Week 31: Just Smile And Wave, Boys, Smile And Wave

April 05, 2020

Week 31: Just Smile And Wave, Boys, Smile And Wave

The new trio 😎🙃🤓

Hello. I'm sure you've all seen the commotion and heard the news about COVID-19, or that one virus that comes from drinking too many Corona beers? Well, that irritating respiratory illness wrecked this week pretty hard. We had an enjoyable 5-hour grind day and a refreshing zone conference our first two days, simply minding our own business, and then #boom! The next morning, Præsident let us know that we will not be able to contact or knock on doors for two weeks; instead, we keep in touch with our friends & members using technology and take an hour stroll in the park to show the town that we aren't dead. We have full heartedly adopted the phrase by the magnificent Penguins of Madagascar, which goes like this: "Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave!" :)

During our grind day, Rehné informed us of a severe case of diabetes that the doctors diagnosed him so he had to cancel our eating appointment. We thought that would be the end of bad happenings for the week, but we were wrong. Ogden and I were preparing for a glorious day when we received the depressing news that stripped our missionary power away, for the most part. We had a lesson planned out with Mathilde to follow up on our proposed baptismal date; yet, our meeting with her got cancelled. :( To add on to our sorrow, Ældste Cook found out that he needed to return home because of his asthma. He did not want to leave and that hit me hard, especially since he was in my MTC group. All these events overwhelmed me and left me in a really crappy mood. I admit, this was definitely one of the hardest weeks of my mission, by far.

We were encouraged to move down to Nykøbing Falster as fast as possible after the "lockdown" began. Ældste Krueger drove over to the Roskilde basement after dropping off Cook and a senior couple at the airport. We all agreed on stuffing all the luggage we could fit into the tiny car and having ourselves a road trip down to the southernmost part of the mission. I never expected leaving Roskilde to be so difficult. It was one of the hardest moves I've experienced (almost as bad as leaving Laie). I grew so attached to that city, that area, and those people. I transformed into the missionary I am now during my time in Roskilde. I'm grateful that we'll still be covering both Nykøbing and Roskilde, at least. We'll be back to visit, hopefully.

There was a lot of discouragement and confusion this week, but I could also see the blessings from it. We now have a car instead of e-bikes. We now have a massive apartment instead of a moldy basement. We now have WiFi in our apartment instead of depending on WiFi at a church building far away. We are also all healthy! We are blessed, indeed! We've had a bunch of extra time to play instruments (piano / guitar), bake goodies (cake / brownies), watch church appropriate movies (Baptists at Our Barbeque / Mobsters and Mormons), write thank you notes to ward members and friends, stay in touch with ward members and friends, and hold meetings (via Skype / Messenger). God is continuing His work in mysterious ways here in Denmark!

Despite this chaotic time in the mission field, I have found myself more at peace recently. I love the scripture in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I'm grateful for the eternal perspective I have in this life. I know that this challenge will pass and only makes me stronger as a disciple of Christ.

Make a great one and stay safe out there!

Ældste Moore

P.S. Sorry for a shorter email. There really wasn't much to report.