Sunday, April 19, 2020

Our New Normal

We have just finished our fourth full week in self isolation, or what I like to call 'working from home'.  That just sounds better. Self isolation is actually a terrible term if you think about it, and quarantine isn't much better.  We have kind of settled in to our new normal. I think (hope) the constant, every hour something changes, time is past and we are now just doing work in a different, but good way.  

Our missionaries are remarkable. We are so proud of them. Everyday they are out there swinging.  They are making Facebook posts to try to find friends, they are calling everyone they know to set up lessons, they are tracking down formers, and teaching people from home.  One darling sister said 'The world is now our area'.  We feel so inspired by them and if we start getting discouraged about this or that, we just have to have an interface with our missionaries and their bright, hopeful, happy attitudes are infectious. 

When this all started we had only done interviews with one zone. Then this all hit and we were swimming in deep water for a few weeks, just trying to keep our heads above water. And before we knew it, we had only two weeks before transfers and we had 10 zones to still interview.  Scott thought about doing them over video chat, but then I wouldn't be able to talk with them, plus I had a freezer full of cookies to deliver.  

We decided that, since they are allowed to go outside for walks every day, and since they haven't used any of their allotted miles on their cars because they don't go anywhere, and if we kept strict social distancing... we could have walking interviews with them at the Temple.  We got permission from the temple presidency to use the temple grounds to walk around and then we started walking.  

In order to get everyone in, we walked a lot!  We figured out our route and when each companionship would arrive at the temple, we had them stay in their cars until the prior companionship was back in their car, or at least at a good distance away.  We would meet with the companionship and say a prayer, then I would take one of them, and Scott would take the other one and we had a little figure 8 route we would go on.  We moved our Daily Devotionals that week to 6:00 p.m. so we had time to do all of the interviews.  

On Tuesday we had 20 interview with the El Dorado and East Sac Zones and we walked 7.5 miles, Wednesday was Cordova and Folsom, 24 interviews, and 8.5 miles. Thursday we did Stockton, 19 interviews, 8 miles. Friday was the hardest day because it was the warmest day, we didn't start until noon so they could have district council, we did 22 interviews and walked 9 miles and we were fasting, so no food or water.  Saturday we had two zones again. We had Elk Grove and Lodi, 26 interviews and 10 miles.  Sunday was Easter, it was great to be at the temple on Easter Sunday. We interviewed the Carmichael Zone of 14 and only walked 6.5 miles that day. Monday was P Day but we were back at it on Tuesday with the Manteca Zone, 16 missionaries and 7.2 miles.  From Tuesday to Tuesday we walked close to 60 miles and chatted with 141 missionaries.  We definitely earned our pillows that week, but it was so wonderful to actually see our missionaries face to face, even if we were 6 feet apart. As two of our sisters approached us one of the days, one of them said "I'm going to start crying, I can't believe we really get to see you in person."  I wanted to cry several times too.  It was so so good to be with them. 

It was good for all of our mental health.  The missionaries felt like they had broken out of jail to escape their apartments and drive. It is always wonderful for the soul to be at the temple, even if it is just walking the temple grounds.  It is sacred ground and you can definitely feel that.  On Monday, when we didn't go, after being there for the past 6 days, we felt a real sense of longing to be back at the temple.  Our missionaries are scheduled to attend the temple twice a year with their zones. This was the transfer they were scheduled to attend, and only one zone got to go before they closed the temple.  We told all of the missionaries that we had promised to get them to the temple this transfer. We thought we would get them inside, but this was the next best thing.  

These were some of our views from our home away from home for a week. 


We set up shop on this bench, where we met, then gave out cookies (notice how even our cookies were bagged individually to adhere to social distancing), we gave each missionary a pocket sized copy of The Infinite Atonement.  Every zone is having their own 'book club', reading a chapter or two and then getting together on zoom to discuss what they learned from that amazing book.  Also, Emily Belle Freeman so generously sent each sister a copy of her booklet 'Inklings' as a study guide. She has videos on Facebook that go along with the booklet and some of our sisters are also getting together over zoom to watch the videos and do their companionship studies on the priesthood.  We felt quite generous sending them away with so many great things this time.  
Our home away from home for a week


Elder Scholl and Elder Robbins wanted a picture with us at the temple, isn't it sad that this is the new norm for pictures? 

