Goodbye Africa: Abrupt End - Coronavirus

A whirlwind two weeks has ended with an early return home

 due to the Coronavirus worldwide plague.  Two weeks ago Monday,

 we left Kasungu on a pre-planned trip to Lusaka to take care

 of some of our humanitarian projects.  We were able to visit some

 project and get supplies for those that we needed to be present for.

  Then we were told we needed to prepare to go home. 

 Thankfully, Sister Pulsipher had been inspired to bring all our

 personal items from Kasungu so we just packed and finished what we could.  

Visited the Tiyende Pamodzi School.
 The 3 classroom building was finished and desks delivered.
  A few touch-ups were needed but we told them to go ahead and start using it.
 Hopefully our Stake and Mission President can attend the handover ceremony.

Finished Tiyende Pamodzi school block

All 60 new desks had been delivered.  Another 30 desks are still being repaired.  

We got some final supplies for the Sosco School maize milling machines.
 They are now up and running just in time for the Maize harvest season.
 Now they can pay for quality teachers and school supplies.
 They were very, very grateful. 

Dehuller and milling machines.

Visited Twikatane health post project.
 The community has a good start on the staff house they are building.  

The health post is being plastered and the roofing will be put on soon.  

Visited the Chainda Clinic maternity ward building.
 The building is complete so we ordered beds and hospital equipment for it.
 Hopefully it will be up and running soon. 
We hope to pay invoices and complete ordering from home.  

Before we left, Grandma went to a Sister Missionary's night.
 These three are fantastic missionaries.  They are all probably at home now
 that all the North Americans got sent home.  

More great sisters.  Sister Eme...., the middle one,
had finished her mission and was on her way home.
 She lived next to us in Lusaka for several months so we grew close to her.   

During the week we were notified that it was time to go home. 

 We packed and cleaned and finished up loose ends.  

 We were sad we didn't have enough time to say goodbye to many.  

Ready to Go!

Goodbye Zambia!  

The "new look" in all the airports! Wore these in crowed areas.  So fun!  

When we arrived in Johannesburg, our flight to the U.S. was cancelled.
  So after scrabbling, they got us on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
 After a 6 hour layover, we headed to New York.  Thankfully they put us
 in a hotel by the airport for some much needed rest.
 The next morning we learned our flight to SLC was cancelled.
 So we called around and got a flight through Minneapolis to SLC.  

Our Welcoming committee in Salt Lake City. 
We were so excited to visit with Tren's family at the airport.
  We couldn't resist one hug as we held our breath. 
Took our truck and drove to a hotel in Tremonton.  Then drove home the next day.  

After 75 hours of travel, we finally made it home!
  Greeted Tallies family then started our 14 day self-isolation.  

We had the most wonderful mission! 

 Were able to serve as humanitarian, office, and member support

 missionaries all in one mission!   What a blessing it has been for us. 

 We will continue to serve from home until April 23rd then be

 officially released.  But this will be our final entry in our mission blog. 

 We love the Lord and the people of Zambia and Malawi. 

 Great things are ahead in this work of the Lord.