{"id":285662,"date":"2025-12-10T14:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T13:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msd-online.ch\/?p=285662"},"modified":"2026-03-17T14:09:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:09:50","slug":"returning-from-africa-with-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/returning-from-africa-with-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"Returning from Africa with hope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Sometimes a journey takes you deeper than expected. That was certainly true of these three weeks in Africa, which were full of challenges, surprises, and moments of hope. Here is an insight into what I experienced.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285665\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-2048x1280.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-400x250.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-1080x675.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-1280x800.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-980x613.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Reise-Bernard-Hoffnung-am-Horizont-480x300.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hello!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, I arrived safely in Switzerland on Monday, November 17. As always, I returned with many impressions, and I would like to share a few of them here. If you would like more details or have any questions, just send me an email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Africa remains turbulent, complicated, and yet full of hope! Africa continues to be plagued by real scourges and tragedies. Even a three-week visit and various encounters in just a few countries were enough to remind me vividly of scourges such as injustice, violence, counterproductive systems, political instability, persistent poverty, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My trip to Togo got off to a rather bumpy start when I suddenly realized at the airport in Kigali that the bilateral travel agreements in Togo were no longer valid. No more express visas at the airport. I had to apply for one immediately, and it took four days for the application to be approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But during that waiting period, I came down with a severe flu that felt like a mixture of malaria and Covid. Fortunately, I was allowed to stay with my sister in Kigali, and her family took good care of me. So the trip via Rwanda turned out to be God's plan. What a clear reminder of God's providence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when I finally arrived in Togo, everything went very well. The visit to a Togolese colleague in central Togo was particularly inspiring. One of his many tasks is to train future farmers. It was encouraging to talk to the seven young men who had just completed a nine-month agricultural course. They confidently showed me what they had learned about growing vegetables and fruit and raising small livestock. They presented plans for their planned microfarm projects. I had the opportunity to encourage them to analyze the market and plan well in order to make their microfarms profitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I saw so much potential and was once again impressed by the realization that they could make a difference in their home regions if they received the necessary resources to implement their projects. The kind of support they need is exactly what we at PLENTIFUL GARDEN want to provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I returned to Rwanda a week later, I did the same with two men from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite all the major challenges they face, they are motivated to train others and help them set up urban farming projects to feed their families, sell nutritious food throughout the city of Bukavu, and improve their livelihoods holistically. I hope that we can enable them to realize some of these dreams there in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My stay in Rwanda naturally gave me the opportunity to visit our small farm in the east of the country, where my brother and I were able to sow thousands of new seeds\u2026 seeds of pasture grasses and various multipurpose trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many thanks to everyone who prayed for me during this whole endeavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Translated with DeepL.com (free version)<\/p>\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_pb_section--fixed et_section_regular et_flex_section\" id=\"popup_projekte\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_flex_row\" id=\"popup-projekte-inhalt\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_phone\" id=\"bild_popup\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_0 et_pb_code et_pb_module\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><div class=\"et_pb_group_0 et_pb_group et_pb_module et_flex_group et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"logo_popup\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cc_popup.png\" title=\"cc_popup\" width=\"1080\" height=\"226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cc_popup.png 1080w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cc_popup-980x205.png 980w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cc_popup-480x100.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-282846\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"beschreibung\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>\"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Eins\u00e4tzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche f\u00fcr ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterst\u00fctzen und ein Segen f\u00fcr Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig ver\u00e4ndern, ihr Herz neu f\u00fcr Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft f\u00fcr Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erf\u00fcllen \u2013 damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen.\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_button_module_wrapper et_pb_button_0_wrapper preset--module--divi-button--default_wrapper\"><a class=\"et_pb_button_0 et_pb_button et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_module et_flex_module preset--module--divi-button--default\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" id=\"projekt_button\">titel<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_icon_0 et_pb_icon et-interaction-target-kp1pp7plxu et_pb_module et_flex_module\" data-interaction-trigger=\"poknua1gij\" data-interaction-target=\"kp1pp7plxu\"><span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">\uf00d<\/span><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"kostenstelle\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><spantitillium web=\"\" arial=\"\" font-weight:normal=\"\" font-style:normal=\"\" data-sheets-root=\"1\"><strong>Would you like to support the project financially?