This was also the week before Easter, or Holy Week.  We had such a wonderful week with our missionaries and our family at home.  It was most definitely one of our most memorable. We wanted to study the final week of the Savior's life and each day focus on what he did on that day during his last week.  We sent out a reading schedule to all of our missionaries and every evening at 6:00 we would get home from walking, and get on zoom. We wanted to get our family involved and so we gave each of our kids/families a day to teach about that particular day; the Savior's teachings and activities and how to apply those teachings to our lives.  It was an amazing week.  We are so blessed that our kids could all join us and teach us. We learned much from each of them. All of our missionaries have commented on how much they loved that week, and how much they loved hearing from each of our kids. I believe they now love our family much more than they love us, and I don't blame them a bit.  They are much better than we are, and for that we are so grateful.  It was a wonderful Easter week and we felt so close to our Savior through the entire week.  It was also wonderful to have the worldwide fast fall during that week as well.  It was overwhelming to know that millions of people around the world, of all faiths, were uniting in faith and hope for healing. It will be a week we will hold in our hearts forever. 

Scott taught on Palm Sunday.
Bennett and Stacie taught on Monday and taught the parable of the Royal marriage, Ceasar's devotions, The Widow's mite and the two great commandments. And these darling grandchildren told them what Easter means to them. 
Alex and Allie took Tuesday and taught about Christ on the mount of Olives with his disciples teaching about false prophets who will try to deceive the very elect, signs of his second coming, and the parable of the Ten Virgins. Sweet Hannah started by singing a beautiful primary song.
Ethan and Camee took Wednesday, which is a pretty silent day in the scriptures. It's not super clear which parables were taught on which days, so they taught the parable of the talents, the parable of the sheep and the goats and the story of Simon and the woman who anointed the Savior's feet.
Preston lucked out and got Thursday, where so much happened.  He focused on The Last Supper, the commandment to love one another, the Holy Ghost as a comforter, the great intercessory prayer and Peter's experience on Thursday and his redemption in Acts. 
Mike and Andrea taught on Friday and these darling grandchildren bore their testimonies.  They taught about the stories behind the people who betrayed Jesus and those who loved Him, as well as the biology behind the crucifixion and his final moments. 

They all shared experiences from their lives and their own missions that were so applicable to our missionaries.  One of our sweet sisters said 'seeing your kids and seeing that they are living good lives based on the foundations they set on their missions, makes me want to go home and do the same.' We are most blessed and grateful for each of them.

I taught on Saturday about the feelings of the people who Christ left behind, and also of his visit to the Nephites and to the spirit world. Then Scott and I taught together on Easter Sunday. 
It was a really wonderful, sacred week for us. 

We had some other wonderful zoom devotionals and meetings this week.  On Monday we had a zoom FHE with our current and recently returned home senior missionaries. It was great to catch up with good friends, many of whom left too soon. 

Our Daily Devotionals this week have been wonderful. On Monday President Moser, a counselor in our mission presidency gave a great devotional about experiences from his mission and how those impacted the rest of his life. His stories were mesmerizing, and his message inspiring.

Wednesdays are reserved as Good News/Miracle Wednesdays where we get on and share our good news and the miracles and positive things that have happened during the week.  Everyone left with big smiles on their faces.  We love good news Wednesdays.

Thursday we were blessed to have Elder Jorg Klebingat, from our Area Presidency join us. He gave us great counsel and taught us how to memorize scriptures. 

On Friday, Sister Mair's brother and sister in law, President and Sister Gary and Julie Price joined us.  They are presiding over the mission in Liberia and he told the story of evacuating his entire mission in just 24 hours in February, the miracles that occurred then and since.  It was amazing.  Also, he used to work for the FBI and had an object lesson where his wife duct taped his wrists together and he broke out of it. How cool would it be to have your mission president as a former FBI agent? They were amazing.


