Nov. 4, 2012

We are Family!!!!!!!

 I love you all. If I didn't I wouldn't get up at 5 to email you.

  To answer questions

Question:  Tell me about how you work and talk with your companion:.

Answer:  I am very honest with him but always compliment his strengths. He is super unstable in his self-confidence and communication skills (mostly eye contact), and I try and help him. I think mostly by example. 

Q:  What are his strengths and what becomes better because you two are together?

A:  His Chinese is really quite good.  Twice this last week he told me a word I didn't know that he had learned. He has a giant love for his mom, and is easily emotional, which has helped me to lose some of the hardness I have and realize the importance of love and the power it has on others. I also realized the importance of gaining the trust of others because he trusts me he has much less of a problem talking with me.  

Q:  What about your investigators? 

A:  My investigators are great. I have a few families I am teaching. We had one come to church and next week will have another. There aren't any that are progressing superfast or stand out to me other than one this week that I wrote about in my letter to president and the Lu family. They are so great and the dad has read through 2 Nephi 25 and really understands what he reads and when we share something he read about he gets excited and says something like, "Yeah, Nephi said that when he was building the boat." He is great and the wife is humble. The boy is crazy active and hard to teach. 

You said "Someone you met wrote me an email that vanished, just like the one you sent us 2 weeks ago." It was the Liao family. Liao wen2 li4 or Henry Liao. Did they send the picture of you on a mission? I will tell them to email you it again.    

 Here is my letter to president--

President Day,
   Thanks so much for your example. I love hearing about you from other people, everyone just loves you. I had a great week again. Su Shun Jie got baptized and he asked me to baptize him. I was honored. It was one of the most spiritual baptisms I have ever attended. I love that man and am so happy that I was able to help him come unto Christ. He was married to a member who was able to attend and they are both working hard for an eternal marriage. He meet with missionaries once in High school, and invited them back but they never came back when he was home. Then he meet his wife 10 years ago and periodically would meet with the missionaries so had been taught most everything multiple times. I am so glad I got to reap the reward of others’ hard work of his wife’s and many missionaries before me. This man is truly converted and committed to enduring to the end. I love him and learned much from him. He has already been a help in missionary work by peike-ing (accompanying with me.)   I just am so happy I can't explain it.
  Anyways miracles this week- When visiting a family we felt to visit, the Liao family, we found out that the dad was the branch president of Zhongli when my mom was there and the mom was her companion for a week. The mom went to the backroom and pulled out a picture of my mom while on her mission. I have never seen a picture of my mom on a mission. Looking at it was weird almost electrifying. Something in my soul stirred and gave me a huge desire to be a great missionary. I hope that I can make enough of a difference that when my son comes on a mission here the people I knew will remember me and be able to show him a picture of me chuaning jiao (proselyting).  I also had a few temple tour miracles.  We  had one potential set up for a temple tour and in the temple tour he confessed that he had a dream where he was a member of the church and set a baptismal date and everything. I am so excited for him. His name is Chen Si Han. Talk about prepared. Also we took a Pilipino member who has been in Taiwan for a year and 4 months and never found our church, but then she met us and talked with us and came to church then we were able to take her to the temple to find out where the English ward meets. She said ever since she had been in Taiwan she has dreamed of going to the temple, and that day her dream came true. What a provledge to help others’ dreams come true. I am so happy right now!
  As far as the relationship with my companion, it is going good. I love him, but feel he is super reliant on me and doesn't know what to do without me. He hates it if I am not right by him to support him, or take the lead if the contact goes bad. I feel like he has to learn how to contact if he was on his own but I also know that we are supposed to contact together. So I don't know what to do.  I think the revelation I received is give him a lot more responsibility. I don't think he will like it, but it will be good for him. I am really trying hard to help him and he knows that. He just isn't developing as fast as I would like. He still has a hard time talking to people and hasn't finished lesson 1 in phase 1. Also he doesn't know what to say. (His Chinese is great, he learns a lot from on the street and his grammar is great. I think that learning from a book is hard for him though.)  I think maybe I have been pulling too much and need to let him do more. Any advice?
  I think I am still developing a lot as a missionary. I am learning the importance of balancing time wisely. I feel if I wanted I could find excuses to teach a lot and only have traveling time and no real time for finding. But by keeping lessons within 40 minutes and then not talking long after the lesson, we could have a lot more finding time so that is my goal. MY Chinese is coming. I feel if I took phase 3 now it would have gone a lot smoother.
 Thanks again, love you,
  Elder Sabey

