Well, what a roller coaster this month has been! It is hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago my concerns were all about fundraising and VBS planning. As the world began shutting down, Mike and I wrestled with the wisdom of carrying on as planned. We decided earlier this week that the risk to benefit ratio wasn´t in our favor. We were ready to pull the plug, but as of Wednesday, both the school administration and International Children´s Care said they would still allow trips to go ahead and we decided to wait a bit. What a difference a day makes!
By yesterday morning, the Oregon Conference had cancelled all mission trips.
Our sister school Milo had just sent their team to Egypt the day before and were then told to come home as soon as they can. Getting stuck abroad had been one of our main reasons for cancelling the trip (together with not wanting to take the virus to Guatemala, which is currently free of it and has a fragile medical system) and we feel for the Milo team and pray they return home safely.
So what does this cancellation mean for Sus Manos? One of our guiding verses is Ephesians 2:10--
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Berean Study Bible)
I am confident that God has not been taken by surprise by COVID-19.
We have been preparing diligently for several months. All the time we were preparing, He knew that the work He prepared in advance for us to do was not going to happen in Guatemala in March. With all school activities cancelled by order of the governor, the Oregon Conference and PAA, our good works will also not be my Plan B of teaming up with the church in Hillsboro where we worked two years ago. Whatever it is, we will not be able to physically get together.
So where is He leading us now?
That is the subject of my prayers and I invite you to stick with us just a bit longer to see how He might still work in and through my little Sus Manos gang.
By yesterday morning, the Oregon Conference had cancelled all mission trips.
Our sister school Milo had just sent their team to Egypt the day before and were then told to come home as soon as they can. Getting stuck abroad had been one of our main reasons for cancelling the trip (together with not wanting to take the virus to Guatemala, which is currently free of it and has a fragile medical system) and we feel for the Milo team and pray they return home safely.
So what does this cancellation mean for Sus Manos? One of our guiding verses is Ephesians 2:10--
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Berean Study Bible)
I am confident that God has not been taken by surprise by COVID-19.
We have been preparing diligently for several months. All the time we were preparing, He knew that the work He prepared in advance for us to do was not going to happen in Guatemala in March. With all school activities cancelled by order of the governor, the Oregon Conference and PAA, our good works will also not be my Plan B of teaming up with the church in Hillsboro where we worked two years ago. Whatever it is, we will not be able to physically get together.
So where is He leading us now?
That is the subject of my prayers and I invite you to stick with us just a bit longer to see how He might still work in and through my little Sus Manos gang.