July 16, The Last Day

Today was an early morning, as we had to be on our way to the Frankfurt Airport at 7:00 am. The hotel was kind enough to have breakfasts packed for us to eat on the bus.

The group was spread out on the airplane to Toronto, since we were only 25 or so of over 400 passengers. It was odd to leave Frankfurt at 10:00 am, fly for 8 hours, and arrive in Toronto at 12:00 noon. Then it was through customs, a bite to eat, and back on a plane to Winnipeg for the rest of the journey. We continued to say our farewells on the way, with some staying in Europe, some staying on in Toronto, and others taking a later flight to Winnipeg,

For many this has been the trip of a lifetime. The experiences shared, the music created, and the closeness gained amongst all who travelled together are things each of us can take from this. As we look back at the pictures and videos we have, the emotions they generate will continue to draw us to the choir’s closing song at all the performances in Europe. How Can I Keep From Singing?

Each day of our journey I had provided a joke of the day that I shared over the PA system on the bus. For this our last day, I’d prepared my own words to the tune I Dreamed of Rain, one of the songs performed by the choir. I was asked to include the words in today’s blog. Here they are. They’ll mean much more to those on the tour than others.

I Dreamed of Europe

I dreamed of Europe and the choir went
I got to go along and it was totally awesome
I dreamed of bratwurst and Mirco made them
And they were tasty with the fruits and veggies 

I dreamed of humour and the hat came

And the bells they jingled and the jokes were funnier

I dreamed of Friesland and the shorts came

Ken and Otto they got them too

Chorus

And I now have more friends that I care for

And I now know all their names

I dreamed of Europe and the choir went

And I got to go along

I dreamed of castles and we saw a few

the villages all were quaint and historic

I dreamed of photos and we took a ton

But Sharlyne’s were all of trucks and trees

I dreamed of Menno and I learned more

And walked where he walked and it was very real

I dreamed of cathedrals and the choir sang

And we all became verklempt

Chorus

And I now have more friends that I care for

And I now know all their names

I dreamed of Europe and the choir went

And I got to go along

I dreamed of Europe and the choir went

And I got to go along

Submitted by: Ernie Epp

July 15, Day 12

Sleeping in! What a treat to be able to do so. Some started the day with a swim in the pool. A breakfast was included in the hotel charge, and the selection was great as always.

The group continued to shrink, with Marlies and Otto Klassen, and Karen and Keith Kuhl (Keith met us the night before when we arrived) heading out in the morning.

A short bus trip took us to our vineyard tour and wine tasting. The winemaster was a relatively young man. Even though he was the 8^thgeneration owner of the vineyard, he had gone to school and training for 7 years before he took over the family business. The vineyard, which was 15 hectares (37 acres) and produced about 100,000 bottles of wine, even had a Lamborghini tractor. The tour was of the cellar and bottling area. We were then treated to three different wines, all of them white. They were good, but aren’t available in Canada.

Next stop was Frankfurt, where Millie and Ed Hildebrand caught a train for the next part of their time in Europe. Since this included two weeks on the El Camino Santiago pilgrimage they had only their backpacks for luggage. We were now down to almost as many empty seats in the bus as we had full ones. Those of us still in the dwindling group got to our hotel. We all spent some of the time during the later afternoon and evening weighing suitcases to make sure all our purchases wouldn’t result in surcharges. We can all feel it coming. The end. Only one more sleep and we’ll be flying home.

Submitted by: Ernie Epp

July 14, Day 11

Sunday, a day when singing in church is as natural to Mennonites as castles are along the Rhine. It was fitting that the Faith and Life Women’s Chorus should complete its singing engagements at a church service. The Choir, once again, was warmly welcomed for the morning worship service at Ludwigskirche in Freiburg.  And yet again, we had another mountain-top experience.  Rather than standing at the front of the sanctuary, we sang from the back balcony and were accompanied, not by piano, but by the glorious sound of the pipe organ.  Leanne checked off another item on her bucket list by playing this wonderful pipe organ (and she even managed to play with her feet!).  It was interesting to be a part of this special service which included the baptism of two young people.  Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of the service was listening to their own organist accompany the hymns.  Of course, watching him use all 3 manuals, plus the full range of foot pedals, was also amazing!  His jazz-influenced interpretations and unique improvisations added a special sense of creativity to the worship music.  What a wonderfully inspiring way to begin this last leg of our tour.