 Spiritual thought for the week: In the end of John it says that if all the things Christ did were written the world couldn't hold them. I thought wow! That’s a lot, and I thought the bible was big. I can't imagine what beautiful stories there would be. From how he created the lillies of the field, to how he has helped me. I loved David’s talk about recognizing the mercies of the Lord in our lives. I think John was wrong in saying that the world couldn't hold it all, the world is his story and if it were put into a book it wouldn't fit in this cosmos. His atonement is everlasting and eternal, words can't describe. I love him so much. What he has done for me is too great, I don't know if that would even fit in this world.

 I love you all so much.

Elder Sabey  

Oct 28, 2012

Hey everyone
Love you!

What is your favorite Chinese food? My favorite Chinese food might be
liang mien=cool noodles. It is noodles in a sesame sauce. MMMMMM. Also
dragon fruit.

What do you do for a workout? Because of my knee I generally just do
pushups and sit ups but if there is a game of soccer or basketball
going on I can't resist the temptation. Just got to play. Anyways I am
going to the hospital again today and will probably arrange a time for
my knee surgery. It is supper simple and totally not dangerous and is
nothing to worry about as far as I have heard because for the third
time my knee has ballooned out because my bursa is full of blood
and water.

Anyways about this week and the crazy miracle we have been seeing

This week was great, like always. I am not moving! Staying training.
I am so glad. I love being with two companionships in an apartment.
I love seeing the area grow; we just barely missed golden standards
this week, which is so cool. Hopefully next week we will be able to hit
it. What a miracle that would be. From starting an area with just one
investigator to a golden standard area in one transfer. I just stand
all amazed. The ward is so great and supportive, and is really helping
us out. The biggest miracle this week was on Friday we went to visit a
Ye family who had a 9 year old daughter not yet baptized because she
likes milk tea too much. We had no number but did have an address so
just went and when we got there the older already baptized daughter
came down and answered and we told her why we came and she was fine
but not to helpful. Then the mom was coming down the street and she
was so glad to see us and said we could come back the next day, and
said her older daughter didn't like church/young women’s, and said she
felt she really needed the missionaries help. I also invited them to
bring friends to the meeting the next day. Then the next day we went
and they had invited a 15 year old friend named Wang Bo Lun to the
discussion. It turns out the dad was less active (which we had no
idea) because of work, so we had a 2 potential investigators, a
daughter who didn't like church, a less active dad and a mother trying
to keep her family spiritually alight and who felt overwhelmed with the
responsibility all in one discussion. We shared President Ucthdorf’s
"The merciful shall obtain mercy" talk and then invited the two
potentials for baptism. They both set dates and committed to church
the next day. It was incredible.
Spiritual thought for the week:
I was reading in john and Christ heals a leper and tells him not to
tell everyone and he goes and tells it to everyone. I was like, “Are you
kidding me, how dumb can you be? I just don't understand.”  Then I
realized that it was so much like us, how often do we repent and
Christ tells us he does not condemn us and to go our way and sin no
more, and we just go and do the same sin. I certainly hope and believe
that the woman who was caught committing adultery and saved from stoning
didn't go and commit adultery again, but I admit I doubt she went and
sinned no more. I don't want to be all gloomy, but realistic. I
believe that when we repent he gives us the same invite and maybe our
spirits’ are willing but our flesh is weak and we sin again like Peter who
slept when Christ most need comfort. Who are we to judge these so
called idiots? But I realized that the lord giveth no commandment that
can't be followed. I believe that as we overcome the natural man we
can become perfect. Maybe not in this life but we can do it. We can go
our way and sin no more. Christ never said you dummy why did you go
and do that thing I told you not to do. He also never said let leprosy
come back upon you for you idoiousy. He loves us and is willing to
forgive us as many times as we repent. Like he did Peter. (Thanks
Brian for the letter.)
Here’s my letter my president:
Hey President,
Thanks for your time and sacrifice. I don't have as much time this
week to write so it will be quick.
Favorite BOM Scripture: 2 Nephi 26: 5 Christ will not give up on
anyone and invites all to come unto him. What is more powerful or
true. I also love Alma 7 11-13, Christ understands us and our
weaknesses.
As far as on the street goes, Ether 12:4- Help people know how
believing in god can bring a better life.
Miracles-
This week was great, like always. I am not moving! Staying training.
I am so glad. I love being with two companionships in an apartment. I
love seeing the area grow, we just barely missed golden standards this
week, which is so cool. Hopefully next week we will be able to hit it.
What a miracle that would be. From starting an area with just one
investigator to a golden standard area in one transfer. I just stand
all amazed. The ward is so great and supportive, and is really helping
us out. The biggest miracle this week was on Friday we went to visit a
Ye family who had a 9 year old daughter not yet baptized because she
likes milk tea too much. We had no number but did have an address so
just went and when we got there the older already baptized daughter
came down and answered and we told her why we came and she was fine
but not to helpful. Then the mom was coming down the street and she
was so glad to see us and said we could come back the next day, and
said her older daughter didn't like church/young women’s, and said she
felt she really needed the missionaries help. I also invited them to
bring friends to the meeting the next day. Then the next day we went
and they had invited a 15 year old friend named Wang Bo Lun to the
discussion. It turns out the dad was less active (which we had no
idea) because of work, so we had a 2 potential investigators, a
daughter who didn't like church, a less active dad and a mother trying
to keep her family spiritually alight and who felt overwhelmed with
the responsibility all in one discussion. We shared President Uchtdorf’s
"The merciful shall obtain mercy" talk and then invited the two
potentials for baptism. They both set dates and committed to church
the next day. It was inedible.

