I don't even know if I have words to describe what is happening right now. On the other hand, history is being written so why not let my hand be one of those that write it?
The first couple of weeks of March, an awareness was building of a new and novel coronavirus called COVID-19. Because our country is so politically divided, it is difficult to get accurate information from news organizations. This is true on both the left and the right. I am disappointed with our leadership in the country, because everything is skewed to be political. This is causing a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings. What I was slowly understanding is that a new virus had entered our country and we have no vaccine and no way to fight it. It is in a different category as the usual flu that we can get a shot that will provide some protection against. This virus, however, has the shape of previous novel viruses like SARS and MERSA. I'm still trying to understand it, but this one is very virulant and deadly. There is no cure. Particularly at risk are the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
I sound like a public health announcer except that I don't know a lot about it.
So the timeline is a little terrifying. I don't have the statistics, but it started in China late 2019 and spread. It is every country, I believe. I know it is in every state now. In Italy alone, as of today, there have been 6,800 deaths. Understand that I knew very little, if any of this the last time I wrote a post which was a month ago.
On Monday, March 10th, we had a Professional Development day at work. We met in the morning and I started to understand that COVID-19 was bigger than I believed. Regardless, part of our Professional Development was building relationships at Jack and Jill Bowling Alley. It was fun and I spent some time with Joyce Harrison. I bowled terribly. In the afternoon, we had breakout sessions.
I went to work that week as a growing concern over what was now called the COVID-19 Pandemic. There were new suggestions to allow absences and somehow deliver curriculum via internet for those that chose to not be exposed. They were softer suggestions but serious. I came home on Friday, March 13th, ready for a weekend. There were rumors that the governor would be making an announcement earlier that day but it didn't happen. At 5:00 pm, Governor Herbert announced the soft closure of all schools in Utah for two weeks to slow the spread of the virus. I was a little shocked. He suggested no gatherings of over 50 people. I wondered about church.
Friday night, church was cancelled throughout the world. We received an email from our bishop encouraging us to partake of the Sacrament in our homes. I am not the only member struck by the coincidence that the Church has been going more and more toward home and family centered gospel study. On Sunday, March 15th, we had our first Sacrament Meeting at home. It was Jacob's 20th birthday. Samantha made him a strawberry cake. He called and we talked. He told us he was confined to his apartment but was still able to get to the internet cafe. It was pretty empty. He didn't think he'd be coming home.
On Monday the 16th began by being a required day to attend meetings about how to teach online. We were mandated to attend an auditorium with three other secondary schools where we would be taught different platforms. By the time Monday morning rolled around, gathering a large number of educators in one room was scratched. We were offered training at our own schools but it was not required. Most of us showed up. This is a whole new educational experience and life. I also gathered that the 2 week soft closure would most likely be extended. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to track my students and keep communication open with them via Canvas.
Scott called on Tuesday morning to tell me to read my email. We received an email from Jacob's mission president, letting us know that, if all went smoothly, all of the non Filipino missionaries would be coming home soon. The president of the country opened traveling for a 72 hour window. The travel department for the Church was scrambling to fly 2,000 Strippling Warriors out of the Philippines. 1,800 of them were expected to get to SLC then catch connecting flights from there around the country. Fortunately, the president extended the 72 hour window. I wondered if it would be difficult to catch Jacob. He loves the country, he loves the people. and he loves being a missionary for Jesus Christ.
Tuesday night, I couldn't sleep. I had texted my dad to see if he had hand sanitizer. He said he was almost out but he could probably make some more. He's 84 years old and it is critical that he not catch this virus. I scoured my house and found a small container of hand sanitizer that someone had used as an Eagle project and had given to Samantha during Christmas time. I also found another one in my van. I drove over to my dad's, quietly broke into his house at 1:30 am on Wednesday morning, and left them on his counter. So weird.
Wednesday morning greeted us with an earthquake. I slept through it but Scott, Jaxon and Samantha were all conscious for it. I felt the aftershock at 8:03 and then a pretty good sized aftershock 1:12 pm. I'm not going to lie. I've not regained my equilibrium since.
Also on Wednesday I received a brief email from Jacob that said, "Dear Mom, I'm coming home." What I gathered was that all of the non-native missionaries in the Philippines were gathered in Manila in the MTC, the church across the street, and nearby hotels or apartments until travel arrangements could be made. This was information I learned from unofficial channels as there might be unwanted repurcussions if people knew where all of the missionaries were gathered or when they were leaving the country, flying, etc. I read on Facebook that the travel department had chartered 6 airplanes to take 1800 North American missionaries from Manila to Tokyo to SLC. No date was specified.
