Next in our “This Global Pandemic” series we are travel to São Paulo, Brazil to visit Tennessee native, Melissa. Melissa along with her husband and three kids are determined to thrive and not just survive this pandemic. Melissa tells how they’ve maintained their well-being, learned to prioritize and let some things go to the wayside, and have made sure to have regular tea times as a family for heart checks. She shares about how she’s been able to go deeper in relationships and ultimately, how she’s learned to not only extend grace to others, but to herself as well.

Connect with our guest, Melissa.

Connect with the podcast team:
 Alicia
 Denise
 Melissa

Questions discussed during this episode:

What was a moment you realized this was serious?

How are you feeling about things right now? If you have kids, what are their thoughts about the coronavirus? How have you talked about this with them and how have they responded?

What are some of the worries/concerns you have?

What are some of the positive things you’ve seen happen?

What was it like to move to a new house in the middle of a pandemic?

While staying home, what are some of your favorite activities?

What has community looked like for you while sheltering in place?

What are you learning?

This pandemic has uprooted and changed a lot of things, for better and for worse. What is one thing that has changed that you hope will remain that way?

Mentioned in this episode:

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Noteworthy Quotes:

“We’ve tried to make sure to do little heart checks to see how [our children] are feeling — how their emotions are. The feelings that my husband and I are having of being restless, anxious, and concerned, we know that children receiving all the information we are will surely be feeling the same way.”

“We’ve had tea times when we sit and talk and see how everyone is feeling.”

“We decided not to put the news updates on the television because the same things were just on loop, over and over again. It would lead to anxiety within our household. It was probably one of the best decisions — as far as how to, as a family, have a better well-being and not be anxious in the moment.”

“How do we remain healthy and smart, but still keep on living in this city of 20 million people?”

“It’s been neat to see how people have utilized social media. People are starting to think of how they can reach people when others can’t come to them or they can’t go to others.”

“It’s also been neat to see people wanting and craving a sense of community and going out of their way to create community.”

“We’ve been able to be still and build relationships.”

“Early on, my husband and I sat down and thought of what we could do to not make this time of just “surviving a pandemic” but to actually have some great memories when we come out of it.”

“We’re learning that some things you just have to let go and know that it will be okay. We’re living in this time where nothing is how it was before. In order to do the things that we need to do for our family and work, we need to prioritize and just let some things go to the wayside.”

“One of the things I’m truly learning throughout this whole time is that I have to extend grace. I have to extend grace to others and I have to extend grace to myself. We can’t do everything.”

Related episodes and articles:

Episode 33: This Global Pandemic with Rachel in India | show notes

Episode 32: This Global Pandemic with Kim in Ukraine | show notes

Episode 31: Leaving Your Host Country During the Pandemic with Alicia Boyce | show notes

ITTS #9: All About Staying During a Pandemic | show notes

Show credits: 

Hosted by Denise James, Alicia Boyce, and Melissa Faraday // produced and edited by Melissa Faraday // content managed by Heather Fallis.

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