Relationship = good. My companion had a hard time on Friday, and cried
for 30 minutes while I made calls. I don't really know why and he says
he doesn't either but I am trying my best to love and help him adjust.

I am still learning a lot as a missionary and as far as Chinese goes.
Thanks
Elder Sabey

I love you all
Elder Sabey

PS tell Dia I am excited for her to become my sister then I can email her.

To answer your questions
I sent your mail ballot to the mission home so you can vote, so please
send it back ASAP. Mom said she sent you money. Was it enough or
should we send more? It was not nearly enough, try like 1000 off. LOL.
The money was plenty, thanks so much.
About voting, I don't think the ballot will get back in time, I here
it must get back by June 7th for it to count. Also I am pretty sure I
would need my social security number or license, all of which I lost in
my mind or literally.

Oct 21, 2012

Loved ones!

Nimen zenma yang? This week was so incredible; I am so excited to tell
you about it. But first I will answer your questions.

How is your companion doing? He is awesome. I enjoy being with him and
helping him to overcome some of his fears. He is willing to do almost
anything I tell him to do. He is also being more and more open with
me. Are you enjoying Chinese? YES! I love it. I passed off phase
three this week, which is exciting. I still don't have incredible
Chinese like the other three senior companions in my district, but
they all are seriously geniuses. I feel fine about my Chinese. I just
need to keep learning, man man lai. What about the culture? The
culture is also great. The food is amazing especially during cooler
times of the year. Also the culture is great for missionary work. We
rarely if ever get yelled at. It makes me so happy. Their method of
rejecting you most the time is saying “thank you, thank you” tons of times while backing away. It is hilarious. The best part is probably the
Taiwanese focus on family. I love it. Almost all families love close
to each other including grandparents, brothers and sisters. If not the
child of the grandparent will take his family to visit his parents
weekly. It is so cool. But also the reason for the heartbreak we had
this week. Our golden investigator we found, Zhou jiemie went to visit
her mom in Gaoxiong, and was gone for a week. While there her family
had an intervention with her and she promised them she would never
pray to our god again, and would support the family beliefs. It was so
sad when she told us, and my heart literally felt like it plummeted
to the ground. But enough on that. Mom said "I want to hear about
successes this week." Which is perfect because we had a ton.
This week on Monday we went on exchanges and I was with Elder
Johnson, my companion in AnKang. We went visiting LA's addresses and
one I must have read wrong and went to 23 hao, when it was 2 hao 3rd floor
so we went to the wrong place and there was no one home so Elder
Johnson rang the doorbell below and they let us in without even asking
who we were. SO we went up and lo and behold there was a family. They
were so nice and let us in and we got to share a simple message with
them, and are meeting again with them tonight. So a total miracle.
Then on Friday we went on exchanges again and I was with Elder
Kattleman who lives with us and is also a first transfer missionary. We
went to an appointment at a "family mart" and our investigator wasn't
there on time, but there was a guy sitting alone inside of it so we
went and started sharing with him about the gospel, and while sharing
with him 2 Pilipino women walked in and one said "Elder, I am so
glad to see you." So I talked with them while my companion continued
sharing with the other guy. Then went on to explain she was a member,
and had been in Taiwan for a year and hadn't found the church yet and
really wanted to come. But turned out this Sunday she was meeting with
her sister and had not time. Also she is a lu4chi3, so next week we
will take her from the family mart to church. The other Pilipino is
a catholic and said she might come next week to so totally crazy, then
they left and almost immediately the actual investigator came in and I
taught him while my companion taught the other guy. Then as we left
the family mart we saw a lady knock a bike over and went to help her
pick it up and she turned out to be an extremely less active member who
was willing to come back (or so she said, but on Sunday she didn't
come, but we will see). Then we went and did family picture contacting
(our plan) and we got a set up for the next day which went through and
he is also a new investigator, It was so incredible. I don't know if I
have seen so many miracles in such a short period of time. I also
think it was no coincidence this all happened the day after we got the
sad news from Zhou Jiemei. We also had two less active families that
