The Return of American Missionaries

March 18 is a day we will always remember. Two years ago, on March 18, 2020, was the day of the evacuation of 99 foreign missionaries from Cauayan Mission.  (You can read about our experiences that day in our post, "The Evacuation of Foreign Missionaries" March 22, 2020.) I do not think anyone had any idea of what would happen and how long the restrictions and lockdowns would last.  

As with all days where highly-charged emotional events occur in our lives, they forever hold a spot in our hearts.  We remember our feelings on those days and the images ever remain.  We remember watching the departing missionaries adjusting their luggage to meet airline weight requirements and doing other things to keep themselves busy and try to remain calm.  They had so many questions that none of us could answer.

What would happen to them?  

Their missions?  

Their friends and those they were teaching?  

What would happen to their Filipino companions?  

We had more menial questions: Do we have everyone here?  Can the stragglers get here in time?   

We remember well President Craig climbing on a chair to speak to those gathered in Cauayan.  The words have faded, but the feelings have not.  Time was short there was so much we wished to say.  In a few moments he tried to tell them how much we loved them and how proud we were of them.  He tried to promise them that everything would be ok if they remembered the great things that they learned here on their mission. 

In a few short hours, goodbyes were said and they were gone.  It broke our hearts.  

We stayed behind with our marvelous Filipino missionaries and picked up the pieces.  

It is hard to believe that it was two years ago.   Words cannot express how proud we are of our Filipino missionaries.  They not only faced COVID-19 head on with all it's fear and isolation, but they prospered.  Eventually we would lose over 75% of our missionary force as missionaries were slowly allowed to return home and very few were entering the mission field.  But miracles happened. Our baptisms increased dramatically.  The local members saw the need and stepped in and helped our missionaries with their work.  It is true that when missionaries and members are committed to work together miracles happen.  It has been a joy to watch. 

Last Friday, on the two year anniversary of the evacuation, we experienced a sweet and tender remembrance as we marked the day.  We drove to the airport at noon and welcomed 3 foreign missionaries! Elders Harrison, Herrmann and Enger stepped out of the airport into the heat of the northern Philippines and became Cauayan missionaries.  They had been originally called to serve here, but the pandemic prevented them from coming.  They were temporarily reassigned to missions in the United States.  When the Philippines reopened to foreign travelers they came.  It was not easy.   They have grown to love their American missions.  Elder Harrison had served 15 months in the Texas Fort Worth Mission, Elder Herrmann served for 12 months in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission, and Elder Enger served for 8 1/2 months in the California San Jose Mission.  Each one told us that they felt something special when they originally opened their mission calls to the Philippines and wished to honor those feelings and the call of a Prophet.  They will do wonderful things here.  They will be a great compliment to our strong and faithful Filipino missionaries. 

We do not feel that it is insignificant that they returned on March 18.  To us it is a symbol of hope in this weary world.  A symbol of His great love for us and that His work will prevail.  It is a great reminder that God is in the details of our lives.  We may not know what lies in the future, but He does.  And we are assured that the future is marvelous.

What of the 99 wonderful missionaries who evacuated two years ago?  The ones with only a few months remaining were released and resumed their educations and other adventures.  Most were reassigned to missions in their home countries.  We are certain they served with distinction and had wonderful experiences. But there is a ninety and nine and one story here.  Not the lost sheep story, but a missionary story.  Sister Wheeler served with us about 6 months before she was evacuated home with the other American missionaries on March 18, 2020. She choose to defer his mission for 18 months with a hope to return there to Cauayan.  When the 18 month deferral ended and with the Philippines still closed to foreigners, she accepted a reassignment to New Hampshire.  This week we received news that she will return to Cauayan later this month.  She will be the only one of the 99 to return.  We are so happy for her to be able to finish where she started.  She will go directly from the snowy cold of a New Hampshire winter to hot season in the hottest part of the Philippines.  We are always in awe of these faithful and dedicated young missionaries.  They bless our lives through their determined examples.  

As the vicious grip of this terrible pandemic finally loosens, more foreign missionaries will return to the Philippines but I doubt that they will come in the same numbers that they did before.  Through the last two years we have learned that the Filipino people do not need much help to accomplish this great work here in this beautiful land.  Still it will be fun to have some foreign missionaries.  Maybe we can even get a few Canadians?