It's hard to find enough to write about when we have been limited again by the Greater Sydney lockdown for the past 3 weeks. Now with numbers of COVID cases rising daily due to the Delta variant, we are under even stricter orders for the rest of the month. Only one person per household can do essential grocery shopping, no travel outside of our area, exercise with only 1 other person no more than 10K from your home, and no carpools. The request is to just STAY HOME. We are fortunate to live next door to the mission office and Service center, so we still can go in daily, but even there we are supposed to wear masks. And the latest is to have masks on everywhere except your own vehicle.
Consequently the past weekends have been rather lackluster. There is only so much housecleaning and laundry and even reading to do on weekends. We head out for daily exercise. I go early in the am and Don goes in the evenings except on weekends when we actually go together!
With cabin fever over-taking us, we knew we had to get out after two weekends indoors. Don told Mel and Nina Anderson we'd show them Lake Parramatta where we hiked during Lockdown 1.0. So keeping a social distance from each other, Nina and I taking the lead with Don and Mel "lagging" behind, we hiked through the bush to the reservoir. More rock shelters, streams, trails and winter foliage all guided us on our way.
It took us close to two hours to arrive back at the lake. It was fun to return and see as it was one of our firsts hike one year ago during the first lockdown we had here in Sydney. But I kept reminding Don, that we still had to walk back! We thought we'd get some carry-out and eat at the little bistro there. Our phones said they were open until 3:30 so we thought we'd make it. Sadly, no. Either they closed early or are not currently trading at all. So we took our our water bottles, rested a bit and began the hike back home.
We decided we didn't really want to climb over the rocks and bush so we just found the roads that led back to familiar streets. It was funny to think that a year ago, this was all new and now we feel like seasoned ex-pats.
We passed the Baptist Girls school on our return and loved looking at the buildings on the campus. The stone and castle-like architecture are very conducive to the boarding school atmosphere. After picking up some pizza, we all Zoomed in for the Australia Sydney Mission's Got Talent evening. Each Zone had two entries, the senior missionaries were judges, and we saw some amazing talents which we are going to be seeing again this week.
Our missionaries are finding incredible ways to continue their service as they are in lockdown. A few companionships do not have the same restrictions as those living closer in. On the other hand, some have flats in the "hot spots" and have to be extremely cautious about being out. Each week, President and Sister Reid along with their assistants have put together week long series of devotionals to enhance their work and build their own faith.
For the first two weeks, we had the "Prison-Temple" series where the Reids asked guest speakers to help them learn how to make having to stay inside a "divine re-set" opportunity for growth and revelation. Coach Kilani Sitake, BYU's head football coach was first. The missionaries LOVED hearing from him. His humor and his own faith in facing difficult challenges inspired us all to use our time for personal growth. Another speaker was a young wife who has faced severe health challenges brought on by Conversion Disorder, being a prisoner in her own body so to speak. She was equally inspiring as she explained her frustration with the neurological set-backs she faced having to re-learn to walk, talk, eat and learn to control her physical body.
Another guest speaker was President Reid's younger brother, a therapist and counselor now living in Samoa. He answered their concerns about mental health and explained how to have an "emotional emergency plan" in addition to checking the quality of our thoughts: Don't dwell on how hard something is, acknowledge it to yourself but go forward taking care of yourself. The missionaries even wanted to have him speak with them again.
Other speakers included a songwriter and music producer, Nela Otuafi, and, Kelly Mills, the Director of the 11 Missionary Training Centers worldwide. Powerful words from all that truly helped during the two weeks of lockdown. And then the other shoe dropped, it would be a third week but before we knew it, it was to be until the end of the month. So the last week was "The Character of Christ" week where the missionaries were given specific assignments, activities and the opportunity to view The Chosen. Each night they met to debrief about what they learned and what they will do now because of their learning. Next week, "Grow Your Faith in Jesus Christ" with a morning inspirational class to meet and learn together. All this in addition to carrying on their own missionary work and service. There will be a Musical Family Home Evening on Monday night. I am in awe of the Reids and the assistants to the presidents that come together and have this so organized, structured, and prepared for missionaries. Everyone is engaged and the Mission Leadership Council is also actively suggesting and giving ideas. For us as senior missionaries, we join in as we can and have really enjoyed the direction provided.
A Sunday afternoon stroll took us on another bush walk through a Pioneer Track through a neighborhood not far from us. Deep ravines, carpets of ferns, and towering unique trees covered us as we walked along the narrow path. We ran into two women at different spots working. We asked if they were volunteers and both said they generally would not be out during the lockdown but no one is there and they are devoted to caring for this reserve. A lovely motivation to care for the land without thought of themselves.
It appears we will be ending our mission just the way it started with masks and lockdowns. But even with all the adjustments and restrictions, we still feel blessed to be living in Australia, serving as we can, and enjoying all the new friends and experiences here in the land Down Under.
