In this episode, Laurie Meberg, an American expatriate living in France, shares about her family's experience of contracting (probably) Covid-19. France wasn't testing everyone at that time, but the doctors treated their illness as though it was Covid. Laurie speaks bravely and candidly about what the virus feels like and the reality of not being in control. She discusses their decision to stay in France and of finding comfort and hope in the Psalms. I know you'll be encouraged and served by this episode.

You can find Laurie on Instagram at @_lauries_stories_

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

Annie Dillard said, "How we spend our days is how we spend our lives." And Marilyn Gardner said, "Just being alive is productive enough." Wise women, profound truths.

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

I made a quiz today to help people make this hard, hard decision of staying or going. It is light-hearted and all under grace. And it was fun to make.

You can take the quiz here. It might take 3-5 minutes. My daughter said it was "awesome."

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

What does fear feel like? How are fear and hope connected? What did I write two weeks ago that I would change now?

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

You can watch our family make fools of ourselves. You can also follow along with our lyrics and even dance with us!

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

The disruption to "normal" life and the exposure of our fears also reveals what is everyday normal for some people all around the world. 

Even as we learn empathy from this crisis, what can we actually and practically learn from those who have always lived in fragile societies about resiliency and community? 

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

Julian of Norwich said, "All will be well and all will be well and all manner of things will be well." That isn't what the world looks like right now. Or is it?

What does it mean to be well?

Have we put our own demand onto that word, that phrase?

How can we behave WELL in a world of pain and grief and fear?

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use the coupon code: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

Yesterday's episode was for crying. Today's is for dancing. Or crying. Or laughing. I made a Spotify playlist that has it all. Listen to this super short episode to hear early feedback (from people with much better musical taste than me) on the song choices and then:

You can listen on Spotify here. It is called Rachel Pieh Jones COVID19.

(you will need a VPS to listen)

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use the code: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

This episode is raw and vulnerable. I recorded it while crying, through tears. Evacuating expatriates is so emotional and I can't keep mine from spilling over. There is no comparison in hard things, but there are some challenges unique to each individual hard thing.

Find more Djibouti Jones http://www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death https://amzn.to/2ycU15H

And the rest of my books: Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  https://payhip.com/rachelpiehjones  Use the code: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet’s music https://soundcloud.com/stephanie-tama-sweet

Shared experiences are a significant part of developing connections. How do you do that across the planet? Or across the street, during a pandemic? Take some advice from a family that knows how to do it based on 17 years of experience.

Find more Djibouti Jones at www.djiboutijones.com

Find my book Stronger than Death

And the rest of my books, Finding Home, Welcome to Djibouti, and Djiboutilicious.  Use the coupon code: quarantine to get 50% off.

Find the opening song and more of Stephanie Sweet's amazing music