World Tour*

We have now concluded our 65th day of quarantine. Quarantine has been particularly difficult for our young missionaries. There are, of course, the deep feelings of isolation away from friends and family.  In addition they often feel that they are not meeting their purpose as a missionary because they cannot get out to find and teach.  Our missionaries have always used analog phones.  Have you ever tried to find and teach on a analog phone?  To say it is difficult would be an understatement.  Bless our young missionaries’ hearts they have regularly approached members asking: “Who do you have that I can teach on my phone without you being there?” Members gave the referrals (what champs members here are)!  They then dutifully tried to teach them over the phone.  To our surprise, but not really, they were successful.  Many of our missionaries have people ready to be baptized that they have never met.  These wonderful people are committed to baptism but in many cases cannot be baptized because of governmental regulations forbidding any religious gathering. 

The Philippines is fourth in Asia for cases of coronavirus and second in deaths so it is a serious matter for the government to contain the virus.  In our part of the Philippines there are almost no cases of the virus but the government remains vigilant.  Every few miles there is a checkpoint.  These checkpoints are manned by soldiers in combat gear with automatic rifles and sidearms. They are kinda scary. 

With this background, you can imagine our excitement and concern when we received a shipment of smartphones for distribution to our missionaries. They would make such a difference to them.  They could teach and find so much better and with greater success.  They could involve members and American missionaries previously evacuated in their lessons which would be done over video calls.  It would be a night and day difference for them.  In addition, it could remove so much of the isolation that they feel.  We could hold video call mission-wide devotionals.  We could see one another during leadership meetings and interviews.  They could meet their fellow missionaries and feel part of the world outside their little prisons (their apartments).  It would be a complete game changer for them--BUT there was the small matter of getting them into the hands of the missionaries.  Our 104 missionaries (we had 203 until the foreigners were evacuated) are clustered into 32 apartments spread across 5 provinces.  Our mission covers 6 provinces but we evacuated the missionaries from the 6th province.  The interprovincial checkpoints are particularly fierce.  

As I prayed about this dilemma, there kept coming into my mind the scripture: “And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them.” (D&C 1:5).  I had my answer so it was time to go.  Sister Craig loves a good plan that is well considered and well executed.  This was not one of those plans.  It was more of a Nephi Plan: “not knowing beforehand”.  Sister Craig was concerned.   A week or two before, I executed a similar plan to get to the southern part of the mission to deal with some disobedient missionaries.  They were not grossly disobedient, but a match stick poker game until 4 AM prompted me to go.  They felt that because they were in total lockdown 3 and a half hours drive from the mission home they were untouchable.  You should have seen the look on their faces when I walked into their apartment.  That trip almost landed me into some trouble.  Not once but twice.  Sister Craig had good reason for concern.

Early the next morning, Donna and I left with the Assistants, the phones, some bags of food and some medicine (mostly vitamins, aspirin, peptol bismol and the like)  The food and medicine would be given to the missionaries as an expression of love, which would also enable us to tell the soldiers at the checkpoints that we were delivering food, medicine and supplies to missionaries.  As we travelled, we passed through 50 to 70 different checkpoints.  Most guards at the checkpoints saw our name badges said, “Oh Mormons, God bless“ and waived us through.  Other checkpoints questioned us closely and asked us for our travel pass.  We were to carry a government issued travel pass allowing us to pass through the checkpoints.  We tried, we really tried to get one but were unable.  We improvised.  We presented a letter on Mission letterhead signed by me giving us permission to travel.  IT WORKED!  Sometimes it seemed unlikely that we would get through the checkpoint, as we were often closely questioned, but after a silent but fervent prayer we always got through.  One thing that often helped was we spoke to them only in English and then a little faster than we normally would. Rather than deal with the language barrier, they often just waived us through.  Others would see our Assistants in the back and question them.  We only got denied passage through one checkpoint.  The official was very kind, polite but firm; we were not getting past the checkpoint into her town.  She did, however, allow the missionaries to come out of the town to the checkpoint to meet with us and get their phone (and a hug).  We got all of the phones personally delivered to all of our missionaries except to our missionaries in Tabuk in Kalinga Province.  There is a lot of rebel activity in that city so the Church has instructed me to not go to Tabuk (as you know, now I really want to go there....sigh).  We visited every other missionary in the mission.  It took 3 days, 29 hours and 750 Kilometres.  Curfews at night prevented us from doing it faster.  Each missionary got a hug as we delivered their phones.  I hope it helped them feel that they were less isolated and somewhat looked after.  Their Mission President, Companion and the Assistants were on their doorstep with love and good wishes.  

Was it a miracle?  I think so! God loves these missionaries.  We know it did our hearts good to see them.  The phones have been a remarkable blessing. 

We had T-shirts made to commemorate the event. Of course we can’t wear the shirts in public for a while. We love this work.

*This blog was never published on Facebook or any other social media.  It was originally sent as a email to family and a few close friends.  It was only added to the blog in 2023 before publishing the blog in a book form.