This lent is slightly different than we had originally imagined. A tiny virus has changed life as we know it. It has quieted our streets, limited human interaction, closed schools, many businesses, and even our churches. In Haiti, there was a recent study which found that the whole country has only 64 ventilators, for a population of 11 million people! This will greatly limit the number of people who could seek treatment for the virus if the problem continues to grow. There are currently only 15 cases in Haiti, but there is serious concern about the testing and treating capacity of such a weak national health system. Understanding the devastating impact that Coronavirus could have in Haiti, our staff is personally calling each family to explain the importance of washing hands and social distancing during this time.
On the bright side, this tiny virus has also given us time to reflect, to pray, to spend time with our families, and most importantly, allowing us to rely on God once again. It can be easy to wallow in despair while being isolated but let us not forget that we have an almighty Father that sees us and cares very deeply for us. As Pope Francis said during the Papal address, Urbi et Orbi, “It is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others.” So while you are at home listen to what the Lord is trying to tell you about yourself, your family, and about Him.
As mentioned in the last email, the house blessing for our JY office in Haiti was scheduled for March 23, but unfortunately there was not a big celebration in order to keep our families and staff safe due to social distancing measures. We did have a small house blessing with prayer and hope to celebrate when conditions permit. Let us keep praying for an end to this pandemic and be open to what the Lord is saying to us.
