“So that they go home with a joyful heart.”
Ton Koopman
Since I attended his masterclass. “A joyful heart” as souvenir to the audience has become what I aim for every time I play organ. Joy is not something shallow like simply saying “don’t worry, be happy”, nor the optimism build on the air. Joy is something profound, there were pains and those hearts were comforted and be joyful. The helps have not arrived yet, but hope has arrived, with faith, the heart can rejoice.
This week is a bit extreme, I played organ in four different churches with four different programme. I received a beautiful flower bouquet after the première of my “Song and Dance” programme on the very first organ I ever played. My first organ teacher and his wife were there, we remembered 10 years ago, I was struggling with the visa problem. I thank God for the continuous miracles over this 10 years. The fact that I am still playing organ, it took so many miracles.
Unfortunately, visa is still an unsolved problem now. I submitted my visa application with the same documents as last year months ago, this week, I received a letter from the immigration office, said, insufficient evidence. I do not really know what else to make it sufficient, as I thought it was already sufficient. I mean, last year, with the same documents, they issued one year visa to me. The letter also hinted that I do not earn enough as average, which can hinder them issuing visa.
This is true that I do not earn as much as average, and within 2 weeks (the new deadline), I cannot change this fact. I have enough to live, I live a very simple life, no tv, no car, small apartment. But the immigration office wants to see my monthly income can meet the standard. I only can provide an estimation of income, because other than my students and church services, all events are irregular, the best example, I cannot tell how many funerals I play in a month.
My priority this year has been to do thing that I only can do when I am in Germany. Travel to the concerts I love, to see historic organs, to attend masterclasses, to expand my organ repertoire, to play more concerts, to see more friends, to cook and bake more for my German families. I am so glad, by God grace, I did them. If I have to leave Germany, I have no regret.
The negative voices in my head accuse me for not having a sound financial plan, IF I have a good financial plan in the first place, I MIGHT not have this problem. It could be true or not true, everything takes time to build. I am in my 2nd year of self-employment, I need to expand my repertoire, I need to play organ in more places because the invitation to play organ will not fall from the sky right? So I need to plan time for travelling and for practice, I earn only as much as I need. With only one year visa, I would do exactly what I have done.
It is still annoying that before the decision made and until I get the visa or not, I am stuck in Germany, I cannot go anywhere. It takes 2-3 months at least. It is painful that I can not go to Toulouse and I can not go home this year.
Anyway, today, it is as if I am having birthday and Christmas on the same day. I have got the parcels from my parents, they sent my favourite books, foods, coffees and everything I need for the winter to me. Good news for you, my dear reader, it means there are more contents for you in the future with those wonderful books from home. Stay tuned!
Note:
My blog post on this day one year ago:
Concert Review: (Not) Political Music
https://thejourney-writing.com/2022/09/concert-review-not-political-music.html
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