Page 28 - Presbyterian Connection – Spring 2021

Connection
INTERNATIONAL
COVID-19 and International Ministries
28
PRESBYTERIAN
SPRING 2021
presbyterian.ca
By Vivian Bertrand, former PCC mission staff in Blantyre, Malawi (2017–2020)
In 2020, about 1.8 million people died from COVID-19 worldwide. Over seven million people died from hun- ger.1 The pandemic will end, but we don’t know if hunger will. Why have people all over the world drastically changed their daily lives to prevent COVID-19 deaths, while people are dying from hunger at a faster rate— and have been for decades?
We react to what impacts us and what we can see. It is difficult to remember those struggling in other parts of the world unless we know them personally. Recently, during an online meeting of the PCC’s Interna- tional Ministries’ (IM) Advisory Com- mittee, I was asked how I thought COVID-19 will impact IM’s work. My answer may have star tled some committee members. Perhaps I think differently than many Canadians be- cause I was living in Malawi when the pandemic began. My experience in Malawi is why I think our response to COVID-19 proves that the PCC needs more from IM, not less.
In 2017, IM sent my husband,
our three children and me to Ma- lawi, where we made friendships and lived and served alongside our Presbyterian sisters and brothers. It was a unique opportunity and one I would highly recommend. Living in Malawi, where people are extremely warm and community-oriented, has impacted how I view our response to COVID-19 and the future ministry of IM. Many people in Malawi face death or hunger every day, and life expec- tancy is nearly 20 years younger than
in Canada.
IM is a unique ministry of the
PCC. Until COVID-19 hit, through IM, the PCC sent staff to live and serve with our church partners around the world. While Presbyterian World Ser- vice & Development does extremely important work as well, it does not send staff to live overseas and serve locally as members of the global community of Presbyterians. In Ma- lawi, I worked for a relief and devel- opment organization called Churches Action in Relief and Development. I was the only non-Malawian in the office. Some of my work involved helping Malawians recover after they lost their crops and homes to Cyclone Idai. I visited villages after
the cyclone and met people who had lost everything. Living and working in someone else’s country is a power- ful way to show that they are impor- tant to us. It shows that we haven’t forgotten that they are our siblings in Christ. It also teaches us much about our faith, culture, world view and pri- orities.
After living in the “Warm Heart of Africa,” as Malawi is so accurately known, one of my greatest fears is that Canadians will be afraid to live courageously and warmly when this is over. Will we be afraid to hug each other? Will some children be too afraid to go to school? Will we be so used to being locked up at home that we will continue to live isolated lives? As a nation, we have reacted in fear.
Canadians have hoarded not only toilet paper but vaccines as well. Canada tops the chart of global vac- cine hoarders with enough to vac- cinate each Canadian five times.3 COVAX was set up to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.4 Canada signed on to CO- VAX, and I am proud to say we are the third largest donors in the world after the European Commission and the United Kingdom.5 However, we have undermined the efficacy of COVAX by signing purchasing agree- ments for more vaccines per capita than any other country in the world.6 We did this to ensure that we could have access to whichever vaccines were ready first. I understand the logic, and I know that I will benefit from this hoarding. It doesn’t mean I agree with it. As of December 2020, wealthy nations representing only 14% of the world’s population had bought up 53% of the most promis- ing vaccines.7 Meanwhile, the poor- est nations may have a long wait for vaccines to reach them.8
Our response to COVID-19 high- lights the importance of IM’s work. We recognize how easily we focus only on our country or our fears when we are faced with trials, and how easy it is to hoard resources and protect our families while forget- ting the struggles of those living in other parts of the world. I hope that COVID-19 will change us for the bet- ter—individually and as the church.
Most of all, I hope that when restric- tions are lifted we will be less fearful. I hope that I will hug my neighbours and friends and family more often. I hope that I will be more grateful for what I have, fear economic instability less and therefore tithe more inten- tionally. As a church, I hope we do not stop the work of IM because of fear. Once vaccines are available to IM staff, I think we should continue
to send them to live and serve along- side our sisters and brothers around the world. The relationships we form will help us as the church and as in- dividuals to be more compassionate and responsive to those who face death or hunger every day.
FOOTNOTES
Full sources for all footnotes are available
1 Maytaal Angel, “World Food Pro- gramme says needs $6.8 billion over next 6 months to avert famine.” Reu- ters. October 13, 2020.
2 In Canada, 93% of persons who have died from COVID-19 have been past the life expectancy of someone born in Malawi (64 years of age). (For sta- tistics on COVID-19 deaths in Cana- da, see Health Canada, Figure 5 and choose deceased.)
3 Bill Curry, “Canada and Other Wealth- ier Countries Undermining Efforts to Ensure Equitable Distribution of COV- ID-19 Vaccine, Report Warns.” Globe and Mail, November 1, 2020.
4 COVAX is a global alliance working to ensure fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for people in all countries of the world, regardless of
their wealth.
5 Bill Curry, Globe and Mail, November
1, 2020; Gavi. The Vaccine Alliance,
“Donor Profiles: Canada.”
6 Bill Curry, Globe and Mail, November
1, 2020.
7 Samira Sawlani, “When will COVID-19
Vaccinations start in African Coun- tries?” Al Jazeera. December 11, 2020.
8 Maria Cheng and Aniruddha Gho- sal, “Poor Countries Face Long Wait for Vaccines Despite Promises.” AP News. December 15, 2020.
2
Through grants and mission staff, Presbyterians Sharing supports 53 mission partners working in 25 countries.