We asked our missionaries: In the face of the coronavirus and this global pandemic: 1.) How has life changed for you? 2.) How has your ministry changed? 3.) How are you doing? 4.) How can we pray?
Here is Brandon Newlin's response:

1.) How has life changed for you?
Life hasn't changed too much day-today, because summers are usually pretty slow for us anyway. A lot of teachers are still around and they're building houses on top of the hill near Jessica, so there's plenty of work to do. We're kind of like an extended household, so we've been interacting as normal around campus, but we don't have church in the church. We can't go anywhere without wearing a mask and they have police checkpoints in and out of the villages to check temperature.
 
 
2.) How has your ministry changed? 
The most frustrating thing for me was that we've had to cancel our summer outreach mission trips. We had students going to 50 different villages for the summer, but that all fell apart in a week or two as restrictions got more strict. Personally, the thing that's keeping me sane is a group of students that is stuck in the dorm for the summer, so we've been having some classes and doing some activities. We won't be able to start school until at least July (it's usually May) so we'll have plenty of time to plan (or go crazy). We're also a bit worried for when all the students come back to school from many different places in Myanmar, where the government has been inconsistent with the truth and has very limited medical resources. July is also the middle of rainy season and our normal awful diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikugunya, which I had last year and am still recovering from. Right now we're not really anxious about it, but everything seems so weird and uncertain.
 
3.) How are you doing? 
I've been doing really well for the past week or two. The first couple weeks of quarantine were really depressing, but I've been adapting to the new normal, relying more on God, and even exercising. Wish I could go back and visit because my nieces and nephews are practically in college now it seems like. I'd also love to skype/zoom with you. It's been really encouraging to hear your sermons and feel a little bit more of a connection with the church family (although everything else that's happening around the country makes me cringe every time I read the news. It seems like there is so much hate everywhere. I don't feel personally invested in the whole political side of everything, but it seems like there is so much negative energy everywhere. I don't envy you having to navigate all of that.)
 
4.) How can we pray?
So that is what we need prayer for: Wisdom and safety.

We asked our missionaries: In the face of the coronavirus and this global pandemic: 1.) How has life changed for you? 2.) How has your ministry changed? 3.) How are you doing? 4.) How can we pray?
Here is Titus Sehwon's response:

Life has changed for all of us because of corona virus - COVID- 19. Here in the US, in Liberia and everywhere around the world life has changed for everyone. But thankfully, God has not changed. 
 
For constantly caring to know how we are doing as family and church we are very encouraged! COVID-19 is here in Liberia and the current report is that there are 76 cases, 7 deaths and 7 persons have recovered from the virus. On April 8 the President (George Weah) declared State of Emergency and we have seen thousands of person leaving Monrovia. There is high level of uncertainty about what is going to happen the next moment.
 
1.) How has life changed for you?
Life has changed for us at various levels. It is mandatory that we avoid many persons, shaking hands and going places. We wash our hands very often and have had to manage to secure whatever much we can for the family survival. We and our kids have stopped going to school. Our lawmakers are still debating whether there should be a total lock-down, what ramifications that will have for the population that finds what to eat each day.
 
2.) How has your ministry changed? 
As for church ministry work it is now done from home and on phone. The president of our denomination asked that all Inland churches remain closed until the threat of corona has abated. We can only call and text our members now to encourage them. All of our planed conferences, meetings and activities have been canceled for now. Churches that are able reach their members also through social media platforms. 
 
3.) How are you doing? 
We are doing fine as a family by the grace of God. Even though ministry, school and work have shut down, we enjoy each other company at home. All the children (6 girls) stay home too...lot of talking...something Mother Mercy alone mostly did. But we have the basic things we need. Thank the Lord who provides! 
 
4.) How can we pray?
As I said before, pray for our health. Pray for the church and many persons whose difficulties and sufferings have intensified here because of the pandemic. Our God is in control!

