As some of you may know I was a nurse before launching for the race. I worked in the ICU which quickly turned into “COVID land” as we called it in the hospital, once the pandemic hit. I started travel nursing, taking COVID crisis gigs before I stopped working in December. So I’ve been exposed to COVID quite a bit, sure we wear all the proper PPE but even before we masked everyday to go to work I was exposed. I’ve been exposed from spending weekends with friends without masks. And I never got it. I used to joke that I was immune.
Guess what? I’m not.
Yup, I worked day in and day out with COVID for 7 months only to get it here in Guatemala. We were exposed at one of the medical clinics my team gets to help put on here.
As I lay isolated from my team the first night, I couldn’t help, but pray for the flu. I didn’t want to be away from my team. I didn’t want my team to have to quarantine. And I really didn’t want to miss any time with our beloved ministry family, the Misteco’s! So to see that positive result the next morning was upsetting to say the least. But I just kept thinking that God had to have a plan in all of this, He never does anything by coincidence and He can use all things for His glory.
I saw that He is a good protector. My entire team tested negative after their quarantine. Our hosts, Carol and Craig, have stayed healthy. And not a single person out of the 11 in the Misteco family got sick. Thanks God! I also had pretty mild symptoms as far as COVID goes.
I saw that He is a good provider. Craig is a retired pharmacist and supplied me with medicine to ease my symptoms as well as vitamin C for my team. My amazing team serenaded me from the courtyard, baked me treats, and would text me multiple times a day making sure I was taken care of. Delicious meals were brought to my door and a jug of water was kept in my room so I could make sure I was staying hydrated. And I had WiFi so I could call friends and family.
Above all else, I was and am daily reminded that I can depend on Him and His goodness. I was isolated for 7 days. As you’d imagine, feelings of loneliness crept in. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed any tears. But these moments have allowed me to really press into my Father. I’ve journaled a lot. Prayed so much I really feel like I’m constantly talking to Him. And had some really sweet time to sit and worship Him. I know I can go to Him when I feel weak and have none of my own strength to draw from. I’ve felt His presence, His comfort. As I hear the laughter of my team, He gives me joy at the connection they’ve built and the fun they’re having. He reminds me that He has brought me through so much and I can trust that He will bring me through this as well.
Sometimes I can think of Him as a transactional God. If I pray enough, He’ll listen. If I fast, then He will heal me. I’m still sick so I must not have gotten the point of this yet. These are not attributes of our Father.
He isn’t counting my prayers waiting for the perfect number to then take away my symptoms. He hurts with me as I have laid in bed with a fever and body aches. He is a good dad and He sits with me as I await to rejoin my team.
Abba is in the midst of everything we do, the good, the bad, the COVID. You just have to look Him.
Reading this almost a month later, praying that by now you are completely well and back with your team. Yes, God is ALWAYS with us. Glad your time in quarantine was a sweet time of renewed and deepened fellowship with Him, and opened your eyes anew to the many ways He provides and cares for us. Hugs!
Hey yes I am healed and reunited with everyone! I still have a little bit of post-covid exhaustion and shortness of breath when walking a bunch but the Lord is good through it all!