Rubinos

October 15, 2012

Hey family!!!!

How's it going??? I really enjoyed looking at the pictures pop sent me! Everyone looks really good. Stephen's new football cleats look pretty sweet! I'm sorry to hear about the car problems...I'll keep praying for ya'll!! .. It’s pretty cool with all the elections and all! HA it’s funny because a lot of people think we work for Mitt! But no- we work for God :) ha-ha its really funny getting everyone's opinions on the election stuff. They are all really brutally honest about who they want to win ha-ha, they'll say for example oh we hate Mitt, or let’s hope Mitt wins so that Obama, that clown, can get out of there!! ETC...ETC... ha-ha that’s life as a missionary here now with the elections ha.

So this week I've thought that I should take better notes during the week so I can know better what to write!!! Ha-hah BTW President Riggs has asked that we only e-mail family, so if you can be a pal and forward this e-mail and all my future email to Elder Justin Moodie?! Thanks I appreciate it!

Well the other day we didn't have much stuff to do and our day was coming to an end. We said a prayer asking that we can know exactly where we need to go! So after the prayer we both got off our knees and didn't say anything, walked to the car, drove to the spot. We both knew exactly where to go and we didn't even tell each other that til after. SO we began knocking and knocking... no luck. Then we get this one door and the guy invited us in and was really friendly. He started talking to us and telling us how he was baptized about 15 years ago and even showed us a pic of his baptism. He's been less active for about 13 years now, and he told us why. He committed adultery..he said he failed God and that he could never go back to church etc etc...it really was sad. It really messed up his family life. So we're going to start working really hard with him. After we left I really felt the story of the "leave the 99 sheep to find the 1" I really felt that God wanted us to go there to tell him that God loves him and needs him back at church. We checked up on him but he hasn't been home, so we are hoping he's actually serious about changing.. Pray for Jose (super less-active) :)

We had a great lesson with Diego, our progressing 'gator. And afterwards he invited us to go with him grocery shopping and he bought us dinner. That in itself is a miracle because it’s super rare that a nonmember like that takes us out and buys us dinner. He really is sweet! I think he really likes us! We are going to try to move his baptism date sooner, so we'll see!!

This past Saturday we had service in the morning called 'gifts of the heart' it was like a D.I. type thing but at the stake center, they had a ton of clothes and other stuff all free. We were there to help and to talk to people about the church, there were a lot of Spanish speakers! It was good.

We have also been working with Blanca, she is a member referral. At first she was just curious about our beliefs because she is catholic. We've visited her a couple times and had a sweet lesson on her doorstep because no guy was in the house. Then the next night the member who referred her to us told us how excited she is and how she wants to marry her current boyfriend who she lives with and get baptized! But the problem is time, she’s going to be out of town for the next couple weeks! Hopefully the adversary doesn't get her before then... but she is super cool! In that lesson the spirit told her the first vision word for word through me. It was a super cool experience that God let that happen through me.

We've been working a lot with a less active family as well. We visited them Saturday night and had a good lesson, their kids love it and all want to be baptized! The problem is we invited the parents to church and they were like hmmm we're not sure... then Elder Ochoa felt prompted to ask what’s keeping them from coming. They told us that they have been going to another church...the evangelico's... we told them to pray as a family and see what church God wants them to go to. The husband is so sincere and great...but we feel like the wife controls him and doesn't really like them going to our church, which is really sad! So we are going to go talk with him when she's not around! Heheheh.

SO my food stuff is really good. We've been trying to find a really good GF pizza! We tried 2 different places (one is the picture from the first one) the first place wasn't terrible but it was still good. The other place was called Rubinos and it was super good!!!!1 And its funny because it’s like less than a minute away from where we live, and we're just now trying it!!! oh man...but wow its good haha :D

Also the other day at a dinner appointment, after eating the dad was like tell me a story in Spanish for practice! I was like ummmm...hmmmm ok. Then he's like well what’s your fav sport? So I told him how I used to play soccer and that I got 8 concussions and that the doctors were afraid that I wouldn't be able to come on a mission. But that I got a blessing from my dad that said that as I prepare for my mission that all would be ok! He was like wow...thanks for sharing that with me. IT was really cool how God put the words into my mouth to know what to say. He's less active and the wife is really active, so hopefully that helps him come back to church. With all my health problems the only thing I don't like is all the attention I get and how a lot of people just feel so bad for me...it’s good that they care but just a little too much attention ha-ha you know how I am with that stuff :)

