Amidst COVID – How Do They Find, Where Do They Teach?

A classroom in a church building. A table at the nearby 7-11. A few seconds at a stop light. Riding a bike down the sidewalk. Standing in line at a grocery store.  Video chatting from a phone.  Waiting at a street corner. Meeting up at a friend’s home.

Finding. Teaching. Testifying. Baptizing. Friendshipping.

It’s all happening. Amidst the COVID-19 restrictions worldwide, missionaries in the Taipei Taiwan mission are sharing the message of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way imaginable.

 

Although Taiwan is nearly COVID free, the missionaries are still careful to mostly focus on people they already know or have connections with. Going door to door is not encouraged, out of "an abundance of caution". Face masks are encouraged, and even required in some spaces (Church meetings, public transportation, stores). Still, even with the cautions in place, people are still reaching out to learn more and to be taught about Jesus Christ.

One missionary said a woman began asking her about the Church while they were standing in line at a market. By the time they were through the line, they had exchanged contact information and were making plans to meet again.

Missionaries strike up quick conversations at stop lights, street corners, and elevator rides.

It is common for the missionaries to often do their scripture study at a local 7-11 store. And they meet the most interesting people. Even those wanting to bring them treats – “just because they are missionaries.” 

          

7-11 stores: It’s worth a mention here. There are over 5,000 7-11 stores in Taiwan! These convenience shops are more like little neighborhood cafés. With free WIFI, air conditioning, clean restrooms, and several tables and chairs set up for customers, what is there not to like?  

 At 7-11, you can buy breakfast snacks, sip fruit drinks, get a microwave meal warmed up and delivered to your table, and dine with friends.  You can also pay utility bills or parking fees, make photo copies, print photos, conduct business, do homework and study with classmates. And you can have a missionary lesson from your local missionaries!

And if you're not teaching at a 7-11, you might be teaching at the local restaurant around the corner.

                                          

The majority of the missionaries here are from Taiwan. The balance is made up of foreign missionaries. The mix is a good blend. And once the foreign missionaries who have returned to Taiwan are out of their strict 2 week quarantine, they are more than ready to "hit the road" and begin teaching. 

We are mindful of those missionaries who, in some places around the world, are required to stay in their apartments or have minimal physical interaction with people because of COVID-19. We are grateful for their sacrifice, patience and service. We pray for relief from the COVID restrictions. We recognize that not every country is as open and free to teach as is Taiwan. We love you all.

Thank you, everyone, for your service!

Quarantining in Taiwan - Missionary Style

What is quarantine for missionaries like? It depends on who you ask.

When we arrived back in Taiwan, we quarantined in one of our senior missionary apartments for two weeks. It wasn’t bad. We enjoyed the quiet time to do many of our computer photo projects, family history, read, exercise, watch Netflix movies, study and prepare. We had the run of the apartment, and as long as we didn’t leave the apartment, we were compliant with the law of the land.

For the younger returning missionaries, however, it is a totally different experience.

Two missionaries quarantine in one apartment, but they must stay apart from each other the entire time. Their apartments have at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  One bedroom must have an attached bathroom.  One of the missionaries gets to stay there, inside that bedroom, the entire two weeks. The other missionary is the designated cook and cleaner. That person cooks meals and brings them to the other missionary. He or she will wash clothes, and do the other necessary household tasks.

Elder Coffey and I are outfitting three new missionary apartments that have been designated as “Quarantine Apartments”. In anticipation of the last two returning missionaries who arrive next week, as well as what we hope will be many more new ones coming later in the year, these apartments need to have special arrangements.

These new quarantine apartments are already furnished (beds, desks, tables, chairs, closets), and we bring the rest. 

This week we’re hauling bedding, (pillows, blankets, sheets), towels, microwave, rice cooker, toaster oven,  pans, cooking utensils, cups, plates, bowls, silverware, mixing bowls, toilet paper, soap, detergent, broom, mop, floor fans, dryers, ironing board, iron, and CO monitors to outfit these apartments. We also install the mission water filter system for clean drinking water.

Much of it we had to go buy. Much of it we already had in storage. All of it had to be organized and assembled and delivered.  Thank you to the fine two office elders and others who helped us load, carry and deliver all this!

