Keeping Human Interaction Alive During COVID-19
by: Disha Moreau
“Mrs. Disha, I don’t see your whole face. Something is wrong with the screen.” This is what one of the students said to me one day when I didn’t want him to see that I was eating a quick snack. “Oh it’s fine, I am here for you.” I said, as I finished my snack and adjusted the screen so he could see my full face. My other two students joined in smiling and waving with both their hands as they logged in. One older boy took twenty minutes to settle down because he was asking me about my day, eating his snack, tossing a balloon across the room while walking around. He was turning his iPad in different positions to see himself.
“It’s time for you to settle down Andy, everyone is almost done with their homework but you have not started. Ok Mrs. Disha but I don’t know how to do my homework.” He tried to show me on the screen. “Andy can you turn it upwards and hold it?” But I still could not see it. “Can I talk to your sister Amanda?” I asked his sister to email me his homework and we were able to work on it more efficiently.
During this COVID-19 season, one of the phrases that stands out and should be taken seriously is “Social Distancing.” This coronavirus is smart. We don’t know when and how it will enter and destroy lives. However, it cannot compare to the sovereignty of our God. He has the final say over any situation in our lives. The voices and faces of these children brighten my day. Some join in and stay even if they don’t need my help so that they could have some human interaction. But I need to see these children through online tutoring because I am still engaging with them. I look forward to the day when I can sit at the table at the Pui Tak Center, eat snacks with them again and get on with tutoring — without the need for social distancing.
How about you? Would you like to know the God of the universe who controls even this unpredicted virus? Have you thought about the meaning of life and why we are here on earth? There is hope in the midst of all of this. The children and I enjoy seeing one another for tutoring because God has made humans to interact with one another. We need people in our lives because it goes back to the fact that we are all made for eternity — everlasting life. Please cry out to Jesus! Tell him you want your life to have purpose. Start reading messages from God in your own language using free online Bible apps.
*Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.