Things were starting to get real. The orthodontist, Dr. Watson's office, contacted all of their clientele and indicated that only the patient and one parent were allowed in the office and only for current patients in braces. A few days later, they cancelled all appointments. Fortunately, Jaxon got his braces adjusted on Wednesday. Samantha took him while I agonized over Canvas. But I got it done.
By Saturday, I still hadn't heard any travel plans regarding Jacob. I joined another Philippines Missionary Parent group of Facebook and spent all day digging through posts and trying to figure things out. I had Scott calling the stake president who didn't know anything about Jacob but knew about some of the other Philippines missionaries in other missions. Finally, I just posted my question that if any parents of Cavite missionaries knew the flight number or time their child was supposed to come into Salt Lake, message me. Three parents did. All were 5:00 and the flight number was 8873.
On Sunday morning, I was still figuring out when Jacob was coming in. This was before the mothers messaged me. I called the airline who couldn't tell me anything. I told Scott to call the travel department. They didn't know. The stake president still hadn't been contacted. I simply went with what I found on Facebook and the posters we made on Sunday morning, and we went to the airport, following the plane 8873 on an app.
We arrived about a half hour before the plane came in. At exactly 5:00, the cars streamed in. People lined the sidewalk with signs and watched as the missionaries came out one at a time. My feet were numb after an hour and a half and I still didn't know if I had the right flight. Although I didn't get the information, I knew that the gathering in the parking garage was everything wrong about social distancing but figured it would be a good learning experience for the next batch of organizers. I wasn't upset that the travel department didn't contact us or our stake president because their job was to get our sons and daughters home. They had to figure out flights, customs, Visas, and gathering all of those 1800 young men and women onto 5 airplanes (I don't know what happened to the 6th) and get them to Salt Lake City and then connecting flights to other states and Canada. I saw some instructions saying that our children would be escorted to our cars but they were clearly understaffed. The missionaries came out looking lost and bewildered. If I had any control, I would make sure Jacob didn't have to wander around aimlessly looking for a van he barely remembered.
The media and political and church spokesmen were brutal with their criticism regarding parents and families and the way we congregated. There was a lot of shame and blame in the media. I wrote a public service announcement seen at the end of this post.
I am so grateful to have Jacob home. He doesn't want to be here. He wants to be in the Philippines but he was released on Friday. Conference is this Saturday and Sunday (as well as Jaxon's 15th birthday). Last October, President Nelson promised it would be unforgettable. No doubt it will. There will be no live audience. There will be no live choir. The only ones in attendance will be speakers, prayers, and spouses.
This is our new world. We have seen small but significant miracles in that we have enough without making a run on the stores like others have. The day before the Governor's announcement, I was able to procure 50 lbs. of flour from Lehi Roller Mill. We have not run out of toilet paper, paper towels, soap, hand sanitizer, meat, milk, eggs, or even snacks. The shelves are empty in many stores. They are empty at Costco. You can't buy toilet paper anywhere. Incidentally, Jacob hasn't used toilet paper for a year and a half. He has used hand sanitizer. By the way, I have plenty of rice which he must eat with the bbq'd pork he came home to on Sunday. He is adjusting but we are keeping ourselves in a self quarantine until he has been home for 14 days. The Philippines had very few cases when he left. There were 4 active cases. There are no 1,546 active cases; 78 fatal.
The first fatality in Utah occurred on March 21st. It was an 80 year old man in Layton. I only discovered yesterday that it was Jene's best friend's father-in-law. Not only that, but this friend's husband then tested positive for it and is suffering through the illness right now.
I really should have written this down earlier. I thought about it many times as it got weirder and weirder. It would have been much more cohesive and complete if I had listened to my inner voice.
Here is my public service announcement:
The first couple of weeks of March, an awareness was building of a new and novel coronavirus called COVID-19. Because our country is so politically divided, it is difficult to get accurate information from news organizations. This is true on both the left and the right. I am disappointed with our leadership in the country, because everything is skewed to be political. This is causing a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings. What I was slowly understanding is that a new virus had entered our country and we have no vaccine and no way to fight it. It is in a different category as the usual flu that we can get a shot that will provide some protection against. This virus, however, has the shape of previous novel viruses like SARS and MERSA. I'm still trying to understand it, but this one is very virulant and deadly. There is no cure. Particularly at risk are the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
I sound like a public health announcer except that I don't know a lot about it.
So the timeline is a little terrifying. I don't have the statistics, but it started in China late 2019 and spread. It is every country, I believe. I know it is in every state now. In Italy alone, as of today, there have been 6,800 deaths. Understand that I knew very little, if any of this the last time I wrote a post which was a month ago.
On Monday, March 10th, we had a Professional Development day at work. We met in the morning and I started to understand that COVID-19 was bigger than I believed. Regardless, part of our Professional Development was building relationships at Jack and Jill Bowling Alley. It was fun and I spent some time with Joyce Harrison. I bowled terribly. In the afternoon, we had breakout sessions.
