Andrew's Errand from the Lord: April 2014

Monday, April 7, 2014

Crazy Week

October 28, 2013

Hey family!

Well to start off, lots of crazy stuff/announcements were made!

First the other day I went to a sports dr to check my knee! and it is well! just need to do some physical therapy, but I think I'll just wait til I get home! they want me to do it 3 times a week for 28 times! sister riggs said that I can just go to the first three and take their exercises and then just do them on my own! (don't get worried or anything, its not bad. just tweeked it or so last October then I realized it was still bothering me and then I realized it that was a year ago, so I thought I'd better get it checked) so I hope the charge isn't too much for you! if so I'm sorry.

On Friday I had a meeting and they announced that all the missionaries in this mission in middle November will be on facebook and the internet(Skype, emails etc) to proselyte! but I am having to use it now to test it, it scares me haha. We need to focus on our assigned area of labor but we can also do work with family or friends who are less-active or non-members! its great to be able to use these tools to bless literally everyone! the other big announcement is that in December we will be getting ipads and iphones to be able to help us more with this purpose! each missionary will have their own ipad! I'm excited for that haha!

Wilbert and Natalia have been progressing a lot! the sad thing is that they have to move by the end of the month! we have been praying and fasting and yesterday at stake conference (I'll explain more about stake conference) we met a new member who just moved here and is single but lives in a bigger house and we got to talking and he is looking to rent it the beginning of November! and it is still in the limits of their daughter's school!!! it is such a huge miracle!!!!! God has been putting huge miracles in our path! and I'm not sure why! haha but I'm not complaining ;)

Last week we helped a man late at night with his groceries and we introduced ourselves and asked if we could come back and he said yes! so we go back and meet his wife and just get to know them all a bit better when the wife tells us that she is a member but hasn't been in 6 years since she moved here! and that they were previously getting taught by missionaries but that they just moved in to that apartment! Javier (the husband) is really interested! yet again another huge miracle!

So stake conference here was really nice. we had Elder Falabela and Elder Gerard of the seventy come! and on sunday after it finished our old town ward got to have a special lunch with them and then a special meeting as well! it was so cool! Elder Falabela is from Gautamala! he talked to the ward a lot about tithing and keeping the Sabbath day holy! and our bishop, Obispo matos got called into the Stake presidency (for good reason, he's awesome!) so right now we are "sin Obispo"

This past Tuesday I went on an exchange with an elder who is newish and is with a native companion and has been having some depression because his companion controls and does all the talking in the lessons. I hope I was able to help him out. and at night he had a meeting with President , and at the end President gave him a blessing and I got to anoint and stand in for the blessing! and man, it was a very powerful blessing! President is such a good man!

This weekend we helped a family move! only 2 men from the elders quorum came to help...so we were there for awhile! ha here in the Spanish wards we as missionaries take the place of the elders quoroms...its great to serve just that is takes longer and we could use more of that time for other purposes! but oh well!

We went over to give yasir our recent convert a visit when his parents opened to the door and said he wasn't there. so we came in and talked with them. usually how our lessons go with them is almost just a battle and we actually almost dropped them until this lesson! it went super good! we feel that with yasir's baptism it has soften their hearts! so hopefully they keep doing better! it was really crazy to see that change in them! it was a spirit filled lesson and they both felt it!

I also called the crest people to complain and they are sending me a coupon for a whitener mouth wash and if I want to get the free clean I have to fill out some paperwork! so if it doesn't take too much time I'll do it haha!

Everything else is going really good! transfers are nov 14 so you still have time to send stuff to that same address!

Its really great to be able to see how fast the work is truly hastening as we are getting ready for the Second Coming! It's great!

sure love ya'll

Con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Love ya'll

October 21, 2013

Hey family!!!

I sure love you! you are great :)

This week went by fast, its starting to make me a little sad haha.

This past Tuesday I had an exchange with a trio. it was fun but nothing turned out...haha. I remember thinking to myself what? what is going on? haha. then to make it worse, in the morning I talked to them to make sure to set the alarm for 6 so we can all have a good work out. in the morning I kinda wake my self up because I felt for some reason it has been a long night, so I look at my watch and its almost 7!!!! I get up and turn on the lights and tell them all to wake up. after talking with them I found out they both heard the alarm but went back to sleep! I was really disappointed because that was the first time I didn't wake up before 6:30....

