Weeks 4-5: Our Quarantine
President instructed us to go buy food storage at the beginning of the quarantine. I bought myself 60+ eggs, and a ton of other food. President also sent each companionship a crate of emergency food.
Journal Entry from March 23, 2020
Well, I can’t believe it, but we are being sent home. We will probably leave today or tomorrow. Corona Virus turned out to be more serious than I thought.
I really can’t believe that I am leaving this incredible place. I trust the Lord and that there is a purpose to this, but I am so sad. I love this country, these people, this mission, my Mission President, and all of the other missionaries here. I am so sad to leave them all. My heart just hurts at the thought. I have tried so hard to give my all. But I wanted so badly to give one year and four months more here. I will serve the same no matter where or what situation but I will always miss this. All good things come to an end, but I was not expecting this. Elder Roniere told me “As vezes, ficamos tristes porque não entendemos”.
On a good note, I talked to Elder Hatch yesterday. He told me that Kelly’s husband, Luis, has a baptismal date, and so does Kelly’s mom! I felt super happy to hear that. It was great to talk to Elder Hatch. I have made such great friends here. I will miss them all so badly. I already miss everything.
I will be forever grateful to the Lord for these 8 months, the best, hardest, fastest, funnest, saddest, and most joyful moments of my life. I am already crying as I write this!! This opportunity to work for the Lord and to help Him do His work has changed me forever. I will never forget the miracles I have seen and the love I have felt for these people. It will be so hard to leave this behind. I love the Lord and I have faith in Him.
Pictures:
#1 Elder Tinorío, Elder Ellingson, and I. Elder Tinorío and I became really good friends. He had a great sense of humor, and was always happy.
#2 My trainer, Elder Wilcken, gave this baptismal tie to me when he left, so I gave it to Elder Ellingson
#3 Elder Tinorío, Elder Ellingson, and I sitting in the study room
#4 All four of us reading O Livro de Mórmon with Elder Ellingson to try and help him finish it
#5 Playing Uno, one of our favorite quarantine activities
Our additions to the area book for the next missionaries
