September 17, 2012

September 17, 2012

 

Hola Mi Familia,

Love you guys!!! I got the pictures you sent mom -ha Annslie's hair is longer! It’s good to hear how everyone is doing great!

 

This past week was good. We have been really focused on trying to find people, because we don't have many lessons. And usually when we have a return appt they're not home...little comedians-ha. So we have been tracting a lot and have been having some cool experiences. Prayer and hard work really work. If you just pray then act, things will work out. Sometimes when I pray I don't feel like I get a prompting but I just go to a place and it turns out good. It’s like that talk by Elder Bednar and he says how do you know if you're feeling a prompting or if it’s you? He says, stop worrying about it. Just act, and if you aren't supposed to go down with that action then God will tell you but it’s so important to act.

 

We went to a new apartment area and had a couple funny experiences. One we were knocking and we came up to this one door and it smelt so strongly of weed...ha-ha then a lot of people walk out with a couple dogs and they were all just laughing and what not. Then we came to this other door, he opens and is like “hey guys” and walks out the door. He tells us he's already good with God, and that he appreciates what we do, the funny thing is he got locked out of his house! And started cussing and dropping bombs like crazy. I wanted to say something like are you sure you're good with God?? But we just left and started laughing. :)

 

One day this lady from Bolivia invited us over to make some rice bread from Bolivia, because she knows that I'm GF. It was really nice of them. There's a couple pics of me being a goof....man. But we made a ton and she gave us them all. There is rice flour, yuca plant mush, milk, and cheese. Even though it has cheese I enjoy it best with syrup or grape jam ha-ha so good actually.

 

It’s really cool to me how God will put people in our paths or us in others' paths. One day we felt we should head out, and we passed a little cute latino family and kept driving. A little down the road I slammed my bike breaks and yelled up to Elder OChoa that we have to talk to them. So we went back and they were super awesome. We set up a return appt so we are praying it will go through. The same thing happened again (one reason bikes are so good, more street contacts!!!!) this chap was walking home from work and we talked to him and again it was awesome. Return appt, and even if it falls through we accidentally later knocked into house apartment };) hehe we know where he sleeps now.

 

Return and Report was really good. Pres Riggs made me some GF pancakes, they were actually really good! Haha, I feel like he really looks out for me because his whole family is pretty much GF and celiac! So we all understand each other!!!

 

Yesterday at church none of our 'gators showed. Alis didn't because he had a chemotherapy session the Thursday before. And Alex… nothing. IN fact we haven't heard from him in awhile...

 

But everything is good. We've given a ton of blessings. I finally memorized the anointing part in Spanish. I would have to say though, the names are the hardest part!!! So long and crazy :) Its really a powerful experience for non members to see the power of the Priesthood in action!!

 

I haven't got the package yet but hopefully today. I did get my inhalers but this week is the last of my thyroid meds!!!! :) Just whenever you can though. I look forward to the brownies :D

 

A lot of people refer us to Mitt Romney workers ha-ha. People are always either saying stuff like “Yeah Mitt Romney!!!!” Or “boo we hate him!!!” HAHAHHA it’s pretty funny. So far people who have told us their opinions who are for mitt are black and those who are against him are white?? Kinda funny haha.

 

New countries: Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Ukraine. It’s really awesome.

 

Everything sounds good back home. I really enjoy the Halloween party ha-ha good times. You all gotta send me pics of your costumes! :) So I'm sorry that I haven't been able to write a handwritten letter, but if anyone sends me one first then I will write one back! Deal? Deal.

 

I hope everyone is safe and sharing the Gospel with others. I'm glad stake conference was good. I think stake conference here is coming up as well.

 

I love you all soooo much. I miss you. It’s crazy that just in 2 short weeks this transfer is over. I hope I stay with Elder Ochoa again, but if not I'll go where ever God wants me. I trust in Him. Also I'm so grateful for the Atonement, it really works. Because of it, Christ can make up the difference of anything just as long as we are doing our best!!

 

Love you all!!!

Write me!!

Elder Andrew Lifferth

 

September 10, 2012 Countries

Sorry, for the past 2 weeks I forgot to update the countries from where I've met people.

Colombia, Pakistan, Congo, Panama, China, Afghanistan, and Argentina for now. Probably more, but that’s all I actually remembered to write down.

Love ya'll,

Elder Lifferth

September 10, 2012

My good 'ol family!!! :)

I love you all so much! Thanks for taking time to write me and get that package shipped for me, sorry it cost almost $30...but I greatly appreciate it! But yeah just get the meds sent off when you can!