We had a really good lesson this week with a lady we talked to in the street. she is from Honduras and we feel she has a lot of potential, especially because her "husband" (not married yet) was baptized back in Honduras about 16 years ago, but moved here and didn't know where to find the church and then got lost...so we are working with them both and its been really good! except they didn't come to church yesterday... oh man!

This really was a good week, one of the things we are still struggling with is finding our investigators regularly...its been hard. they all work so much and get paid so little...good thing with winter coming is that they won't work as much. most of our investigators now probably work over 40 hours a week and only make 20,000 a year, plus they have families and rent. I don't know how they do it. It's sad and hard to see. but one thing I have learned from that is that in order to be happy you don't have to have much and yet you can still be happy because of the gospel!!! woohoo!!!

On a bright note, we found a restaurant close by us that has a sweet lunch special for pupusas! $.99 for one! haha and they are really good!

To answers dad's question because I keep forgetting: for june, I don't really mind anything I just don't want to finish early. I wouldn't mind flying to the airport or if you want to pick me up, either is fine! and I still need to ask president his thoughts on that idea I had! but I'll let you know!

Thanks for all you do! thanks for all the prayers and the love! <3 we sure are all blessed!

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Familia!

October 15, 2013

Hey family!!

I love you all!

On Wednesday morning I got a text from President with the information for the funeral and also the email! and it just so happened that that is the stake center we in meet every sunday! so that was really cool. but yeah, we showed up and she was only able to talk to me for a couple minutes because of how many people were trying to talk to her.

This week has been good. lots of hard work, its going really fast and I am having a hard time remembering everything! haha...

We have been meeting with one of our investigators and she was baptized into another church when she was 20 or so and so she didn't see the need to be baptized again, but last night we had a really good lesson with her and the spirit guided it all and she accepted a date to be baptized! nov 2!!! coming up quick! so we will be really busy to get everything done in time!!

Yesterday we went to the temple because it was p-day and columbus day so it was open. unfortunately they only show the new video on the hour...and we went to the 8:30 session....I was really disappointed.......hahaha but then I got over it and had a really good spiritual experience!

On saturday night our ward had our noche de hispanidad! it was really good and a ton of people came! 3 of our investigators came and really enjoyed it! there was a lot of good food ;)

Last Tuesday I went on exchange to bella vista! It was fun to be back for a day. We were out tracking and trying to talk with people but no one was home! we were thinking what is going on! then we walk by a taco truck and the guy inside told us that there was an immigration march and that a lot of people went! haha. that explained a lot .

Michael said he has a girl friend? If that's true, dump her. I'm glad Matt returned safely! is he still looking muscular? haha. I'm glad Stephen gets to visit for a couple days!!!

For that upcoming package just the journal, meds, and maybe some more revel bars or sunflower seed butter. maybe some pictures of everyone? nothing too much! pretty crazy how fast time is going!It's almost halloween!

Well I sure love you all! sorry for the sloppy email, didn't have a lot of time. all the libraries were full long line and wait ha...

let me know if I can do anything for ya'll.

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

ps, hermana weenig is in my district right now, there is an elder smith in my zone, there might be more than one elder smith though.

GC

October 7, 2013

Hey familia!!! What a great general conference huh? :)

This week was pretty crazy and good!

On Tuesday we had the baptism for yasir! it was supposed to start at 5....I looked at my watch and it said 5:10 and yet it was just me and my comp...yikes! hhaha. but of course with God some how everything turned out great. the ward really helped a lot! haha. even though yasir is really shy haha he was trying really hard to not smile after his baptism but he just couldn't completely hide it haha, it was funny!

But yeah with transfers I stayed. but there was a lot of changes in the mission. three new zones opened up so now we have 10 small zones. Before we had 7 and about 30-40 missionaries in each zone, but that was just too big so now we have more zones with less missionaries in each!

This week we had a real hard time finding people home haha....people were just not cooperating with us ;) one of our families we are working with might have to move because they are really struggling financial and he even broke down and started crying...that was really hard to see. he has 2 young children with another on the way...I wish I could help them financial but as a missionary we can only offer salvation, which is much better than money ;) ha. it really had me thinking about the sacrifices parents make and the struggles they go through in order to help out their children. and of course it hasn't been easy for my parents, I know that you have really struggled in the past, and even though I'm not a parent yet seeing Wilbert go through that made me appreciate even more you two :) so thanks for all you have done for me mom and dad. we have a lesson with Wilbert tonight and we are looking forward to it. we are praying that they move in the area :)

We are still working really hard with our people, its just been hard to see them consistently lately...which makes it hard for them to progress...but they are all awesome!

