I love Virginia and I was looking forward to coming home, but not like this.
Just over a week ago on March 13, my squad and I got the news that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were to leave Africa immediately for the United States. In an effort to control the pandemic, countries all over were shutting their borders and if we didn’t move quickly, we could be stuck in Swaziland for who knows how long. And it wasn’t just my squad. Within less than a week, Adventures in Missions was bringing all of their 600+ missionaries back to the United States as quickly as possible.
After the initial shock off the moment wore off, my squad and I all started weeping together. As hard as living in Swaziland was sometimes, we had made a commitment to five and a half more months of living together as missionaries overseas, and we weren’t ready to go home yet. God had been moving in our lives in mighty ways, and like a half-popped bag of popcorn that you’ve taken out the microwave too early, we felt like God had begun a great work in us, but we didn’t feel like He was done yet.
But how can you argue with a global pandemic? So, the next morning we got on a bus for Johannesburg, and the following day we flew 8 hours to Abu Dhabi and then 14 hours to Washington, DC. Interestingly enough, our temps were checked for coronavirus at the South Africa/Swazi border, but the US didn’t bother to give us any sort of health screening. While it made getting our bags and leaving the airport easier, it didn’t make me feel very safe.
Upon arriving in DC, four of my squad-mates had booked flights to fly to their homes directly after landing, while the rest of us went to Bridgewater, VA to debrief for a few days with our World Race coaches at their houses. It was wonderful to sleep in a nice bed, take a hot shower, and see a functioning dishwasher again. At debrief, we got some more answers and processed together what in the world had just happened since our lives had been dramatically turned upside down. You see, since we had been in Swaziland with very limited access to wifi, we hardly knew anything about COVID-19 and how the world was reacting, unlike the average American who had ample access to the TV and internet the prior few weeks.
So where am I now? Still in Bridgewater, VA at my coaches’ house in self-quarantine. Our coaches had invited the whole squad to stay with them for up to the entire recommended 14-day quarantine process, and while most of the squad stayed for only two to five days, three of us have decided to wait out our whole quarantine here.
And yes, Bridgewater is not far at all from my home in Harrisonburg, so why am I here? Why not just go home? My family would gladly have me quarantine there. I decided to stay here for a few reasons. One, I want to protect my family and anyone they may come in contact with from any COVID-19 that I could potentially be a carrier for, having just been through three international airports and two flights. Two, I want to respect the government and Adventures in Missions who have asked us to self-quarantine for 14-days. And three, I wanted a transition space from Africa to coming home, especially given how abrupt and unexpected it was.
And as boring it is sometimes, especially when I think of home or all the things that I can’t do in quarantine, I am grateful for the time that I have had with the Lord giving Him my undivided attention. I have a lot to think about. While World Race is trying to relaunch us when the world normalizes again, no one knows when that will be, or even if a relaunch will be possible. It all depends on what happens with COVID-19. So, until then, what do I do? I wasn’t planning on coming home, so I hadn’t made any plans for the next six months. And how do I live out this new-found understanding of living life as a missionary no matter where I am, given the restrictions of COVID-19? It’s a little harder to pray for someone on the street when they are afraid to be closer than six feet from you.
It’s times like these that I have to remember that COVID-19, emergency evacuation, or 14-day quarantine cannot change in any way who God is. He is still God, He is still good, and He is still all powerful. Nothing about Him has changed a bit. That’s the great thing about God, He is steady through everything. So, at the end of the day, I am going to praise Him. I am not going to be in denial of how bad the world is or live in fear because I have no control, instead, I am going to praise. I am going to worship the God who stays the same.
I have no idea what the future holds, who does? But, should we relaunch, and I believe that we will, I still need $2,500 to be fully funded. I am well aware that the world is going crazy right now, but please consider donating so that when we relaunch, be it in two months or in eight, I will be fully funded so that I can finish the rest of the eleven months strong.
