ERSEKË, Albania — Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) and its partner Ersekë Evangelical Church (EEC) in Ersekë, Albania, are seeking supporters for projects focused on disadvantaged children. The church’s Foleza after-school program and its sister residential home program are focused on creating safe and stable environments for children to thrive. 

Teaching online is not a great way to be present with people. Many have expressed their frustration and are struggling with losing their sense of purpose. For me, I’m mourning the loss of what felt like great momentum with some students and friends this past year.

February was a month full of ministry in Costa Rica but in March it came to a screeching halt. Six Vida220 teams have been quarantined in their respective countries and Vida Missions teams have canceled for the summer.

With all meetings and travel canceled, and much lower interaction with people, this has been a fantastic time of progress for writing my dissertation.

Just like the rest of the world, our daily life was turned upside down. In the course of a week, several colleagues who were in the at-risk group hurriedly left the country before borders closed, Ben is leading the process of temporarily shutting down the business, schools shut down, and Lena is adjusting to home schooling our kids.

Gathering at a time of social distancing felt incongruous, but in Thai culture literally camping out with the family at a time of bereavement is one of the highest values. 

I must be vulnerable and say that I have had anxiety, not crippling fear, but worry for our family as we head into the last two months of our fundraising for support for our second term, years three and four as urban missionaries to the city of Lebanon, Pa.

Our COVID-19 measures have been called some of the strictest in the world. Though sometimes at first glance our city looks lifeless, it is anything but. Life has just moved to the roof.

The challenge that the U.S. confronts is magnified for the people here in Guatemala. The transmission of the virus to the villages would be catastrophic, where many people already have compromising health issues. 

After nine years in Thailand, we were planning to move to Pennsylvania in early April. As reports of an unknown virus grew into a major worldwide concern, flights from many places around the globe were being canceled. When it happened to us, we decided to book new flights and leave as soon as possible.