Transported back several years to when I was 13 or 14

So in the states you have to worry about the dogs getting into your trash... Here is giant herds of cows... After destroying our neighbor's trash they came for ours which resulted in me chasing a bunch of cows down the street... lol 

Hey Pops... so glad Tanden is going on a mission...My favorite memory was when I was driving with him stopped at a light on OBT. He looked over to me and said " I may make mistakes sometimes but I really do want to serve a mission because I know the Church is true" ... That moment was a great one for me. He will be a great missionary. He has a solid testimony. Thanks for the encouragement, I am trying to keep going with all I have. WE HAD 6 people show up to church on Sunday! We have been praying fervently for them!!! I am glad the Lord is giving you something different. You have done a great job as the High Priest Group Leader. If you can please pray for my investigators especially one named Cristian... That is so his heart softens... Thanks pops love ya

                  

And this is my face when i realize that I haven't taken any pictures for mom this week 2 mins before leaving for the Internet Center.... LOL

Hey mom! Yea your right... LOL I don't feel the hottest but I am still going strong. I can no longer eat anything that has milk or cheese or anything like that and now most fruits are prohibited .... It's a very hard diet for a missionary.... I am living off of bread AND the Bread of Life... LOL Don't worry I found Lactose free milk here and am just going hard on Lactose free milk and Cocoa Krispies... LOL

The Lord has a way of helping so that my sickness doesn't get in the way of my proselyting time. I have been working a lot of Building my Spiritual confidence and it has been working wonders... I knew Kenai would be fine. I have found myself missing him more and more. First thing I might do after I get released is go for a swim with him in the pool. lol If you want I can share a message with the blog? OH ALSO BIG NEWS. PDAYS ARE CHANGING TO MONDAY STARTING MONDAY!!! This is my last PDAY on Wednesday...... 

The other day I was sitting in a Noche de Rancho ( It's like Family home evening but with 2 or 3 familes and investigators!) and the subject was prayer. We watched a Mormon message by President Monson and immediately I was transported back several years to when I was 13 or 14. I had not thought about that day for a VERY long time. We had something very scary happen to our family. While my sisters and I were alone at home Winds began to pick up and an incredible storm full of hail and downpour water began.... Now being from Florida we are used to these type of conditions. The only problem was that is began to increase in Intensity. At that point we were able to see a Funnel Cloud begin to form above our neighborhood area. The Three of us immediately went to where we called " The Hurricane Closet"... Now being the only guy in the house I didn't want to look scared, especially for my youngest sister who was crying because of fear. At that moment I remember saying one of my first REALLY SINCERE prayers. It wasn't out loud and it wasn't elaborate or beautiful. It was very few words consisting of " God Please save us and my parents." We knew Our parents were on the way back home and were DRIVING in those conditions. In the words of my mom " We couldn't even see the road, I have no idea how we made it home." As they arrived home our hope was rekindled as we saw the lights from the jeep flash across the front window... very shortly afterward the storm dissipated. Prayer works. It Really does.  

LOVE YOU!!!... TALK TO YOU ON MONDAY!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!

Elder Hefner

How your children are ALWAYS WATCHING

The Zone!!!

This is our area..... LOL

Hey mama !!!! I don't know how much time I have... Not feeling super hot. I may need to make a "Final Countdown" Run to the bathroom.... LOL I am doing a little better. WE HAVE FOUND TWO AMAZING FAMILIES!!!!!!! I am praying t hat they get baptized! I have had some incredible spiritual experiences this week.... Including a couple hearts that have softened even though we thought it impossible. I also literally saw a miracle.  Also photos are on the way! PUERTO RICO LOOKED LIKE PARADISE!!!!! I am glad you guys had fun! I want to go after the mission!

A couple that I interviewed for baptism... 

