Life changes on a dime

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Hello our dear family and friends:

Do you have those weeks where it all seems like a big blur?  I think a lot of us are having those weeks.  I finished up last week with Monday, so Tuesday is the starting point this time.

I hadn’t been feeling totally myself since Sunday evening, and by Monday night, just felt lousy.  I didn’t have any cough, sneezing, running nose, fever, etc.  I just felt achy and really weak.  As long as I was sitting or lying down, life was decent.  So I let the students know on Monday night that there would be no seminary on Tuesday morning.  I spent most of the day just lying down or sitting.  Walt did want to go the Thrift store and get our supply of puzzles in case of quarantine.  What is so funny about that is, later, I was reading an article on line on what things to have on supply for such an event, and puzzles was on the list.  Of course, I showed it to Walt.  At the thrift store we saw Kristy Knight.  She has Down’s Syndrome and just loves to hug.  When she went in for a hug, I said, I wasn’t feeling well and maybe she should save that hug for another time.  Walt said, the lady standing next to me was giving me the dagger stare.  I guess - especially now - I’ll just stay in the car.  We did get a few puzzles and they have all their pieces.

At that particular time of the week, Wyoming was one of the last 10 states without any cases of COVID-19.  It’s Monday (the 16th) and that isn’t the case any longer.  Not sure if any states are virus free at this point.  I know on Saturday, there were 2 left.  What’s so funny is that Wednesday was the first reported case of COVID-19 in Wyoming - in Sheridan of all places.  We already had plans to go there Thursday morning after our District Council in Gillette, for a seminary meeting.  Our district meeting went fine, although one missionary showed up sick!  What!!!  We stayed far away. 

Our first District Picture.  This is the only meeting we will be allowed to have.

We arrived at the Bailey’s that afternoon. While we were at the Bailey’s it seemed everything was falling apart.  Kate got news that her nursing trip to India was cancelled.  We figured it might be, but still it was just devastating for her.  It was a once in a life time opportunity.  Then BYU was going to virtual classes starting the 18th, and students who could were encouraged to go home.  Nursing 3rd and 4th year students need to stay to finish up labs and clinical.  Of course, Kate and Drake have their home and jobs there, so they will be staying regardless.  Then there were constant changes in church things.  I won’t go into all the details.  Here is the link for anyone interested.  Most of you who are members are well aware of them already.   https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/coronavirus-update-february-27-2020.  I guess the biggest change (temporarily) is cancelling Sunday Services.    

Seminary was cancelled for a few days and will start up again on the the 18th.  We are going to a home study type learning; which was already an option online, so it’s great that nothing needs to be created to make that happen.  We will keep in contact at least weekly with our students.  We also decided to make a Marco Polo group and share a spiritual message each day.  At least with this option, no one has to get up early.  Awesome!!!!  We contacted all the students and parents last night to give them the scoop.

President and Sister Bailey preparing pulled pork for dinner with other missionaries.  The orange things are called "Bear Paws".  Pretty cool

Pres. Bailey and Benson (3 yrs).  Benson was "reading" us a story

Benson found the bouncy house.  Walt had fun with him.  We actually got this picture with him in mid-jump

We have been at the Bailey’s since Thursday.  We were to work at the temple on Friday, but decided to skip this go around.  All temples will be temporarily closed except for ordinances for living individuals (no proxy ordinances).  Some temples are closed totally for now.  Philadelphia is one that closed on Thursday.  

Since sacrament meetings are now being held in the home, we thought spending our first one like this would be awesome to do with the Baileys.  They actually got all his family together through Zoom, and had their sacrament meeting together as a family.  They planned ahead and each family had a part to do.  His dad conducted the meeting.  They are a very strong and wonderful family.  Unexpectedly, his dad asked to hear from “those missionaries visiting David’s family.”  So we each shared a bit of our testimonies.  

Our Zoom sacrament meeting with the Bailey's and extended family

Some funny things have come across the internet and FaceBook through all of this craziness.  One of my favorites was actually from President Bailey.  We were talking about emergency preparedness and food storage.  He took me to the front door to show me his food storage.  He pointed to one deer, then another, and some geese.  Perfect.  I know where to come if I need meat.  They are always so kind to us, and treat us like royalty.  We do their dishes every chance we get, and on Sunday took care of dinner.  We made a Walmart run (actually one every day except Sunday) and got food for snacks and for that dinner.  We would go about  9 or 10 pm while they were re-stocking.  The Walmart in Sheridan isn’t hit nearly as hard as some others; especially Utah.  Still no TP, tissues, or hand sanitizer.  We were one of the lucky ones to get sanitizer early in the game.  I am so blessed with Walt’s desire to save money on our taxes, so we had already bought (in December) whatever we thought we might need in food, cleaning products, personal etc to last until July, when we leave.  So there has been no panic on supplies for us.  The young missionaries were instructed by our mission president and wife on what to get for a two week quarantine and put it in a box.  The mission did allocate them extra money this month to cover that expense.

President Bailey laid this out for the kids to show allotted  tp usage.  Thought this was hilarious

President Nelson sent out a really encouraging video on Saturday.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1i5-ew2l9k. Here is the link for that, if you haven’t seen it.  I think it’s a great message whether you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or not.  I think our trust in God, in humanity, and our faith in the future is important.  Don’t be discouraged.  We can do this!!!  Patience, Faith, and Trust in God,  I think are the key.  May we all be safe, kind, and patient.  We are all in the same boat.

We love our family so much.  We pray that they all are safe and make good choices in the extra time they have together right now.  I think it no coincidence that a year ago, our church focused on Home Centered- Church supported learning.  Inspiration is no coincidence.