19 March 2020
COVID-19 CRISIS
It is hard to remember everything that has happened since March 8 even though it is on 11 days. We are still bringing in evacuees from oversees missions and housing some on hold before they can go to affected regions including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Italy and England. But the number of them coming to us is dwindling because the Church is releasing European senior missionaries. So many of these dedicated missionaries have sold their homes or at least have them rented. So they move in with family or have to rent or buy a new place but they don’t know when they will be able to resume their missions. Of course if they were close to the end then it usually isn’t too bad.
Things have happened so fast. The coronavirus has spread to every state now. Unprecedented strategies have been implemented by each state and county. The CDC keeps coming up with way to prevent the virus from spreading especially washing hands a long time and social distancing by not getting into groups 0ver 10 people and staying 6 feet away from others. There are clusters of confirmed cases in Santa Clara County, Boston and Seattle. Is spreads so fast and an infected person can show no symptoms for 2 weeks but still be contagious. It is spread by sneezes and coughs but also by touching surfaces that an infected person touched. So far mostly older people and those with other health conditions have died. Italy and Iran seem to be the worst after China. China seems to be slowing down. The most drastic measures are being taken. Stores, restaurants, movie theaters are closed except for take out or delivery. Stores are having trouble keeping fully stocked. The hardest thing to find is toilet papers. Apparently some people started hoarding it and other paper products. On our mission, all conferences are cancelled. In the Church Sunday meetings went from sitting every other row to Sacrament only to no church. We are so grateful that last year the Prophet and Apostles revealed that our programs would emphasize home worship with Church support. The Come Follow Me Program started. This year we are studying the Book of Mormon. There are also many podcasts, videos, articles that we could spend all our waking hours with spiritual messages.
Last week counties started asking people to shelter in place. This is getting seriously strange. Nothing like this has happened in our country before. (The last time public places closed all over the nation was during the polio epidemic in the 1940s and 1950s.) Everyone we know is working hard to stay out of public places except grocery stores or doctor offices. Now all but essential businesses are closing. The whole state of California is shelter in place. Congress is trying to come up with relief for the unemployed and uninsured. The problem is the younger people who aren’t taking it too seriously. There is so much information and support in social media but also false stuff too. Mostly people are coming together try to stop the spread and reduce the impact on the health system. Many people are working from home now including Heather and Mike. Tom and Chris have cancelled their trip to Japan (also affected). Kay’s dance studio closed and mom’s hair salon his closed. So many people have had to cancel plans and celebrations. It is just a crazy time.
We have been so busy at the mission office and we have been working late, but we finally got to the store and stocked up on food and paper products for 2 weeks. Luckily we had been to Costco before this craziness happened and bought toilet paper. Hospitals are overwhelmed with people wanting to be tested. To our nation’s shame the tests are flawed or very hard to find. They are starting to bring in Navy hospital ships to handle non-virus cases if hospital beds become scarce.
The buildings at Temple Square are all closed to the public. There are only a few of us working in the JSMB. Temples around the world are only doing live ordinances. Our friend Bobbie Presley can only have 6 people in the sealing room and her reception is canceled. Several missionaries are getting early releases and I spent all day keeping track of them. We don’t know what is going to happen next. They are making General Conference all telecast. It’s really interesting that we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the First Vision under such unusual circumstances. President Nelson said this conference would be like no other and he was right. He also said many changes are coming and it will be a bumpy ride. What a prophet!
My mom is well. Tom goes shopping for her. It is a good thing he retired this year. I am glad Heather gets to work from home and can be with Sadie and Lucy all day. She also has time to get her car fixed and go to the doctor.
On top of everything else, Salt Lake City was hit by a 5.7 earthquake yesterday at 7:00 am. I was in the bathroom getting ready and Ed was at the kitchen table. As soon as it started I yelled, “earthquake” and squatted in the hall while Ed went under the table. It was scary. Lots of aftershocks. We lost electricity for 3 hours but otherwise were ok. We stayed home all day. We called family in California and Idaho. We napped and Ed walked to Harmons for some bottled water so we could make 72 hour kits. The Family History Library was damaged and the angel Moroni’s trumpet fell off the temple. We went back to the office today but most people were not in. Things are changing so fast, it is unreal. We know the Lord is in charge and blessing will flow. We are praying all this extreme precautions will make a real difference.
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