Pass the Ventilator

About two weeks ago, the world seemed to turn upside down.  We had vaguely heard about this virus that was sweeping through China, but little did we know how that epidemic would impact the world.  We had a team serving with us from South Carolina when we started hearing on the news of certain things shutting down as more and more cases were being confirmed in the United States.  We heard of the toilet paper disappearing off the shelves and to be quite honest, I was getting a great laugh out of the Memes that were passing through social media.  We just thought it was the media hyping things up for a virus that was like the flu.  However, when our country of Honduras shut their borders it seemed to get a little more real.

As we have mentioned in other posts we have made, we applaud the Honduran government for taking such drastic measures in attempts to prevent the situation from escalating here.  We know first hand how limited the medical field is here in this country and an outbreak would absolutely be devastating.  As of yesterday, we are at 95 people confirmed and 39 of which are hospitalized.  We understand the need is becoming great all over, but here, there is a very small number of ventilators.  One article we read said there were around 32 in the whole country.  I am not sure how accurate that number is, but we know that the medical situation here struggles on an average day to provide quality care to Hondurans, so as the numbers increase, the likelihood of deaths increase as well.

Last week, the United States Embassy issued a warning to us citizens sharing that if we want to get home, we need to do so now or be prepared to stay for an indefinite period of time.  In all of our years of serving overseas, we have seen lots of warnings from the Embassy and travel advisories, but this was a first for us.  That word "indefinite" held a little more weight to it.

By shutting these borders, a new crisis has begun for the people here...one of basic survival.  People are hungry.  No jobs and no money mean the people can't afford to eat.  We are doing our best to help counter that by providing Blessing Baskets to families, but when will this really end?  Unemployment is a critical issue all over this globe.  We are in quarantine in our homes right now for an unknown time.

We had also been scheduling a quinceanera for our daughter's 15th birthday that should have taken place today.  We had to send out a notice to friends and family to say that we were postponing it to an unforseen date.

These words:  "indefinite", "unforseen", "unknown" are hard for a planner like me to digest and accept.  I like to know and see and plan, so this has been a great reminder to me once again of Who is on His throne and in Whom I can trust even with so many uncertainities.

I can trust Him for our daily bread.  I can trust Him with an unknown future.  I can trust Him to guide our steps.  I can trust Him with my eternity. He has proven this to us time and time again.  Why should we doubt Him now?

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!


As of today, we seem to be in one the safest places on the planet.  There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 here specifically on the island.  We are the only Carribean island that can claim that so far.  However, we know that it may just be a matter of time.

So, to my friends and family... if I happen to become one of the individuals that contracts this virus and winds up critical, please know to pass that ventilator to someone else.  Pass it to someone else that may not have the same assurance of their eternity so that they may have the hope of hearing and learning.

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!  This is the hope and security that I have!

We have a new urgency in our hearts and spirits to pray and to share...

Lord, give them ears to hear and hearts to accept Your grace!