11/20/2012 "The Gift of Tongue" Such a true gift. . .

Pamilya ko! (My Family)

     Kumusta?! Maraming salamat for the package! MY FAVORITES WERE IN THERE! I was so excited to recieve a package, it was unexpected and very much appreciated. Maraming maraming salamat! (Thank you very much!)

    

     There's so much that's been going on. my companion and I are teaching tatlong (3) investigators ngayon (today)! AYEEEE! So much to prepare at wala nang time para ihanda lahat aming liksyon! STRESSED AKO! Lol. But,  I've learned to rely so much on the lord. He has been a huge part of my daily life. I never knew how much I could depend on him. The work is hard, but the blessings do more than add up to the equivalance to what my kasama at ako (my companion and I) do. We pray for EVERYTHING! It seems kind of silly at first to pray for all these things all the time, but We're pretty desperate for help. Koloob ng mga wika (Gift of tongue). Such a true gift! I remembered an Elder that just left who said that if I'm obedient, and work my hardest, God will manifest himself through my knowledge and understanding. Medio konti lang ang intindi ko sa language (I only know a little bit of the language), pero (but), all is well. Walang anuman dahil (no worries because) I have sobrang pananampalataya (so much faith). I'm learning to SYL or Speak Your Language, so I'll be writing home in tagalog a lot more often.

 

     I just sent my letters home today, hope you recieve them soon. HAHA! Pop was totally right on Bro. White being called the new Bishop! Give the new Bishopric my love!

    

     Nia and Ate Carmen. I know that you are both getting ready to work and submit your missionary papers. "The field is white and all ready to harvest", and ye are called to the work. Pero, the blessings that come with being prepared are so great. Do not procrastinate! Act as if you were already called. If I had known THEN what I know now how much harder missionary work would be, I would have been way more serious about preparing myself prior to my arrival here in the MTC.

 

     Thank you so much family for your love and prayers, and for taking care of Bailey. Thank you for all and everything you have done. Apologies for not sending pictures last week dahil, I couldn't figure out how to send pictures on these computers. MAHIRAP! (Hard as in complicated) Lol. But I'll keep trying to figure it out because there is a way apparently. I've been getting better at picture taking. My fellow Elders and Sisters consider me the photographer of the bunch and think I have an eye for beauty. pero, I'll let you guys see what I've been taking. Maraming salamat (Thank You very much) at mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat mga pamilya ko! (I love you very much my family)

I love you Lola, Pops, Momma, Tonga, Ate Shanel, Ate Soana, Ate Carmen, Nia, Casey, Tupo & Ading (Baby Sister) Carlotta. I pray for you all each day and still haven't missed an oppurtunity to ask for blessings upon you all.

Ingat po (Take Care)! Til next weeks! :)

-Elder Sablan

11/13/2012"My mission is a mission, so keep my mission a mission!"

My schedule is so booked, I really have no time to think of home. Which is good because I don't have to think about how much I miss everyone and everything. I will write individual letters this week and send them home too along with your b-day card. I love you so much momma!

Family and Friends:

     Time flies by, this second week feels like I just got here yesterday, but feels like I've been here for a month. Thank you for all the prayers! I went to the temple today, and I was crying as I was praying in the Celestial Room because I was overcome with good feelings. I knew that was the Holy Ghost comforting me and letting me know how much you guys love and miss me. I felt invigorated and motivated to work harder for blessings.

     The language is getting harder. I broke down yesterday because of how awful I felt during a lesson with an investigator and I did not say a word! I knew the Lord was humbling me and shaping me. I thought about what the Lord would have me do, and I felt that my time here in the MTC is not to be idled away with worrisome thoughts of home or other matters.

