Unfortunately, in all honesty, you certainly cannot call our world happy at the moment.
Anyone who follows all developments closely cannot possibly be happy about everything that is happening. We see ruthless and devastating wars, many are suffering under oppression, hunger, poverty, or exploitation, and countless people have had to leave everything behind and have fled.
And yet, against that sad backdrop, we all said “Happy Easter” to each other last week, and Easter was celebrated all over the world.
This certainly does not deny the suffering in this world; on the contrary.
But at Easter, we look forward to the New Life; Easter is the feast of Hope and Expectation. Life and Love prove to be stronger than death!
We look forward with great expectation to a New World, a world in which the law of the strongest will no longer prevail, but in which the Love of God for his world, for his people and his creation will have the final word.
Peace will reign over the whole world.
We expect that Heavenly Peace; we look forward to it with longing, just as a bride looks forward to her groom.
For many people, the Easter story is actually an incomprehensible message, but at the same time, this story offers us a wonderful and beckoning perspective. The hope for that New World keeps us going; we are people of Hope!
Everywhere in the world, as I have already written, Easter was celebrated, and so it was in PCC!
The Easter celebration was once again celebrated exuberantly there this year.
Just look at the photos; the joy smiles at you!
That began as early as Maundy Thursday, when all the young people from the 4 Outreach Daycare centers in the District (for the first time!) all came to Nkoranza for a festive day full of games and fun, together with all the residents of PCC.
Good Friday in PCC is always a sober day with a short church service at the beginning of the morning. Afterwards, everyone watches the special Good Friday program on the Ghanaian TV channel. There is not much exuberance on that day; that does not suit Good Friday.
Commemorating the death of Jesus fits very well with the important Ghanaian tradition of Funerals, which are the special gatherings to commemorate the deceased.
In that tradition, Good Friday is the largest Funeral ever!
But after the sober Good Friday and after Holy Saturday, fortunately, Easter morning arrives again every year. Then all residents and caregivers of our Community, just like all of us, can and may celebrate Resurrection Sunday.
And on Easter Monday, it is of course time for a special PCC Easter Party. All residents look forward to it and enjoy it to the fullest.
Fortunately, our residents are not too preoccupied with worries about the outside world, about that big, often restless and angry world around them.
As long as they are well cared for, as long as there is plenty of tasty food and drinks, as long as there are many wonderful activities and nice parties to enjoy, then life is good!
Then everyone is cheerful, Happy Easter!
If only the whole world would be like PCC…….!