POSTDATE: Update on remaining missionaries

March 25, 2020

Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders:
 
We want to give you an update on your missionary and the circumstances here in the Durban South Africa Mission. We have moved all remaining missionaries in the mission down to Durban and close to the mission home and office. All of our remaining missionaries are safe and are in boarding’s in Durban. Each boarding has 3 to 6 missionaries in each one. They are grouped by their home country so we can move them quickly if flights become available. The flights are very scarce, and our transportation group is doing everything they can to get flights for our missionaries. You will be notified of any flights for your missionary that are arranged. 
 
Each boarding has a car, phone and charger, debit card and food. We begin our 21-day isolation period on Thursday at midnight (South Africa time). Only grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, petrol stations and other emergency services will be available. We will be permitted to go get groceries and other essential supplies during the 21-day isolation period.
 
Since boarding’s do not have the internet and your missionary does not have a smartphone, it will be difficult for them to contact you. We are looking at all options available to make it possible for occasional communications. We have a large supply of food and other necessities at the mission home, if needed, during the isolation period.
 
I know there are many questions and concerns you have, and we will send out communications, such as this, on a regular basis. There are many things that we just don’t know but we are under the direction of the First Presidency and our Area Presidency and following their counsel with exactness. We are going forward with faith and know that we are on the Lord’s errand. Sister Lines and I will do everything we can to protect your sons.
 
We are all grateful for your prayers and are blessed to serve with your wonderful and valiant sons.
 
We love you and pray for your safety and protection.
 
Warm regards,
 Tim R. Lines
President, South Africa Durban Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Office:   +27 31 267-0250
Mobile: +27 83 255-1263
Email:  tim.lines@churchofjesuschrist.org

HE IS HOME!

Elder Moser's flight came in at 12:30 pm in Salt Lake City. We were given instructions to pick him up there, to only have the parents come, for the parents to stay in their car on the 2nd garage level, and then to put the missionary in isolation after he got home.  We waited like we were supposed to in our car and flagged him down as soon as we caught sight of him, "Brad-Brad-Brad-Brad-Brad!!!"  The hug felt so good!

Then we drove straight out of the parking garage and found a Wendy's hamburger to fill his belly and ours. We talked a lot all the way home and stalled getting to the house so Aunt Becky would be there for the drive-by welcome home...which turned into hugging. We weren't supposed to be hugging anyone but who cannot when its been 2 years? Grandma and Grandpa almost flew away with their big welcome home sign. We have video of it, but it isn't here. She also gave us corned beef and cabbage fixings and California oranges to enjoy since she couldn't host us at her house.

Reunited and it feels so good!

The ward members, spurred by Amy Sorensen, also did a drive by welcome home about an hour later. Brad stood at the end of the driveway and waved hello.  

Aunt Susan made him a welcome home cake all from scratch!

Brad showered us with gifts.

Keeping with the different times, President Goodwin released Bradley via
Skype at 8:30 pm.

Well Done, Elder Bradley Moser!

Brad reported his mission to his immediate family members at Grandma and Grandpa's Cabin in Island Park on Sunday, March 29, 2020 (Justin's 25th birthday). It was a beautiful day!

Information for US returnees

March 24, 2020

Dear Families and Priesthood Leaders

Every day we learn a little bit more...

First, we know you are excited to see your Elders, but PLEASE be mindful of the social distancing rules.
     NO HUGS!  We have all gotten really good at elbow taps.
     Only 1 or 2 people at the airport.
      Take the Elder home for self isolation for at least 2 weeks.  Postpone the coming home party, please.

58 of us arrived safely in Johannesburg this morning.  We met at the Temple about 4 a.m., managed to get us all, and our baggage, onto a 65 passenger bus and went to the airport.  We boarded a small prop-jet and easily made the one hour flight.  They even gave us each a breakfast box, which was sorely needed.

Now we are all waiting around the airport.  Each missionary has a companion, and they are in Zones of 6-8 Elders.  The Zone Leaders are making sure no one gets lost in each group.

Now for the good news.  We are scheduled to leave about 8 pm on Ethiopian Airlines flight #8707.  We will stop for a refuel but will not leave the plane.  It is a charter flight, so it won't show up on regular Internet sites, but should be visible on tracking programs like Flightaware.

The scheduled arrival in Salt Lake City is about 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.  But, before coming to the airport, please check the real arrival time.  The flight that came yesterday and brought some of our Missionaries home left 3.5 hours late.  We do not have any information yet about the connecting flights out of Salt Lake for those from other cities.  People will get that information when they arrive in Salt Lake.

Also, actual 'appearance'  out of the terminal will be even later because we will have to clear Customs in Salt Lake City, and that will take a long time for so many of us.  The flight includes Missionaries from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and perhaps some other African countries.  We will be a big group, and everyone has lots of baggage.  

