must WALK along the path as well. Through the Mist of Darkness and through the ugly parts of this life. We have been given THE KEYS TO ETERNAL LIFE, yea even the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Baptism. ¨To who much is given, much is required¨ Let us walk. Let us go to work. There are people waiting and hearts yearning for this gospel. It is time to lift up the broken hands. It is time to comfort those who stand in need of comfort. If any of you have thought of one person In particular while reading this, leave right now and GO TO THEM if anything at least CALL THEM. They are ready to return to the fold. I love you all and I know this to be our call. We have not just been called to serve, we should not need a reminder to do our duty. We are all children of God with a Divine Birthright. We have been Born to Serve our fellow brother and in doing so Ultimately we will be serving our Beloved Father in Heaven(Mosiah 2:17). In the Sacred name of our Lord, Savior and Eternal Friend Jesus the Christ. Amen.  Elder Hefner

Me with best friends Elder Christensen and Elder Taylor

Getting Dental work done free...: AT THE BEACH!!! lol It was a great day! I went to get a free check up and check to see if i had 10000 cavities again and the doctor laid me down on the church tables we used as dental chairs and said my teeth were perfect and that I didn't even need a cleaning! BLESSINGS OF THE MISSION #PowerofthePlaque

Some of the families we are teaching!! We have about 25 investigators and over 30 less actives...

Playing Paintball

Me with Elder Christensen at paintball!!!

A message to us

I love you guys! Please tell dad that I am sorry I couldn't write but let him know I was incredibly blessed by the 5 page note he wrote and put into one of my packages! It really helped me today and the Lord led me too it! Also that his example has led me EVERYDAY on this mission. Mom you really can´t fathom how much respect I have for my dad. You married the best man I have ever known on this planet. Patriarch Gasque wrote me talking about the two of you and the example you are putting as a family. I could not be more proud to call you both my parents. I love you both SO MUCH. There is a very special reason that my Patriarchal blessing says my parents will never lead me astray. KEEP WORKING AND PREACHING! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!! Love you!

Elder Timmy A. Hefner

Seeking a ¨sign¨...what a sign it was...

I got a new camera... IT IS SO NICE and it was super cheap!!! lol It is a Samsung smart camera and don´t worry I got it at a nice place with a return policy not the Black market hahaha EMAIL ME BACK FAST! We went to the river today and I got some nice pictures! :)

Amazing experiences and a humble gifts

 I can´t begin to tell you how much I love these people... I had a cool experience yesterday that basically eliminated all desire I had to go home or think about home :)  I was on an intercambio (exchange) with my Zone leaders and It was a little later at night around 10.. I went onto the balcony of the house and overlooked the WHOLE CITY and just was filled with overwhelming love. I thought about everyone I was teaching and I don´t know I just decided in that moment that I really didn't want to leave and that I am completely happy here :)

TONO WENT TO THE TEMPLE TO DO WORK FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!! FIRST TIME DOING BAPTISMS!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the work is awesome... but the assistants told me that I am getting transferred in 2 weeks...

THANK YOU THE PLAN OF SALVATION IS SO AWESOME!!! AND GUESS WHAT?!!!

Kadie Moss... The sister of Elder Moss (Who served in the CCM with me and is serving in Puerto Rico) Sent me a package of 50 TIES!!!! It is for the poor people here who need ties to go to church!!! So I am starting a thing with the whole mission that whoever needs ties just emails me and I send them there way! Can you find her email and thank her for me please?! She did it because she read about my experience with Tono!!! IT IS SO AWESOME!!!! I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN AWAY 6 !!!! WHAT AN AMAZING BLESSING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seeking a "sign"

So my message today is for all those who are seeking a ¨sign¨ to know that God exists and that he is there... I am here to say that God doesn't work by signs he works by faith. After we begin to believe we need to exercise that faith by Reading the Holy Scriptures, Praying and Assisting church. After that, the signs come and the blessings rain down from Heaven, and most of the time in ways we don´t expect. To give a fair illustration of this point I want to share something that happened to me this week. As I was walking down the street late at night with one of my Mission leaders I looked up at the sky. Having lived in Florida all my life I know a Severe Thunderstorm cloud when  I see one. I told my Companion who is from Peru that It was going to start raining very hard but he didn't believe me... I tried to pick up my pace but we were still 20 minutes out from the house. 3 minutes after the warning the clouds burst and it began POURING for the first time in awhile. By the time we got to the house we were soaked. I was ringing out my only shirt at the time into a bucket and hanging them on the line to dry. Some people may think this a bad experience, but earlier that day I had forgotten to pack my clothes and my things to take a shower at the house I was sleeping at that night... So what did the Lord do? AFTER I HAD showed my faith and taught nine lessons that day walking over 5 miles, he opened the Heavens and cleaned my clothes and gave me a bath! hahahahahaha To some this may seem childish but to me it made all the difference. How blessed we are to have a Loving Father in Heaven who knows us and our needs. He is waiting to Pour down the blessings! We just have to show him first that we are ready to receive them and ready to trust that He Is. That he hears and will answer every prayer. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Elder Hefner

A Child of God...what does it mean?

Me and abuelo...he is always with me

About my week

Everything is good! I have pictures but my camera broke... The Humidity down here caused my batteries to explode inside my camera and welllll........ YEA but life is good! Work is progressing and our investigators are good...How are things back home?? We had a training this week.The training was good... Sister Douglas gave a training on prayer for 2 HOURS... TALK ABOUT MIND BLOWN!!!!! Here are some pictures from the training.

