Teresa de Cuesta, originally from Mexico, serves as a volunteer missionary in the Genesis Project through the Church of the Nazarene. She became ill with COVID-19 while she was serving. Though she suffers from asthma, she can say that God’s mercy has touched her!
“I am a volunteer missionary serving in the Genesis Project in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. During the pandemic, we were using creative evangelism strategies so we could continue accomplishing our mission. Even though we took the recommended measures and had little contact with people, the illness still found me.
I had symptoms for three weeks, which really scared me. I had terrible headaches every day, fever, difficulty breathing, pain and general discomfort. To sum it up, my biggest concern was the bronchial asthma that I always suffer from.
Outside of my country, far from my family, in an unfamiliar medical system, fear invaded me. The days stretched out and it didn’t seem like I was getting any better. I remembered that only God could work in my body, and in these moments the only thing I could do was pray and understand that he was the only one who could make me healthy again.
But when I read the news of the many brothers and sisters from our churches who had died, I thought, “Who am I that God should heal me? Am I a better Christian? Is my faith so much greater?” The response was no, I am not. Yet even though I don’t deserve it, God’s mercy found me. I can say that I had a “light” version of COVID-19.
Living through the time of a pandemic has increased my faith in extraordinary ways. God has reminded me over and over again, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.
