Covid

It’s hard to avoid talking about Covid in an update when you recently had the virus. 

I recently sick and after three or four days of being sick with fevers and chills and lying in bed most of the day, I suspected it might be Covid. I went to a local hospital to get a test, which was a little uncomfortable, but quick. I got results the next day and was surprised it came back negative. However, I had begun to experience some pain in my chest and had shortness of breath, which made me doubt the accuracy of the test. I also had headaches, fatigue, and strangely, sensitive teeth. So for now I’m assuming it really was Covid.

All in all, I was out of commission for about two weeks after which my health slowly started to improve. Four weeks out I’m feeling a lot better, but still quite tired. It was definitely the sickest I’ve been in a long while and not a pleasant experience, but I’m thankful it was not too severe and I never had to go into the hospital. 

Getting the virus put a hold on most of our work for the month of February. It’s obviously frustrating to have to cancel certain ministries and to change plans once again. But that is the name of the game during this pandemic. Everything in God’s timing. 

Towards the end of the month myself and Annemarie were able to resume our English and sewing classes at the Pan de Vida children’s home. We also volunteered to help out with the Sunday school for the kids, so this past Sunday I was able to begin with that. We are quite thankful we are able to be involved with the ministry at Pan de Vida during the pandemic since other ministry opportunities are made more difficult with the restrictions and safety protocols. Since November we have been attending the church at Pan de Vida as well. This means every Sunday our entire family can attend a live worship service – definitely a blessing!

We continue to deliver food parcels to various locations in the city. Each location is a little different in terms of how we distribute the parcels and deliver a gospel message. In one place we drop off the food parcels at a home to be distributed later, and then join the lady there for a meal. In another place, the next time we go we will bring around fifty parcels and I’ll give a message from Galatians, standing in the street in front of our van. It is a pretty neat opportunity God has given us. 

Just before I got Covid we started a new bible study. Some of the people that go to our other bible study wanted us to start one in their house, in a different neighbourhood. In the near future I think I’m going to write a blog post about our experience with this bible study, so for now let’s just say it is interesting and a bit different from any bible study we’ve attended in Canada. 

One last thing before I end this update: we are planning to be in Tepic, Nayarit for a two-month internship with Matt and Anne-Marie Van Dyken. It had been planned for last summer, but for obvious reasons it got postponed. We are hoping even with current restrictions we will have a fruitful time there and we are looking forward to spending time with the Van Dykens. 

I’ve been reading from the minor prophets recently, so let me end with words from Habakkuk, words I try remember when I am weary and feeling weak: 

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19