Trusting in God in the Midst of Pandemic

Trusting in God in the Midst of Pandemic

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: In the second half of this week’s episode of INC News World: a nurse in Toronto prepares for the peak of the virus still ahead; meet an essential worker in Hawaii, keeping his community running behind the scenes; new hobbies emerge at home as people are forced indoors. Your INC News World starts now. 

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: Welcome back to INC News World, I’m Naomi De La Cruz, coming to you still from the Los Angeles area, as we continue the second half of this week’s episode covering stories during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, Public Health Ontario published a report on COVID-19 cases in their province. 

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Within a span of 4 months, more than half of the cases were found in the Greater Toronto Area. Public Health Ontario 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: As the end of this pandemic is nowhere in sight, frontliners across Canada are embracing for what is to come. However we see how one nurse is leaving it all in someone else’s hands. Adara Pineda has the details. 

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GLOBAL NEWS CANADA: More than 17,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19. More than 1200 new cases were reported today. 

MARILEN BARREDA (NURSE – TORONTO, CANADA): The conditions right now here in Toronto, Ontario, it’s been very stressful and unpredictable as well. Because every day, especially in Emergency we can’t predict what’s [going] to happen. 

ADARA PINEDA: The spread of the COVID-19 virus has turned hospitals into battlefields.  

MARILEN BARREDA (NURSE – TORONTO, CANADA):  There’s always numerous patients that come through the emergency departments, there’s about 160 patients plus coming through the emergency department to be assessed for COVID-19. 

ADARA PINEDA: For Len Barreda the risk of contracting the disease is always in the back of her mind. 

MARILEN BARREDA (NURSE – TORONTO, CANADA):  Because we don’t know exactly how this disease starts or spreads, and I myself, as a nurse, I have a weak immune system, so just being cautious with who I treat. I’ve had cases that I didn’t even know that were positive but I get that phone call right from our offices. And then I have to rethink and make sure like, was I wearing the right protective gear? Was I doing the proper methods of treatment for that patient? Sometimes when they’re at triage they say little bits of what they’re facing and then afterwards once they get in the department to get seen by the physician that’s when they reveal “Oh yeah, I had fever, chills” whatever and then they’re like, why didn’t you expose this like in the beginning because then it gets us affected by it because now we’re treating it like everybody that comes through the hospital. That you don’t know, the unknown is what worries everybody in our healthcare system. Because of how this disease is going, sometimes you don’t show symptoms. Sometimes you can show symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms don’t show till even after 14 days. 

ADARA PINEDA: Despite this uncertainty, Len is grateful.    

MARILEN BARREDA (NURSE – TORONTO, CANADA):  I wasn’t really exposed to the disease. I wasn’t, I didn’t contract anything. So with God’s help, His guidance, definitely I’m grateful for it. Having God by my side being able to pray to Him, being able to do that, that helps a lot too every day, right?

ADARA PINEDA: That is why God continues to be a priority in Len’s life.

MARILEN BARREDA (INC MEDIA SERVICES STAFF – TORONTO, CANADA):  Being able to balance my hospital work and my work for the Church, in INC Media Services, being able to use our modern technology nowadays, it’s a big help because of the work that we’re doing. I help in the show The Solution. So I help with researching new ways in getting subjects to be interviewed or even new ways in presenting the show to everybody. So that our presence is known to everybody in the world. 

 ADARA PINEDA: During times like these, Len still has something to look forward to.

MARILEN BARREDA (INC MEDIA SERVICES STAFF – TORONTO, CANADA): The one thing that I was worried about was just being able to worship our Almighty God, right, because with our line of duty, we don’t know how things are going to plan out. This disease is bigger than us, right? Man can’t treat it right now. So everything is possible with God’s help. What’s most important is being able to hear God’s words, to listen to His teachings, to be able to worship. With our modern technology here, we’re still able to hear God’s words. I know, personally, I need that right? So with work, with the worries right now in the world, like that’s secondary, you know. So, really just being able to worship God that’s the number one priority. 

ADARA PINEDA: In the face of this pandemic we can see how God continues to strengthen and inspire those who trust in Him. For the latest news log onto incmedia.org/inc-news-world. Adara Pineda; Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: While stay at home orders are being implemented, essential workers are still doing their part to help those in need.

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Essential services are the services and functions that are absolutely necessary, even during a pandemic. They maintain the health and welfare of the municipality. PAHO.org 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: And we meet one man who’s doing his share to help those affected by the pandemic. Shannon Santamaria has the details. 

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DENNIS PARONI (CASE MANAGER – FIRST WORK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION): Rapid wave of people getting sick is a little bit scary. 

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: Although Dennis sees how dangerous it can be to be out in public, he is required to come to work and be there for his organization’s clients. 

DENNIS PARONI (CASE MANAGER – FIRST WORK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION): I help clients who have physical and mental barriers. I try to help them get over their barriers so that some day they could go back into the workforce and be self-sufficient. We’re not able to take the work home with us because of the many confidential things that we hold, especially with regards to their health. 

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: Being an essential worker serving as a case manager at the First Work Vocational Rehabilitation Center, he does the best he can to help those in need. 

DENNIS PARONI (CASE MANAGER – FIRST WORK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION): Because if I don’t process them on a timely manner it might affect my clients not receiving their financial reimbursements, they will struggle tremendously. They’ll just fall out of the system and end up going back into the streets. They will be homeless. 

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: As the pandemic spreads, the unemployment rate has drastically increased. Dennis’s organization is committed to assisting their clients who are struggling to find a stable source of income. 

