Date
April 19, 2020
Sent By
President Bussey
Update April 19 - Spain Madrid Mission
April 19, 2020
Dear Parents,
We hope your Easter was spiritually fulfilling and uplifting. Even in quarantine it certainly was for us! Many of our missionaries shared how this was their best Easter ever. They were able to slow down, strip away all the commercialism and just concentrate on the Savior and his great gift of the Atonement. In addition, many cooked a fancy Easter meal, carried on Easter traditions with their companions and just made it a splendid day. This will indeed be an Easter they will never forget!
We’ve just completed our fifth week of quarantine and we are proud to report that everyone is still healthy and hard at it, but in all honesty a bit tired of waking up each morning to “sameness” of it all. Some have experienced some down days, but resilient as they are, they pick themselves up, remind themselves why they are here, set their focus outward, and fix their focus on our missionary purpose and as a result they see the continuing miracles as they rain down upon Spain and all of Europe.
The situation in Spain continues to steadily improve and it appears that the “curve” has flattened substantially. Last week, the government allowed certain groups of non-essential workers to return to work while others continue to work from home or just wait out the quarantine period. Sister Bussey and I were able to travel to the Mission office for the first time in several weeks where we hosted a second mission wide zone conference, handled many of the issues needing our physical presence to address, grab more work and then head back to the mission home for another week of quarantine. We travel with masks and gloves and are routinely stopped by police roadblocks to make sure our travels are justified. We are very proud of our missionaries for their obedience to the quarantine restrictions and their examples, as good citizens. The latest thinking is that the national government will extend the quarantine until May 11 but beginning next week may allow more freedom for people to leave their apartments for exercise and to maintain good emotional health. We’ll keep you posted on how this all progresses and what they do allow us to do as the quarantine restrictions are eased.
The work continues advancing as we push ourselves to use new and different methods of finding, teaching and ministering. We are now truly missionaries to the world. We are literally teaching people from all over the world. Our specific focus this past week has been on engaging our members as partners in the work. Please talk to your missionary about this and offer up any suggestions you might have on how to better engage members.
Even in quarantine we taught over 300 lessons last week and now have nearly 140 people committed to baptism. Our focus is beginning to shift to ways we can help our friends stay excited and committed as the quarantine drags on and their baptismal dates keep getting pushed out. We are creating study groups with these individuals and many other member-missionary video gatherings, so they feel a part of the Church community. You would be proud of the inspired creativity many of your sons and daughters are demonstrating! Please check out their posts - many are in English as well in Spanish. Follow their lead, be bold and forward their posts to all your friends!
As I said, on Wednesday, we held our second mission wide Zone Conference using technology and it was super. We focused on improving our teaching skills, finding and sharing the gospel in normal and natural ways. We even had a special violin solo as our musical number played live from an apartment in Southern Spain. It is amazing the strength of the Spirit during these meetings and the participation by our missionaries. These gatherings are not only inspirational for our missionaries but renew our spirits as well.
One other quick note is that one of our two remaining Senior Missionary Couples, the Flakes are providing weekly religious study classes for our missionaries. The Flakes are former mission and temple president and companion and do an outstanding job teaching these classes. It is like an Institute course for our missionaries on topics directly related to what they teach their friends and less active members.
We were blessed on Friday evening to host a mission wide fireside/charla with General Authority Seventy, Erich R. Kopischke, who is also currently a member of our Area Presidency. I think you know that each night, we have a Facebook live session with Sister Bussey and me and the entire mission. I decided to reach out to some of my friends and fellow servants in the vineyard and invite them to join us and share words of inspiration and encouragement. We have had two general authorities; two Area Seventies and we have more in the cue. Elder Kopischke wanted an exchange. So we enjoyed 45 minutes of teaching and counseling together. He centered the discussion on our need to “Hear Him” (the Savior) and how blessed we are to be a part of this transformational time in the Church and missionary work. He called it a “Pandemic of Possibilities” and referred us to the Doctrine and Covenant where we are promised success by the thousands if we do our part.
While preparation days previously were the highlight of the week for missionaries, it is now one of the toughest, because they can’t go out and enjoy activities, sports, historical sites, etc. Many of you have probably heard this in the voice of your missionary when you speak with them on preparation days. To help change the day for the positive, this Monday we are hosting a “Monday Movie Matinee”, where we will have a fun trivia quiz on Spanish Culture and then watch an appropriate, fun movie together via technology. We have asked each companionship to go shopping Monday morning for their weekly supplies but add popcorn and some candy (if they like that kind of thing) and then join us for some good clean fun and diversion. We’ll see how it goes and if there are more of these types of activities in store for future quarantine preparation days!
To close I’d like to share comments from an interview Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Lead Apostle over missionary work) shared about all that has taken place with missionaries since the outbreak of COVID-19. You may have already read his interview; but there are a few points, I believe, are worth repeating.
Regarding the use of technology, of which we feel so blessed to have been an “early adopter”, he shared, “Church leaders have been examining missionary practices—where traditional “finding” has been limited… for many years. COVID-19 accelerated our thinking and opened our eyes for new ways,” including the use of technology…The Spirit can work wonderfully as we use new and unfamiliar ways of communicating with each other… All missionaries, regardless of their circumstances, “have the wonderful opportunity of going forward by finding, teaching, baptizing, and making disciples” with the aid of technology and social media. “The work goes on irrespective of whether there is an epidemic or smooth sailing.”
Elder Uchtdorf said there are many things missionary parents can also learn in this process. “Sometimes you have to let your sons or daughters go and let them find their way … Give them courage and trust that they are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and will do the right things.”
He continued, “In your phone calls, emails, or letters, strengthen the faith of your missionaries. Help them to focus on the things they can influence and not be distracted or discouraged by things they cannot change. Ask for and listen to their spiritual experiences during these challenging times. Share your own testimonies of how your lives are blessed because of their service as missionaries. All missionaries need that kind of support, he said. “It will greatly help the missionary to grow in spirituality and become more mature, but also help families feel part of this marvellous work and a wonder.”
Finally, he shared with all missionaries, what we have felt in the Spain Madrid Missionaries for some time. He testified, “The Lord has promised to ‘hasten His work’ for the blessing of all of God’s children. I feel that we are right in the middle of this process while living through this challenging time. Our precious missionaries are the pioneers of our day, blazing a trail of sharing the gospel message in new ways fitting to our circumstances, so that the Church of Jesus Christ will continue to roll forth until it fills the whole earth.”
Thank you for your support and love of your “pioneering missionary”. Know that they are safe and well and about doing an amazing work! As always, we are here to support them and you so don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.
Un abrazo fuerte,
Presidente & Sister Bussey