"I was in the middle of a contact..."

Here are some excerpts from recent emails from Phillip:

“Funny contacting story of the week. I was in the middle of a contact with an evangelical woman, talking about how we have a gospel of peace and love. When all of a sudden, I get pegged by a plank of wood! I look back and see a teenage boy with his hands in the air giving thanks to God. I had no idea what the heck was going on, but the evangelical woman reprimanded the boy in the name of Jesus, and called him 'a shameless vagabond!' The kid left after that, and I went right back into the contact talking about our loving and peaceful gospel. Almost too much for a Thursday afternoon.”

"I think one of the most exciting thing that happened this past week was getting the water fixed and I was able to wash all my clothes in the washing machine. However, I can promise you that my ability to hand wash will come in handy one day."

“Spiritual insights this past week in studying the Book of Mormon. In Alma 46:15. It talks about the true meaning of a Christian. Those that joyfully take upon themselves the name of Christ. After you are baptized you commit to take upon yourself the name of Christ. But only those that take it upon themselves joyfully are really the true followers of Jesus Christ. So, the lesson I gleaned is that we should all take upon ourselves His name even more joyfully, and truly live our religion in the small day to day moments of our lives.”

"My companion, Elder A, is entering into his final week in the mission field. On Sunday, they are picking him up to go to the office for a few days before he is released. You know what, he hasn´t gotten trunky at all. I want to finish my mission just like that. Tranquilo. Like nothing has happened."

Love,

Elder LeCheminant

After 15 days (with only one day of running water)...

Letter from Phillip on October 10, 2011

I´m doing great. Loving spreading the word. We have a bunch of investigators!

The news of the week is that we have the baptismal date for this Saturday for Josefina. She´s an excellent woman and we always have such great spiritual experiences at her house. But she´s been afraid to be baptized. However, she has accepted for this Saturday, but is still partly iffy. I will let you know first thing next week if the baptism went through.

We found this one lady a few weeks ago and were sharing with her a bit. She´s 29, has a 13 year old daughter, and is super nice. We gave her a Book of Mormon and decided to pass by this past week to see how she was doing. She had read up until Jacob and knew everything. However, the biggest challenge we have is Church starts at 8 am. Siempre es un lío. It´s always a challenge to get them to Church.

We have a baptismal fecha with a woman named Angela. She´s a señora. In her 60´s, but loves us and should be getting baptized at the beginning of November.

Marino, the husband of the member is ready for baptism. He has all the desire in the world. He has only one leg, but luckily a member picked him up for Church yesterday. We have to figure out the way so that the members always pick him up, but only a few active members have cars, and they almost all have stake callings. But no worries; the Lord will provide!

Francisco now has all his papers. He should be getting married soon. He´s still fighting with cigarettes, but wants to get baptized. Hopefully soon.

After 15 days (with only one day of running water) the water is working again! It came back yesterday. I filled up the bucket with rain water and showered one day. But they fixed the electricity as well, so I should be doing some laundry tonight.

We played a ton of basketball today for the zone activity. It was great. Then our house of 4 Elders hung out with another house of 4 Elders and it made for a great P- Day.

This last week I read a lot from an Institute Manual about the Old Testament that Elder R. had been given. I learned a lot about the creation, Adam and Eve, and our purpose here in life.

Well, I love you all.

Elder Phil

Santo Domingo Temple and a Football Prediction

Letter from Phillip on September 12, 2011

La Familia Mia,

I just wanted to write ya´ll and tell you about my life down here in La Republica Dominicana. Life is going well.

Here´s the latest update on my life. The Temple in Santo Domingo; perhaps there is no better place on earth. We went on Friday with the Zone of San Geronimo. It was an excellent experience. There´s a definite blessing of hearing nothing but Spanish in the street and house for the past year. The endowment session sounded good to me in Spanish compared with the last time I went. My thoughts in the Temple were these: I felt good; the Lord will give me the strength to have a good year.

