Update from Mauritius by Alumna Kathleen Ngan

Lockdown has been extended for another two weeks until 15th April due to an increase number of cases. Supermarkets have been opened since Thursday until Saturday on a trial basis using names in alphabetical order: A-F Thu, G-N Fri, O-Z Sat. Then on Monday next and Thursday for A-F again and so on, meaning twice a week we are allowed to buy food. Pharmacies are opened everyday.

On Thursday, there was such a crowd at all supermarkets and no social distancing. There were long queues waiting at these places. Only a few at a time were allowed in. Yesterday was much better. It was more organised and more disciplined. Today, it will be much better I guess. My sister had already bought food before the lockdown which can last us for a while. We sensed something would happen and we have some vegetables in the garden.Everyday, we have a team from the government coming to speak on TV, radio or Facebook giving us all the details and necessary precautions. The majority obeys but there is still a handful who disobey the rules and regulations and these are spreading the virus.

Cases who are quarantined are those who have flown in from different countries. Several passed away before measures have been taken to test them when they flew in. Contact tracing are being done and slowly we see people being infected without they knowing it and then been taken to hospital for quarantine. We have 186 cases & 7 deaths as of 3 April.Government sent food for those who are in need. Our church has bought food for a number of needy, done through one of our new member who is a politician. She has direct access to the poor. I believe there are much more cases as the majority of the population are not tested due to lack of equipment but we are given a phone number to contact if we have the symptoms and health officers will be at our house for testing. If the results are positive, people have to be quarantined at hospital until they are fully recovered. We hear of heartbreaking cases where the whole family are quarantined and the daughter of 20 years old passed away. The family members were not able to attend funeral in such family situation.Despite this, some are still stubborn and do not obey rules given, thus putting at risk the rest of the population.

We trust and know that God is at work.

Our Heavenly Father is using this difficult situation to bring people to Him.
1. For Matured Christians
2. For Backsliding Christians
3. For Non-Christians

The matured Christians are being used by God to reassure the young Christians. He is using matured Christians to bring back to Him Christians who have gone far away from Him and lead them back into His kingdom with a heart of repentance. Moreover, it is a great opportunity for prayer and sharing about Jesus with the non-Christians. One Christian lady whom I used to counsel from the island of Rodrigues (a few hours flight away & belonging to the government of Mauritius), sent me a WhatsApp message last week. She shared about her fear of the virus and need of prayer. I had not heard from her for about 2 years. She acknowledged her unfaithfulness and her ungrateful attitude towards Him. I led her to repent before the Lord and encouraged her to stand in the Word of God. She felt so much peace after prayer. She introduced me to her Christian friend who was fearful too. She also repented before the Lord and she was so peaceful after prayer. Afterwards, this sister, as she was turning to her Bible, the Lord spoke to her in Isaiah 43:1-5 and she was so encouraged.
On Tuesday, along with this sister and three other friends from the same island, we studied the Bible online. They were so thrilled afterwards. All of them are Christians and they want to do so on a regular basis. Praise the Lord!

Another sister has a non-Christian contact asking her for prayer and an open door for this sister to share and pray for the lady whom she met recently and has been in touch with on a regular basis. The devil is using fear to keep people into captivity, destroy and kill them but God is using fear to set people free from bondage to give them abundant life.

Praise & glory to Our Living God. Nothing is beyond His control. He alone is the Great I Am. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of His name!

Author Bio: Kathleen Ngan graduated with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counselling in 2004. She has been in active church and counselling ministries in Mauritius upon her graduation. She enjoys travelling with her niece Nathalie when time and tide permits, with God’s provision and grace.