God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

08/19/2009 • 4:29 pm Comments Off on 19.08.2009 After the meeting….

19.08.2009 After the meeting….

Meeting done with the Archbishop and it was a good meeting. But there is still a formal way to go until a final result – so patience is once again asked. Hopefully latest at the end of next week I know the result and know, how my working life will develop. Patience is not one of my best virtue, but exercising it might do me good.. 🙂

This evening community council meeting, the last one in my capacity as the chaplain if transition is going smoothly; I hope for the best, say my little prayer the eve and wait…
But I am still optimistic that we will find a solution fitting the situations and the needs of all involved in this process.

It was a tough year which then hopefully draws to an end with a good decision and some productive work ahead. But now back to relaxation for my H1N1 stressed body before leaving again for town and the meeting. We have good people constituting the community council, they are really supportive and able to help guiding the community. So I am indeed looking forward to seeing them.

At the end stands the realisation how much damage a mean person can produce sitting high up in the hierarchy and playing with people as others would play the chess game. But the bible said that God is writing on twisted lines straight. Lets hope and see…

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08/19/2009 • 8:05 am Comments Off on 19.08.2009 Meeting…

19.08.2009 Meeting…

After several postponements I will meet today the local Archbishop of Cape Town to discuss my future. From outside it might look easy, but CIC, canon law, can be very tricky.
The German Bishops Conference has ended my contract. But at the end, only the local bishop determines the end of my assignment in conjunction with my local bishop. My successor was presented to the Archbishop in Cape Town. He must formally appoint him, without it, no visa and no work here. He has not done it as I write this.
To make things more complicated: Bishops must put in their resignation with 75. If accepted, life stands somehow still in a diocese until a new bishop is installed. Archbishop Henry has reached the 75 and put consequently in his resignation. If it is accepted – there is a further problem, because my successor cannot start work until the installation of a new bishop. So everything would be stalled for a while or longer.

I hope to get some clarity about the way forward during the meeting and to know first hand, what will happen with me. There is still some weeks to go…
And after the meeting back home and continue recovering from H1N1…  Life is never boring… 🙂

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08/18/2009 • 7:39 am Comments Off on 18.08.2009 Getting better…

18.08.2009 Getting better…

Getting better is not that easy, and it comes in small little steps forward like in real life. H1N1 is only reluctantly leaving the body. More days to stay home, read a book, sleep a lot and gain more energy. In South Africa, the 6th person now officially died of swine flu – but statistics here are somehow to take with a pinch of salt. Most tests are done only when people are dead…

Amazingly young people die of the disease – and in the townships there are funny stories about how to prevent the flu. I spoke with a black guy yesterday and he told me, that his doctor told him not to eat any meat – the only way to prevent catching the flu. And if you get it, you die within 9 months. A lot of information for the broader public is still needed and the price for a testing should come down. 700 Rand for a testing which takes 5 days to get a result – this is ridiculous and does not help – the patients are either better or death…

Well, for me, it was an experience and I try now to gain weight again. Next Sunday is coming and I want to be  present in church again.

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08/17/2009 • 11:35 am Comments Off on 17.08.2009 time is running…

17.08.2009 time is running…

6 weeks to go in my old “job” – and still no decision taken about a new portfolio.
“Survived” the H1N1 flu and on the way to recovery.. will take some time…

So life is flowing slowly along with lots of coughing and sneezing. But it is also nice to have some rest, sitting in front of the fireplace and just relaxing and let my thoughts go where ever they want to go. I cannot remember when the last time I took a real time out from work to spend a whole day at home. Amazing… and good.

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08/15/2009 • 5:00 pm Comments Off on 15.08.2009 recovery

15.08.2009 recovery

It is amazing when you suddenly realises again who you are and what you are doing..hehehehe..  🙂  surviving of the swine flu..  🙂 Coughing and feeling awfully lazy reminding you that the way to recovery is still a long one – up to six weeks until on the height of life again.. well, at least I am not infectious anymore when I will start slowly working again, which is scheduled for Wednesday.

So I spend my day relaxing, reading, taking a nap, enjoying my nice new fire place and the sound of wood burning down nicely – what a treat, just interrupted from cascades of coughing and sneezing.. Well, also paradise is not perfect.. I guess…. or it might depend on which paradise… the Christian one, or the Muslim one, or rebirth and nirvana as an alternative option?? Not sure, sometimes I feel tempted to keep all options open.. and to decide when I get there.. Hopefully I will have a chance.. 🙂

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