So I want to write all of you about the power of example. As parents something think that setting an example is important.. Others not so much... Well I want to talk about the power of example and how your children are ALWAYS WATCHING. When I was 4 years old my parents took me to church. ALWAYS. My only memory of my youth was the experience when I first learned how to pray. I remember that someone walked up to the Pulpit to pray. My father immediately bowed his head and shut his eyes and clasped his hands together. You need to know that I looked up to my Father as a giant among men (I still do.) Anything he did I copied. I immediately closed my eyes and clasped my hands. I then peaked up after about 6 seconds to see if I was doing it right. I saw my dad then bring his clasped hands to his head and with his thumbs rub is eyes with his eyes still shut. I followed suit... I had no Idea why I did it but it's what he did. Almost 17 years later until today I still have the habit of rubbing my eyes every time I bow my head to pray. The lessons a parent teaches their kids are far more powerful than just words... Our Savior taught an excellent example of this when he said in Matthew 5  "14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.


 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Hey I have to go!!! I love you guys a ton!!!!! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!! BYE!!!

Elder Hefner

My new companion who arrived today... ELDER GOMEZ!!!

Only a shoeshine

Me and my son... REUNITED!!!

Only a shoe shiner

As I passed down a very dirty street I saw a man round the corner. He seemed to be very poor. In his hand he carried a shoe shiners box, a little seat to sit on and a wooden home made cross with a pink rosary on it. I saw him and immediately felt a strong impression to have him shine my shoes. I called the man over. He crossed the street with a lot of enthusiasm and sat down. He said " Shoe" out of routine to put my shoe on his box. He went to work cleaning my already decently clean shoes. I began a casual conversation and could learn that he was a little bit slower than most people. I then asked and " What about your wife?" ... It was at that point he finally looked up to me. I saw years of tiredness in his eyes as he told me that his wife and 18 year old daughter died 6 years ago in an accident. He told me that he's been cleaning shoes for 33 years. (Their are no schools in the campo where he is from so he has no formal education more than likely.) He then asked.. " Are my wife and daughter in paradise?" At that point whatever pride I had left broke. I knelt down in the dirt at his side and told him about a Plan that our Father in Heaven has for us and that he could one day he could be with his wife forever. He looked at me as if he didn't understand and I explained about the Resurrection and heaven. He instantly smiled and stood up. He left in a hurry but before he left we were able to give him a plan of salvation pamphlet... I looked up at the dark skies that were about to hit and saw his tattered clothes. I then looked at the new jacket my mom had sent me and the umbrella in my hand. I quickly called him back and gave him my umbrella. He showed a lot of gratitude and took off running. I have no idea If I will ever see that man again. But this shoe shiner taught me an incredible lesson that day. In another life I would have kept walking and thought " He's only a shoe shiner" but thanks to this incredible mission I have been called to serve I can now say " He is only my brother, also a  Son of God " 

Elder Hefner

And we 3 are in the same zone but Elder White,myself and Elder Henze all started our missions in Cristo Rey... WHAT A COINCIDENCE! haha

Reality

Hey mom... SO I saw the doctor and he thinks that all the bacteria in my gut and colon are just completely messed up and that my intestines are completely inflamed from all the sicknesses and medicines I have had. President Castillo just wrote me and he wants to have a special meeting with me to talk about my health... he says he is pretty concerned. I told him that I was willing to meet and that I still wanted to continue serving no matter what. Yes I have left to work everyday. I haven't stopped mom. I just wrote him right now. I don't have much time left. Just know I love the quote form 2 conferences ago that says " Come what may and LOVE IT" It truly has become my motto as well. Hurrah for Israel. Until next week! Love you

Elder Hefner

Hey pops...I AM ALIVE! lol Thanks for praying for me so much... I have felt your prayers. I am not 100% but I am strong enough to keep going. I am not sure for how much more time they are going to permit me to keep going but I want to go as along as possible. It has been on my mind lately that President might force me to go home. I have been trying to serve as if Everyday was my last in the mission. The results have paid off... For the first time in 5 weeks we had invesigators at church... AND NOT ONLY ONE BUT 5!!! I never knew how far my limits were until I came out on a mission. My feet are inflamed and my knees kill. I have been sick in my stomach for almost 18 months and my strength is not the greatest. I hope the Lord has accepted the offering I have given him. I pray I am permitted to keep going but If not I know that I have given it all to the Lord. I love this work. I love this Gospel. It has changed me so profoundly that I am a new man. Thank you for all your prayers truly. I have felt them keep pushing me even when I didn't think I could keep going. Love you


Elder Hefner

A man who shouted hello...

