Surviving Covid 19 in the USA

It's been a long time not writing here.

I am here to personally ask the conditions of my American Christian brethren all over the States from what ever Christian groups they belong.

Here are my questions and I hope you wont mind sharing please:

1) Did the coronavirus pandemic helped you to stay stronger in faith especially during lock down?

2) To those who were infected and recovered or with loved ones who have this experience, Does it made you stay closer to the Lord and what was your personal reaction the moment you got infected, went to the hospital for recovery and finally recovered?

3) For the ones whose family members who were perished because of the virus, did you move on already and what advice will you give to those people whose loved ones were perished by the virus in order to continue living the life well in the Christian way?

The pandemic, to date, has had no impact on me and my family. My wife prays each night for protection and for those who are impacted. Would not say that my faith is stronger nor weaker but rather it is unwavering.

The only 5 I know that got the virus were all pastors or fulltime preachers. Three were hospitalized and critically ill on ventilators. Two were very athletic muscle bound pastors in their 40s and very healthy but reported being sicker than they had ever been in their life. All 5 had people praying for them around the clock and interceding for their lives to be preserved. They were close enough to me to make a believer out of me when it came to staying at home and only going to the grocery store once a month. I am still taking precautions but our church is meeting again and nobody seems to really care so I am praying for the Moderna mRNA vaccine to be made available and praying that the elderly in my church (we have many) will not contract it before the vaccine is available. And yes I do believe that is faith in God to pray for the vaccine, and that God helps the immunologists, scientists, and approval process to be successful, because God has given us the mission to subdue the earth and take dominion and it applies to invisible viruses as much as it does to lions and tigers.

My faith wasn't impacted either way because I see politics as the greatest threat to me or my family.

I have not been infected but also have not been tested so idk.

I have known many to recover and none around me to die.

When this thing began my husband ask people we'd meet, and we meet a fair amount almost every day, did they know of anybody or know of anybody that knew anybody who had been seriously ill or died? The only affirmative response, they heard of someone on facebook. There has been one death of a woman I personally know. She was elderly, had been in the nursing home many years, was chronically ill from a stroke from 10 years ago, in a wheelchair, paralyzed on one side. They said it was Covid. Of course they would, it pay$ well.

This is what we say...look at your contacts list on your phone, I'm talking about people you actually know. Have you had to delete any numbers off your list because they are no more? This is the question the Mr asks people, to date not one has said yes. Yet all around us businesses have closed permanently, lost their life savings.

A few years ago we had a tough year, many people that we knew died of various reasons. This year has been exceptionally death free in our circle of acquaintances. Some have wondered if it could be resulting from avoiding drs and hospitals! because they were told don't go till this pandemic is over.

This virus has hit us exceptionally hard. One of our ministries has lost 37 people. Another has lost 19. I have two friends who are recovering from pneumonia resulting from covid19. Our local community, about 1000 people, has or has had almost 200 cases. Most have recovered, but many of them are still weak or have breathing issues. The most effective treatment for the breathing issues has been heavy doses of steroids. Our family has had 3 cases. All have recovered without issues.

We will continue to wear surgical masks and keep our distance from others when we are in public. We have KN95 masks for church.

it's all good in our neighborhood: fear-factor' does not prevail here - all who have IT, that we know of
are ALL 'OVER-IT', and once again, 'well and back to their 'normal lives', just like when one 'gets the FLU'...

Your question 3 is lacking in decorum. Please never ask anyone if they "have they gotten over it already" when it comes to someone they have lost.

repost and I apologize for question 3 if this offends to some.

Meh, part of the problem in Christendom is that we can't be honest, because we are so easily offended. Never placate the offended, they only grow more easily offended.

We (my family) has only had one fatal experience with covid. A 72 year old distant cousin who also had down syndrome, and a menagerie of other health problems. I met once her more than 25 years ago.
My wife's grandfather got it he has lymphoma but he survived, her aunt who basically is his caretaker also got it and survived, they are going fishing this weekend.
Basically everyone I know that has contracted covid has recovered. No one has said it was easy but most didn't come near deaths door. And for the most part were sent home to recover.
Anyway thanks for the questions, you can't know the answers if you don't ask.

Since this post I have many friends across the US that have had the virus and survived but were very ill for a while. NONE of them were old. They all take it serious now and no longer think it is being exaggerated by the media. They think they are immune but not sure, only time will tell if their immunities fade and they catch it again in a year. No one knows the answer to that yet.