Feb. 12, 2020,

    Holy Moses, almost a month has gone by again. I am getting lazy.

What we have instead is brute force coercion, divorced from clear objectives and implemented by an ignorant president with poor impulse control. After nearly three years in office, President Donald Trump has managed to increase the risk of war, push Iran to gradually restart its nuclear program, provoke Iraq into asking the United States to prepare to leave, raise serious doubts about U.S. judgment and reliability, alarm allies in Europe, and make Russia and China look like fonts of wisdom and order. The Trump administration has made it clear that it thinks assassinating foreign officials is a legitimate tool of foreign policy and that war criminals should be lionized, a move that nasty governments are likely to welcome and imitate.

As I am so far behind, I will concentrate on two things. 1) my trip to Mthatha to be with our youngsters who were taking their vows (first, in between, final). And to take some old clothes to the village and greet a few friends.

It was announced that Gideon Sibanda (from Zimbabwe) is our new regional superior (a good choice I say), and it was up to us to choose his councillors, who were, Fr. Francis Ngadi-Kenya (vice regional),   Fr. Faustin-DRC, (1^st councillor)  Fr. Mandla Mchunu-South Africa (2^nd councillor—newly ordained but a good choice)   Br. Alexander Lizani-South Africa ( the senior member on the team).

The next day was the vows taking;  2 for first vows,(Brnito from Toko and Chika from akenya) 2 for final vows  (Laurent and noel from DRC) and one renewing for another year (Jackson Mandela from S.A.). ( there are usually 2 renewals and then finals—by that time one should know if this is his vocation or not---5 yrs. To consider should be enough.)

In between, the former U.S. Consul, who is back in SA on a visit, made a contact to say that it there are any possible projects for Chickens, let her know and she may be able to help. Nice offer from a very nice lady who has already helped us in several projects…American money well spent.

I am indulging in several health foods (you can check them out on Google).  Lifegain, Normacol, and good old plain Youghurt (double cream). I am bothered by chronic constipation and a good BM is like the 4^th of July celebration. Ha.

I spent 10 days in Cape Towh, lving with a retired pries friend, Fr. Roger Hickley, and it was a delight to be able to do what one wanted when one wanted it rather than be tied down to schedules. As you probably know, I am an eggahholic, and I ate eggs to my hearts content. But the highlight of the trip is that I had no transport and everyone was willing to come and fetch me and take me back and even drive me around to visit here and there.

Old friend, colleagues from bygone days, old comrrades in the struggle against apartheid, jail birds like myself but with extended experience of years looking at the inside of a cell, and some of the youth we helped with their education who found work and are now able to help their families.

All of them were very solicitous of this old man, taking him by the hand and helping him hobble along and go up and down the stairs.I guess that I am a kind of universal grandpa.

On the plane and in the airport, everyone was very helpful and respectful of this white-haired senior citizen. I was touched.

I am now addicted to wheelchairs(The airports are so big these days that one has to be a sports person to get to the

Boarding gate .  At first I was hesitant( an honest friend said that the reason I hesitated was because I was too proud a priest to be seen in a wheelchair) could that be true? Naw!

Now I am late for my financial report for January. I want to do that before next week as I am off again, by plane, to Joburg / Pretoria for a few days. This is to make up for my not getting to go home last year because of the 24/7 spasms. They are still with me.

Hey, I had better say, bye! I till have a gob of things to do before I leave on Tues.

Stay well, y’all. I will keep in touch. Love and peace as always.              Cas.