Fam Bam

January 7, 2013

Hey familia! How’s it going? This week I got the package and also the package of letters! Thanks so much. I want to respond to them all but not a lot of time, but as I find time I will try to reply! It was great hearing from all the ward and kids haha.

This week we've been working really hard haha. I've been really trying to do my best and rely on the spirit to know where and who to do see. Having some good success, no one too solid but good stuff should be coming, I can feel it haha. I'm looking forward to the next couple weeks!!!

The other day we've been working really hard with Alis (the bro with cancer) and he's alright but his girlfriend keeps on calling us and asking to see if we can help with the rent! I'd answer the phone and she's like so umm can you guys help out with our rent...? I was like....you've gotta be kidding me haha I was like well we can't but we can talk to obispo to see what he says. I feel like there are a lot of peeps who use us a little! haha like idk maybe just kinda feel used sometimes, not sure how to explain! haha

We visited Mario (the crazy guy who always brings up shooting people) and we were talking with him and talking about the BoM and he is interested and promised to go to church..but didn't, but anyway we were talking with him and he was telling us how he goes up to NY once a month. We asked him why, and he paused and kinda got a creepy face and said "business" haha I was like holy cow...this man is crazy-- ha good guy though

Erick romero is doing good. Should be getting the priesthood this upcoming Sunday so he can baptize his ninos! We were there the other day and he just broke down crying on how hard things are for him now...financial and just really difficult times...it was really hard but the spirit was there very strong and it was comforting him! He's such a good guy, It’s all just happening because he's trying to get his life in order but he's being strong. He told us at work that he's been sharing the gospel with his friends. He says that they make fun of him for being mormon but he doesn't care, he stays strong… great example.

I really feel like my Spanish has improved a lot this transfer a lot! It’s crazy, God really is blessing me with a lot right now!

The other day, an investigator invited us over to have pupusas! and fitz didn't want to go because he's watching "his weight" so he scheduled an exchange with the reston elders. So I got elder smith, no Spanish at all! Ha-ha so the whole day I led everything and taught everything by myself! It was awesome! Ha-ha huge growing experience, I don't think that was legal but it helped me grow haha.

Also dad, I was wondering with addition to your emails if you could write me spanish letters to me in the mail, and then I can write back! More practice! Well, if you have time. I know you’re busy!

Yesterday we had the opportunity to give a blessing. I gave it and it was powerful, the lady was crying, it gave me assurance and peace that the spirit was working through me! I love that feeling, especially because sometimes I can't tell if the spirit is with me, but just to see that it’s like, ahhh ok the spirit is working through me!!!

Today Bro Drawsbeck, is taking us the greatfalls waterfall, I'll try to take pics! We've been so busy it’s hard to remember to take some pics!!! haha sorry.

Well I love you all so much. If next week you can give me more info on where and when to go to get my blood tested and I'll try to do it! ;)

If there is anything you need lemme know! I love you all so much, thanks for your love and support!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Happy New Year

January 1, 2013

Hey family! Pretty great skyping ya'll haha. I think there is something wrong with my senses or something because it didn't make me homesick at all! But ya'll are great and gorgeous! Thanks for everything you do.

This week has been good. Sorry I didn't email yesterday we had service so had to switch some p-day to today.

One thing really cool, Elder Smith (one of the reston elders) his mom sent me a lot of gluten free desserts haha! Way nice huh?! See Michael not only does the ward take care of you, but other elders' moms! haha It’s great. I am going to write her a thank you letter!

So it snowed a little bit the other day, but didn't stick! It was nice while it lasted!! haha The morning was probably like 2 inches! But then it just turned to rain and we got soaked because we were walking that whole day! "walk about wednesdays" as they call it! haha luckily for me I have a nice water proof coat! so nice.

HAhahah so the other day there was a lunch special at Texas de Brasil! haha It’s like a high end tucanos and we went! so good!!!!! I made sure to eat my money's worth!! I think there is one in SLC maybe! Ya'll should try it!

New years we watched “Up” and “Brave” as a zone! It was really good. And after there was a lady from the local ward who brought us popcorn and brought her son who just got home from his mission and she needed a blessing so me and Elder Polkowske helped out. I annointed and the son sealed it and gave the blessing. And the words were really fascinating and made me think a lot. One line said like Heavenly Father has allowed you to have these certain challenges in your life so you can grow. It’s so true. I just never really thought of it like that!! Because God loves us He is going to give us certain obstacles to over come and grow and progress! I liked that.

