First Week in the Mission Field

Ohhhh man!!! It has been so long since I have emailed, like 2 weeks, which feels like forever. 

Part 1: Saying Goodbye to the MTC

So starting off, I can't remember if I told you guys last time I emailed be we added on Elder Denton to our companionship! He is seriously the best Elder. At first we weren't sure about how he was going to fit in since Elder Cantillo and myself flow together so well, but once he came in, our kasamahan (companionship) improved so much! Throughout the last little bit at the MTC we got closer than I could have ever imagined. Elder Denton is from Austrailia and has been through so much in his life. Despite his challenges he works hard every day to do the will of God. As zone leaders, Elder Cantillo and myself really wanted to strengthen our zone and I feel like that really happened as we all tried harder than ever to be exactly obedient and have quiet dignity. Saying goodbyes to everyone at the MTC was way harder than I thought it would be. We all had gotten so close. Just thinking about it makes me miss them and wonder how they are doing throughout the Philippines. I know that God is on their side. I am so thankful for my experience at the MTC. It has helped me grow so much as a missionary and helped me to better understand my purpose. Plus my relationship with Christ has never been stronger. I felt as ready as could be to take on my mission.

Part 2: Entering the Mission Field

I was not ready at all to take on my mission.... lol.. joke-lang! I mean it hasn't been easy but I really feel so happy to finally be doing the work that I came out to do. My new companions are Elder Buque and Elder Eleazar. Elder Buque is from Surigao, Philippines and is my Tatay (trainer). He is a very good missionary and helps me a ton. Elder Eleazar is waiting for his visa because he is assigned to Chile Conception mission. He will be here for a couple weeks but he is adding so much to our companionship.

So my first area is San Jose Del Monte! I am absolutely loving it here. The Philippines is even more beautiful once you are actually living there and talking to the people. Despite the heat and the humidity I always have a smile on my face as I walk through town. I have yet to meet a Filipino that is unwelcoming. Honestly it feels good to actually start doing the work I came out to do. The field is definitely different from the MTC. I love being able to have so long for studies in the morning. It really helps to spiritually prepare me for the rest of the day. Some of my most spiritual experiences has been when I have been studying my scriptures. Also we had the opportunity to give blessings to the Miel family because they got in a car accident on the way over to chuch. It was my second time giving a blessing and I could really feel the power of the priesthood flowing with me. The thing that has improved the most since coming on my mission is my faith. I know now that through the power of God ANYTHING can be done. It is really humbling to see the conditions that these people live in. Most live in one room concrete shelters that has barely enough room for one person let alone a whole family. There is a lot of poverty here but people are still smiling. Money is not the source of joy.

My first week was a little difficult for me to adjust. I am exhausted every day, but they say that it is a good thing to be exhausted because then I know that I have been working hard. I think it will get better as my mission comes along because the first week I felt sick to my stomach from adjusting to the new food. Also it is very mentally exhausting to try and decipher the Tagalog that is being spoken so quickly. I thought I knew enough Tagalog but I was way wrong. The Tagalog they teach in the MTC is different from the conversational Tagalog... Right now with our lessons and meeting with the ward I can pretty much just introduce myself, share a brief message in broken Tagalog and bear my Testimony. I am studying whenever I have a spare moment because I know my capacity of teaching is limited when I cannot properly converse. 

Ok some funny things for you guys...

1. As soon as I came to our apartment I really needed to use the bathroom... but in the Philippines they don really use toilet paper. They use what is called Tabo which is just a little bucket of water. I honest had ZERO idea how to use it. I was yelling for help from my companions. "I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THISSSSSSSSS!" It gave us all a jolly good laugh.... I will get more used to it soon enough....

2. I feel like a giant here! Everyone is so tiny so nothing here is made for people my height. I have hit my head on way too many things.When I walk down the street the people either yell "Hey Joe!" which they call all Americans. Or they yell, "Matankad!" (tall!) and ask me what my height is. The kids love getting high fives from me. I feel like a celebrity!

3.Traveling from place to place is so fun! Jeepneys, which is a little bus thingy, is the main form of transportation. I have no idea how they squeeze so many people in one bus. It looks like there is no room for any more people and the driver says that we can fit 4 more... if there is a sliver of space they just put they butts there and expect everyone else to squeeze. There is no such thing as personal space here! Oh also my new favorite thing is riding backseat on tricycles (motorcycles with a side car). The traffic and driving is insane so I usually feel like I'm gonna die, but that's just the thrill of it all.

I am so glad to be a missionary. This life is full of challenges but I know that it is not about me. I am here to serve the people as a representative of Jesus Christ. Till next week adventures!

-Elder Cadayong