March 18, 2013

Hey family it’s great as always to hear from ya'll!!! haha I loved the pictures!! I am so glad that God is blessing you all right now. He is also blessing me so much, I can feel His divine help everyday! and it’s a wonderful feeling, I was just thinking the other day how this is such a huge task that we have and if you think it could be impossible! But it’s not, we have His help!! Without Him and Christ and the Atonement we are literally nothing, we are loved. We are blessed so let’s live everyday showing how truly grateful we are for that!!

So the day before transfers I forgot to tell you a funny story. It was snowing a ton but we had a couple appointments that we had to have and President sent us all a text that said to not drive. So we decided to walk. As we were walking on the sidewalk a snow plow drives buy and a little sprinkles on us from that. Then another drives by and a little more snow. At this point I'm thinking that two snow plows is enough for that road so I keep walking. Next thing I know I'm getting tackled by a huge wave of snow from yet another snow plow!!!! I think he sped up and drove closer to us on purpose! hahah but it was crazy how strong it was!!! It almost knocked me over!! haha. I was soaking wet for the rest of the day... -_- ahah

I got your package you sent :D thanks that was great!! Great tie, great cookies! Great talk and books and note it was great!!! haha

So the other day we were tracting, and we get to this house and knock nothing so then we ring the doorbell. A couple seconds later we are getting charged by an old man cussing us out and telling us to leave and never come back!!! hahah it was crazy how fast it all happened!!! I just remember bracing and preparing myself to get tackled and punched hahah!! but luckily he didn't touch us! I didn’t even have time to get scared because it happened all in less than 5 seconds!! haha it was crazy! but good expericence and good journal entry ;)

Every Saturday our ward mission leader has a correlation mtg with the missionaries here which is great because my old one didn’t haha. But he usually makes pancakes and other good breakfast food! So he made that and then being the small joker he is he's like well Elder Lifferth we are gonna eat pancakes and for your breakfast I got you gluten free oreos! haha it was really nice! Then he brought out eggs for me too! It’s crazy how nice people are to my health needs! What a blessing!!!

We were tracting the other day and we saw this guy on his porch and we decided to talk to him. So we go up and teach him and he is just super weird... we taught a really good lesson but he was just a creep...we got a really weird creeped out feeling from him! kinda a dark feeling... so we left hahah. He went to another church, and I don't know it was just really weird...and dark for some reason.

So has anyone in our fam got new mission calls or friends? Jordan G? Jordan C still hasn't written me back... anything new? :)

Yesterday we went to a baptism of the sister missionaries and as I was leaving a member from the english ward walked by and then said Elder Lifferth? Are you related to Geoff and Kate lifferth? uh yeah he's my uncle! then she told me that in Boston she used to babysit Jon and Will and told me a funny story how when Jon and Will would get angry they would call each other funny names, like" you astronaut!! stuff like that. Then as it progressed and got a little more heated they would call each other her name hahah. They are Greg and Holly D. So maybe you could pass that info on to them ahah. I told her Jon's serving a mission now! Small world with our name! haha

Yesterday we went to visit a less active teen. We got in and we just hit it off. He plays soccer and likes it a lot etc etc. We told him the importance of keeping the sabbath day holy and I told him different experiences in my life that made me realize the importance of it even I learned that the hard way ha. but during that time he really changed and is like you’re right...I'll be at church this Sunday! It was just cool to use soccer as a tool to help connect for the good of the gospel!

We've lately been teaching this one family with lots of problems.. haha their 13 year old has already made a ton of bad choices and his parents never taught him the right etc etc. and as we’ve been teaching them I have seen how the gospel truly can change us and motivate us to do better , they are all on date to get baptized abril 13!! As a family. At first I guess before I got here they wouldn’t set a date or even want to, but as we've taught them more and more they want to change more and more, they all came to church and the baptism yesterday! It’s awesome to see!!! The power of the gospel !!!

Well I think that’s about it for now. Stephen's hair is pretty nasty in the pic with him and the cat!!! hahah But the other one he looks good, Michael is also looking really good! haha. Any luck with addresses of my friends and an electronic spanish translator? or should I buy one here? If you could let me know asap that would be phenomonal! :)

Well as always congrats on the success and blessings you have all received and for actually noticing God's hand in your lives. Dad you can finally rest a little from all the stress from the legislature haha!!! Sure love you all!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Ps I think today is gma shirley's b-day. I just remember that because it’s two months before mine!! Happy b-day grandma!