The whole group had lunch together at Restorante Pizzaria Adler, a quaint Italian restaurant in Emmendingen. During the meal we had a time of sharing; people shared highlights and general impressions and feelings of the tour. Many commented on the bonding experience that has happened. Some shared about their homestay experiences – even a little house in the middle of a cemetery – and the generous hospitality we had everywhere we went. It was a time of tears and laughter for all of us. Here Theresa and Sarah Klassen left the group to continue their adventure. As we travelled to Landau our group got smaller again. We waved good bye to Leanne Regehr Lee as she caught her train so she could catch her flight back home.

When we arrived at our hotel, we learned there was a pool. Our first pool on the entire trip. What a nice surprise. Even nicer was taking a short walk to a charming old building which houses the restaurant Zum Trifels, and having the meal paid for by our tour company OIK. The room was filled with laughter and smiles as we enjoyed a leisurely dinner. The pool will have to wait until tomorrow.

Submitted by: Leanne Regehr Lee, Janet Marchylo, Elaine Loewen, and Ernie Epp

July 13, Day 10

Once again today we woke up to warm sunny weather. Lother observed that if our tour would have begun here and ended in the Netherlands we would have experienced rain from beginning to end. People tell us we have brought the good weather with us.

Most of us gathered at the Ludwigskirche in Freiburg at 10:00 for an excursion to the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) for a day of sight-seeing. The scenery was picturesque, featuring steep inclines, hairpin turns, and lakes with mountains in the background.

We stopped at Titisee for a time of swimming, boating, shopping and culinary delights. Some say it reminded them of Lake Louise.

From there we went to Sankt Blasien.  There was a stunning Monastery, where we took full advantage of the incredible acoustics and sang a few songs.

We drove to a beautiful spot for dinner.  We drove up a steep, narrow and winding road until we reached The Church of the Tender Heart.  This chapel / restaurant overlooked the town of Kirchzarten.  After our delicious dinner, we did what we do best, sang a couple of songs in the chapel. 

We had our final, and best, evening concert.  We sang in Freiburg, at the Christuskirche.  The audience was ecstatic, enthusiastically applauding after every song.  The men of our group thought that we 'peaked' at this concert.  What a glorious evening.

After the concert, the hotel group was fortunate enough to find a local festival.  There was a 60 piece brass band, and it seemed that all of the locals were there for a good time.  We enjoyed glasses of Sekt, which is the locally produced champagne.

July 12, Day 9

All days have been memorable, and one wouldn't want to "play favourites" but.......today we sang in the Strasbourg Cathedral. Yes. THE Strasbourg Cathedral in France, and in spite of the fact that we were almost emotionally undone by the experience, we rallied to forge another lifetime highlight, singing "Abendlied" beautifully, nigh unto ethereal, given the shine and the spin that a cathedral gives to the sound. What a privilege to sing this piece in a space for which it was meant.

Strasbourg Cathedral is a major tourist stop of course, yet this audience was no less appreciative than our concert goers whom we have come to know and love on this trip. One remarked that the "Rheinberger" had been wonderful, another who had been singing along to "Great is thy Faithfulness" waited around to claim it as her favourite hymn. She was from Texas. A senator of the the European Council, who visits this cathedral once a year, appreciated that he had picked this day. Well then, how can we keep from singing?

The afternoon morphed into a relaxing few hours of lunch, sightseeing and of course, shopping. One by one the funky dresses, pink sandals and purses emerged while the usual uproarious laughter accompanied the usual commentary. "Yes Otto, of course those will go perfectly with your shirt!"

Now in Freiburg, we have had another fabulous evening of feasting and camaraderie with our host community....this time a choir from this city called "The Purple Chariots" directed by Helen Ens. Before dinner they sang for us. Wonderful.

Submitted by:  Millie Hildebrand

Made in Manitoba

For our readers in Southern Manitoba, Michelle Sawatzky phoned us yesterday and interviewed some members of our group.  It will be featured tomorrow (Saturday, July 13) on Made in Manitoba (CFAM)!  We are not positive of the time, but believe it will be at 5:00 pm.

July 11, Day 8

Today was a day of rehearsal, touring, and concert.

