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Life in the time of Covid-19
Resources, help and suggestions“I helped fight COVID-19 today. I stayed home.” – Linda OUR NEW WORLDDear friend, Life for all of us has changed drastically. Only a couple of months ago, the SARS-CoV-19 virus didn’t exist and certainly none of us used words like “self-quarantine,” “social distancing,” “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” in our daily language. Today is different, though. It probably feels like you can do nothing to stop what will likely affect each of us directly. I would like to offer some hope, some actions you can take and ask you to keep yourself educated about the situation by seeking answers from scientifically-backed sources. Both the WHO and the CDC are great places to start when you want answers. And if you’d like to watch a webinar that I did with my friend and fellow Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Thompson, you can click HERE to learn more about the current situation. Please know, though, that things are changing DAILY. I wanted to include some resources for you and your family or congregation. These are things that you can do to help in the fight against COVID-19. Leave a voice message for health care workers fighting COVID-19. Health workers can go to the site that uploads theses messages and listen to encouraging words. Make a mask if your local hospital is asking for them. They often have patterns and materials that they will give to you so that the masks are what they can use. Check with your local health facility! Continue to support your church, missions and ministries that are working to help with the many changes we all face. This includes food banks, International Ministries, the Red Crossand many agencies that are supplying materials to hospitals, like MTI. For more ideas CLICK HERE. COVID-19 and International MinistriesSince January 2020, International Ministries (IM) has been working with partners around the world to help meet their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first response was to send needed hospital supplies, including protective equipment (PPE’s) to our partner in China, Amity Foundation. Through donations, IM purchased and sent supplies that were then distributed to health centersthroughout China who were facing shortages. Amity Foundation has been a clearinghouse and distribution center for hospital donations for many years. IM has also developed a COVID-19 task force to review and make decisions about the current situation, with the goal of providing information and resources to staff and global servants. What has become very clear to all involved is that your monthly, quarterly and yearly gifts are needed now more than ever. Please do not stop your gifts. They provide salary, health insurance and project funding to our many global servants around the world, in the home office and to our partners who face devastating economic challenges. I recognize that finances may be difficult right now so please contact Donor Services if your giving must change. Do you currently support a global servant or International Ministries project? THANK YOU! If you are interested in starting a monthly gift, please click HERE. To learn more about IM’s COVID-19 response, CLICK HERE. Webinar and Virtual TrainingsEarlier this week, I was able to record a live webinar with a colleague and MPT supporter, Michelle Thompson. The goal of the webinar was to inform people about the current situation with COVID-19 (as of Monday, March 30, 2020) and provide a space to ask questions. Using a Zoom Webinar format, we were published to Facebook Live, as well, and hopefully gave needed information to the general public. The information included definitions and links to legitimate websites for current virus statistics. If you would like to watch the video, you can click the following link. Please forgive me that I didn’t trim the video at the beginning and you’ll be watching me try to post to Facebook Live for the first minute or so! Video Link Over 500 people have already watched the webinar, including some of our international partners. If I receive enough requests, I am happy to continue to provide information in this format. Thank you, to all of those who have watched, learned and supported me in this effort. It is a new way for me to support the healthcare communities around the world that I currently cannot visit in person. Do you have a suggestion for a topic you would like Kristy to address? Please respond to this email with those suggestions..I have also been able to provide live online training with the Dominican Republic and will continue to serve partners in this way. I recognize that as COVID-19 cases near 1 million worldwide, the situation brings anxiety, stress and a feeling of helplessness. I would like to encourage you to fight these feelings with the following: 1. Make choices every day that help protect yourself and others. This includes washing your hands/surfaces regularly, wearing a mask as instructed, avoid crowds and gatherings, stay home. 2. Find ways to stay in touch with family and friends. Make phone calls, video calls, send cards and letters, stay in touch through social media and recognize that social distancing means, “social engagement with physical distance!” Friends…I stand with you. As you pray for me, be assured that I am praying for you and your community. This is new for all of us and we need to work together, shine light and share love…maybe in new and innovative ways, but we must continue to be the hands and feet of Christ in all that we do. Thank you for all of your support!  On earth as it is in heaven International Ministries, also known as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, works cross-culturally to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.
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