March 11, 2013

Hey family! It’s good as always to hear from you!

Stephen breaking pews huh...sounds about right! haha jk. Speaking of Stephen, if he doesn't go on a mission can I get his rifle? :) haha

So I am sure you are all curious if I got transferred or not! Well I did! hah. It’s a nice area. This is the zone that has the pentagon and you can see the George Washington Memorial across the river. I'll try to get a pic for ya'll! Also here is an intersection called "7-corners" It’s crazy… there are seven different roads that go through it! The roads here are super crazy haha. Elder Frazier, who I believe dad met his dad, just got called to be the zone leader here so that’s funny. I must admit that saying goodbye to Springlake was hard ha. Some people/families actually cried saying bye to me. It touched my heart and I was extremly grateful to God for blessing me with strong relaciones there. I also got a little teary-eyed saying bye to Erick! He cried a lot... ha it was powerful experience for me though.

My new comp is Elder Wilson from California. He is 26 and an opera singer. haha. I was honestly intimidated of him haha. But I just try to think of him as an average joe. That’s actually one thing that has helped me a lot with other people, especially intimidating leaders, I hope that’s an ok thing to do! haha, i just try to think of them as a normal person. It seems to help me! but he's a good guy and so far we get a long good! haha.

So my second day here we had a sweet lesson with this cool cat named Noe. It was a really good lesson and we set him on date and he accepted. Afterwards we were talking, mi comp y yo, and we both thought he looked way familiar and we've seen him before. Not sure if that means anything but it was weird! haha

So the Brethren emailed (I think all mission presidents) and we can now email anyone. So if you know of anyone from home or the ward who wants an easier way to write me I can email back! So I'm pumped to email Elder Moodie!!!! haha. Pretty cool right! We just need special permission to email girls who live in the mission (recent converts, old friends etc etc)

So the new apartment where I live is pretty crazy hahah. It’s not bad though. The joker below us I guess sells drugs? And then there is a witch who live in the apartment next to ours hahah. Hopefully I don't get turned into a toad this transfer ;) haha. no gym either....so I've been getting creative with the deck we have, I can do pull-ups, dips etc etc. It works!

Also I was wondering maybe if you could send me an electronic Spanish translator, or maybe I could buy one? Maybe an early birthday present? I would appreciate it a lot! hahah.

Lately I've been a tad sick. I'll be fine during the day but at nights it gets worse haha. Last night I was coughing a ton! Not sure what’s the dealio.. but I don't feel sick which is the weird thing. Just a slight cough.

So ya'll wanna come out here to pick me up huh? If that’s what you guys wanna do that’s ok with me then. It would have been cool to come off the plane and see you, but if ya'll wanna a tour I'll give you a tour! haha. Let them eat cake!!! hahaha.

Any news on Jay? or Zack's address? or whats the dealio with Zach D. not writing me! hahah jk. Elder Fitzpatrick wrote me! That was cool. He already has a girlfriend haha he’s pumped haha. He said he'll probably go to slcc for a little bit. I told him I enjoyed my few weeks there haha. So that was cool. Well I can’t think of anything or anything else...hmmmm. Well with this new email rule change I have more than an hour to use so I'll be thinking of more things haha! Well I sure love ya'll and miss ya'll a ton!!!!

con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

ps pics: me and elder merril (red head just finished his mish) me and elder scott (goofball) hahaha

March 4, 2013

Dear fami bami!

You are all great! It is always great to hear from all of you! Speaking of meds, I'll be needing a new purple inhaler in a month and same with my thyroid meds but probably like 2-3 weeks for that! Thanks for getting everything figured out. I did feel a little bit more hungry the past couple weeks or so, so idk if that would be from that? Hopefully, I've been eating a lot I feel and don't like it haha. But hopefully with the change of dosage I'll feel better!?

So this past Friday we went to Texas de brazil again haha! Just because I might be leaving this area and it was Elder Scott's year mark in Spanish, he started off English but after a couple transfers got switched, kinda like cousin Jon! Which is awesome btw! I think it will be hard, but that’s when you'll see more miracles. So he'll be taken care of! Some of the missionaries I know who got switched usually have really good Spanish!