     Someone said something great during the sunday devotional. He said; "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Funny, yet very very true. My mission is a mission, so keep my mission a mission! For behold, this is God's work, and God's glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. HOORAH FOR ISRAEL! So far, I've never missed a day to pray for each and everyone of you guys. Even my old coworkers, and my friends, but I always say each and everyone of your names and ask special blessings for you all. Even Bailey boy! :)

Thank you Ate Carmen, Nia, and Soso for writing to me! <3 i miss you guys so much, and I'll be sure to reply to your dear elders letters very soon!

I want to challenge our family to read the book of mormon and pray EVERYDAY! Yes, you all are busy, yes, you all are tired. But I feel it only proper to invite my family first to partake of the sweet fruits of this gospel. This is my calling for two years. I can promise that if you all do this everyday together, we will become more united. More loving. More Chirstlike. What beautiful family we could have if we set 10 minutes aside for the lord each day to read and pray! The blessings are real! Let heavenly father open the heavens for us!

I look forward to p-days when I get to write to you. I feel closer as far away as you all are. Thank you for taking care of my Bailey boy! I find it hard to sleep without my little buddy at the foot of my bed.

Nagmamahal sa inyong lahat na pamilya ko!

Love,

Elder Sablan

11.06.2012 First Week @ MTC

Letter to Mom

Momma! <3

It's so nice to hear from you! I miss home so much... I never realized how much I loved Seattle until I realized I was going away from there.

Before I start, I want to thank you and pop for everything and all that you do. I love you and pop, you guys are so amazing. I feel the spirit when I ask for comfort and reassurance when I start to miss the family. It usually happens during the night when I lay in bed, I just stare at the bunk above me deep in emotion and thoughts. Then I pray, and I'm able to fall asleep.

Thank you for putting my room away, I somehow knew that I should do it, but you would want to do it for me. Lol. Please send me family photos and please include some with Bailey in them because I miss my Bailey boy so much too. I'm going through Bailey withdrawals at night. Lol, joke lang. Please make sure someone is taking care of him!

HOORAH FOR ISRAEL! SIOSIANA LAUAKI IS GOING ON A MISSION! Give her hugs for me, and tell her congrats. A mission is an awesome thing, and it will change her life. When does she leave for the MTC?!

As for mission life, I love it! The people are so kind and generous. Tuesdays are P-days for my district, so we go to the early morning session at 6:15. My companion forgot to bring his temple recomend, so we had to run all the way 3 blocks from the temple back to residence, then back to the temple. The zone leaders, Elder Tate, and Elder Blodsoe waited for us. I was so touched by their love for us. Everyone went, but they stayed so they can be with us. The food is good! (But it will still never replace momma's cooking... or Nia's, or Ate Carmens... or even Soana's... HA! ^_* JOKE LANG! Lol.) I'm holding up well. I feel so greatful, humbled, and honored to be here preparing for one of the biggest journeys of my life. I'm so humbled to be an advocate and proxy for the lord. To let him take a hold of my life for 2 years and use me as a vessel to accomplish this great and marvalous work. My testimony has grown a ton! We had our fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, and I was so amazed at how strong the spirit is in each and every one of the Elders and Sisters in my zone.

I bumped into John Lim from time to time, and he's doing fantastic! He's such a handsome Elder... Lol. Not just that, but a spiritual giant. I love that guy. I wish I had more time to spend with him over here, but we are on the Lord's errand, so socializing can wait.

I've been taking lot's of pictures, and I hope to send you some next p-day! The Elders in my zone think I have not just a knack, but a talent and vision for photography. I think I might take it up. :) But I promise to send pictures next week!

Spiritual thoughts... to be honest, I see miracles, and blessed lives everyday. Since day one, the spirit has been with me. I know it, and I feel it within me. I continue to learn and I am growing each and everyday.

My companion is named Elder Challis. Great man! He loves God, he's obedient and he's going to the same area as me. We're both so excited to serve together here in the MTC while we're here. I bump into Dylan once in awhile. He seem's to be doing good, but our schedules are a bit different, so we have no real time to spend with one another.

