March 14, 2020
Aloha ʻOhana!
“Serve and worship the Lord your God and He will bless your bread and your water and remove sickness from your midst” Exodus 23:25
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, itʻs daily updates and current information for Hawaiʻi; we want to assure all of you that our highest priority is to protect the health and welfare of our Mana Christian ʻOhana, Kupuna, staff and community. We take these concerns seriously but we do not approach them with fear but rather “move in the power and love and sound mind God has given us… 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear…”. As of March 14, 2020, we will continue to have church services and will keep informed as we move forward and will clearly communicate any changes we might have to make in the future. Our prayer remains rooted in the promises of God, His steadfast Love and His Wisdom and understanding in all things.
Letʻs stay informed, aware, and prepared. We have taken sensible and intentional precautions and steps in providing a safe church environment and rental meeting space for the community. We are sanitizing our meeting rooms and hall on a regular basis before and after use. We have changed the way we will be doing communion and some other aspects of our Sunday service as well as adjusting the way we serve refreshments as you may have noticed last week. We have hand sanitizer stations in the hall as well as the classrooms and office. We will continue to improve and seek advice as we navigate this challenging time. Each person will need to make his/her own personal decision and considerations about congregating, especially our Kupuna. An audio version of the sermon is available online by Monday afternoon at the latest.
Loving God and your neighbor; practice personal hygiene.
The World Health Organization recommends:
- Wash your hands frequentlyWash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. During this time, learn good habits of hygiene. Use this current concern to teach children to avoid touching their noses, eyes and mouths.
- Practice respiratory hygieneMake sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the used tissue immediately.
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.
*For information specific to Hawaii go to: health.hawaii.gov/docd/advisories/novel-coronavirus-2019/
Finally, Be strong and courageous. Trust in the Lord, be aware and do not fear. We live in a fallen world and yet Christ is with us and will truly never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus sits on the Throne! We will remain alert and stay current with the changing conditions around us in Hawaii and the world. However, should decisions need to be made, we will do so and those decisions will be communicated clearly. Solomon prayed for a “wise and discerning heart that he might lead God’s people well.” Let us all unite in prayer with the Body of Christ, our brothers and sisters near and far, that we be part of His healing, righteousness and pono in the land and especially here in our beloved Hawaiʻi.
God bless you all!
Be Anxious for nothing!
Things you can do to support yourself: (from CDC website)
For more information – go to: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html)
- Avoid excessive exposure to media coverage of COVID-19.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate *on your favorite scripture or psalm. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals; exercise regularly; get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
- Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships.
- Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking *by reading MCO bookmark, listening to praise and worship music and staying connected with fellowship and prayer!
*There are DIY (Do it Yourself) recipes for hand sanitizer and gel online and also guidelines at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) site and the WHO (World Health Organization) site online. Thereʻs one with aloe vera that looks good! Check it out.
*denotes MCO addition to text