we have been working with come to church. That felt great and one of
our investigators shanged wan ke, and got the feeling that god said he
could choose if he was ready and he said he was so he will be having a
baptismal interview this week! Then last night after church we went to
a referrals house and all we knew was that he might be divorced because
his daughter lives in Taoyuan. But it turned out that he was married
and his wife was there and we asked her to join in our lesson and she
did and they set a baptismal date! It was so great. We are now
teaching 3 complete families! God has blessed us so much.
This is my letter to president
Hey President,
Thanks for such a great training. I love finding families, and it has
really helped me enjoy finding them even more. This week we found 2
full families and one mother who brought her 2 kids. It was so
amazing. Your training worked. I will attach a part of my letter to my
family about the miracles I saw.
This week on Monday we went on exchanges and I was with Elder
Johnson, my companion in AnKang. We went visiting LA's addresses and
one I must have read wrong and went to 23 hao, when it was 2 hao 3rd floor
so we went to the wrong place and there was no one home so elder
Johnson rang the doorbell below and they let us in without even asking
who we were. SO we went up and lo and behold there was a family. They
were so nice and let us in and we got to share a simple message with
them, and are meeting again with them tonight. So a total miracle.
Then on Friday we went on exchanges again and I was with Elder
Kattleman who live with us and is also a first transfer missionary. We
went to an appointment at a "family mart" and our investigator wasn't
there on time, but there was a guy sitting alone inside of it so we
went and started sharing with him about the gospel, and while sharing
with him 2 Filipino women walked in and one said "Elder, I am so glad
to see you." SO I talked with them while my companion continued
sharing with the other guy. Then went on to explain she was a member,
and had been in Taiwan for a year and hasn't found the church yet and
really wanted to come. But turned out this Sunday she was meeting with
her sister and had not time. Also She is a lu4chi3, so next week we
will take her from the family mart to church. The other Filipino is
a catholic and said she might come next week to so totally crazy, then
they left and almost immediately the actual investigator came in and I
taught him while my companion taught the other guy. Then as we left
the family mart we saw a lady knock a bike over and went to help her
pick it us and she turned out to be an extremely less active member who
was willing to come back (or so she said, but on Sunday she didn't
come, but we will see). Then we went and did family picture contacting
(our plan) and we got a set up for the next day which went through and
he is also a new investigator, It was so incredible. I don't know if i
have seen so many miracles in such a short period of time. I also
think it was no coincidence this all happened the day after we got the
sad news from Zhou Jiemei. We also had two of the three less active
families that we have been working came to church which felt great!
Especially because we only had one investigator to church. That one
investigator shanged wan ke, and got the feeling that god said he
could choose if he was ready and he said he was so he will be having a
baptismal interview this week! I am so excited. Then last night after
church we went to a referrals house and all we knew was that he might
be divorced because his daughter lives in Taoyuan. But it turned out
that he was married and his wife was there and we asked her to join in
our lesson and she did and they set a baptismal date! It was so great.
We are now teaching 3 complete families! God has blessed us so much.
As far as my relationship with my companion, it's great and is
getting better and better. We are communicating better and i am
getting better at learning how to give him advice. I think we are
becoming a powerful tool in the lords hand. I feel like our area is
getting to become nearly as good as a normal area and better then
some, and to think that 4-5 weeks ago we had one investigator is
amazing, we are slowly but surely seeing this area grow into a fountain
of success unto the lord. I can testify it is the lord and not us doing
this work.
I feel like I am still learning so much from this experience, from
the extra hours of studying and opening this area. I am learning about
virtue and patience and faith a lot.
As far as language development, I passed Phase 3 with you. Yeah! I
am so happy. I am still just going through the cards and am focusing
on characters still. I felt when translating I had a few things I
wasn't able to translate directly but felt I got the message across at
least. Thanks for inviting me to translate.
Love you,
Elder Sabey

