The Buoyant Blog Post

Some blog posts are more upbeat than others, but this one is downright buoyant. Yes, it’s a buoyant blog post (meaning that it is cheerful and optimistic, not that it is able to stay afloat on top of liquid). The first four post-COVID restriction team visits have taken place and everything went remarkably well. 

You may recall that there were originally five back-to-back teams scheduled. The final team cancelled, but the other four managed their travels with only relatively minor inconveniences. A number of people were switched to flights leaving at different times or a day later than scheduled, but that was the extent of it. Everyone received negative COVID tests before heading to Honduras. Everyone received negative COVID tests before heading back to the States. And no one has reported any symptoms since arriving back home. Any way you slice it, that is encouraging news.

When you view these very uplifting videos, you will probably notice that, when it comes to wearing masks, the villages where Sowers4Pastors works are pretty much… Oh, what’s the phrase?... over it. They are pretty much over the whole masking thing. Following the hurricanes, a lot of people sort of lost interest in COVID. The government has reinstated some of the measures, but there are still people living in tents because their homes were destroyed. Masks, schmasks. As my eloquent granny would have said, “Some of ‘em ain’t havin’ it.” 

Link to view video: The Well Worship Center Backpack Distribution Team 2021

Link to view video: Lighthouse Backpack Distribution 2021 

Team members were instructed to wear masks and the people with Sowers4Pastors comply with all government regulations. Trish said, “It is the rule and we are guests.”

Sowers4Pastors handed out masks for the people in the villages to wear for gatherings. Even with that, mask compliance wasn’t what you’d call high. It is still the rule to wear masks in stores and the disinfecting mats are positioned at store entrances to wipe your shoes. But in the villages, people have other things on their minds.

This week, Sowers4Pastors is finishing up the first round of backpack distribution. This was on the schedule for the team that cancelled. It’s still getting done, just without a team. Next week, they will revisit each of the sponsorship places to catch any child who missed the first go round. Then there will be a little while without teams for Sowers4Pastors to catch up on other stuff. They are looking forward to more teams this summer and even more return to normalcy.

- posted by Christi.