We outfit the apartments with enough food for two weeks, plus offer a “mid-way quarantine re-stocking” for fresh items needed and also take away the garbage. We include wonderful snacks like ice cream and other treats to break the monotony. We also offer menu guidelines for how to use what is provided.

The designated cook gets to learn skills he or she never knew they had!  From curry to corn dumpling soup to fried rice – the missionaries have fun exploring new talents and culinary experiences. They get to take what ingredients are provided, and create meals for two people for two weeks. It’s no easy task. Here are some of the dishes our latest quarantine elders have come up with: 

The “solitary confinement” missionary gets a mini fridge in their room, which is stocked with snacks, water, etc. The doors of each bedroom remain open at all times, and the missionaries try to position their desks so that they can at least see each other for studies or talking. Or just for human interaction. 

Those younger missionaries who have been through the quarantine period sometimes described boredom, a sense of loss, discouragement, and depression. Especially for the one in “solitary confinement”. It’s a long two weeks.  They try to keep each other’s spirits up. Some sing and dance from across the hall with each other. Some have long chats together. With no computer to explore on, and just a mission-owned phone with limited access, there just isn’t much to do. But some love the time to bond with each other, talk and get to know each other. Much of the time they read scriptures, study Chinese, and prepare for their upcoming missionary service. 

And they emerge as heroes in our eyes, extremely ready to go to work. They’ve been through a lot.  They were all given basically an emergency evacuation back in April to return to their home countries. They spent months not knowing what the next step would be for them. Then through the graces of the Taiwanese government, the relentless efforts of the mission president to get his band of stripling warriors back, permission from Church authorities, and the grace of God, they were allowed to return to complete their missions, with strict face mask travel requirements and then this long two-week quarantine.

Indeed, they are “firm and undaunted."

And for those still on their way, their apartments are ready and waiting! We are excited to have you join this stripling band of warriors ready to serve the Lord in this part of His vineyard!

Catching Blessings on a Lotus Leaf

I recently took an early morning walk through the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall gardens. They are beautiful. Aside from the absolutely stunning buildings on the grounds, the gardens are oases of remarkable peace and serenity in the midst of a busy crowded city.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

National Concert Hall in the background

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall as seen through the outer gate

 A Malayan Night Heron, unafraid, walks near me on the garden grounds.

An early morning runner near the main entrance gate of 

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park.

It was early morning, and the air was still cool enough to enjoy a walk without the heavy humidity that would settle in later that day. Other than the rustling of the waters now and then where the koi were gathering, the pond was still and calm.

I’ve always loved the beautiful lotus flowers. They carry thousands of years of meaning and symbolism, from culture to culture, from faith to faith. They rise up from the muddiest of depths, pure and unsullied, day after day. I’m told, though I didn’t stay long enough to see it, that the lotus flower dips down into the water or mud every evening, only to rise again in the morning, once again renewed, sparking clean and fresh. There is plenty of powerful symbolism in that alone!

When photographing one of the blossoms, what really caught my eye was the lotus leaf next to it.

Somehow it invited my attention. I was drawn to it again and again.  It was single, not overly stunning in beauty compared to the flower next to it, but I couldn’t help admire.

Beads of rain water collected on its surface, pooling in the center. A little drop here, a little drop there, all collected by the cupped outstretched hand of the lotus leaf.

I really liked that. It brought me somehow a spirit of peace and happiness.

I saw the outstretched hands of grateful people, receiving - and then dispensing to others - blessings throughout their lives.

Blessings are all around us.  They may seem like little things at first, a little kindness from someone, a whiff of flowers on a nearby shrub,

the adorable cuteness of a little child following us or the sound of a harmonica being played somewhere in the garden. Blessings shared in the pigeons that held still, calm and unafraid, lining up on the bridge they had long ago claimed as their own. Gifts from the Giver of all good things.

D&C 88:33 – For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him and he receive not the gift?  Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

What blessings, gifts, and joys are all around us, that we might be missing?  We can see the hand of the Lord all around, and those little gifts pool deeply in our hearts as we collect them, and then share them outwardly with others.

