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.