Unexpected call
On Monday we had our normal P-day, bought our groceries, emailed our parents, we even went to this panic place and I had the spiciest noodles I have very had in my life. My face was sweating but they were so good. The restaurant was so grimy. Bad day to go there for lunch...Then that same night we received a text from the assistants telling that we were not allowed to go out that night or the next day.
Elder Cooper and I cleaned the house, made some good din, and set up our new hammocks out in the front. I was feeling sick, and mostly in the CR at this time. We were then hanging out and the neighbors come by and say "Elders the province is now going on lockdown, nobody can leave or enter the province." Elder Cooper and I were confused so we contacted the assistants and they didn't have a clue about what was going home.
10:30, president calls - "Good evening elders sorry to wake you.. what do you know about the lockdown in Abra?"
"we just heard it from the neighbors President, we don't really know anything"
"I need you and Elder Garry to get all of the foreigners in Abra out of the province and at the mission home tomorrow morning. Can you do that?"
*Both of us so shocked*
"Yes President, we'll find a way"
I went to the CR for the fifth time because I'm feeling like crap. What a terrible day to eat those noodles.
It's 10:30 at night, there are no running busses, jeepneys, tricycles, how were we supposed to get to San Fernando tomorrow morning?? Elder Cooper called members, branch presidents, bus stations, the other missionaries. It was a struggle to get everyone sorted out. Especially late at night. We found out that there was one running bus but it was at 6 am. It was maybe our only chance to leave.
So we sort everyone out, it was pretty chaotic, and I was in the bathroom all night. Elder Cooper gave me a blessing, blessing me that I would be able to travel tomorrow.
He didn't even fall asleep, I got about 2 hours in, and we got up at 5 am to leave to Bangued. A member picks us up with his tricycle and somehow fits all of our luggage. It was amazing, even his dog came with us hahaha.
We made it to Bangued and were calling the other missionaries about their rides. Then we got a call from the filipino elders assigned in Bangued that checked on the bus that was supposedly leaving at 6am. They tell us that all busses are banned from leaving the province. I thought we were done after this and there was no way of getting out. Most of the Elders weren't even there yet.
10 minutes later President calls us. He says elders you need to get to San Fernando because you're going home, your missions are done.
We were so shocked. I went into a full shock mode and it didn't sink in for a long time. We were so surprised and it was so bittersweet. I did not expect us to get sent home because of the Corona.
We then got in contact with a member that knew some government workers. He pulled up to the church with two gravel construction trucks, has tons of paper work for us and we loaded one truck with luggage and the other with the missionaries. We headed down to Ilocos Sur and were stopped at the border. Everyone's temperature was tested. If you seem like you have a fever, they will not let you cross their border because it is one of the symptoms of Corona. One missionary named Elder Hill, a red head that was soaking up a little too much sun on the ride down was tested. His temperature was about 39 degrees. Way too hot to cross. Everyone else passed. We all bought water and gave him some, prayed really hard and his temperature went down!!
We then crossed and all celebrated in the back of the truck. We get to the chapel, where we are dropped off by the trucks and then waited for the couple missionary and assistants to pick us up. We had time to rest, get drinks, and order food. I decided to go get a drink with some of the elders at a local store and on the way my bowels start moving again. I let something out and it was a little more than I anticipated. I ran back to the church to change. Was in that bathroom for a good 2 hours, the 3 hours we were there.
We get picked up and head to the mission home, it was so sad to see all the missionaries and know that everyone is going home to their own countries and places. We sung the Baguio Mission song and visited with all the missionaries. Sad to say that the mission has come to an end. We talked about how much the mission ha changed last MLC and now half of the mission has to go home due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Right as Elder Cooper and I have gotten used to the area and met so many wonderful people in the area, we are heading home :(
We had 14 vans pick us up and drive us to Manila, we were then in the MTC with the other 800 missionaries from around the Philippines. It was cool to see some Elders I had met in the MTC in 2018. It was pretty unorganized at the MTC, everyones luggage floating around, missionaries everywhere. Pretty messy. They assigned a little quiet study place for about 15 of us to sleep. No bedlam showers, they told us that we probably wouldn't be able to get on a flight until Sunday. Now this was Wednesday. Everyone started to get frustrated. The church planned on sending 5 big planes for us missionaries to fly home.
The MTC was pretty fun though, Elder Hawks and I found a room we could stay in. We were pretty lucky. The room was for 4, but we managed to put 10 elders in. 2 in each bed. We spent most of the time visiting, telling stores, playing monopoly deal and watching Book of Mormon videos. We had a really good testimony meeting as well.
Saturday we got put in a hotel close to the airport. I was assigned to be with Elder Sanford. It was a good time, the beds were unreal. Sunday came and we headed to the airport.
We got on the flights and headed to Tokyo and then Sal Lake City. I was on the fifth flight. The flight went by quick though. Pretty crazy its all over.
I loved my mission. It was cut short a little but I know God has a plan for me, and knows why we were all sent home early. I had some amazing experiences and wouldn't change anything about how my mission went. I cam to know that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Saviour. He is perfect and we need to follow His example so we can be happy in this life and the life to come. I have grown so much spiritually and countless times when I thanked my Heavenly Father for the life I have been given. My mission changed me forever and I hope to stay true to the covenants I have made with God and can become the person He wants me to be. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and supports Bible. Alam ko po na totoo si Joseph Smith at siya po ang instrumento ng Diyos sa Panumumbalik ng Ebanghelyo ni Jesus Cristo. Masuwerte po ako na nakapagmission ako sa Pilipinas at marami po akong kilala at karanasan. Alam ko po na kung susundin natin ang halibawa ng tagapagligtas natin, magkakaroon tayo ng walang hanggang kasiyahan. Hindi ko po makakalimutan ang mga tao na nakilala ko po sa mission ko. Mahal ko po sila. Alam ko po na buhay ang Diyos!!
