A Week of Sundays

This week has felt a bit like a week of Sundays. Lots of loooong days with not a lot to do and lots of time at home.

Today we had our home church again. It was so good. Calvin blessed the sacrament and Isaac passed the sacrament. Calvin and Mikey gave excellent talks. We sang hymns while Kate played the piano. It was beautiful. Things got a little chaotic during our Sunday school time but we had some great discussions and watched a great video on the allegory of the olive tree.

While we were watching a Book of Mormon video we got an unexpected phone call from Kira. She was calling to tell us that she is coming home. She was so, so, so sad. She was crying and trying to be strong but I know she is so disappointed and devastated to leave her beloved Chile. She loves the people, the culture, the language, the food, the country. She sees so much beauty there, even though it may not be picturesque. I told her that she is like an olive tree branch in the vineyard that was plucked and planted in the outer parts of the vineyard. She was grafted in and has become part of that Chilean tree. Now she is being plucked out again and will be planted in another part of the vineyard.

The plan right now is that she will be coming home in the next few days, stay quarantined at home for two weeks and then be reassigned in the United States. I'm sure things will evolve as conditions change.

These are the emails Kira received and we received today:

Dear Missionaries,

We love you and it is with sadness that we inform you of the news we have received from our Area Presidency. We have been informed that all missionaries will be returned to their home country where, in most cases, they will be quarantined in their own homes for 14 days. During that time, they will then be reassigned to serve in their own country. This process of returning will begin, under the direction of missionary travel, within the next 2 -3 weeks depending on travel restrictions and flight availability. Those missionaries who are from countries with closed borders will remain here until those limits are lifted. Missionaries who are nearing the end of their missions may be reassigned but the specifics of that are not known at this time. You may share this information with your parents today, and you should let them know that they will hear from the mission office about your return date and time when we have received confirmation of your return flight.

We love you and we can´t even begin to think about doing this work without you, our sons and daughters. We testify that this is the Lords work and there are many miracles yet to be witnessed. Stay positive, prepared and occupied for the great work still to be done. We will now show the world how missionaries from the Chile Santiago North Mission do the work of the Lord.

Our deepest Love,

President and Sister Bentley

Dear Parents,

Through this letter, we want to give you an update on the situation of missionary work in this part of the vineyard.

After consultations with Salt Lake authorities and the missionary department, always keeping in mind the safety and well-being of each missionary, the Area Presidency has determined the return of all foreign missionaries serving in the South America South area to their countries of residence to be reassigned to a domestic mission.

This decision implies that your child Sister Kira Elizabeth Davis  will be returning in the next few days and we will share the details of their trip once we have them. We also want to emphasize that due to the current challenges regarding international travel, this return will be made according to the feasibility and availability of flights.

We are very grateful for having had the opportunity to have such special young people serving in the Lord's work and we have been privileged to enjoy their presence in Chile Santiago North Mission. May the Lord bless you always!

Sincerely

President and Sister Bentley