It started on March 17^th. The French president had announced a few days earlier that the country would be in lock down to slow down the spread of Covid-19. My family was already at home for we had left school a few days earlier. Although we rejoiced of that at first, all we want today, is to go back.

      During the three long months of quarantine, we could not leave the house unless we had a certain paper, dated and signed by it’s user, which contained six or seven reasons – the only reasons – for leaving our homes during this whole period. Those reasons included shopping, helping vulnerable people, working (if it was absolutely impossible to work from home), exercising (1 hour max), and a few other reasons. Safety measures were put into place to assure social distancing like all over the world.

      It was a team effort all along. The rules were respected for the most part. The nurses, the firemen, the doctors, etc… were thanked by many French citizens who would come out to their balconies at 8:00 every evening to clap and cheer for them. Without their skills, determination, and bravery where would we be now ?

      We miss our church family of course, however, we have the privilege to continue Sunday services online. As hard as it is to reach out to people during this time period, we have still noticed non-believers joining us on Sundays to listen to the message. Even people we know from America will listen, which is something they obviously could not do before.

      May 11^th was the day we were all waiting for as we would finally be able to leave our homes. Schools, however, did not re-open right away. Students are progressively going back but only in the less contaminated areas. The zones with the most cases don’t have as much freedom. Most of the schools wait longer before opening, some will even stay closed until September. Parents are given a choice on whether they can send their children back or not. My brothers, for instance won’t be returning until September. My sister and I were given the choice by our parents. If we do, social distancing will have to be respected (although I doubt that it will within the middle-schoolers and the high-schoolers), we will have to wear masks, and our schedules will be modified so that we don’t go as often.

      In these troubled times it is easy to wonder why God would let such things happen. We never know how He might use people and work in their hearts when hope seems to be fading. It is important to remember Isaiah 55 : 8-9.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

When God does not meet our standards, we seem to question his way of doing things, but who are we to judge ?

      Under these terrible circumstances, we don’t see what might be happening beyond what they are telling us. Have we taken the time to notice the good side of this situation? Everything is cleaner than before, the pollution isn’t as bad, we have realized how important human contact really is, kids realize how important school is, and there is much more we have not yet come to notice. The longer we are apart, the more precious it becomes when we are once more reunited.

Stay strong, this too shall pass.

-by Kirianna Auterson, MK to France