We are sad to be leaving, but excited to come home.
Keep us in your prayers.

Love,
Elder & Sister Allen
Sister Damon
Elder & Sister Gordon
Elder & Sister Lund

And all your young Elders!

Durban Mission Update #7

March 23, 2020

Dear Families and Priesthood Leaders,

                Again, please don’t answer this unless you have an emergency.  As we know more we will send out the information.

We are working with a constantly changing scenario.  There is a lot we still don’t know.
Missionaries were asked NOT to email or call families today.  There is too much movement happening and we don’t want them going to Internet Cafes.

What we do know is that 15 young Elders with Elder & Sister Moody drove to Johannesburg yesterday because they were in the northwest part of the mission, closer to Johannesburg than to Durban.  They were able to get on an earlier charter flight which left today, Monday, and will arrive in Salt Lake City Tuesday mid-day.  Individual emails were sent to those 16 families.

If you did not get that email, then we are still waiting to send your Elder.

What we currently know:
Church Travel is working diligently to arrange flights.  Again, the Stake President will probably be the first to know itineraries, so stay in contact with him.

Some  Brazilians are all flying together to Sao Paulo leaving here late Tuesday night.  Church Travel will make arrangements for them to get to their home cities from there. The other Brazilians will come later in the week.

The North Americans are flying together to Salt Lake City leaving sometime on Tuesday.  Again Church Travel is making flights to home cities as needed.  We have no time schedule yet.  We will let you know when we do.

Please keep us all in your prayers.  Everyone will be home soon.

President Lines

Transportation Planning #5 & #6

March 22, 2020

Dear Parents and Priesthood leaders,
  All the Missionaries continue to do well.  They are moving around to be in position to return home, or to continue the work if they are South African.  We have so far received into the Mission two of the South Africans who will be joining us after leaving their original mission assignments.  More will be coming soon.

In preparation for making return plane tickets we were asked today by Church Travel to compile the list of preferred airport for each missionary.  We did a quick SMS and asked the Elders, but we thought we should also ask the parents and Priesthood leaders, too.  

Attached to this email is the list of all the Missionaries and their home airport. Please find your Elder and let us know as soon as possible if there needs to be a correction.

This is the first step in getting tickets for everyone, so of course we do not know anyone's arrival time at home yet.  Stake Presidents are most likely to get that information before everyone else and they can share it with families.

Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work through this difficult time.  We know the Lord is protecting His missionaries everywhere.

Best wishes,
President Tim R. Lines



March 21, 2020
Mission Communication #5

Dear Parents, Priesthood Leaders and Missionaries,

First, we want you to know all the missionaries in the Durban Mission are safe and well. Those who were serving in Lesotho are out of that country and on their way to safer locations.

Second, we are being very cautious and asking missionaries not to email home on this Monday. Most go to internet cafes, and sharing keyboards with other unknown people is not a good idea. There are many transfers happening this week, and as things settle down we will identify safe places for missionaries to communicate with their families, such as chapels, etc. In the meantime there will be frequent communication to all families from the Mission.

Under its 20 March letter, the First Presidency announced that “substantial numbers of missionaries will likely need to be returned to their home nations to continue their service.” In the South Africa Durban Mission, we have been directed to quickly return home those missionaries who are from countries other than South Africa. Through today, acting under prior directions, we have 10 missionaries with health conditions either home or enroute home to Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Spain, Scotland, USA and Zambia.

On Tuesday, 24 March, the 52 young Elders, 9 Senior missionaries and 10 Temple missionaries who are from North America will fly from Durban to Johannesburg. There they will join with missionaries from other African missions and fly on a flight from Johannesburg to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, arriving late on Wednesday. At that point those missionaries will clear customs and then be routed on flights home, as needed. Details of arrival times and connecting flights will be sent out in the next couple of days.

The Church Travel system sends automatic itinerary emails to Stake Presidents, but not to families. Please keep good communication open between the Stake President and the family as you watch for information about Missionary travel plans.

Missionaries serving in the South Africa Durban Mission from the 11 nations other than South Africa and North America will be routed home as soon as tickets can be purchased – within the next week or two. The destinations of these 31 missionaries are: Australia (5), Austria (1), Brazil (13), Fiji (1), Jamaica (1), Kenya (1), Republic of the Congo (2), Uganda (1), United Kingdom (3), Zambia (2), Zimbabwe (1).

That will leave the Mission with 13 South African Elders, and at least 10 more who will be arriving from other missions as all missionaries are returned to their home countries. The work will go forward in the Lord’s own time.

We have felt the Lord’s sustaining influence in this process. Deep appreciation is also felt for the Church’s leaders, Missionary Department and Africa Southeast Area travel teams, our Mission office team and many others providing support in this historic time. We invite a continued interest in your prayers. We will provide additional information concerning transport of your loved ones as we come to know the details.

