We Prayed and God sent us Angels...And they can SING!

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Sometimes, as musicians, especially musicians on tour, we need reminders of why we do what we do. This weekend was one of those times. We met a man by the name of Pastor Meinhof and he changed our lives. We spent these past few days in the small towns of Juteborg, Mark Zwuschen, Seyda and Gentha. We arrived in Juteborg and Pastor (complete with too short tie and ever-jolly expression) was waiting for us with glasses of Apfelschorle, orange juice and water laid out for us. He showed us around the town and began telling us of the history surrounding the town. All of these towns were in the former East Germany. Pastor Meinhof was a member of the Peaceful Revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall. He was in the sixth row of people that walked into West Germany. On our way to Mark Zwunschen, we passed through fields that Napoleon fought in. When we arrived in the town to dedicate their new Church, we were unbelievably impressed. We rode through dirt roads until we reached a small circular Chapel...less than 20 people would fit inside. Pastor Meinhof began explaining that the people of this town wanted to build a Church in the 1960's, but the Soviets would not let them. They have been trying to build this Chapel since the Wall fell. 20 years later, the Chapel was finally built. They had made us an incredible lunch and as we looked around as the entire town came in their Sunday best to meet us for our picnic lunch and a toast, we realized how incredible this whole experience really was. They were the most genuine people I have ever met. As we stood around and sang for them, we realized how this event was much more than the photo op we had originally been told it would be. People stood around us with tears in their eyes, sitting on picnic benches, so very proud of their ability to finally have a place to worship. We did not want to leave and after much coffee and kuchen, we said our goodbyes and took off for Wittenberg. Wittenberg was mostly uneventful (aside from a series of Catholic jokes outside the 95 Theses and the Catholic Church). This morning, we awoke to return to these neighboring towns and sang for Confirmations and Baptisms in Seyda and Gentha. The Churches were smaller than we have ever seen, but the congregations of 50 or so devout Germans was so wonderfully grateful. We sang through the services in the bitterly cold Church, completely unaware of how the cold and difficult acoustics were effecting us. The children made us picture cards and the town gave us a beautiful painting of the German countryside. They made us a wonderful lunch and we watched as they waved to us throughout the town as we left. This trip was beyond words and truly changed all of our lives. Tonight, as we spend a night in in Bamberg, we can't help thinking about the joy and heartfelt emotion that these wonderful people brought us.

"my tortoise only eats organic spinach. he's a vegan." -evan

"he's speaks hungarian. does that mean he's from hungaria?" -paul
"you mean...hungary..."

"We can look at the goats AFTER dinner, dear" -Paul

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Comments

[Ellsworth]

great blogs
You all are just too cute in all these photos. What wonderful experiences dedicating these new churches and singing for the townspeople. Memories for a lifetime and, as you say, reminders of why we do what we do. Music is transformative.