Homba anao hatrany anie ny Ray

Howdy!

Great week. Went to Ambositra. Last Zone Conference. Branch party. Last goodbyes. Bus up to Tana with Covey. Now Im here. 

It's come down to my last blogpost. Last letter home from this crazy island that I love so much. I get on a plane tomorrow and get home Thursday. I cant believe it's here. It has flown by and I wish it wouldn't have. But life moves on and everything I have seen, heard, done, didn't do, etc, will help me be a better brother, son, student, and father. Most importantly, it will help me be a better man of God. Not a single day in the future will go by without Madagascar crossing my mind. This place has given me so much and I hope in turn, I gave some back. 

I hope I gave back the love that these people showed me. I hope I gave back some of the blessings that these people gave me here. I hope I carried myself like a man of God for these past two years. I hope people saw the light of Christ in my eyes. I hope people felt the truthfulness of the message. I hope people came closer to our Lord and Savior. 

That was my purpose. To bring souls to Christ. I prayed to God everyday to help me fulfill my purpose. I have seen His hand in the work every single day. Not one day passed on my mission, where I didnt feel the love of God. He was there everyday. He and His Son live. And they love. I know that. 

I feel accomplished. I have really tried my hardest. I worked as hard as I could. And when I didn't, I repented, and tried harder the next day. That's what the gospel of Jesus Christ is. It's repentance. It's progression. It's change. 

That's what this whole mission showed me. Yes, a missionary's job is to serve other people everyday. But I have  come to find out that the mission is the most personal thing I have ever done in my life. Once you put away yourself and look to others, you find yourself. You dont find yourself in the middle of your service. You find yourself afterwards. You see how much you have changed. How much you have grown. And that's what I've seen in me. 

I don't think I'm a completely different person. Honestly, I'm the same old same old Jessey Hein from Plano, Texas. But where I have changed is how I see everything. The way I view things is different. I just want to follow Christ more. I just wanna be a good family member. I just wanna be a good person. 

I know this is the work of God. I would have been home a long time ago if it wasn't. I've seen it change too many people's lives to not be true. More importantly, Ive seen it change mine. I love my Heavenly Father. He has a plan. We are all at the forefront of it. Everything He does, is for us. Remember that. He loves you. And He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the way. He sent His Son to die for us and rise victoriously from the grave, so that we could do the same. Don't waste that. The price has already been paid. Why dont we just be diligent and take in the gift? Life is very difficult. I have seen that every day here. But, The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. And if we follow it, the rewards we will receive are beyond comprehension. I know that to be true and this is my final testimony from this far away blessed place in the name of Jesus Christ, our Master, amen. 

God bless, 

Elder Hein

We're Famous!

Howdy!

Pretty good week here in good ol' Fianarantsoa! Seen some progress in some new investigators and some old ones!! Also, the Branch seems  to be improving each and every week, which is what we are working for. We've been doing tons of trainings, visits, lessons, talks, etc....Loads of stuff that is hopefully helping the Branch. It is sure helping me! I've had a great opportunity in this area to really see how a Branch works and what really happens underneath the surface. And trust me, there is tons of stuff underneath the surface here. I wont lie, it is tiring. But, we are just fixing up the creases and pushing out the air bubbles. It is a process, but we aren't looking forward to tomorrow. We are looking at 20 years down the road when this place is a Stake (an area with multiple congregations). We are working towards that and sometimes it is hard to get that through to the members. It is just a process and it is not like this hasn't happened before. It happens everywhere, all the time. We just need to remember that God is perfect, the church is perfect, and the members aren't. But the church is there for the "perfecting of the Saints."

Other stuff:

IT IS FREEZING HERE. I kid you not. Madagascar is not this tropical island that everyone thinks it is haha. Fianarantsoa gets COLD. Maybe Im just not used to it though haha. I'm gonna get to Provo in December and die. 

WE ARE FAMOUS. Or, infamous....Talking to some members last night and they were telling us about a Pastor giving a sermon on TV last week. He's a Pastor here in Fianarantsoa and took time in his sermon to say, "Don't listen to those white guys on bikes." HAHAHAHAHA obviously the work is going well and we are making a big stamp on Fianarantsoa. I'm not saying we have thousands of people flocking to our doors, but The Spirit of The Lord is touching many here. The 8 Elders are working hard. Especially, the four on bikes;)

Well, ladies and gents, this is my last week. Some of y'all might not know why Im heading home a couple transfers early, but there is a reason!! haha. Im getting a final surgery on my hand to fix it up for good. Very disappointing, but The Lord has something for me on the other side. I know that. 

So, I got a lot on my mind. A lot of thoughts, a lot of feelings. I honestly dont know how I should be feeling haha. Ive learned to much too even begin to describe. I wish I could spit it all out. I really wish I could. But you know what? I'll try to do it next week. I'll get on and give my last testimony. 

Till next week. God bless. 

Elder Hein