Sunday, March 29, 2020

03/29/20 Facebook Post

Carly Martinez is feeling blissful in University Place, Washington.
Hello everyone!

I arrived back in Washington yesterday because foreign missionaries from New Zealand have been sent home, hopefully to be reassigned. I am sad to leave Aotearoa.  I'm sad to say goodbye to people I've come to love, and I'm sad regarding the circumstances which have caused this change.

However, on the plane yesterday, as I looked out the window, seeing the sun and the clouds pass by, I felt peace, comfort, and an assurance that this is all part of God's plan for the world, and for me as an individual.

In The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 23:21-22 reads:
"21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their
patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people"

As we choose to have faith and put our trust in God, I know we will all be able to be lifted up, not only at the last day, but today. We can raise above our fears and feel God's love. I know that is what I felt yesterday, and I am striving to feel that peace everyday as I await more news.

We can exercise our faith through prayer, and by following the council of the Scriptures and of our living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, who was sent here to guide us at this time. I invite you all to exercise your faith in God more actively.

This is a trying time. It's difficult, maybe impossible to completely understand the purpose of everything that is happening in our lives. We have a choice how to react.

I know God is mindful of you and He wants to comfort you and lift you up, so trust Him! Let Him in and you will be able to feel the warm light of hope in your lives.

》《》《》《
我昨天到华盛顿州,这是因为每一个不从新西兰的传教士需要离开。我很难过离开新西兰,我很难过离开我爱的人,和我很难过这个病毒呢么厉害。
但是,我昨天当我在飞机里的时候我看窗外和我感受到安慰还有平安。我真的感觉这些情况是神的安排。
在摩尔门经摩赛亚书23:21-22,他说:
" 21然而主认为该惩戒祂的人民了,是的,祂要
考验他们的耐心和信心。
22然而,凡信赖祂的,必在末日被高举。是
的,对这人民而言,也是如此 "
这是一个很困难的时间。是很难可能无法了解每一个挑战的目的。但是我们还有一个选择我们队这些情况会有什么感觉。
当我们选择有信心的时候我们让神高举我们。我们可以克服我们的恐惧。我们也可以感觉神对我们的爱。我知道这是我昨天感受到的感觉和我有一个大的渴望每天继续感觉一样的平安。我们可以表达我们对神的信心透过祷告还有聆听神的话。那是透过读经文而聆听先知。
我邀请你们很努力的运用信心。
我知道神在照顾你们和祂想要帮助你们。请信赖她!让他安慰你们。

♡♡♡

马姐妹//Sister Martinez

Friday, March 27, 2020

03/27/20 NZ Auckland Mission Office Letter

Dear President   

This email is to inform you that Sister Carly Chase Martinez will be quickly returning home as a part of the effort of The Church to return all missionaries to their home lands as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Attached you will find a letter to you with further details, the flight itinerary, important 14-day self-isolation protocols and the matrix used for reassigning missionaries in their home country.

Because of the impending arrival, I have also copied Sister Martinez’s parents on this email. Please make sure to contact them as well and answer any questions they may have.

Please email me once your missionary has returned home so that we can account for all the missionaries of the New Zealand Auckland Mission. We love each one and are grateful for the service each has given here.
Thank you for your wonderful service.

Keep Calm & Carry On

Sister Lisa Wright
Secretary | New Zealand Auckland Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Office: +64 9 485 3152 | Cell: +64 21 078 4854
Parcels: 7A Auburn Street, Takapuna, AKL 0622 | Letters: PO Box 33840, Takapuna, AKL 0740

Let Your Light Shine!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter Attachment #1
Dear Stake President: 
 
Area Presidencies in many locations are directing that currently serving missionaries be returned home to their home countries. As a result, the missionary indicated below is returning home. 
 
Considerations- 
-       Your missionary is returning home symptom free (symptoms prevent travel). 
-       Your missionary will have a 14-day self-isolation period at home. See the Guidelines on Self-Isolation below which should be reviewed with and provided to the parents. Strict observance is expected. 
-       Please refer to the “Missionary Release and Reassign Matrix” document that you should have received from your Area Seventy to determine if the missionary should be released. If so, please offer the missionary our gratitude. 
 