The other day as we were leaving the library I was wearing the winter hat (the one in the pics) and some homeless guy waved me over. At this point I was like sweet! He must know where javier and timoteo are (we couldn’t find them) and we get over there and he's like give me that hat!! I'm like whoa bro take it easy. He's like no I sleep all day and night in the cold! (dropping explitives all over the place haha) I'm like I can't it’s not mine, it’s my old comps and it’s cold today and it’s all I got! But I was like next Monday if you want I can buy you one. He's like no blah blah beep beep beep. Then he lit up his smokes! So I was like well keep up the faith and he dropped some more bombs then we left! Afterwards I started feeling bad because of a certain scripture I read earlier that morning...how if we don't give to the poor and needy we don't give to Christ. As you do unto the least of these ye have done it unto me, and as ye haven't done it unto the least of these ye haven't done it unto me. So I was like great.....! So that was pretty disappointing ha.... man.

On Sunday we had the great opportunity to direct traffic at the temple for the festival of lights! It was so fun to do that!!! Loved it! Met a lot of great people and just had so much fun! A couple peeps from my ward came and were just pumped to see me haha not sure why they see me all the time! But it made me feel good! The older guy in charge of us Elder Hardy, knows Bill and Art Lifferth! Pretty cool.

Synthroid is coming?! Sweet thanks this is the last week so awesome!!!

Today at d-mtgs I shared about goals and how dad would sit me down and talk a lot of goals and where I want to be in this amount of time, especially with soccer! Fitz asked me to talk about goals so I brought that up. I really am grateful that pops taught me a lot about goals and achieving them and becoming successful. I hope you all set new goals and become the people God knows you can be this year!

Well love you all so much! Can't describe in words! Just so appreciative for everything you do! I am doing good!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2012

Dear family,

I am looking forward to skyping with you all tomorrow. I stayed in the area and got a new comp named Elder Fitzpatrick. I will be killing him (meaning this is his last transfer) it’s alright. Kinda miss Ochoa haha. But we get along. It’s interesting because I thought I'd get another comp who I could teach the area and the ward then next transfer I would leave, but since Fitzpatrick will be leaving it probably means I'll stay another one haha I don't mind, I really love it here! The ward is great. Next transfer we are getting 25 missionaries, 3 of which are spanish elders. It'll be good.

So tomorrow we are heading over to the Drasbecks around 2-3 so 12-1 your time. That’s when we'll skype!!!!! I am excited!!! I have a list that I can chat about too haha so I'll keep this one short! But yeah I got all the packages and mail. Thanks so soooo much. Also the Moodies and the Mulberries sent me a Christmas package too!!! :D way sweet! I am so blessed hah it’s amazing. Thanks for all you do! I love you so much. I truly have the best fam-bam!!

But yeah I am doing good!! I have a lot more responsibility now bcuz elder fitz doesn't know the area or really anything here. So that’s been good, I enjoy it haha also I am speaking a lot more Spanish, it’s really good for me.

Well got some pics for all of you to see haha

Well love you all so much I hope you have a great Christmas, be free around 12-1 to skype ok?! Thanks for your emails and support

Merry Christmas,

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Merry Christ mas

December 17, 2012

 Hey Family it was good hearing from you! Brent looks really good ha! Man that’s so awesome that you were able to go to his and Zach's homecoming! Tell Zach to write me back!!! haha

So if I end up staying this transfer I will skype you from the Drasbecks around 2 my time! The dad sent dad a request to accept his name and stuff on skype already! Also I can call before just to make sure everything is worked out! If I do get transferred lets hope my comp will have everything worked out so we can skype, but if not I wouldn't mind calling :D also don't worry about the calle shirts! no problems! "joscardo ochoa" fyi :)

So this past week something funny haha. We got a referral in the mail and it was saying how good it should be and that is was "gold" so we were like sweet! So we get there and at first couldn't find the house, then we realized it was a store...this man sells "gold" haha, he is pretty strange but might have some slight potential. He is always some how bringing guns into the conversation haha. He'll be like "say someone points a gun to your head and asks 'what do you think about evolution, what are you gonna say'?" weird stuff like that.

On Friday we had our Cchristmas conference! It was good. They had a little talent show, Elder Ochoa played, then a little devotional, then lunch, then Pres and Sis Riggs passed out little packages from them! It was really sweet and great. They made me special gluten free mint chocolate brownies! They were way good. I'm just so surprised every time how good everyone takes care of me! In fact, Saturday morning we got invited to the reston ward's christmas brunch, and some how word traveled and one of the ladies ran to the store the night before to get me GF waffles! just crazy stuff like that! It’s unreal the love, it really touches my heart! I am so grateful, also so grateful to be a missionary! Also I met a guy from the reston ward who knows uncle chris lifferth! His name is mike bear, he said they are good friends? I think its uncle chris, unless there is another chris lifferth I don' know?