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Missionswerk msd | Grassiweg 3 | 3714 Frutigen<\/spantitillium><br \/>\nPC-Nr. 30-26890-3 | IBAN CH69 0900 0000 3002 6890 3<br \/>\nNote:\u00a0<span id=\"kostenstelle-projekt\">projekt<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_flex_row\" id=\"popup-loader_projekte\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_1 et_pb_code et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_inner\"><div class=\"skeleton-wrapper\">\n  <div class=\"skeleton-links\">\n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-bild\"><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"skeleton-rechts_p\">\n    <div>\n      \n    \n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-logo\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-text_beschreibung\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-button\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"skeleton_kostenstelle_p\">\n      <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-text\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-text mittel\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton-projekte skeleton-text kurz\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_pb_section--fixed et_section_regular et_flex_section et-interaction-target-tj91x06n4w\" data-interaction-target=\"tj91x06n4w\" id=\"popup_mitarbeiter\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_flex_row\" id=\"popup-inhalt\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_phone\" id=\"bg_bild\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_2 et_pb_code et_pb_module\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><div class=\"et_pb_image_1 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"position-bild\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Titel-Yanis.png\" title=\"Titel Yanis\" width=\"591\" height=\"154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Titel-Yanis.png 591w, https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Titel-Yanis-480x125.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 591px, 100vw\" class=\"wp-image-283041\" \/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"mitarbeiter_name\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>Mitarbeiter name<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_group_1 et_pb_group et_pb_module et_flex_group et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_icon_1 et_pb_icon et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"email\"><span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap\"><a href=\"mailto:info@msd-online.ch\" target=\"\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">\ue010<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_icon_2 et_pb_icon et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"mobile_nummer\"><span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap\"><a href=\"tel:+41%2078%20225%2046%2036%20\" target=\"\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">\uf879<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"zitat\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>Zitat<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\" id=\"kostenstelle\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>M\u00f6chtest du mich direkt finanziell freisetzen?<br \/>\n<\/strong><spantitillium web=\"\" arial=\"\" font-weight:normal=\"\" font-style:normal=\"\" data-sheets-root=\"1\">Missionswerk msd | Grassiweg 3 | 3714 Frutigen<\/spantitillium><br \/>\nPC-Nr. 30-26890-3 | IBAN CH69 0900 0000 3002 6890 3<br \/>\nVermerk: Personalkosten <span id=\"kostenstelle-name\">name<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_icon_3 et_pb_icon et-interaction-target-s625yagv4m et_pb_module et_flex_module\" data-interaction-trigger=\"qxdh4ltg2t\" data-interaction-target=\"s625yagv4m\"><span class=\"et_pb_icon_wrap\"><span class=\"et-pb-icon\">\uf00d<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_flex_row\" id=\"popup-loader_mitarbeiter\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et-last-child et_flex_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough et_flex_column_24_24 et_flex_column_24_24_tablet et_flex_column_24_24_phone\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_3 et_pb_code et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_code_inner\"><div class=\"skeleton-wrapper\">\n  <div class=\"skeleton-links\">\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-bild\"><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"skeleton-rechts\">\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-position\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-titel\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-titel-unten\"><\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"skeleton_icon_wrapper\">\n      <div class=\"skeleton skeleton_icon\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"skeleton skeleton_icon\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton_zitat\">\n      <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text mittel\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text kurz\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton_kostenstelle\">\n      <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text mittel\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"skeleton skeleton-text kurz\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sometimes a journey takes you deeper than expected. That was certainly true of these three weeks in Africa, which were full of challenges, surprises, and moments of hope. Here is an insight into what I experienced. Hello! Yes, I arrived safely in Switzerland on Monday, November 17. As always, I returned with many impressions, and &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":285668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151,155,152],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-285662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-info-en","category-mail-en","category-plentiful-garden-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285662"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":285670,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/285662\/revisions\/285670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/285668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=285662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.msd-online.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=285662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}