I went to work that week as a growing concern over what was now called the COVID-19 Pandemic. There were new suggestions to allow absences and somehow deliver curriculum via internet for those that chose to not be exposed. They were softer suggestions but serious. I came home on Friday, March 13th, ready for a weekend. There were rumors that the governor would be making an announcement earlier that day but it didn't happen. At 5:00 pm, Governor Herbert announced the soft closure of all schools in Utah for two weeks to slow the spread of the virus. I was a little shocked. He suggested no gatherings of over 50 people. I wondered about church.
Friday night, church was cancelled throughout the world. We received an email from our bishop encouraging us to partake of the Sacrament in our homes. I am not the only member struck by the coincidence that the Church has been going more and more toward home and family centered gospel study. On Sunday, March 15th, we had our first Sacrament Meeting at home. It was Jacob's 20th birthday. Samantha made him a strawberry cake. He called and we talked. He told us he was confined to his apartment but was still able to get to the internet cafe. It was pretty empty. He didn't think he'd be coming home.
On Monday the 16th began by being a required day to attend meetings about how to teach online. We were mandated to attend an auditorium with three other secondary schools where we would be taught different platforms. By the time Monday morning rolled around, gathering a large number of educators in one room was scratched. We were offered training at our own schools but it was not required. Most of us showed up. This is a whole new educational experience and life. I also gathered that the 2 week soft closure would most likely be extended. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to track my students and keep communication open with them via Canvas.
Scott called on Tuesday morning to tell me to read my email. We received an email from Jacob's mission president, letting us know that, if all went smoothly, all of the non Filipino missionaries would be coming home soon. The president of the country opened traveling for a 72 hour window. The travel department for the Church was scrambling to fly 2,000 Strippling Warriors out of the Philippines. 1,800 of them were expected to get to SLC then catch connecting flights from there around the country. Fortunately, the president extended the 72 hour window. I wondered if it would be difficult to catch Jacob. He loves the country, he loves the people. and he loves being a missionary for Jesus Christ.
Tuesday night, I couldn't sleep. I had texted my dad to see if he had hand sanitizer. He said he was almost out but he could probably make some more. He's 84 years old and it is critical that he not catch this virus. I scoured my house and found a small container of hand sanitizer that someone had used as an Eagle project and had given to Samantha during Christmas time. I also found another one in my van. I drove over to my dad's, quietly broke into his house at 1:30 am on Wednesday morning, and left them on his counter. So weird.
Wednesday morning greeted us with an earthquake. I slept through it but Scott, Jaxon and Samantha were all conscious for it. I felt the aftershock at 8:03 and then a pretty good sized aftershock 1:12 pm. I'm not going to lie. I've not regained my equilibrium since.
Also on Wednesday I received a brief email from Jacob that said, "Dear Mom, I'm coming home." What I gathered was that all of the non-native missionaries in the Philippines were gathered in Manila in the MTC, the church across the street, and nearby hotels or apartments until travel arrangements could be made. This was information I learned from unofficial channels as there might be unwanted repurcussions if people knew where all of the missionaries were gathered or when they were leaving the country, flying, etc. I read on Facebook that the travel department had chartered 6 airplanes to take 1800 North American missionaries from Manila to Tokyo to SLC. No date was specified.
Things were starting to get real. The orthodontist, Dr. Watson's office, contacted all of their clientele and indicated that only the patient and one parent were allowed in the office and only for current patients in braces. A few days later, they cancelled all appointments. Fortunately, Jaxon got his braces adjusted on Wednesday. Samantha took him while I agonized over Canvas. But I got it done.
By Saturday, I still hadn't heard any travel plans regarding Jacob. I joined another Philippines Missionary Parent group of Facebook and spent all day digging through posts and trying to figure things out. I had Scott calling the stake president who didn't know anything about Jacob but knew about some of the other Philippines missionaries in other missions. Finally, I just posted my question that if any parents of Cavite missionaries knew the flight number or time their child was supposed to come into Salt Lake, message me. Three parents did. All were 5:00 and the flight number was 8873.
On Sunday morning, I was still figuring out when Jacob was coming in. This was before the mothers messaged me. I called the airline who couldn't tell me anything. I told Scott to call the travel department. They didn't know. The stake president still hadn't been contacted. I simply went with what I found on Facebook and the posters we made on Sunday morning, and we went to the airport, following the plane 8873 on an app.