For a switch, the rehearsal happened first, in the church where the concert would be later in the evening. Then it was off to Ludwigsburg in Stuttgart to walk through amazing gardens that are part of a huge estate.

For the husbands who joined the tour, the afternoon’s itinerary was one that appeared intended to be special for the men. A tour of the Mercedes Benz Museum, filled with Mercedes Benz vehicles. What more could you ask for. Even the architecture of the building was amazing.

The food this day was also special. Breakfast at the hotel had numerous options including scrambled eggs, sausage, and salmon. All this to go with the regular fare that is always served in Germany. Our late lunch was created by driver Mirco. A barbeque, with chicken! And all kinds of other things too. Mirco does very well with the limited resources he has available. Thanks Mirco.

This evening our concert was held at the Johannes Kirche in Fellbach.  It was a pleasure to sing for such an appreciative audience.

Submitted by: Ernie Epp

Personal Highlights:

"Staying with host families has been an interesting experience. These included farm smells, roosters crowing and visiting with the aging aunt of our hostess in Plaut Dietsh. We have had warm fellowship and gained a sense of family with those who have welcomed us."  Irene Schellenberg

July 10, Day 7

Most of the day today was spent in the lovely medieval town of Rothenburg.  We went on a guided walking tour of the town, and then we had several hours of free time.  Some shopped, some walked and some took in the museums and other sights.

We travelled to Fellbach later in the day and were welcomed by Anita Lichti, her husband and another member of the Stuttgart Mennonite Church.  Anita gave us an interesting history of her church and then asked us if we could sing the Doxology.  It was very moving for them. They provided us with a light supper which was enjoyed by all.  We ended the meal by singing Great is Thy Faithfulness.  

Some personal highlights:

"Singing Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "Gott ist die Liebe" in the Franciscan Cathedral Rothenburg o.d.T. was an emotional experience.  I saw an audience member holding her heart as we sang."  Barb & Jake Peters

"I was incredibly moved singing 'Great is the Faithfulness' with the whole group at the Franciscan Cathedral in the old medieval city of Rothenburg. The resonance and over-tones brought on by the fantastic acoustical quality of the   architecture brought tears to my eyes."   Karen Kuhl

"A special treat for us, in the midst of the amazing medieval tour of Rothenburg, was an impromptu hymn sing in the Franciscan Cathedral.  Our songs of praise echoed and re-echoed while tourists drifted in to enjoy a worshipful moment in a cool cathedral.  The 'hubbies' joined us for the final number - a super rendition of #606.  What joy!  What fun!"
              Marj S. & Esther W.

"I am enjoying so much the camaraderie with fellow singers and spouses! Whether laughing out loud or feeling "verklempt" (overcome with emotion), we are rarely doing it 
alone."  Ruth Derksen

" 'Shop till you drop' took on a whole new meaning today as we spent a good part of the day in Rothenburg.  Not only shopping make me tired, but also going uphill and downhill made my legs burn!  :-)  I definitely did drop into my seat on the bus when our shopping experience was done!"  
          Sharlyne Neufeld

"I thank God for giving me this opportunity to come to Europe and sing in a choir.  Thanks also to my friends and family who encouraged me.  I will always remember the special people who so graciously hosted us, the blessed moments when I felt the touch of God when singing, and the camaraderie of   the group."   Betty-Anne Hildebrand

July 9, Day 6

It was another early farewell, saying goodbye to all our billets so we were on the road by 9:00 am. We also said goodbye to Adrienna Joyce, who had to return to her schooling. After a short trip from Neuwied to St. Goar, we boarded the ship for a beautiful cruise upriver on the Rhine. Ken Loewen almost missed the boat, having to ask them very nicely to put the gangplank back so he didn’t have to leap for it. Too much picture taking Ken!

Early on we passed by the famous Lorelei and heard the song on the PA system. There were also a number of medieval castles and old churches during the 1.5 hour cruise. We were amazed at the number of other boats on the River, both cruisers as well as freighters. And the vineyards on the steep banks were amazing.

Then it was back on the bus for a short trip to a picnic area and lunch. We’d earlier put in our order to ensure there was lots of vegetables and fruits in addition to Mirco’s sausage and potato salad. He’d never had a group ask for the veggies and fruit before, but then he’d never had a group from Canada before either. We had our fill.

