The Evacuation of Foreign Missionaries

“It is with broken heart and head bowed in sadness, but not in shame that I report that I must go today to arrange terms for the surrender of the fortified islands of Manila Bay.”

As General George Wainwright prepared to surrender the Philippine Islands to the Japanese on May 6, 1942, he cabled the foregoing advice to President Roosevelt.

Brave smiles hiding broken hearts

This week my heart understood more deeply the emotion of those words.  Last Monday we were invited to attend a meeting via Skype with the Area Presidency and all other Mission Presidents serving in the Philippines.  During the meeting, we were informed that it was anticipated that in the next few hours we would receive instructions from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles to evacuate all foreign missionaries, because of borders to countries closing due to CoVID-19.  The news plunged like a knife into our hearts.  We knew our young missionaries would be heartbroken to leave and we, also, did not want them to go. We also knew, however, that the decision of the Brethren was right (but it still hurt).  When time for questions was allowed, my only question was, "Do foreign Mission Presidents also have to leave?" We were relieved to hear that we would be permitted to stay.  As awful as the thought was of losing all of our foreign missionaries was, it would have been much worse to abandon our 100 faithful Filipino missionaries. After a sleepless night, we received word the next morning that the the decision to evacuate had been made, but was to be kept confidential and shared only on a need-to-know basis until the official announcement came out.  Later that day, we quietly shared it with our Assistants so that they could help us with the daunting task of logistics.  As we shared the news with them, we shall never forget their stunned looks of sorrow and disbelief .

The logistics would be daunting.  We had 203 young missionaries, spread over approximately 101 areas and four provinces.  If you drive by private car to either the north or the south of our mission, it takes over three and one half hours.  It is much slower if you use public transportation.  What made matters worse, a travel ban would take effect on Wednesday morning, meaning no public transportation of any kind would be allowed, social distancing was enforced, and checkpoints were in place to enforce the government lockdown because of the virus.  We had documents from the Government that allowed us a small window to gather and then send the missionaries to Manila, where they would fly home.  We used Mission cars and Physical Facilities cars and drivers to pick up our missionaries.

Hopefully we could get past the checkpoints.  Outlying areas would need to come closer Tuesday night for when the “Time-to-Go Order” came.  We also had to ensure that missionaries left behind would have a companion and a place to stay for the lockdown.  We dove into planning and got everyone and everything into place.

Wednesday morning, the “Time-to-Go Order” came about 730 AM.  We were on the move. All foreign missionaries were to amass at the Mission Home in Cauayan City, where five buses would transport them as soon as possible to Manila and eventually, home.  We had spoken with  the mayor of Cauayan City and received his approval to gather our missionaries at the Mission Home for transport.  Could we get past the checkpoints?  Could we get everyone here with no one left behind?  Would the busses make it in time, with checkpoints slowing them at every new town or province? Would our remaining missionaries be properly housed? Could we keep one thousand details in mind?  Could we keep our emotions in check?  The word went out and we mobilized.  The Physical Facilities people were amazing.  We will be eternally grateful for those men who gathered the missionaries and delivered them to the mission home.  We are also so very grateful for their expertise in organizing everything and looking after the details.  It wouldn't have happened without them.

Donna was amazing.  So many questions, so many phone calls, so much stress.  More than once we had to take a deep breath and re-group.  By 3 PM we had all missionaries in Cauayan City and Santiago City.  The missionaries in our southern 4 Zones could not get past the checkpoint in Alicia, so we gathered them in Santiago City and they waited there for the other busses to arrive so they could travel together.  It was one more heartbreak that we would not be able to say our good-byes to those missionaries.

Sadly, there was little time for goodbyes or advice, even for those gathering in Cauayan.  I wish that we had had time to tell them how much we love them and how proud of them we truly are.  They are Cauayan missionaries and will be in our hearts forever.  We said our tear-filled farewells as they boarded the busses, and then they were off.  As the busses pulled away and Donna and I waved from the curb, we felt like our hearts would break.  We will miss them terribly.  We watched half of our missionary force leave, knowing many will not have the opportunity to return. Some near their end of their missions will not return except as they walk down the halls of memory.  I pray that some, however, will in time return after the pandemic subsides.

We were unable to evacuate 4 Samoans and 2 Kiribati missionaries.  Restrictions in their home countries would not allow them to travel at this time.  We were glad to find this out before they got on the busses, so they are still with us.  Also, at the last moment, a reprieve was given to two of our senior couples and they were allowed to stay if they wished.  They were all pleased to stay and we are thrilled that they will continue to serve beside us.  They are wonderful.

All US and Canadian missionaries from all Philippines missions (approximately 1500 strong), flew out today, Sunday, on 6 chartered 747 jets.  Some from other countries have already returned home, and others are still waiting.  The rules for travel are changing at every turn.  I can only imagine the work required at the Area Office as they evacuated from 20 of the 23 missions in the Philippines.

We have been amazingly calm.  We believe that we have been called for this time, and the Lord will help us as we move forward.  Our attention now turns to our 106 young missionaries (100 Filipinos and 6 Polynesians) who remain.   They are excited for the challenge ahead and inspire us.  We will close 48 areas, which is heartbreaking.  Hopefully they will not need to stay closed for long.  We will call many new young mission leaders to replace those who left.  Now is their time to shine, and we believe that they will rise to the challenge and become truly great. They are excited to work together to further the work.   These young men and women who will now fill the many leadership positions are tomorrow’s leaders of the Church here in the Philippines.  The Lord's hand is in this.  He is training future leaders whose children will one day flood into the rest of Asia as young missionaries.  The future of our Mission and the Church in the Philippines is bright, indeed.  We are thrilled to be a small part of it.

Before these young missionaries can rise up, they must first get out of quarantine.  We will remain in 24 hour quarantine until at least April 12th when the mandatory quarantine and travel ban ends.  Our missionaries are doing their best not to die of boredom. They are a creative bunch.  They meet over the phone as missionaries and do training and study the scriptures.  Missionaries in the Philippines do not have smartphones yet, but they still are able to call the people they are teaching and do their best to stay busy and ready to go when the next “Time-to-Go Order” (a go out and work order) comes.

 We love our experiences here.  We have seen many miracles that remind us that God is in charge and that He rules over all.  The universe is unfolding, exactly according to plan.  Little things, like getting through a checkpoint; to waking up at night thinking about a missionary who would on “Go” day be missed as we gathered our missionaries; to getting required governmental approvals, inspiration over the last few months to expand Filipino leadership in the mission, etc. etc. etc., show us He is there.  Other experiences are more subtle, such as taking the sacrament today with the senior couples who live with us in the mission compound.  That was no ordinary experience, as we, in a simple but powerful way, worshipped and felt Him near.