Letter to Mr. Solberg from the US Embassy in Indonesia

Dear Mr. Solberg,

Thanks for your post.Very nice to hear from you. I feel somehow sad; I couldn't meet you in person while you worked inVienna. For me you were an encouragement to all my open letters I wroteto Pres. Bush. Asia is your new assignment.
Great! Asia is a great place. For us western people, Asia will be always a secret with many questions coupled.
Indonesia, - woow! The most populated Moslem country in the world.
I have many friends in Asia.

I once worked in that region, but many years ago. In 1975 I worked with our movement in Honkong. Later on in Thailand. India was my next mission and I worked there for 4 years. I did some humanitarian work and set up a school for poor children. We used acar-garage as a school. I raised money for that project in Germany.

In 1980 I went to Afghanistan and faced the military coup and theSoviet invasion. It was the first time I heard bombs and machine gun fire by soviet troops. It was really scared I might get killed by a soviet Soldiers or a Afghan Muhadedin fighters, because in their eyes I looked like a Soviet person. During that time I have met staff from the US Embassy inKabul, and they invited me to come to play American soccer. (they told me after, I did quite well, because I played soccer in Germany) That was very nice. All western who remained in Kabul became good friends, because of the growing tensions.

With our movement I went than to North Yemen (Saana).
From there I wentto Jordan. My next stop was Cyprus were I worked 2 years. In 1986 I worked in Greece. I lived mainly in Athens with my family. Two of my kids were born in Greece.
I organized Anti-communist (CAUSA-Ideology, i.e. to counter a God denying atheistic ideology with the assumption that God exist) activities and we worked with the Nea- Demokatia- opposition party. That time we educated the Greek youth and the political leadership about the danger of communism. At our last stop in Yannina city (North of Greece) we got attacked by the greek communist and were escorted by the Greek police. Our program did quite well. During that time in Greece I worked as well with the newspaper:
http://www.metimes.com/
I was also Photo Journalist for the MET and the Washington Times (TWT) Rev. Moon founded these papers.

In 1992 I went to the Russia and worked there 4 years. Russian people are nice people and most hated the communist regime anyway. I worked in Kaliningrad, which was called before “Königsberg.
Guess what? It is the place where my mother was born.

I volunteered to go to the Philippines in 1996. I visited the Philippines 6 times so far. My hope is that one day I can make it there to assist our movement.
Often I ask myself: what did I learn in all these 30 years and helpingRev Moon cause.”I was 24 years old when I left my native country. If I haven’t met Rev.Moon and the Unification Church, I probably would have joined the Peace Corp founded by JFK.

Finally, what did I learn most?
To respect and love my fellow-humanbeing. Where I worked and lived, people looked always different from me, they had a different color, they spoke and behaved differently than were I came from, Germany.
I became color blind and open to other cultures and traditions. All cultures and traditions have many common elements anyway, and have so much to offer to make on day this planet earth a place were there is no more war, poverty and crimes.
But bottom line is: Respect and love for others.”

This I wanted to tell you in person. So I did it this time in letters.
It’s very great - the Internet age.
I hope to meet you one day- somewhere.
The world is getting smaller these days. I wish you all the best.

Your German friend,
Wolfgang Schawaller

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Dear Mr. Schawaller:

Thank you for your note. I have, indeed, left Vienna.
I am currently studying at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute, learning the Indonesian language for my upcoming tour in Jakarta, Indonesia.
I arrive there next year.
My successor's name at the Embassy in Vienna is Christine Dal Bello.
Should you need any assistance or wish to pass on any information, she would be your contact there.
I hope this letter finds you well.

Best Regards,

Michael Solberg