Nov. 2012 MTC Photos

Reading our scriptures. . .

MTC Companion Elder Howard & I

Mr. Snowman with his family and a

12/2012 MTC Photos The Sablan Boys

Brothers @ MTC Elder Sablan & Elder Sablan :)

12/04/2012 From District to Zone Leader - I seek more ways to be like HE was (our Savior Jesus Christ)

Kumusta po pamilya ko!

Yay! Maraming mensahe galing sa inyo!  (I received lots of message (letters) from you all)

First, I am happy to let you know that as of this past Sunday, I have been released from my calling as a District Leader, and called to be a Zone Leader! Sobrang masigla para sa akin! (I am enthusiastic!) This means I, as well as Elder Howard (another Elder in my zone) are over all the Districts in the 15th Branch here in the MTC. I'm so excited to serve my fellow missionaries on such a scale, and I know this is a rare opportunity for me to bless other lives as they come to me for counsel and help. I feel like President Sablan in the Renton Stake. The work is hard, but the work is worth it. I love my zone! And I hope that I can be the best example of Christ as I can be.

I was only a District Leader for a week but during that week which was last week. . .

 

It was an amazing week!!  I had the chance to give 2 blessings to a Sister and Elder in my District. It was so amazing to feel the power of the spirit working through me. There is a Sister from Tonga who struggles with English, so she has a hard time learning Tagalog because everything is explained in English. She is a convert along with an older brother, and her father does not support her call as a missionary and is not please with her decision to be baptized. She has worked from the time she was 19 up until now (she's now 23), so she can go on this mission. She has an amazing testimony and a very strong conviction of the truthfulness of this gospel. I observed everyone from day one. Everyone has received packages and letters from home, yet we still complain when we go one day without anything from home. She has remained humble and quiet and I have never heard an utterance of sadness from her. She got sick last Wednesday, and she missed classes most of the day, but made it for the rest of the nights classes. She asked for a blessing, which I was able to give to her because I was the DL. During the blessing, I felt a very strong prompting that this blessing was not just to heal her from her physical sickness, but even more so to heal her of her emotional and spiritual sickness. I performed the blessing with words that came into my mind, but were not of my own. I couldn't help but think after that blessing, that the blessing wasn't just for her, but also for me. I had just written to you all how much I missed you, and how homesick I was. I felt so ashamed to have felt the way I did when I received letter and packages from home. I believed that I was called for just this week to give that blessing to her. I recognize that the Lord was reminding me my purpose here on my mission. He was telling me that I will only be successful if I keep my on single to His work. It was such a powerful experience, that I couldn't help but to cry with her within the blessing. I am reaffirmed of my mission, and I am once more humbled and shaped. This week was just so awesome!
I'm glad you all received my letters! :) I tried my best to write to you all and be as meaningful as possible. Salamat para sa pictures of you guys! I wish I were there for the Birthdays.

Nia, I hope that as you prepare for your mission, you will find more ways to bring yourself closer to Christ. You're a great example in our home, and I hope that you can continue this throughout your mission. I'm excited to hear where you are called! I challenge you, (from now until you receive your calling) to think of this simple primary song. "If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?". Happy Belated Birthday Sis, I love you so much! May you be blessed with another healthy and happy year!

Tupo, you are a light on top of a hill. Let your light so shine, and be an example of the believers! Work hard, study hard, and do not let anyone shake you of your faith. Be as the stripling warriors, and bring honor to our family. You are the only boy in the house, so it is expected that you fight for our family's standard. You are to act as you are taught. Follow the precepts of the gospel, and the Lord promises blessings from heaven, that you have no room to receive it. I hope you stay humble. Humility will be the trait that brings to pass the righteous desires of your heart. This I promise you little brother, Happy Belated Birthday! I love you!

As we enter the month of our beloved Savior's birth, I have turned my attention to the life of the Savior. I seek more ways to be like HE was.

 

“I feel my Savior’s love, In all the world around me.  His Spirit warms my soul, Through everything I see.

He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him.   I feel my Savior's love, The love He freely gives me.

I feel my Savior’s love, Its gentleness enfolds me. And when I kneel to pray, My heart is filled with peace.

He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him. I feel my Savior’s love, The love He freely gives me.

I feel my Savior’s love, And know that He will bless me.  I offer Him my heart; My shepherd He will be.

He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him.  I feel my Savior’s love, The love He freely gives me.