The language is going okay. I think I'm decent for less than 1 week in the language. But I'll share my testimony in sa tagalog. It'll be choppy, and short, but I know it to be true. Here it is:

Alam ko po na totoo at mahalaga po ang aklat ni mormon, at simbahan ni jesucristo namin. Mahal Ko ang Diyos at si Jesucristo.
Sa pangalan ni Jesucristo,
Amen.

I'll admit that it's hard watching elders and sisters recieve mail and packages and I have to wait until p-days to check e-mail :( (if you use DearElder.com I will get your mail faster at least while I am here at the MTC) but, no worries...I remind myself to lose myself in the work. Forget everything, and do not dare think about coming home until I know the time has come.
Take care, all of you. I miss you all so so so so so so much! And I love you all.
Do not fear, because I am out here on the Lord's errand. For I know that the Lord will provide a way for me to do his will. Mahal na mahal ko kayo aking pamiliya! <3

God speed and much love,
Ang iyong anak.
Elder D. J. Sablan

10.31.2012 Arrival @ Salt Lake

I love having sisters!!! Thank you for picking us up! Thank you for feeding us! Thank you for dropping us off to MTC. Thank you for the extra food! It was sort off a hit and run kind of visit but, I treasured every moment of it!
Oh! @ Ate Shanel ~ Thank you for the matching tie (Ugh!) you guys got for Dylan & I... did i say Ugh! Lol. Joke Lang :)

10.31.2012 Trick or Treat

It is 430am is this a Trick? How can one awake when one slept @ 2 am. But, awake I Must!

After getting ready and what seems to be some chaos due to last minute things beyond my control as if the adversary is trying to play one last Trick! My family and I kneel down in circle to say our family prayer. The last I will say together with my parents and siblings at least for the 24 months that I will be on my mission. I was so overwhelmed with the spirit as I whisper and pray I could barely get the words out of my mouth without sobbing all through the end.

Lots of hugs! Lots of Tears! It is bittersweet! And Although it is bittersweet, to leave my family behind for 2 years... I shall not dwell on what I would miss but, instead on what I can accomplish as I look forward to the best 2 years of my life!

A TREAT! Indeed it is! It is such a treat to be an ambassador for The Lord.

Yours Truly,
Elder D.J. Sablan

10.30.2012 Being Set Apart as a Missionary

My favorite scripture: Psalms 27: 1 & 14 "1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 14. Wait on The Lord: be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on The Lord"

The above scripture gives me so much comfort and courage to go and serve a mission... I Know that through Faith and Prayers...all things are possible. Obedience is the key. As Nephi says and I quote 1 Nephi 3:7 "I will go and do the things which The Lord hath commanded, for I know that The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them."

The Companionship of the Holy Ghost with the special blessing and being set apart as a missionary elevates my soul. I feel so humble with the opportunity to represent The Lord.

I am ready!

As one mighty Elder once said "Hurrah for Israel! To Zion To Zion"

D&C 4:4 "For behold the field is white already to harvest;"

I am ready! to serve him with all my heart, might, mind and strength.

Thank you for all your prayers.

Elder DJ Sablan, Jr.

10.28.2012 Farewell, Till We Meet Again

I feel so blessed! I feel so blessed and overwhelmed with all the love and support and generosity of everyone who came to Skyway Sacrament meeting to listen to my brother (Dylan) and I give a talk... to those who came again for the open house farewell, to those who donated money, to all my leaders past and present, my friends and most especially my family, my siblings and my parents who has shown me so much understanding and love even at those times I felt undeserving of such... I sincerely THANK YOU!

I Love you all and may you continue to be blessed for all that you do...

'Till we meet again!

Elder DJ Sablan

10.30.2012 Temple Trip and Lunch

It's so awesome to have a temple so close by to us... I love the Temple, the feeling of peace when your inside and just the spirit of reverence as you walk around.

We had a chance to have lunch with my cousin Shar and her cute babies (my niece & nephew). I will surely miss playing with them...

So much to do! So little time! The clock is ticking...