Week 24: 2319!

I have COVID.

Live footage of me calling my parents to tell them I have COVID. This was after I broke the news and Dad cracked some jokes to make me feel better.

I know I normally have some witty preamble, but I figured this time around I’d just start out with the most important news and let everyone decide whether they want to read on. I honestly don’t have many cards to play that are much more dramatic than this.

To answer the general questions you might be having:

Two hermanas who have just been exposed to COVID and don’t know it yet!

1) Hermana Stevenson has it as well. The other hermanas in the apartment don’t. Both companionships are quarantining, but Hermana Stevenson and I are confined to our bedroom.

2) We most likely were exposed on Thursday at the shooting of an Easter video (which will be awesome!).

3) Not sure if anyone remembers this, but yeah, Hermana Dabb was scheduled to be home today. She has to wait until the end of this week to return to Colorado.

4) Since Hermana Dabb was supposed to be coming home, that means that this week was the end of the transfer, but because so many missionaries are sick (a portion of my zone [Franklin] and Nashville 1), those are being postponed indefinitely. #eightweektransfer?

5) Oh yeah, I’m fine.

^This is probably the one everyone was worrying about. (At least, I hope that’s the thing everyone was worrying about.)

Anyway, my symptoms are pretty mild. I have a sore throat, a slight fever, and a nose that’s a little stuffy. For the most part, standard cough medicine, lots of water, and sleep are helping me to feel just dandy. I really am so grateful for that. I’m also grateful that all the in-person contacts we had since getting exposed were socially distanced and masked,* and the only one that wasn’t distanced was when an old lady in our ward went up to Hermana Stevenson and hugged her. Thankfully, she’s vaccinated, but those old ladies. You never know when they’ll swoop in. I also wasn’t 6 feet away, but I was masked while talking to a youth about Saints. You’ve always got to plug Saints. Taking these precautions has helped me know that I kept the people I cared about safe, even when I was feeling perfectly fine! I cannot stress how much of a relief that is.

If any of you are still worrying about me, thank you so much, and know that I love you all deeply and dearly. Also keep in perspective that death is most definitely not imminent. Unless Hermana Stevenson gets tired of me reading Saints and slaps me across the head with Volume 2: No Unhallowed Hand. But I think she would have already done that at this point.

Some solid advice in the streets (while I was still on the streets).

But even though I’m OK, I think I’m stating the obvious when I say that being confined to your bedroom isn’t the most fun ordeal. Even with both volumes of Saints, a sudoku book, and friendship bracelet supplies. With this challenge, it’s important for any missionary to reflect on why they’re here, doing this work. I have so many scriptures to capture that, but I love what it says in Doctrine and Covenants 6:

33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

Don’t be afraid to go on just because things are hard. I often trick myself into believing I need to rely on my own strength. If I did, I most definitely wouldn’t accomplish anything. But when we build upon the rock of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, nothing can stop us, because nothing can stop Him. As another scripture says, “With God, all things are possible.” And it’s possible that these next couple of weeks are going to be hard, but it’s also more than possible that I will get through this! And you will too, wherever you are and whatever you’re dealing with.

— Checking out,

Hermana Newton

* There is no mask mandate in the county where Hermana Newton is serving, although missionaries are required to wear masks and observe other health protocols.