Virtual church has been a blessing in this time of discontinuity and uncertainty. This morning from my self-quarantine, I was able to join with both Haitian and American churches in worship. And if I wanted to, I could log into churches all day long all over the world.

That increased access is a wonderful thing. Increased access to worship. Increased access to the body of Christ. But, in that time of prayer and worship this morning, my heart was drawn to the pastors I would not see online this week. My Haitian pastors, who are also being asked to respect social distancing and keep their churches closed. Whose congregations do not have smart phones to access church.

Since the time I first moved to Haiti, the pastors at both Grace Church and Hope Church, have been some of the biggest surprises to me personally. They are men I come toe to toe with on occasion and some days have felt incredibly at odds with, culturally. They are also men who pray with fervor and care deeply for their families and communities. They are my dear friends.

I hated telling them that I would be leaving for the states for a time, feeling in myself that I was abandoning a work I had committed to. And without time to plan, I had to do that communication over text message. Each of them responded with kindness and mutual commitments to be in prayer for one another. One of them was still messaging me while I was on the airplane on Wednesday, reminders of how special I was and how much he was going to miss me in my absence.

So, this blog is simply a prayer request. Please pray for our pastors. Pray for Pastor Daniel and Pastor James Felix and their families as they lead Grace Church in Titanyen during this time. And pray for Pastor Dieudonne and Pastor Jocelyn and their families as they cannot even get to Hope Church in Cite Soleil during this time. Pray for their peace as they, like all of us, are having to trust so much to the Lord and to others at this time.

Pray for the lay leadership of the churches who are stepping in to care for one another. Pray for protection for our church members, our pastors and their families, and the communities we represent. Pray that worship would rise up as people gather in their own homes, and that pastoral hearts around the world would be responsive to where the Lord leads.

Remember to reach out to your friends today and remind them they are important and special to you. Maybe reach out to your pastor and remind them too.

I’m used to lock downs. Living in Haiti means living in a place that can lock down at any time. So, I know that when I get a chance to go to the grocery store, I might not get that chance again for a couple weeks. The freedom to travel today does not guarantee me the same for tomorrow.

Sometimes, my lockdowns are personal; I have limited access to transportation and a limited schedule of availability for errands. Sometimes, lockdowns are specific, and we are grounded because of local or targeted threats. Sometimes, the entire country essentially goes on lockdown and we don’t know how long it will last.

But, these past few days and weeks, I’ve watched as the world has locked down. And this is new to me. Because in the back of my mind, I always knew I could leave here and go home. And now, home in also on lock down. People in the states who have never not been free to travel and shop and eat out and go to school are being locked down for their own protection. And it hurts. And I don’t like not being there when my people are hurting. But I made my decision over the past week that the best place for me to stay now is here in Haiti.

I’m watching from afar as everyone reacts all over social media, the full spectrum of hilarity and heartache that is the human experience, but I want to take a moment to acknowledge that this is difficult for each person. And it is difficult for each person in different ways and that is ok.

People are grieving the experiences that they expected to have in the next several weeks; graduations, weddings, vacations, parties, school days, and paychecks. People are disappointed. People are stressed. People are afraid. For themselves. And those they love. People are lonely. In-person social circles have suddenly shrunk to the people living in one’s own home, and that can be intimidating. Yes, there are silver linings. Yes, this can be very good. But, yes, this will be difficult.

So, what is my point? In your determination to properly isolate, don’t forget that God doesn’t ask you to keep your dirty hands out of his face. Run to him in this time of disruption from our normal busy schedules and let Him use the stillness to speak to you.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Also, talk to your friends. We have to physically protect one another for a season, but we still need each other desperately. If you need a friend to message and want someone who’s felt a little locked in before… I know a girl! 😉