New countries: Domican Republic (pretty deficil to understand her accent hahah)

Well I love you all so much, I look forward to seeing everyone's halloween costumes!!! Let me know if there is anything I can do for ya'll. Oh yeah...did ya'll get my letter I sent?! Love you all so much!!!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Here's a sweet peom that Elder Ochoa shared at district mtg:

He's Been There Before

The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feet I grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet. A groan fills the room. It's already time to arise?" It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes. The morning activities follow: study, prayer and such When it’s time to leave the apartment, you feel haven't accomplished much "We have a super day planned," my Companion says with a grin. I lowly utter a faithless breath, Yea, if anyone lets us in. With the word of God and my faithful schwinn, we ride off in the street. Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through. My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought we'd do. We ride up to the mail box hoping to receive a lot. Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "AIRBOX" We go up to our apartment; the day is now complete the only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet It's past 10:30 Pm, my companion is fast asleep. Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep In the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray; I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say. "Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today? I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away My hands, my aching hands worn, hurt and beat If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked on every street." Why on missions are the days so much alike? the only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike. Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me! I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes. It’s very hard to see. Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough? People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff. Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack; I want to give them Book Of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back." And what about my Family? They don't have much to say. I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day. Oh Father, why am I here, Am I just wasting my time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind. My Companion, Heavenly Father, who are you giving me? The way he rides his bicycle I don't know if he can even see! Now you have it, I can't go on. I DON'T KNOW what to do! That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I leave you." My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed. I need my feet for tomorrow; we have another long day ahead Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away. Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day. I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice. A man walks towards me and says, My name is Jesus Christ." Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet. "Arise he states, follow me to the shade you and I need to speak." My attention towards my Savior, total and complete He says, "Your Mission is similar of what happened to me. I understand how you feel, I know what you’re going through; In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you. "Even know how you felt when no one listened to you At times I felt not quite sure what else that I could do. I know you don't like to ride a bicycle for a car would be sweet. Just remember the donkey I rode  was not equipped with 21 speed. I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something to hate. I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, " Oh, the agony was great. I see you don't like your companion you would rather have someone else. I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth. It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you. I remember when they put thorns in my head and called me King of the Jews. So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack. I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back." Your hands hurt from tracking and knocking on doors all day I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ache in a similar way. It's hard not to hear from home when your family was not there to see. I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why has though forsaken me?" We have a lot in common, but there is a difference between us you see. I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me." He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love. With tears in my eyes, I watched as he went back to the Father above. I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head. I listened and heard the alarm, when I realized I was in my bed. My companion lets out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!" I sat up and said. Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!" No matter what we go through when we feel we can't take more, Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before.

GC! GC!

October 8, 2012

Hey family,

It was great to hear from you all!! I'm glad everyone is doing great and sounds like everyone is having a ton of fun!! Thanks for the updates, it made me laugh about Annslie ha-ha!! It’s good to feel your love and it really makes me LOL and smile :)

But man how about General Conference?!! It was soo good, I love every moment. On Saturday we went to the stake center to watch so I was able to hear it in English. Then Sunday morning we went with 2 English missionaries to a family that invited me and E Ochoa to go as well. They were super nice and I think the mom might send mom some pics of me. She has a son out now so she understands how moms feel. The dad after breakfast asked if he could make me an omelet. How could I say no?! So he made it for me, just me! Super generous family! Then as we were leaving they gave us a ton of food!! Tons of cereal and milk ha-ha. They showed us a pic of her son, and the elder he is training was in my zone in the mtc! small world. Then for the Sunday afternoon session, we went to the Sanchez family. They fed us and we watched it in Spanish O_o I decided I needed to ask God for help to understand it! And I was really able to understand a lot in Spanish! It was super cool! I was extremely blessed. One thing that I thought was cool is that Richard G. Scott does his own Spanish translation! That’s how good he is at Spanish, you guys probably knew that but it was new to me. The talk has definitely been about the new age change!! I would have enjoyed that a lot! Ha-ha but now Stephen if he's going can leave earlier and get back in time for college! And Michael can go out sooner!! Its super cool, I like it. A lot of missionaries are a little nervous about getting an 18 comp to train just because they aren't sure how mature and ready they will be.