With gratitude,

Tim R. Lines, President
Lori Lines, Companion

Travel Plans for South African Durban #4

March 21, 2020

Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders;

Please do not respond to this email.  Our Inboxes are overloaded, and we’ll give you more details as we have them.

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the Church has decided to pull all non-native Missionaries out of South Africa.  North American Elders and Seniors will all go to the US on a flight on Monday or Tuesday.  All other non-South African citizens will also leave later in the week.

Those with less than 90 days left will be released and self-isolate at home for 14-days.   Others will be re-assigned to another mission in their home country.

We have pulled all the Missionaries out of Lesotho today, and are moving the North American Elders to Durban in the next couple of days in preparation for leaving.

We are also getting South African young Elders assigned to our mission who were serving in Missions that are closing, so the work will continue here.

This is the Lord’s work and we know that no unhallowed hand will stop it for very long.

We appreciate all the prayers in our behalf.  Thank you for your patience as we work through this process.  We will keep you informed.

Best wishes
President Lines


March 20, 2020

Bishop Moser,

We are receiving information in bits and pieces from the missionary department. I hope to have a little clearer picture of all that will be required soon.  One thing that I do know for certain is that I have been instructed to release all missionaries after a 14 day period of self-isolation.  I will send you additional information as it becomes available.

Thanks for your patience,

President Goodwin

Sent from my iPhone

Flight Plans

Elder Moser Flight

Inbox

x

Delta Flight 4141

Mar 22-Confirmation #NLP8GZ-No Updates

Salt Lake City SLC

5:05 PM

Idaho Falls IDA

6:12 PM

South African 2052

DUR to JNB Mar 21, 3:45 PM

South African 203

JNB to JFK Mar 21, 9:10 PM

Delta 2856

JFK to SLC Mar 22, 10:55 AM

Delta 4141

SLC to IDA Mar 22, 5:05 PM

South Africa Durban Mission	Fri, Mar 20, 2:26 AM (12 days ago)
to me

It just came through.

Sorry to lose him so soon!

Kind Regards,

Sister Allen

COVID-19 Update #3

March 19, 2020

Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders,

We want to keep you updated on the latest information regarding the COVID-19 situation.  I am in near-constant contact with the Area Presidency in Johannesburg, Missionary Department and General Authorities in Salt Lake City.  We are being cautious and prudent.  

You may have heard that non-native missionaries in many African countries are being sent back to their home countries.  That is not the case for our mission.  All three missions in South Africa are continuing to function near-normally.  We are making changes in the mission so that our Elders will not be using public transportation.

We are sending several Elders home because they have underlying health issues, like asthma.  Their parents and Stake Presidents have already been notified. Those with less than 90 days left in their missionary service will be honorably released early.  Those with longer times remaining will be reassigned to a new mission in their home country after 2 weeks at home in self-isolation.

Senior Missionaries over age 60 in the Africa Southeast Area are being encouraged to return home, but may stay at their choice based on their individual circumstances. 

Church leaders continue to closely monitor conditions related to the outbreak of COVID-19 and will make further adjustments as needed. We love our missionaries and express appreciation for their devoted service.


Please let me know if you have any questions.

President Lines

(Q. Did we miss Elder Moser's flight plans?)

No. He is the only one I'm missing. I'll check again in a few hours. 

The last ticket came through after 10pm. They may have just quit and gone to bed. 

Sister Allen

Covid-19 Update #2

March 17, 2020

Dear Parents,

How grateful we are to serve with your sons in the Lord’s cause. We love these young men as our own. Please know that with the coronavirus, or COVID-19, affecting people here and around the world, our highest priority right now continues to be your missionary’s personal health and safety. 

To help ensure the missionaries’ continued physical and spiritual well-being, we are following the inspired and well-informed direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, our Area Presidency, and the Missionary Department. We also are instructing the missionaries in following local and national government guidelines and precautions, reminding them to:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay in their apartment whenever they themselves are sick. Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with household cleaning spray or wipes. 
• Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (which should always be done if their hands are visibly dirty), and, if soap and water are not readily available, to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

We are asking your missionary to contact us immediately if they feel sick so that we can involve health care professionals and our area medical advisers. If your missionary has chronic or critical health issues that we need to be aware of, we also invite you to reply to this email to make sure that we address any concerns. We understand very well that the current situation may be stressful and cause concerns for some of our missionaries and their families, but we will watch over your missionary carefully and will communicate with them often.

If it becomes necessary for our missionaries to only work from their apartments, we will provide additional funds for them to purchase food and supplies. We will help the missionaries prepare and make sure their needs are met. 

