On Gardening
Mango season is beginning, and I have been looking forward to this for the last 10 months, when I discovered that they are seasonal here. I had anticipated eating mango every day for the next three years when I arrived, so you can imagine my dismay to find out that doesn't happen up here in the "Wild West". Technically, I guess we are on the East side of the island, but I can't think of an "E" word to go with East that will work. The only "E" words that are similar to "wild" in the dictionary are "empty", "extroverted", "enraged", or "eager", so I still say I live in the "Wild West". Anyways, the mangos are divine, and I am eating as many as I can while they are here. I wish I could bring a mango tree back to Canada when I come home, but unfortunately, I think it would die in my Alberta garden.
The highlight of the week was learning that our smartphone delivery had been expedited, and that the phones would arrive on Friday. We are so ready! The last 6 weeks with only analog phones to use to teach with when would couldn't go out has been painful and awkward. But the missionaries have persisted in trying to make it work, and have found some success.
The options available with a smartphone are going to be life changing for our quarantined missionaries. The other good news was that the Enhanced Community Quarantine will be lifted in our mission on May 1. The not so good news is that it has been replaced with General Community Quarantine, so it will free a few things up, as there will be some public transportation and a few more stores will be able to open, but we still have many restrictions to free movement. Under 21 yrs and over 60 yrs will still have to stay home. We have about 40 missionaries under 21. But we keep working, keep trying new things, keep cheering each other on.
I am trying to stay positive, and for the most part I do, but some days are harder than others. I have found myself complaining a bit in my head, and it is harder to get up in the morning. I never really thought that it mattered to me to much if I was around people. My Aunt told me this week that she is calling this time the "Big Lonesome", and I think that describes it exactly.
I am a bit of a hermit at home, but I am missing people. I am missing connection.
Particularly these wonderful young people we get to work with.
They energize me. Luckily we have a few missionaries here in Cauayan, so we bring them over to the mission compound regularly, or I think I would have lost my mind by now. We also still have the Warrens and the Becks. What would we do without them?? And what would I do without my marvellous husband, who keeps upbeat and charging along, no matter what?
I send out daily texts to the missionaries to encourage or direct their study, and we text and call, but there is something about seeing their faces. President Craig just finished another round of interviews over the phone. He spent about 6 hours a day for 5 of the last 7 days, talking with each missionary. He reports that at the end of 6 hours of faceless interviews, he felt like a dirty dishrag. He craved seeing their faces!
The smartphones will help. We can do video calls, and zoom meetings and feel more connected. I am excited!
We plan and then re-plan and then plan it again, for when we can get up and get moving. The mission had been on such a high before the quarantine. We were teaching and getting more people to church than we had ever had, and so many were getting ready to become members of the Church. We had over 200 missionaries, so we had every Ward and Branch covered, some with two sets of missionaries. That all changed on March 18. We will need to close 46 areas. We hope we will not lose those precious people that were being taught, and are waiting, ever waiting for their baptism day. One day this week when I was getting a bit down, I remembered,
The highlight of the week was learning that our smartphone delivery had been expedited, and that the phones would arrive on Friday. We are so ready! The last 6 weeks with only analog phones to use to teach with when would couldn't go out has been painful and awkward. But the missionaries have persisted in trying to make it work, and have found some success.
The options available with a smartphone are going to be life changing for our quarantined missionaries. The other good news was that the Enhanced Community Quarantine will be lifted in our mission on May 1. The not so good news is that it has been replaced with General Community Quarantine, so it will free a few things up, as there will be some public transportation and a few more stores will be able to open, but we still have many restrictions to free movement. Under 21 yrs and over 60 yrs will still have to stay home. We have about 40 missionaries under 21. But we keep working, keep trying new things, keep cheering each other on.
I am trying to stay positive, and for the most part I do, but some days are harder than others. I have found myself complaining a bit in my head, and it is harder to get up in the morning. I never really thought that it mattered to me to much if I was around people. My Aunt told me this week that she is calling this time the "Big Lonesome", and I think that describes it exactly.
I am a bit of a hermit at home, but I am missing people. I am missing connection.
Particularly these wonderful young people we get to work with.
They energize me. Luckily we have a few missionaries here in Cauayan, so we bring them over to the mission compound regularly, or I think I would have lost my mind by now. We also still have the Warrens and the Becks. What would we do without them?? And what would I do without my marvellous husband, who keeps upbeat and charging along, no matter what?
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| McDelivery has been a great discovery during lockdown! |
I send out daily texts to the missionaries to encourage or direct their study, and we text and call, but there is something about seeing their faces. President Craig just finished another round of interviews over the phone. He spent about 6 hours a day for 5 of the last 7 days, talking with each missionary. He reports that at the end of 6 hours of faceless interviews, he felt like a dirty dishrag. He craved seeing their faces!
The smartphones will help. We can do video calls, and zoom meetings and feel more connected. I am excited!
We plan and then re-plan and then plan it again, for when we can get up and get moving. The mission had been on such a high before the quarantine. We were teaching and getting more people to church than we had ever had, and so many were getting ready to become members of the Church. We had over 200 missionaries, so we had every Ward and Branch covered, some with two sets of missionaries. That all changed on March 18. We will need to close 46 areas. We hope we will not lose those precious people that were being taught, and are waiting, ever waiting for their baptism day. One day this week when I was getting a bit down, I remembered,
"God is the Gardener"
I was reminded that sometimes I might feel like the freshly pruned current bush, asking, "How could you do this to me, I was making such wonderful growth, and now you have cut me down." I was reminded that we are engaged in the work of the Lord, and His work will not fail. He says, "I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be." I was reminded that it is better to, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." (Exodus 14:13). Just as the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt on dry ground, he will bring us out of this. And we will be stronger and more ready to move forward.
Reading the experience there made me realize how Heavenly Father is very mindful for us, He gave us challenges, fighting in our own battles because He wants us to Trust to the Savior. Thank you President and Sister Craig, for inspiring me. Im IIm very excited to meet everybody 😍
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