4/3/2020
I went for a walk today and sent Jason a picture. The bright blue sky and green leaves were just stunning. Jason sent me a picture back. It was stunning too–for different reasons.
The great equalizer
Our circumstances are vastly different. I can go for a walk in fresh air. Jason can’t. I am not worried about police with machine guns on the street stopping to check my documents. Our friends from Venezuela are. Still, we do feel this equalizing force connecting us with one another. Around the world, economies are collapsing and food shortages are a real concern for many. And of course, a lot of people are sick. The virus doesn’t care what you believe or how much money or power you have.
No spreadsheet can organize us out of this mess
We still have 24 volunteers stranded in Lima. It’s day 18 of Peru’s national state of emergency that has everyone on lockdown. The restrictions continue to get worse — now only men can leave their homes on certain days and women on others. And no one can leave their homes on Sundays. The U.S. Embassy says it’s doing whatever it can to bring Americans home, but it sounds like there are more than 5,000 people they need to repatriate. This is no small job.
The process has been disorganized and confusing The entire world seems to be laying the tracks as this train called COVID-19 barrels through.
Now I do love a good plan. I’m queen of to-do lists and organizers. This is no time for any of that! We have got to take this thing day by day. I am thankful for how my priorities are being rearranged. My to-do list has gotten trumped by the much more important things. People are important. Peace is important.
Finding the good
When I see your donations coming in, it reminds me that I truly do not need to worry –not even about my friends and family in Peru. Your gifts are ensuring they will eat and be safe. That is inspiring. And life-giving.
I hope you are following us on social media, too. There are so many good things happening in the middle of this crisis. One way to combat the worries is to fill our days with good things — good thoughts, good conversation in our homes, and positive information in our news feeds.
Please keep spreading the word! Donate when you can. Reach out to us if you need someone to talk to. We are here for you.
The greatest equalizer
You know what’s an even more powerful equalizer than this virus? Love.
We are almost halfway to our goal of raising $10,000 that will be matched for another $10,000. That will fill a lot of bellies! You did that. And that’s the kind of love that can move mountains.