Our Area Presidency, and then the missionary department have held a few zoom meetings with us, introducing a new online proselyting initiative using Facebook as a finding tool.  It's big and complicated and my head was about ready to explode after one of the two hour meetings.  Luckily, they had us call three companionships to be our social media specialists, who were also on the zoom meeting with us. We had the meeting one day last week, then left to go walking. By the time we got back home, these companionships had already set up Facebook pages, and they were all over it.  It made me breath a huge sigh of relief. These missionaries are so smart and savvy and we don't know what we would do without them.  Our social media specialists taught the devotional on Saturday and introduced the mission to the new directives we have received.  
Elder Hart and Elder Franz
Hermana Valdespino and Hermana Ashcroft
Sister Finck, Sister Davis and Sister Rawlings

And finally, we got our Mission Leadership Council together on Saturday afternoon for a one hour counsel meeting to discuss tweaking our daily schedule now that we have done this for a month. We made some minor adjustments and then asked and answered questions.  

One of the funniest things of the week happened at the end and after this zoom meeting. One of the Sisters asked if it was against the rules to get fast food. We were surprised at the question because it is totally legal to still get fast food. When we told them if they had the budget for it, they could go get fast food occasionally for dinner.  You would have thought we told them they just won the lottery.  They are so good, that since they are supposed to stay inside besides taking their walks, they thought getting in their cars to go get fast food was also against the rules.  They were thrilled out of their minds.  Hermana Johnson and Hermana Perez sent us a text about an hour later of them holding a fast food bag with huge smiles.  

Scott then put a message out on our council group messenger chat later that night asking if anyone besides Hermana Johnson and Hermana Perez had gotten fast food for dinner.  We got the following pictures along with about 15 other messages telling us where they all went for dinner. They are all so funny, we were laughing our heads off.  It was a very fun night.  Who knew letting missionaries out for fast food would be literally, the best news of their lives to this point.




I did have one first this week.  In all of our married life, and as the mother of three sons, I have never cut any of their hair, until this week.  Since barber shops are closed, and President needed a haircut in the worst way, we bought some scissors, I watched a few youtube videos on cutting men's hair, and I went to work.  I was pretty nervous to begin, but then I started to get the hang of it and it was actually pretty fun.  It took me an hour, my inexperience combined with my perfectionism didn't lend itself to a quick haircut. But in the end, I think I did a pretty good job.  He actually told me it is one of the best haircuts he's ever had, but he jokingly told me if I am going to make a living at it after we get home I may need to speed it up or I won't make very much per hour. ha ha.  Now I just wish he could return the favor and give me the cut and color I so desperately need. 
My first and best haircut

I feel like the only pictures I take anymore are of my computer screen, or scenery outdoors.  We spend so much of our time looking at a screen, it makes me crazy and I have to get outside, breath some fresh air and walk.  These are some pictures of the places I've been and the beautiful things I've seen.

I'm not sure if these are geese or ducks (my dad would be so disappointed in me right now), but whatever they were, this little family with all of their little babies waddling around made me smile.




 The following pictures are all from our very own yard. 






Last Tuesday after a 2 hour zoom meeting on social media and missionary work, the one where my head was ready to explode, followed by 6 1/2 miles of walking and talking, we got home, grabbed some dinner and I went out to take the garbage out.  The following pictures are of our side yard.  It is a small section of our yard between the garage and a fence, with a street, no neighbors on the other side of the fence.  No windows overlook this part of the yard and we only see it when we take the garbage out. Yet, Tuesday evening the beauty of it almost took my breath away.  Here is a section of our yard that is completely unnoticed, yet it is growing in all it's beauty and wonder.  It made me stop to think about how many times in my life have I totally overlooked the beautiful side yard moments in my life.  Being a missionary, or just a human being, during this coronavirus time could seem like a side yard moment.  A time when we are all feeling overlooked, tucked away out of sight, just waiting for life to begin again, to get back into the front yard and off again. But what an opportunity we have been given to, as my mom used to always say, 'bloom where you are planted'. We have all been tucked away in a sense and have been given an opportunity to bloom and grow into something so beautiful it might just take our breath away, if we just stand still for a moment and notice. I don't want to miss the beauty of this side yard moment. 





1 comment:

  1. The stainless chain is still the backbone of a new copper
    The titanium gr 2 stainless black oxide vs titanium drill bits chain is still the titanium cost backbone of a new copper band and titanium spork a new stainless titanium or ceramic flat iron chain for a copper band.

    ReplyDelete