God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

01/26/2010 • 11:55 pm Comments Off on 26.01.2010 Milnerton

26.01.2010 Milnerton

IT is almost midnight and I just come back from the horse race auction at the Milnerton town hall, organised by the Men’s Society of the Catholic parish Milnerton / Brooklyn. As always a big thanks to Brian Sharkey and his team and the horse-race community for all their efforts to race funds for HOPE Cape Town and also for an evening full of excitement through auctions and the bids. It feels great to have such supporters.

It was a long day, also with a meeting of the POZ team in Mannenberg, where we discussed what kind of theological substance we bring to our cause. When we want to bring the quest of HIV positive clergy to the bishops, there must be some theological thinking done beforehand. It was a very constructive meeting and I have the feeling that we are going our path slowly, but surely and that we develop in a way appropriate to the tricky topic. I am glad to have such great colleagues working with me on this.

So in total a good day, lots of new appointments and meeting requests came their way – the next two weeks are surely not boring.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, , , , , , , , ,

01/25/2010 • 4:25 pm Comments Off on 25.01.2010 Golf Day

25.01.2010 Golf Day

Today is a Golf Day in lieu of HOPE Cape Town, tomorrow the horse auction at the Milnerton Town Hall. It is amazing to see what people can do to support a good cause. Brian Sharkey and the Men’s Society of the Milnerton/Brooklyn Catholic Church are indeed busy to support HOPE Cape Town and they are doing in now since years. It is always good to be with them in the beginning of a new year and to experience the goodness of people. HOPE Cape Town is very grateful for these local supporters – and that is a focal point of fundraising also for this year: to expand the circle of sponsors and friends of HOPE Cape Town in South Africa. People living here should own their country and they should work hard to make their very own country a better place. Judging from experience it is not often the case. Very often it is easy to support those who are living far away- but to forget the nightmares in front of the own door. I guess it is an international phenomenon. The Men’s Society shows that it is good and worthwhile to look not too far for a moment but to see the needs around the corner of the parish boundaries. I am grateful to know all these people. Well done and all success for today and tomorrow.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , , , , , ,

01/22/2010 • 12:36 am Comments Off on 22.01.2010 A long day

22.01.2010 A long day

…draws to an end, beginning at 6 in the morning and ending now after midnight. The last 48 hours have been amazingly divers and interesting. I did not know that I brought so much energy with me from my holidays. Resting a lot seems to have helped to recover and gain the energy needed to tackle the first days after coming back.

A great eve with people from Switzerland ended this evening, good talks, nice food. lovely company. It simply felt good again – sitting outside after the meal and chatting a bit the night away. I once again realised how privileged I am to live and work in South Africa. And I also realised how much people expect from me and how much challenge is still lying ahead. That is enough realisation for one day.

Next week are two major fundraising events for HOPE Cape Town – the Golf tournament at Pearl Valley Golf Estates on Monday and on Tuesday the Horse Auction from the Catholic Men’s Society Milnerton/Brooklyn – at 7pm Milnerton Town Hall. If you have time come and join the crowd, bid on a horse, win and do good at the same time.

And don’t forget to circle in your calendar the 22.5. 2010 – Ball of HOPE – together with the Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Westin Grand Hotel.

And many more exciting events to come. Watch the space.

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, , , , , ,

12/27/2009 • 3:22 pm 1

27.12.2009 Feast of the Holy Family

How many families are destroyed through HIV and AIDS? How many families are broken because it did not work out any more? How many kids are growing up with one parent or even no one?
The feast of the Holy Family seems to be put onto this scenario the three persons Mary, Joseph and Jesus – most times found with halos and an ideal of family life. I am not so sure, so this morning, I tried to look at the Holy Family a bit differently to bring them closer to my audience. What did I see?

A girl getting pregnant before marriage – Father unknown. A baby boy in a stable – very unstable circumstances of birth. A son running away from his parents during a trip to Jerusalem, a young adult without a proper income, en route with some other runaways and some women, who, according to one gospel, support Jesus. I do see a Mum standing under the cross of her son, being sentenced as a normal criminal. And I am seeing a husband, who is disappearing during the family story without any further note..

Does that sound like a realistic family? Yeap, I do think so – and what makes this family holy is not all the unrealistic things attributed to them but that throughout the family history, Mary never lost hope; it is the message, that whatever happens to a family, one should never lose hope that things are coming right again at the end.

I am not sure how things are coming right again at the end when a family is broken up completely, or parents are lost at an early stage – human understanding cannot give any reasoning. But I belive that there is a bigger picture, which does not take away the pain and the suffering, but that brings together all the ends at the end. Somehow… Let’s hope.

Filed under: Networking, Reflection, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

12/20/2009 • 3:54 pm Comments Off on 20.12.2009 Winding down…

20.12.2009 Winding down…

4th Sunday of Advent – this morning service at the  Milnerton church and after that a nice stroll with friends along the promenade of SeaPoint – perfect weather and a great brunch added to a perfect Sunday morning. Cape Town starts to get into the holiday mood – one can sense it seeing more people from the rest of the country, the streets are clearly occupied by people searching for Table Mountain when the robot is green…. 🙂

HOPE Cape Town is winding down it’s business for the summer holidays – soon all are gone except our doctor keeping our office open between all the festivities. It is the time of the year when Cape Town feels like a long never-ending holiday – the beaches are full of people, and the sun is puting a smile on almost everybody’s faces.

The kids on the Ithemba ward had a visit from Andre and friends from the Milnerton parish.. – Christmas surprise with a Santa Claus coming to the ward. It is so nice to see the on Facebook the pics of the happy kids – well done, you folks from Milnerton – you made a difference in the lives kids and parents… thank you so much. For me it is always amazing to see how people engage and help and sacrifice time and other resources to make the more needy ones happy. Again: Mille Gracie… 🙂

Filed under: HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, , , ,

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