Housebound reflections...

I'm working from home, keeping with the government advice to control the COVID-19 virus.

I am very aware that this is a time of huge change around us, but also that it has huge potential to change us on a much deeper level, if we give God chance to do it. We can easily fill up our time/ space with news reports, and extra connectedness (more than ever before!) and learning new things on the internet and so many other things that we don't leave enough space for God to come in and transform us. So many things have been taken away: security, plans, the purpose and identity we feel through what we do.... and yet let's not give in to the temptation to simply wait and then rebuild what has been taken away but in a slightly different way. Instead let's accept that they've been taken away, let's let go and recognise what they were, and really evaluate if we want them back. The security was maybe a false sense of security anyway. Our plans were maybe uncertain anyway, and if our sense of purpose and identity was based on and tied to our jobs, then it was too shallow anyway. Let's instead spend time to seek those things in God, to root ourselves in Him, to search for more of him, so that future losses and changes don't knock us off balance.
In the midst of carrying on and making the best of things, let's work out how to come to God below the surface of 'normal', and find how he may brings us out to be people who are transformed and into a new reality that is something extraordinary.

Change of Plans

Hi folks. It's been a strange couple of weeks all over the world due to the spread of COVID-19. I expected to be seeing a number of my UK based supporters over the couple few weeks. I left Guatemala 10 days ago, and the borders were closed just a day or so after I left. Guatemala is in the middle of at least 15 days of lockdown, in an attempt to control and contain the virus there. With VERY limited health facilities, they have taken drastic action early in an attempt to prevent the virus spreading too far and getting out of control. There are presently 19 cases in Guatemala, and a larger number in strict quarentine. But everyone in the country has been told to stay at home (except key workers), only food and medical shops are open, and no public transport is running. This week, the government also introduced a curfew too. All of these measures will definitely help to protect the population, however they also has grave economic implications, as many Guatemalans live on a day to day basis, and will not have food if they can't work for a day. Even professional work is on a very informal basis, so this will be difficult time for much of the population.

The same could be said in the UK too, although the government is providing a financial package for businesses etc. I am spending some time with my Mum, as we wait out the quanrentine measures here, and working from home in a number of different ways, and supporting different teams and individuals virtually. I'm thankful for the garden and being able to get out and exercise without meeting people.

Thanks for all your support. 

Costa Rica--- Pura Vida!

I've just had a quick visit to see a friend in Costa Rica. Here's a few pictures!