29 March 2020
It is Day 4 of the COVID-19 Quarantine. We are in good shape. Our supplies are adequate. However, we had an unplanned stop at the grocery store. An elderly woman called us and asked us to go to the grocery store for her. We are trying to stay out of harm’s way -- and going to the store violates that rule. After a short, silent prayer we decided that we would help this woman and trust that the Lord would protect us.
We stopped by her little house in a remote place called Korohe to pick up her list.
We then proceeded to the New World Grocery Store. A light rain was falling. There was a line of people waiting to get in the store all standing the required two meters away from the person next to them. The store would only let a limited number of people inside and no one was allowed inside until someone left. Once inside, Ruth Ann was generally treated with courtesy but there were a few people who were less than courteous. She was glad to be out of there. I am hoping we can avoid the experience in the future.
I think everyone is very cautious - as they should be. People have gloves and bandanna masks. Shades of the old west train robberies. If you are on a collision course course, they will steer clear. Me too. The streets are practically empty.
The entire country is in quarantine. We are to stay inside except for exercise, or trips to the grocery, gas station, doctor, or pharmacy. The government is telling us this will last at last four weeks and possibly more. Domestic flights are cancelled. International flights are limited to New Zealand citizens returning home.As time goes on, I suspect flight in or out will dry up.
They want to flatten the curve of new infections. I am sure it will take weeks before we will see the effect.
Our mission is sending home all young missionaries. They fly home a few at a time. Our district of twelve has lost 4 in the past 24 hours alone.
The mission president gave us the option to go home or stay. We made it a matter of prayer and have told him that we will stay. So for now, we will do what we can for people here. Frankly, we have grown to love the people in Turangi and the thought of leaving is saddening. I can see why our young missionaries are so heartbroken about leaving. They are wonderful people.
Stay tuned. It is a wild ride!
It is Day 4 of the COVID-19 Quarantine. We are in good shape. Our supplies are adequate. However, we had an unplanned stop at the grocery store. An elderly woman called us and asked us to go to the grocery store for her. We are trying to stay out of harm’s way -- and going to the store violates that rule. After a short, silent prayer we decided that we would help this woman and trust that the Lord would protect us.
We stopped by her little house in a remote place called Korohe to pick up her list.
We then proceeded to the New World Grocery Store. A light rain was falling. There was a line of people waiting to get in the store all standing the required two meters away from the person next to them. The store would only let a limited number of people inside and no one was allowed inside until someone left. Once inside, Ruth Ann was generally treated with courtesy but there were a few people who were less than courteous. She was glad to be out of there. I am hoping we can avoid the experience in the future.
I think everyone is very cautious - as they should be. People have gloves and bandanna masks. Shades of the old west train robberies. If you are on a collision course course, they will steer clear. Me too. The streets are practically empty.
The entire country is in quarantine. We are to stay inside except for exercise, or trips to the grocery, gas station, doctor, or pharmacy. The government is telling us this will last at last four weeks and possibly more. Domestic flights are cancelled. International flights are limited to New Zealand citizens returning home.As time goes on, I suspect flight in or out will dry up.
They want to flatten the curve of new infections. I am sure it will take weeks before we will see the effect.
Our mission is sending home all young missionaries. They fly home a few at a time. Our district of twelve has lost 4 in the past 24 hours alone.
The mission president gave us the option to go home or stay. We made it a matter of prayer and have told him that we will stay. So for now, we will do what we can for people here. Frankly, we have grown to love the people in Turangi and the thought of leaving is saddening. I can see why our young missionaries are so heartbroken about leaving. They are wonderful people.
Stay tuned. It is a wild ride!
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| Lockdown activities |
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| Who you calling old? |
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| Street in Taupo. Rahui means "prohibited" |
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| The grocery in Turangi |
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| The park next to our house. |
