Time disappeared during our COVID retreat. It was basically one day with lots of naps and few forays into the real world! We were super dodgers, so this was new to us. We also decided early on to avoid Paxlovid because we did not want to screw anything up with COVID rebound. Let’s just get it over with.
Positive :( COVID selfie. Nutella biscuits were the miracle drug.
My pink line showed up the second the drops touched the strip. Even before the control line popped up. Jim was still negative but had symptoms, so Wednesday was Day 1 for both of our quarantines. He tested positive that evening.
We were disappointed, but we were also very lucky. Our symptoms were mild - basically a bad sinus infection with cough from a post-nasal drip. We were feverish for about 36 hours and then in recovery mode. We would be able to rejoin the group for the final eight days, which had the most important visits. We simply surrendered to the enforced retreat and let recovery happen.
We did miss the Judean wilderness, but we had driven through it to Masada.
Where Jesus experienced the temptations in the desert.
My biggest disappointment was missing the Jordan River for the renewal of baptism vows, but we would be there in spirit.
Joining my fellow baptism ins Spirit for the renewal of baptismal vows.
We also missed Bethlehem, which was sad, but it was also the least impressive site according to our fellow pilgrims! We would rejoin the group the following Monday to visit sites connected with Jesus’ teaching and healing ministry. Most appropriately, we would have a healing service at the Pools of Bethesda. Perfect timing!
Our fellow pilgrims and staff checked on us daily. Leslie and Loren kept us well fed with room service from the Guest House. We had come prepped with Robitussin, Ibuprofin, Mucinex, and Sudafed. When the Robitussin gave out, we found an awesome cough medicine at the local pharmacy that was not available in the US. It soothed the throat, cleared the sinuses, and put us to sleep. Apparently the French take it to sleep on long international flights.
We were given masked-run of the campus when the pilgrims were on outings, so we could relax in the guest lounge, enjoy fresh air on the roof top or campus grounds, and sit in the Cathedral for prayer. There was a group dinner at a local hotel we missed, but they brought us back an awesome Middle Eastern spread as take away.
Photo gallery of the campus grounds. I particularly loved the culvert re-purposed as the empty tomb!
One of our Australian friends had a birthday, so everyone shared cake and greetings on the roof, to which we were invited. We stood masked on the perimeter, but enjoyed our cake with the group from afar. Sadly, we noticed our celebrant’s wife was masked and standing on the perimeter as well. We shared a table at our last dinner, so it seemed we also shared COVID. Ugh. Patients Zero from New Jersey.
Happy Birthday to Paul - from a safe distance.
By Sunday, we were desperate to get out. Leslie had managed to get pink-eye (or allergies?) so she stayed behind from the group outing to worship in Nablus and a visit to the well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. We all really wanted to go, but health takes priority. Leslie joined us for a walk for groceries and some lunch. We found an excellent Turkish shawarma place that is tops on Trip Advisor and took a meal to go. We all shared it on the roof together.
When the Pilgrims returned from Nablus, three had Norovirus symptoms, including Loren. I have to be honest, I’ll take five days of COVID over two days of Norovirus. I think our fellow quarantined pilgrims might have agreed! Another pilgrim developed an eye problem that was potentially a detached retina. She was taken to the hospital and was well cared for. Saint George’s knew exactly what to do in each of our circumstances and made sure we were cared for and did not feel abandoned.
The biggest thing we missed was the bonding with our new community that happens over the first few days. We did catch up, but it also showed us how much the community relationships are integral to the pilgrimage experience.
We slept well Sunday night, knowing we would be up bright and early for the next day’s walk back to the Holy City.