These are challenging times and circumstances, but to us this also is an opportunity to continue sharing the gospel. If our missionaries are required to work primarily from their apartments, they will continue to focus on their missionary purpose by teaching using technology, studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, language learning, family history, online community service and other activities as needed. This is also a significant opportunity for missionaries to work closely with local Church leaders to reach out to new and returning members, families where some individuals are not yet members, and members with special ministering needs. Our missionaries will continue to go outside for exercise and fresh air while observing wise guidelines for personal contact. All of these activities will help them continue the Lord’s work, grow spiritually, and bless those in the communities they serve. 

Going forward, we will continue to send updates to you as mission circumstances evolve. If your missionary is working from their apartment, they may communicate with you twice a week to share their status and experiences. 

Please be assured that we are completely dedicated to keeping your missionary healthy and safe. And we are most grateful for our loving Heavenly Father’s supporting hand in caring for them. May he continue to abundantly bless you and your family, each and every missionary, and the people we have been called to serve. 

With our greatest love and appreciation,

President and Sister Lines

Corona Virus Take Over

March 16, 2020

This week there is not much to tell about. My companion has become pretty sick, leaving us stuck in boarding. Now, the mission wants us to keep contact with anyone to a minimal and stay home if we are sick at all. I'm starting to get a little sick so that is fun too. Anyone remember what the world was like before all this virus nonsense?

We did meet someone who works at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. Its the most expensive hotel in Durban, and she attended the temple and LOVED it. She said she had never felt a spirit like that before and wanted to know everything we could teach her. We taught her while sitting outside at Debonairs Pizza.

Other than that, there is not much to say. 

Till next week!

Elder Moser

To Mom:

Man, this week has been rough. My companion is sick...... :L

I have also been thinking a lot about how the church has been brought into our homes and food storage and all that good stuff, and it really strengthens my testimony about a modern day prophet, that is for sure! Sacrament meeting was strange, for it was only two of us and we didn't get permission to have it till the morning of. We cleaned our boarding according to the sacredness of the experience.

I don't know what the plan with this carona virus thing is, but South Africa just declared a state of emergency, and they are revoking all visas from countries with High risk, which includes America. I don't know what is going to happen from here.

Also, I'm drinking straight water lately. I don't feel any difference but I like the challenge :)

Letter From President Lines:

March 13, 2020

Dear Families and Priesthood Leaders of our Missionaries,

We are as concerned here in South Africa, as you may be in your home country, about the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  We are monitoring the situation closely and acting with faith and prudence as our Church leaders have directed.

First, the virus has reached South Africa, but at this time is very small and contained.  There are 8 cases in KwaZulu Natal and just one case in the Free State – the two states where our mission operates. 

Second, as directed by President Nelson, all regular church gatherings are canceled for the foreseeable future.  If there is a baptism scheduled it will be held with a minimum number of people present.  We are working on ways to hold Mission leadership activities using technology.

For now, the proselyting work will go forward, but with precautions.  As directed by the Southeast Africa Area Presidency all Missionaries have been told to follow the standard rules of hand-washing, keeping distance, avoiding handshakes and hugs, etc. We have our young missionary leadership following up weekly to ensure all preventive measures and standard rules are taking place.

Lekker Week

March 9, 2020

This week was awesome. The Online referral program is really saving us. If we didn't have it, I fear we would not have as much to do. We really do see miracles from it. I don't know how many times I have said that, so if you don't know yet, I LOVE it!!!

My skin has become like, 6 shades darker as we have trekked in the sun this week. There has been zero cloud coverage the entire week, but when we verbally express how we " Love the heat" it somehow makes our burdens lighter.

We have been grinding this week. I have been loving the work and trying to talk to people everywhere we go. Even to workers in stores. It feels so good to help people!!! Everyone is scared about the coronavirus, but I think they are all over reacting.

We had a really powerful experience yesterday after church. We had a man from the nearby township invite us to come and share something with him. The area is called Amaote and I have never been there before because all the Indians say it is too dangerous there and that we will be killed. We felt like we should go there anyways, so we took the hour long walk over a dodgy bridge that divides the area, then suddenly we were in a very busy township with everybody staring at these two mlungus walking around. Our guy, S'busiso came to meet us at the Library and then took us to his home. He told us to wait in his room while he gathered the "others" and then came back in with his entire family of like 6 or 7 people, and a bunch of kids. They had questions for us to answer: why are there so many churches and if God answers our prayers. It was perfect for us to teach the restoration and they heard everything we said. The men wanted to learn more about Priesthood authority so they could also baptize their family and bless them. They have righteous desires and a spirit you can feel. I'm super pumped to meet with them more!

I'm not sure if anyone noticed this but the last email I sent in comic sans.... Anybody? No? okay.

Love you all! Have a good week. Only a few seconds till mission is gone:(

-Elder Moser