Week One of Home Quarantine

Mon., March 30, 2020
     Sis. Hamner has been home a week now for self-quarantine. We have had the pleasure of having her teach us a hymn in Indonesian, read us a story in Malay, hear her pray and bear her testimony to us in Malay, and have the unique opportunity to have a Youth Fireside with her and Elder Barlow (a friend from our ward who has been serving in Mexico City) via an online source. We have enjoyed reading scriptures together as a family (from the top of the stairs), going on daily walks around the neighborhood, and singing and laughing together from a distance. I especially love hearing all of the stories of the people Sis. Hamner has come to know and love in Malaysia. She was truly blessed with a wonderful branch, companions, and mission president. She misses them so much!
     Home quarantine is a very unique experience for missionaries right now. For those returning home at this time, it looks very different. True, they are at home with their families, but they cannot hug them for 14 days, must stay at least 6 feet apart at all times, and are secluded to their own part of the house when possible. It can seem lonely being secluded, especially without their companions that were with them 24/7. It can be discouraging, not being able to teach people the gospel the same way or not at all because they have been released early due to some health concerns or precautions. It can seem uncertain for some, not knowing if they will be able to return to the foreign lands that they have come to love so much.
    Yet, through it all, I have seen continued happiness to serve whereever they may be, faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, hope in whatever they are "called" to go and do next in their lives. I am grateful to know so many of these strong young missionaries and to be able to pull from their strength! May the Lord continue to bless them all (still serving or released)! Pray for the missionaries!

Sis. Hamner teaching us a hymn.

Sis. Hamner reading us a story in Malay.

Sis. Hamner wearing a traditional Malaysian baju tidur.

Week four of quarantine/ Heading home for more

March 23, 2020
     As many of you know by now, Sis. Hamner, along with all of the missionaries serving in Malaysia and Singapore, have been sent home for two weeks of self-quarantine, then they will be reassigned to a temporary mission in the United States until further notice. She hopes to be able to go back to Malaysia after things settledown, but, for now she is just happy to be serving whereever she is asked to do so. Here are some of the pics (out of order) from her traveling and homecoming.

 She's home! Car ride home from

 the airport. (Sis. Hamner was so cold!)

 We have a space set up downstairs just for Sis. Hamner with all of the essentials...including her favorite...applesauce!

 At the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, saying goodbye one last time before heading to their homes. 🙁

 Sis. Hamner and Sis. Nelson

Sis. Hamner teaching her mom and younger sisters how to sing "I Am A Child of God" in Indonesian this morning. 

Week Three of Quarantine...Moved to KL

Mar. 15, 2020

     We got to video chat with Sister Hamner on Sunday evening.  She said that they got a phone call toward the end of the week from the zone leaders saying that the Coronavirus had made its way to Subang (where they are living).  They were told that they needed to pack up and move to an empty missionary apartment in Kuala Lumpur as soon as possible.  So, all four of the sisters packed their belongings, including their 2 weeks worth of food, waited for the elders to meet them with the key to the apartment, and then caught a Grab (an Uber).  The elders helped them load the trunk and then stuffed anything that wouldn't fit in the trunk onto their laps inside the car.  Sis. Hamner said it was quite the sight to see! (Pics to prove it.)  It was a bit confining, but after about 30 min, they arrived safely to their new apartment.  She said the best two things about the new apartment are the bigger refrigerator and a big, comfortable couch. :) 
     Sis. Hamner said they are making the most of this time in quarantine.  She loves her companion, Sis. Nelson, and the Subang sisters; they get along great!  They enjoy cooking together, making music together, laughing together, and learning together.  Again, Rachel says "thank you" for all of the prayers! 

Four sister missionaries and ALL of their things (including 2 weeks worth of food)...

squeezed into a tiny Grab (Uber) while moving to Kuala Lumpur.

The elders helped them pack in tightly.

After a 30 minute ride from Subang, they made it safely to KL.

Microwave enchiladas...YUM!

 A spider....(I don't know WHY Rachel sent this! LOL!)

Week Two of Quarantine...Still in Good Spirits!

Apa khabar! (How are you?) Mar. 9, 2020 Sorry, it's been a while since I've written one of these, but the past few weeks have been a little different, so here's the updates: With the Coronivirus happening, many precautions are being taken to protect and keep the missionaries in Asia safe. Some mission areas are a lot worse than ours and have to take more drastic matters, but for us in the Singapore mission, this means we have had to start doing "home-centered missionary work." Basically, we do missionary work from inside our apartments...all day. We have time to go outside for exercise in the morning, shop for food, and meet for 1 hour church service on Sunday, but other than that, we are home bound, and whenever we go out, we wear these awesome masks that make you sweat...a lot...right around your mouth... As lame as that all may sound, the work is still going good! It's definitely different and hard sometimes, but there are so many positives (especially with the blessings of technology) and ways we have stayed happy! Plus we have so much time to read the scriptures and the Saints books, It's been super nice. If you have a cool scripture or thought, a nice talk or song or stove-top recipe, or even a good corny joke, I'd love to hear it! Just shoot me an email. Keep praying for all the missionaries out there, and don't forget to KEEP THE FAITH. I pray for all of you. It can be scary during times of uncertainty, but just remember: 1)we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows all things and has a perfect plan; 2)he has provided a prophet and apostles to guide and direct us; 3)we can always seek His help and comfort in prayer. I've gained a greater witness of that this week, and testify it's true. love you all, selamat tinggal (goodbye) sister hamner

P.S. - We don't have very many opportunities to take cool/crazy pictures. So, sorry for the lack of pictures.

The Subang sisters made Korean lettuce wraps for Sunday dinner. 

(Beautiful AND yummy!)

Week One of Quarantine...Still Hanging On!

Feb. 2, 2020
    Sis. Hamner is still in a mild quarantine, but in good spirits. She is enjoying staying with the Subang sisters. The four of them all get along great and keep each other sane during this difficult time.  (The more, the merrier!) They keep busy by studying, cooking good food, exercising, playing games, making fun videos about the gospel or the isolation, etc. 
    Here are some older pictures she forgot to send last week, plus some from this week during quarantine. Sis. Hamner sends her love and thanks for all the prayers and support on her behalf and on behalf of all those serving in countries affected by the Coronovirus.

Sis. Shanti and her family.

Sis. Shanti made her HOMEMADE Nasi Lemak.
 (Nasi Lemak is a Malay fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf.
 It is commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered the national dish.)

Eating Nasi Lemak with Sis. Shanti and her family.

First time Sis. Hamner made No Bake cookies on her mission.

Delivering the No Bake's to Sis. Shanti as a "thank you" for dinner.


They saw the Batmobile (van style)!

PJ and Subang quarantine buds!

Some delicious quarantine meals...YUM!
 (These sisters are talented cooks!)

A Sunday with masks.
(Member of the branch, Sis. Nelson, Sis. Hamner and the Subang sister missionaries.)

ARTWORK:

Sis. Hamner loves this painting of Jesus Christ! 

"This is the Lord's work, He is with us every moment of the day."
(A Sis. Hamner original.)