We asked our missionaries: In the face of the coronavirus and this global pandemic: 1.) How has life changed for you? 2.) How has your ministry changed? 3.) How are you doing? 4.) How can we pray?
Here is Jessica Newlin's response:

1.) How has life changed for you?
If we didn’t have the pandemic at the moment we would usually be helping prepare and visit students at various summer camps across Burma. So many of our students volunteer to teach others English in the summer. It’s great because a lot of them are Christian, too so they can teach bible songs and share their love for God that way. So instead of doing that I’m just living at home in TMK. 

 
2.) How has your ministry changed? 
It has been nice in a way to have a break and have life slow down. Everything here is always busy so it is a change to have things slow down so much. I am able to visit more with the other teachers here, which is good and we still do our small group at church instead of the main service, so I am able to build better relationships with the families in my cell group. I am also finding time to study Karen a little more which gives me the opportunity to build relationships with non-English speaking people in the village. I already feel like I am closer to a few of the women here that attend my cell group.
Most of the students have gone, but there are still children around and I try to share and spread the love of God through my actions and interactions with them. Some days I see too much of them, but generally it is nice to visit with them as well. It is also nice to have time to help everyone around me build their house. It helps with the community feel, and most of the ones building are in my cell group so we will all have houses near each other, which is great. Almost everyone who is building is a Christian, and it makes me happy to think of living around these people. So I would say, God is allowing me the down time to build relationships which is something I don’t get to do as much with the busy life I usually live. 

 
3.) How are you doing? 
I’m doing great. I love being here still and my health seems to be good as well. 

 
4.) How can we pray?
Prayer for continued health is always good. I am also trying to learn more of the language and a lot of it doesn’t seem to want to stick in my brain, so prayer for that would be great as it would change the way I could do ministry. I would be able to communicate effectively with so many more people. Other than that just prayer that I am doing what God has me here to do and for the energy and strength to carry out His calling. Also the school is growing which is extremely good, but just guidance for the leaders as to what we will do with the larger numbers. This year will look different as well, and we already have students contacting us asking if we will do school at all this year.
 

We asked our missionaries: In the face of the coronavirus and this global pandemic: 1.) How has life changed for you? 2.) How has your ministry changed? 3.) How are you doing? 4.) How can we pray?
Here is Emmanuel Jonah's response:

​My family is safe and we are all doing well by God's grace. Covid 19 fight has changed so many things. However, one thing remains constant, " God is in control." 
 
1.) How has life changed for you?
Life has changed for me in the following ways: - I was always on the go but the situation has slowed me down. I have more time to relax, pray, read and study God's Word and spend quality time with my family. The situation has gotten me involved to a greater extend in the home work. I fetch water, clean up our room and living room. I am greatly humbled and I praise God for that! Before this crisis we had so many people coming and go daily. But with social distencing, people do not sit in our living room ezcept my family. My life has changed to value people even more.
 
2.) How has your ministry changed? 
Ministry has changed big time. Thank God His Word is still the same. I am learning to do things differently. Sermons are prepared for both those on social media and those who are not. I type a summary of my sermon and put it at the entrance of our church edifice. Thankfully I am close to the edifice, ha-ha! But it is so challenging really. For those who cannot read, I use the phone. I also keep in touch with my leaders on the phone and have assigned some members to Solomon and Moses Dweh to touch base with them. I am also in touch with our outstation pastors in Kakata, Gbarnga and Zowinta, and with leaders at the orphanage and CBC Clinic and church planters through the phone every day.
 
3.) How are you doing? 
I am doing well. Need wisdom and God's protection daily. 
 
4.) How can we pray?
Please pray for the following: 
- That God will use this situation to draw me and my family closer to God 
- That God will strengthen me each day as I study and prepare the message for the week. 
- That God will provide so that we can meet physical needs in my family and church family 
- That God will heal the leg of my wife 
- That God will bless our home school for our kids