So spiritual thought for the week,

In the temple it talks about how they desire all to partake and then
give a simple invite, "arise." I think that is literally the invite
for everyone. The higher we rise the ore we can partake of. I hope to
continually rise. I know that is what god wants us all to do, it is
his desire. I love 2 Nephi 26:25. God will not invite anyone to depart
and go down, only to arise. Rise up over this worldly self and be born
again in Christ. A-men!
Well love you all and am excited to hear more from you.
Elder Sabey

Sept 24, 2012

Hey family! 

I love you all so much. Sounds like we will be doing 2 hours of email these next 2 transfers. So you can write me as much as you want and I will still have time to respond. So no more excuses for not writing a long letter (Josh, Dad (a few weeks ago), any one else who might be looking for an excuse not to write much to me.) 

So training is going well. My companions name is Richmond Thornley (facebook- Richmond Stirling Thornley), he was his high schools prom king so yeah. He is great and trusts me completely which is a good feeling and a huge responsibility. Kind of like a real baby. I have to help him learn how to talk, I have to help him get food and make it a transition from soft American food to hard Taiwanese food, teach him how to be a good missionary. My letter to president says a lot.

Here is my letter to president

Hey president,

 I am excited to be training and I love my companion. He is so humble and willing to do anything I tell him which makes things so easy. His Chinese is great, and he can be a fun person to talk to. But he is having a hard time adjusting to Taiwan, and becoming an agent and just going and working without me telling him what to do. I would love any advice. Every companionship study till now he has cried and I think a part of it is the spirit but I think a lot of it is he misses home and is having a hard time. I never really had that experience, so it is hard for me to relate, but I am praying/pleading for guidance and have received some revelation which has helped, I am just giving him tons of time to talk and ask questions, and try to always get his advice, and sharing an inspiring scripture daily. I feel like he completely trusts me which is so great. Our relationship is good, I love him and truly want to help him. But he is also fairly introverted so I don't know exactly how he feels about me. I believe he feels I am pushing him hard, which is true, but I am trying my best to slowly give him more and more responsibility like D&C suggests. 

  Miracles: Yesterday we saw a huge miracle! We were tracking and ran into a family with a 10 year old son and 6 year old daughter. They were so nice, and set up a time for us to come back next Sunday at 7:30. I enjoy tracking and have found around 4 new investigators from it on my mission, however I have only found a family once and they didn't let us come back. I am so excited for next Sunday.  There were many other miracles, like we got to attend a baptism this week which helped us focus our goals and was a great experience. Also the wards are so excited to have another companionship in their area, and already are supporting us. 

  The new area has two investigators that other missionaries were teaching and they are both set up for next week. I have contacted both bishops and am going to meet with them this next week. I wanted to do it the first night but didn't have their numbers. When I got here I felt like there was nothing missionary-wise going on in our area. I felt a large burden of responsibility, but I at church I talked with a few families and set them up, and have been calling many people and getting set ups.  I feel like the ball is starting to move but I feel by the end of this transfer our area will be thriving. It is hard work but exciting. I am so excited to see the miracles of meeting with members and the bishops. I have been trying hard to get the wards trust and am trying hard to catch your vision of missionary work. I believe it was inspired and am excited to tell you miracles next week. 

 I feel like am learning a lot as a missionary because I have never been senior companion or trainer before. I have never opened an area, I have never focused on relationships with the ward, and never contacted with a companion before. I,in many ways, feel as much of a greeney as my companion. But believe we are doing what the lord would have us do, and I am still so happy when working.

My language development is going ok, I can pretty much read the Book of Mormon now, which is exciting.

