Nov. 21, 2011

To answer your questions

My relationship with my companion is good. I find that when I push back, and am stubborn it's hard to like him, but when I am submissive meek and humble it's really easy. We often laugh together at nights and that’s the only rule we have trouble with, which is we are in bed and lights out at 10:30 but talk till 11 which I feel like is maybe against the spirit of the law, but not the rules, and I really enjoy it, and getting to know him better. I would love your views on it. He is a Utah Mormon family, but thinks they are looked on as jack Mormons because they snowboard, Wakeboard (he's sponsered). But I think he likes thinking that and people don't actually think it, because he seems as Mormon as they come. Everyone in the mission looks up to him, and thinks he's perfect, and President likes him too so probably he will be an AP. We work out together but I run a little faster, so not side by side. The morning is neither of our favorite times, we are not that chatty in the morning. Hardest part by far is missing you all, I love everything else, and am seriously trying to get swallowed up in Christ, to lose myself and get to work, but it's hard. My worst day was Dad’s B-day because I couldn't be there and tell him thanks for everything, and enjoy everyones presence. So that’s what I am struggling with most now. Also being such an imperfect representative of the only perfect man is hard. I feel inadequate, but reading Elder Bednar’s and Uchtdorf’s fist talks in conference really helped me feel better about it. I love the scripture in D&C that says "The lord has suffered you to come to this place" or something like that. It's such a great place with great responsibility but he has suffered me to come here. I have seen so many miracles, some pan out and some don't but they all are true miracles.  There’s a saying that so many miracles happen around new missionaries. I believe it, It’s the lord saying it's him not us. That’s where I find solace, my job is to obey the commandments of god and open my mouth and it will be given me, like it was Elijah. I had no Idea how I was going to tell you this, but I started writing and it came. It’s so amazing what happens when you have the spirit with you. 

  I wanted to share a scripture with you, but I can't find it, I think it's in Alma 33 about how because of the prophest’s trials the lord has listened to him, It may help your lesson. It sounds like such a great lesson. I am going to use it. I want to hear how it goes. I am so impressed with your planning weeks in advance. God is a plan maker just like you. Thanks for being a great example. 

So I want to tell you about my first Baptism. An investigator named Ye ting hui (Jeimei/sister) who we meet with twice got baptized. All the teaching and stuff had been previously taught, and she had already had a baptismal interview but hadn't honestly quit coffee, so couldn't get baptized, and then a boy in the ward her age that has a mental problem grabbed her breast so she stopped meeting with the missionaries.  She also had a little mental problem, I guess. Yet when we meet she seemed normal, I guess through the meeting with the missionaries, and baptism she has mostly gotten over her problem, the whole ward says it's a miracle. There were only 10 at the baptism and one was the boy, who had asked for forgiveness, was there to support. It was kind of annoying but beautiful.

I love you all

Elder Matthew Sabey

Nov 16, 2011

Hey all,

I loved hearing from so many this week. I would ask you to use email and not dear elder because dear elder goes to the mission home which is an hour and a half from us, so we only get there like once a month. I just got dad’s letters from Daniels birthday, so yeah.  One more request, can you get me Ian Darcy’s address? I would like to write him. Also with the pin number, Bro. Calvert whom dad talked to, suggested you send me a new credit card in one envelope and my pin number in another. I thought this was a good idea because my card expires  in the 2-3 months anyway. Whatever but I really do want to pay for my bike.

A few of you asked what I would like you to talk about. I love hearing about anything. I would like to hear more about specific funny stories like grandpa being in the same room as Josh, any cool spiritual ideas or experiences or mission experiences that would help my mission, maybe sports, and obviously girls. Dia's getting back soonish right?