Me with President and Sister Douglas!!! The love he showed was beyond me.

Me with Elder Mosquera, Hermana Bouyon and Hermana Tuj!

Me with my favorite Sister missionary ever Hermana Reyes!

and me with Hermana Gonzalez! They are both AWESOME!!!!!! 

Make Dad something good for Father´s day!!! I am sorry I can´t be there but right now my job is helping other dads try to be more like Our Father that is in Heaven... And if they can be anything like my earthly Father my time here will have been well spent. Love you both with all of my heart.

Elder Hefner

A Message to you

What do the words I am a Child of God mean? Do the mean that I am the son or daughter of a being that just exists or something deeper? As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe that every child is a child of God. That he loves us and we should love him. But what does that truly mean for each one of us. It means that we are The literal children of a all knowing, all loving and all powerful God. That Under his direction our Older Brother Jesus Christ created the Earth. That our ultimate goal is to return home and live with him. This life is a time for men to prepare to meet God, according to the Book of Mormon and The Bible. How will we meet him though after this life? On bended knee worshiping and saying thank you for your grace and mercy? Or in shame trying to hide ourselves from him who knows and sees all? I would ask that all of you reflect on this this week and email me if you would like with your thoughts! For any who are not members of the church please feel free to email me and ask questions if you have any! Pertaining to what our beliefs are or what The life of a missionary is like or anything in between! I would love to answer all and any of your questions! Lots of love,
Elder Hefner

My email is timothy.hefner@myldsmail.net

We are called to be fishers of men... I gave a training on that using Jesus the Christ and Other scriptures.. Pretty neat isn't it?? :) 

YO TAMBIEN !!! VAMOS A MARCHAR IREMOS AL MONTE DE PAZ A MORAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VAMANOS ELDERES DE ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Kill your Goliath and keep going...

Mom THIS IS YOU. AND MY REACTION EVERY TIME I GET A PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL The cartoon was from the brother of Sister Reynolds, Ryan!! That book of cartoons REALLY helps on the hard days! lol

Taught by one of our investigators

Ok so this week I learned a very powerful lesson from a person who I least expected to learn it from... I have been thrown temptation after temptation and honestly it is EXHAUSTING. If you thought Satan was a jerk before try serving a mission... It is no joke. I personally believe that We are all soldiers in God's Army and that is what I want to share about today. As I sat in a family home evening at The Cruz Home I listened to a message for an hour from ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS. He was teaching the story of David and Goliath. I sat there and learned as if I was back in Sister Groves CTR 8 Primary class all over again. It is amazing how quickly one can forget such an amazing and empowering story. He had the intent on teaching the children but in reality he taught me exactly what I needed to do. He even said ¨I don´t know why I chose this topic but I know someone here needs it tonight.¨  He continued ¨ The Goliaths of this world are all around us and they don´t attack with physical Spears but with Directness at our minds.¨ He then literally said the exact problem I was having and laid it flat out and clear that is was my Goliath. SO Everytime I see temptation I now have a sling in my hand and I just pretend to throw a stone at it. It isn't important if it´s ugly music, women or The Word of Wisdom. It works for all of it. Just sling a stone. Kill your Goliath and keep going. It´s funny this whole time it feels like I was more in the shoes of the Army of Israel than in the Shoes of David. My favorite scripture in the Bible is found in 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 verses 3 through 4. It says ¨3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.¨

I truly believe that the Missionaries are on the front line taking the battle to Satan head on. In the words of Elder Holland ¨If you want to Punch Satan in the Mouth, PREACH THE GOSPEL¨ We are doing exactly that and he IS NOT HAPPY. We can´t afford to entangle ourselves with the things of this world. WE MUST ¨STAND IN HOLY PLACES AND BE NOT MOVED. ¨ Even if that means running to find one or BEING the cause of that place being holy. We need not fear brothers and sisters. If we are earnestly seeking to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through his prophet Joseph Smith we are on the winning side. We have one who leads the charge. One who knows every sin ever felt and every temptation ever faced, even our Eternal Captain Jesus The Christ. He leads his Army and their will NEVER be a trumpet that sounds retreat. In the Sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Hefner

 

Some things never change

And I HAVE BEEN COOKING A LOT... I made fried burritos for 25 people ... ALL OUR INVESTIGATORS in a certain area and they all loved it!... And I made the Zone Fajitas today... Well I should say you did... Sorry I spent like 40 dollars on it all but it really is helping with our goal of Zone Unity and with our investigators!

And the pictures were great... MARY IS GETTING TOO PRETTY!!! DAD IS BUYING A GUN TOMORROW!!

BTW, I AM WRITING YOU THE WHOLE TIME!! THE ONLY WOMAN THAT MATTERS TO A MISSIONARY IS HIS MOMMA!!!!! hahaha :D

Now I am hungry for fried burritos.... lol LIKE REAL FIRED BURRITOS.... MAMA STYLE!!! With REAL SALSA AND SOUR CREAM.... OH I AM DROOLING lol 

I am just excited about the Title TIO TIM!!!! I have to go now... Some lady just asked me to help her translate something into English! AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT... lol and I WILL. The scripture is Jacob Chapter 2 ! Especially about money!! LOVE YOU!!!

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2?lang=eng