Mission in times of pandemic.

Mission in times of pandemic.
Jujuy community. Argentina-Uruguay Unit

As soon as the Covid 19 pandemic compulsory quarantine started, our community, spurred on by the "zeal that never says enough", considered some initiatives, such as offering to shop for some elderly neighbors, etc.  A time without certainties,  we never even in dreams saw an experience like this, so strange and extensive. Through the news we learned the reality that the Provincial State had to host people who returned to the Province and that it was necessary to protect them from contagion. Due to the novelty of the experience, discerning in community we consider that our task would be carried out in coordination with the local Church. We communicated with our Bishop who hoped to have the availability of our house and that of other retreat houses, in order to respond to the request of the ad hoc entity: Emergency Operating Committee (COE).  In the following days,  a member of the COE came to see the facilities of our Retreat House.
This is how on Easter Sunday, April 12, complying with the prevention and hygiene protocols, we received the first contingent: 58 people, called in our jargon as "Swallow workers", all of them simple and impoverished people who move, individually or as groups of families to other provinces to develop tillage tasks, various crops, in order to provide for their livelihood. In this group there were several adolescents and about 7 children. In principle our responsibility with the COE was fulfilled by when providing our facilities, but soon the sisters noticed that afternoon snacks were not included, and that food at both lunch and dinner was very scarce.  To help, two sisters from the community offered to prepare them. In turn, this led to request collaboration from Cáritas Diocesana, known to families and relatives of the sisters who generously contribute to make food reinforcements and hygiene items.  In addition, VC Communities, Catechists Group, Kawsay network, neighbors and friends have joined. Thank God, after the 14 days quarantine established by the health protocol, no one within the group manifested any symptoms. So, with much excitement and gratitude, they retired to their respective homes.
Then, after the necessary days of disinfection and hygiene, the second group was received, people with the same characteristics. With the knowledge of past experience, it allowed us to start and sustain the service with another organization. We are reaching 14 regulatory days, without any infected person. With vigor we continue to pray to God, the source of all grace, goodness and mercy, for the end of this and of all the physical and spiritual plagues that also plague humanity.