This week was pretty good. We set another man on date! He's super cool, his name is Diego. We watched the restoration video with him and he loved it, the spirit was really strong and after, he was like “I know this is true!” then I started talking and testifying, and I was like “did you understand me,” and he’s like “perfectly!” Gift of tongues really works, I know it’s nothing on me because of how weak I am ha-ha. So we are working hard with him to get him baptized. Pray for him. We have a couple people on date, who we both are hoping we will still be in this area when they get baptized!!! But we will see what happens.

Alex (Alis) the one with cancer is doing so good spiritually, I know he'd be baptized already if it wasn't for his cancer, he has chemotherapy every Friday and by the time Sunday comes he is just feeling awful!! That’s our only problem with him..but we are praying for him! All things are possible.

I'm really feeling good. I’m loving this work. Oh yeah I sent you a letter I think Friday or Saturday so keep your eye out for it!! I know-- finally right!!!!

But Michael an iphone 4 huh? You little traitor, what did android do to you besides give you free music! heheh jk that’s awesome though!!!!

I've been feeling really motivated lately, God is really helping me help Him and His children and want to be a good missionary, I'm so glad he blesses me with a desire to want to improve, it’s really sweet what can happen when we rely more on the Lord for everything! Because of the atonement He will make up the difference!!!

New country: Somalia, not sure where that is?? Ha-ha

But I too am looking forward to re-reading and studying the general conference talks. I think it’s so powerful, and we really tried to focus this week on inviting all out 'gators to watch general conference! I really hope they did!!! It was so powerful. one of my favs was from Uchtdorf's Saturday morning one!!! I loved it. Also it kinda looked like Elder Bednar had a little mollet action going on during the Sunday afternoon session, anyone notice that too? or am I just crazy!!!

Well it’s starting to get chilly here! It’s pretty sweet how close Christmas is already! I’m grateful for my coat! Ha-ha thanks for all you do. I think that’s all I can think of for now!! I hope you can feel my love for you all, because I can feel your love everyday!

Well I look forward to hearing more from you soon!! Learn more from Christ and strive to be like Him daily.

I love you all soo much.

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

October 1, 2012

Hey Family,

Pretty crazy September is out the window!! Well to answer a couple quick questions, we drive a 2011 Subaru Impreza ha-ha way nice, most missionaries have Toyotas but we rock the Subaru. We also bike around to save on miles because we only get a certain number each month. The bikes help a lot though with that. I got all the packages and pictures as well. Got everything!!!! Thanks!!!

This week we had the opportunity to do a ton of service!! It’s been great. We've been helping a lot of families move, Saturday was "the day of service" I don’t know if you had that there? But after we helped a family move in the morning we went to Herdon Middle school to help with it, we made it look a lot better and even got the yellow Mormon helping hands t-shirt ha-ha:) It’s really great doing service, it really is good for nonmembers as well to see that and feel the spirit of Christ. Also Sunday we helped a family move and after they got us McDonalds breakfast, I got the breakfast sandwiches without a bun but with hashbrowns, it was super good ha. But man must admit it was super weird walking into McDonalds on Sunday, ha but we didn't know what else to do, because as missionaries when we say no to people they get offended, we almost have to accept what they have to offer because it means so much and they sacrifice so much to give us. I remember we were in the store a couple weeks ago and a lady walked up to us with some cash, and told us how whenever her mom saw missionaries that she would give them money to help and to show her love etc.. but it’s a rule we can't accept cash so we told her that and she looked really down and discouraged..it made us feel really bad..but if they put money in an envelope we can take it because we don't know its money ;) you catching what I’m dropping?!

Also this past week we went to the missionary fireside for the missionaries that are leaving, we took a less-active who is super cool! He loved it and thanked us so much for taking him. So some pics of me with Elder Calvert (he has celiac as well, and gave me a ton of food when I first got out here, he's not going home just got a pic with him. He also took off his tie and gave it to me) the other pic with me is with the old AP he's super cool and we got along good. Raymond (the less-active we took) made us dinner before (and he loves dragon ball z and he gave me some toys ha-ha but he has every DBZ episode on dvd) then after the fireside he took us to Wendy’s too!! Super generous and loving guy.

