The following is the testimony and personal experience of a Japan-based missionary family who were diagnosed with COVID-19, which hopefully can encourage and comfort believers facing similar situations.
The following is the first-person account of the missionary:
Recently, I have seen that the epidemic situation in many parts of China is relatively serious. In fact, there are also many cases in Japan. As tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with coronavirus every day, not long ago our whole family was infected.
At first, the two children had a fever, which led me to guess that they might be infected since some of their classmates and the teacher at school had COVID-19. However, in Japan, the positive diagnosis protocol is that the person sick with COVID is quarantined by themselves. As long as there is no second positive case in the same class within ten days, everything continues normally. If there is a second person diagnosed, the entire class will be suspended. But my sons’ classes have never been suspended because there has ever only been one positive case at a time.
We had a joint gathering on the first Sunday in March, where dozens of people participated and ate together afterward. Unfortunately, participants started to have COVID-19 symptoms on the following Monday and Tuesday. Almost all of their families were infected with the virus. We took tests with our children after school on March 9, with the results positive.
Our COVID-19 symptoms were different. After having a fever for almost a day and feeling a bit exhausted, the two children nearly recovered the next day. I didn't have a fever, but my wife did. I figured that those who had a fever would recover faster than those who didn’t.
Overall, it was not that scary since the symptoms were even less serious than a bad cold. Except for a sore throat and cough, I didn't feel any discomfort but being alright in spirit and other aspects.
In Japan, people who are diagnosed with coronavirus will not be hospitalized but are asked to go home for isolation and treatment, during which they will receive a call every day to inquire about their situations. After the children had tested positive, on our way home we only bought a few bottles of nutrient solution and mouth sprays at the pharmacy for relieving throat pain. Our treatment method was to drink lots of water and a bottle of nutrient solution before going to bed and to use the spray occasionally during the day. It's been almost a week today since we were infected. Our children are well. Whereas, we are almost fine except for an itchy throat, which I believe to be recovered in two days.
To sum up, being sick with COVID-19 is not so scary. We don’t need to be too nervous and afraid, as some overseas countries have lifted all COVID-19 restrictions. Almost all people we know in Japan have been diagnosed once. Of course, being infected is not a good thing, so we should try to avoid it and take precautions to protect ourselves and others. At the same time, there is no need to be easily frightened if we are accidentally diagnosed with the disease.
Let’s rely on the Lord to regain strength. Instead of worrying about the future, it is better for us to work hard now and try our best to do what needs to be done at this stage of life.
CCD reprinted with permission.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
这是一位日本宣教士在日宣教感染新冠的真实见证与经历，盼望给予大家一些鼓励和安慰。（==当summary）
最近看到国内很多地区疫情都比较严重，其实日本也是不少，一天好几万人确诊，就在之前我们一家都被确诊了。
最先是孩子有些发烧，就猜可能孩子确诊了。因为孩子学校同班同学也有确诊的，老师也是确诊过了。不过日本是确诊一个隔离一个，只要十天之内同一个班没有第二人确诊就没事，如果有第二人确诊就全班停课。但是我儿子班一直都没有停课，都是一个好了接下一个。
我们3月第一个礼拜天有个联合聚会，一起几十人聚会，结束后还一起吃饭，周一周二陆续都出现了症状，几乎都是一家一家的确诊了，我们是3月9号孩子放学带孩子去做的检测，后被确诊的。
说下确诊的大概症状吧。两个孩子呢就是发烧，没什么精神，都是差不多发烧一天，第二天就恢复了。我没发烧，我妻子也有发烧，感觉发烧的恢复的快，没发烧的恢复的慢。
整体下来并没有那么可怕，感觉还没有重感冒严重，除了喉咙疼咳嗽以外，别的没什么不舒服，精神等各方面都是不错。
日本检测确诊了不是拉你去医院隔离治疗，而是让你回家自己隔离治疗，然后每天会电话询问情况，孩子检测出来后开了药，我们当时就顺便在药店买了几瓶营养液，也买了口喷，喉咙疼嘛，想着喷口喷缓解疼痛，别的就没买了。我们的治疗方法就是在家多喝水，睡觉前喝瓶营养液，白天偶尔喷下口喷。今天已经差不多一周时间了，孩子倒是没事了，我们也差不多恢复了，喉咙还有一点点痒，我想这两天应该也恢复了。
总结一下，感染并没有那么可怕，所以不要太紧张和惧怕，特别在国外，因为都放开了，在日本我们认识的前前后后几乎都确诊的差不多了。当然感染并不是什么好事，能避免就尽量避免，做好防护，保护好自己也保护好别人。不小心确诊了也不用那么紧张。
靠主从新得力，与其担心未来，不如现在好好努力，尽力做了那个人生阶段应该需要去做的事情。
故事| 一位在日宣教士全家确诊新冠的经历
The following is the testimony and personal experience of a Japan-based missionary family who were diagnosed with COVID-19, which hopefully can encourage and comfort believers facing similar situations.
The following is the first-person account of the missionary:
Recently, I have seen that the epidemic situation in many parts of China is relatively serious. In fact, there are also many cases in Japan. As tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with coronavirus every day, not long ago our whole family was infected.
At first, the two children had a fever, which led me to guess that they might be infected since some of their classmates and the teacher at school had COVID-19. However, in Japan, the positive diagnosis protocol is that the person sick with COVID is quarantined by themselves. As long as there is no second positive case in the same class within ten days, everything continues normally. If there is a second person diagnosed, the entire class will be suspended. But my sons’ classes have never been suspended because there has ever only been one positive case at a time.
We had a joint gathering on the first Sunday in March, where dozens of people participated and ate together afterward. Unfortunately, participants started to have COVID-19 symptoms on the following Monday and Tuesday. Almost all of their families were infected with the virus. We took tests with our children after school on March 9, with the results positive.
Our COVID-19 symptoms were different. After having a fever for almost a day and feeling a bit exhausted, the two children nearly recovered the next day. I didn't have a fever, but my wife did. I figured that those who had a fever would recover faster than those who didn’t.
Overall, it was not that scary since the symptoms were even less serious than a bad cold. Except for a sore throat and cough, I didn't feel any discomfort but being alright in spirit and other aspects.
In Japan, people who are diagnosed with coronavirus will not be hospitalized but are asked to go home for isolation and treatment, during which they will receive a call every day to inquire about their situations. After the children had tested positive, on our way home we only bought a few bottles of nutrient solution and mouth sprays at the pharmacy for relieving throat pain. Our treatment method was to drink lots of water and a bottle of nutrient solution before going to bed and to use the spray occasionally during the day. It's been almost a week today since we were infected. Our children are well. Whereas, we are almost fine except for an itchy throat, which I believe to be recovered in two days.
To sum up, being sick with COVID-19 is not so scary. We don’t need to be too nervous and afraid, as some overseas countries have lifted all COVID-19 restrictions. Almost all people we know in Japan have been diagnosed once. Of course, being infected is not a good thing, so we should try to avoid it and take precautions to protect ourselves and others. At the same time, there is no need to be easily frightened if we are accidentally diagnosed with the disease.
Let’s rely on the Lord to regain strength. Instead of worrying about the future, it is better for us to work hard now and try our best to do what needs to be done at this stage of life.
CCD reprinted with permission.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Testimony: Experience of a Missionary Family Recovering from COVID-19 in Japan