That’s good to hear everyone is doing so good, well besides Stephen's knee, little punker! :) jk, Ha that’s funny about the BYU game how last time we went was when I had that rough concussion, which so far is doing really good. Remember how I would get little snippets of memories, well now I'm getting a lot from my childhood, and they are coming really vivid. It’s really cool ha, not sure how it works but I'm not complaining! :) It kinda makes me miss you more, because I'll remember different stuff with all the fam, but I enjoy it ha-ha.

So pops is in Orlando huh? Wasn't everyone supposed to go? I might have seen his plane, I see like 20 a day! One of the elders on p-day was like "Elder Lifferth, how far do you think that plane is from you" ha-ha, I was like –“a couple miles”. Then he's like “nope... for you about 21 months, and for me about 16” ha-ha little joker. But he's really nice to me, he's in the english program and after his mission he has an offer to play football at the U, he's about 6'4" and just massive, he's a qb and is fast too.

Mom it’s good to hear how your calling brings the Spirit so strong to your life!!! That’s what it’s all about. IT’s a great feeling, I love feeling it every day.

I'm glad dad had a good b-day, I was thinking about him a lot ha. How young is he now like 25? Mas o menos? :) ha-ha

A new family dog?? I can't remember if I've ever seen Chopper before? Hmmm, maybe send a pic or something?

But I'm really loving this barrio (ward) the people here are so wonderful, and el obispo is really great! In ward council yesterday he announced all of my food allergies, and the word has spread fast! Pretty much everyone knows them now ha-ha, so that should give you all comfort how God is taking good care of me! Everyone is so friendly, and I feel like this past week God has really blessed me with a lot more charity! IT really motivates me to want to learn Spanish more so I can communicate with them all better!

Last p-day we went to the Reston Towne Center, it’s like the new one in SLC, City Creek?? But it’s really nice and expensive ha-ha in fact one of the elders we went with bought a $125 tie O_o I was like whaaaat??!!! Ha-ha crazy stuff huh! But it was fun.

There was this really big rain storm that hit the other day! In Herndon where I live everything was ok, just a lot of rain. But other places it looked like a hurricane hit, trees everywhere and a lot of the members' cars got smashed from falling trees, just real crazy how it was that bad! Some lady here just said there was a little tornado in Fairfax, talking religion now actually. She's pentocastal?? Not sure, kinda reminds me of Grandma Shirley a talker ha-ha but black :)

But yeah I wrote Elder Moodie, and also emailed him. He's doing really good, and would love to hear from you all! He's really loving it and he said his trainer is great!

The other day for lunch we went to the english elders' place (the ones we hang out with on p-day) They are in a trio because one is serving in INdia but is here waiting for his visa, he actually just left today. But he (the one serving in India) decided to make us an Indian meal. From the picture it was really good but sooo spicy!!! Spicy hershey squirts the next day ;) ha-ha

Yesterday at church, Edwin, the one who got baptized a little bit a go, just received the Aaronic Priesthood! And I got to stand in on the circle! ha IT was so cool, he is really awesome, he's the one who works at Robeks (the smoothie place) We love him. He's so Christ like!!!

At Church we had 3 'gators show up!! I can't explain how much joy and happiness I felt when they walked in!!!! Alis and his girlfriend showed up with their baby (he's the one who has cancer, and was praying to know what church he should join then a member called and said we should visit him, miracle) and also Alex, he's 22. It was cool.  

Then after church and after a dinner, we got a call from the hermanas saying someone needed a blessing. It’s good because I've been studying how to say the annointing in spanish, because before E. Ochoa would whisper in my ear. But I finally got it down thanks to the Spirit helping me. The family, from Argentina, thought I was latino. They were like “so where are you from?” I'm like “just Utah”, they were like “oh..well what about your parents?”, “just there”. They were like “they aren't latino either??” “Nope..” then they were like “well you sound like it.” Kinda funny because I know that I'm not good ha-ha don't get why they said that ha-ha? But just funny :) Which reminds me, can you do some research and see which country speaks the best spanish, because I'm hearing all sorts of different stuff? And I just want to know. :)

Everything is really good. A lot of the less active members are starting to show up and even lots of 'gators are showing up. It’s getting crowded, they are saying they might need to split it? But hopefully not for a little bit. This really is such a great ward, so many people want to feed us ha-ha. You should be safe to know that this is a great place and everyone is taking care of me!

But I'm way excited for General Conference! I'll probably watch in spanish with a member so I might not get a lot out of it but it'll still be great no matter what!!!!

Today our apartment is getting sprayed, so we've been living out of bags for the past couple days because they gave us a check list of everything we had to do before they showed up...lots of cleaning!! Also today we are going golfing with a recent convert. It should be really fun and beautiful, I’ll be sure to take some pics for ya'll!!!

Well family I love you all, I hope to hear from all of you! Enjoy these 3 pics! You are all amazing, take good care of yourselves

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

PS I've really been liking Alma 5. It’s really good, I recommend you all read it.

