Missions Board News
This letter is from Miranda Talbott-Pope, who runs the organization in Guatemala through which the Skyland Mission Board and three of our members support students:
Dear ones: I think we would all agree we are living in MOST interesting times...in the Chinese sense. Last year's climate episodes. March's election primaries. And now the coronavirus and it's many effects, all over the world.
Disturbing times, distressing times, and times that require us to see things newly, assess our own lives newly.
But for the moment, we are probably all of us trying to figure out what to do now and what to do next. I hope each of you is finding some interest and some pleasure despite the wide-spread concern.
Here in Guatemala, so far we feel pretty safe, since the President here (rather astoundingly!) is seeming to place public health and safety above economic concerns. He has immediately put curfews in place, closed stores and forbid public gatherings, including at churches, and of course closed schools.
As you can imagine that effects us, though I am paying our two young teachers to spend their regular after-school session time sorting out our materials, cleaning up, working on lesson plans and preparing for the return of class - hopefully in two weeks.
But since Guatemala's economy is very much sustained by tourism, you can imagine the economic shock as flights are cancelled, no one is permitted into the country, and some people who have been here for awhile - paying their share into hotels, shuttles, and restaurants - are headed home by whatever means they can find.
Some of Creando's Parent Board came forward to ask if it were possible to receive a cash payment this month, instead of the regular food basket, since the shops were not allowed to sell in bulk (to prevent some people stocking up), and since they were hurting in many ways, not just for food. I talked to the members when we gathered last Thursday, about 10 days earlier than the usual food distribution -- keeping very careful distance - and learned that since the schools are closed, the mothers that do cleaning there, or sell snacks at recess can't work. Those that sell in the street at the mercado are limited in hours and space, since the Muni is curtailing crowds - so they are hurting, and of course if trucks bringing produce can't get in, they have little to sell (though most sell things they've raised themselves - bananas, avocados, onions, herbs, etc.) I thought the mozos/day-workers would keep on as usual, but they told me that there is work, of course, but their employers don't have any money. Many jobs cleaning stores or restaurants have also been lost. So everyone is hurting.
So I decided to give your sponsorship money early and give a little more than the usual cost of the food basket. And of course everyone was very grateful. The parent board members and one of our teachers each went off with a bundle of money, receipts for the parents to fill out, and a list of 5-8 parents, depending on who they lived close to. Money was given out last Friday. And hopefully we have relieved some worry, and helped in one way or another during this difficult 2nd week.
The lake is still beautiful, it is quieter than usual with no trucks motorcycles and few tuktuks running. I am safe as long as my vitamins/minerals and rice flour hold out (allergic to wheat). We are so far very fortunate here.
I am concerned for each of you, but hope ingenuity is strong and you're figuring out ways to manage, to stay safe, and even stay entertained.
This is perhaps not the best of the inspirational poems coming out these days, but it's a good one:
The real meaning of these times - take them with Grace.
“Lockdown"
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan (China) after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi (Italy)
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
- Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM
Much love to all of you. May you be safe and healthy; May you find some Grace.
Miranda
