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Dear friends of Kasisi
and readers of this website!
Actually all I need to say is: Kasisi is a place filled with
love and joy, where God’s spirituality is a reality, which is
being lived.
The welfare of each single child is the goal and central to
everything. Love, and joy are God’s spirituality in person for
Sr. Mariola und the other sisters.
Each single child’s face one sees in Kasisi is witness of
this.One goes to Kasisi and receives more than one gives and
learns what is important in life.
News of Susan‘s death made it hard for me to write of the joy
and happiness, of the tears we shed with laughter and emotion,
because I was deeply moved. Mourning Susan is a deep, all
embracing emotion.
But Mbinji wrote, “Susan was
happy”. She was and still is part of the wonderful experience we
had in Kasisi.
I will try to report something of my visit. I had the strong
feeling that I should go to Kasisi now, even if it could only be
brief. So in early November I spent one week there.
My luggage included many greetings and good wishes from friends,
our students and colleagues of the Aschaffenburg school. Kasisi
is close to everyone since the visit of Sr. Mariola and Tamara
in July 2010 on the occasion of the naming ceremony of the Ruth
Weiss Realschule.
As I touched down in Lusaka and Sr. Mariola embraced me at the
airport, I knew I was at home with my family.
It was great to feel that many of the children knew me and were
pleased to see me again, though more than 3 years had passed
since my previous visit.
I thought how they had grown and how well they looked, in other
words, they had developed wonderfully well. I’m grateful to have
followed this development. On my first evening, Sr. Jolanta and
the “big boys“ surprised me with a terrific Break Dance
performance. Naturally I joined in enthusiastically!
I sat with the girls to talk about God and the world and they
taught me knitting with only one needle!
The smaller ones watched me with many happy and stormy embraces,
while the baby’s large eyes expressed surprise at the strange
“Muzungu woman “with red hair.
I met Sonia, the Polish nurse, who helps to nurse the sick
children with much love and expertise, also Claire and Paul from
Ireland, who set out on their retirement by giving the Kasisis
children their time, as well as the Jesuits Albert und Daniel,
who assist Kasisi with good advice and practical help, with
music and football training.
On Saturday we had planned once more to fry sausages on a
campfire. Everything was ready, but strong rain in the morning
had thoroughly soaked the firewood. So we roasted the sausages
in the pan, but nonetheless everyone, big and small, enjoyed
them. Cosmas came in the late evening from Lusaka to see me.
I was woken up by happy children’s voices. I decided to end the
day sitting on a bench in front of the house to watch the starry
African sky and the Southern Cross.
Sometimes I wandered very early in the morning through quiet
Kasisi, when only a single light is on in the Chapel, where the
sisters are at prayer. Stillness, prayer and children’s laughter
are the experience of the Creation – for me.
When I had to leave at 5:30 for the airport, many children were
suddenly assembled and sang a song for me in farewell. They got
up especially early for me! Nzikomo kwambiri (Thank you very
much)!!!!
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I flew back to Germany,
sad that the happy times were over so quickly, but with a light
heart, which I hadn’t felt for a long time.
Anxious as I was to talk about this wonderful Kasisi Children’s
Home, I hoped to find the right words to share what I had
experienced with others.
My message,”look at Kasisi, there is no reason to be afraid or
despondent!”
My request,“Everyone should help, so that the Sisters can carry
out their work and that the children are well”.
Thank you.
Anni Kropf
Ruth Weiss Realschule
Aschaffenburg |