When Wolfgang returned from his last trip to the Congo, he set about unpacking. During his absence, I carried out a thorough cleaning in our apartment. It gave me a lot of work, but I was quite satisfied with the result. That’s why I was a little surprised when I entered the living room and found a cheesy plastic tree in the middle of the table, which Wolfgang had unpacked from his luggage. It seemed to me that the object seemed rather out of place in my would-be stylishly furnished living room, so I cautiously asked Wolfgang if I could move the tree to our bedroom. ‘Sure’, he agreed, and when I came back from the bedroom, he told me the following incredible story.
During his Congolese trip, Wolfgang also visited the countryside, specifically the place where a new high school is being created with our support. He arrived at a tiny airport in a nearby town where a large group of people were expecting someone – with a band, a big welcome banner and all the pomp that’s usual for the arrival of a prominent politician. Wolfgang asked his friends who were waiting for him at the airport, because of which the VIPs are being prepared, and the answer completely grounded him: ‘It’s because of you!’
After Wolfgang was welcomed by the mayor and representatives of our partner organization, two students from our school approached him and handed him over – guess what! – the same plastic bonsai that was now in our apartment. It was proof of their gratitude for the school we built for them and which they can go to without having to pay tuition, which is the most unusual thing in the Congo.
Later, already on the school grounds and in the full heat of the African Day, all almost 300 students of the school stood in balanced ranks. They sang to their heart’s content and marched to the rhythm of live music. Some of them then recited poems and performed short skits rehearsed for this occasion.
It was an extraordinary moment! After more than 10 years of hard work in Africa, these moments are extremely touching for us. In such moments, we clearly feel that all worries, work and overcoming difficulties are worth it.
Later, Wolfgang confided to me that he had to hold back tears several times during the days he spent there. The difficult conditions in which people live in the Congo countryside, the gratitude of the children who can go to our school, all this had an immense effect on him.
I listened to Wolfgang’s narration very carefully. Immediately I moved the tree back to the living room and placed it in a place of honor in the middle of the table. It stands there as a tangible reminder of the love and gratitude of students from Mabala, Africa. unabled Lenka Schmidt
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In everyday life, we often don’t even notice that we get much more than we ourselves give, and that what makes life richer is gratitude. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Never let you forget the things you already have because of the things you want.— Sanchita Pandey
God gives you 86,400 seconds a day. Did you use at least one of them to thank him?– William Arthur Ward
Gratitude is a decision of will, and if so, this decision is entirely up to us. The decision to be grateful is not easy because it costs us something. — Chuck Swindoll
Gratitude leads to satisfaction, which results in peace of mind. — Todd Stocker
