6 mins
The Coronavirus Diaries
Extracts from a series of updates from Church of Scotland partners across the world, which have been published on Life and Work’s website since April.
Photo: Unsplash
April 15
Fiona Kendall, mission partner in Rome
I have been inspired and humbled by the overall willingness of those living here to accept that the restrictions are for the common good. A sense of collective responsibility has prevailed from the outset despite the fact that, for Italians in particular, these measures are totally counter-cultural.
This may be one the greatest tests that we have endured as a global community but, together, we will get through it.
April 29
The Rev Dr Kenneth Ross, mission partner in Malawi
For people who live from hand to mouth, the requirement to stay at home is even more scary than the virus. So local traders in my home town of Zomba took to the streets with their message: “Zomba No Rock Down” (“L” and “R” are practically indistinguishable in Bantu languages.) Similar demonstrations occurred in all the main cities of the country.
Tough dilemmas for sure. Yet in Malawi it is also a time of faith as many people express their confidence in God in face of the pandemic.
May 6
Joel Hafvenstein, United Mission to Nepal
With barely any cars plying the roads, the valley skies are clearer than we’ve seen them in years. Yesterday from our rooftop we could see a full horizon of glorious mountain peaks, from Annapurna and Manaslu in the west to the Everest range in the east.
To date, no one is known to have died of Covid-19 in Nepal. But if the measures taken have so far prevented one disaster, they have created another. The millions of Nepalis who rely on day labour or small businesses have had to survive for six weeks and counting without their normal livelihoods. The collapse of Nepal’s economy will send millions tumbling back into destitution.
May 13
The Rev Kate McDonald, Associate Minister, Tiberias: St Andrew’s
Though the virus seems to have been largely contained for now, the measures taken to contain it have created a multitude of other issues. Those working in the tourism and pilgrimage industry have been particularly impacted.
When I think of the past couple of months, the word that often comes to mind is ‘apocalyptic’ — not in the sense of an end-times destruction, but in the sense of uncovering, unveiling. This virus is revealing to us injustices and inequalities already present in our global economy as it disproportionately affects the poorest in our society.
May 20
Keith and Ida Waddell, United Church of Zambia.
We are doing our jobs in new ways, remotely from Mwandi Mission. Both of us as well as our children, Mubita and Ellie, have been here in self-isolation for seven weeks. We are helping however we can, driving to nearby Livingstone every three weeks to buy supplies for the hospital and community members. Ida is called to the hospital from time to time for emergencies as there is still no doctor.
All life is sacred, and we have a life-affirming obligation to offer ourselves and to witness to the love of God wherever we find ourselves and to those whom God has entrusted to our care – even more so during this new normalcy.
May 27
David Sinclair, Mission Partner based in the Czech Republic
We are at the end of lockdown. We have had to stay at home, work from home, and only go out for some exercise or to go to the shops for medicine or food or other essential business. Our message was also that we were not allowed to be in any public place without covering our nose and mouth. The fine for failing to do so was up to the equivalent of £750.
Having done that now for ten weeks, it seemed a little strange to us that the United Kingdom was not doing the same.
June 3
Jenny Featherstone, Mission Partner in Zambia
I do pray for our many, many vulnerable people; the health service here is so fragile, and we rely on donations for PPE and other equipment, and so many do not seem to realise the deadly potential of this pandemic. However we still can know the Presence of God with us in every situation, and the words of comfort that “I will never, no never, no never leave you or forsake you.”
June 10
Linus Malu, mission partner in Mzuzu, Malawi
We have managed to keep our offices open. We have continued to mediate cases, provide legal advice, and assist our clients to access the courts in Mzuzu. Last week, we disbursed the sum of £1500 to four women who are victims of genderbased violence.
Malawians will be voting again to elect a new president on July 3. Political campaigns are taking place in cities, towns and villages. Of course, this is not the best time to organise an election. Elections elicit crowds, coronavirus loves crowds!
June 17
The Rev John McCulloch, minister of Jerusalem: St Andrew’s and Tiberias
After a month of not being able to get out because of curfews, closed checkpoints and strict lockdown rules, I was furloughed and returned to Scotland. My wife Annette, who is a medical doctor, was asked to assist with the Covid response in the UK.
Lockdown has been both a rest from the unrelenting pace of everyday life, but it has also been a challenge. These three months have made me more fully aware than ever, of my need to draw deeply from the wells of God’s grace.
June 24
Gary Brough, mission partner based in Mzuzu, Malawi, was in Scotland when the lockdown began.
Furlough. Isn’t it strange that a term usually reserved for leave for missionaries and the military is now so widely used? Sometimes it feels like a label that’s not easy to wear. Only those who are not essential key workers are furloughed, right? Thankfully, as Christians, our identity is in Christ and not the things that we do. There are no furloughed workers or key workers in the good works God has prepared for us.
July 1
The Rev Carola Tron, Moderator Mesa Valdense in the Iglesia Evangélica Valdense del Río de la Plata (Argentina and Uruguay)
Deceleration brought new possibilities. A lot of families started to grow their own vegetables, to make washable masks, to cook homemade food, to share parenting and daily duties at home.
People also began to share longer conversations, and to worship in new ways from home. Church buildings were closed, but instead were opened in every home, every week and with many more people attending than Sunday morning at the chapel. We will have to think theologically about how to became living churches in these new contexts.
July 8
Kasta Dip, director of the Indian Peace
Centre, was stranded in Hamburg when the lockdown was imposed.
I was hosted by our partner organisation, the Centre for Mission and Ecumenism, and a couple of families and friends for 95 days. Soon I realised that my professional relationship with my hosts was turning out to be very personal as they made me feel like part of their families and took care of my hospitality with utmost generosity. Frank and honest conversations not only led to better understanding of each other but also yielded respect for what we value the most in life, in different communities in different parts of the world.
July 15
The Rev Peter Kaniah Kariuki, Secretary General of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kenya
Even as the PCEA leadership discussed the closing of in-person worship services, we recognised the human impact of the government directives. Clearly for many of our people, if they don’t work today, they won’t eat tomorrow. Within two weeks, the PCEA had mobilised its 4.5 million church members to provide food and support for families. The “Adopt a Family” initiative fed more than 32,000 families throughout Kenya in April, May and June.
July 22
The Rev Graham McGeoch teaches theology and Religious Studies at Faculdade Unida de Vitoria, Brazil.
The majority of our students are poor, female and black. This is now precisely the demographic most at risk from Covid-19 and its effects. Many of our students have been infected and a number of their family members have died. In reality, it has been more important for us to offer pastoral support than academic study during these exceptional times. ¤
Read more at www.lifeandwork.org
This article appears in the September 2020 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
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