The other day we got a coupon for a buffet and so we went and it was actually a really good deal! and we made sure to EAT haha, unfortunately when we got back one of the member families we are working with called us and said they made a lot of food for us...uh-oh haha. so right after having a nice buffet meal we had another huge meal! hahah I'm proud to say that we held it all down! :) I just burped up beans every so often haha!

I sure love you all and hope you all are doing great! we brought adolfo to general conference and he really liked it haha, I asked him what he thought afterwards and he said he didn't understand much but that he felt really good! haha.

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

General Conference

September 30, 2013

hey everyone!!! Love you!!!

This week was pretty good with a lot of meetings and trainings, some how we were still able to proselyte!!!

The first big news for this week is that yasir is getting baptized tomorrow evening!!!!!! we have been working with him. we were working with his parents but they read some anti-Mormon stuff on the computer and have gone down hill... but yasir is awesome! we were never really sure on his level of interest because he is really quiet but he always finishes his commitments. then on sunday we went over to get him ready to go around 12:30 so that he'd be ready for his ride. we thought we were going to have to get him out of bed because he forgot but no! he opened the door in his suit and tie! completely ready to go! it was so awesome! the craziest part of it all was getting permission from his parents...we talked with them for just over an hour but they finally gave permission, the dad was trying really hard to convince him of not getting baptized..one of his techniques was that he'd say "if you get baptized no more xbox, tv, or computer" and yasir held up like a champion and said "ok" that really touched me to see that a 12 year old was willing to give up everything he has for the gospel. I think we all need to check ourselves and ask if we could do that. it really taught me a big lesson and I am really grateful for him and his example!

Adolfo is still doing really good! just waiting and praying that his wife's heart will be softened! he is such a great man. I love working with him. and he came to church with 2 of his kids! it was so great!

Then the other night as I was praying about all of our investigators the thought came to my mind that I'll make a list for all of you so you can all prayer for them too!

-yasir: so that he can stay active after his baptism

-adolfo: so that he can get a divorce with his wife so that he can get baptized and live the law of chastity

-beni: that he can find a job and that we can meet with him more

-luis: that we can meet with him more and that he can understand authority

-Wilbert and Natalia: that they can have time to meet with us and come to church

-juan: that his wife's heart will be softened and that he can meet more with us and come to church

-vilma: that she can understand this message and be able to come to church

-juan (less-active): that he can come back to church and become worthy to baptize his nephew who just turned 8

that's about our most solid people now. I'll add some to the list as needed. I sure love all of these people so much, and I really feel like your prayers will help them!

On the way to one of our appointments this gangster looking guy stopped us and asked who we were. we started talking and then he asked if we believe in Christ or if we were Mormons ha, we explained that we were both and he looked really surprised and we had a really great conversation, and then some of his punk friends showed up and started laughing at him because he was talking with Mormons, and he really defended us! haha it was pretty awesome, he threatened to really "hurt them" and he apologized a ton towards us. but we called him sunday morning to remind/invite him to church and he said "i'll be there baby!" haha we kept laughing and laughing! haha. unfortunately he didn't make it!... haha but he still made us happy by his remark! haha.

Also vincente liddiard's parents are a senior couple in this mission. they inspected our apartment and we got to talking, which was pretty cool!

Also madre, i'll be needing a new one of those journals you make, i'm running low again ha! thanks so much!!!

This past week I went on an exchange with a new elder, elder Sheffield. he's a good guy. he has had 4 open heart surgeries... and almost wasn't able to come out on a mission. we got to talking about health problems and I guess I forgot all the stuff that has happened to me and my health problems until we got to talking ha! I forgot how bad some of that stuff I went through was. blessedly all is well now!

I am super excited for general conference!!! I can't wait, I've been counting down the days to hear the prophets and apostles speak to us and reveal God's will for us now!!! whoooooo!!!!!! haha :D

love you all so much! If you ever want to mail me revel bars again feel free ;) mom-were you able to find anything of those scripture cases?

Con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Hola

September 23, 2013

Hey familia!

