As 23 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Oregon on Saturday, bringing the total to 137 confirmed cases in the state, the pastor of a Pentecostal church in Oregon was home and praying for his wife of 38 years who is seriously ill due to the infection.
“I haven’t seen my wife since Sunday,” Jerry Miranda, pastor of Salem Tabernacle Church, told Salem Reporter. “I haven’t been able to talk to her. We’ve been married 38 years.”
The 58-year-old pastor started the church with his wife Teresa, 56, about 30 years ago. The couple has four grown-up children in the Salem area. Teresa is an instructional assistant at a school but would always be with Miranda for worship service or other church activities.
“Once they took her behind the wall, I didn’t get to see her again,” recalled the pastor, who is not allowed to visit her in the hospital. But he’s praying at home and church members are showing support.
“There are people coming in every day, every day praying,” he was quoted as saying. “I’ve gotten calls from around the world.”
Pastor Miranda remains positive. “It’s something new to all of us and obviously life will never be the same after this,” he said. “I do believe we’ll come out of this and we will have learned a great lesson … how precious life can be and don’t take things for granted.”
The Oregon Health Authority announced Saturday that the number of confirmed cases had risen to 137 with four deaths, according to Statesman Journal. The first death was reported in Marion County Friday, raising the deaths in Oregon from three to four.
SOURCE: Christian Post, Anugrah Kumar
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