What do you like in your burger?

Well Hello Familia!

Once again, a good week here in Sabana Yegua. Teaching, contacting, baptizing, saving souls, the whole works! We had a good week with lessons. We got 39 “member present” lessons.

Me and my new companion, Elder Torres, get along great. You know how Dad and I, or Mark and I, would argue jokingly over little stupid stuff. That´s how it is with him, only in Spanish. Elder Torres is just a super witty guy. It makes the time in the apartment so much more enjoyable. Just learning the phrase “do you want to bet,” has greatly increased my fun in the mission field. Sadly, I lost just about every bet this past week. Anyway, my point with all of this is that I attribute my increased joking arguments in Spanish as to why I am learning to speak Spanish. I improved dramatically in just one week. It was a miracle.

We started teaching a family that has a lot of good enthusiasm, so everything is going well with them. The baptism of Bolivar should happen in about two weeks. Keep your fingers crossed.

Miscellaneous note: Send me the lyrics of Para Bailar la Bamba via email. It makes a difference when you understand everything, and Torres and I wrote a funny missionary version.

Also, I bought the COOLEST belt off a Haitian for after my mission. A white puma belt with a big pistol and Dollar signs for 100 pesos. I look forward to wearing it in two years.

I discovered a thing called Chimy´s here. The Dominican burger. Full of grilled cabbage and onions and everything else that is good. Tasty!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Phil

Transfer Calls

It was an exciting week. Full of intercambios [missionary exchanges], conferences and transfer calls.

First off, I had a couple good intercambios. The first was Tuesday, with Elder Suero. One of my favorite Dominicans here in the mish. He's the Zone Leader. He reminds me of Antonio Banderas. Good missionary. Then the next day I had an intercambio with Elder Santos. He taught me some good street Spanish.

Yesterday we had a conference for the Caribbean Area via satellite. President Dieter Uchtdorf and Elder Dallin Oaks spoke. Elder Oaks gave a good talk on the good and bad cultural standards of the Caribbean nations. Their importance on family is good culture. The men leaving the women and not supplying for the family is bad culture. He really emphasized tithing as well. President Uchtdorf gave a good talk on love and loving the people who have fallen out of the church.

Last night, we got transfer calls. Elder Urry is going to Bani. I am staying here in Sabana Yegua, with…wait for it…Elder…Torres! I don't know him, but he was actually Elder Urry's second comp as well. Apparently he's a really good missionary. He comes tomorrow. Tell you more next week.

We are visiting people for P-Day since Elder Urry is being transferred.

Love you all!
Elder Phil

Families, New Years, and P-Day in the D.R.

We asked Phillip how the family who was baptized on Christmas Day was doing.

What follows is his report on that family, New Years and his P-Day today!

The familia is such a great family. The Dad is such a great guy. Always happy, and even happier that he knows his whole family is in the Gospel. He got the Priesthood yesterday and couldn´t have looked better. He bought some nice Church shoes, so he doesn´t have to wear his tennis shoes to Church anymore. He´s in this with everything he´s got. His wife was putting in some hair extensions last night that were a complete different color than her hair. They were out of black...go figure!

The ward had a good activity the other night for New Years. Tons of people came. Sadly we had to leave just as we got to the talent portion. When we went home, Elder Urry and I stayed up to celebrate. But it just ain´t the same without the big ball. However, now I know that before I die, I will celebrate the New Year in Times Square.

P-Day was sweet today. We played some 7 on 7 softball. The Dominicans like their baseball. My mitt was used well today at first base. It´s also a good thing that me, Ethan, Chase and Stephen used to ditch calculus to hit the batting cages, cause I was batting .666 today!

We´re gonna have a family night and do some contacting tonight. Contacting is my favorite part of the mission work.

Well, love you all!

Elder LeCheminant