The Walking Dead
Missionaries have a lingo all their own.
Their Trainer is their Nanay (Mom) or Tatay (Dad). Trainers call the missionaries they train "Anak" (child) or (Apo) grandchild (if the missionary is being trained by their trainee). There is also a whole range of other titles, "Lola", "Lolo" (grandparents), and I still don't quite understand the whole range of different relatives they can have in their mission.
They say they were "born" in their first area, and often talk of "dying" in their last. If they are the last companion to someone going home, they will often say they "killed" their companion.
Much has been said over the last few months about all of the missionaries who went home early, and there were lots of them. Elders usually serve for 24 months, and Sisters for 18 months. Some are getting re-assignments, but those who were approaching their release date in the next few months were just released. It has been an adjustment for them that may take awhile for them to understand.
We pray for them as they move on with their lives, that they may find joy in the time they had, and never feel like they were less because their time was cut short.
The missionaries left in the field have had a bunch of adjusting to deal with as well, not being able to leave apartments for weeks or months, and needing to learn another way of doing missionary work that doesn't involve street contacting.
Little has been said about another group of missionaries, who we lovingly call the "Walking Dead". They who should have "died" in April or May, but they are still walking among us. These missionaries have found that they are unable to go home, due to travel restrictions here in the Philippines and also to other countries. Their release dates have come and gone, and they find themselves still here, with nothing they can do to change it.
Just like those who had their missions shortened, these unrequested extensions are also hard to get your mind around. But they keep smiling (most of the time)! We are proud of them.
They, and really each of us, have had to learn that "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." Russell M. Nelson
We all have the opportunity to grow and stretch and become something better when we face hard things like having to go home early, or having to learn how to do missionary work while isolated, or having to stay longer than you expected with faith in Jesus Christ.
As Manila has loosened up restrictions, the travel people are working on getting the Walking Dead home. There is still no air travel, so it is not possible for all of them, but a few whose homes are in Luzon can get home by van. It was decided that we would try a test group to see if they would be able to go home. 4 Elders, 2 who have been in the field for 26 months, and the other 2 for 25 months were chosen to go first as a test. Their homes are all in Manila. We had to get certificates to prove their health, and travel documents allow travel. A shuttle driver would be sent from Manila to pick them up and take them home, as there are no busses. Thursday we had a departure dinner, and testimony meeting, and then to the hotel. (It opened the day before they left!). The shuttle driver arrived at 6 am on Friday to take them home. I am happy to tell you that they all arrived home early in the evening on Friday. I couldn't help but think of their mothers and their fathers, so happy to finally see their sons again. This Friday we will send 2 Sisters home in the same manner. They will have served 19 months.
We will still have 4 Walking Dead remaining. They all need to fly to get home. The Filipinos will probably get home early in July, but the 2 Sisters from Kiribati and Samoa will need to wait for the borders and airports to be opened at home. I tease them that I am going to start calling them "Elder", as they may be here as long as an Elder. I hope not.
I tell all of the missionaries that someday their grandchildren will stand in awe when they tell them they were a missionary during The Great Quarantine for covid-19. They will have amazing stories to tell.
 |
| 26 1/2 months and no release date yet! |
They say they were "born" in their first area, and often talk of "dying" in their last. If they are the last companion to someone going home, they will often say they "killed" their companion.
Much has been said over the last few months about all of the missionaries who went home early, and there were lots of them. Elders usually serve for 24 months, and Sisters for 18 months. Some are getting re-assignments, but those who were approaching their release date in the next few months were just released. It has been an adjustment for them that may take awhile for them to understand.
It is hard to be released before you were expecting it.
We pray for them as they move on with their lives, that they may find joy in the time they had, and never feel like they were less because their time was cut short.
The missionaries left in the field have had a bunch of adjusting to deal with as well, not being able to leave apartments for weeks or months, and needing to learn another way of doing missionary work that doesn't involve street contacting.
It is hard to be isolated and feel like you are not doing what you were called to do.
 |
| Trying to keep cool when there is a brown out and the generator doesn't power the A/C |
They have been resourceful and resilient. And their creativity is inspiring.
Little has been said about another group of missionaries, who we lovingly call the "Walking Dead". They who should have "died" in April or May, but they are still walking among us. These missionaries have found that they are unable to go home, due to travel restrictions here in the Philippines and also to other countries. Their release dates have come and gone, and they find themselves still here, with nothing they can do to change it.
It is hard to stay focussed on missionary work when you think you should be home.
It is hard to not know when you will get home.
Just like those who had their missions shortened, these unrequested extensions are also hard to get your mind around. But they keep smiling (most of the time)! We are proud of them.
They, and really each of us, have had to learn that "the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." Russell M. Nelson
As Manila has loosened up restrictions, the travel people are working on getting the Walking Dead home. There is still no air travel, so it is not possible for all of them, but a few whose homes are in Luzon can get home by van. It was decided that we would try a test group to see if they would be able to go home. 4 Elders, 2 who have been in the field for 26 months, and the other 2 for 25 months were chosen to go first as a test. Their homes are all in Manila. We had to get certificates to prove their health, and travel documents allow travel. A shuttle driver would be sent from Manila to pick them up and take them home, as there are no busses. Thursday we had a departure dinner, and testimony meeting, and then to the hotel. (It opened the day before they left!). The shuttle driver arrived at 6 am on Friday to take them home. I am happy to tell you that they all arrived home early in the evening on Friday. I couldn't help but think of their mothers and their fathers, so happy to finally see their sons again. This Friday we will send 2 Sisters home in the same manner. They will have served 19 months.
We will still have 4 Walking Dead remaining. They all need to fly to get home. The Filipinos will probably get home early in July, but the 2 Sisters from Kiribati and Samoa will need to wait for the borders and airports to be opened at home. I tease them that I am going to start calling them "Elder", as they may be here as long as an Elder. I hope not.
I tell all of the missionaries that someday their grandchildren will stand in awe when they tell them they were a missionary during The Great Quarantine for covid-19. They will have amazing stories to tell.
Each and Every one of Them.
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