An Open Journal of a Teacher

Early this afternoon, I teach my students in Grade 8 about avoiding cigarettes and tobacco. It's cool how I deliver it with confidence because this is the thing that I'd been doing in the mission field, except that today I'm sharing it with some scientific basis because it is their topic in their health subject. I'm grateful that the Department of Education included these cigarette and alcohol as something that teenagers should avoid. I shared to them some example of people who change and what they did to avoid it. It's funny because as the bell rang, I nearly tell them "In the name of.... amen" hehe... But I just said " I know what I shared with you is true..... prepare for our quiz next meeting. Good bye class" :D

We're only using generator here in San Miguel for the moment but we don't have electric right now because our land lady is still not home. I have a good guy friend (Roy Abuyog) who always call and text me if I arrive safely in San Miguel. He sometimes call me and sing a song so that I won't feel bored here in our boarding house ( He really don't have a good voice but he keeps on trying. Maybe he wants to be a singer someday). That's really comforting and I'm grateful to have friends who cheers me up.

The rain is so strong and I have a lot of mud in my shoes and slacks. The school is also muddy, especially that it is still not well established and the ground is still not made of cement. This day I read my manual in the Institute about "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel." It's cool how I stayed here in San Miguel because I got a lot of time reading the manual especially that there are no other gadgets that distracts me. I'd been reading about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement focuses not only with sins, redeeming our sins, cleansing us to be qualified in our Father's kingdom but the power of the Atonement give us also strength to carry every challenges and that it gives us enabling power to carry all the trials that we can't do by ourselves. I love the Gospel! :) 

I'm happy because it's Sabbath day but honestly at the same time sad because I'm going back again to San Miguel, Las Navas. (Big Sigh) Well, this is my new life. I'm going to be far again from my family. I still don't know what the Lord plan for me, but I'll try my best to accept it and have patience with this. Push ko to! :) Everything that is happening is a blessing and I should find the blessings behind all the challenges I am experiencing right now.  Life is full of challenges, but that's what makes us stronger so why not accept it. My prayer is just to have more patience and strength to carry everything according to God's plan.                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm already here in San Miguel. The Travel is so very tiring. My body feel soar. Well, for sure I will just be use with this every week. I dreamed of having a work, and here'...

Life is so good! I realize and learned that everything that are happening is part of my Heavenly father plan for me. He loves me so much that He put me in this situation for me to learn and grow spiritually and emotionally. Kuya Phillip and I started traveling at 9 in the morning. We traveled through boat. We stayed in the boat for about 5 hours (my butt feel soar for sitting too long) and another 2 hours from Catubig to Catarman. The travel was very tiring but it's okay because I'm really excited to see my family. I arrived in Bobon at 4 in the afternoon. We had family home evening at Tatay and Nanay's house. Honestly my body is really tired but I shouldn't make it as an excuse not to attend our family tradition :)

Today, there is "You Got the Talent" show. Grade 9 and 10 students presented a dance and a choir. I was called as one of the Judge. It's cool how student's presented their different performance and show their talents. After that we had a small celebration, Ate Evelyn, Ate Juliza and Kuya Albert cooked spaghetti, pancit, fried chicken and sandwich. Well, haha.. I was just alarmed because they started drinking beers/liquors. They invited me but I told them that I don't drink liquor.  As of now while writing this journal, they are still singing outside with their guitar while drinking. It's a little bit hard being in this situation, they might think of me as someone snobbish or not friendly for not joining them. But I'm grateful that I'm able to show my beliefs also and set this impression to them because they are not familiar with "Mormon"/ "The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. I will always stand for what I know is right even ...

I don't know if it is a dream or an imagination. But I saw Heavenly father and Jesus Christ in that setting. Well, I'm sure that I didn't see them in reality, but I forgot if it is a dream or just an imagination. In that dream, I saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ standing in front of me and telling me "Have patience, you will meet him at the right time." And at their center, there is a man standing in which I can't clearly see him because it's too blurred. I experience this during the time I think before I serve mission. While listening to the EFY song "Color of Truth", I remember that experience. As I remember, he's wearing a white suit with some touch of black fabric. I forgot his skin color, but he is smiling towards me in which I also forgot how does he look like. He is not that fat, not too thin also, He's taller than me and has a broad shoulder. And in his suit pocket there is a rose (I forgot the color). haha. What a weird exp...

It's raining. I hope tomorrow it won't rain anymore. Because it will be hard for me to go out from San Miguel. This time, I'm happy to have the opportunity to share the gospel to my board mates and grateful that kuya Phillip accepted my invitation to meet the missionaries. I have his number and I'm gonna give it to them on Friday or Saturday. I'm happy because of the "GOSPEL" :) This is Kuya Phillip