We are still going back and catching up from a few months ago! The next posts will have current updates but we wanted to be sure to record everything before the craziness began. Here is what my mom has to say:
"As I got these pictures ready for our blog it brought up a lot of feelings. These are pictures of our missionary activities before everything changed. At this point we had heard a lot about Covid-19 and things that were happening in other countries. The Philippines still had low numbers but I suspect that was just because they were not doing a lot of testing. We were reminding our missionaries about the hand washing, face touching etc. Before this zone conference we had received a letter from our area presidency to share with all of our missionaries. It asked them to stop shaking hands and to start practicing social distancing. They were to be careful to not go out sick or to be around someone who seemed sick or coughing. During zone conference I kept looking around at everyone and started having these strong feelings that this would be our last big gathering, at least for a long period of time. Elder Christensen, one of our assistants, shared with me later that evening that he was having some of the same feelings. He was scheduled to return home May 18 and would have had another zone conference but he kept having the feeling that this was his last one. A few days later we found out that Sunday meetings were cancelled for the time being and then things started changing daily. Within a week after our zone conference, half of our mission and senior couples were gone. As I look at these pictures I am so sad that these foreign missionaries have left us. We love them and miss them and did not have enough time with them. As I look at the faces of our Filipino missionaries I miss them. We have not been able to see most of them since that zone conference. (now almost 3 months ago). I am so proud of them. They have stayed so strong under these difficult circumstances. They have very rarely left their apartments except for buying food and medicine. They always have a smile on their face and say they are doing fine. They continue to do all they can to do missionary work from their apartments with their phones."
"Having dinner and enjoying the sunset with our assistants. Elder Magistrado would be leaving in a few days. We did not realize it then but it was actually our good bye dinner with Elder Christensen also. These two missionaries have become dear friends and we miss them every day."
"Before our farewell dinner with our departing missionaries our assistants were able to baptize this sweet couple. This was a special ending for Elder Magistrado's mission because they had become good friends with Charles and Lyka."
"Our evening with our departing missionaries at our mission home. We have dinner and sign our poster and have a devotional. These are special missionaries to us and it is always hard to say goodbye. They have become so dear to us! Our assistant Elder Magistrado said goodbye and was replaced by Elder Thomas. Sister Nielsen's dad came to pick her up and spend a few days in the Philippines with her. It was very nice to meet him. The rest of the missionaries depart on a bus at 10:30pm and head to Manila. The next day they go to the Manila temple before returning home to various places."
"Our departing missionaries leave on Monday and we always get new missionaries on Wednesday. First we meet with their trainers and then send them off and say hello to our new missionaries off of the bus from Manila. We have trainings and dinner and they spend the night with missionaries close by. On Thursday morning we have breakfast at the mission home and then they meet their trainers. We have a meeting all together and then they are off to all the different area of the mission! Sister Lindenlaub and Sister Davis help me with breakfast. This was our last time making breakfast together. These new foreign missionaries only spent 3 weeks in our mission with us and then had to leave for home."
"One of our last baptisms for a while."
"Having dinner at our favorite restaurant with Sister Davis. She had finished her mission and was leaving in a few days. Our last sunsets before we were in quarantine!"
"The night before Sister Davis left we had dinner at the mission home. She has been our mission nurse and finance person. We didn't realize it at the time but it was a farewell dinner for all of our senior missionaries."
"We have had a hard time finding a place to take long walks in the morning to get some exercise. The streets are narrow with lots of traffic and no sidewalks. The counselor in our mission presidency told us about nice cemetery where people go and take long walks. We were able to do this for a few weeks before it was closed because of the quarantine. We can see the ocean from some of the trails. Look at the beautiful monuments they have for their deceased loved ones."
"Our last MLC with all of our mission leaders. We had some good meetings and discussions. Our lunch was provided by the Bishop of the Lingsat Ward who has a booth at the night market. His specialty is Shwarma rice and mango smoothies! The missionaries loved it! This was a special day that I will always remember."
"Groundbreaking for a new meetinghouse in Tubao."
"Agoo Stake Conference. Last one before all church meetings were cancelled."
"Zone Conference - March 10 - Bangued, Candon and Bacnotan Zones"
"Zone Conference - March 11 - La Trinidad and Baguio Zones"
"Zone Conferences - March 12 - Agoo, Bauang and San Fernando Zones"
"Elder and Sister Christensen making medicine kits for each missionary!"
"Sister Fangatua was sent to us early because the MTC in Manila was being closed because of the quarantine. She was only with us for a few days and then left with the foreigners back home to Australia."
"This is the entrance to the mission home. Sister Christensen took this picture the day all the foreign missionaries were leaving. I love this picture. These shoes walked many miles and represent a lot of hard work in the Philippines."
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