Life in Dynamic Quarantine
Life in Cochabamba has changed dramatically and unimaginably since the beginning of the year. On 13 March I presented our strategic plan to the Roots Bolivia board – we were set for a great year. On 21 March we went into rigid quarantine and have been in varying forms of restrictions ever since.
We spent 10 weeks in strict quarantine from 22 March until 31 May. During this time no private cars or public transport were permitted on the streets. All groceries and any shopping had to be carried to the house. At present, 26.07.2020, we are in strict lockdown every Friday to Sunday and we are able to work and shop with some restrictions from Monday to Thursday, observing a curfew from 6pm everyday. Private school students study through online platforms. Our children have not left the house since 21 March. This has presented some challenges, though it is amazing how our kids have adapted to their new reality.
All face to face ministry has ceased. ZOOM has become very important part of life and only those ministries suitable to ZOOM have continued. At Roots we our ‘4 Generations’ scholarship program continues. The students are mentored and take the classes at their respective seminaries virtually. Our monthly preaching meetings are hosted on ZOOM. Our Roots board meetings are held over ZOOM. The pastors in our “Together In The Way” program meet through ZOOM. However many pastors simply do not have access to the technology and ‘megas’ necessary to meet virtually and their groups are in recess. Many pastors here have COVID and many are not being paid as churches are not meeting and offerings not collected. Bible studies and Sunday services are all held virtually where possible, otherwise not at all.
Below are some photos to give you an idea of what lock down life is like.
Nathan
It is very common to see military patrolling the streets and enforcing the relevant lock down restrictions. Access to certain parts of the city is restricted by CARNET number (identity card).
PPE is used commonly
100s of groups of three military personal and one medical student have door knocked homes looking for likely COVID infections and distributing medicines and offering advice. Testing rates are very low in Bolivia and the door knocking is a good way of encouraging self isolating and identifying cases.
All school is now done by online platforms.
Poppy visiting the Dentist.
Pat hiding in the fridge. After being 4 months at home without leaving one looks for new ways to amuse oneself.
Access to banks and supermarkets has been restricted by CARNET number. This has caused large queues and long hours spent in lines.
Our Bible study continues by ZOOM. The constant friendship of these brothers has been a great blessing for us extroverts who find quarantine hard work.
Entry to the supermarket requires full body disinfection, face mask and obligatory hand sanitising!
The city dump was blocked by protestors for more than two weeks resulting in 1000s of tones of rubbish accumulating in the city. When the trucks finally came it was a neighbourhood spectacle.
Roots presented writing prizes to three emerging theological writers. Our winners were from La Paz, Cochabamba, and Montero.
Roots distributes crisis hampers to Pastors with no income and no employment.
Roots takes bio security seriously. Roots was required to provide photos to go with our COVID policy….
All our Roots Bolivia board meetings are by ZOOM.
A chance meeting with Gustavo from Bible Study at Hector (Roots Bolivia board member) and Erika’s shop…..
Entertaining the kids with games from the past.
Our local coffee shop… owners Vi and Cliff pass our coffee to us through a small plastic flap!
Playing trolleys with the neighbours.
Baking traditional bread.
Poppy and Daisy read poems for the San Simon radio station.
Woodwork with Pat.
Happy birthday Lily, 13 in July in quarantine. We had 4 family only birthdays in quarantine.
We try to avoid supermarkets where possible. And in the hard lockdowns carrying shopping home on foot up the hill was hard work. Human ingenuity flourishes in Bolivia and as people adapt to the new reality little local markets have popped up everywhere. We can get great vegetables and fruit now just a block from our house.
4 months of patience and the flowers bloomed.
