Music, coronavirus, music projects, and insects!

From Global Lutheran Outreach missionary Ben Tino (Serving in Zacapa, Guatemala):

It has been almost two months since I sent out my last newsletter, and well not much has changed since then. Here is a brief update on the coronavirus situation in Guatemala:

1) We will probably reach 20,000 cases in the country by the time you read this newsletter

2) Curfew is Mon-Sat 6pm-5am, and Sunday 24 hrs.

3) No circulation of vehicles to and from different states without permission

4) Mask mandatory once outside of house/proper distancing measures

5) International flights set to open Aug 15th, (although United is now offering emergency flights to the US)

The situation is very much similar in these smaller countries of Central and South America. I pray, that soon we can resume our original daily routines, so that everyone can go about without so much fear of a deadly virus, and can continue to glorify God’s name.

So what have I been doing these days? Good question… I keep myself busy with music!

Aside from my personal practice each day, I prepare the music for our Sunday service, which we record in advance, and I have taken on a few personal music projects of my own. During the week I have been teaching 7 students, which is far less than where I was at before the virus outbreak. A new project I have taken on with them this past month is each Friday I select one of my students to record with me a Christian song, whether singing or playing an instrument, and we post that song on our church’s Facebook page for our members to watch and listen. With this project my students have something to practice towards, and the video serves as a nice musical offering for all to enjoy during these rough times. Below are the links to them. Take a listen!

Click here to watch the videos!

In Venezuela it was the tarantulas, in Miami the cockroaches and lizards, and now in Guatemala its the scorpions!! I seem to find one of these per month hiding near the bed, behind the fridge, or in my yoga mat…

Click here to read the latest newsletter from Ben!