This past week we had a good amount of member exchanges finally! whooo! It was great! During them you just feel that that really is what is needed to better the work in wards! It’s great. A lot of them really helped and gave us ideas of who we can see, less-actives or friends. Which is great. From that we actually visited a less-active and they came to church yesterday!!!! It was sad though because this guy and his wife he was a bishop in Bolivia but came here and stopped going...he knew better though and he's like yeah you're right I need to get back and they came! It was cooool. Another less-active who is an rm....knows better as well but not willing...yet :) hehe he'll come around!

But the main thing that happened this week is that we went to a 7 day adventisist church on Saturday with one of our gators...ahaha. I made a deal with him that if we go with him he has to come to ours'! and he's like ok that's fair. Their church wasn't bad at all. A ton of really nice people. Just a lot of weird songs and tons of prayers! haha but I mean it was a good experience to see. I didn't have a bad feeling there, but it did feel like something is missing, well obviously! haha. But on Sunday he, Jose, actually came! And I really think he enjoyed it a lot! He was making friends and joking with the members. We were a little nervous because of fast and testimony mtg, because you never know what to expect, but honestly it was way powerful, and almost all focused on the bom and how this is God's true church with His true authority! I was like yea....!!!! cha ching. Then after he came up to us and asked so when are you guys gonna come over so we can talk? So we are going over tomorrow to see how he is and his q's etc. He is really smart and knows the bible way good. He would be a great member. He even wore a suit and a white shirt hahah and one of the youth walks up to him and asks if he could help with the sacrament but we were like he's not a member bro...well not yet! haha it was funny.

Yesterday I had a nice dinner with one of my favorite fams, Raymond and Maria from Costa Rica! It was great. It was a little hard to leave because pretty sure I'll be leaving and Maria was crying...that was hard to see but at the same time it felt good to know and feel her love for me! ha. I gave her my info so after the mish we can stay in contact! Me and Elder Ochoa were the first missionaries to really strengthen them and get them back to church. She said she'll always remember me! She's this little single mom of a great family. She has a great testimony! So after the mish me and Elder Moodie are going to visit Costa Rica on vacation :D

Last night we were home and planning and got a call for a blessing, so we left as quick as we could. It was to a lady whose husband isn't a member and it was really powerful. So it is now one guy we are going to try to teach, he seems actually really interested to do what he needs to help his wife better! whooooo!!! Priesthood power, I am so grateful to have it and use in the service of God's children!!!

So this past week we had a lesson with one catholic guy and put him on date! haha It was cool to see how interested he was. He was literally on the edge of his seat. During the lesson I was just grinning ear to ear to see him like that hahahahh.

Btw how is Jay doing? Is he gonna be able to go back out or just gonna focus on college? Hope he is doing well!!!

Keep on working on getting Zack's address and also Orbil S. :D I've been thinking of him lately. Also I've had a small thought of maybe being a seminary teacher? but idk… I do want to go to byu or byu hawaii :) haha

The other day a member gave us some chicken beans and rice (typical meal for me haha) and I was eating and had a loud crunch that hurt and I spit it out and it was a rock!!! in my beans, luckily my tooth didn't break! haha man gotta be careful what you’re eating hahah!

But everything here is going good. This Thursday is transfers and I'll let you know what’s going on next Monday! If I do end up changing missions I won't find out til about june-julyish. I wouldn't mind but I would miss Pres Riggs a ton!!! But I’m good with whatever. Opportunity for more growth! Just gotta be open and have faith. It’s pretty simple, just gotta align our will with God's. It is simple but not always easy to do!

Big tuna looks like the werewolf guy?!?!?! hahah be careful tuna hahah girls are crazy! haha

I sure do love you guys and hope everything is going good. It’s crazy that its already March, wow. Time is flying. Not sure how I feel about that. Thanks for everything you do!!!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

February 25, 2013

Hey fam!

