Ilse & Christian

Introduce yourself within a sentence.
Ilse: I am a daughter of God, married to the love of my life, and a very proud and grateful mother.

Christan: I am a typical Capricorn: cautious, ambitious and determined, following 2 professions (accountant and a real estate professional), living my passion for people, adding value to everybody I meet, enjoy interaction with my colleagues / family / dear wife, and doing my own thing in my own way in my own time.

What is the most challenging part of your life in this time of crisis?
Ilse: The isolation, as to see family members and friends, especially my mother in the old age home. As a teacher, I had to start using the internet to teach, preparing lessons on a different level and overcome the “fear” of making use of media.

Christan: Being in lockdown now for almost 5 weeks, I feel socially isolated, but conversations via internet are keeping me in touch with family and friends. Luckily, I have been working from my home office for the last 15 years, and my professional work is carrying on as usual, going virtual with training sessions and discussions. Most challenging is to stay indoors – forfeiting fitness sessions in the gym, strolls on the beach, Saturday Park Runs and partying over weekends. Not being able to have coffee with my friends who are isolated and worried.

What is your guiding light every day that makes you smile?
Ilse: The contact that you have with loved ones through social media is priceless! It is important to stay in contact and be aware of each others’ special needs. As a Christian, it is important to encourage others, pray for and with them and assure them of your prayers. To be part of a family [staying in contact], with the same values, all being in the same situation no matter where you are really lights up my days. The privilege to be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with my dear husband is an undeserved blessing. As we both are able to work from home, life goes on, but, to have a tea break, lunch break together is good. We miss our friends, visiting the fitness centre, driving around, but therefore have time to just be together. With all our children abroad, it is a bonus to have time to call them daily, listening to them, sharing their joys and worries. The bigger community needs outside are worrying me. I like to and try to help elderly people, who are unable to go to a shop for their necessities. In gratitude for what I still have, contribute food, where there is the need. What a privilege to be able to do so!

Christan: A human being can only create values through interaction with other people, now only done through electronic communication with colleagues, service providers, family and friends. Always share a positive personal emotion when ending off private and professional discussions. The challenge is to change your work style and social habits, preparing for a new social and economic order. Financially I try to help those in desperate need. This crisis is a wake-up call for personal introspection, polishing up the disciplines from religion, psychology and human behaviour. And this is making me smile every day, forcing me out of the box by making new discoveries.

If you can share a source of hope with someone in need, what would it be?
Ilse: This too shall pass! We serve an almighty God, and he has known about this crisis in the world, long before we could ever dream of this happening. Use this time to reflect on your inner-self. Use the silence and extra free time to look for and find Gods will in your life. The changes, that definitely will be the normal life in the future, can and will be for the good for all of us- in the whole world.
“Make sure you test positive for Faith. Keep your distance from Doubt, and isolate yourself from Fear. Trust in God through it all.” By Kelly’s Treehouse

Christan: In life, there are both good and bad times. Successes and failure. Life and death. Health and sickness. Freedom and lockdown. I can share hope by doing good deeds for those in need: go shopping for a friend tied up in an old age home, or transferring money to your gardener so that he can buy food. Giving emotional and physical support during this bad time will bring a collective feeling of “we are in this together ”, and that better times will come again. Cheering somebody up with a smile and positive news, and looking forward to doing pleasant things in the new season: I think this is a source of hope – always keep the glass half full, never half empty.