We were giving a lesson to an 8 year old getting ready to be baptized, his mom is really sweet and just now starting to go back to church. She asked if I could give her a blessing in English and it was powerful. I love using my priesthood for others. It’s cool how mom got one this week as well!!! And she called us the other night telling us how she can notice a huge difference in her life since that blessing! Priesthood power!!!!!

Friday night, we had some pretty crazy stuff happen!!! We got out of a lesson and had 30 mins to knock. So at first no one was really answering... one family answered but were busy and its crazy, that family's religion they study preach my gospel so they can know how to battle against us, so maybe it was good they were busy ha-ha. Then we knock and this guy opens up just yelling at us because it’s so late 8:55, Elder Ochoa said “it’s not too late sir”. I just started laughing because it was really funny how he said it hahahah :) but the guy slammed the door. Then the next door we knock, and a couple was walking down the sidewalk and asked if they could help us (it was their house) we just told them we were missionaries and that we are teaching people about Jesus. They told us that they are born again Christians....then they started going at us! They were like the BOM is not true, Joseph Smith is evil...you are all lost etc etc.. Then the lady was like “do you want me to pray right now for your salvation?” HAHA umm no thanks we are good! But every time we tried to bear testimony they were like “false, wrong, nope... etc”...Then we were like ok well that’s ok that you have different opinions, then they were like “it’s not an opinion it’s the truth!!” ha-ha-ha wowzers...then they left looking disgusted. Pretty crazy!!! I'm extremely grateful for the testimony that I have, because without the testimony I have that could have rattled me! but like in Helaman 5:12 if we are built on the foundation of Christ then satan's "wind" can't affect us!!!! I've seen that first hand. The Book of Mormon is true!!! That couple definitely strengthened my own testimony!!

But that’s been our week, really good growing experiences!!!

But sounds like everyone is having fun!! Except Charley’s thumb ouchie!!!! New Mexico huh!? Pretty crazy. We don't hear a whole lot about the election but some people will tell us ha-ha.

Real quick I wanna tell of a sweet thing I saw!!! In our gym they always have espn on, so when I was running I try not to watch because I’m a missionary but soccer highlights came on and I faltered ha-ha, but they were showing that in italy, lazio vs napoli. Miroslav Klose scored off the corner kick but it went in off his hand, they counted it because the ref didn't see. The players of napoli swarmed the ref, then the ref walked to klose, and asked if it went off his hands!!! klose without hesitation said that it did. They took off the goal and they ending up losing 3-0…but man how about that honesty!! You don't see that everyday.  That really touched me, especially in sports where they do whatever it takes to win. I asked myself if I would have done the same ha, and I really am not sure ha-ha. What a great example.

But I to am super excited for GC, I'll be watching it in Spanish though...so I might not get a whole lot out of it!!! but if you can I'd love it if you could send it to me!!!

The work is going super good, Spanish is coming. Oh yeah with transfers me and Elder Ochoa stayed so that’s good!!!

Well I love you all so much!!!! Stay strong and look for opportunities to do service, follow pops' example!!! He’s a good hard worker!!!

love you all

con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

New countries: only Spain...

September 24, 2012

Hey Family!

This week was pretty good. On Monday I got my meds and the brownies, they were way good. I'm definitely going to be making more someday. Umm have you sent the clothes yet? The temp is starting to drop a little so I was hoping to have my coat soon if you can, or if not let me know so I can go buy something.

On Tuesday I went on another exchange. It was really fun, as we were knocking these 2 Koreans asked if we could help them move some wood. So we helped and it wasn't a whole lot, and afterwards he gave us $20 for lunch ha-ha. Good man. We went to Cafe Rio and then to McDonalds to get a rolo mcflury! I'm not sure if you have had a rolo mcflury but they were surprisingly good. Also while we were at Mickie-D's it started pouring!! Like no joke the most rain I've seen at once, I tried taking a couple pics, but not sure how well they turned out! It was more water than a shower!!! Ha-ha people would walk (more like sprint in) in from outside and would be soaked!

