July 19, 2012

July 19, 2012

Hola mi amoroso familia,

Good to hear from you all in my emails. Don't worry about not getting a handwritten one off :) That’s so fun to hear you all had a good fun time in Wyoming. I hope Charley is ok, it’s crazy but he's always on my mind here. I'm just always thinking about him. :)

Wowzers......the honda $2000????? yikes....that is awful......I feel terrible because of that. Maybe dad and Bro Jones could work on it together to lessen it.

Poor Michael and Dad haha, celiac isn't that bad though, I'm pretty sure if I didn't have it I would be way fat being here. There’s so much good sweets and good food plus it’s a buffet, so even though it’s hard it’s a blessing. I'm pretty sure I am lactose intolerant again :( haha—it’s ok. They have milk here I can eat. Last Sunday while I was enjoying my fruity pebbles ten minutes after, my stomach was killing till about 4:30 pm... it was bad but now I know. The whole district was very concerned and looked out for me. I went to the doctors and they never got the fax for my blood work. They wrote down the number but I left it in my room...whoops I'll have to mail it to you if you can't get it worked out.

I am feeling good, I'm really happy. Even on bad days. When I start to feel like I am about to have a bad day I know that it comes from satan, so what do I do you ask? Well I'll tell you, I spiritually punch him... ;) hehehehe. That’s what you need to do though. You do that by studying and praying harder and it works. Your day will feel better, you can't let him get you down.

That’s cool mom is the 2nd councilor in primary, that's fun news :) good luck, too bad we can't call you Marian the librarian.

This past week I've had an increase and desire to be better in every single thing I do, no matter how big or small. In whatever thing you do, God expects you to give your all… and this week I've been pumped!!!!

The work is coming, I'm loving reading the scriptures and studying Spanish is fun and challenging. I've been here 5 weeks and our teachers say that our district is good so they challenge us more ha, almost all of our lessons are in Spanish which can be hard to learn anything- ha- but it is coming, I can tell it’s coming.

I sleep really good here, haha thanks to my ear plugs, except every morning I wake up and they are all over the place haha- but as long as they do their job as I try to fall asleep.

This week I learned just how important church attendance is. Going every week can get boring and old, but if you go with the right attitude and perspective it will be the best day of the week.

Bro. Davis said he emailed you a recipe of this banana bread cake thing that’s soooo good, haha way yummy, I hope you all like it as much as I did. The Davis' are so nice to me.

Oh yeah....I got up to 160 lbs this week-- hahahahahah, but I've lost 3 since, so no biggie. I think the fat is going to my knees because I sit all day, I hope it goes away in the field. I'm not worried about my upper body because I do 200 push ups and a ton of ab stuff every night.

I love you all, and I can’t wait to hear from all of you. I hope all of you are doing great. I don't think you realize how much strength you all give me from Dad to Luther-- you all give me strength haha :) Anytime you find a good talk or something spiritually uplifting please send it to me.

ahhh... I just had something I was going to tell you but I forgot...sorry. Hopefully I remember in my other letter.

Well that’s all I can think of right now...I love you all, I pray for all of you. How’s the extended family doing? Health wise? Tell everyone I love them. Tell gma and gpa Porter I would like to see them but can't haha-- they can write me though ;)

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

"there are 2 types of pain:

1) the pain from hard work

2) the pain from regret."

Hermano Hardy shared that with my class. He’s one of my favorite teachers here, even though I have like 4-5 teachers I love them all. haha

 Well I gotsta go. Too much stuff to do here ;) haha love you all.

July 12, 2012

July 12, 2012

 Man, can I just say how much I love all of you!!! You are all the best, I love you. Also thanks for the package and letters and really supporting me.

I wouldn't say I'm speaking Spanish good ha ha, I struggle with it, but I've been working really hard on it this past week. If you could do me a favor for the following list can you define the words, give examples and how/when to use them: preterite, imperfect, present, future, conditional, present progressive, present perfect, subjunctive, past subjunctive, conjunctive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, prepositional pronouns, and personal "a". Elder Simpson really gets them and I struggle, but he's been "tutoring" me a lot. I would really appreciate it, if you could give examples in both English and Spanish. I know mom knows them all :)

Well today since the Provo temple has been closed, we had the opportunity to clean it and different stuff. It was really cool. We had to dig out this wall and it reminded me of when Justin and I would work with Reggie or Donovan digging, and all that demo fun stuff. We all got to clean this one room, and even clean the tiniest details. Then they showed us the bride's room, way cool. God loves his daughters.

