Faith Over Fear: COVID-19 in India

Manohar Paul is a cooperative with G.O.D. India. He and his wife, Sneha, live in the National Capital Region of northern India. This article includes Manohar’s firsthand account of living as a believer in the world’s most densely populated country as they undergo the direct effects associated with this global pandemic, COVID-19. Please read and allow his words to inform your thoughts and prayers for our brothers and sisters in India.

Immediately upon the lockdown taking effect in India, all borders (including the ones into each city and province) were shut down. With little warning that such would be taking place, residents of the city were left unprepared for weeks of strict-lockdown, and shopkeepers without the necessary stock of food, water, and gas to sustain the millions of people inside city-limits who would need it.

March 24, 2020 Update from Manohar regarding the emergence of COVID-19 in India

“The entire country is lockdown and hence all borders closed since last Sunday. We are doing okay. The staffs are doing fine. Few of them bought their supples last week, hence they can sustain for 10-12 days. It was mentioned that we need not panic about the essential items and it will be available, but the deliveries have been stopped by the police and most of the shops are closed or they don’t have the supplies. We are helping one of our staff with some groceries, as he’s out of food supplies. We are also running out and hope to go out and get some groceries for a week or 10 days.

This is the first time in our life that we witness something like this, like most of you. The people are scared but we find our hope in the Lord. He has been our refuge and fortress in this time of uncertainty. Please pray for us as everyone is challenged mentally by being locked at home for several days now. Pray for a sound mind to each of us and find peace in God’s Word alone. None of us reacted to the Panic buying, but encouraging each other to stay calm.”

March 25, 2020 Update from Manohar

“The latest 21 day lockdown is strictly being followed. If you are outside of your homes, police is beating them.

Irony is food supplies are out of stock and people are finding it difficult to get them, I’m thinking more for the daily wage workers, rickshaw pullers and auto drivers. If government doesn’t provide those, I’m afraid if we will see people dying of hunger before COVID-19. Pray for the leadership of our country so that things can be handled with wisdom.”

March 28, 2020 Update from Leah Sherrod, following phone conversation with Manohar

During this time of strict confinement due to lockdown, Manohar and Sneha have prioritized the maintenance of their spiritual discipline. By connecting with the Lord through worship, prayer, and the reading of his Word, Manohar testifies that they have been able to maintain a disposition of faith over fear.

In an attempt to prevent the likely rapid spread of COVID-19, the country has entered into a strict and total lockdown for three weeks. While the government has made public promises that say food supplies and basic necessities will be available, Manohar has commented that the ground reality is very different. Shops show no sign of opening as routes into the city are sealed off, preventing the delivery of necessary resources. Intensifying these circumstances even more is that, due to the lockdown, residents are not allowed to step outside of their home, as they are under police surveillance who have "shoot at sight" orders, preventing the sharing of resources between those who have, and those who do not.

April 8, 2020 Update from Manohar, after two weeks on strict lockdown in India

“We are safe and hope you all are safe too. We are still under lockdown situation and still the cases are increasing day by day. The government has decided on an extension of lockdown into, at the earliest, mid-May.

As staff manager at G.O.D. India, Manohar and his wife feel responsible for the well-being of their team members. Manohar and Sneha check on them daily and to ensure that they feel supported. They check in regularly and share food supplies when they are able.

Our staff are doing fine. The supplies are running out for them but some of the stores are delivering which is helping somehow. The deliveries are done after 3-4 days of placing order, so have to order in advance. We are also getting the groceries delivered which is taking time and mostly they don't have what we need. The small store near our neighborhood is closed since it doesn't have any supplies and even the owner doesn't know when he will be able to open his shop. We are struggling for drinking water, as we do not have a purification system and none of the venders or stores are stocked with bottled water. While our staff each have either a water purifier or clean drinking water provided within their neighborhoods, our access points to clean drinking water have been cut off. We are boiling tap water and managing still to cook and drink. We do calls with all the staff every alternate day to check on each other and pray together. Thank you for all your prayers and support. We are praying for the community in Nashville and hoping to get together one day and thank God for His faithfulness. #faithoverfear”

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During this time, pray for Indians who have fallen sick and the prevention of the spread of this disease in the region. Also, pray for the poor and marginalized who will be most impacted by such a lockdown as described in Manohar’s updates. Pray for the wisdom and softened-hearts of India's leaders towards those that will become hungry and vulnerable during these isolated days, during which they are prevented from earning daily wages to buy food for their families. Pray for our cooperatives and their families and friends, to have their needs met and filled so that they can also be a blessing to others.