We´ve been teaching some excellent investigators. We have 4 investigators that are progressing, and are doing well. Yesterday, we had stake conference in the fancy chapel with air conditioning. They all went and enjoyed it. Their names are Bismaoris, a friend of all the young men. Claribell, a 35 year old woman that is friends with one of the counselors of the stake presidency. Francisco, and Josephina. They all have baptismal dates except for Josephina. But I think that´ll change soon. I also love the other elders I live with. Nothing better than getting back at night and hacer checha (make chitchat).

I got some pants made last week for 550 pesos. I picked them up and they didn´t fit me at all. I took them back and the tailor told me all the things he did to fix the pants. I put them back on and I realize the guy didn´t do a single thing. We were all laughing at the deceiving tailor. Long story short, I sold them to Elder V. for 400 pesos, and lost 4 dollars in the deal.

Best part of the week. Walking around downtown Santo Domingo after the temple and taking the metro in order to get back to los alcs. Good times.

Love,

Elder D.R. Phil

P.S. So the BYU-Utah game is this week? My prediction is that Utah wins 7-3, in what many say was the lamest rivalry game played in years. In 5 years, the rivalry fizzles out completely. And all the Jonny Harline and Austin Collie stories turn into myths lost in time!

P.S.S. The picture is of me at the temple with some of the people from my MTC group. It was good to see them again.

Four Photos of Elder LeCheminant

The Book of Mormon Gives Them the Key to Discovering God’s Path!

53 weeks down. 51 to go. Yes, it´s true, I completed 1 year in the mission. Thursday was the day and we have plenty of pictures of the shirt we burned (a missionary tradition at the 1 year mark). We ate pizza, drank soda and had a good night without electricity!

OK, so this is my report for this past week. I had an excellent week despite the fact that they cut the water off for Los Alcarrizzos, for about 3 days! We had to buy the expensive drinking water to do everything. Shower, wash dishes, etc.

Here is more info about my roommates. Elder A. (my comp) continues to be an excellent missionary. He´s a hard worker. And even though we sometimes drive each other nuts, it´s the good kind of crazy. That really, deep down, comes from amor. Elder R. is from Mexico City. The kid is a character. And I really can´t fully describe him. Super funny. The other day, at 11:15 at night, I felt someone grab my leg. I thought it was my comp, but then heard someone giggling and realized that Elder R. was hiding behind my bed. There are now two Mexicanos in the zone. We´re all sad Cinco de Mayo isn´t coming up soon. Elder V. is a stud that cooks every single day! It´s paradise. The best part is, all his food tastes delicious. It´s rice every day, but the meat and the sauce always changes up. He made some banana bread the other day.

This last week, we´ve been really focusing on commitments. We decided to set the goal of putting 6 baptismal dates this week. We fulfilled our goal. We did it 4 times, in the first appointment. The majority of people realize that if God shows them the path, they will follow it.

We tried to help the people understand that the Book of Mormon gives them the key to discovering God’s path. It seems to be working, and I have less fear of inviting people to be baptized. We found one couple in the first appointment that have a lot of potential. They´re both in their 50s and they both committed to baptism if God tells them the message is true. This was on Saturday, and so they told us they had other commitments this Sunday, but are going to attend next week.

I had a good intercambio with a Dominican Elder F. I am liking the Ward that I´m in here. Oh and tomorrow, we are going to have a conference with 2 other zones with Elder Cornish. It´s all about faith. My companion Elder A. will be conducting.

Have a great week. I know I will.

Elder Phil

Headed to the Big City

Letter from Phillip on August 15, 2011

La Querida Familia Mia,

To everything there is a season, a time and a purpose under heaven. Think of the theme song of the classic 80's show “The Wonder Years.”

So, I assume you're all waiting on the big news. Without further ado, I have 2 words for you all. Saint Domingo. Why yes, I am being transferred to Santo Domingo. I'm going to be in Los Alcarrizo.