On Wednesday we did a lot of work. The only downside for Wednesday was that we had 3 dinner appts... O_o too much food.... ha-ha and the meals they made us were pretty big. I was destroyed ha-ha, food overload. I ran a mile and workout in the mornings but still gaining a couple pounds.

Thursday was pretty good, we used our efforts to find. Lots of biking and it’s a good workout too. We got a couple let ins too, which we were really happy about. You never know when someone is going to let you in, especially at the door because some people will look so uninterested then out of nowhere they are like yeah come in! HUH?! Ha-ha its good. I feel like during our lessons the spirit is a lot stronger now. Powerful. We also met a Jamaican girl who seemed a little interested. We'll see.

We've been going to the DMV a lot the past couple of days because we haven't gotten our stickers for our license plate and we've been getting pulled over ha-ha. It’s been such a complicated process and really slow. And guess what, still not worked out!! Ha-ha. We spent all of Friday after that just finding as well! Not too much luck, except our last door before we had to go home (it seems like it’s always the last door) and this little girl from France opened and she said her parents were gone. So we asked when they'd be home, she said a little after midnight. So we were like so when can we come back to talk and share this message with them. Ha-ha she's like “at midnight!!” Ha-ha we said that that was too late, so she's like “oh”.... seemed kinda down, Then she said “just come Saturday around 1”. She was super excited ha-ha she definitely felt the spirit. It was just funny ha-ha how she wanted us to come teach them that night. I asked her if she likes soccer and Thierry Henry and she's like “yeah I love soccer!!” Nice!!!

So Saturday we go over there and meet her parents and they let us in and all that. The parents are originally from Ghana and no joke the dad was one of the calmest laid back people I've met. I think even more calm than Jeremy Moodie which is hard to beat ha-ha. But the lesson went sooo good. They had a lot of questions about prophets and how our church has "secrets" referring to the temple. But through the spirit we were able to answer all their questions and they had even more respect for temples and this church. We hope to be able to teach them one more lesson before we turn them over to the English missionaries. It really was such a good lesson, man loved it.

Later that day we invited a 16 year old who we put on date to be baptized to come tracting and working with us! He said yes and he was super excited about coming. He really loved it, we took him to a member's home just to feel the difference in a member's home and the spirit there. They were really nice to him and invited him to a camp out coming up and mutual! After the day he said he wants to come out every Saturday with us! Ha-ha maybe just to get out of the house because he is on house arrest and has an ankle monitor ha-ha, but he seemed really interested and loved it! It was great.

When we were biking home it had just rained a ton, and a car went to drive in a puddle next to us and sent a huge wave coming towards us, it missed me by 3 inches!!! It was like the cartoons ha-ha when a car drives past and just soaks the kid! Ha-ha. Luckily I didn't get soaked.

Sunday was good, but I woke up with the cold thing that I always get... and everyone at church was really nice and caring for me ha-ha. They kept telling me to go to the store and by claretin. They thought I was having allergies, but I was just sick. Then the family we always go to eat dinner at was busy so they bought us chipotles instead ha-ha, it’s funny because the sacrament talks were on keeping the Sabbath day holy ;) ha-ha it was nice of her though. We then finished the day with a big FHE a family threw and invited non members!!

New Countries: Nicaragua, Vietnam, Tanzania, New Guinea, Lebanon, Syria, and France

That’s good to hear Amanda and Matt will be living together again soon, I know they missed each other like crazy!! I hope Pres. Packer is doing ok. That’s sweet you all got to go to the temple dedication! Is it a big temple?! Ouch Michael's knee doesn't look too good! Ha-ha poor little punk ;) jk.

But everything is going good. This week is transfers I'll find out tomorrow if I'll be staying or changing. I hope I stay but anything can happen.

I love you all so much. I can't believe that September is almost over! Happy b-day gramps porter! Well I hope everything is going good. I'm doing really good. The other pic of me is me with a skyline. There is a ton of nice cars everywhere!!! Ha-ha. A lot of the members here talk to me and Elder Ochoa about the importance of an education. They are always giving us talks ha, I really enjoy them. I'm really excited for college and study in 20 months. Still not sure what I'll do with my life but it'll come ha.

I love you all so much!!!! Keep in touch, thanks for your love and support. I couldn't be here now without all of you!!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Su hijo, su hermano, su amigo