This week was pretty crazy! last week as soon as we finished emailing you we went outside to get our bikes and bike home only to see that our bikes had been stolen....it's too bad to because we locked them up really good, it was pretty impressive to see that whoever did it did a good job! haha. we talked with the police and filed a report so they can keep their eyes out for them! its all good though!

Then on Tuesday I went on another exchange this time with elder olivo and it was really good. I took him to a super good authentic Mexican restaurant! yum! He is doing good.

Then on Wednesday as we were walking we talked with this super awesome open Baptist (kinda rare haha) and she was telling us her story of her conversion to the gospel and how she's changed so much. she told us her beliefs and that she is always disagreeing with what her pastor says and she will straight up tell him that is wrong! haha. she pretty much believed all the stuff we believe she's just in that church...so because of that we were super excited, especially elder peacock. we texted her Saturday to see if we could stop by and she pretty much told us NO....I felt really bad for elder peacock ha...I still haven't told him because he is just so pumped about her...I didn't wanna rain on his parade yet...

Then we left our apartment complex on foot to go work when a gringo waved us over and yelled come in here! at first I was like...no lets get walking haha, but we went in. place smelt like a casino...cigarette smoke...its a mess etc etc...I thought to myself uh-oh...haha. he introduced him self as liam and how he has talked to missionaries before and really likes our church he's just super "catholic" and then just to be funny/prove a point he started to smoke and drink in front of us...I was like you're kidding?! haha. even though he was weird and crazy he was super nice too nice, kind of creepily nice haha.

Then another time when we were walking and working a member walked by us and talked to us for awhile about his mission and how he just moved here from Utah. he told us some stories from his mission etc. then at the end he looked at us and just really testified how important and great the mission is. haha then to put the icing in the caking he described it as being "really bad a**" me and elder peacock looked at each other kinda confused haha! good guy though.

Then late Friday night we just left an appointmet to go home and on the way a black guy stopped us and looked really concerned and told us how there was a shooting in that complex the night before and told us to be careful. He was super nice! covered in tats and piercings but super nice. I think dad asked about that the other week how do the "thugs" respond to us, well so far in my experiences they look out for us. even though this area is sketchy I have never felt un-safe! I always feel secure and protected, which is a huge blessing!

Then on sunday we had 2 investigators come to church! Wilbert and Natalia! it was incredible! they came late and left early because of scheduling/work but he somehow fit coming to church in his schedule haha. we were really excited! the work is going really good. just trying to work hard!

This week we have lots of stuff going on! its going to be crazy as well! but it should be good!!!

Well, I sure love you all! I saw that picture of elder moodie on the new era, awww he's so cute hahaha jk! :)

let me know if there is anything I can do for ya'll!

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Nats

September 16, 2013

Hey family!

This week was really good and really busy, we had a lot of stuff going on and some how were still able to find time to proselyte :)

On Tuesday we had a zone training which went good then after wards I had an exchange with a new missionary from Colombia, it was really fun. he's a good guy. I gave him my arepa mix so he felt at home haha.

But man oh man how about that sunflower seed butter?!?! can I find that at any store, like walmart? its so good with raspberry jam on my arepas :D hehe. thanks for that package! that was a little bit of heaven haha. everything in it was wonderful!!!! <3

On this past Friday we all went to the nats baseball game. we had to go by metro and since I hadn't ridden on the metro a ton of times (I'm still a rookie) but there was a nice oldish couple that were also on their way to the game and they said we could follow them. We talked a little and they have family who are members and a nephew on a mission in Argentina! They aren't members still but I think it was great exposure! I think that was really the point of all us missionaries to go to the game for exposure. I enjoyed the game, it was fun a little boring but I enjoyed it. I still think rsl has better fans!! haha elder peacock...he found a suduko on the metro and just did that the whole time....party pooper! haha. afterwards he was like that wasn't fun at all..I told him just the like mission it is what you make it :) he's kinda negative but I'm trying really hard to help him be optimistic and happy, its working a little ;) but on the way home from the game it was a mess!! we lived right off the yellow line by the Huntington stop but it was all closed...so we had to all take the bus down, but our bus driver got lost (this is around 11:30 at night haha I don't blame him) but with everyone's help on the bus we found our way. I was actually really surprised how well everyone responded and helped out it was cool. luckily we were asleep by 1. lets just say that next morning was quite early... haha but I prayed that even with the lack of sleep we could function and we both woke up and were surprised to notice we weren't tired! haha.

