The virus hits Peru, changes to the work and some news
Glynis here: This has been a roller coaster week. I have put off posting this letter in the hopes that I would get more information as the week went along. I'm going to post Jacob's letter and then I'll come back at the end and update his information.
Hey guys,
This is going to be a shorter email, and I'm probably not going to be able to talk to everyone this P- day or next because we have some restrictions for now. Basically what's been going on here in Peru has been pretty crazy. The country as of a few days ago is on shut down, and the President of Peru has ordered everyone to stay in their house for 15 days to try to fight the spread of Coronavirus. We are allowed to leave to buy food or medicine but that's it.
We, as missionaries, are really fine, but I feel really bad for most of the people of Iquitos. A lot of them don't have any form of savings so they are all struggling right now. There are police and military constantly patrolling the streets and telling people to get back into their houses. But don't worry about me, I am doing fine! We have just been chillin' here in the house, and President Parker gave us permission today to go the office for a few minutes to talk to our families.
I hope everyone is doing great. Just remember that this all will pass, and that God is in control. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives me such peace during these times, and I am super excited to hear our prophet speak to us this upcoming General Conference in a few weeks.
I love you guys a ton!
Sincerely,
-Elder Neves
Glynis here - We got this letter last Saturday. We were so glad to hear that he was doing fine. He was able to call us later that day and talk to us, and he sounded so happy! He let us know that he was doing fine, and doing whatever he could to keep up the morale of the 5 other missionaries in the house. He set a goal with them to finish the Old Testament during the 15 day quarantine.
The next day, Sunday, we got a message from President Parker. He let us all know that the First Presidency had announced that all non-native missionaries would be sent home as soon as the quarantine lifted. We talked to Jacob again that night, and shared some tears. He was upset to think about leaving the people he has grown to love. By the time we ended the call, he was ok with coming home. He is excited to get home, and start the next phase of his life. We began to get ready to have him home. He was told that he would be leaving on or around April 1, after the quarantine lifts.
On Wednesday, we got another message from President Parker. The president of Peru has extended the quarantine for another 2 weeks. The Church is working with the US Embassy to try to get them out sooner, but since the missionaries are technically citizens of Peru, it makes it a bit harder. We were told that now the earliest he would be home would be April 12. We just got used to getting him home soon, and now we have to wait another 2 weeks.
Just last night, we got word that the Peruvian government was letting some flights out yesterday, so there's a chance he'll be home sooner. We are now in a wait and see mode.
We know that tomorrow is the Church's day of Fasting, and we ask that if you are so inclined, you add Jacob's name to your Fast.