The La Vega Zone!!! Don't worry no one went in the river!  LOL

A message to dad

THANK YOU SO MUCH for sending the insoles! We have been walking a TON and my knees and feet having been paying a hard price... Today was a really fun activity of grilling... It relieved a lot of stress for me! haha I am glad to hear all is well in the High Priests group... The Lord has blessed me with extra strength thanks to the blessing from the 70. I have received a strength to endure that I have never before known. I have exactly 6 months now until I return home. I have done an incredible self reflection and I don't even know the BOY who walked through the doors of the MTC many months ago. I have begin to understand more and more of my true identity as a Son of God. In reality through all my trials I feel like I have just grown up. Being without you or mom has been SO HARD. The love I feel for you two is beyond this world... Literally. But really in these times of trial and growth I have learned to depend on my Heavenly Parents more. They were the only ones there to comfort me when in Esperanza and La Herradura I would be incredibly sick... or when my feet hurt so bad I thought I wouldn't be able to leave and teach. I truly have learned the power of exact obedience and humility... When we give EVERYTHING we have to The Lord and submit our will to his.. AND eventually evolve to the point where the two wills are one... THAT'S when the miracles happen... And that is when there is SPIRITUAL POWER given to Authority. I love you dad. 

Elder Hefner

 The Elders found out I can cook... So we will now be eating together for every lunch... I cook they clean lol

A message to mom and you

Sorry you just got a lot of photos that will make you happy!!! So I HAVE BEEN BLESSED. We have a great doctor in our ward and he knows THE GREATEST Gastroenterologist in the Country!!!!! He is personally getting me a visit with him tomorrow... Apparently this guy has saved several lives as well and is incredible... We had another tough week... Elections were this Sunday so the area presidency said we could only have church for an hour so that everyone could vote... We have had several Sundays without anyone showing up... To be honest I was getting pretty down until a couple of days ago. We had two different people accept to be baptized!!! We have just been working our tails off contacting everyday and just trying to show the Lord that we were ready for blessings in his own time. I was still feeling a little down until an hermana that was in Esperanza with me just emailed me (She's home now) She sent me something that truly touched my heart. I was on the way home out of my area one night and felt that we should contact a man who shouted hello at us (Normally we don't because if someone does that here it normally means that they are intoxicated.) We went over and I just gave him a folleto (pamphlet) and asked if he wanted to hear more. He said a casual "sure" so I thought nothing of it and kept on my way back to my area ( We went with the Sisters to visit someone with a Baptismal date that night and we were about 3 miles  from home and it was about 8 at night so we were hauling it to get back home on time!) This is what She wrote me:

Oh and i also want to thank you 

That reference you gave us for that guy in the fritura stand in esperanza 

Adalberto , he was awesome , he gave me a lot to study for  and he asked a lot but a lot of questions and since you know hna seamons still didn't know that much Spanish it was practically me the whole time with a headache (2hr citas ) 

And we ate some of his very interesting fritura (ie pig heart, lung, tounge, cheek, intestines) for him to go to church for the first time and he did and 3 weeks ago he got baptized!!!!!! so thank you for always listening to the spirit :) 

You're an awesome missionary 

All that work you do actually pays off in the given time 

I actually gave this story in my homecoming talk :) 

Thank you for being a diligent worker in the Lords vineyard

Keep it up 

I'm pretty sure you'll have awesome moments in La Vega 

Just keep on doing what you do and you'll keep on being a successful missionary 

Till next week

Sometimes blessings come immediately, sometimes they come in a few weeks or months, and sometimes some blessings come when we reach our celestial destination but as the prophets have promised, THEY COME. I know this to be an eternal truth. Let us always remember the words of King Benjamin in The Book Of Mormon when he said 

"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." 