Our investigators are doing really well. we are trying really hard to help them progress the best we can. one investigator was watching a Spanish judge show and she told us how she saw there was a guy with 2 wives and was Mormon, she was really confused and told us to come over to talk about it. it went really well, and we thanked her for talking to us about it and not searching some weird website haha. none of them came to church yesterday which was sad because 2 of them called the morning of church and told us they'd see us there and another said the night before that he'd be there...oh well :)

Everything else is going good as well! that's pretty crazy about Stephen buying that car ha! I'm glad everyone else is doing great as well. oh yeah at the game I saw elder schoemig! the one from lone peak. got a pic with him.

love ya'll so much!

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Miami

September 9, 2013

Hey family!!! Hope all is well!

This week was good. it went pretty quick tho...

First off.....some sad news for us ha...the A. family had to move to Miami....they moved yesterday :( they had tried so hard to stay in the area. they had one apartment they were going to move into where there lives a ton of members (we were pushing for that one so they had more member support (; hehe) but the people there never got back to them/didn't work with them...then they had a house that they were going to move into but at the last minute they realized the guy selling it was trying to fraud/trick them...then by this point in time they had to move out of the place they were currently living... and they have a cousin in Miami so that's the only place they could go. I was really sad. but they told us that no matter what they are gonna find the missionaries there!! that was a huge relief that they didn't just fall in love with us (because they loved us) but also with the church! they will get baptized soon, I know it!

Adolfo (the one who is married but living with his girlfriend came to church yesterday!!!! he honestly is super solid. probably our most solid guy right now. we get along so well. even though he's 63 we are great friends haha! its kinda funny. he gave us a ride home from church! so we are still praying for a miracle that things get worked out soon so he can get baptized.

We have been biking a lot! and I really enjoy it! it makes me feel like a "real missionary" haha! jk,

We got a referral from the English elders this past week (usually the English missionaries just pass over to us any one who speaks Spanish....so normally not very solid referrals..) but we checked this one out and this family had been taught by missionaries a year ago or so and they still have the Bom and have been reading it! we are really hoping to get somewhere with them!!

Now we are teaching a 12 year old. he is good, just really quiet. we are still unsure of how much he understands and his desire haha. he completes all of his commitments which gives us hope. we put him on date to be baptized so we'll see what happens haha. its kinda strange just how he is so shy....

mom a couple things:

-I have one advair left I just started

-probably just under a month for my synthroid

-you need to start practicing to make arepas (google it) I have 2 every morning with jam and a fruit, I really love them :)

-lately my mouth has been dry even though I'm drinking a lot of water, I don't know if that's a symptom of thyroid or anything else?

I'm glad that you went to Orbil's funeral, it makes me sad. he was such a great guy and out here I look back at the memories from him and all the things I learned, he has helped me so much. what he did for me went way beyond the soccer field.

Everything else is going good. I look forward to receiving that package!! :D its been awhile now.... ;) I think that's about it for now!

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Labor Day

September 3, 2013

Family!

As I'm sure you are aware libraries are closed on labor day so here I am today!

That's really sad about Orbil...But we are blessed with peace and comfort to know about the plan of salvation. its weird but I was thinking that one of my friends would pass away...hmmm. I pray that his family and friends all doing ok.

This week was really good. E. and his family are still doing so great!! still progressing, and loving it! our struggle with them is putting him on date ha! but we prayed and fasted (I partial fasted because the cabeza is still affected by that :( ....) so we'll see what will happen!

Our other solid investigator Beni is doing good! I feel bad for him ha, he is a really good guy. On Sunday he didn't come to church and he hadn't been home or answering our calls so we tried again sunday night and he answered and was soo happy to hear from us and told us he was in the beach! haha

We've recently been teaching Berando. he's Mexican and has a drinking problem and really wants to change! he is so nice and open with us! we have a lesson with him today. he has 2 really young daughters.

One of the families we have been teaching has been really going against us now....they have been doing research on the internet and found a lot of anti stuff...its really sad because they were doing so good! but now when we go over its just a lot of questions about why can't we go in the temple, stuff about the bom, polygamy, just a lot of basura...

We have been working really hard! and we don't have a lot going on for us but we are sure trying to! haha. its been fun though. elder peacock is doing good and I have been really focusing on having him doing a lot of the stuff, and its helped him open up and talk more! I had him do all of our correlation mtg over the phone in Spanish and he was so nervous but he did it! haha.

