Much revealed in Quarantine
”God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength,” 1 Corinthians 10:13
2 days after arriving Guatemala, I became majorly suspicious that I was sick with COVID-19. We decided I would self-isolate for the next 4 days until I could get tested at a clinic. I turned out to be positive, and days later we found out another one of us was also sick.
Self Isolation and Quarantine
Self-isolation days = very hard. Having to be physically alone is hard; I was feeling guilty, worried, and sad for having COVID. I knew that this whole situation was hard for us. I personally decided to shutdown-emotionally isolate from my team as my way of coping with the many thoughts and feelings that I didn’t know how to express well. I didn’t realize how the devil was scheming to use this hardship to hurt us.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome…” Genesis 50:20
Me shutting down was hurting us, and so the day finally came that I expressed every thought and feeling by speaking and reading my journal on my talks with God. It was more freeing than uncomfortable; I knew it was a victory against the devil and his schemes!!! God meant my self-isolation time and our quarantine time for our good, even though it didn’t feel like it.
My team and I spent 20 days in quarantine in total.
God taught us that ministry doesn’t only involve evangelizing, and humanitarian projects, it involves us. WE ARE ministry. We weren’t missing out on anything because God wanted us where we were. He wanted us to go through this hardship together to grow Kingdom in each other’s hearts.
For 20 days, ministry involved:
- figuring out how to take care of each other
- laughing and watching movies together
Check out my teammate’s blog, Hanna Zimmerle as she identified perfectly what she needed and what others may need during quarantine: 7 Ways To Help Someone Who Is Quarantined
- spending time with each other even at a distance..
- preparing food bags with our ministry partner LoveServe in the hostel
- discussing personal and team goals to accomplish together
- worshipping together and studying His Word
Ministry was my team. It was us… which involved Jesus giving and showing us things that we wouldn’t have enjoyed to the fullest if things had gone as we planned. He gave us:
- the roof top and deep talks
- the patio to eat and worship together
- the ants to look at as they carried their leaves,
- my team and
- lots of love, space and grace to be myself
- food, and medicine
- a ton of people to pray for our team (I’m so thankful for you all!)
- time to pray for other people and teams going through hard times too
- time to express and feel
- and wow, seriously an incredible view
There was much revealed in quarantine, and I can only look back and smile and thank God for His goodness. Thank you for everyone who prayed and is praying for us.
Thank you for reading! Until next time, what is the Lord doing now that we are quarantine free?
With much love,
J
AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. GIRL. your words bring me to tears. I love seeing how the Lord showed you that you are each other’s ministry. That will not change as you go on from COVID quarantine. Ask yourself and the team how to keep seeing each other as ministry! Thank you for sharing your time with Papa, so beautiful! ??????
Thank God for his mercy and grace. I am so thankful for the love and support you guys gave to each other during your isolation time together. Keep spreading hope and love to those our Lord blesses you to inspire. So proud of you. Be safe, and take care.
Lorna Tull