And the words of The Lord to the Prophet Joseph when he revealed 

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Hefner

Grilling wings!                      Me and Elder Tucker from my District, he planned the event!

Hey I have to go soon... Thanks for telling me about your spiritual experiences. I miss the Temple a lot.. The first thing I am going to do after I get released is go to the temple... Then we can go buy all the clothes and stuff... lol Te amo tambien!!! Recuerde quien TU ERES!!!! Eres UN HIJA DE DIOS!!! Lea este discurso de nuevo! Cambio mi vida!!! (I love you too!!! Remember who YOU ARE!!!! You are A DAUGHTER OF GOD!!! Read this talk again! It changed my life!!!)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/i-am-a-child-of-god?lang=eng

HURRAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM KOLIPOKI... WHITE MAN WITH WEAK STOMACH hahahaha LOVE YA'LL!!!!! MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!!!!!! 

WHEN THE ZONE FOUND OUT I CAN COOK... Cooking on a "Fulgon" That's 6 lbs of rice and a TON of chicken... I was moving fast. Grilling on an open flame is NOT EASY! lol
Chessy Elder Hefner Smile

Hope with a new doctor and favorite scriptures

This week was a good one! One of the highlights was hopping an hour bus to a special meeting of District Leaders in Santiago. There I saw Elder Stanisclause ( from Grenada) From my group! It's been about 8 months since the last time I saw him! We both have lost a little weight HAHAHA :)

I am good... Went to the Doctor this morning... We will see what pans out if I have parasites again or what lol Na I am all healed from that... And yea the Doctor said the same... After so long it just doesn't matter LOL The doctor sent me to go get some lab work done and if it turns out positive he said he didn't care how much it cost he was going to get me the best medication possible to clear out every parasite. He is awesome. His name is Elder Mason.. He was the head doctor for the Utah Jazz for over 20 years!!!!

TELL GRANDMA I HAVE AN EYE INFECTION TOO!!!!! WE are two peas in the same pod!!! lol  LOL I go out and preach anyways..... The only time I stay home is because the mission nurse needs to come to the house to pick me up to intern me in the Hospital.. #HEFNERSTRONG Hermana Castillo is the temporary mission nurse for now.. I can tell she is tired though... A new nurse comes in in June or July luckily... It can't be easy being a full time Mission President's wife, having 3 under age children AND Being the mom of 200 missionaries.. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER 

Also we had a great meeting for District Leaders with President and Hermana Castillo... After I held a District meeting in which I cried pretty hard... Then Today I got to sing with Elder Sheffield in the Mission home waiting for the Doctor... The Doctors wife played the Piano... We sang several hymns and the Spirit filled the room... It was so nice to just sing. She told us she wants to steal us and bring us down to the CCM.... Lol

Hey I have to go in 5 minutes! But Hey I have to go... I love you mom and dad. Have a great week. HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!

Elder Hefner

Elder Laureano ,my kid, he called and told me he got the scriptures you guys send him... He freaked out.... LOL He is VERY grateful!!

Your Son's favorite scriptures... Especially the last one... Corinthians MUST be read in Spanish!!!!!

1Peter 5: 1-3, 10

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

2 Timothy 2: 3-4

 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.

2 Timothy 1: 7-10

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

1 Corinthians 4:17 

 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

A marvelous work...even when sick

I am working on the Skype time now with a member... President has sent a letter that we can only call for an hour so we need to make sure if anyone has questions to have them written down and ready to go... I am doing good though... I am excited to see you all on Sunday!

I don't have any pictures... We can't take any now while we are out proselyting... and my week was good.. We had an incredibly spiritual district meeting..