We have another cool investigator who is so solid but is in a complicated situation! haha! he is currently living with his girlfriend and his 3 kids with her, BUT he is married to another person. I don't know all the details just that his wife won't have the divorce... its sad because he really wants to get baptized...but can't until all that gets arranged and fixed. I emailed president about it so we'll see.

Today school started over here! summer went really quick here! its pretty crazy its already September and dad's birthday!!!! how old are you pops, 84? hahah jk! I hope you have a great birthday and eat some good food!!!

Mother dear, in my pantry we have oatmeal and chocolate chips, and it got me craving 2 things: no bake cookies and revel bars!!! maybe if you could send me the recipe for no-bake cookies and then maybe send me some revel bars?? that would be incredible!

Well I sure love you!!! hope all is well. hope all are reading the scriptures daily and growing in their conversion! :) daily might I add. I think I have some pics but the computers here won't let me email them.... oh man... I sure do love being out here. and speaking of my end here would it be possible if I could fly to the Tennessee airport and ya'll pick me up from there. I really want to come home from the airport. and then another idea I had was (i'll need to talk with president) that dad serves with me out here for my last week or last couple days? I think that would be really cool to end with my dad being "my last" comp :) but that's plenty of time away!!!!

con amor,

Elder Lifferth

Sunday, April 6, 2014

New Week

August 26, 2013

Hey family! hope everyone is doing good! I don't have too much time today...got a grumpy guy behind me in line haha!

So this past thursday i got my new comp. elder peacock from the portland area. he's a good guy. really quite...haha he told me he's anti-social..he wasn't kidding haha ;) he's good though. likes to work and be obedient!

also this past thursday elders wilson and ochoa went home. crazy how fast time goes!

on saturday we had the privilege of going to the temple visitor's center with ea and his daughter e! it was so great! He knows pretty much all the lessons and accepted to get baptized! we have a lesson with him tomorrow evening so we are going to put him on date! he also came to church sunday! he is so awesome! he has already changed a lot in such a short amount of time! he'll just be walking at church with a smile on his face talking to everyone like they're best friends haha! such a beautiful sight!

we have another investigator named beni who we found last week. he was taught by the missionaries about 3-4 years ago and really wants to be better! he has a lot of problems right now! he has diabitis and no job, just a lot of stuff that he is really struggling with! but he came to church yesterday as well!!! also elder olivo got transferred into this ward! its nice.

now i share a bike and car with the hermanas who live across the street. i really enjoy it. it shouldn't complicate stuff with exchanges too much ;)

i guess there is a new rule for the mail that they can't forward stuff anymore so here's the address that you need to mail me stuff, also if you could send just a couple letters quick so i can get a library card that'd be great :)

So far with all the changes its been really good and fun! i feel really good, and also really tired!

i'm glad even though things are a little crazy everything is good! i pray for you all every night! i sure love you and miss you!

i think thats about it! oh yeah? vanessa moodie is expecting a baby?

con mucho amor,

Elder Lifferth

Too much food

August 19, 2013

Hey everyone! this week was really good!!!

I'm not sure whats' going on here in this ward but they are on a feed the missionaries frenzy! its almost ridiculous...and to make things worse we can't reject some of them because they will actually get offended....but wow....we'll have a lunch with a member and 2 dinners most days....and they keep giving us food hahah! its so funny but hasta la vista to eating healthy!!! ;)

This week we got a golden referral from some sister missionaries and we went to check it out and its soo cool. He is really smart (obviously) and the gospel just makes sense to him he went to a ward activity on wednesday and also to church yesterday. He has been very successfull and we wants to move to different location and we told him some gold places and he looked at us and said money is not a problem at all! hahah so thats cool. So its him, his wife, their 32 year old daughter and their 23 year old niece, and they love us. everytime we go over they make us some way good authentic venezuelan food!!! so good. we are feeeling that he will be baptized soon! at church he was making a ton of great comments! everyone was like who is this guy? people after wards came up to us and asked if he's a member, some were like he'll be a future bishop haha stuff like that! we are working really hard with them and also I teach them englsih ahaha! its fun but kinda hard to teach english.

this upcoming week will be a little crazy. on wednesday we are moving apartments and then on thursday is transfers! I'll most likely be staying and elder boucher will be leaving. so we'll see who I get! it should be fun though!

yesterday in the evening we had a new member fireside for recent converts and they bear their testimonies. yesterday it was so good!!! way powerful!! great powerful testimonies from the new converts!

well i gotta go! theres a line now behind me hahah! i love you all!