Our hearts are lifted. We walk in a spirit of daily gratitude. Sometimes it is easy to get too distracted with the busyness of life – with the noise and drama and work – the shuffling back and forth here and there – and one might miss the tender mercies of the Lord.  But when we take time to look, to reach our hands outward and upward, we will find little beads of blessings collecting on the edges of our lives, being drawn inward into our hearts, and then outward as we share them with others.

                                      Thank you - lotus leaf. 

Henry David Thoreau – “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”

Quarantine - Wǒmen sìhū zhù zài jiānyù.

We arrived back in Taiwan on July 4th, having traveled with 6 sister missionaries also returning - some of the dear sisters we served with from before the world changed - all returning and ready for service. 

Aren't these sister missionaries adorable?  So faithful and ready to serve - again!

Then we were sprayed with disinfectant, and each companionship was whisked off to our quarantine apartments. 

Two whole weeks! 

I could hardly believe it! It’ll be like the vacation I’ve always dreamed of - we can sleep in, nap when we want to, watch movies, read the book our daughter gave us - no responsibilities! I’ll have plenty of time to study Chinese and do my photography classes - why- it will be absolutely wonderful! I am SO looking forward to our two weeks of quarantine!

Day 1.....It was simply perfect! We slept off our jet lag, took inventory of the food that was stocked for us, and dove into Chinese studies . What a great day!

Day 3- Every day we follow the same routine as to not get too lazy - prayers, scripture study, both by ourselves and together, exercise, Chinese study. Then we we try to do something fun or different each day. Greg is learning to play songs on the piano. I did some yoga.



Day 5- Today we had a picnic on the roof. It was hot and very humid. It was a short picnic. The police called. Just wanted to follow up and make sure we were still here and doing our part to keep Taiwan healthy. Yup- we’re still here.........

Very short picnic on the
very hot rooftop....

Watering plants left by the landlord.

Day 7- Every day the CDC texts us to inquire about our health and symptoms. Today I have a cold. I’m afraid to tell them. Will they haul me off to the hospital?

Today I answered the CDC computer text message that I have a runny nose and stuffy nose. If you’re not honest you can get massively fined. Although I’m pretty sure it’s just a cold, they want to make sure. So they sent out a blaring ambulance to whisk me away to the hospital, ran an X-ray (which showed clear lungs), did a COVID test, (results in three days) and returned me back to my quarantine apartment, toting cold medicines. 95% of my experience today was outside the hospital so as to not potentially infect anyone. They have this whole process perfected. My local health authority person then called to follow up. Every neighborhood or area has its very own health authority.


               In the back of the ambulance.                                                 Outside the hospital, in the COVID-testing tent.

Slept the rest of the day. So much for telling them I have a cold.....

Day 9 - We are a little over halfway through quarantine. The prison walls are not as exciting as they were a week ago. This is tougher than I thought!

Today I learned how to say “It seems we live in a jail”. 我們似乎住在監獄. Wǒmen sìhū zhù zài jiānyù. 

Behind the first set of barred doors leading to our temporary quarantine apartment.

Needless to say, quarantine isn't as great as it once sounded. One more week to go, and then we'll be singing:

“From the time we first ended our quarantine, and blinking stepped into the sun, there is more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than can ever be done! “

Can't wait! 

But on the up side, where else can you have two weeks of uninterrupted time to study the scriptures, and prepare oneself for the upcoming service to the Lord's kingdom? What a great time to receive greater insights, power, understanding of the voice of the Spirit, and the knowledge of things to come! What a time for introspection, on pondering how we can improve, on seeking that sanctification through our Savior. There are so many resources at our fingertips - uplifting messages by the prophets to study and ponder and absorb. In these ways and more, this quarantine becomes a temple, a sacred place where heaven and earth combine. 

Joseph Smith and several of his friends spent a little over 4 months in the Liberty, Missouri prison during the winter of 1838.  Joseph Smith later wrote to Edward Partridge of that experience - saying it was "equal to that of Abraham." The food was scarce, the conditions were horrible, yet the Spirit of the Lord was powerfully manifest in their humble "prison-temple," where some of the most powerful revelations were received.

Ours is nothing in comparison to either Abraham or Joseph, but there is much to be learned as we patiently endure and seek the revelations of heaven while we kill baby cockroaches roaming all over the floors, in our "quarantine-temple."  I wonder what week two will bring?!!