Elder Garry
Elder Cooper and I cleaned the house, made some good din, and set up our new hammocks out in the front. I was feeling sick, and mostly in the CR at this time. We were then hanging out and the neighbors come by and say "Elders the province is now going on lockdown, nobody can leave or enter the province." Elder Cooper and I were confused so we contacted the assistants and they didn't have a clue about what was going home.
10:30, president calls - "Good evening elders sorry to wake you.. what do you know about the lockdown in Abra?"
"we just heard it from the neighbors President, we don't really know anything"
"I need you and Elder Garry to get all of the foreigners in Abra out of the province and at the mission home tomorrow morning. Can you do that?"
*Both of us so shocked*
"Yes President, we'll find a way"
I went to the CR for the fifth time because I'm feeling like crap. What a terrible day to eat those noodles.
It's 10:30 at night, there are no running busses, jeepneys, tricycles, how were we supposed to get to San Fernando tomorrow morning?? Elder Cooper called members, branch presidents, bus stations, the other missionaries. It was a struggle to get everyone sorted out. Especially late at night. We found out that there was one running bus but it was at 6 am. It was maybe our only chance to leave.
So we sort everyone out, it was pretty chaotic, and I was in the bathroom all night. Elder Cooper gave me a blessing, blessing me that I would be able to travel tomorrow.
He didn't even fall asleep, I got about 2 hours in, and we got up at 5 am to leave to Bangued. A member picks us up with his tricycle and somehow fits all of our luggage. It was amazing, even his dog came with us hahaha.
We made it to Bangued and were calling the other missionaries about their rides. Then we got a call from the filipino elders assigned in Bangued that checked on the bus that was supposedly leaving at 6am. They tell us that all busses are banned from leaving the province. I thought we were done after this and there was no way of getting out. Most of the Elders weren't even there yet.
10 minutes later President calls us. He says elders you need to get to San Fernando because you're going home, your missions are done.
We were so shocked. I went into a full shock mode and it didn't sink in for a long time. We were so surprised and it was so bittersweet. I did not expect us to get sent home because of the Corona.
We then got in contact with a member that knew some government workers. He pulled up to the church with two gravel construction trucks, has tons of paper work for us and we loaded one truck with luggage and the other with the missionaries. We headed down to Ilocos Sur and were stopped at the border. Everyone's temperature was tested. If you seem like you have a fever, they will not let you cross their border because it is one of the symptoms of Corona. One missionary named Elder Hill, a red head that was soaking up a little too much sun on the ride down was tested. His temperature was about 39 degrees. Way too hot to cross. Everyone else passed. We all bought water and gave him some, prayed really hard and his temperature went down!!
We then crossed and all celebrated in the back of the truck. We get to the chapel, where we are dropped off by the trucks and then waited for the couple missionary and assistants to pick us up. We had time to rest, get drinks, and order food. I decided to go get a drink with some of the elders at a local store and on the way my bowels start moving again. I let something out and it was a little more than I anticipated. I ran back to the church to change. Was in that bathroom for a good 2 hours, the 3 hours we were there.
We get picked up and head to the mission home, it was so sad to see all the missionaries and know that everyone is going home to their own countries and places. We sung the Baguio Mission song and visited with all the missionaries. Sad to say that the mission has come to an end. We talked about how much the mission ha changed last MLC and now half of the mission has to go home due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Right as Elder Cooper and I have gotten used to the area and met so many wonderful people in the area, we are heading home :(
We had 14 vans pick us up and drive us to Manila, we were then in the MTC with the other 800 missionaries from around the Philippines. It was cool to see some Elders I had met in the MTC in 2018. It was pretty unorganized at the MTC, everyones luggage floating around, missionaries everywhere. Pretty messy. They assigned a little quiet study place for about 15 of us to sleep. No bedlam showers, they told us that we probably wouldn't be able to get on a flight until Sunday. Now this was Wednesday. Everyone started to get frustrated. The church planned on sending 5 big planes for us missionaries to fly home.
The MTC was pretty fun though, Elder Hawks and I found a room we could stay in. We were pretty lucky. The room was for 4, but we managed to put 10 elders in. 2 in each bed. We spent most of the time visiting, telling stores, playing monopoly deal and watching Book of Mormon videos. We had a really good testimony meeting as well.
Saturday we got put in a hotel close to the airport. I was assigned to be with Elder Sanford. It was a good time, the beds were unreal. Sunday came and we headed to the airport.
We got on the flights and headed to Tokyo and then Sal Lake City. I was on the fifth flight. The flight went by quick though. Pretty crazy its all over.
I loved my mission. It was cut short a little but I know God has a plan for me, and knows why we were all sent home early. I had some amazing experiences and wouldn't change anything about how my mission went. I cam to know that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Saviour. He is perfect and we need to follow His example so we can be happy in this life and the life to come. I have grown so much spiritually and countless times when I thanked my Heavenly Father for the life I have been given. My mission changed me forever and I hope to stay true to the covenants I have made with God and can become the person He wants me to be. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and supports Bible. Alam ko po na totoo si Joseph Smith at siya po ang instrumento ng Diyos sa Panumumbalik ng Ebanghelyo ni Jesus Cristo. Masuwerte po ako na nakapagmission ako sa Pilipinas at marami po akong kilala at karanasan. Alam ko po na kung susundin natin ang halibawa ng tagapagligtas natin, magkakaroon tayo ng walang hanggang kasiyahan. Hindi ko po makakalimutan ang mga tao na nakilala ko po sa mission ko. Mahal ko po sila. Alam ko po na buhay ang Diyos!!
Elder Garry
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