A Time to Remember

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I’ve mentioned this before, but if you’re like me, you’ve gone through various cycles of opinion about COVID. For me it started with, “this is probably no big deal,” to “well, maybe I should be a bit careful,” to “this is crazy, this is a media-driven frenzy” to “you know, people I know around me have died with this. I think it’s something to be taken seriously.”

Patty with cousin Marla last year at a baking class

In Mexico, we’re still dealing with the worst of the curve. As a matter of fact, a downward curve would be an improvement. So far, it appears as though cases continue to increase, or perhaps plateau in just a few Mexican states. And more than generic stats, it has impacted us personally. Our friend and brother Juan from the Santa Bárbara church died from it. A few days ago, Patty, a believer from the Jesús María church, also succumbed to the virus.  Although he hasn’t attended church for some time, some of you may remember Marcos, who helped us with some of our outreach events. Marcos also died about two weeks ago.  It’s difficult to determine, here, if someone has died because of the virus, or perhaps in part because of the complications of going to the hospital. That being said, there have been a lot of deaths lately.

Marcos helped us in the organization of many outreach events, including concerts and wheelchair/hearing aid/reading glasses events.

In Oaxaca, friend Gaspar said two days ago that 52 Baptist pastors have died in the regions that he has knowledge of, as well as many congregants. One of his non-traditional ministry partners, Fernando, died due to the virus. The areas where we ministered last summer have been particularly hard hit.

So we continue with online classes, on different days, on different platforms, using GoToMeeting, Zoom, Facebook Rooms and Youtube. And we begin to contemplate returning to normal services. Or at least as normal as things can be right now.

God is still on the throne! We’re reading Isaiah right now for our OT Survey course, and I read Isaiah 40-44 today. What a series of chapters! Here’s a taste:

 

“To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
   Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:25-26

 

 

2 thoughts on “A Time to Remember”

  1. So sorry to hear about your dear friends, Rod and Mayra. What a sobering reminder for all of us. Yes, for many this virus has hit close to home sooner or later.

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