We arrived about a half hour before the plane came in. At exactly 5:00, the cars streamed in. People lined the sidewalk with signs and watched as the missionaries came out one at a time. My feet were numb after an hour and a half and I still didn't know if I had the right flight. Although I didn't get the information, I knew that the gathering in the parking garage was everything wrong about social distancing but figured it would be a good learning experience for the next batch of organizers. I wasn't upset that the travel department didn't contact us or our stake president because their job was to get our sons and daughters home. They had to figure out flights, customs, Visas, and gathering all of those 1800 young men and women onto 5 airplanes (I don't know what happened to the 6th) and get them to Salt Lake City and then connecting flights to other states and Canada. I saw some instructions saying that our children would be escorted to our cars but they were clearly understaffed. The missionaries came out looking lost and bewildered. If I had any control, I would make sure Jacob didn't have to wander around aimlessly looking for a van he barely remembered.
The media and political and church spokesmen were brutal with their criticism regarding parents and families and the way we congregated. There was a lot of shame and blame in the media. I wrote a public service announcement seen at the end of this post.
I am so grateful to have Jacob home. He doesn't want to be here. He wants to be in the Philippines but he was released on Friday. Conference is this Saturday and Sunday (as well as Jaxon's 15th birthday). Last October, President Nelson promised it would be unforgettable. No doubt it will. There will be no live audience. There will be no live choir. The only ones in attendance will be speakers, prayers, and spouses.
This is our new world. We have seen small but significant miracles in that we have enough without making a run on the stores like others have. The day before the Governor's announcement, I was able to procure 50 lbs. of flour from Lehi Roller Mill. We have not run out of toilet paper, paper towels, soap, hand sanitizer, meat, milk, eggs, or even snacks. The shelves are empty in many stores. They are empty at Costco. You can't buy toilet paper anywhere. Incidentally, Jacob hasn't used toilet paper for a year and a half. He has used hand sanitizer. By the way, I have plenty of rice which he must eat with the bbq'd pork he came home to on Sunday. He is adjusting but we are keeping ourselves in a self quarantine until he has been home for 14 days. The Philippines had very few cases when he left. There were 4 active cases. There are no 1,546 active cases; 78 fatal.
The first fatality in Utah occurred on March 21st. It was an 80 year old man in Layton. I only discovered yesterday that it was Jene's best friend's father-in-law. Not only that, but this friend's husband then tested positive for it and is suffering through the illness right now.
I really should have written this down earlier. I thought about it many times as it got weirder and weirder. It would have been much more cohesive and complete if I had listened to my inner voice.
Here is my public service announcement:
As a mother of a missionary that returned from the Philippines last Sunday, I feel compelled to speak up and defend against the criticism we have received as we welcomed our sons and daughters home in the parking lot at the airport. I want to be positive and I am only answering the criticism that has been leveled at us. First of all, understand that it was a major undertaking to evacuate 1800 missionaries from a foreign country; to arrange travel, customs, passports, flights, etc. Gathering them in Manila was an amazing feat in and of itself. The travel department then did all the stuff behind the scenes, including arranging connecting flights after securing chartered jets from Delta that flew our children from Manila to Tokyo then SLC and then hundreds to other airports. It was incredible.
The actual evacuation occurred in a very short amount of time. The airplanes were chartered and quickly and the plan was put into place. The exact time of arrival of each airplane depended on so many different variables. Somehow, travel plans and itineraries were communicated to parents and stake presidents with attachments of expected protocol. Given the vast number of people that needed to be contacted, the travel department did an amazing job, particularly considering how short of a window of time they had. Regardless of their efforts, many families and stake presidents never received information about the specific flights or the protocol. We heard nothing after our son let us know a few days earlier that he was coming home. It was only diligence on my part and an educated guess that we arrived at the airport to pick him up on time. I later learned that missionaries were to be escorted from the terminal to their parents’ cars. There were no escorts. There were 1200 Utah missionaries leaving the terminal sometime on Sunday. Many parents (although probably not the majority) had no communication regarding their flight number, let alone instructions. To reiterate, there was nobody escorting them as promised. I don’t know who was supposed to escort them but it did appear that there were problems with being understaffed, problems in baggage claim including mixing with other flights, and then going through customs. We waited an hour and a half, watching for our son, never knowing for certain if he was on the plane I guessed he was on.
My objective is not to complain but to explain that Sunday’s missionary pickup was a good opportunity for everyone to find the holes and learn from them. It is simplistic to blame all the parents in the parking garage by assuming we all had the information and purposely disobeyed. It would be irresponsible to blame the travel department whose primary job was to get our children home. I am deeply grateful to them. It is arrogant to blame the airport or TSA for not enforcing what happened the garage. They have a tough job in the airport.
Particularly I am targeting this post to the political leaders and media who were quick to pass judgment on the families. Don’t. In a world riddled with misinformation and lack of communication, please just celebrate with us the amazing miracles of getting children home.
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