COVID-19 Update
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Dear Casa Bernabé family,
We know your inbox is full of these kinds of letters, reassuring you of what is being done “in an abundance of caution” regarding the COVID-19. We wanted to share an update from inside Casa Bernabe as you consider how you might be able to help and be in prayer about this current situation. Please know, the situation continues to change rapidly, but we are still on mission caring for the needs of vulnerable children and their families in Guatemala.
President Alejandro Giammattei confirmed in a televised address Monday, March 16, that the country had six COVID-19 cases. To contain the disease, he has closed Guatemala’s borders from March 16-30. The Ministry of Public Health reported on Sunday, March 14, Guatemala’s first death: an 85-year-old who had arrived from Spain on March 6. That same Sunday, officials announced all schools and universities would close for three weeks. All sports events have been cancelled, curfews are in place, shopping centers, restaurants, and churches are closed. Most work activities in both the state and private sector are suspended. Guatemala is on lock-down, cut off from the rest of the world.
Sara Salguero, International Relations and Co-Director of Casa Bernabé, shared this on Monday, “My day was spent talking about how we are going to protect our community of 200 during this coronavirus crisis. We spent time discussing how to protect them, but also how to occupy 100 children for the next month. We prayed. It was a heavy morning, but more than ever, I am so incredibly grateful for the amazing team that serves at Casa Bernabé. We are all committed to using this time to invest even more in our children. For the first time in a long time, we don't have to say, ‘if I only I wasn't so busy, I would....’ Of course, we will still be busy...we have 100 kids that can't leave or receive any kind of outside interaction for the next month or longer! But we won't have to fill our days with so many administrative duties or other jobs that often times take us away from our most important job. We are praying even now that 2020 is the year that we can look back at Casa Bernabé's story and say, ‘That was the year Revival came to us. That was the year our kids and youth really came to know Jesus!’
But the truth is that I have also been battling fear in my heart and mind. My dreams have been filled with things that cause me anxiety when I am awake. It is an uncertain time and as a person that thrives on structure and plans, I struggle with the fear of the unknown. We have real norms and processes we have to put into place right now in order to protect our children and staff, some of which who would be considered very high risk if they were to contract this new virus. We must be responsible but not fall into panic.”
In an effort to do this, yesterday, the gates of Casa Bernabé closed to anyone who doesn’t live on campus. Cleaning staff, kitchen staff, teachers, and administrators will no longer be allowed to come and go on from campus through these times of uncertainty.
Additionally, Guatemala is also facing panic buying and shortages, as we are here in the US. At Casa Bernabé specifically, they are facing an inability to get meat, cleaning supplies, and medicines. Those items that can be found, are often double or triple the price that they normally are.
We know in the coming days, our general fund is going to bear the brunt of this scarcity and inflation combined with the fear of financial unrest. Casa Bernabé receives no public funding. Each of our ministries are dependent on your donation to remain operational. Please consider how you might be able to help. We know that globally, all of us are facing unprecedented circumstances and the uncertainty of what the coming days will bring.
God tells us 365 times not to be afraid in the Bible, and in Romans, He promises He’ll work all things together for our good. We can trust Him in all circumstances, and take this message of assurance into the world. We are communicating within the communities we serve messages of hope, peace and concern for others, and invite you to do the same. Meanwhile, we will keep on in the work of loving vulnerable children and their families. As always, we appreciate your prayers and generosity.
Peace to you and your family during these days,
Ashley Cunningham