We've been teaching 2 homeless guys lately who are actually progressing rapidly! One has almost read the entire BOM!!! They came to the reston brunch and they didn't want to leave because of how good they felt! It was funny! We kept asking hey you guys ready? "no not yet, lets just stay" they'd say. It was great! Then on Sunday we ran with a member to pick them up from the library and brought them to church!! They loved it! I asked pres what to do with baptizing homeless people because on the records you need to fill out all their info! Javier who is 19 is actually on date for jan 26! ha it’s so great. They both are a referral from Carlos. The other I think I've told you about him before Timoteo! he had been gone for awhile, but he came back and we just picked up where we left off! They are so humble and willing to change and follow The Savior! They carry their BOMs everywhere with them and their bibles :)

Last night after church we had a special dinner with the Copans family! They are in the Oakton ward. That was Ochoa's first area! It was great, they had really good hamburgers and ice cream and hot chocolate. Really great family! Their son just got home from his mission from south africa a year ago and he showed me a ton of pics! Me and him talked a lot. He said he spent one tranfer in the Nashville mission waiting for his visa, he didn't know anyone but small world.

Yesterday sitting in the Gospel Doctrines class, I was looking around just a heart full of love for all the people we have been working with. More than half the class is from people we've been working hard with! It’s great how much love and great friendships come because of the gospel, because of the Savior! We can all have love and be happy because of Christ! I personally am so grateful for our Savior, because of Him I can be on a mission, I can serve Him and bring more people to Him. Because of Him I have all of you and your love, because of Him we can live together forever with God. I know He lives and loves everyone with perfect Charity. I know He knows exactly how we feel. I know He went to our darkest and hardest times in life so we can over come those times only with His help. I am eternally grateful for all He's done.

So do ya'll have any great plans coming up!!?? I hope so! I hope you all enjoy the holidays and remember why we celebrate them.

The other day I got a package from chris porter with a wrapped gift! I'll be saving it for Christmas to open it haha! but man...what a great guy huh! love him!

There is this food that I really love and mom used to make it and it just brings back memories! It’s the plate with rice, french fries, meat and grilled onions and peppers. I can't remember the name but man...it’s so delicious! It’s good eating it. I believe it’s from peru! It’s kind of a funny mix of foods, but the outcome is so good haha!

That’s sweet about all the snow! We still have none... hopefully it can snow for Christmas here! Miss it! I bet the mountains are just stunning! Miss those too hahaha.

Also....sad stuff going on in the world!!! All the shootings...in Oregon and Connecticut (?) It’s terrible...yesterday in elder’s quorum we had a lesson of really the only thing we can do during dangerous and perilous times is to live righteously! and we do so by being 100% obedient! If we are obedient to all things God commands we will be ok, it’s just that simple. I try my best and I felt like I've learned that from mom and pops! thanks <3 haha I challenge all to try to just put in just a tad more effort to be that much more obedient! It’s not always easy but it is always worth it!

A recent convert was bearing his testimony and one thing he said stood out to me (he quoted a song): love isn't love until you give it away. That got me thinking about God and Christ and us. God loves us that He gave us His only begotten son. God love Christ because He was willing to give Him away. Mom and dad and all the other parents love their kids because they are willing to give them away because of love. We give that gospel away because we love it! We give ourselves and our time to others because we love them! Thats why it’s so important to have charity! Pray to have it and then use it!

Well family, I just love you all so much and I am so grateful for everything you do! I hope you can all feel the love I have for you because I can feel yours'. Thanks for your great examples. Can't wait to skype or call ya'll! It'll be great. Everyone here says that a Christmas on your mission is the best Christmas ever! Was that how it was for you, dad? Just all the love you get from everyone and all the service and love you give. It’s great!

Love you all!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

ps I had a dream we were all together for Christmas and I was just crying because of the joy I felt haha. I remember Stephen gave me a gift and I just lost it haha great dream huh?! Love you all <3

 

 

Conference Ayer

December 11, 2012

Hey Family sorry, yesterday we had a Conference and Elder Packer (Boyd's son ;)) came and spoke. It was really powerful! I enjoyed it. Everyone had pizza but they got me a salad! Ha it wasn't too bad!

It was weird! This week is the first time I can remember in December where I saw the temp 72 degrees! Ha-ha it felt really good here!!! Also my sickness is gone, just a little cough here and there.

