Stepping Into the Unknown
There are so many memorable moments in "Fiddler on the Roof" but for some bizarre reason the one that has kept coming back to me today is the scene where the Jews have been expelled from the little community they have called home - Anatevka. It is a cold bleak day as they bundle up their belongings to be on their way to unknown destinations. They sing it like a dirge and they are a doleful lot. It is a sad and trying time in their lives. But as they sing, hope rises and by the time the song is over, they are moving ahead with faith.
Our day started out with a call from Dave. His opening words, "Brace yourself."
I waited for the message. Salt Lake had arranged for us to fly out on Saturday morning - tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. We were to be in London to meet with the other departing senior missionaries at 7 this evening, stay with Dave and Deb tonight and then depart at 5:25 in the morning for Heathrow Airport. We were given a detailed list of instructions about safety in the airport and on the flight.
We needed to clean out our flat, leave it as if we weren't coming back.
We were told that when we arrive at our homes, we are to "self-isolate," meaning to be indoors - and no contact with anyone else for two weeks. We can have food delivered, but it must be left at the door, no face to face meetings. The list has been given to all missionaries leaving their missions right now. It is very specific about how to address this, and designed to protect not only us, but everyone else around us.
If Derek and Heather had not been in England for the last week, we would be a little lost, not knowing where we were going to be for the next two weeks. But since we will all be coming from London (the airplane may be worse than being in crowds) we can "self-isolate" together in their home. It may be very interesting. No one going in and no one going out.
There are some similarities with us and the Russian Jews of "Fiddler on the Roof." Today has been a difficult one. We had more stuff in the flat than we should have. How does that happen in 6 months? SK took two large bags full of items to a local charity. Still we had a lot of things to get into our suitcases.
We were so grateful that the Bishop's wife and another wonderful woman of that 1st ward came over and cleared and cleaned out the two refrigerators and 3 freezers in the flat. We had accumulated a lot of food, which would not last long when fixing lunches for 10 missionaries and 17 YSAs a couple of times a week. We also had all kinds of goodies that we have purchased over the last couple of months with delight, thinking "Those young people will enjoy these!"
Amy and Becca were so kind. They both frequently have the YSAs over and fix large delicious meals for them. So all of the food they took with them today will be used for the YSAs - either to serve them meals, or to have them take to their own little flats in case of self-isolation. We were so grateful for their help. They also cleaned one of the bathrooms, and did everything so efficiently and beautifully.
Meanwhile I packed.
Throughout the day, the YSAs came by. First came Kristina and Veer, our two new YSA reps bringing a cute Oxford-themed small journal. As each came in, each headed to the table where the book was, and they sat down and thoughtfully wrote a page to us. I was deeply touched by that. The tears flowed on and off as the hours passed.
And I packed. And repacked. One suitcase was 8 pounds over. We redistributed, and redistributed again. And we might be doing that again at the airport tomorrow,
The young elders came. They wanted to know what they could do to help. SK enlisted them in getting four 50-pound suitcases down the stairs to the car. They wrote in the book. The young sisters came. We talked with them for awhile. They wrote in the book. We hugged them (don't tell anyone). We cried. Those sweet young missionaries are incredibly dear.
More YSAs came. They wrote in the book. We laughed and talked and joked about the virus. And we cried a little. They admonished us to be careful, to carry hand sanitizer, to wash our hands, to not touch our faces, to sit alone away from everyone on the plane if we can. (Up to yesterday, planes were flying with as few as 20 passengers, but as of today airplanes are packed full - as is our flight tonmorrow.) It has been the sweetest of blessings to come to know them; they are remarkable and we love them.
I packed. Our two carry-ons were stuffed full of all kinds of odds and ends and by the time the last YSA left, the suitcases were as good as they were going to get. SK vacuumed and we quietly closed the door on the little place we have called home for the last 5 1/2 months.
We are homeless and car-less....and I feel so unsettled. Each of our children has assured us that we can live with them. Each is looking after us. Each is so kind and so willing to allay our anxieties. This all happened so fast. I had only the ability to focus on packing and saying goodbye. I have had little time to look ahead.....but looking ahead is fraught with uncertainty.
Dave said that he hopes we will come back. He thinks it could be as little as 2 months, possibly more time before we are given the OK to return to our mission. We have almost exactly 1 year left. Will we be able to complete the mission....and complete it in Oxford?
Will we get the virus?
Will we get sick?
How long will we be home?
Where will we live?
The list goes on.
Erin Face-timed us yesterday. She had braved Costco and gleefully showed us several large boxes of food - for us. It brought tears. That is a relief and another flood of gratitude for our children. Melissa called to reassure us and also showed us her cupboards, saying "We are ready for this."
Yes, the future is uncertain and sometimes scary. News reports are alarming. We sometimes feel like we have been set adrift with no clear path ahead. But we look at our loved ones and we feel great hope for the future. Hope that rises because they are doing what needs to be done, Hope that rises because they are young and strong and will help us get through this - whatever that means. Hope that rises because they like we, trust that as we do what we know is best and safest, the Lord will help us through. Hope that we will return and be able to complete this mission. Hope that our little circle of love ones in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Scotland will be safe from this virus.
