Corona Virus Update
We hope that you are doing well during these difficult and unusual days as we all experience social distancing. I greet you from my dining room table. All of our office staff in Valparaiso, IN and St. Louis, MI are working from home. We are fortunate that we can continue our ministries remotely.
During this pandemic I wanted to update you on our children and families in the U.S., India, Myanmar, and Liberia.
India
We have heard from Abraham Thomas, Agape Director, in India. The CWC (child welfare in India) required us to send children home who have relatives. So our homes have fewer children then normally. The Havilah home still has 12 children as the state closed their borders. Several summer ministry teams are stranded in villages and cannot leave. The country of India is shut down for at least 21 days. Police are everywhere in Kerala, and no one is allowed to leave home except for emergencies. Groceries are very limited. Only 5 customers can be in a store at one time. At this time we do not believe any children, students, or houseparents have any symptoms of Covid-19.
Myanmar
Our partners in the want you to know that they have prepared food and basic needs for one month. Their children are fine, and that God is good all the time! Most of the rice and daily food is imported from Kalemyo and India. They depend on that. But recently, those roads have been blocked and all transportation is stopped from Kalemyo and the border of India. Our partners and children are living by faith during most uncertain times.
One of our group homes in Myanmar received a donation of vegetables
Liberia
Liberia is likewise on a 21 day shutdown. They have no church or school. I imagine this is even more difficult than in the U.S. because they do not have the internet capacity that we do to attend church or check in on each other virtually. One of the biggest struggles is the gasoline shortage they are experiencing. James Togba, our Liberia Director, has asked the houseparents in Zorzor to rent an empty house so that they can split the children up in order to have better social distancing. Pastor Togba has told us that they will soon have problems getting basic food supplies.
Liberia is facing a gas shortage
United States
Our group home families are no doubt experiencing the same restrictions as you are. School is not in session and will not resume until the Fall. Church is held over the internet, and counseling sessions with caseworkers are held via Facetime.
Our houseparents seem remarkably resilient during these days where they are both houseparent, teacher, encourager, and safety monitor. So far all our staff and children in the US are doing well with no symptoms of the virus. We have been so blessed with nearby churches dropping off milk and other food items that we were having difficulty obtaining in the quantity we need. I don’t think we have ever appreciated our on site food pantries more!
Maria, Uncle Billy, Bethany, and Benji are doing some reading during their time at home
In summary, all of the children in our care are doing fine. That is not to say that we do not have concerns going forward. We are trusting God to provide for every child He has entrusted to us, today and in the future.
Please continue to pray for us, that our needs will be met. We pray for your health and well-being each morning in our staff devotions time. I do not know in what ways this pandemic has affected you. Perhaps it has affected you physically, financially, or in other ways. If you would like us to pray for a specific need that you or a family member or friend has, please share that with us. You can be assured we will pray for the need during out staff devotions. Also, if you are able, we ask that you consider sending a gift in to help us continue to provide food, shelter, supervision, and discipleship to our children in care.
May God bless you and keep you safe.
Sincerely,
Linda C. Brooks
Chief Operating Officer
P.S. Thank you for your friendship and prayer during these days.
