Traveling to the MTC

      Saying goodbye to my parents was harder than I thought it would be for me. I am usually pretty good at transitions in life, but this one felt different. As soon as I could not see my mother any more I started crying.. yeah right in the middle of the airport. Love ya mom. Once I got my senses together I got through security no problem and got to the gate super early but I realized that I did not have my phone so I could not snapchat or watch any videos. I looked around and thought... hmm what am I supposed to do? What did people EVEN DO BEFORE SMARTPHONES? #firstworldproblems. I looked through my bag and realized all I needed was there to survive for the next two years: the scriptures and fruit snacks. Though I doubt the food I brought will last me two years... Anyways, the flight over was pretty great! I just read my scriptures and enjoyed the beautiful views outside the window. In Los Angeles, there were some problems with my bag that I had to figure out, but luckily I had a 6 hour layover. When I got to the gate I was expecting to see 16 other missionaries waiting for me, but that was not the case. I worried that I was going to be traveling internationally by myself. Suddenly a swarm of young people wearing name tags took over the gate. The look on the peoples faces everywhere were filled with confusion. I was relieved that the first guy I talked to was Elder Tume, and missionary from a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I can't remember right now what the island was called since it feels like years ago. I just realized that I have written so much on my travels and not about the MTC yet and I don't have unlimited time here so quick synopsis: 21 hours of flight time (with no movies or music), 10 hours of layovers, and 4ish hours of sleep. I even gave away my first Book of Mormon on the plane to the Philippines!

Arriving in the Philippines:

After more confusion of where to go, the four other missionaries followed me through a foreign airport. Eventually we found other Filipino missionaries who had been waiting there for a couple hours for the shuttle van. I guess we were just in the wrong place! We stayed in a hotel overnight where I got to know the other Americans that will be serving in the same mission. We even got to explore the area a little. My heart was filled with more joy than I have ever felt in my life. I was so excited to be a missionary. I looked around and saw the people that I will be serving for the next two years. This is going to be AMAZING!

MTC:

The first day in the MTC was a lot of introductions and orientations (just like Syllabus day at school). This is a very small MTC compared to the one in Provo. There are only 96 missionaries here while there can be about 2000 missionaries at the other one. Out of the 96 missionaries there are about 10 Americans. Full immersion into the culture was harder than I thought. The first day we started learning hit me hard. They just sat us in a room and tried to teach us Tagalog, using very little English. Our teacher would ask us a question, and we would just sit there. Awkward.. but hopefully it will work! I am trying to speak as much of the language as I can, but I often forget the things I am taught. It will take a lot of patience and prayers to master this language enough to communicate.

The classes and devotionals that are here are amazing. I can feel the spirit constantly as I walk through the halls. I am learning so much every day! It is like having LDS General Conference every day! It is amazing, yet exhausting. Some of the Elders around me have trouble focusing when they are tired. I have been blessed with being able to get very little sleep and still focus. I just feel so anxious to learn and improve every day! I know I am currently not the best missionary with my limited language skills and knowledge, but I trust in the Lord to help me along the way. It is pretty amazing because we have a group from Pakistan, India, and Nepal who don't speak any English. They have translators with them so you can always here a little voice whispering in the back. When we are in smaller group discussions I feel so self conscious of what I am saying because the translator is repeating everything I am saying word for word.

After our first class they had us teach an investigator named Sister Rechelle. They did not tell us that she did not speak a lick of English. I froze so badly in our first lesson. I could not communicate anything to her at all! The second lesson was way better because I was better prepared for the inability to communicate. We would ask her a question and she would respond. Sister Rechelle would speak super fast Tagalog so we would just say, "Opo! Salamat, salamat po sister." (Yes! Thank you, thank you sister!). I cannot wait until the moment when I can actually understand the language. 

The first day we got split into Districts and I was made District Leader. This was difficult for me at first because I knew just as little as everyone else in the room, and they expected me to lead without any supervision. I guess this means we are adults and not in elementary school anymore. I have grown to love my district so much though! My kasama (companion) is Elder Cantillo. This is amazing as it is because my father and his grandmother actually knew each other! As I was waiting to go on my mission she contacted me a couple times to talk about him. I even got the opportunity to Facebook stalk him before him. He is from Oakland and is full Filipino. I rely on him a little too much as we teach our investigator. We have two Elders from Tonga who are literally like my favorite people. Elder Hafoka is always smiling and making jokes. They are huge and have the deepest voices. Often, my kasama and the tongas will sing LDS Hymns together and it is so amazing. Next we have the Australians who always add so much flavor to the conversation with their thick accents. Sometimes I feel like they aren't even speaking English! Finally we have a Sister from Tonga and from Myanmar. Sister San from Myanmar is such a character! I thought she was going to be really shy because she is the tinniest human, but she is super outgoing and makes so many jokes. I wish you guys could meet all of them. We are getting close and closer every day! However... a lot of them think I look like Mr. Bean... which they somehow thought was a compliment. Now all they call me is "Mr Bean Cading." My companion has this beat to it and everyone says either that or Elder Cadong. Yeah, throwback to scout camp where they mispronounced my name and I became the Donger. Anyways, I would usually be slightly offended by this, but I am so happy right now that I honestly think its hilarious. They probably just think that because the day I got here they gave me a haircut that is practically a buzz cut. They probably knew that I couldn't control my hair so they just took it all off. Anyways we have a fun time here! We laugh too much sometimes that the other missionaries look at us funny. 

My emailing time is up, but overall I love it here so much! It is a challenge and everyday feel like years since our day is so busy. However it feels like just yesterday that I was surrounded by my friends and family back home. I love you guys so much! I enjoy any emails that I can get, especially pictures send pictures! Sorry that I do not have enough time to attach pictures or respond to any personal emails (we came a little late to email time). Next week I will do it I promise!

PS. Some fun facts:

1. Filipinos take pictures with me just because I am tall

2. The Filipino food here is AMAZING!! Usually..

3. I sweat literally anytime I walk outside. So that's fun!

With love, 

Elder Cadayong