Hey friends and fam!
The streets are empty and the people who do walk around are usually wearing a mask and gloves. We have to wait in line at the grocery store and wear gloves while we shop for food. There are some police cars/ambulances that will slowly drive down the streets with a loud speaker playing a public service announcement saying we should stay home. It is forbidden by law to be on the streets within 6 feet of others.
We have been teaching our people through video and that has honestly worked well. God has a very specific plan for our mission that includes all of us because so far, none of our missionaries (even senior couples) have had to return to home. We are not completely sure what that plan is, but we do believe that learning to find people through technology is one of the reasons. We have been working through Facebook for about 6 months now, and I do believe our mission was prepared for a very specific purpose during this time.
Across the street from us is a window. A few times a day the window opens and a grandpa opens it and watches the street for a few minutes. Then he lifts up his dog so the dog can watch the street for a few minutes. We have become very good friends with this grandpa and his dog and we always wave at each other. Yesterday we were waving at him and then his wife joined him at the window waving at us. They left the window, but then a few minutes later they returned, this time with wine glasses for a toast. So we grabbed our water bottles and had a toast with our neighbors. I really have grown quite fond of them.
Wasn't General Conference amazing? I don't really even know what to write about it because to me it really was such an phenomenal experience. The Gospel was taught so plainly and simply, and the focus was on Jesus Christ. I stopped trying to write these emails eloquently a long time ago, but I wish I could write something beautiful right now to describe my feelings about Conference. In the middle of all this confusion and commotion, Conference was a beacon of light pointing to Jesus Christ, witnessing to us that God in fact does have all power and understanding. Christ is the one source of light, and when we focus on Him, we are filled with light. I really liked what Elder Anderson and Elder Oaks said about light. When we are shining Christ's light, especially in this confusing time, we will stand out so starkly, and other people will see that. What a prime time to share the Gospel, whether we have a name tag or not.
Love,
Sister Eberting
Pictures:
1. All masked up
2. Figure out what happened
3. River in our backyard
More Pictures