I weigh 157 now, my arms and chest feel bigger but I've also went up in my belt ha ha...oh man.

It’s crazy to think I'm almost half way done here now in the MTC. I’m really getting excited to get out in the field, even though I know it’s gonna be the hardest thing I will do ha ha. I already know I'm gonna struggle out there and that excites me, weird huh? It’s cool Justin gets here in 3 weeks, that'll be good to see him.

I'm glad to hear everyone back home is doing good. It’s weird because mom in her letter said that she will walk into my room or just wait til I come home to talk, I do the same thing. When cool stuff happens, I think that oh tonight I’ll tell my parents this. Ha ha it’s funny, also after the MTC it feels like I’m going back to EM ha. It’s weird but it’s not bringing me down.

I don't have my scriptures with me otherwise I would share something that stood out to me this week, but in my other letter I'll write about it.

My district is doing really good, we are all way close and are always helping each other out. It’s really like my other family while I'm here. Even though no one can replace you guys.

Thanks again for everything that you have sent me, it helps so much. The whiteboard helps with my Spanish, and I'm always snacky at night. Thank you times a 1,000,000,000.

 Being a missionary is so hard but I love it, if you have a good attitude you can get through anything because the spirit will be with you more. Be cheerful in all of your afflictions and God will help you, don't sit around and complain, but be happy.

I love you all. I look forward to all of your letters :) I'll write you jokers a handwritten one later today though.

Stephen & Michael-really start knowing the scriptures and scripture stories-- read PMG :) , and also the English language, know the rules. Then when you need to learn a new language you'll be more prepared.

Everyone else God loves you and loves hearing your prayers, He wants to help you with everything, so please let Him,

Well gtg,

Love you all so much,

Elder Lifferth

Elder Andrew Lifferth and Elder Franco Umana

Just before leaving for the Quebec Mission, Elder Franco Umana visited with Elder Andrew Lifferth. Franco and Andrew played soccer together on a championship team when they were 5 or 6 years old. Franco's family moved back to Chile and they hadn't seen each other since then.

Elder Umana is fluent in Spanish, English, and now French.

July 5, 2012

July 5, 2012

Hola family,

It was so great to get your letters and box. It was heavy and I wasn’t sure what it was going to be, but I opened it and it was like a box full of heaven – ha! Yummy!! Thank you so much.

Not a whole lot new has happened here this past week. Elder Simspon and I have really stepped it up and are speaking more Spanish together. It’s cool.

I'll just start from this past Sunday. Elder Simpson and I had the opportunity to bless the sacrament in Spanish! It was cool. Right before that, Brother Tedrow (2nd councilor in our Branch Presidency informed me that I would be the new DL starting Tuesday night. Nothing special.  You only serve as DL for three weeks then they call a new one, but it brings to my mind that my setting apart blessing is already unfolding.

Also in one of our lessons I started bearing testimony of Joseph Smith and how God restored this gospel through him, and the Spanish just kept flowing and flowing ha-ha I didn’t even know what I was saying. It’s true that God will put words in your mouth AS soon as YOU OPEN your mouth. This week I've tried really hard to "obtain" His word just like it says in D&C 11:21, and after we have obtained the word then He will loosen our tongues. It’s a really cool promise and one that I can’t wait to receive more in the field!!

It’s weird how it’s like a miniature life here. You can tell who has been here longer, they just seem older ha, and of course the new ones just look so young like babies.  

Last night we had a patriotic devotional, and it was really good. Judge Gary Stott spoke and it really opened my eyes how blessed we are to live here and not just that but without America there’s a good chance we wouldn’t have the restored gospel… and that’s crazy, a lot of the missionaries from around the world really recognize that. In the closing prayer (an Elder from New Zealand) mentioned that, and made me think more about this free land and all the people who lost their lives so it could be free. All because of God's wise purposes.

Then afterwards, everyone went outside to get an ice cream. Then we all watched the Stadium of Fire. It was cool except really late (and I was tired, I wanted to go to sleep) but the fireworks were cool and it was good to unwind. It made me remember all the times we all went there to clean up way late and spend a good time together! :) I don't think I fell asleep ‘til midnight.

I'm still trying to learn all I can. It’s hard and tiring but I love it, I feel so happy knowing this gospel and how much God loves us and that Christ would suffer for us, so much love.

The rain is probably and answer to all the prayers for fire. It’s crazy there is always ash falling down here -ha, but is like Dad said this will probably be like the 2nd coming - all the fires and all.

