Virus hits CMM

Today is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Friday, the 27th, we wished Happy 14th Birthday to Berkley James Low!!

Thursday, April 2nd, Michael Tait Low celebrates his 11th..

Happy Birthday Tait!!        AND

Friday, April 3rd my Mom, Patricia Maude McCormack Hamilton

celebrates her 88nd special day!! Happy Birthday Mom!!

Happy April Fool’s Day tomorrow!!

Where do I even begin to describe our topsy turvy Canada Montreal Mission? But…you all are experiencing topsy turvy’ing just like we are!! Maybe you’d like to hear some of our ‘COVID 19’ craziness?!….

*Sunday, March 15, our Area Presidency announced that all seniors with any health issues were to go home, and that healthy seniors could stay. Any young missionaries with certain chronic health or emotional issues, also were to return home.

*Tuesday, March 17th, Area Presidency directed that all seniors, other than office missionaries, were to go home. What a gaping hole in our Mission to have these 57 dedicated, devoted, hard-working, consecrated missionaries who were serving as Member Leader Support(MLS), or Church Education System(CES)missionaries, or as Archivists(who have been in Ottawa at the National Archives and here in Montreal working at the Quebec archives), or as Temple service missionaries,…leave us…Our seven office seniors are still here, but our two remaining couples; the Boyles and the Stewarts are on the wind down and will leave for home sometime in April…more huge holes….

*Wednesday, March 18th, we received direction from our Area Presidency that we were all to self isolate…    

*Thursday, March 19th, we began doing a Daily Evening Devotional, over our CMM Facebook live page, to inspire, teach, motivate, show love and hopefully minimize the loneliness, and problems that arise with isolation. Richard and I produced the first five editions, and now teams are taking their turns creating the amazing half hour motivational devotionals!!!  It is so fun!!! We’ve had watercolour lessons, a sink-cleaning tutorial, a haircut demonstration, crepe-making lesson, a Heimlich manuveur demo, and;  beautiful musical numbers every night!! Such creativity, and talent; these missionaries are Master teachers, and every demonstration has a beautiful inspiring teaching analogy! We are thrilled with their embracing this isolation, and doing their best to make the best of it!! Oh how we love our missionaries. 

*Friday, March 19th through Monday, the 23rd, our young missionary exodus began, with 20 bright, converted, handsome young elders, and beautiful young sisters returning to their homes in France, Belgium, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. Some of these missionaries were winding down on their two year or eighteen month service, but some of them were still in their first transfer, meaning they had only arrived five or six weeks ago.  So sad. Every missionary is different..some will have the opportunity to return, and…some will be reassigned. And many returning home to Canada from other missions, after two week self-isolation will be reassigned to serve with us..after the pandemic is over…

*A week later, on Friday, March 27, while still recovering from the previous weeks exit of missionaries, we received word that ALL our 17 foreign(excluding USA) missionaries were to return home.

More heart-wrenching departures…and I must add that all these departures are especially difficult because we don’t even get to accompany them to the airport, so farewells are all virtual…we ‘zoom’ exit interviews, and give imaginary hugs. And…who knows when we will be reunited?..No Farewell Dinner or Temple session or Testimony Meeting makes the ending of these missions bittersweet.   Our hearts though, are bursting with gratitude for the blessing of interacting and LOVING, and learning from this great army of Canada Montreal Missionaries. We will never be the same. We pray for each of them to be strong, to be true, and to continue carving their own covenant path, blessing the lives of everyone around them as they press forward. Our Mission theme “One in Christ, Go forth with Faith,” truly can be a lifetime mantra, and we pray all will embrace it. 

Church Travel has done an incredible work organizing return home travel for missionaries all over the world. Departures times, and airports vary,  from Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Moncton or St. John’s.  Companionships shuttle their departing companion to the right airport, at the right time, and it pretty much has gone off without too many glitches.  Our Elder Montano who was heading home to Argentina, three works earlier than he was due to, had to fly to Ottawa, then to Toronto. His Flight to Argentina got cancelled so he was rerouted through Sao Paulo, Brazil. He called the next morning to let us know his second flight to Argentina had been cancelled.  Elder Montano was wandering aimlessly around the airport in Sao Paulo and was miraculously found by a Church travel agent whose assignment was to look for ‘lost’ missionaries. The nice travel agent booked him another flight to Argentina which was cancelled the next morning!!!  He was then put up for two nights in a 5 star hotel with another Argentine missionary who he knew pre-mission!!! Because no more flights were being allowed into Argentina at that point he was reassigned to the Sao Paulo Mission to continue serving!!He had pleaded with Richard to extend his mission which we couldn’t do, but now he gets his wish…his mission is extended!!  Apparently there were many missionaries stranded in Sao Paulo, and several Church travel agents were sent there to scour the airport and find them! So grateful they found our Elder Montano. 

Amidst all this kerfuffle, I felt impressed to return to Lethbridge to visit my ailing Mom. Saturday the 20th, Richard sent an email to our Area Presidency requesting permission for me to travel; and they promptly consulted with the Quorum of the Twelve. Before the afternoon was spent we received the ok for me to fly home. Early Sunday morning I was on an Air Canada flight to Calgary, where Jonathan, Jordan and one month old darling Liesl were waiting to collect and deliver me to Lethbridge. 

A whirlwind of a trip where I had such a lovely visit with my Mom, who is trying her best to regain strength after her lymphoma diagnosis, and subsequently five gruelling rounds of chemotherapy. Seeing her tiny frail body trying to get stronger,  and knowing of her determination is an inspiration to me, and, everyone who visits.  Oh, how we wish her healing would speed up…. I told her my trip was not to say good-bye, but to encourage and remind her of a promised visit to Montreal. 

All family members who tenderly minister and care for her are such a blessing, and are real heroes.  Thank you to all. We love you and are so grateful you are kindly caring for her when we can’t. 

Getting to see and visit each of our family members…children and grandchildren, was a bonus!! Most were able to come to Mom’s so we both were thrilled for the visits!! Baby Boomer who was born back on October 10, 2019, a new son for Mark and Brittney didn’t make strange when I introduced myself, and that was so fun!!

Sunnysouth Lodge where Mom Low lives, refused to have me come visit,  and that was a real disappointment for both Mom Low and me.  Blasted virus….

Return flight on Thursday came too soon, and with COVID 19,  social distancing, and with people being super cautious, I was on this huge brand new 737 with only 13 other passengers. No one in front, behind, or beside me, so I could laugh right out loud as I watched ‘Just for Laughs’! I’m so grateful for those few days at home. 

Spring really is in the air, families are outside riding bikes, playing soccer, walking, running, and hiking TOGETHER. Tulip bulbs that our FM friend, Johnnie planted last fall have started sprouting, buds are forming on the majestic Darling Park hardwood trees across the street, the sun is warmer, snow is almost all gone, green grass is peeking through the brown, and I am itching to start tilling the warm earth and trim our scraggly perennials!! Maybe Saturday we will carve out some PDay time and satisfy our gardening cravings!! Montreal is stunning in the spring!!

Amidst all the challenges around, we have HOPE knowing that our loving Heavenly Father is aware of everyone, and knows everything we all are going through. And that sure knowledge gives us PEACE and JOY.  We are grateful for His plan of HAPPINESS and know that Families can be Together Forever…That makes us try harder to be “One in Christ, and to Go Forth with Faith.”

Love to you all,

Dad and Mom, Richard and Gayle, Grandpa and Grandma.

xoxoxoxoxoxo. Keep Smiling!!