LOCKDOWN 3 + WHERE ARE WE

Hello world. Just the West family checking in here with some proof of life level footage. 'Where are we in the midst of lockdown 3?' - that's the content we're bringing you today. Both expectations and emotions can be tricky to manage and we're finding words for the experience. We'd love for you to read on so you can experience it with us...

LOCKDOWN 3

We are now into our third week of England’s national lockdown. The news that students would not be returning to school in person after the Christmas break came only a few days before the start of term.

Our first day back to home learning was tough. There were lots of tears and frustrations. Our primary school has done an excellent job with the online teaching this lockdown, but it is a lot. Both Perry and Shepherd have at least 2 Zoom calls everyday in addition to video lessons. Home learning will continue through the February Half term (at least).

WHERE WE ARE

It can be tricky to manage expectations for when restrictions will lift and life will shift again. Just this last week some news reports made it seem as if the government is now aiming to get children back to school before Easter. FURTHER, there is some rumouring that these tight Lockdownish level restrictions could stay in place...until...May. You know what, let's just not.

Since we are back in a national lockdown we are not able to travel outside our neighbourhood. We are trying to get out every afternoon for a walk to stretch our legs and clear our minds. On the weekends we do a long family walk with Lulu. Our sweet puppy is doing wonders for our whole family during this lockdown!!

It has been hard to stay positive and manage emotions. We are all feeling big things. We are discouraged over several canceled holidays, lack of time with friends, and really missing our family back in The States.

MEANWHILE, REDEEMER PUSHES THROUGH

God has been so kind to us. While we feel the many pains and frustrations of being locked down - the gospel is not locked down and continues to gain ground. Redeemer has four Community Groups that meet throughout the week, pastor led prayer on Monday mornings, and The Redeemer Sessions - our weekly worship gatherings - take place on Saturday afternoons. The church is miraculously coming together in this season.

Here's the Bible talk that Thomas shared with Redeemer this weekend...

We're in a collection of talks right now called 'THE SIGNS TO LIFE' where we're examining the seven signs that Jesus did in the Gospel of John. Our hope and prayer is that people would be able to see Jesus and believe in him.

In all of the frustrations and difficulties we feel, we know that God is at work in our midst. God is at work in our individual lives, our family, our team, community, and Greater London. God will use all of this to serve his purposes. We know that. The work in this season is believing it to be true.

DO YOU WANT TO HELP?

We would so appreciate your prayers for our family. Pray that God gives us extra loads of grace and patience towards each other. Pray that we will see the ways that God is growing our faith during tough season.

We'd love to give you our address if you'd like to send a note or a card to our family - Perry and Shepherd love mail now more than ever because it's one of the few links to the outside world. If anyone would like to send a care package over then great is your reward in heaven!

Email us for details: TheWestLondonLife@gmail.com

THANK YOU

Now, more than ever, thank you for being on this journey with us. Your care, prayers, and support keep us steady.

We're in it for the long haul and see this as a tough stretch that won't last forever. Until then, we're focused on enduring and persevering well.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom of glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:18-21