This is my report. Anything else you would want me to report on? Any other suggestions? 

  Love you and pray for you,

Elder Sabey  

So I am in a huge transition phase with a huge responsibility. It is kind of crazy, but I am happy, mostly because I have a new companion. It makes such a huge difference  having a good companion. I am glad for Brian and Dia and believe they will be a great companionship. I read in Mathew 19 I believe about how marriage is becoming one flesh one with the other, that is sealed by god and divorcee is bad because it is ripping apart that which god sealed together. Kind of cool. 

  Spiritual thought this week- 2 Nephi 25:26 and 26:24-25 are so great. Christ will not do anything that is not for our benefit and wants us to be happy, and we do that by rejoicing in him. Preaching of him, testifying of him. I believe that is the other reason I am so happy, even though have a lot of stress and responsibility.

  Love you all

Elder Sabey

Oct 1, 2012

Dearest family and friends,

I love you all so much. I know I say that right away almost every time, but I feel it is the first thing that comes to mind, and the first thing I want you to read. I just hope you know this is no vain repetition, but straight form the heart every week. 

Here is my letter to president,

Hey President,

 
This week was great. The key indicators for my area are still not set up so I will just tell you in the order listed in our planners 004135315415 and our goals next week are 00647440753. We were also able to visit 5 active families this week and our goal is the same next week. Hopefully next week you can get it set up.
 

This week was great. We saw many miracles. I was so happy. The miracles we saw include after one day of finding hard all day with no new investigators found, our zone leaders said that they found two new investigators for us. Another great experience was we went to a member’s house and shared a message, and asked for a referral and they told us about a family they think is prepared and have plans to introduce them to us, then I felt to be as PMG directs and ask, "if there is anyone else?" and they gave me another family and another friend who they think were interested.  It was amazing. Also once at a stoplight I had a really good feeling toward a mother with a toddler boy, but had already engaged another man, so I told my companion to talk to her and told him, "I feel great about her." So he did and she pulled over at her family’s bakery and gave us moon cakes and  milk and said she is really interested in Christianity. We were able to have a prayer with her and in the end she said, " I want to learn more about this." and set up for the next day. I have never really worked with members before and am seeing the help it can be. Having visited 5 families really helped at church to feel more welcomed. I feel both wards are totally willing to support us. I am so excited for this new area and honestly believe it will be thriving in a few weeks.

 Anyways about my companion, Elder Thornley's, progress--he is doing well. He is starting to talk to people without me telling him to and he is starting to understand more. We are working on contacting together, and are getting used to the area and each other so things are going better all around.  He is still having a hard time talking to strangers and often doesn't know what to say in contacting or in a lesson. I think that is because he’s never had a father, he is a little different than most missionaries and is having different problems than most. But his heart is pure and his faith strong. I think he will be a great missionary. Our relationship is getting better I believe.
 I am studying the New Testament which is so great. I am loving it. Thanks for the invite.
 My language is still coming along. I hope to pass phase 3 soon.
Thanks for everything, Elder Sabey

 

So yeah, things are going well. My trainee is very open with me which is so great. His personality is more introverted, and he has a hard time doing some missionary things but is a great guy and working hard to overcome the natural man.

This week was so cool, I am starting to find by the spirit better. This week there were two people when I saw them I felt like I had to talk to them, one of them I talked about in the above letter the other seemed hihao (fine) but in the end when I asked for his number he gave it to me. So we will see what happens. This week we visited both the bishops and they both gave me a list of names to go visit. Yesterday we went to visit the names and took a wrong turn, saw a family BBQing and contacted them, and the dad invited us to eat some shrimp, then I was able to share a simple message and set him up for Tuesday. Then found the right place and met a less active who hasn't been to church or prayed or read scriptures for a year, and set him up, then ran into a lady with a husky on the way to the next person’s home, and she committed to come to English class. Then we made it to another less active family and they were super excited to see us and we also set them up. Then went to visit the other bishop and told him about this experience and so he went and gave me a much better list of people to contact. I am so excited. Visiting the bishops was an invite from the president and working with members was also another invite. It was cool to see the miracles of following his invites.