First off have you heard the new news?! There will be 58 new missions opening up and my mission will be affected. We will be losing Fredricksburg and Woodbridge zones. Meaning our mission is going to be probably half the size!!! The new Virginia Chesapeake mission is opening so a couple changes. We do not know all the details on how missionaries will be affected only that we are losing 2 of our biggest zones! Ha I also saw there will be a new Georgia Macon mission, I wonder if that will affect Elder Moodie? hmmm. It’s great to see the work hastened on! I get chills thinking about it! whoooooo!!!!!!! hahah

Some other crazy stuff, last p-day after I emailed you we went to pick up the Reston elders to run some errands and when we got there the whole place was wrapped up with police caution tape! And tons of fire trucks and police cars! We were wondering what happened, later the Reston elders told us that there was a murder that somehow lead to a fire! Pretty crazy. There is 3 sets of missonaries that live in that complex as well but they are all ok and 2 sets didn't even know about it till after when we told them!

This past Thursday or Wed, we had interviews with president! It was really awesome. I had a couple questions so we talked about that for a little. then he talked to me and told me some really cool stuff! Man it was amazing! He is a great guy!

We've found a couple really cool 'gators! We've been having some really good lessons as well! But for whatever reason...no one is coming to church!!! It may be because it starts at 8:30...hmmmm. We are working so hard to get them to come, just gotta keep moving forward and be consistent with them. There are a couple that are just so solid they just aren't going to church! We are really trying hard to get members to help with us so that our 'gators can make friends in the church and progress faster! but it’s been hard! A lot of our ward's men work like 3 jobs..but we sure are pushing for it! This week we should have a couple if not at least one everyday! If we were all to work together missionary work would be 100000x better.

So yesterday I made me some toll house bars! Gluten free in fact! hahah so good and I also made brownies for Elder Scott. It was really good! I hadn't had sweets in awhile and it was sooo good hahah. I try to serve Elder Scott sometimes he says thanks sometimes he doesn't…but I keep doing little stuff for him! haha. I really try to love the guy. He's a good missionary and all.

This past Tuesday I had some service with Elder Polkowske (my zl and my pal, we were on exchange) we got to paint a lady's bano! It was actually pretty fun haha, I enjoyed it a lot! Then afterwards she fed us a huge peruvian meal!! It was waaaaaay good btw! hahah she's a nice old little lady. Very tiny and fragile looking ! haha

On Friday morning we had a lesson with a 'gator, ended up not being there and as we were walking back to our car Hermana Penaranda is calling us to come into the house because her husband was really sick and needed a blessing. God sure knows His children and what they need! Well Hermano P asked that I seal and give the blessing in Spanish of course (it’s strange as we were walking I felt I was going to give a blessing then she waves us in, at first I was like maybe she needs help moving some furniture because the husband is at work, then she tells us he is sick, I was like ooooo ok (: ) so I think it went good, the wife was crying from it haha, so that was cool to see. The last couple blessings I've given tears have been shed. It just shows me and strengthens my testimony of the power of the priesthood! It’s great to have the power for the blessing and service of those around! That’s why as a priesthood holder it’s so important to always be worthy and willing to help when called upon!

Yesterday we went to check up on one of our 'gators, who we think is a pastor or the main guy or the head hancho at his church, and he said he's been reading the bom and said he thinks it’s true he just needs to pray! He told us in really good detail what took place haha we were pretty shocked. We can't tell if he's just reading to understand our church or if he's actually interested! So we'll see what events unfold in the coming weeks! haha :)

I think that’s about all I can think of. I hope everything goes well with primary and dad's work! and soccer tryouts and so on and so forth. I guess it’s kinda good to be busy but remember to slow down and serve others and read the scriptures and general conference talks (which btw is a little over a month away!!!!)

I sure do love you all a ton!!!! I hope all is well. Hope you enjoy the pics haha. One pic is when it was so cold it literally hurt my skin haha and the other is me studying in my long johns and boots hahah

con amor infinita,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

 

 

February 18, 2013

 

Hey familia mia!

This week was pretty good. haha last monday I went to get a hair cut from a less active member (hispanic of course) and little home boy lined up my hair like I would Justin's!!! At least he didn't cut the square in my forehead! haha I'll include a pic. But now where he did the curves the hair is already growing back! hahah oh man...but he also left the top by my cow lick long so I was looking pretty hispanic-y!!! haha so I trimmed that bad boy, I guess he was going for the slicked back look too plus the line up. I was joking with Elder Scott that we will fit in now!