And as we struggle to work out what is ahead, we will pray that our loved ones here in England will be safe and in good health too.
Our day started out with a call from Dave. His opening words, "Brace yourself."
I waited for the message. Salt Lake had arranged for us to fly out on Saturday morning - tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. We were to be in London to meet with the other departing senior missionaries at 7 this evening, stay with Dave and Deb tonight and then depart at 5:25 in the morning for Heathrow Airport. We were given a detailed list of instructions about safety in the airport and on the flight.
We needed to clean out our flat, leave it as if we weren't coming back.
We were told that when we arrive at our homes, we are to "self-isolate," meaning to be indoors - and no contact with anyone else for two weeks. We can have food delivered, but it must be left at the door, no face to face meetings. The list has been given to all missionaries leaving their missions right now. It is very specific about how to address this, and designed to protect not only us, but everyone else around us.
If Derek and Heather had not been in England for the last week, we would be a little lost, not knowing where we were going to be for the next two weeks. But since we will all be coming from London (the airplane may be worse than being in crowds) we can "self-isolate" together in their home. It may be very interesting. No one going in and no one going out.
There are some similarities with us and the Russian Jews of "Fiddler on the Roof." Today has been a difficult one. We had more stuff in the flat than we should have. How does that happen in 6 months? SK took two large bags full of items to a local charity. Still we had a lot of things to get into our suitcases.
We were so grateful that the Bishop's wife and another wonderful woman of that 1st ward came over and cleared and cleaned out the two refrigerators and 3 freezers in the flat. We had accumulated a lot of food, which would not last long when fixing lunches for 10 missionaries and 17 YSAs a couple of times a week. We also had all kinds of goodies that we have purchased over the last couple of months with delight, thinking "Those young people will enjoy these!"
Amy and Becca were so kind. They both frequently have the YSAs over and fix large delicious meals for them. So all of the food they took with them today will be used for the YSAs - either to serve them meals, or to have them take to their own little flats in case of self-isolation. We were so grateful for their help. They also cleaned one of the bathrooms, and did everything so efficiently and beautifully.
Meanwhile I packed.
Throughout the day, the YSAs came by. First came Kristina and Veer, our two new YSA reps bringing a cute Oxford-themed small journal. As each came in, each headed to the table where the book was, and they sat down and thoughtfully wrote a page to us. I was deeply touched by that. The tears flowed on and off as the hours passed.
And I packed. And repacked. One suitcase was 8 pounds over. We redistributed, and redistributed again. And we might be doing that again at the airport tomorrow,
The young elders came. They wanted to know what they could do to help. SK enlisted them in getting four 50-pound suitcases down the stairs to the car. They wrote in the book. The young sisters came. We talked with them for awhile. They wrote in the book. We hugged them (don't tell anyone). We cried. Those sweet young missionaries are incredibly dear.
More YSAs came. They wrote in the book. We laughed and talked and joked about the virus. And we cried a little. They admonished us to be careful, to carry hand sanitizer, to wash our hands, to not touch our faces, to sit alone away from everyone on the plane if we can. (Up to yesterday, planes were flying with as few as 20 passengers, but as of today airplanes are packed full - as is our flight tonmorrow.) It has been the sweetest of blessings to come to know them; they are remarkable and we love them.
I packed. Our two carry-ons were stuffed full of all kinds of odds and ends and by the time the last YSA left, the suitcases were as good as they were going to get. SK vacuumed and we quietly closed the door on the little place we have called home for the last 5 1/2 months.
We are homeless and car-less....and I feel so unsettled. Each of our children has assured us that we can live with them. Each is looking after us. Each is so kind and so willing to allay our anxieties. This all happened so fast. I had only the ability to focus on packing and saying goodbye. I have had little time to look ahead.....but looking ahead is fraught with uncertainty.
Dave said that he hopes we will come back. He thinks it could be as little as 2 months, possibly more time before we are given the OK to return to our mission. We have almost exactly 1 year left. Will we be able to complete the mission....and complete it in Oxford?
Will we get the virus?
Will we get sick?
How long will we be home?
Where will we live?
The list goes on.
Erin Face-timed us yesterday. She had braved Costco and gleefully showed us several large boxes of food - for us. It brought tears. That is a relief and another flood of gratitude for our children. Melissa called to reassure us and also showed us her cupboards, saying "We are ready for this."
Yes, the future is uncertain and sometimes scary. News reports are alarming. We sometimes feel like we have been set adrift with no clear path ahead. But we look at our loved ones and we feel great hope for the future. Hope that rises because they are doing what needs to be done, Hope that rises because they are young and strong and will help us get through this - whatever that means. Hope that rises because they like we, trust that as we do what we know is best and safest, the Lord will help us through. Hope that we will return and be able to complete this mission. Hope that our little circle of love ones in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Scotland will be safe from this virus.
And as we struggle to work out what is ahead, we will pray that our loved ones here in England will be safe and in good health too.
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