About my week, We see little miracles every day.  I love it. We met a woman down a road I choose to go down, but my companion was the one who went back and talked to her, her name is Amon from Jakarta, and she lives close to the church. She said she always wanted to go to the church but never had seen anyone in it. We set up and meet with her, she used to be a Christian, and still is but her church is far away so she never goes. In the lesson we felt the spirit strongly. I testified of priesthood power and after that she said,  "It's true." We committed her to baptism, and at the end of the lesson she said "I have money but am not happy, here I am happy." What a miracle. The Shi Jiating (family) met again and this time I could tell that there was a difference, they were excited to meet with us and had been praying and reading the BOM together. They committed to baptism to. I guess it's really rare to commit an entire family to baptism; the dad even seems to be developing interest when before it was just for his kids. We meet with a 17 year old whose family has no religion and was searching. He also committed to baptism. Also the miracle Wu dixiong I told you about that came from an hour and a half to hear our message, he came and understood the importance of reading the Book of Mormon and is progressing, except he had something on Sunday so couldn't come to church.

Some spiritual thoughts- I loved Alma 1 and 2, I realized that it really could apply to us in our days, Amlici teaches a new religion similar to Nehors and wants to become king, but was out voted but didn't give up. (Kind of like abortion in California with title 8 I think) This is encouraging how the majority is rarely wrong. I like to compare his religion to the idles of our day- cars, sports, porn, ads, etc. So he decided to fight instead, Yet Alma had time and prepared with all manner of weapons. In the fight the verse starts out with the Amalicites slaughtering the Nephites; nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the Nephites and they ended up winning. Even though prepared, still only in there need did the lord help. So Alma sent spies to watch them, and the spies came back rushed saying, “make hast for the Amalicites joined a Lamanite army and unless we hurry we will lose our families and homes”, so they went. Even though way outnumbered they went. The joining of the armies is significant, how often can we see porn, cars, sports and ads together? In the fight Alma prays to the lord to spare his life so he can be an instrument in his hands and save "this people." Then got up and lo and behold there is Amalicai which he quickly dispatches and they end up winning even though greatly outnumbered. I said the same prayer because I need strength to resist all worldly idles so I can help this people. I liked comparing Almas prayers to King Noah’s plead for his life to Giddianton, I would suggest you do it. Noah wants to save us first then "my people.' All about himself still. Also he is on a tower not low and humble.

Love you all,

Elder Matthew Sabey 

Nov 6, 2011 Miracles and humility

 We will start off by answering questions; I do an hour of personal study two of companion study and one of language study. My companion does the same with me. There is a new training program we are going through with different topics every week. It’s good. My companion’s great with people and has good Chinese I think. He is a sponsored wake boarder and good snowboarder. He’s cool. He's the oldest of his family, has two little brothers and a 5 year old sister whom he’s shown me many pictures of and is adorable.  I contribute a lot to lessons, we are trying to get to 50/50, it’s fun.  The Shi family is great, the dad doesn't have great interest but the mom and two kids (a daughter whose 13 and son whose 10) do, and they are keeping every commitment. They love me and I love them. Lastly I eat out almost all the time except breakfast and when we are feed by members, and even then it's out to eat most the time. I love some of the food but some I don't or is just bland but I am getting better.

Thanks for telling me about grandpa. I am so glad he made it through. I love him.

A few questions- What happened with Josh?  How is life at home? How are the bees? How's school? Did Grandpa Sabey serve a mission/ Where?

Ok now finally to my week, it's been another great week. We got 25 lessons this week!! A few stories, we were with a recent convert and I told him I am from Colorado and he told me that Coluoladou (long) means Komodo (dragon) in Chinese so yeah, definitely the best state.

  A cool little miracle, there’s this kid named Wu Dixiong who randomly met with two missionaries on the same day and one set him up for the next week Thursday but he thought it was this week’s Thursday, he however didn't have time that day and felt bad but didn't come. The next week my companion felt he should give calls to referrals which he got from the missionaries who have been transferred. This kid was expecting a call because he thought he had fanged [missed the appointment] us. He answered and reset up for Friday. That Friday we found out he lives an hour and a half away and came to Longtan just for meeting with us. He committed to baptism, praying and attending church. His girlfriend lives in Longtan and would also be able to hear us instead of going to the closer missionaries to him. It was incredible. I am excited to teach him again.