This past Wednesday I went on an exchange with Elder Ochoa, who is the spanish ap now! haha pretty cool. He wanted to go first with me! It was fun, I went to his area which is in Arlington! It’s a really nice little city, lots of buildings! It’s a pretty hip and happening place haha.

So I ate some breaded chicken without realizing it, and my stomach only hurt a little bit but it did mess up my bowels and digestion haha ;)

We have lately found a lot of good people tracting, but this past week got dropped by a couple of them...mostly catholics...it was a little discouraging! A couple of them are in love with the book of mormon which is weird because we read in the introduction that if the bom is true it means this church is true and that Jose Smith really had God's authority to translate it. hmmm...interesting peeps huh? So we'll see, if anything it will plant a giant seed in their corazon!

So in regards to Nelson (the bro who had court to see if he was going to get deported or not) I fasted on Wednesday because Thursday was his court day and we called Thursday morning that they had changed it to August!!! I was pumped haha. Fasting really works and it keeps strengthening my testimony. So we met with him just last night. We were going to teach him about church, the Sabbath, and then WOW! We walk in and I see 2 beer bottles on the table...I'm like great!!! So we start teaching and his wife (gloria) walks in and sits and listens too. (at first she didn't say anything but as the lesson went on she really opened up!!!) So they are really taking it all in..then we get to the WOW, haha he said he used to drink every so often but he doesn’t smoke, drink tea or coffee, or drink booze!!! Same with Gloria. Gloria wondered why not coffee and we explained it and she really understood it way good. They think it just makes perfect sense to take care of their bodies! I was thinking what type of Spanish person doesn't drink coffee!? pretty amazing! super prepared! So we are really looking forward with them and getting them baptized, I really hope so. I mean they accepted to live the WOW and go to church together. Previously we only taught Nelson, but Gloria is very supportive and interested! I didn’t describe it in a way that gives them and the lesson justice, but man it was incredible. We all connected way good, laughing and joking and also being serious when we all needed to! Man...sure hope they get baptized.

So this week tracting we met some weird peeps and had a couple funny stories. One guy answered the door and said "no hay nadie" really loud. haha I was like bro your here!!! Can we teach you?? slams door...mmmm thanks bro hahah. Also another lady (this is at night) turned the porch light on, opened the window and looked at us, closed window, turned off porch light and never answered. I mean if your gonna do that, be sneaky! haha man..

This Thursday we have interviews with president, I'm really looking forward to it! He's always great to talk with.

So I got my lab work done this past Wednesday. I hope you get it soon. IDK it’s pretty hectic all this stuff hahah!!

I don’'t know Elder Frazier personally but I've heard his name before! haha

I got a lot of pics so be patient!! :D

con amor.

Elder Andrew Lifferth

 

February 11, 2013

So sorry no pics again, I am here at the library still...I even took a valentine day pic for you all hahahah.

So I called in the lab this morning again and they finally got it. So I'll be going in hopefully tomorrow! thanks for all the work, it reminded me of all the confusion I had at the mtc with it....

So this week we've been working really hard to find! and we found a lot of solid peeps! I was honestly blown away! It was really humbling to see God's hand in the work! One in particular is Nelson! He is mexican. We taught him and when we returned he told us everytime he reads the BOM he gets the shivers! We were like no way!!!! yes! haha we are currently praying for him because he told us that he may have some problems with immagracion and he could get deported.....so we've of course have been praying haha. Another guy is Miguel. pretty solid as well and really wants this. Lot of good stuff happening and its really humbling.

We've been trying to get a sister who is less active back to church, but she won’t...it’s really sad. President recently taught us a way to talk with less actives and it’s powerful. Then after we do all we can do they still have their agency...

As I just stated above, we've been receiving a lot of training on how to improve our teaching and it’s really powerful! My favorite is to teach the BOM in this way. It really makes it simple and same with our other lessons!

So I got your package! thanks so much! hahah those breakfast cakes were a little piece of home that I needed!

Elder Moodie said he went through the torndado and is ok haha, scared me! He said it was crazy.

Well family I love you all so much, oh yeah also I have a little cold going on, as it seems everyone here has! But yeah I love you all soooo much! You truly are the best. Also mom, I barely eat sweets haha it’s hard but it’s really good for me! Like you said before the mish, if I ever crave sweets eat an apple! hahah

love ya'll,

Elder Andrew Lifferth