Heading into the year 2020, nobody could have guessed that we would soon be forced into isolation due to a worldwide pandemic… but of course, God knew. And though our quarantine journey has been full of hills and valleys as we have adjusted to a temporary life spent at home away from others, God is revealing Himself to us in unexpected ways. He has reminded us that He is sovereign and He is near; He is bigger than a pandemic and He still brings his people together even when they are put into isolation; and He is using this unprecedented time to slow people down and draw them near to Him.
Most importantly we have been reminded that Jesus Christ is our greatest hope. No earthly treasure is as fulfilling as the love of Jesus and in Him we have all we will ever need. We’ve thought a great deal about what we’d like to share with Enzo someday about this time since he currently has no concept of what he’s living through. We’ve truly been able to focus our once easily divided attention more solely on the Lord right now and in that way, this time spent in quarantine has greatly blessed us. We look forward to telling Enzo about this unique time and how God revealed Himself in mighty ways, reminding us so lovingly of the importance of being a “wise builder” and building our life upon the Rock that is Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:24-27).
We’ve also been aware of the struggles and challenges that many have been faced with during this time. People have lost jobs, had their mental health affected, had big life moments such as graduations, weddings, and birthday parties taken from them, and tragically, many have lost their lives. The pain and the cost has been heavy. The Lord is the only one who can lift and carry that burden. We have spent time in prayer for those who have been affected by this pandemic, trusting that the Lord will draw near and create beauty from ashes. We’ve heard from Him in the quiet moments as He’s strengthened our resolve to take part in the Great Commission and spread the Gospel to bring hope to the hopeless.
Here are some of the things that GEM has been doing during this time:
Regularly checking on all staff (who are currently staying where they are whether on the field or on Home Assignment).
Gathering twice daily (virtually) for corporate prayer.
Holding an all mission spiritual retreat day.
Providing opportunities for remote training.
Some of the more lighthearted things we will never forget from this time:
Gino having to run straight to the shower every time he returned home from work to make sure anything potentially dangerous was washed off before snuggling our son.
Trying out the infamous “quarantine coffee” aka dalgona coffee, a deliciously sweet treat made with whipped coffee and milk (if you haven’t tried it, here’s the simple recipe!)
Cleaning every single grocery item that enters our home, forgetting what we’ve cleaned, trying to figure it out, saying “forget it” and throwing them all in the cupboard.
Cooking and baking more than we ever have in the most creative ways possible as we utilized whatever we had on hand.
The videos of people from all over the world connecting through windows, zoom meetings, resulting in some beautiful and some very hilarious moments.
Some more serious things that God has been revealing to us:
We need to slow down and treasure the present moment.
Rest and security is found solely in Him.
It is incredibly easy to make idols out of earthly treasures.
Life is fragile, but even death could not stop our Savior and when we put our faith in Him there is nothing to fear.
We have often taken for granted daily provisions such as a full fridge, a safe home, running water, health, and the very breath that we breathe.
God is good, always.
We are thinking about each and every one of you during this time and we would love to pray for you. Please click below to email us your prayer request or call or text one of us using our contact information below.
May the Lord be near to you and meet your own unique needs during this time!
Contact
Gino: +44 7385 902588
Stephanie: +44 7385 90282