Airport Protocol 
There should be limited contact with the missionary upon arrival. Only one or two individuals are to pick up the missionary from the airport. For the safety of all involved, those picking up the missionary should maintain appropriate distance between others (at least six feet, where possible) and should limit their time outside of their vehicle. They should also follow any additional directives issued by the local airport. Upon leaving the airport, the missionary should follow the guidelines for isolation included below. 
 
For those arriving at the Salt Lake City Airport 
For those missionaries arriving into Salt Lake City that are not traveling onto another destination, parents should follow this Salt Lake Airport protocol. When you come to the airport, please park on the second level of the short-term parking garage. Missionaries disembarking from the planes will be directed through the terminals by airport staff to the second level of the short-term parking garage. (Do not drive to the pickup area on the ground level.)  Due to space constraints, only one vehicle is permitted for picking up each missionary, and only one or two individuals are allowed per vehicle. For the safety of your missionary, your family, and other travelers at the airport, please remain in your car until your missionary comes to your vehicle in the short-term parking garage. 
 
Flight Information: 
Your missionarySister Carly Martinez, is flying on Flight NumbeAS0419 and the scheduled arrival time is 28 Mar 2020 at 7:10 PM at Sea-Tac International Airport . You can track the flight information through the respective airline website.  
 
Please share this information with the missionary’s family. Please ensure that families understand and are willing to strictly adhere to all the guidelines contained herein. 
 
We appreciate your leadership and are grateful for your kind shepherding of this missionary and their family. 
 

Letter Attachment #2

Guidelines for Isolation: Returning Home for Self-Isolation

We ask the missionary to isolate himself or herself for 14 days after returning home. It is very important that the missionary follow these guidelines:

  1. The missionary should remain in the home with limited contact with others. This includes not visiting public locations, such as church buildings. The missionary should limit interactions with other individuals. Further, individuals visiting the missionary should be free of underlying illness.
  2. The missionary should stay in a well-ventilated room, preferably alone. If it is not possible for the missionary to be alone, others in the room should be about 2 meters (6 feet) away.
  3. The missionary and others in the home should follow good hygiene practices, including:
  • Frequently wash hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover nose and mouth with cloth, tissues, or elbows when coughing or sneezing, followed by cleaning hands.
  • Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, drinks, or toothbrushes.
  • Wear a mask if there are any symptoms of respiratory illness (see below).
Missionaries and families should contact a local health official for guidance if they have questions about appropriate isolation procedures or if the missionary develops symptoms of a respiratory illness. Prior to visiting a health care provider, contact the provider to inform them of the country from where the missionary recently returned, and that the missionary has developed some of the following symptoms:
  1. Fever
  2. Cough
  3. Shortness of breath
  4. Congestion
  5. Sore throat
  6. Body aches
  7. Stomach upset

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

03/25/20 Facebook Post

Carly Martinez is feeling thankful with Elise Sparrow in Auckland, New Zealand.
大家好!

因为在新西兰全民居家隔离所以我们传教士在Facebook就会继续分享信息关于耶稣基督的福音和从他带来的希望。 再说如果你们有任何的问题请问我和我的同伴孙姐妹然后我们可以讨论一下。我们知道特别在这个严重的时间这些信息可以给你们更多的了解关于神和我们在时尚的目的。我们也知道当我们学习关于耶稣基督,我们都会能够有更多的快乐还有力量来克服个人的挑战。

今天我想要分享一个经文在摩尔门经,另一部约书里面. 在这个经文里阿尔玛是神的使者叫一个先知。神召唤他来帮助人类知道真理:
阿尔玛书30:43-44

43柯力何对阿尔玛说:如果你显个征兆给我看,也许可以使我相信真的有神;是啊,让我看到祂有能力,我就相信你的话是真的。
44但是阿尔玛对他说:你已经有足够的征兆了;你还要试探你的神吗?有了你所有这些弟兄和圣先知的见证,你还要说,显个征兆给我看吗?经文就在你面前,是的,万物都说明了真的有神;是的,就是那大地、大地上的万物,是的,还有大地之运转,是的,以及所有按其既定方式运行的行星,都证明的确有一位至高无上的创造主。

