We are in a very strange time in our world, the situation with COVID-19 is changing hourly and we are trying our best to stay on top of what is happening in our province of British Columbia, Canada and community of Ladner. Our family is safe and able to remain at home together. Jon is not working in his catering job as this time so is home. However, this does not mean our ministry has slowed down at all. We thank God for using us in the little ways that we can during this time.
Here's an update of what's been going on:
- On March 4, 2020 250 Guatemalan workers got laid off their job here in Ladner and Aldergrove, including the 20 women in Aldergrove that arrived just before Christmas. After a lot of confusion and scrambling on how they would get home, the company booked them a chartered flight scheduled to leave Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
-On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Guatemala shut their border completely except for their own citizens with a mandatory quarantine. https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/323391/guatemala-borders-to-close-for-15-days-from-march-17-update-4
- The flight home for the workers was canceled. The men will remain in the current dorms and same meal plan, thankfully.
- Meanwhile, the 20 women in Aldergrove, also affected by the lay-offs received good news that an agency found them another placement to work here in Canada for the ones who wanted to remain. 13 will be moving from their current location to the new location in the next weeks. The remaining 7 want to return home but are forced to stay by the canceled flight.
- Now that the men have more time here and no new foreign workers are allowed to come into Canada, there is more time to find them new placements. Jon is currently playing the middle man between a blueberry farm and the workers here in Delta. They worked hard to set up a virtual meeting that is taking place as we speak.
-There is a lot of fear and most of the laid off workers were excited to see their families so having to stay is a challenge right now. Although it is the safest option, it is difficult for them now. We pray they find a way to maintain their health while here and find the right decision for them. New work or wait to go home.
- At another local farm workers arrived back after vacation in the midst of borders closing. They went into mandatory quarantine here. They are not allowed to shop for food. And their co-workers can't find food for them by the time they get to the stores in the evening. Jon dropped off a meal yesterday but the access was controlled, thankfully, so he just left it at a drop-off point.
- We have another drop off to do today of suitcases to another farm.
- Between these major events, Jon has been talking to a lot of workers. They are stressed and finding it extra hard to be away from family. However, they found some time to play soccer in this nice spring weather.
How can you help us help them:
- We still need suitcases for when it is time for them to go home.
- We need backpacks now for the women, either for their carry-on or to take to work each day.
- We may need help find certain foods and supplies. If a specific need arises we will share on our facebook page.
- Please pray for these workers to stay healthy, most importantly not to catch COVID-19. They live and work in close quarters so it would spread so quickly if they can into contact.
- Please pray for Guatemala, they have only 8 cases and fortunately have taken drastic steps to prevent the spread but they would be a worse position than us Canadians if it did.
We thank everyone who has donated suitcases or asked about their well-being.
Here's an update of what's been going on:
- On March 4, 2020 250 Guatemalan workers got laid off their job here in Ladner and Aldergrove, including the 20 women in Aldergrove that arrived just before Christmas. After a lot of confusion and scrambling on how they would get home, the company booked them a chartered flight scheduled to leave Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
-On Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Guatemala shut their border completely except for their own citizens with a mandatory quarantine. https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/323391/guatemala-borders-to-close-for-15-days-from-march-17-update-4
- The flight home for the workers was canceled. The men will remain in the current dorms and same meal plan, thankfully.
- Meanwhile, the 20 women in Aldergrove, also affected by the lay-offs received good news that an agency found them another placement to work here in Canada for the ones who wanted to remain. 13 will be moving from their current location to the new location in the next weeks. The remaining 7 want to return home but are forced to stay by the canceled flight.
- Now that the men have more time here and no new foreign workers are allowed to come into Canada, there is more time to find them new placements. Jon is currently playing the middle man between a blueberry farm and the workers here in Delta. They worked hard to set up a virtual meeting that is taking place as we speak.
-There is a lot of fear and most of the laid off workers were excited to see their families so having to stay is a challenge right now. Although it is the safest option, it is difficult for them now. We pray they find a way to maintain their health while here and find the right decision for them. New work or wait to go home.
- At another local farm workers arrived back after vacation in the midst of borders closing. They went into mandatory quarantine here. They are not allowed to shop for food. And their co-workers can't find food for them by the time they get to the stores in the evening. Jon dropped off a meal yesterday but the access was controlled, thankfully, so he just left it at a drop-off point.
- We have another drop off to do today of suitcases to another farm.
- Between these major events, Jon has been talking to a lot of workers. They are stressed and finding it extra hard to be away from family. However, they found some time to play soccer in this nice spring weather.
How can you help us help them:
- We still need suitcases for when it is time for them to go home.
- We need backpacks now for the women, either for their carry-on or to take to work each day.
- We may need help find certain foods and supplies. If a specific need arises we will share on our facebook page.
- Please pray for these workers to stay healthy, most importantly not to catch COVID-19. They live and work in close quarters so it would spread so quickly if they can into contact.
- Please pray for Guatemala, they have only 8 cases and fortunately have taken drastic steps to prevent the spread but they would be a worse position than us Canadians if it did.
We thank everyone who has donated suitcases or asked about their well-being.