Spiritual thought of the week: When Christ died the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. I never realized that if there were no rips from top to bottom we could not go through the veil and enter into the celestial presence of god. Only in and through the atonement of Christ is it possible. I am so thankful for temples and the truth they bring to our minds and joy they bring to our lives. In nearly every letter I received you all talked about temples. In my study notebook I have a "Church/Temple" section and the weird thing is most of the entries are on the temple. I thought it would be the other way around. I am so glad to have a church that has temples.

 

Love you all,

Elder Sabey

Sept 16, 2012

Hey everyone!

  This week was pretty great. We had 2 baptisms a great fireside which president attended and got called to be a trainer and gave a 18 minute talk in sacrament meeting. So kinda crazy.

  First I will answer your questions

So, deliberately trying to improve your companionship, how is it going? It is going well, I couldn't say we are best friends but we are definitely not enemies, and often enjoy being with each other. But I must admit I am so excited for a new companion. How was your interview with the president? My interview went ok, nothing to special. I was pretty sick that day, so wasn't on the ball when he asked questions, but came out with some new goals- Prepare to be a senior companion and finish the new testament in 12 weeks and as time allows read Jesus the Christ along with the New Testament. I honestly was a little depressed because I thought I wasn't impressive at all to the president, but must have done something right because he gave me such a huge trust, to be a trainer. I am a little nervous because I haven't been a senior companion yet, and am going straight to trainer, but I believe all will be well. 

How are your investigators? They are doing well, we have possibly 4 baptisms next month, and 2 which we would be surprised if were not baptized. 

 So about this week We can start on Friday- Friday I found an Indian college student who meet with the missionaries before, about one year ago, and went to the English ward here once and loved it. But then because of a family emergency he had to go back to India and since then has still been praying daily. He was so excited to come back to church. This Sunday he came to our church because he forgot how to go to the other church, so I got to translate for him. Then meet with him and set a baptismal date, and set up a time to do a temple tour and take him to see the English ward building.  Friday night I was asked to give a talk on Sunday morning, which wasn't much time, so during lunch and dinner times I prepared, and the talk went smoothly. It was cool to be able to give an 18 minute talk in Chinese. I am still a little amazed I can do that. 

Saturday night we had the fireside and President Day and his wife came, during the fireside we had the baptism of two adorable children which I had the privilege of teaching all 4 lessons to. Then that night after the fireside ended the Assistants called and asked if I would be willing to be a trainer and I said yes, then he said you will be moving so give your testimony tomorrow at church, and I told him, "No problem, I am giving a 15 minute talk tomorrow anyway." It was kind of funny.

Well love you all and JiaYou

Elder Sabey

Hey President,
Thanks so much for coming and supporting us and our ward at the fireside. Also thanks for trusting me enough to call me as a trainer. It means a lot to me. I was beginning to doubt if I was trusted by the lord. I am a little nervous because I have never been senior companion before, but I have done the invite about re-reading the leadership section, and thinking/writing down what I learned from each companion and it really helped. Thanks for the invites.

Sept 9, 2012--Brian's engagement

Brian’s Engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not like I have been praying for it ever since Dia got home. I am so excited!!!! Life is so cool. Oh yeah, mm mm mm. SO yeah god does answer prayers. What now! :)

 This week was better, I feel like my companion is trying harder on our relationship and is trusting me more, so I feel glad about that. Oh and Brian’s engaged. So I hope that next week when one of us moves it will be on friendly terms. I am starting to learn to love him, God has been blessing me with insight to why he often insults or reproves or corrects me, and often it is because he loves the investigators and is nervous about if he leaves the area what will happen to them and wants me to be better. So I am often able to accept it without getting to hurt, and also more able to make the change. I am trying to be a wise man and when rebuked to love the rebuker, and I haven't been as much as I should be. Man it is hard but I think it is getting better and better. Oh and Brian’s engaged.  So I would love you to pray for me still. 

  This week’s miracles/one funny story

 This week we got 9 investigators to church and one A-Ma whose English name is Elizabeth, and another person who just came randomly so 11 no-members came. This A-Ma is so cute. She has no teeth and her English is ok. She has the biggest heart. When I ran into her at a park she gave me 2 pens and some cupcakes that had already been opened. Then Sunday she morning gave us 2 red been baozi, mmmmmmmm. She also gave a 90 year old a-ma one, maybe the only member older then her at our church. She is not rich at all but loves giving. My heart is full of love to her. 

