The rain in the Dominican Republic stays mainly in the plain

Familia, good to hear from you!  Always the best part of the week.  Well once again, numerous adventures this past week.  The hurricane came through.  Where I am in the D.R. it rarely rains, but that changed this week.  On Tuesday, the zls called us and said that we had to come stay a couple nights with them in Azua.  It was actually pretty fun. 

We borrowed a mattress from a member and the four of us moved three mattresses together and slept there.  That was only for one night though.  We kept on the split for the next night, and my comp and Elder De La Cruz went back to Sabana Yegua and I stayed in Azua for another day. 

We did splits that next day and I went with Elder Garcia.  My Spanish improved significantly.  Being thrown into a place where English is not possible, is something else.  I thought I did pretty well for myself.  We taught a few lessons and I had some good chats about the Book of Mormon and prayer.  That was actually a great day.  The irony is:  it didn’t rain at all that day.  As sunny as can be.  The next day, when they cleared us to go back to Sabana Yegua, is when the rain came.   We got a whole bunch of rain.  It poured on us.  My comp informed me when we work in the rain, our wives get better looking though.  (Note from ML:  I love mission folklore!) 

We were supposed to have a zone conference, but I think the rain actually was a problem in the capital.  So our zone conference got moved to tomorrow.  I’m stoked for zone conference.  Everyone says they’re really good.  And then also this week on Thursday, we’re all going to the capital for lunch with the president. 

I am going to send all letters tomorrow, so that will determine how quickly letters get back to the states.  I got a great picture with my new tailored pants.  Tailored pants, that is the only way to go.  I am going to try and remember to take a picture of our apartment.  I have a ton of pictures from the CCM, so watch out.  Some are good, others aren’t.  Just erase the blurry ones.

And p day. We played some basketball this morning, and then after we got all ready, we played some more ball in Azua with the zone.  Good times, good times.   

Sunday, was a bit rough for us this week.  Here, we have a phrase, whenever someone backs out of a commitment, they fallared us.  We had a few investigators fallar us on church with some lame commitments.  I’m pretty sure that the toughest part of missionary work is going to be to help people keep commitments. 

But the great news of the week is we have five kids getting baptized this Saturday!  They’re all great.  They’re names are Madelin, Melvin, Magelin, Melin, Miguelina.  Haha, seriously, all sound alike.  They all like me and we have fun together.  They went to church and the parents are going to be baptized too.  However, technically, the dad doesn’t exist.  He has no birth certificate, so we are working on that.  Their names are Fledida and Luis.  We set a date for another great lady last night.  Her name is Confesora.  She’s in a wheelchair and has had a rough life, but she keeps coming to church and believes with all her heart.  She can’t read, but as long as she does what she can, the lord will take care of the rest.

Other items of note:  I got a haircut this week. I’m starting to understand these people.  At least with Gospel related stuff.  My comp is a stud.  Once he saw my personality a bit, he really likes me.  One night, we had to come back at six because of the rain.  We spent the rest of the night making videos on his camera.  It was his year mark.  You guys have gotta see the video of his shirt being burned.  Alcohol burns baby!  We’re working hard and I love the ward members here.

Love Elder LeCheminant