The Coronavirus affected us at the Phillipines MTC. I am putting the article in this post to document the event.
Updated February 5, 2020
The Church issued the following updated statement regarding
missionaries being transferred from Hong Kong and Macau:
The Church continues to monitor developments with the
coronavirus. Overnight, we have learned that some of the missionaries leaving
the China Hong Kong Mission will not undergo quarantine at a government
facility as previously believed. Therefore, these 17 missionaries (who are
citizens of the Philippines) will be isolated and separated from contact with
other missionaries for 14 days at the missionary training center in Manila
before departing for their new assignments or returning home.
The Church feels an important responsibility to do all we
can to help these missionaries stay healthy and avoid even the remote
possibility of spreading the virus. Staff at the missionary training center
will work carefully to meet all the needs of these missionaries while they are
there and to keep themselves and other missionaries safe by following proper
health protocols.
As we have noted previously, for several days prior to
leaving Hong Kong, all missionaries have rigorously followed preventative health
practices to avoid illness including remaining in their apartments as much as
possible, not engaging in teaching, wearing masks, and frequently washing their
hands. Therefore, the likelihood of any of these missionaries having contracted
the coronavirus is very low. Additionally, each missionary was required to show
no symptoms before leaving Hong Kong.
First Day of Quarantine Confinement:
Feburary 6, 2020
We weren't given much notice the Filipino missionaries were coming to our MTC – about 72 hours to get ready. We swiftly moved into action and definitely felt the hand of the Lord assisting us. These are the tender mercies that occurred.
1. We were in between departures and intake. That meant we had only 17 missionaries on campus when the missionaries arrived.
2. For the first time in about a year our number of arriving missionaries would be just over 100. We have been well over that – more than double - for months. Because of this, the regular missionaries entering the MTC would fit in two available buildings. Our little band of refugees would be given a home in isolation in Building 1. No one else would be able to enter without proper masks, gowns, etc.
3. The overall administrative load and special event calendar of the MTC was lighter than usual.
4. The schedule of Tuesday Evening Devotional speakers fortuitously included two members of our Area Presidency - Elder and Sister Wakolo and Elder and Sister Bangerter. A very rare “coincidence”. Both couples delivered special, memorable messages. They also gave special attention to the Hong Kong missionaries who watched remotely via internet. The quarantined missionaries sang and waved for our General Authority guest from the second story windows of Building 1 as we walked by on the way to the devotional.
Here is a copy of the email President Clark sent to the MTC leaders about our loved little band of refugees.
February 6, 2020
Dear All –
The seventeen Hong Kong missionaries assigned to quarantine at the Philippines MTC have arrived and been welcomed and loved. They are tired, hungry and very happy to be at the MTC. The preparation work done over the last 24 hours by IMTC staff, Philippines Area Office personnel and Philippines MTC staff and missionaries has been exceptional. The missionaries have shown remarkable resilience from this disruption of their missions.
Our MTC Nurse, Sister Hill, did brief individual examinations and gave instruction needed to comply with the quarantine. After a short orientation the missionaries went to their rooms to sleep.
When recovered from the travel they will be provided a schedule for Week 1 of quarantine at the MTC. Brother Lopez and his staff have wonderful plans to help the missionaries remain busy and feel productive. Tomorrow will likely be a day of transition as they adjust to new surroundings and different expectations.
Thanks to everyone that helped with setting up and organization of our temporary “quarantine center”. The charity shown these missionaries is some of the finest ministering we are likely to witness.
President Clark
This is a sample of their day:
Welcome
Elders & Sisters
Food will be delivered during mealtime on first floor near the pondering area.
Breakfast 7:45 a.m.
A.M. Snack 10 a.m.
Lunch 12 p.m.
P.M. Snack 3 p.m.
Dinner 5:45 p.m.
Please only go 1st floor for meals at the appointed time. Go directly upstairs with food and eat in your room.
For email and other online training materials, iPads are provided. You may also use them to study and proselyte. More instruction will follow.
Clean linens are in the room inside the laundry room. Please change your linen every Thursday. Put dirty linen in brown garbage bags from Custodial Closet. Place the garbage bag in the room with fresh linen.
Cleaning supplies and garbage bags are available in custodial closet on each floor. Make sure you clean every Thursday. Wipe off cleaning supplies after using them.
Sister Hill will be taking your temperature and checking your overall health 2 x’s a day around 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
You will receive a daily schedule of activities for you to follow including
Physical Activities in outside parking lot only.
9 – 10 a.m. (beginning Saturday) – exercise time
6:30 – 7 p.m. Evening Fresh Air Time
Wear your N95 mask whenever you leave your residence room.
Please remember you are in quarantine for the protection of yourself and other missionaries.
Final Day of Quarantine Confinement:
Feburary 20, 2020
Here is the email that Scott sent to Provo, Salt Lake
and all involved with the Hong Kong missionaries:
Subject: Hong Kong Missionaries Quarantined at the Philippines MTC
Dear All –
Today our 17 Hong Kong missionaries designated
for assignment in the Philippines completed their 14-day quarantine period at
the Philippines MTC. They were “released” at noon and celebrated by
attending a session at the Manila Temple. Starting early tomorrow morning
they will depart the for assignments in Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles,
Cavite and San Pablo Missions. One sister will return home as her 18-month
mission is complete.
Our little band of refugees have been tremendous.
Through their collective attitude, obedience and cooperative spirit they have
brought honor to the China Hong Kong Mission, President and Sister Phillips and
their Philippines homeland. All have been remarkably healthy during their
quarantine on the second and third floors of our Building 1. They have
been incredibly gracious in accepting their confinement and diligent in
fulfilling study assignments intended to fill weeks of unplanned time. (A
clear and present danger for any missionary.) They have maintained
missionary dignity and endeared themselves to all who have had opportunity to
serve them.
Each of the five receiving missions will greet
healthy, seasoned missionaries, ready to return to work and resume missionary
life. Most are leader-ready and will contribute wherever they are
assigned. We’ve enjoyed, from a distance, having them on our
campus. We hope never to be asked again to house missionaries under such
restrictive conditions but if it is needed, we would pray for them to be of the
same caliber as these fine missionaries.
Attached is the class picture for our exiting two-week
batch. We love them. Our MTC is better off for them having been
here.
President and Sister Clark
Philippines MTC
