Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 [NIV]
What a difference a single month can make! The global pandemic has now overtaken everything on a worldwide basis. Plans are put on hold, and life is different everywhere. Our team that was going to Haiti this month is not going now. It is a humbling situation for everyone, including those who thought "they had it made." I took this photo at a local grocery store in the U.S. For those of you in the U.S., did you ever think you would see this in your lifetime? Yet here it is. It took no time at all. This is the everyday reality in a place like Haiti, and it has now come to the U.S. as well.
A friend who comes from Kenya sent me this quote via WhatsApp. I don't know who wrote it, but is is very poignant. The message says "COVID-19 just reminds me who God is. He has shut down the world like a small village, literally overnight. He will reopen it when the time is right. And there is nothing power or money can do for any one of us or any country. How powerless man is; he lives on borrowed time!" The Scripture quoted above also reminds us that God remains sovereign and present in all situations, and man cannot escape from His presence no matter what.
As of this writing, Haiti has 16 confirmed cases of the virus. But really, who knows? Testing is sketchy in Haiti, and healthcare was already in crisis. The virus could be running rampant in the country and nobody would really know for certain. Like much of the world, Haiti is under lockdown with only essential outings permitted. When the average person lives on $1 per day, and has no backstop or resources, can you imagine what this means? Everyone who ventures from home is required to wear a face mask, but what average person in Haiti has one? The world suffers and nobody has an exemption. As you pray for your families, please say a prayer for our friends in Haiti as well.
For the moment, all of the Haiti Cheri staff is healthy and functioning best as possible under the circumstances. The clinic remains open, although we will see what the future holds. It really is not equipped with the resources to handle a pandemic such as the one we now face. We covet your prayers for wisdom, as we remain profoundly grateful for your support, whether it comes financially, by your prayers, or through words of encouragement. We shall see what the month of April brings. May God give grace.
Blessings to all,
Dan Merrefield
for the Haiti Cheri Team
