Stay-Cation/Self-Isolation

When we first received word that we could not return to Frankfurt, we were told to self-isolate in Canada for 14 days.  Thinking that we could take care of our self-isolation period in Canada, we made arrangements to fly out of Calgary on March 24th. Then we were told that after traveling to Salt Lake, we would have to undergo another 14-day self-isolation period.

We don't need to remind you how things changed from day to day with changing pandemic updates, border closings and travel restrictions.  On Wednesday March 18th we checked the weather forecast for the following week as it is a 3 hour drive from our daughter's home in Raymond to the Calgary Airport.  The forecast showed snow on the 24th, so we contacted Church Travel again and asked if we could fly out on Saturday the 21st.  Our flight itinerary was changed and we prepared to leave on Saturday.  On Friday we washed our clothes and packed our bags.  On Saturday morning we left Raymond at 8:15 am.  We drove to Calgary, returned our rental car, checked our bags and breezed through security.  Airport personal seemed pleased to see us (the airport was basically deserted).

When we arrived at the customs section we put our passports in the scanner, answered required questions and continued to the customs counter.  At the counter the officer asked to see our passports.  We surrendered them and the lady there asked us a few questions, handed us masks and asked us to follow her.  She took us to a room marked "CDC Referral" and asked us to wait for another officer.

About 15 minutes later someone came in the room and asked a few more questions.  He then told us that we were going to be rerouted through Seattle and we would be issued new boarding passes. We were told to wait in the "CDC" room.  About 10 minutes later another person came in and provided us with our new boarding passes. We were then told that we could go wait for our plane.  BUT - the customs officials had not returned our passports and they could not find them.  The customs officers made several phone calls and asked us to make sure we did not have them.  As many of you know, Gary keeps a tight grip on his passport.  Finally after silent prayers the passports were found and we were free to go upstairs to wait for our first flight.

The airport was like a ghost town.  We found a seat by our departure gate and sat down to wait.  While waiting, another flight crew came up to the desk to check in so they could "dead-head" (fly with space available) to Seattle.  Susan heard the flight crew captain tell the gate agent that he would just wait over there by that sister missionary.  It turned out that the airline captain's son was serving a mission in Iceland.  We boarded our flight on time, left Calgary and arrived in Seattle where we had a 6 hour layover.   The Seattle Airport too was virtually deserted.

As we were preparing to board the plane in Seattle, a gate agent came up to us and said "Elder and Sister Winters, I've changed your seats and upgraded you to First Class."  It turned our that he was a member of the church and felt that there was plenty of room on the plane and wanted to show his appreciation for our willingness to serve.  It was a tender mercy, a great blessing for us and very much appreciated.

We arrived in Salt Lake about 9:30 PM.  Our missionary companions and friends from Frankfurt (Elder and Sister Davis) picked us up and brought us to our hotel "stay-cation" in Cottonwood Heights not far from our home.  When we checked in to the hotel we were told that our daughters had left some food in our room and the keys to a car that we could use as needed.  Our refrigerator was well stock and other necessities had been delivered to our room.  We will continue our "self-isolation" until April 5th (14 days) and then we plan to return to our home and continue our "remote service" until we receive further direction from Frankfurt.

Our days consist of conducting Zoom Calls (video conferences) with the office in Frankfurt  and the 15 missionary couples we support - some in Europe and others (missionaries sent home like us) in the USA.  The last two days have been spent helping our couples continue their humanitarian missionary service on a "remote basis".  Sometimes we can take a break from the computer and phone and go for a walk in the area where we are staying by the Old Mill, but mostly we do what we did on a day to day basis in Frankfurt.  Today we went for a ride up the canyon.  It was a beautiful sight.

One of the highlights of our days is when we get to Face Time with our grandchildren.  During these tumultuous times hearing from our family and renewing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is what helps put hope in our hearts and smiles on our faces.

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.  Don't worry.  If you do your best, it will all work out.  Put your trust in God and move forward with faith." Gordon B. Hinckley Jordan Utah South Regional Conference, priesthood session, March 1, 1997