So yeah I'll be needing a journal and purple inhalers really as soon as you can :)

The other night I had a dream I gave Michael a haircut! ha good times right?

So this past week even though it’s still been rough, we've found some good people we've been teaching. And in one lesson, one of the kid’s friend was getting ready to come over and teach the son about the bible. So the friend's name is Lenny. He walks up and is 11 and we at first were like wow an 11 year old teaching about the bible and God. Our lesson was going really good up to this point! We were just getting to the point of Joseph Smith and little joker Lenny starts questioning us! Ha-ha he's like do you guys know who Jehovah is? We were like yeah that’s Christ. He's like nope! He's God, we looked at each other and were like oh boy...a Jehovah's witness...this 11 year old boy then started handing us all sorts of their pamphlets and stuff ha-ha, we were like ....?? ha-ha. It’s really cool though, this family's kids love us! Every time we walk up to the house they run out and hug us ha-ha. I'm not sure how solid they are but they love us and want to visit the temple lights!!! We also played soccer with them this past week, it was really fun. Elder Ochoa was goalie then they said the three kids vs me! Ha-ha it was fun, I megged them all :D still have decent ball control! Ha-ha they like when I do the juggling trick where I do the 'around the world' twice in a row.

But as you see from the pics we went to the lights with Erick and the fam!! It was so beautiful. I really felt like I wasn't on earth! Almost like the spirit world, just felt like I was floating!!

I'm glad you got the cd, it is Ochoa's band. He wanted you guys to have it from him. The 20th is tranfers and we most likely will be changing but come what may and love it! I'm looking forward for greater opportunities to grow!

We've been teaching this biggish fam lately. The mom use to go all the time! The dad is very catholic but loves what we teach. He builds LDS churches and really just loves everything about it!! Its super crazy how much he loves it but is content with staying the same! But we are working with them, so we'll see. The mom told us that the dad never invited the missionaries or has anything to do with us, but now I guess the spirit is working on him. The mom is like yeah you guys are way lucky! Man spirit power!!

Everything is going really good! I'm doing good, just living and trying my best every day. This Thursday is my 6 month mark already. Time really is flying. Elder Gage wow, that'll be great to hear him. Elder Zach Dean should be coming home that same time! So try to go to his as well if you can!!!

Well love you all so much, miss you all. Can't wait to see your packages soon! They will be great. Love you all so much. Keep working hard and seeking the spirit. It truly is the most essential tool in the work of God!

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth

PS sorry this is kind of a bad letter, gotta hurry up!!!

 

Hi Fam Bam

December 3, 2012

Hey family! How are ya'll doing?! It was good to see pics of you all. Ha-ha Stephen's beard, mom's pink pants etc, etc!

The past 3 days I have also been sick! Cough, mucus, headache and a fever. But it’s not bad. Still working hard, hope ya'll start feeling better too!!

So this past week was probably our roughest week yet. No one would let us in or listen to us. We only found 2 new 'gators... Met a lot of mean people too ha-ha its great though. But we're not letting it get us down. Just keep going and not quit! It’s hard but God is with us always.

On Tuesday we got interviewed by Pres Riggs. It was really good. When I was sitting there in front of him I could tell being a mission pres adds some years to your face ha-ha. He looks just exhausted and a little older, even though he is really young ha :) While one of us was getting interviewed by pres the other comp was getting interviewed by the APs. They just talked to us about reaching our goal of 480 baptisms. They said we would find the people who are prepared to get baptized in our area books. The only problem with the Spanish program is that the hispanics here move a lot so a lot of the addresses are wrong. It’s been hard to find anyone. They say that if every companionship has 2 baptisms we can reach our goal. Recently we have found good people but we have had to give them to other missionaries. 2 of the people we've found and given away are now getting baptized. Even though it won't count as ours' it’s still a baptism for our goal, just most likely means me and Elder Ochoa won't reach our goal as a companionship. We're not losing faith just thinking how we really don't have many people we're teaching now and they have to go to church 3 times, the odds are against us, so we're needing a miracle! Ha-ha

The other day we had our apartment inspections and I have a pic of mom and dad, and the older lady who was doing the inspections asked if mom was my sister because she looks so young ha-ha. Thought you might like to hear that!!

Last night we watched the Christmas devotional with Jorge and his family. It was really good, I enjoyed it! Christmas is practically here. Meaning I get to skype or call ya'll soon! Ha-ha should be fun huh?

Yesterday we had stake conference, Pres and Sis Riggs both spoke too. It was all pretty much about missionary work and temples. One thing that I liked was this quote, "we come to earth to go to the temple" just give that a thought.

