Teaching Lesson 1 – The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

It was weird teaching the first missionary lesson again to an investigator. It was just totally awkward. I had an RM companion. We both were in casual clothes with no name badges! But we taught like full-time missionaries, still applying principles and skills from "Preach My Gospel". At the same time, it was exciting! It was a different setting. 

We taught the dela Cruz family. Sis. Ruth is a member but her husband, son, and two daughters aren't. She was very happy we went to visit them tonight. We taught half of Lesson 1 just up to the Great Apostasy. It was really weird. Anywho, I made sure I was somewhat prepared, just like old times. Hehehe... I studied since last night and reviewed the first four principles of the first lesson. I even made a lesson outline that included questions, examples, and important points to focus on. The lesson outline I made was useful tonight. Even though I didn't look at it all the time, its very presence reminded me of some important points I really wanted to focus on. Making lesson outlines has become my forte in the mission field. My testimony grew by using these outlines. I have witnessed true conversion as a fruit of this process and I intend to continue the habit.

After the lesson, I couldn't just get out of thinking about what and how to teach Bro. dela Cruz next week - effective examples, questions. At least I have something to do during the week! hehehe... I am just glad that even in this side of the world, I can still do missionary work. As I walked from our house to the dela Cruz's - yes I just walked, burned 100 calories in 20 minutes of walking through the streets of Al Matar Al Qadeem - I tried to picture myself as a full-time missionary on the street. It must be really awkward. Somehow, I walked with a missionary's pace tonight. Hahahaha... I miss that. Oh and guess what? I walked again from the dela Cruz's to our house. That's another 100 calories. That's just an estimate based on my exercise program. My estimate is that I burned 500 calories today from exercise and walking.

Anyway, sidetracked! So back to missionary work. It was a refreshing feeling, and along this spiritual feat came some realizations and lessons from on high. Father in Heaven has taught me an important lesson tonight, something that only I and Him could understand. I wrote it in my LDSJournal.com account:D

But I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I had to share my testimony once again, to teach the gospel, and again invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

"Once a Missionary, Always a Missionary"

- Lee Brent Galotera, R.M.

“Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas

I love this song! It suits my mood tonight and the very thing that I should do – the first and second lines of the song! I heard this from Bro. Aaron’s playlist. Loved it! Then he recommended that I watch “Meet the Robinsons” and heard this song from that movie. I loved the movie. I watched it four times in three days. I love the story, the characters, the plot, and its morale lesson – Keep Moving Forward. Just loved it instantly! Yeah, watch it! It’s my current favorite movie.

Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And i don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But i can not forget
The way i feel right now

In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours, still remain,
Still remain
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders still remain

Reassurances

It has been a wonderful day! The highlight of it all was our spring stake conference though awkward the schedule is. It was a spiritual feast. It was great blessing to hear from an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Present were his wife, Elder and Sister Causse of the Seventy, and the stake presidency.

In January 2007 during my first year as a full-time missionary, Elder Richard G. Scott visited different missions in the Philippines area. The whole Quezon City Mission (with the exception of Mindoro Zone) went to Buendia, Makati City to attend the devotional with Elder Scott. I had developed a habit of taking out my journal and my pen whenever there is a speaker who will address a congregation. I usually wrote the exact words of the speaker and trying to catch up with everything that speaker would say, I’d normally get lost. At that devotional with Elder Scott, he taught us that instead of writing the speaker’s words, write what the spirit is teaching you. In other words, we were encouraged to record our feelings, spiritual impressions, thoughts that came to our mind as we listened intently, seeking personal revelation. I had changed that habit of mine and followed Elder Scott’s counsel. Since then, I had spiritual feasts just listening to the speaker and paying more attention to the voice of the Spirit.

When such conferences or meetings are held, I always have my journal with me. And tonight, I paid attention to my feelings. I was looking forward to Elder Holland’s talk. I needed spiritual rejuvenation. I needed to recharge. And what great a blessing could it be than to hear an Apostle of the Lord! During the meeting, I had just one reassurance – that the Lord never leaves us. Sometimes He would leave us alone in the face of His wrath when we commit sin, but He returns with kindness and tender mercy. That’s in Helaman 10 I believe. I was reassured that the God of the heavens, the same God who keeps the planet in orbit, who has the power to resurrect, the God who has created the infinite expanse of the universe does love us and does watch over us. He cares for us. There is nothing that He could not fix. To Him,  a human problem would just be a flick away from solving it. He lives! He knows that we have shortcomings and weaknesses. He understands us most. He expects us to learn from our mistakes and have the faith to move forward and to never look back – to learn from the past and point our faith in Jesus Christ to the right direction – forward, not backwards. If we do not decide to learn from the past, we could make history repeat itself once again and do things we had done before.