I've heard nothing but good things about my area and about my comp so I'm super excited. I've heard we live in a 4 man house but I'm not sure. I think I might be “3 D” which is the American slang that I'll be living with 3 Dominicans. But, I'm stoked to find out. I heard that my companion speaks excellent English. But to tell you the truth, I have no idea what it will be like. I'm leaving tomorrow at 10 in the morning. I'll let you know everything next week.

OK, well we all had a good week. On Tuesday, we watched an episode of “The District 2” for district meeting. I realized that all I need to do in order to have a great mission is watch “The District” once a week. It's sort of like watching “The Office”, except with missionaries. And without Michael Scott. Anyways, it pumped me up to spread the Gospel.

Juan is doing great. He is ready, and I assume that he'll have permission to get baptized. We just have to make sure he has a white shirt to wear to Church on Sundays. Marleny is also doing super well. However she didn't come to Church yesterday, so we'll have to see what happened. Evangelina is still going strong. We found an excellent investigator this past week. His name is Gerson. He's about 27. Just finished medical school in the capital. Is highly interested in the message. I don't know how far he'll progress because he works in the hospital most Sundays, but it's so fun having an investigator that listens to the message, understands the message, and asks excellent questions. It's too bad that I won't be able to see more of him.

To quote Bob Dylan, the times they are a changing. So wish me luck.

Love Elder Phil

The Spirit of God Must Have Touched His Heart

Excerpts from Phillip’s Email on July 25, 2011.

Familia Mia,

¿Que Tal?

First some updated news on the shoes. The other shoes weren´t as bad as I thought, so I wore them a couple times this past week. But a kid in the ward found a guy that did a complete makeover of the old shoes for 300 pesos. Yes, it´s true, I´m still sailing on my old shoes. Except this time with a thick, sturdy sole. My goal: Walk off of the airplane in August of 2012 with my Timberland dress shoes purchased from D.I. over 2 years ago!

Seeing how as my buddies Stephen Jensen and Jared Cowley have now finished their full time service to the Lord, let me say that if God seeth fit that they read this email, I want to congratulate both of them, and let them know that my goal this week is to become less "Haragan" (lazy) and write both of them prontito.

You asked for more info on my companion. I have learned muchísimas things from my companion Elder E. He´s taught me a better way to carry myself among the Dominican people. And carry myself in a way consistent with the sacred nature of a calling as a missionary. He´s highly intelligent. I get along with him. I´ve learned how to cook a mean plate of rice, beans, chicken, salami, and fried plantains (which, I plan to eat frequently after the mission).

And while, he´s not perfect, he´s taught me that a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can truly change a person’s life. And also, that God will give a spiritual confirmation that the Book of Mormon is the word of God to anyone who reads, ponders, goes to Church, and prays to God with real intent to know if it´s true. Even if that someone is a 19 year old baseball, rock and roll, and girl junkie. So yes, about missionary work in the Dominican Republic, I may look back after the mission and realize that Elder E. taught me a great deal about how it´s done in the Caribbean!

Along the same lines that God is no respecter of persons; the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is slowly but surely being understood by our investigator Juan. The spirit of God must have touched his heart, because there is no other reason that someone would go to Church for 4 Sundays in a row after 65 years without the Church. He is excited for baptism on August 13th.

We had another woman that went to Church yesterday named Marleyney. To be honest, we didn´t see much potential in her. She seemed like your typical 25 year old Dominican woman. A great love of God, but without much interest in our message. Anyway, we invited her to Church and she said yes. We were just about to leave, when I jokingly said, Elder E. have you ever noticed that everyone says yes to coming to Church, but whenever we pass by on Sunday morning, a strange errand prevents them from going to Church. We all laughed, she caught the hint and said she was going to go just to prove us wrong. She did come. She said she truly enjoyed it, and that she´ll see us next week at Church.

Love,

Elder LeCheminant