So I've been craving caramel corn and other homemade treats ;) also my journal is nearing its end, mom I'll be needing a new one soon if you can. If not I can go buy one :) also more garment bottoms (underarmor kind)

That’s crazy Brent is already coming home!!!! Man that’s awesome!!! I wish I could go to his homecoming talk ha-ha.

Well that’s all I can think of, pretty slow week ha-ha. Hopefully this one will be better!!! :D

Love ya'll so much, let me know if you need anything!

Con amor <3

Elder Andrew Lifferth

Thanksgiving

November 26, 2012

 

Dear Family!!

I love you all so much, I'm truly grateful for you all!!! Sounds like everything went very good this past week! Glad to hear!

This week we had a ton of service!! We were told that on thanksgiving not to go tracting but to seek service. We pretty much served the whole day and ate as well. For lunch we had steak at the Drawsbecks, they of course made me and only me an omelet, its tradition for me now ha-ha. They sure are great to me ha-ha not sure why. But it was good. Then for dinner we went to the Fuentes. It was really good, they made me this huge thing of carne asada because I’m allergic to turkey! So good and all to myself ha-ha wow. They talked and talked ha-ha we were there for 3 hours that night. Great family, they are from El Salvador but attend the Chantilly English ward!

One very big miracle this week was we went to the library to teach Timoteo, but couldn’t find him so we called his friend asking where he might be but he said he didn't know. So we hung up and got ready to leave when this guy sitting by a tree smoking asked if we were looking for Timoteo. We said yes and he's like he's not here today but you guys are the LDS missionaries right? We were like yes and he told us his story of how he met some great LDS families in Las Vegas and took the missionary lessons but lost contact when he moved back here. So we taught him the first lesson and set him on date for Dec 22. He was smoking and held up his cigarette and said I'll quit! We didn't even have to ask him. It was amazing, we passed him on to the English missionaries. Which they had a baptism this week and Joey (the smoker dude) went and loved it! Greatly increased his desire to get baptized. The baptism was for Carlos, originally taught by the Hermanas but passed on to the English missionaries as well because he wants to go to the English ward. But the picture is of us Spanish missionaries with him after his dunk. Also something great happened. There is this guy named Antwon who is one of the English investigators and he got up and bore his testimony and he and his girlfriend afterwards had a lesson and they both got set on date for Dec 22 as well. The girlfriend was crying during the service and also during the lesson. The spirit was super strong! Also I felt prompted to bring my English scripture to the baptism so I did for whatever reason, and for the lesson for the English elders didn't have theirs' but I had mine so they used it for their lesson ha-ha pretty cool right?! Hope that all made sense :)

We stopped by Erick and his family and checked how they are. He said that ever since we gave him that blessing to help with his coffee problem that he doesn't even crave it or anything, he was super grateful!!! Its always so great to see the power of the priesthood!!

A side note, Elder Justin Moodie is already training!!! Really crazy! I'm proud of him ha-ha

Yesterday at church it was Diego's confirmation. That was really powerful and hit me to think of these people's potential and how God knows everyone and He has a need of everyone.

The other day when we were using our area book to find more people, we walked past a door and I felt prompted to knock it. Pretty weird and at first I didn't think it was a prompting, but as we were walking back to the car it kept telling me to go back. So I was like hey we gotta knock this door. So we go and this lady answers (it was an English neighborhood but this lady was Spanish, so I was like ok this is good) and we told her who we are etc etc and invited her to the festival of lights at the temple. She asked, the temple thing in Maryland?? We were like yeaaaaa, and she's like oh well I have a ton of curiosity about that place!!!!! So I was like sweet!!! We are excited to see what may happen with her! Curiosity is great, it can lead to desire then to faith and baptism. Follow every prompting!!!

The temperature here is pretty cold, but no snow. I'm not used to it being so cold without snow ha-ha it kinda messes with me!! I'm like where’s the snow?! But my coat keeps me warm!

I read my setting apart blessing again and it amazes me how so much of it is happening ha-ha. Its great and truly perfect I love it, it gives me so much peace and the spirit. Also I'm loving the scriptures more and more. I'm trying really hard to study better and remember what I read! A study journal really helps me!

Tomorrow we have our interview with President! I'm excited for it!!

Well I love you all, there should be more pics coming today hopefully!

Also me and Ochoa were wanting (if it’s possible) to get Calle t-shirts for Christmas. I would really like that ha-ha

Love you all so much, be safe this week with everything going on etc.

Con amor,

Elder Andrew Lifferth