Dad, how long on your mission until you felt you could really talk with people?? Weeks?? Months?? Years??? :)

I love you all so much

Oh yeah this week I have "Return and Report" it’s where all the new missionaries go back to the mission home and just tell different experiences etc. Should be fun, but I would rather be out finding and working!!

 

Pictures!

September 3, 2012

Hey Family!!

Sorry, I have been getting everyone’s emails and questions. Just been busy and trying hard to remember what to write, sorry. I only took 2 pics this week. One of a little soccer field kind of like something you would see in Brazil! There is always little ninos playing on it, but when I took the pic it was empty! The other pic is of a yellow truck like the one from our neighborhood ha-ha.

For the missionary questions:

-The schedule I had in the MTC was:

6:30: wake up

6:35 Gym

8:10 Breakfast

8:40 Class

11:40 Spanish Study

12:45 Lunch

1:35 Additional Study

2:45 Class

5:45 Dinner

7 Devotional (if Tuesday, if not computer language study)

8 District mtg (if Tuesday if not additional study)

9 plan

9:30 back to dorms

10:30 Lights out

That’s about the average day.

-One thing I wish I did before better was to know the scriptures and all the stories better. Playing soccer has really helped as well learning how to work, having a job, budgeting money etc. Just different life lessons. The MTC is just like BYU soccer camp but for church ha-ha.

-Learn how to really work hard and listen to the Spirit. Read the scriptures everyday and pay attention in seminary and listen to your parents and be active in church YM and YW helped a lot. Also be missionary before you leave. Share your testimony with friends and neighbors, don't be scared.

-The mission is great. It’s important to work hard, have fun, and be obedient. IF you can do those before your mission you can do them during.

-be teachable. be humble. be disciplined in all things.

I think that’s all the questions, sorry I don't have them with me... but I hope it’s not too late and I hope this is what you were looking for!!

This past week we have really focused on being 100% obedient, and because of that we have seen miracles. Just by striving to be obedient we showed the Lord that HE can trust us with more, and this week we got a lot of member referrals! One of them was Alis from El Salvador. We went over there to first give him a blessing because he has cancer. But we started teaching about the priesthood and that authority, and he was loving it. The next day we went back and taught more and showed him the Joseph Smith restoration video then taught the first lesson. Then we invited him to be baptized and he accepted, his date is for Sept 29!!! I hope he doesn't fall and that he can actually get baptized!!! It really was the best feeling. It was crazy being there because I just felt so strongly God had prepared him and that he was literally prepared for us, I know he accepted baptism not on our part but because he had been prepared. It was a huge testimony builder that God loves his children so much that if we as members are doing what we are supposed to do, we can literally be instruments! Open your mouth family, share the gospel/ Pray to know who you can share it with. :)

This week I started feeling a little discouraged about how ineffective I am because of my Spanish and we were driving in the car and I looked in the outside mirror and then the sun shone on my face and like instead of my face there I saw mom's face! and I heard her voice in my heart say, it’s ok honey you can do it! and that gave me so much comfort!! I really felt your presence mom and the Spirit really was strong, that was a miracle I needed. It reminded me of like the lion king, something unreal like that! It really was what I needed. Thanks mom - ha.

My advair has about 20 left, my synthroid has about 12 left after this week. Just letting you know.

Thanks for sending my stuff this week :)

I'm glad everyone is doing good. That’s crazy about how much it rained there. Dad, in case I don't get a letter sent out in time HAPPY BIRTHDAY on the sixth, I sure do love you and am so grateful for your example. I hope you got that DC shirt I sent from the MTC, your b-day present!! Hope it fits. Did you get that????

This past week we had Zone Conference and it was so good, I felt so pumped and just wanting to be the best. Pres. Riggs is such a good man. I really wouldn't be surprised if he’s a future General Authority no joke ha-ha. I really look up to him. He’s great!! I want to be like him, I want to learn a lot from him. He said he likes seeing the light in my eyes :)

Well, I hope everyone is doing great. I hope Stephen's knee gets better. Hope Michael enjoys the mission thing and his getting good grades. Have a good b-day dad. Amanda whenever you feel like making me oreo truffles feel free to send them ;) Mom I love you thanks for everything.

I think tomorrow I'm going on exchanges with one of the ZL's because E Ochoa is our DL so it'll be in English!!!

But man I feel bad. I feel like when its email time I forget what happened ha-ha... oh yeah the missionaries who lived in this apartment before us would bring in furniture from the trash and also road kill...so now we have bed bugs and no joke I have over 50 bites... but we called and they will be spraying our place so no worries :)

Tomorrow we might be able to email again, so hopefully tomorrow but if not next Monday!!

Con amor,

Elder LIfferth