My heart is just so full of gratitude to all of you and all of your love and support. I love you all so much :) even Stephen ;) ha-ha just kidding. Thanks for everything. I hope you are all well. I pray that you all can be safe. I hope Amanda, Annslie, Stephen, and Michael, can be safe.

I really can’t think of much, so forgive me ha-ha… probably really boring hearing about from now until I get to the field but bear with me.

Can you get me Brent's address? I would like to write him. Also 2 talks: Becoming a Missionary by Elder Bednar and the Miracle of a Mission by Elder Holland. If you could print those and said them to me :) I really am just so grateful for all of you. Also can you send me a paper that explains how to shine shoes and polish them?  My kit doesn’t come with instructions ha-ha.

We have some really cool teachers and it’s cool to get a different perspective on the gospel. It broadens my view and makes me think more about it.

Well that’s all I can think of right now, I'll continue to write a weekly handwritten letter as well. Today was our first p day where we could actually relax, I got in a 30 min nap ha-ha.

Love,

Elder Lifferth

June 28,2012

June 28, 2012

Hola mi familia,

It’s crazy all the stuff that is going on over there, I'm especially disappointed about the voles taking over my lawn ha-ha just kidding. But man that is some crazy stuff happening. It sounds like you all worked as a team and fought through it together – that’s great. Trials make us stronger - ha I can testify of that.

This week (if I was English speaking) could have been my last week here, crazy huh? A lot has happened. Last Friday during lunch, I met my new mission president and his wife. They said I have a good light and nice hair? –ha! Then later that day, everyone who is going to DC south soon met with them again. (12 or 11 missionaries) He said that they have 193 serving there now!!  That’s a lot for such a little mission.

On Sunday for the devotional we thought that an apostle would speak, so we waited almost 2 hours in line but when we got in it was just a branch president, still a great talk. Tuesday was a good day. At the fireside L. Tom Perry spoke, all but the First Presidency and Packard and Hales were there. There were 10 apostles in one room together! It was crazy, I got a wave of chill bumps - ha.

Some days I feel like my Spanish is clicking and others I can't form a sentence, ha-ha, it’s frustrating sometimes. I just gotta keep pushing forward. This week I've been really trying to put off the natural man.  We watched a talk by Elder Bednar titled “Character of Christ” and it really was an answer to my prayers. If you can, look it up, even though I'm not sure you can because it was an exclusive MTC talk.

Yesterday I got a letter from Uncle Chris. It was good to hear from him and for him to keep his promise, ha-ha.

Today in the temple I had the question of what does God expect of me and how can I accomplish it?  I was sitting there and almost like a voice said, "just do your best every day." Some days your best may not be your best of other days but you still need to put in your best work. It really was a cool experience. 2 Cor 4 is really good you all should read it.

There are no sweets here I can eat so por favor send me some ha-ha, candy, cookies, etc etc :)

Also any tips on how to study Spanish and the gospel more effectively??? I don’t have a good studying thing down yet and I'm still working on making it good.

Everyone here from the outside world (teachers, and branch presidency's) have really made the effort to let me know daily the fire situation in EM ha, they are always like “no houses have burned or nothing bad has happened to your family”, just stuff like that. They are all really nice.

I'm doing good, wish 9 weeks would pass already, but I can learn a lot in the next 7 weeks. I'm really excited to get out and teach in DC, even though my Spanish is awful ha-ha, but when I find myself doubting my ability to learn Spanish I realize that I'm doubting God's power, because he called me to this language and through Him I'm gonna learn it. So I need to exercise more faith in him so he can bless me more with the gift of tongues.

I would just like to reiterate that God just wants each of you to do your best each day, even if one day your best is getting out of bed, or whatever else, just do your best. That’s all you can do, there’s no point in living if you aren't going to put in any effort. Hope that makes sense.

Well I love you all soooooooo much, I miss you all. I pray for you all, and I can feel your prayers for me. They give me strength. Please keep on praying. Oh yeah, I got my first MTC haircut today with some pics - ha, can't wait to send you all my pics.

I can't remember everything right now so I'll continue to write you all a weekly letter plus this, do you like that? What else do you want/need from me?

Hope everyone is doing well. If anyone wanted a DC South mission shirt send some money and a size so I can place an order.

Please continue to write and email me. Let me know how everything is going.

Love you all so much its crazy! Thanks again for everything.

Love,

Elder Lifferth :) <3