HAPPY HOUR Session #1:
Juan Pablo & Carolina
Do you want to be more connected with the Missionaries you have been supporting? Or do you want to simply know more about our projects? MVC is announcing HAPPY HOUR Online Sessions where you can stay connected with our Missionary Reps and hear the latest updates from them personally!
Last night (April 8) we had our first official HAPPY HOUR session with Juan Pablo & Carolina from Nebaj, Guatemala. Thank you to all those who joined in on the video call. You have brought such a tremendous amount of encouragement to MVC, Juan Pablo and Carolina.
Here’s a recap of what was talked about:
Update on Nebaj / The Hospital
- There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Nebaj
- They do not have the testing ability in Nebaj
- The predicted peak in Guatemala is going to happen in May
- There is a shortage of food
- Most people do not have a fridge, so people need to go to the market to get food every single day. This increases the risk to catch and spread COVID
- National education is struggling a lot – no one can go to school
- Cancelled the recent 2 teams that were supposed to go to do construction
- They don’t want to waste the progress of the construction, so workers are still working on the hospital but making sure they keep their distance from one another
- Workers in the present clinic are taking turns doing different shifts – even Juan Pablo and Williams Pozo Ferrer who are the main doctors at the clinic
- If a patient visits the hospital and is positive with COVID-19 then everyone will be in quarantine but that wouldn’t be good as workers will be laid off and the hospital will not be open to anyone who needs healthcare
- They have set up a process to ensure workers will still get paid if this ever happens. A portion of their retirement savings will be given to them to ensure that they have some income coming in for food and necessities
Good News Stories
- Juan Pablo says that we have all gotten a sense of belonging and that we realize that we are all in this same boat!
- They have seen a lot of solidarity within the community
- Patients are bringing snacks to staff at the clinic for Holy Week
- The Church is doing services on Facebook live
- Tuesday Bible studies led by Juan Pablo are on Facebook live as well
- “These difficult times are moving all of us closer to God. It reminds us that there is an end for our time on earth. That life is fragile and we live life like we’ll live forever. Right now, we have an opportunity to seek the Lord more and help others seek the Lord. We know that God is always in control!” –Juan Pablo
- Juan Pablo & Carolina have developed a plan for the family in case COVID-19 appears there
Present Needs / Prayer Notes
- Prayer for patients and staff in the clinic; that they may have all the safety precaution and knowledge in knowing what to do with each patient that enters the clinic.
- Prayer for patients to not be scared to visit the clinic and because they provide work for the workers
- Prayer for Juan Pablo & Carolina to help their community the best they can
