When we returned home in March 2020 we were asked if we wanted to be released or continue our missionary service remotely. We along with 12 of the 16 missionary couples we support decided to continue serving remotely. As time progressed, the couples who had been called to replace 8 humanitarian missionary couples, including ourselves were told their missions were on hold. At this point, it became clear that we along with the 8 couples who were scheduled to be released in the next six months would either need to extend their time of service for five months or choose to be released. Our humanitarian couples were managing as many if not more humanitarian projects remotely than they managed when they were serving in their respective mission country. We asked each missionary couple how they felt about extending and continuing to serve remotely. They all responded quickly, positively and without hesitation that they would like to extend. With our mission "extensions" it became official that we could continue to serve until December 28, 2020. If our replacements are able to enter the MTC and begin serving remotely, we will then be released after a sufficient overlap time.
During this challenging time-period, we even gained back another missionary couple who had been given a medical release in February as the Sister had broken her leg which required the couple to return to the USA to get proper medical attention. She and her husband have now been reinstated and are doing a wonderful job serving remotely in the country that they were originally called to serve in.
The need for humanitarian work in Europe exploded with the outbreak of COVID-19. There was an immediate shortage of protective face masks, especially for those front-line workers providing medical service. Because many governments implemented quarantine procedures, employment dropped and some families were lacking basic food and nutrition. Many people in countries operating on a "cash-only" basis were unable to feed their families, thus creating a need to provide supplies to food banks in addition to providing masks and other PPE's (Personal Protective Equipment).
While we and our couples have been home, we have received additional blessings of being able to spend time with our families while we continue to serve those in our "mission countries". Some of our humanitarian missionary couples have experienced health challenges which if they had been in-country may have required a medical release. However, the condition was easily diagnosed and treated while they were at home -- another blessing of remote service.
We saw a silver lining in our being home as one of our daughters and her family moved from Alberta, Canada to Utah. Because we were home, Gary was able to fly to Montana and help her drive her family on the long journey. Her husband drove a trailer load of things and she and Gary drove their car along with their five boys in early June 2020. At the end of June they welcomed a baby girl into the family of five boys. Two weeks after giving birth this same daughter woke up one morning with kidney stones and needed to someone to take here to hospital as her husband was out of town with his new job. We were able to provide the support needed. The Lord truly has blessed our family.
Through all of this time, we have learned that with God nothing is impossible. When the pandemic hit and we were all sent home, we and our couples were not sure what we could do to continue providing humanitarian service, but the Lord has prepared all of us to do the work and provide service regardless where we are.
And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27
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