I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father. I would declare to the whole world that we have a loving Heavenly Father, who sent His Only Begotten Son so we can have the opportunity and grand blessing to return to live with our Father in Heaven in His Kingdom. His Atonement is real. We can be forgiven. And we can choose to move forward and obey the Lord’s commandments and live the covenants we have made. Like Elder Holland said, “covenants are stronger than transgressions, the Priesthood is more powerful than sin, righteousness will always prevail.” In this battle of good and evil, we already know who the winner is. It’s about time to decide which side we’re on and our decision will be reflected on the kind of life that we live.

3 in a row! Whew!

I have got nothing today. Instead of just sitting around doing nothing, I decided to post some pictures and tell their stories on my blog. At least, it eased the boredom. Hahahaha… I don’t even know who views my blog! Hahahaha… Okay put it this way. Just imagine me talking to myself in front of a mirror. Somehow, I get the same feeling with this blog-o’-mine. Hahahaha… If I had my camera with me right now I’d take a picture of meself. I am still wearing my church attire, my tie loosened and my hair all messed up after like 3 hours of siesta. I look like a frustrated genius who can’t just figure out what to do. hahahaha… I am full. Just finished dinner.

Merrick’s Birthday

It’s not today. Haha.. It was last Friday, Feb. 13. That cute baby, that’s Merrick. He turned one! He’s soooo cute and so adorable. He reminds me of Caleb and Matty, and Junifer Lee and Maddie. They’re my adorable, cute, and smart cousins! I miss them so much. Those are the single adults. Kathryn, who holds Merrick, is a single adult although she looks like she’s the mother! It was funny. She really looks like she’s Merrick’s mom! Beside her is Trishia Frances Nicolette Jose with Allan Requilman. Farthest to the left is Aaron delos Reyes. And rightmost is an ugly gorilla. I have no clue how he got there. Hahahaha…

Oh I was indulging myself that day. I was so full I could hardly breathe. The whole ward was basically at the party. It was fun. Since our table was seated by Single Adults, they called our spot the “Prom Table” Look at us. We doo look like we’re at a prom. Hahaha..

I loved the beef in white sauce ulam. It was oh so yummy. 

That’s Kathryn and Trishia again with mom and Sis. Mally, the ward’s Relief Society President.

Celebrating Elder Galotera’s Birthday

Of course I am no longer referring to myself as the Elder Galotera I am talking about. I am talking about my brother in Philippines Angeles Mission. He turned 21 on February 15. It was awkward to sing the happy birthday song and having a cake in front of you for a person who is physically absent! Hahaha.. It was one of the weirdest thing ever! Of course it was all mom’s idea. Well, when my children will go on missions in the future, I’d throw a party for their friends on their birthdays and send them lots of pictures and videos. Hahahaha… Look at me. I am so fat.

Trust me, that cake looks yummy, but to me, anything with nuts isn’t good-tasting. hahaha.. It’s bathed with different kinds of nuts.. Ewe! Hahahaha…

Oh I cooked pasta. It was oh so yummy and rich! No wonder I have such a lovely belly! :D

Dusty Doha

Well yeah it’s like a transition from winter to summer. We had three days of sandstorm. The first day was the worst. Mom was out shopping at Lulu Hypermarket. When she arrived home, she exclaimed, “I did it!” 

The second day, mom and I went to the Egyptian embassy to process Derek’s VISA to Cairo. The picture above was right outside the Egyptian embassy. It was weird to be in these sandstorms. It’s like the feeling of anticipating a heavy downpour. The sky was gloomy and it was cold. It really felt like a storm was coming. Man I miss the Philippines. I miss the rain! Hahaha…

That’s mom walking towards the embassy. 

 

 

 

Look at the coastline. Looking over corniche’s coastline was pretty scary for me. It’s like you’ll never know where you’re headed at.

 

Well, that’s the pangit me. Chubby chubby no? Cute cute. Hahahaha…

Baboy!!!