Con amor,

Elder Lifferth

love

August 12, 2013

hey familyyy!

This week was very good with some crazy stuff too!!!!

hahah first off on tuesday i went on an exchange with elder alfaro. we were in a trailer park becuase we have 2 potentials/investigators there and neither of them were home so we started walking around and this guy with out his shirt waved us over and we started talking (its obviously this man is wasted...) he keeps asking us for help and how he wants to change. we just simple explained who we are and what we do and that we'd love to come back later when he isn't drunk. then he starts telling us how he feels the spirit with us and then hahaha he closes his eyes and puts his index finger by the temple of his head and really starts to concentrate and then opens his eyes suddenly and says "i see your church!!!!...and....i see you!!! (pointing to elder alfaro) thank you!!!! thank you!!! you are the man! i need you!" then hahah he grabs his hand and starts kissing it and bowing to him hahaah. we were both trying to hard to not crack up laughing hahaah!!!! then we were finally able to leave and he was jumping with joy becuase he felt the spirtit he said!!! so funny. so we are going back just to see if he really does want help.

on monday we went to the zoo! it was really fun. we rode the subway up and on the way back elder phillips got stuck in the subway door!!! haha half his body was in half was out! everyone is just looking at him in horror (we were all froze haha) he was able to pry it open a little bit then he jumped in but he caught his right foot!!!! hahahaahah!! then finally a lady and me coem to grips and run over to open it! i was surprised how hard it was t oopen haha! honestly it was one of the funniest things i've seen!!! hahaha it makes me laugh jsut thinking about it!

the other day we had a lunch with a part member family and we cam e out to leave and our car was gone............towing got us...no!!!!!!!! it was terrible. so we both had to pay...so if you wonder why i took out some money from the zions bank card thats why :(

yesterday we had the great opportunity to go to the temple with a member and his aunt who isn't a member...yet!!! it was such a great experience. even though we weren't in the temple the spirit is still sooo strong. and it honestly takes away all of our burdens. we are care free when we are in the presence of God! So go to the temple weekly! ;)

everything else is going really good as well! still working hard to get some of our investigators to progress and come to church but all is well.

this morning we had an appointment with one of the youth who goes to the navy tomorrow. we talked for a little bit shared some scritptures and then we gave him a blessing and i had the privilege to do it. it was one of the msot beautiful blessings i've been apart of! i remember the words coming to me and just thinking wow... the spirit was strong. i got chill bumps!

i'm glad the family is all doing well! and having a lot of fun! sadly not as much fun as you have as a missionary! ;) i'm loving this! its so great. eldre moodie and i were talking how even though its honestly the best thing ever, we are drained 24/7 haah!!! i could fall asleep anywhere. i fell asleep in the car ride to the temple! it was nice :) haha

so if i understand correctly i only take half a pill on sunday and then every other day i take one? or everyday i take one? hmm well i'll figure it out!

this week shouild be good. next week is transfers! we are getting 8 new spanish elders! the work is growing!

love ya'll

con amor

Elder Lifferth

Happy Day

August 5, 2013

Hola todos!!!

I love ya'll. Can't believe its already p-day and time to email ya'll again! haha.

This week was good. on Tuesday I went on an exchange with "my son" elder olivo haha. it was really good. I had him make me some arepas!!! (they are like Colombian tortillas) haha I really enjoyed being with him. He is doing good. we had a really good open talk, i'm glad we are friends.

We have been working really hard with la familia Hurrutia. We try to see them everyday, in the past we have noticed that as we don't follow up with someone daily they really don't progress! so we have been really focusing on that! and last sunday they all came to church!!! whoo!!! even though the mom and dad aren't married...(yet!) they are progressing!

another family we have been working with is la familia Castaneda. they are a less active family! and we try to at least see them every other day, have a FHE or share a small lesson. the dad hasn't been to church for a loooooong time and every single one of them came!!!! President Monson has stressed lately that less-active work is on the same level as baptisms! I personally feel so much better when we reactivate a less-active family! baptisms of course are great too!!!!

