Hello everybody. I feel I have a lot to update so hold on tight.
Last week was very busy with the transfers, and I was unable to email everyone. For those who don't know I am now serving in...
S____ B______!
S____ B______ is a more rural area on the outskirts of San Jose, but a lot higher in the mountains, so that from certain viewpoints you can see all of San Jose below. I can even see Pavas sometimes.
My new companion is Elder M, from Panama. We also share the area S____ B______ with two sister missionaries, Hermanas W and L. The sisters are exceptionally adept at appearing whenever we have just bought food.
S____ B______ is a bit calmer than Pavas. It amused Elder M that one of my first questions was whether or not we could use the phone in the street. In Pavas it is unwise to do so, but here it is fine. On Tuesday afternoon there were large quantities of black ash falling all over the town. Now that I am living in the shadow of a volcano my suspicions may have run wild, but it turned out to just be a local forest fire at fault.
Ok so the unavoidable subject. Yes Coronavirus has reached Costa Rica. Thus far there have been 41 confirmed cases and no deaths, but the hysteria seen in other countries is expected to occur here when people begin to die. But for now, toilet paper stocks remain stable.
On Thursday Presidente Valim held a conference call with the whole mission. He outlined how the work would proceed now that church meetings have been suspended. He then told us that all missionaries were required to store enough food and supplies for 14 days in isolation, and that our bank accounts had been filled accordingly. The next morning all missionaries in Costa Rica took to the supermarkets to gather food in abundance, and the Mission Whatsapp group was full of missionaries sending humorous photos of their heaving trolleys and various interpretations of 'supplies', despite the fact that Presidente Valim gave a very specific list of what to buy. Several of these photos are included.
Elder Godivala wonders if one pack of toilet paper will get us through the 14 days.
Elders C and L reenact Les Miserable
Hermana L's receipt is nearly as tall as she is
When the missionaries have been through the supermarket
Elder M and the hermanas start scanning.
Elder K is ready to bake
The hermanas gather enough food to last at least 5 days
Elder B hordes pinguinos in preparation for the Quarantine 14.
Zone Leaders warn of possible Corona in the Escazu Walmart
Ready for the Quarantine 14
With that many beans I'm sure the toilet paper will be useful
Cold tea and coke were not included on Presidente Valim's list.
Since church meetings have been suspended, I have been unable to meet and introduce myself to the congregation. It feels very strange, like I am a ghost missionary, serving the people who don't know that I am here.
The situation continues to complicate, and the 14 day quarantine may begin soon. The President of the country has already requested that people remain indoors unless they have no other choice, but for now we are to continue teaching as best we can, as Presidente Valim's authority clearly outstrips that of the President of Costa Rica. It is likely that soon many of our lessons and visits will be performed through video call, especially since many people are now not open to receiving us. Presidente Valim has made it very clear that the missionaries are not in danger, but due to the nature of our work we could significantly contribute to the spread of disease.
The email isn't as long as I expected but I have a lot of pictures to bulk it out. Here are a few more.
Have an excellent isolation.
Elder 'Coronacyrus' Godivala
Edit by Madre - I hope no one found the pictures of the missionaries stocking up distasteful. My Elder assures me that supply lines in Costa Rica are still good and that they have not left the locals worse off. There is a strange dichotomy between the injunction the Saviour gave his disciples to take neither purse nor scrip, and the counsel we have from living prophets about preparedness and self-reliance. I guess the answer is that we as individuals indeed sent off our missionary with 'barely' purse nor scrip and the church, through Presidente Valim, is seeing to their needs. Our church definitely looks after its missionaries.