My husband and I were concerned about leaving our young adult children overnight by themselves during this tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic. We weren’t sure they would feel safe being left alone. After all, they are transitory residents from the highly developed USA to a rural area in the Negros island in the Philippines. What if there were an emergency, would they know what to do?

I prayed, telling God how much I wanted to travel to Canlaon, a three-hours’ drive away from home, to attend an Easter sunrise service with friends. I also prayed that our children wouldn’t mind being left behind.

To our surprise, they weren’t worried about themselves. They were more worried about our having to travel and risk exposing ourselves to the virus. We didn’t think about that. So we were grilled by our twenty-somethings as if we were teenagers asking permission from their parents to go to a sleepover. In the end, we had their “approval”.

What started as enthusiasm to travel to a place we’ve never been to immediately changed to nagging thoughts of fear of getting sick. My overactive brain started itemizing the things we should do — take disinfectant spray with us, one for the car and one for the hotel; make sure we wear masks even inside the car as we travel, especially if we are going to have friends ride with us; thoroughly disinfect the car’s interior; practice social distancing during pit stops; etc.

I then started to worry about other things. What if we get a flat tire? Is our car in good condition for long travel? What if the Canlaon volcano erupts while we are there (it is funny, but the volcano has been rumbling lately)? If anyone rode with us, would they feel safe with us? Will we be stopped by authorities along the way? Will we need to be quarantined on our return? I thought of even worse things than these.

As I type this up, I recognize that these worries are depriving me of my joy. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV)

How comforting!

I will entrust our trip to the LORD, and I will also entrust my children to His care. I will give you an update when we get back.

Have a blessed Easter (Resurrection Sunday)!