I’ll share my Savior’s love, By serving others freely, In serving I am blessed, In giving I receive.

He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to Him. I feel my Savior’s love, The love He freely gives me.”

 

I'm so excited for this month! This is the last push until I'm out in the field next month! YAY! :D Maligayang pasko! I hope you all have a great week.

Until next week, ingat po! :)

Elder Sablan

 

11/27/2012 Thanksgiving Week - "Faith without works is dead"

Grateful and Thankful!  For my Father in Heaven! For my Savior Jesus Christ! For the Gospel and the Joy it brings to our life!  For the opportunity to serve as a missionary!  For all who supports me and keeps me in their prayers!  For my past youth leaders (Teachers, Seminary, Priesthood Leaders, Scouts) who sacrifice their precious time to serve and teach. . .who sets good examples and showed great love for me.  For my family and my siblings!  For my parents. . .for loving me unconditionally and never giving up on me.  On Thanksgiving day. . .I just want you all to know you are all in my thoughts and prayers - and that I am Grateful and Thankful for you all!

 

Thanksgiving here at the MTC was great! Not the same, but great nontheless. It was a full day. We had no classes, but we still had a lot to do. We did a humanitarian project where we made hygiene kits and school supply kits for people in the villages of Mali. It was pretty cool. We had Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speak to us, and it was super super spiritual! I cried... he said something that made my heart ache so bad. He said "...Now I know all of you missionaries miss your father's, but I know that you are all aching for you mothers..." I bawled quietly as I thought about Thanksgiving at home. It made me a bit grumpy and threw my mood off because being away on such a holiday felt so foreign. I got over myself though, and enjoyed my food. Food is ALWAYS, PALAGI in abundance! Lol. But, nothing like a meal made from momma and my beloved sisters. It was still good though. We had mashed potatoes, turkey, yams, and other stuff. Though the food was delicious, I sat at my table thinking "Where is my beloved red rice and lumpia?!!" Hahaha! The language is picking up. We call it "Huricane Tagalog" because we are being pounded by the ferocious waves of culture, and crashes down on our confidence. Our teachers are very kind though, and they do all that they can to help us with whatever it is they need, which makes working harder easier. I've been assigned this week as the leader for my district! I'm so excited to have such an important calling! I realized how much I learned by not being a leader, or a senior companion, and now that I have a calling, I realize the Lord taught me those things. It's been nice to take it easy for awhile, but I know that the Lord is calling me to be an example for his children in my district. Along with Tagalog, I've been asking some of my foreign friends to teach me about their culture and language. I'm learning tongan as well, and trying to pick up on Maori. :) I've grown such a love for my fellow missionaries. This week has been tiring... but I know that if I weary myself for my lord and savior Jesus Christ, he will bless me to overcome my challenges, weaknesses, and make up for my short comings.

Family, have you been reading the Book of Mormon?! I would hope you are! I know how hard Mom & Dad always try to have us do it as a family. . .I will encourage all of you to participate and read as a family.  My job as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ. Member, non-member, less active, or investigator. I feel only more inclined to help my family and their relationship with God by sharing the same message I'm sharing with the people of the Phillipines. I hope you guys continue on praying together too as a family Day or Night or Both! God will only listen if we talk to him first. As says in the book of James, faith without works is dead! Prayer is a work, and a trial of faith. Keep keeping on! As you've all taught me to do!

The home sickness begins... finally...

Although I pray for strentgh, I can never find enough distractions or things to do to keep my mind off my beloved family. I think of each and every one of you all day. I've kept you all in my prayers, both morning and nights, and meals included. I can see that the lord is keeping his promises to me by helping you all. I can feel it even if you don't say it. It makes me feel better, but there's still this void that your all filled in my life that I never knew could make me feel as if someone had taken something from me that was very special. I continue to pray for strength to overcome this sadness that come about me, and the Lord always comforts me. But I do have to ask him on a constant basis for help.

I'm doing great overall, and I'm looking forward to learning more tagalog! I've recieved your letters, and dear elders, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to remember me and share your thoughts. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE letters! They quiet my stirrings and longings for my family.

Mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat pamilya ko! Ingat, til next time.

(I love you all very much my family! Take Care.)

-Elder Sablan

P.S.- I check my e-mails right after I get out of the temple which is at around 9am on tuesdays, I print my emails out, then come back to the lab at 4:30 to respond! :)

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