DENNIS PARONI (CASE MANAGER – FIRST WORK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION): I had a client that came in, he really had a hard time getting a job because their mind was not there, because their job is forced to close, because they were deemed non-essential workers. What we can do for them is give them re-training. Maybe work at another type of job. What we do is we give them resources, free online training with 200+ training online that they can try to do to get back to the working community. And they can have that money or income. 

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: Never missing a day of work, traveling to work makes him at risk for contracting the disease. 

DENNIS PARONI (CASE MANAGER – FIRST WORK VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION): Because of what’s happening and I’m out there every day, it’s a little bit dangerous. I have to try to keep my distance because although I may not have the symptoms I might be carrying the disease.

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: Despite the risk he faces, him and his family hold on to what matters most. 

DENNIS PARONI (INC MEMBER – WAIPAHU, HAWAII): The only thing we can do is to trust in Him. He’ll be the one to guide us, to protect us. Because that is His promise to His children. As a human being, all those emotions, anxiety, fear that’s but natural. But because we are in the true Church we serve the true God, the only thing we can do is to trust in Him.   

SHANNON SANTAMARIA: Dennis is among the essential workers like grocery workers, construction workers and truck drivers who may not be at the front lines but are risking their safety for their community’s basic needs. Thank you for your service. In this time, uncertainty and insecurity is prevalent, we encounter brethren doing the best they can to help others around them. To see the latest news, log on to incmedia.org/incnewsworld. Shannon Santamaria; Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network. 

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of Americans jobless and with ample free time. And according to psychologists:

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Hobbies and self-care are crucial during the coronavirus pandemic. CNN.com 

NAOMI DE LA CRUZ: In Florida, let’s meet a woman who has taken advantage of the situation to revisit a favorite past time. Michelle Peredo has more.

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MICHELLE PEREDO: After being initially inspired to start this new hobby, diamond painting, Eden put it away for some time, life got busy. But since the stay at home orders got placed throughout counties in Florida, she decided to take advantage of this time being given to her. And as a multimedia volunteer of the Church Of Christ herself, being inspired by the many Christian Family Organization arts and crafts activities being broadcasted even during the time of this pandemic, this was more motivation for her to pick it back up.

MICHELLE PEREDO: So, can you explain to us how you got into it or like you know, how did you get started? Where did you first see it?

EDEN UMBAL (DIAMOND PAINTER – MIAMI, FLORIDA): There’s a lighting store that has a framing shop, along Biscayne Boulevard, there is a Marilyn Monroe on display. It will really catch your attention. So it’s on display and it sparkles like daytime, nighttime. I had an idea like, I want to have one! In my house, but I want to do it myself. So, now that we have a stay at home order from the government, I was doing some projects at home. I was cleaning the house, reorganizing the room. And then I found my other one, the diamond paint, the package that I haven’t started with. And then I’m like, “Oh, now is a perfect time for me to do it. So that’s how I got engaged again into diamond painting. 

MICHELLE PEREDO:  And it came back at the perfect time to help her cope during the stressful times of the pandemic.

EDEN UMBAL (DIAMOND PAINTER – MIAMI, FLORIDA):  What I do is, first I do my usual household chores. And then when it’s time to rest or to relax, I sit here and then work on it. So it’s really a good time to, you know, it’s very therapeutic. This is actually the best time for us to do what, whatever projects we have neglected in the past that we have taken for granted.

MICHELLE PEREDO: And it’s more than just a therapeutic hobby for women her age.

EDEN UMBAL (DIAMOND PAINTER – MIAMI, FLORIDA): The diamond painting is not hard. That’s the thing, it’s so easy even a kid can do it, like any ages. There are symbols that you have to follow that corresponds to a color of the, in this case, the beads. I’m working on an Eiffel Tower. The title of the project of the diamond painting that I’m working on is “Meet Paris”. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: Compared to all the other hobbies you could have chosen anything, right? But you were so attracted to this hobby. What are your favorite parts or things about this hobby.

EDEN UMBAL (DIAMOND PAINTER – MIAMI, FLORIDA):  Oh, with this one, my favorite is when I’m seeing an image already, what I have finished. It’s a hobby. So you just take it [at] your own pace, you know. Take your time. You’re having fun, like, just enjoy, you know. 

MICHELLE PEREDO: And with all this time at home to work on chores and her favorite hobby, she also took this time to really reflect.

EDEN UMBAL (DIAMOND PAINTER – MIAMI, FLORIDA): I know it’s hard for some people that you know, they lost their jobs, but we still have to look at the bright side that even though this is happening you’re still alive. Even when you’re at home, you’re still in the comfort of your own home, you can do a lot of things. So, instead of being down, you have to be, you have to stay positive, you know. We’re still with our families in our homes, we still see them. So that’s one of the, you know, one thing to be thankful for.

MICHELLE PEREDO: For Eden, there’s fortunately something she can hold on tightly to during these times.

EDEN UMBAL (INC MEMBER – MIAMI, FLORIDA): As a member of the Church Of Christ, we’re still blessed.  This is actually a good opportunity for us to, you know, thank the Administration that we’re still able to worship in spite of this situation. God is good, He’s not going to, you know, forsake us. 

MICHELLE PEREDO:  While many are remaining home to help flatten the curve of this pandemic, they’re also finding ways to make time at home more meaningful. To keep up with all the current events inside the Church Of Christ, visit incmedia.org/incnewsworld. Michelle Peredo for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network.

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NAOMI DE LA CRUZ:  Well, that does it for us on INC News World. Tune in every Friday for new episodes of INC News World on incmedia.org. I’m Naomi De La Cruz. On behalf of the entire INC News World team, we’d like to thank the essential service workers, whether in healthcare or in any of the required industries that are keeping the rest of us safe; we hope you are all safe and healthy, wherever you may be. Thank you for joining us. Have a great weekend and God bless!