influenze A(H1N1)

22 May 2009

Another day, another Earthquake (and other news)

Jim Family, Mexico, Ministry glimpses, News and current issues, Prayer and Praise 0

Yes, in the midst of economic crisis and flu outbreaks, we just had our second earthquake in a month. As one Mexican reporter put it – what next, a meteorite?!

The actual epicentre apparently was south of Puebla (south of us), magnitude between 5.6 and 5.9 (depending on whose measurements you take). But here on the bottom floor of our house, there was no missing it. The whole house shook and rattled (foundations? what are those?), everything moved, pictures on the wall swung and the van bounced up and down for about 20 seconds or so.

Thankfully, some people reported minor damage but there were no injuries that we know of (though a few people were pretty shaken up – emotionally speaking, that is).

Nathanael in his school uniform
(with an added accessory)

Mexico was really trying to believe things were going to get better, but it makes one wonder!

Nathanael and Hannah have been wearing their compulsory face masks every day to school. At the entrance of his school, Nathanael is met by the hygiene police (teachers and assistants, that is) who ask if he’s had any symptoms, make sure he’s wearing his mask, and give him a healthy dab of hand sanitizer before he’s allowed to enter the school.

Yesterday Mexico City lowered the flu alert to green – meaning that things are supposed to be 100% back to normal (sorta kinda). On Monday, Canada even withdrew it’s travel advisory for Mexico. At Hannah’s school, facial masks will be optional next week (not sure about Nathanael’s school).

Tomorrow we’ll be at Nathanael’s school again (I think we’re all supposed to wear masks) for a Mother’s Day performance – they’re catching up on the event they missed because of the flu outbreak.

Today we went to talk to the powers-that-be at Hannah’s school. We wanted to remind them that we need to leave early because of our trip to Canada (a little early is now quite early, since school is being extended an extra couple of weeks).

We also wanted to talk to them about the mounds of extra homework Hannah has been getting. As you recall from my last post, this is an issue because we’re also trying to catch up on her English schoolwork at home – and suddenly we have 0 time to do so (none).

The lady we talked to was very helpful, and said she’d talk to the teachers about the homework, so here’s hoping! And it sounds like we’re still good to go when we plan to.

In other news, I played with the worship band at a girl’s 15th birthday party – actually, a service before the actual party part. For girls in Mexico, 15th birthdays are HUGE (comparable to a wedding). Please do pray for those who heard the Gospel at this event, and for the girl who gave her testimony.

In the midst of all the earthquakes, we’re getting some newsletters out to those of you who get them! Expect to see something in the next week or so. If you don’t get our newsletter, and would like to stay in touch, sign up for our letters here!

9 May 2009

FLU MAN (and other news)

Jim Family, Mexico, News and current issues 2

Yesterday the police were handing out fliers featuring this little guy. The fliers had information about avoiding and dealing with the flu. Some of the wise advice included avoiding shaking hands and kissing when you greet people, not spitting on the ground, and washing your hands frequently.

All kinds of careful plans are being put in place as the kids go back to school on Monday. It will be interesting to see how it all goes.

Meanwhile, it’s party season around here! Yesterday was Hannah’s birthday (she’s 8, can you believe that?!), and coming up next week is Nathanael’s.

We just had a small family affair. The big party (or parties) may need to be skipped this year (first time ever!). The whole flu thing has meant too much uncertainty at the wrong time. We haven’t been able to have any large gatherings even up until now.

But we had fun, and Hannah was thrilled to get some roller blades for her birthday. She almost wanted to sleep in them. Of course being Canadian she has natural aptitude for anything related to skating.

It sounds like we’ll be back to a more or less regular schedule starting today, with a music practice this afternoon and a normal morning service tomorrow. Then, after over a month with only a few days of school – we’ll be back to homework and backpacks!

6 May 2009

Sunday, and another week of No School

Jim Mexico, Ministry glimpses, News and current issues, Practical matters, Prayer and Praise 0

Mini-church at our house
3 May 2009

Our church had "multiple campuses" this past Sunday, as we met in smaller groups due to the Flu A(H1N1) outbreak.

I don’t know what it was like everywhere else, but we had a great time here. All right, the music left a little to be desired, but I didn’t have sufficient time to practice. Or maybe I thought I had enough practice when really I didn’t!

However, we did have a good time of prayer and had a discussion about sharing the Gospel, particularly in times of crisis when death is more on people’s minds than normal. It’s always so helpful to hear different people’s perspectives and experiences of sharing with others.

And in Flu News…

The government announced that they would try opening restaurants (many have already reopened), many businesses are going back to work now, then higher education (which I think reopens today). School for the younger kids is to be further delayed, however. Hannah and Nathanael won’t be going back to school until Monday.

The World Health Organization continues to hint that they’re going to declare a full pandemic. I think in part they’re trying to give advance warning so that no one thinks the end of the world will have come, and in part they’re still watching to see how the flu spreads in communities where it has been detected (especially as people start to let their guard down).

And though things aren’t fully back to normal here, people are starting to let their guard down and wear fewer facial masks (or maybe either because they have less confidence in them, or because they’re sold out EVERYWHERE!).

However, as people go back to school, parents and teachers are being given strict guidelines about cleaning schools. It will be interesting to see how "normal" life is, even after school starts. Everything is way behind, there is a rumour that school will be extended into the summer (a problem for us, since we’ll be gone).

Apparently Mexico has lost at least a couple billion US dollars from this shutdown, an in the long run it may be much more. Some individuals (including some of our friends) are really struggling from lack of business.

And the virus? As before, no one is sure what will happen in the weeks ahead, and especially into next winter.

Good news…

The good news is that I got our passport applications in on Monday. They are due to expire during our summer travels. The Canadian embassy was only taking emergency applications due to the flu outbreak, but because of our travel plans and the fact that we need them to renew our visas in the summer, I was able to join the select few who could enter the embassy and submit my paperwork.

There’s a backlog of passports to be done, but they think ours will be done in time (!).

Empty chairs at empty tables
Tony Romas in Mexico City
Mealtime, Monday 4 May 2009
(take-out only due to flu outbreak)

1 May 2009

Back at the Ixtapaluca Mall (and flu update)

Jim Mexico, Ministry glimpses, News and current issues, Prayer and Praise 0

All right, so I guess I wasn’t right about how "shut down" things were going to be. It sounds like non essential government services have been shut down, and a certain part of the business sector (apparently, even some businesses that are under the restriction are defying the shutdown).

But for people out about their business today, it looked pretty much like normal again (this photo was from yesterday, but that’s the point – it’s the same today!).

That was good news for us, because we were able to get our passport photos, although I didn’t make it into the city today to get the passport documents handed in. Lord willing I’ll make the trip Monday.

So things carry on in Ixtapaluca … not exactly normal, but for now we can get our tacos, have our hair cut and buy new shoes. If needed.

The World Health Organization reported that there are 365 cases worldwide of what they are now calling influenze A(H1N1) (formerly swine flu, no offense to the pork industry). Countries and organizations are starting to fight over "who started it" and "my numbers are better than your numbers". Meanwhile the scientists tell us it’s not unexpected, and no one’s fault.

Some of us are meeting tonight to talk about our church’s continued response to the situation. We would appreciate your prayers.