April 2020 Newsletter

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During this unprecedented season of Covid-19, our lives, work, and ministries look very different. Many of us are sheltering in place, seeking creative ways to serve. Still, others are continuing to provide vital services. Our emotions are being affected, we are all suffering individually, but also experiencing a collective trauma. Some of us may be feeling sad and anxious, while others may be experiencing uncertainty or unexplained anger.

Our usual coping methods are limited, so we may feel a lot of emotions that we can't explain.  We are uncertain how long this disruption will last. Some of us may be faced with an uncertain future. In traumatic situations, it is natural to feel stress, anxiety, anger, helplessness, and loss of control. Hear me say this... it is okay to feel these emotions, and it is okay not to be okay!
 
The Trauma Healing Institute has developed specific material called, "Healing from the DIstress of the Covid-19 Crisis" and we have been using it to facilitate discussion on processing our feelings and emotions from a Biblical perspective. Sharon and I have been offering 2.5-hour sessions several days a week on this topic. If you are interested in being a part of it, please let me know. Our desire is to help you reflect on God's love and care during this time, feel encouraged, and gain an understanding that you can use to help others.  

Here is a glimpse of the discussion. I encourage you if you cannot join in one of our zoom discussions, to talk these questions over with a trusted loved one or journal about them. I am always willing to talk anytime either in a group or one on one.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How has the crisis created by this virus affected you?

2. Do you feel:

• Helpless? Explain.
• Angry? Explain.
• Afraid? Explain.

3. What kinds of losses have you experienced due to COVID-19?

4. If you have been isolated from other people, how has that affected you?

After discussing or journaling your responses to these questions, look at the list below to see if there
are things you did not already think of.

• Helplessness: You may feel like your voice is not heard, or that you have lost control over your life. You may feel like a victim of something unexpected and beyond your control. The world may not make sense. You may not know who or what to believe.
• Anger: You may be angry at leaders who have made poor decisions, or at people who are critical of leaders you support. You may be angry at people who are not following the rules or using good judgment. You may be angry at how others are treating you, or you may even be angry at yourself for mistakes you may have made. Sometimes, when we examine our anger, we find that beneath it we are expressing our fear.
• Fear: You may fear death, or change, or loss of a job, home, way of life, or sense of purpose. If you test positive for the virus or are from a group with high infection rates, you may fear being stigmatized. You may fear being unable to get medical care for yourself or your loved ones. You may fear overreacting or under-reacting.
• Loss: You may have lost your job, your income, your home, or contact with your loved ones. You may have lost the opportunity for farewells, ceremonies, or funerals. Events you had been looking forward to maybe canceled. You may have lost the predictable rhythm of life.
• Isolation: You may feel sad, lonely, worried, suicidal, trapped, or bored. If you have stayed at home with family members in close quarters, you may feel crowded or harassed. These emotions may take all your energy and leave you feeling tired all the time. Some of these feelings may continue long after the quarantine is over.

Everyone is feeling the stress of this time. Know that you do not have to journey through this alone though. I will walk with you! And we serve a Big God who has promised to never leave nor forsake us. 

Thank you for your continued love and support and let me know how I can be a support to you,

Misty

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Have you ever noticed how Jesus responds when He sees people who are worried, anxious, or afraid? He doesn’t tell them to “just stop worrying,” He asks them curious questions, draws their attention to birds, flowers, other parts of creation, and reminds people of His presence & reliability.
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We don’t have to feel ashamed of our fears. We can accept Jesus’s invitation to look to the peace found in His presence and in creation, even in the midst of frightening days. Watch the birds fly, play, sing, and look for food. Watch clouds moving across the big open sky. Enjoy blooming flowers. Notice how the trees deepen their roots and reach to the sky at the same time.
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Enjoy these beauties with God, our Creator. You will find yourself a little steadier and more at peace, perhaps.

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Prayer requests and praises:

• For those on the front lines, such as the medical professionals, helping with COVID-19
• For missionaries who decided to return to their home country and the ones who chose to stay-that they are a beacon of hope for those they come into contact with 
• For those restaurants and small businesses who have been impacted by the quarantine orders
• For those who face immense poverty around the world-that COVID-19 does not spread into places that do not have resources
• For wisdom for government officials as they navigate next steps
• For those that we love with compromised immune systems-to stay healthy
• For continued ministry opportunities through platforms like zoom

Partner Now

Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner of Misty Bodkins in 2020? There are 2 ways you may donate to Misty at Ministry Care. You can make checks payable to “Ministry Care” and send them to:
 
Ministry Care
14934 Pacer Ct.
Carmel, IN 46032
 
Or you can also make an online donation, using Givelify, on our website at www.ministrycareinternational.org
 
Ministry Care is a 501c3 therefore your donation will be tax deductible.
 
If you have any questions feel free to email us as [email protected]