GOD’S LOVE IN QUARANTINE

In the spring of 2021, Brother Januario Sani Quehi and Brother Manuel Barreto Amaral, who had just taken their first temporary vows, travelled from Indonesia to Timor-Leste, in order to support the work of the Congregation in their home country. When they arrived at the border, the first thing they had to do was to quarantine. They describe what that did to them.

We stayed in the quarantine hotel for about 14 days. We noticed that people lived in fear there. It made me sad. The covid-19 pandemic affects how we relate to others. For fear of contamination, we become a little afraid of each other, and we prefer to isolate ourselves from others.

The hotel was not taken care of very well. Not because the staff was lazy, but because they were afraid, and that is quite understandable. But we shouldn’t continue to live in that fear. We can do something. When we saw the situation, we decided to clean things together, especially the sanitary facilities. We followed health protocol and wore masks and gloves. This influenced others who were in quarantine with us. One by one they approached us to assist. Together we cleaned up. We immediately felt a lot better and less scared. If something needs to be done, we as religious should not wait or demand that it be done by others, even if they are employees who get paid for it. It is our duty to help, and to pay attention to the little things around us with the love of God that is in us. A humble person, living from love, does not necessarily hope to do something big. He starts with small things and does them because of the love of God.

The people at the hotel were grateful to us. They were less stressed, and they felt comforted. I felt grateful, too. Even though we were in isolation, God was with us. Even in quarantine, there is still an opportunity to be open to one another.

Perhaps this is even a way God can bring us together. Love does not mean that there are no more conflicts, or that there is no more fear. But love is always the best response. Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid; I will always be with you until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). And “My beloved brothers and sisters, let us love one another, for love comes from God and everyone who loves is born of God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

Brother Januario Sani Quehi CMM, Timor-Leste

Prayer helps

The first few days of my quarantine I was not comfortable. I was afraid of being positive, afraid of getting sick, I felt locked up and left out. Because we were from Medan in Indonesia, other people in the quarantine hotel seemed to avoid us, because Medan was a red zone at the time with many infections. Before we went into the hotel we had been tested. I was very nervous about the result, but fortunately it was negative.

Those first days I was stressed and anxious, and I was afraid of the boredom, because that can lead to even more negative thoughts. In difficult situations, I always pray a lot and constantly ask for God’s protection. As the apostle Paul’s letter says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in trouble, and persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

After a few days, I was more relaxed. Prayer helps. In fact, living in a quarantine hotel is quite comfortable. You have a bed to sleep in, food and drink were provided, and we could do some chores during the day, which kept us busy. We could do everything on our own time. Still, not everyone was so positive. Many people complained that they lost a lot of time, time they would have liked to use for more important things. But the time we spent in a quarantine hotel can also be seen as an extra time of grace, given to us just like that. I would say: just enjoy it.

Brother Manuel Barreto Amaral CMM, Timor Leste

“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).