Lockdown in Paradise

Footprints in the sand on an empty Cancun beach

The waves are perfect. The sea crystal clear. The temperature always warm, never too hot. The accommodations splendid. In many ways it would be the dream setting for a holiday.

When we arrived at the Hope4Cancer treatment centre a couple of weeks ago today we were already landing in on a hotel that was evaporating tourists and guests quicker than puddles on a desert road in the shimmering summer heat!

With a capacity for, and a normal occupancy of 800 guests, having under 30 people then on site was already placing us in a surreal set up. Half of the restaurants were closed, with the other half finally shutting their doors last night.

We are now five people (patients) left with all remaining tourists sent away yesterday by government order. Lockdown is setting in good and proper.

Today I came ‘home’ to our hotel (a 2-minute walk across the street from the treatment centre) to find that all the normal doors of access have been boarded up and there is only one entrance into the hotel from the street! We are also forbidden to swim in the sea (by the government) and the pools are out of bounds since yesterday.

On 10th April we have been told we need to leave the hotel as they are shutting their doors completely. Our initial treatment is due to finish on 14th (tomorrow week) as we head back to Monterrey (hopefully on that day).

So we’re again heading into that “not quite homeless” situation between 10th and 14th. I wonder what the LORD will do for us this time? Like the footprints on the lonely Caribbean shore, we know He has gone before us here too.