我知道神是真实的,祂是活着的!
现在一点可怕但是我知道神还在照顾我们。
像阿尔玛说一样,每一个事情为神对我们的爱作见证。

我邀请你们今天辨识你们从神来的祝福,比如说你有时间跟家庭有很好玩,还有你很健康,还有你今天能够看在窗外一个美丽的日落。

我知道当你试试看找到从神给你的祝福你会能够感受到神对你得爱。我也知道你会能够有更多的快乐和平安.并且我相信我们都现在需要更多快乐还有平安。




TRANSLATION   ▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
Hello everyone!

Since all of New Zealand is in isolation for the next 4 weeks, we missionaries will be continuing to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through short messages about Him and the hope He can bring into our lives. If any of you have questions, please feel free to ask me and my companion, Sister Sparrow, so we can discuss it and learn from each other.

Today I wanted to share a scripture out of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It's in the Book of Alma, a messenger or prophet of God sent to help mankind know truth.

Alma 30:43-44:
"43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.
44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

God is real and He lives!

I know right now things are really scary, but God is still watching over us and trying to comfort our hearts and minds. Like Alma says in this scripture, everything bears witness of God's love for us, we simply just need to look around and recognize it.

I invite you all today to look for blessings that come from God. It could be the fact you now have time to spend with our family, you are healthy, or maybe even just that tonight you might be able to look out the window and see a beautiful sunset.

Whatever it may be, I know that when you try to recognize God's hand in your life, you will be able to feel His love for you- and He loves you with that love a Father has for His very own child! Furthermore you will be able to have more happiness and peace in your day to day, something I believe all of us need at this time.

马姐妹//Sister Martinez

♡♡♡


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

COVID-19 Email from Mission President 03-24-20

24 Mar 2020

Dear Jennie Martinez,

As I mentioned in my previous letter our situation here in the New Zealand Auckland Mission is fluid.  Things have changed and I have an important update to announce.

Late last evening I received an email from President Ian S. Ardern, Pacific Area President and General Authority Seventy, that stated the following:

“… this email is to inform you that all young foreign missionaries [i.e., missionaries who are not New Zealand citizens or residents] serving in [the New Zealand Auckland Mission] are to return home as soon as travel can be arranged. ... The return of the missionaries will be done in a systematic way based on travel restrictions, level of COVID-19 concern, and other considerations. … We acknowledge that some borders are closed and therefore some travel will take considerable time to put in place. We will move forward with the intent to return all foreign missionaries [i.e., missionaries who are not New Zealand citizens or residents] home and acknowledge that in some cases it will be very difficult… you need to look no further than the closed borders of Tonga, PNG, Vanuatu, Kiribati and others to understand that.  Mission presidents will inform stake presidents when a missionary is returning home. When travel plans are certain and missionaries are ready to leave the mission, stake presidents will be notified by the mission president. Stake presidents should notify the missionary’s family as soon as he receives information.”

This morning, I conducted a videoconference meeting with the missionaries of the New Zealand Auckland Mission to announce this decision.  Needless to say, many were very disappointed but I know all have the resolve to press forward no matter the obstacles that lay before them.  

We currently do not have a timeline for return flights.  This will take effort and time.  Once we know of flight information for Sister Carly Martinez we will notify the stake president who will then notify the family.  We appreciate your patience in the interim.  

I have attached a matrix to this letter that explains the protocol for all missionaries impacted by this decision.  Please refer to this matrix for those details.

Please know that your missionaries are safe.  They will be entering a four-week long New Zealand government mandated lockdown at 11:59pm tonight.  I am not sure how the lockdown will impact the return process, but please rest assured that those details are being seen to by skilled professionals in the Pacific Area Office.  Please also know that we will continue to do everything in our power to keep Sister Martinez safe.  We love Sister Martinez.

I will strive to keep you updated with any further developments.  

Mahalo nui loa.

President J. Alan Walker
New Zealand Auckland Mission