On Monday morning, an earthquake magnitude 5.8 was felt in Mexico City. It was right in the middle of a news conference, when it was announced that schools would be closed until May 6th due to the swine flu.
Last night during prayer meeting, Miguel told a story of an earthquake. People fled into the streets in a panic. In the midst of all the chaos, a little old lady continued slowly about her business. People came up to her, arms in the air,"Earthquake!! Earthquake!!" But she didn’t even react.
Finally someone came up to her and asked,"Aren’t you afraid?" "Are you kidding?" she responded,"if I have a God that can move the whole earth, what in the world do I have to be afraid of?!"
We have a God that can shake the earth, and control the smallest virus. What in the world do we have to be afraid of?
Still, it’s been a strange week. As you know, in a way it’s been life as normal (a conference on Saturday, Sunday service, prayer meeting, errands, Shari had a women’s study this morning …). But schools have also been closed, people are concerned, and news reports are often confusing. We’ve had our children at home like everyone else. And on Monday, Shari felt the earthquake, and I was getting pulled over by men impersonating police officers!
News of the Swine Flu
I think my original post on the swine flu is still helpful, but let me give you a bit of an update.
Part of the problem with the news is that they thrive on numbers. Saying things like "unknown" … "we don’t know" … "ummm, still have no idea" just doesn’t sell.
There is still a great deal of valid concern over the swine flu. It’s a new strain, and we’re not sure what it’s doing and what it will do. Even if it dies down now, what will happen when the next flu season starts? No one is sure.
Once again, we need to get these numbers in perspective. Every year, tens of thousands of people die of the flu. This month, they’ve confirmed that about 160 have died of the swine flu in Mexico and the USA, and a few dozen are confirmed to have it in those two countries.
There are currently about 20-30 confirmed cases in Mexico.
There are 2-3 thousand cases being watched, that may be swine flu in Mexico.
Obviously these are very small numbers. However, back to not knowing – we don’t know if there are several hundred more, or several hundred thousand more. We’ll know a lot more in a couple of weeks. At the moment, the numbers seem to be slowing, so it’s hopeful that there’s not a large number of cases, and may not be at least until next year.
But there are a lot of unknowns still. There is good reason to take precautions, but all indications are that there is no reason to panic. Watch and wait doesn’t make for good daily news, but it seems to be the way things are right now.
How are things on the street?
As I said, people are concerned. Things were quiet Monday, but stores got busier again Tuesday and the streets started to get busier.
This is providing opportunities for believers to share the hope that they have, as people ask,"Aren’t you concerned?"
My friend Miguel last night shared his typical response – I am concerned, but if I die, I know where I’m going. The response always is,"How can you be sure?" Do you have an answer?
The Cottrills
Thanks to all of you who have written and called to let us know you are praying. Keep writing and calling – it’s an encouragement!
In a strange twist of events, we are probably healthier than we have been since moving to Mexico. When we saw the neurologist for Nathanael earlier this month, she prescribed us some antibiotics and something to help Nathanael’s immune system because of the constant symptoms he was having. But we never bought the medication – for the first time in months he’s healthy.
My stomach is quite a bit better. In spite of my general health, migraine symptoms and general pain are still there, and so I haven’t been getting much sleep. For more recent news, in case you missed it, read Two Cities, Two Doctors, and One Jim.
Conclusion (for now)
In spite of the news you may be hearing, we’re not living in terror with our windows boarded up. But we do appreciate your prayers. For health and safety, of course. But also for friends’ health, and those who have family and friends with health issues or those who are working in hospitals. Pray for believers who have opportunities to share of their hope in Christ, that they can share with humility and wisdom. Pray that we can encourage those around us – I hope we’ve done so already.
In some ways, these recent years, maybe even these recent days, have been an unprecedented opportunity to reach Mexico. May we all be found faithful.
