May 6, 2012

Hey all, I love you all so much,

Thanks for your support and encouraging letters. I just want to say I love being a missionary and seeing miracles daily. One example was one day we worked hard all day and didn't see much success and that night we went to a park and I meet a baby sitter who was Christian babysitting a Christian family. She had a lot of interest and gave me her and her husband’s phone numbers then the kids she was babysitting gave me their parents number. Then when leaving that park I meet a family AI had met before and they set up for my birthday.

 Well I don't have much time to write but here are letters I already wrote today.

Hey President,
It was fun to see you twice this week. Thanks for all you do. We are working hard, seeing miracles and having success. This week we were focusing on baptism, and it felt good. We got a few more dates and helped investigators remember their goals and what our role as a missionary is. It is fun to see an area grow. I love Bade/Yinge more and more. The ward is so great, they are willing to give me the coats off their backs to help me (literally). We rarely have a lesson in the chapel without a peike, and we get feed quite a lot. I feel spoiled to be here. Thanks, also  I meet a Sister Chen who was another of my mother’s converts and she told me to tell you I need to move to Tao 1 next. It is so fun working where my mom worked before. I am reading the book of Mormon daily to finish by July and am getting more and more revelation, one time it took the full hour to write down all the revelation and read the 5 pages I need to read daily to finish by July. But I feel a little weird because it is not directly for my investigators, and rarely do I receive any direct revelation for a specific investigator. Just my understanding of the gospel strengthens and my testimony is becoming more powerful and I feel like I am becoming a better missionary over all, so in a way it is for my investigators but not as directly as I would like. Same with doing a Christ like attribute plan, but I feel like that is important to. I just was wondering what your input is?
 This week’s highlight was a 16 year old boy that came to church last week and loved it had us over to his house and we taught the mother and niece and they all became new investigators. Then he brought his friend to church this week. He and his whole family are awesome. He and his niece have baptismal dates, and the mom is supportive. I am so excited for them.
Thanks again,
 ELder Sabey

Hey it was so great, I got up early today to email but as I was reading, happy surprise, I got another email! I am so glad you wrote. Brittany sounds amazing and I hope to meet her someday. I have been praying for my three older brothers to find a wife but especially you, because josh is still way young and Brian has dia. Maybe my prayer was answered.

 I loved your thoughts on the immediacy of god. I believe that when we do what’s right he immediately blesses us, even if not noticed. I believe that his blessings are always the best for our individual. He may ask us to go and bath 8 times in a river before we are cleaned, or put mud on our eyes first, he may first forgive our sins but through these processes the healing comes. Or if ready, and are willing to immediately accept and give him all the glory, we can be healed immediately. I read in Alma 7ish about Alma the younger on a mission and praying that the lord would "Pour out his spirit" on an evil city. “Nevertheless" the people rejected him and he had to "wade through" much sorrow and affliction. and the lord commanded him to go back and teach. This prophet of god went back quickly, as a humble beggar asking for a morsel to eat and he meets Amuleck who had the lords spirit poured upon him, and they get together and in the next chapter it talks about the lords spirit being "poured out" upon "all the face of the land." I love how this prophet’s prayer wasn't immediately answered but in the end not only the city he prayed for but all the land had the lord’s spirit poured upon it. Alma 6 also talked about how after "wading through" sorrow and afflictions we can receive exceeding joy. I have a new part in my study journal called bitter and sweet. It opened my eyes to the atonement. Christ went throgh the most bitter things, so he has the most sweet. I believe the more acquainted we are with him the more we realize his atonement is not a sad horrible thing that was necessary so that we can be saved but is truly glad tidings of great joy. I love Christ, and I don't think he is still morning from the past but has been felled with "joy even as exquisite as was his pain. He is risen not only from the dead but from the sorrow. I honestly believe he is the glad tidings of great joy to the world and through him we can be partakers of the fruit that is most desirable above all other fruits. I know that our burdens can be lifted for mine have been. He has undertaken all of our sorrows and pains so he can understand how to succor us in our infirmities. I believe that is where his joy comes from, he understands us and can help us/ serve us. He loves us and truth is he that is greatest among us is our servant. Service brings joy. I love being in the service of the lord and love you.

  Hurrah for Israel.

Elder Sabey

Thanks for writing me. I was so happy when reading it.   I am stoked for you to be working in a studio! You talked about how you feel your slowly improving, I feel I can relate with my Chinese. In my apartment we have an Elder Bowcutt who was in the MTC with me for a bit, and his Chinese is crazy good, he can read the book of Mormon in Chinese now. I haven't started studying characters yet. His vocabulary is still way bigger than mine. The other two in the apartment are going home soon so obviously their Chinese is great. It has been a little humbling and hard for me. But Elder Bowcutt also studied Chinese intensely in high school and is just super smart, and a natural at learning this language. I know that my Chinese is slowly coming though, and sometimes god gives me a memory of my Chinese a few transfers ago and I know I have improved. I also hear that my Chinese is good for the time I have been out, which is always nice to hear. I feel like that must be kind of like your situation. You are surrounded by those who have been dancing longer or who are more natural or something and you feel like you are slowly coming and don't know if you could ever reach their level. I just want to say you can do it. I tell many people with pride about you dancing ballroom in New York. I loved the rest of your letter. My favorite part was you talking about your recovery. Recovery is hard but worth it and you could see by the letter you are reaping the fruits of it already. You are working hard and are amazing. I don't think I could have done what you did when I was 19.  You are truly an amazing person and sister. I am so glad you wrote, I was worried you disowned me for leaving you for 2 years, but my fear was irrational. I hope you know that although you moved to New York and left home we would never disown you and  will always love you. You do it sister. 

 Your loving Brother

Elder Matthew Sabey

So I guess mothers day is coming up. I think I will this call Sunday morning at 6-7ish. I hope that works with you. Sorry for not discussing it with you before now. If you don't answer I will try and call Monday morning after emails and you can email me when you want me to call. I don't want to interrupt a fireside or anything elses. If you’re on the computer now you can email me back quick. I will try to check later today.

 Mom your letter was great. I love how sensitive you are to the spirit and how much you have taught me. I honestly feel that I am so blessed to be half of you and half of dad. You two are such great examples to us and the world. People say I look like both of you. It makes me happy.

I love you all with all my heart.

Elder Sabey