By this point of us knowing about coronavirus, many of us have had to endure (the dreaded) quarantine. For myself, the time finally came in early December. After testing positive, me (and my lovely roommate) jumped aboard the quarantine train. I’m young and healthy, so even through all my symptoms, it felt more like a lazy house-arrest with a friend than anything else. My compassion definitely grew for those in different conditions because the sickness was unlike anything I’d ever felt. But I was mainly grateful to have the virus done and over with before serving some really vulnerable populations this year.
Then in preparation to serve, my squad and I trained+quarantined in Georgia together. That quickly turned from 10–> 15 days with COVID-19 restrictions and testing capabilities. We made it through, all getting to Colombia safe and sound, only to serve 10 days before starting to drop like flies. The amount of room changes and COVID-19 tests administered these last weeks is slightly comedic.
Now I say all this to paint a picture, and level with you. It hasn’t been pretty to get here. It hasn’t been peaches and cream to live in community, in a completely new environment. We certainly haven’t been able to do what we set out to do here. But enter God. For the spaces we feel uncomfortable, He’s gone before us. When we don’t understand what to do, He’s got a plan. When we can’t see how to simply be where we are, He asks us to seek Him.
When we are told to not go nuts staring at the same four walls for 240 hours from first symptom, or 240 hours after our negative test with no symptoms
we are tempted to pull our hairs out. We’ve been snippy and frustrated, but we’ve been leaning into perspective and grace. We are choosing freedom even within our confined spaces. I’m so proud of this squad, and utterly grateful to be serving at this ministry. It has looked vastly different than we intended thus far, but never-the-less precious.
A little quaranpoem:
There’s this picture I often see,
Of mountains in the distance calling me.
As the morning clouds pass over to reveal their daily splendor, they beckon
“My highest peak has nothing on your soul.
We have the same Creator, don’t you know?”
Although I cannot yet reach beyond these four walls,
I’m challenged to gaze inward.
I close my eyes to feel a warm embrace-
Sun beams fresh on my forehead, I crinkle my nose in delight.
The ground beneath my feet here is cold and firm, solid dirt.
I reach my arms out to my side, allowing the fresh breeze within my grasp.
The corners of my mouth turn upward, as I feel apart of heaven’s grander plan.
I feel brave for being on this land.
Inhale fresh
H o l d in beauty, delight
Exhale fear, control, pride.
This mountain top makes me feel alive.
Lots of Love from Colombia,
Shelby B. Sly
PS I am still fundraising to stay serving after Colombia. $5,000 left to go! To donate: https://shelbysly.theworldrace.org/ and also to subscribe to my blog 
