Life in Quarantine

A Letter from Charles and Melissa Johnson, serving in Zambia

April 2020

Friends – by now many of you may be aware that we evacuated from Zambia on Friday, March 20, back to Atlanta, where we are currently in self-quarantine through Saturday, April 4. The decision to leave our home, work and friends in Zambia was a difficult and emotional decision, but in the end, it was decided to be our best course of action. Just days after we made our decision, Presbyterian World Mission asked all mission co-workers to return to the U.S. unless there were extenuating circumstances and protocols in place to stay safe and well.

We have absolutely no idea when we’ll be able to return to Lundazi. We are concerned for our friends, associates and all Zambians – we are told that there are many confirmed cases there now. Please keep the people of Zambia in your prayers.

Like all of you, we are adjusting to this new normal, but we are finding silver linings and acts of kindness in our surroundings. A big concern we had was where we would stay in Atlanta when we returned. Our daughter, Meagan, put out the word among her friends and immediately we learned her neighbor, Nancy, was willing to move out of her house and let us stay there during our 14-day self-quarantine. As it turns out, Nancy’s house backs up to Meagan and Eric’s house and we can see our grandchildren playing in their back yard. Our granddaughter, Lucy, loaned us one of her walkie talkies so that we can talk to each other from our back porches – how great is that?

On Saturday, April 4, we relocated to an Airbnb managed by Talia, a friend of another of Meagan’s friends. When we contacted Talia about the possibility of staying in the Airbnb she manages, this was the response: “So good to hear from you! My grandparents were medical missionaries in Kenya and my own parents lived in Swaziland for a bit. And the owner of the home, Kassie, actually is in Kenya and the Ivory Coast. I really think ya’ll will feel at home here.” We do. And, most importantly, it’s not too far away from Lucy and Max.

We’re also looking for ways to stay busy – Melissa ordered a kombucha making kit from Amazon and I was glad – I didn’t feel so guilty about ordering a ukulele. Who knows what new skills we’ll have when this is finally over.

Can We Join You?

We want to let you know that you are in our prayers and we want to stay connected during this challenging time. One way we’re doing that is by participating in online video worship services. We’ve already begun doing that and have worshipped with Central Presbyterian Church (Lafayette, IN), Northwood Presbyterian Church (San Antonio, TX) and Faith Presbyterian Church (Blue Ridge, GA). Recently during worship with Faith PC in Blue Ridge, we also participated in worship by doing a moment for mission via Zoom, leading the prayers of the people and answering questions following worship.

We would love to participate in your worship services, too. We know Zoom will accommodate participation, but we don’t know about other platforms such as Facebook Live. Still, we’re willing to try if you are. If you would like to talk more about this, please contact us by email at Charles.Johnson@pcusa.org or Melissa.Johnson@pcusa.org.

As we become more settled and comfortable with technology, we might even host some Zoom check-ins which you could join. If we do, we’ll communicate the event and Zoom link via our “Life in Lundazi” Facebook page, Life in Lundazi.

Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing, and please pray for our friends and us as we’ll be praying for you. And please stay well – wash those hands!!

Charles and Melissa