 HEY WE WILL TALK SUNDAY! MY comp and I are feeling sick and the closest bathroom is 20 minutes away!!! WE NEED TO RUN I WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT SUNDAY LOVE YOU HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!

Elder Hefner

Just an instrument

 This is a terrible picture of me having to smash Spanish seasoning by hand because our blender broke... (Don't worry the lasagna was DELICIOUS THOUGH. TOTALLY WORTH IT) 

This is my new companion. His nickname is Ben.. Just because he is the American version of my Brother in law... Needless to say we get along great. Not a day passes when we aren't laughing.

Hey pops... So I love my comp.. He's a really funny guy. He is teaching me to enjoy the mission more... It's what I have been trying to learn since I went through a ton of trials... Are area is pretty much dead... We are working hard though and we put one family with a date for baptism yesterday. We are also going to put two or 3 more people with a date next week. I want to send you and mom different stories this week of expereinces. Our elders had a baptism saturday and everyone gathered together. The whole ward basically showed up because after the Baptism a young man opened his mission call. He aslo had to lose 60 pounds before he could go serve. I talked to his parents and told them i had the same thing. They asked me several questions and now we are very good friends... But after the closing prayer of the baptism we started to open the letter with a hymn and a prayer. The Branch President then invited me to share my testimony. You can imagine that this was a make or break moment. It was a great moment to gain the confidence of the members if the Spirit was there. I prayed that the Spirit would accompany me and truly I have never borne a more powerful testimony in my entire life. I was so grateful to have been ready and worthy in that moment. The District President ( I am in a District not a Stake) came up to me afterwards and told me that he really appreciated my testimony... Then after a young 18 year old future missionary and her mother called me over. She told me that when she goes out into the field my type of testimony was one that she wanted to have. It truly humbled me. I take no credit for myself. The Lord used me to fulfill his purposes that night. It was even cooler that a few days beforehand I had had the impression to fast as well specifically for the Holy Ghost. We must ALWAYS be prepared to be his instruments...

Love you pops!

Just an instrument

I am just an instrument. The Lord's the amazing one. I have played well over 100 Concerts in my life. NO ONE has ever walked up to me and said " WOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PLAYED A GREAT CONCERT." We should always thank the Musician first. It is one of my greatest examples I have a very long one as well but It fits well enough to say that remember my favorite Scripture Alma 26:12,27-31 ... It's not me. It's Him.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

This is also my new district.. I am still the District leader (almost 1 year now as a District leader 0_o) but we are just missing our two sisters from the District in the picture. I love you all!!


HEYYY everyone! I am in a different area now! My first time in a rich area... Well I am in the same zone as 3 of the missionaries from my group of 8 that entered in together on the mission

New Area - La Vega

SO I LIVE IN A MANSION... This apartment has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a NICE KITCHEN... I HAVE CABINETS IN MY KITCHEN!!!!!!! lol The area is different.... BUT i am going to lose the last of any fat that I have here... WE WALK A LOT. To get to a few appointments it's more than 2 and a half miles walking... We saw a miracle this week and once again I have been called to revive a dead area... Seems to be my legacy of this mission. The district is buzzing with excitement to Skype May 8th... We are planning everything right now.. IT WILL BE MY LAST SKYPE HOME! I am doing well! How are Lilly and Ganne??

No I am fine really... lol But I could use a pair of socks... BUT IF YOU CAN PLEASE SEND A Water proof like jacket that looks nice enough to go with a white shirt and tie... Something Professional.. IT IS POURING ON US EVERYDAY and I am getting soaked to the bone... as well as my shoes LOL I am going to buy a strong umbrella here... lol We were walking through LAKES yesterday.... And I think my boots should hold out until the end of my mission.. They still have descent tread on them its just the heels that are getting a little worn.. But they haven't broken yet!

I love you guys!! Talk to you guys later!!! HURRAH!
Elder Hefner