Further Mexican Swine Flu Updates

Since none of you complained about me spamming your inboxes, should you be interested, you will find attached the most recent updates from Armonia Mexico.

:)

C

Mexico: Swine Flu and Armonia

Dear friends,

I thought I would cheekily resurrect this email list and write to you because quite a number of people have asked me about the current situation in Mexico and specifically about how Armonia has been affected.  Thusfar, I have received 3 emails.  

One came from Betsi, one of the ladies who used to work at the Santa Cruz community centre, who tells me that things are pretty bad.  She is currently involved volunteering for the Mexican Red Cross and it's possible that she will come into contact with some of those who have contracted the virus.  She asks those of you who are Christians to pray for the crisis to pass swiftly.

The second came from the current volunteers, Wes and Stephanie Vanderlugt (they are doing my old job).  The news reports I'm reading from both inside and outside the country are conflicting and vague, but it from what I can cobble together from their emails and internal/external news reporting, the Mexican government has shut down all schools until the 6th May, all restaurants (apart from take-aways!!) have been closed in the Federal District and travel is being restricted in some areas.  Similarly, Armonia has shut its Community Centres and everyone is staying inside unless necessary.  Wes and Steph and everyone else directly involved with Armonia remain healthy at this time but they are all taking certain precautions: washing hands, keeping their distance from others (the US consulate is recommending personal 6-foot exclusion zones!), taking vitamins and drinking lots of fluids.  Everyone going out in public wears a blue surgical mask, as is the Mexican standard response to any sort of respiratory or contagious illness.  Hopefully the members of Armonia will remain healthy and I'm hoping that the break in activities may give everyone a well-earned rest before the summer madness begins.

By far the most informative source of information was the last email (below) that came from Sr. Saul and Sra. Pilar.  To summarise, Sr. Saul is away in the States visiting supporters whilst Sra. Pilar is supporting members of the communities in which Armonia operates.  She has already taken one kid from Jalalpa to the hospital with potential symptoms.  Do have a read to find out more - the recent security concerns (from drug wars 600miles north of Mexico City in Cuidad Juarez) and this now mean that quite a few groups have cancelled, putting much of the summer work dependent on this source of income at threat.  It seems like the programme of events may have to be adjusted and some of the building work postponed, but we wait to see God's leading on this.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you're all well. :)

Love Chris

<<<Original email>>

As you all for sure know Mexico is facing a new strand of influenza, swine flu, which has really hit the news today. The government has declared it an epidemic under control. In order to do that, they have closed schools, museums, and all types of enclosed public building where people will be in close contact. Of course, we have responded by closing the community centers and quarantining all our students in view of the risk of people catching this flu which nobody knows how it is spreading yet. 

We originally thought that the main problem right now was that Mexico didn't not have enough flu vaccinations and only 8 million were distributed last December. Pilar and I received our shots, as well as the kids in Oaxaca, we know better now that that flu shot is not effective against swine flu.

Considering this emergency, Pilar decided to stay in Mexico to support the people in the community centers and anyone who might be getting infected. We have a network of telephone numbers, gloves and face masks and prayers. I am the only one who is traveling to Baltimore to speak at the missions conference at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church and a visit to Rivers Edge. Please pray for us on several different levels. We have already dealt with the concern regarding safety in Mexico, which has caused several groups to cancel, and now this concern is added to it. As a result of these things, we do not have the resources to meet some our most pressing needs, which right now include building the student residence in Oaxaca without groups and buying medicine for people who need them. 

Financially, donations would be very helpful. When we discussed this in our last board meeting, we spoke of $5000 for an emergency situation, but whatever money we could use to help Armonía provide money for people to visit the doctors and medicines would be very reassuring! Government is discouraging people to go the hospitals as they are considered the main focus of infection.

In addition, please pray for Pilar as she has  faces the first case of a kid who we they thought was affected in Jalalpa, and who was immediately taken to the doctor. It seems tonight that he is improving. Pray for all those who are well, so that they will remain healthy and wise, and also for my trip so that I can have the peace of mind that I need in order to preach and deliver God's message at Chapelgate and when I meet with Rivers Edge Church, knowing that I'm needed back in Mexico. 

Thank you for all of your concern and prayers!

Blessings- Saul and Pilar Cruz