Yesterday as a mission we started a 40 challenge type thing. I would also like to invite you all to give it a shot too. The talk is called "Thy confidence shall wax strong in the presence of God" and in there it lists the challenge! so really think about it and do it :) I'm looking forward to it! and then also with that (don't leak this, this is top secret) on sept 13 to kick start the 'national service day' that the church does all the missionaries here gets to go to the nationals baseball game! Bryce harper should be making some comments as well because he is a member too! so it will be really fun!

Another thing that we have been picking back (president took this away because it got abused) is playing soccer with the ward! The members and us bring less-actives and also investigators! and a lot of people come! there is this one family, la familia Fuentes, and they love soccer and because of that they have been reactivated and also our visits! so its a great tool, especially in the Hispanic culture here!

everything else is going really good as well. This week should be busy! 2 exchanges and our Spanish Forum! Lots of planning and preparing! But it should be really good!!

I really enjoyed reading the dream dad had hahaha it made me laugh and smile!!! gooooooooaaaaaaaaaaalllll!!!! haha. i'm glad everyone had a safe trip!

Just sitting here reflecting on you all makes me very grateful to God for giving us each other! I'm grateful for the plan of salvation and that we can all live together forever in complete happiness!!! God loves us so much. And we can show our love to him by being obedient and striving to be like Christ! Even though that is a simple concept, its not always easy but He is there to help us with it all.

You are all great people. i'm grateful for you all and your testimonies and example. I couldn't ask for anything better. Sometimes I feel like God spoils us!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Lifferth

Ps- the picture: can you tell its p-day haha????!

Yay!

July 29, 2013

Hey ya'll! I love ya'll so much!! i really enjoy all the pics!!! keep em coming. Annslie looks so cute in every pic haha especially the one when she's on the huge horse haha!!

this week was really crazy and really good!!! lots of cool stuff going on!!!!

on monday we had a good fhe with a less-active family and we talked about the atonement and we did the object lesson that bring everyone a donut and in order for them to get it someone has to do a certain amount of push ups! we had candy and i had to do 5 push ups for every person and there was more than 20 people...ahah. i think the most powerful part in that lesson is that when people saw how much i was doing and sweaty they say "no thanks i don't want one" then we tell them you get it anyway and i had to do the push ups. that part really helped them see that Christ has already paid the price and that they better use the Atonement! its a really powerful lesson if ya'll ever want to do it you should! :)

then on tuesday i went on another exchange. it was good, he's not the most obedient missionary so we just talked and i tried to help him. he leaves in oct so not much changing will be happening ...but he's still a good missionary. and we were going to our last appointment for the night and we were walking and we ran into one of the hermanas old investigator from bella vista who was a bout to get baptized but had to move out immediatly because of rent or whatever and she doesn't have a phone to she completly disappeared!!! until we ran into each other and she now lives in the zone i'm in! so hopefully she can get baptizrd and ready to go! it was a big miracle!

then wednesday another exchange and i went back to springlake!!! thats where i started my mission! i was surprised to see how many people still remembered me! it was nice! then we had soccer in the night and i played a little bit and scored!!! who!!!! a lot of people came up and were like wow your playing suprised us! i was like what...cuz i'm a gringo haha! good people! i was able to talk with edwin too! he's the one who works at robeks! love him!

then on thursday i went another one with elder wilson. it was good as well. all these exchanges are exhausting haha! but really fun!

on saturday we had a baptism! her name is sonia and she is 60 years "young" and so nice! haha she;s like another grandma. she is so sweet ahaha and so caring. she calls us "mi amor, mi vida" stuff like that haha! but her baptism was crazy hectic!!! there was a baptism before ours and we told them to leave the water in and they said ok! we go leave to have a quick lesson and we get back around 6:45 to check and the water is all empty and the baptism was supposed to start at 7.......yikes! so we put it on full blast, went to the kitchen to grabthe really big garbage cans and started to fill them and pour them into the font. elder boucher got soaked ahaha! it was so hectic but it all ended well! it was one of those moments where you just kinda scratch your head and laugh! :D

mom i'm sorry about your health....i pray for you.

stephen make sure to stay active up there! be a good example to your brother! :)

poor tuna is gonna be lonely....:(

i really do love ya'll and i'm so grateful for everything you do!!!!!! ya'll are the best.

ps i'm a clown and forgot to bring my camara to the baptism......i was pretty sad i'm gonna try to have some one email me a copy!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Lifferth