April 1

Good morning. The day has started out gently. Homemade coffee cake, scrambled eggs and more than a couple cups of coffee appeared with a smile from Mary's kitchen, one of the benefits of her working from home, compliments of COVID-19. Yes, the virus is in PR as it is everywhere... it seems. Puerto Ricans have very strong ties to NYC as well as Chicago and FL. Actually there are more Puerto Ricans in the mainland USA than on the island. As the case may be, as of this morning there are 286 cases reported.

The island is under a pretty tight lock down. We are only allowed to go out for essential services and there is also a curfew in place from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am. And, as of today, we can leave our property only three days a week depending on whether our car tags end in odd or even numbers. Sundays no one is allowed to be off their property.

Some people struggle with the house confinement. A few breaking curfew have had a $5,000 fine exacted against them. As you can imagine, by far, the vast majority are complying. A half-mile from our home is highway #2, the main artery going through our town. I normally can hear the traffic on the highway almost every hour of the day.  Last night at 7:00 pm, as the curfew took effect, I heard nothing, only silence, most unusual for Aguadilla and the island.

The shutdown has been used to catch up on "honeydos". As I said, Mary, via internet, continues to do university work during the morning hours from our office. I spend my days reading, working from home and puttering around in the yard. For the first time in a LONG time our cyclone fence is free of unwanted vines and my ornamental plants in a brush arbor next to the house are in optimum shape. Orchids are blooming and tomato plants are soon to be transplanted. Mary's sister is with us and she likes yard work so I am always ready to keep her busy. She cleaned the cyclone fence for us 😀. 

Since we cannot go out, how do we minister and how is the church meeting? Obviously, we are not meeting. We cannot not..by law. Nevertheless, we do spend a lot of time on the phone. Our board divided the church into six groups and we make sure to call the church members at least once during the week. While on the phone we share announcements, take prayer requests, suggest a few verses to read and have a prayer with each family. Some groups are using the application WHATS APP and doing group chats. We are also putting up a meditation, either written by one of the board members or me, or a video found on the "net". Finally our youth leaders are contacting the kids/youth and giving them suggestions. I have yet to preach a sermon to put on Facebook. That may change as  this quarantine stretches on.

We hope you all stay safe. A verse that I have come to appreciate and try to practice is found in Isaiah 26:3-4. It goes like this: "God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you. So trust the LORD always, because in the LORD you have a place of safety forever." Isn't that a great passage!

Faith is a choice we make, not an emotion we feel. It isn't a feeling, it is a decision. So, chose to believe. In this roller-coaster moment, walk close to Him by faith. It is the best thing to do!  Blessings to each of you.

Johnathan and Mary