Audience with Matron Johanna

On Monday we are welcomed by the superior of the monastery. „Please sit down,“ she invites us to take a seat at the large table. Michael is there as a translator. We report briefly on how we fared in Germany. Then I’ll show you our new book. „Oh, that’s our monastery in there. That’s a nice photo,“ she says with a laugh. „How long do you want to stay?“ she wants to know. „A week if we can“, we reply somewhat sheepishly. „But of course. You can stay as long as you like. I’m delighted to have you back here. I’d like to invite you on a trip to a beautiful nature reserve. Would you like to?“ she asks with a gentle smile. „Oh yes,“ we reply. „Come on, I’ll show you the new building plans for our monastery,“ she changes the subject and moves to the end of the 10-meter-long table. She points to the plans and drawings with modesty. Golden domes, towers and churches shine out at us. „When is the big project supposed to be finished?“ I want to know. „In 2012 at the latest,“ we hear in astonishment. „The guest hotel too?“ „The guest hotel too. The church will be finished this year and then the new bell tower will be built. With God’s help, we’ll stay on schedule,“ she says with satisfaction. We chat for quite a while until the lovely head of 80 nuns and a beautiful monastery in the making bids us farewell. „We’ll see you again before you go to Kazakhstan,“ says Mother Superior Johanna, the lovable head of 80 nuns and a beautiful monastery in the making.

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