 The other miracle is about my studies. Saturday I was tired and fell asleep during personal study and didn't really get anything out of it, then a paper fell out of my B of M that said "not well pleased." I took it as a sign that I needed to do better personal study. The rest of the studies didn't go so well either. Then on Sunday I focused and got a lot more out of it, I was focusing on how to follow and recognize the spirit and enjoyed it.  I prayed to learn how to  be better at following promptings.  Then at the start of companion study I got to pick the song and "Be thou humble came to mind” so I suggested it and it was an answer to my prayer. It told me all I need to know. I am positive it was revelation and an answer to my prayers. The rest of the studies went well for me.

 I guess Dad has a birthday coming up, I forget is 40th or 41st? Well happy birthday. I will send you a letter in the mail today; if it gets there late know it is coming.

Hurrah for Israel.   I love you all

Elder Matthew Sabey

PS What is Ian Darcy’s address? I want to write him but we can't write anyone but family on email, although we can receive from anyone. He's in Alaska now isn't he? What’s Dia up to? Well love you again.

Nov 2, 2011 Longtan

Hey family,

I do have p-day on Monday, but during temple week it's on whatever day we go to the temple. I got to go already. What a great experience. I truly love the temple. I thought that it was interesting how Adam named eve that because she’s the mother of all living things, when they had no children, and there are many living things. So any thoughts on that. Lastly how the devil says the fruit is soo good, when the scriptures say that of the fruit of knowledge and eternal life one is bitter and one sweet. So I think that the fruit was bitter. And that is where chi ku comes from.  idk.

Well funny experience, I was being treated to a dinner the other day at a restaurant, and the owner/cook asked if I was full and I said yes. Then she asked "hai keyi ma" *literal translations: still able” which I took to mean "can you still eat" and so I said "bu keyi." Then my companion told me "hai keyi means how was the food, and I told her horrible. Oh ya, got to love these experiences. I hurriedly apologized and thanked her for a great meal.

My companion and I white washed Longtan so we are still getting to know it and the members. In a way it’s nice. My investigators are all great and I love them. Sun dixiong (Brother Sun) is the one with the most doubts but he’s gaining a testimony, and he wanted to know real changes the church had helped us make in our life.  I told him one that in middle school I had not the best friends, though good not the best. Then when I really converted, the church helped me change to really good friends. Before then I hadn't even realized the church had changed this in my life.  I was learning as I shared it. It was great and after that lesson he said, "I am reassured now." I think he was thinking about dumping us. Then this last time he came in sad and left happy.  It’s so great. 

Our golden investigator is Zhaung dixiong, this last lesson he came in excited about having read Alma 34 and bore a beautiful testimony on faith and how from faith we receive power. We had planned on reviewing the third lesson with him but he was for us. We told him yea and faith helps us to want to repent. He cut us off and asked if he could bear his testimony, and proceeded to do so on repentance and the importance of prayer in the repentance process. We then talked shortly about baptism and reset his baptismal date because he hasn't come to church yet because of his job, which he is quitting to be able to come. In the prayer he prayed to be baptized as quick as possible. So, yeah, golden. I think if I told him not to be baptized,  he still would. So I love it, no pressure at all.

I am excited to read emails on Monday morning. Anything else you want to hear about then?

Love Elder Matthew Sabey

ps Hey so yeah, friends can email me so please put it up on facebook.

pps I hear dad talked with Elder Calvert the other day, so thanks. If you want to send the pin to email that’s fine. If not and you just send money or whatever that’s great. I still have the card just can't get money from the atm without the pin. Whatever. Just thanks a bunch

  

Hey I sent Daniel an email so have him check it.

I am working out still, and I have four hours of study in the morning. So don't get out till 1, but the time I am working I really am happy. It's so great, and God has given me energy.  We are TEACHING A FAMILY TOo.   wELL LOVE YOU