Texas, Washington residents talk about missions, COVID-19
Sister Cindy Gasca and Sister Nylene Hubschman, missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), recently spoke with the Weatherford Daily News about the challenges they have faced fulfilling their mission during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Gasca, of Houston, and Hubschman, of Yelm, Washington, have grown up in the church and were given the option to go on a mission after they turned 19.
“I always knew it was something I wanted to do, but the timing of my missionary experience is really weird because I wanted to do college and other things,” Gasca said. “But I knew I had to put everything on pause, so 2 years into an engineering degree, I put everything on pause to come out here.”
Hubschman, on the other hand, was not sure if she would do a mission until she finally applied. She said she was looking forward to training and reaching out with others. However, she learned 3 weeks before leaving for Utah she would be doing her training at home.
“Then I came out here and learned a lot of the work was online, but the blessings and amazing experiences are unbelievable,” Hubschman said.
An LDS mission is a period of time young men and women in the church dedicate to reach out to people and encouraging them to “get closer to Jesus Christ.” Men 18 and older dedicate 2 years of their time and women 19 and older typically dedicate 18 months.
Hubschman and Gasca met after they were assigned to Oklahoma City and then were transferred, moved to another location for a 6-week period, to this area. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo have not been able to physically reach out to others.
“At the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine, it was really hard,” Gasca said. “We’re used to being out. We’re used to being on bikes. However, we are using this time to go on Facebook and create content for people on various pages we have in Oklahoma for both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities.”
They also have been working with the Spanish-speaking LDS church in Clinton and volunteering at various community events.
Their time in the Weatherford area is coming to an end, but it is just the beginning for the duo. Gasca will return to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to finish her engineering degree. Hubschman still has another 15 months left in her mission. She said she is not sure what she wantd to do, but she is considering studying either law or English education, also at Brigham Young University.
“What I have seen and felt and experienced in Oklahoma, I have definitely gained so much more than I gave,” Gasca said. “Seeing so many people turning towards their Savior during this time of fear and uncertainty, to share that message of hope and happiness, it has been fulfilling.”