 Funny story, we had clean up the world day this week. SO all the Taipei missionaries meet at gongguan at 8:30. Put on our helping hands vests and walked to the place at 9, from 9-10 we had opening ceremonies, then 10-10:30 we cleaned/ scratched gum off the sidewalks, then went back and 10:30-noon had closing ceremonies. 3 hours of ceremonies, 30 minutes of cleaning. That’s the life.

Love you all

Elder Sabey   

Letter to pres.

  Hey President Day,

 This week has gone well, we had two investigators pass their baptismal interview! They are the lambs you invited us to teach, one called Jia Rong and one called Qian Yi.  One 9 years old and one 11. They will be baptized at the fireside that you will be speaking at this next Saturday. We were thinking you and Sister Day could have 20 minutes at the end for the grand finale. I believe my companion has told you but I wanted to make sure.
 This week was so busy we almost had no proselyting time until Friday which was good but different. I am loving the area and investigators and am getting better with the ward. I loved the clean up the world service, and am excited for our interview on Wednesday.
   This week we got 9 investigators to church and one A-Ma whose English name is Elizabeth, and another person who just came randomly so 11 non-members came. This A-Ma is so cute. She has no teeth and her English is ok. She has the biggest heart. When I ran into her at a park she gave me 2 pens and some cupcakes that had already been opened. Then Sunday morning gave us 2 red been baozi, mmmmmmmm. She also gave a 90 year old a-ma one, maybe the only member older then her at our church. She is not rich at all but loves giving. My heart is full of love to her.  Thanks Elder Sabey

Sept 2, 2012

Hey All love you so much,

So Elder Shamo wrote me and I can't write him back without his address can you tell him that. waltershamo@aol.com

  

TO answer your questions: How often do you use balloon tying as a missionary? Weekly, and this last week was the first time we decided to go balloon contacting only and actually saw success (Found a prepared family that was looking for a church) so I might start to use it more, they have those balloons in Taiwan so I can go buy them, no need to ship them here.   What is your apartment like? My apartment is small one room with four segments, study area, kitchen, bed area and changing area along with a bathroom, and is also full of cockroaches.   Do you have specific mission goals, like the Standard of Excellence that my mission used? We do and do not, President Grimly had them and President Day hasn't changed them but he has brought a huge change and a different focus so I would be surprised if the golden standards remain the same. 

My letter to president,

This week was good but interesting. From last Monday to Thursday our companionship's relationship got better but then on Friday from the meeting with the Zone Leaders on has deteriorated until yesterday. Elder Wang felt that I wasn't doing my part because I didn't discuss with him how to work with ward council and I didn't prepare well enough for lessons and didn't care about others enough. On Sunday he went in the elevator without me twice because I was too slow. So I told him that was disobedient and that he should wait for me and he yelled at me for 20 minutes for not doing my part, I told him my side and told him I would try and do better, and since then on our relationship has gotten better. I think he is a cherry bomber, he lets things build up inside and then lets it all out at one time. I hope and pray that it will stay better, and the change I make will be enough to satisfy him, it is hard that he isn't willing to change anything he even said that if I get to the elevator after him he will still go down without me. But this week I had a great thought I had was I believe Jesus is happy with my work and my mission president is happy with my work, and I know that my family is happy with my work. This brought me great comfort. Elder Wang and I are extremely different people but we still have the same purpose and are still seeing miracles. I am thankful for your prayers and ask you to keep praying.
Outside the companionship issues we are doing great. WE have a great ward, area and investigators. We have many progression investigators, one is a 9 and 10 year old who I teach on Sundays after church and they should be getting baptized on the 15th when you come to give your talk at the ward mission fireside. I am so excited. Thanks for the great training and invites. I learned a lot.
Elder Sabey

One funny story was Saturday night my companion and I didn't really talk much, and our relationship wasn't great and I just wanted to feel loved so I felt like reading a letter from mom, but felt I didn't have time, but them I had an overwhelming desire to read a letter from mom so I did and mom’s letter was about how even when some companions are like a Dementor, you all still love and pray for me. I felt so loved and understood by god and you all.

SO for the miracles, this week we had one great new investigator who set a baptismal date and felt the spirit as we meet with him and afterwards went to lunch with us and after lunch bought us some great milk tea.., I believe, I never tasted it. We gave it to the owners of the restaurant to drink. 

Love you all and thanks for your prayers,

Elder Sabey

PS sorry today's was short but I had a ton of letters to read.