Mission Intermission
March 25, 2020
This week started out on a positive note, everyone was learning the language, and feeling the spirit. I was happy and content, I knew my purpose and I knew that I was protected from the outside world. Friday came along, and even that was a good day, full of laughs with my district and macy misadventures.
It wasn't until that evening when the church released the statement about the majority of international missionaries being reassigned stateside that fear crept into the CCM. My district, with the exception of my District Leader was all originally stateside so we thought we would be untouched.
We were wrong.
The rumors started circulating that evening about the CCM was closing down within the next few weeks, but again, my district's time at the CCM would be about terminated anyways so we weren't worried. Concerned for everyone this was affecting, but not concerned for ourselves.
Saturday morning 9 am, we get a knock on our classroom door,
"Hermana White, pack your bags, you're leaving in 30 minutes."
Our district broke down. After a halted, unprepared goodbye we were told the news, the CCM was shutting down within the next few days, not weeks. Everyone was leaving.
Everyone was going home.
We were all told to pack our bags within the next thirty minutes, everyone was scrambling. No one had any idea what was going on, only that everyone was being sent to their original nation, to their homes. Throughout the day more kids were pulled from classes with very minimal warning. The majority of my district survived the day, losing Davis and White. That evening around dinnertime, we were told no more flights for the day. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Later that evening, Allred, Mcelrath, Hyde, Jensen, and I stayed up way too late, talking and reminiscing. Sorry mission rules, but we stayed up past 1 am, just laughing and eating treats. Finally, we went to bed (in our big ol megabed we made), but were quickly awakened at 1:45 to hermanas banging on our door.
"Hermana Jensen and Hyde, your plane leaves in an hour, pack your bags!"
What.
You're joking.
Jensen and Hyde packed up their bags, and we all made the melancholy walk to Reception where we discovered Barker was also leaving. We lingered at Reception, trying to help where we could, not sure if our flights were going to be next. Finally at 5, Allred, Mcelrath, and I made our way back to our megabed, and slept until missionary time... 6:30 am.
That's how the rest of the weekend went, Sunday included. We combined so many branches and zones to make a meager Sacrament meeting, all while more people were leaving.
The CCM was a ghost town.
Finally, on Monday it was my turn to leave.
Thankfully, Elder Petersen and Ashton were on my flight so I wasn't alone.
It was a bittersweet reunion, but it felt good to hug my Momma.
If all goes well, after 14 days quarantine I will be allowed into my mission. I'm hopeful things will get better and I'm so grateful to have had the time I did at the CCM. I didn't imagine that I would be spending my 1 month mark at home, but God has a plan, and we have to trust. I may not know everything, but I do know this: God loves me. God loves you. And He is aware and uniquely involved in every individual life.
D&C 6:21-23
Dios te ama y yo te amo,
Hermana Udy
Faith
Faith is meant to be shaken
Forced to stretch roots below
The smallest sapling of a tree
If sheltered, will not grow
Where are you God?
I quietly plea
If You're here, I need to know
They say faith's strength is like a seed
But I can't get past this low
Suddenly, silently, softly I cry
Where is the relief?
When suddenly, silently softly I hear
That still, small voice speak
I love you, My child
My heart aches to see you hurt
I know you're strong, but I've provided a path
For your seed of faith in the dirt
You'll blossom in my timely way
I see what you don't yet
Trust in my plan
You'll be ok
Be still, you'll be ok
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