Preparing to Resume Programs
As states across the United States are beginning to reopen, Mexico has remained shut down throughout this month with tentative plans to begin reopening during the first week of June. Our logistics team has had meetings to discuss our plan to resume our programs, and we are making preparations to do that in phases beginning on June 15. All of our activities, when resumed, will be done with an abundance of caution, and we will keep you posted every step of the way.
You can read our full updates regarding the coronavirus and our programs here: https://faithministry.org/blog/coronavirus, and you can stay connected through our Facebook page.
Mission Work Groups Cancelled
This month, as the global pandemic of the coronavirus continued to impact not only our ministry, but industries, organizations, and families around the world, we made the difficult decision to cancel all mission work groups through August.
Mission work groups are so much more to Faith Ministry than volunteers who come to help build a house. They are friends, they are family. They bring love, joy, hugs, laughs, and hope to all of us here in Mexico. One of the best parts of the work we do is seeing our good friends pull through the gates of our complex and giving them hugs for the first time since last year, sharing a meal with a new friend, or holding hands in worship with a friend we’ve known a long time.
The absence of groups this summer does not mean that we will stop serving our communities in Reynosa and Miguel Alemán. We are making preparations to resume our programs next month, step by step, with staff at first, and later with our local volunteers. All activities we do will be done with an abundance of caution, and we will keep you posted along the way.
We will be continuing to stay connected with all of you through videos and photos here on Facebook, phone calls, texts, and emails. We know all of this is hard on everyone, and our prayers are with you and your families. We miss you, and we look forward to the day when we are in a big circle, holding hands, singing “Unidos, Unidos” together.
During what turned out to be our last dedication service of the spring/summer, we opted to sing Unidos, Unidos without holding hands – probably a Faith Ministry first! Click to watch this beautiful reminder that while we are all distant for the moment, that does not mean we are alone or disconnected.
Taking Care of the Community
As you might remember, we distributed grocery packages at the end of March, right before we had to suspend our programs. We heard from families that by now, supplies were running low, and they were really struggling as this quarantine continued.
While our normal programs remained suspended in May, we knew we had to step up and serve our community in the safest way possible. Some of our staff got together to make more grocery packages, and we were able to purchase masks from local women who were making them. Select staff went around the community in Reynosa and Miguel Alemán, taking precautions, to deliver these grocery packages and masks to families who need them. We were also able to send funding to our friends at Instituto Bíblico Berea in Monterrey, who were able to distribute grocery packages to families in need in their community.
Special Deliveries for Mother’s Day
This month, our churches in Mexico weren’t able to celebrate Mother’s Day like they normally do, but the youth in Reynosa and Naranjito wanted to make sure the mothers from their congregations and in the community still felt loved and honored! They put together beautiful boxes with yummy treats, meaningful Bible verses, and flowers, and they surprised the mothers with a special delivery to their houses. We hope all of the amazing mothers we know on both sides of the border had a wonderful Mother’s Day this month! ?
Staying Connected
Throughout this time of being socially distant, we have been working hard to stay connected as a staff, with our local volunteers, and with all of you across the U.S. We have posted videos and messages from our staff and volunteers, and we have loved hearing from you through texts, emails, and calls! This month, some of our staff shared Psalm 23 with us, followed by a reflection from David on this beautiful poem and how we can apply its verses in our lives. Follow us on Facebook for more videos!
Click to watch some of our staff share Psalm 23!
Prayer Requests
We believe in the power of prayer, so please join us in praying for:
- Those who are on the front lines of the coronavirus, including doctors, nurses, and medical professionals, and those who are still working to make sure our daily lives run smoothly, including delivery drivers, grocery store employees, and farmworkers
- Those who are particularly vulnerable during this time, including families living in poverty, individuals who have lost their jobs, and people whose health is at high risk
- Everyone around the world as we endure this time of uncertainty together; we know that God is in control and that is too shall pass
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12