Our fill was enough that the rest of the bus ride was fairly quiet with many taking the opportunity to catch up on sleep. That may have been a good thing when we crossed a valley on a bridge that was 400 feet high. A few hours later we arrived at Rothenburg ob der Tauber and were assigned rooms at our Gasthof. A tasty pork loin roast covered with a peppercorn sauce, potato croquettes and broccoli, right after the carrot and ginger soup was enjoyed by all. The premium ice cream for dessert topped it off.

The choir performed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church located in Neusitz, just a few kilometers away. The church dates back to the 1100’s and was quite small. As with other performances, the audience was very appreciative, and clapped for an encore. This was followed by refreshments outside the building to allow for visiting with the audience.

As the support group to the choir, we’re glad to see there is still a lot of energy amongst the members.

Submitted by the Hubbies

July 8, Day 5

Today was busy but wunderbar day. We spent the morning taking in the sights of beautiful Neuwied, Germany. We were guided by the pastor of Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Neuwied, Martin Schmitz-Bethge. He gave us insight into the history of the early Mennonites of the area. Several centuries ago, the prince of the time granted land to various denominations, including the Mennonites, to build a church. This was to give religious freedoms to everyone. The Mennonites were given the property which is located across the street from the royal palace. The building still stands today.

One particularly gripping memorial was to the Jewish people who brutally lost their lives. They had been living as neighbours with the German people until November 9, 1938 when the Nazi order came to destroy the Jews. Neighbours turned on neighbours, and over 200 people were slaughtered. These orders had to be followed, or the German people would have lost their own lives. There are 'stumbling stones' on the sidewalks of that area with the names of the Jewish people killed.

After a delicious lunch at a micro-brewery restaurant, we traveled to the Marksburg Castle overlooking the River Rhine. It was originally built in 1283. We had a fascinating tour. Well worth the MANY large, uneven and treacherous steps we had to climb to get there.

Our host church, Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Neuwied, provided us with a scrumptious potluck supper. We then performed at an evening concert. Despite the sweltering heat, the audience was enthusiastic. They even asked for an encore! It was very special to sing our German selections in Germany for the first time.

Some personal highlights:

Hildy Doerksen was thrilled to meet the mother of Alex Wall, her future church choir conductor.

The Neuwied congregation was excited to see that Ingrid Moehlmann married the tour guide (our current tour guide, Lothar) from her last trip to Neuwied.

Gute Nacht!

Submitted by: The Hotel Hooligans

July 7, Day 4

Sunday morning dawned, another beautiful and sunny day.  We were blessed to worship this morning at Doopsgezinde Gemeente Ouddorp.  It was particularly moving when the congregation joined us in singing 'Beautiful Saviour' and 'How Deep the Father's Love For Us'.  The church was overflowing, and the many voices raised together in worship was a special moment.  We sang at two services, the first service was in Dutch and the second in German.

Many choir members said good-bye to their hosts, and we headed to Expo Haringvliet.  We dined outside next to the water, and enjoyed local delicacies.  This meal was generously provided for us by MC Manitoba.  Some choir members even ate the herring, although with mixed reactions.

We were shown a short video on how the sluizen gates were created, to prevent another disastrous flood like that of 1953. We also took a quick tour of the gates.

We spent rest of the afternoon and early evening driving to Neuwied.  Here, the host families were waiting for us at Evangelische Mennonitengemeinde Neuwied.  We went our separate ways for supper and the evening.

Submitted by:  Theresa Klassen and Sarah Klassen

 

July 6, Day 3

We said goodbye to Sneek this morning.  Our group met at the church where we sang last night and many host families came to see us off.  One family, with very cute children, was obviously sad to see their billets (Kathy and Marlene) leave, and they drove beside us, honking and waving to us as we drove out of town.

We drove to the town of Delft, where we had a tour of the Royal Delft Museum and factory.  It was fascinating to see how this beautiful and historic porcelain is created.  We were even able to witness the intricate work of a painter while she created a new piece of art.  

We enjoyed a delicious lunch, prepared by our fabulous bus driver / "Chef", Mirko, which we ate picnic-style on the grounds of a University in Delft.

We continued our travels to Ouddorp, where we were warmly welcomed by Annabell and her family, of Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Ouddorp.  After some refreshments, some of the group went for a quick visit to "the most beautiful beach in the Netherlands", on the shore of the North Sea.  Other group members went for a walk and found a 400 year-old "hidden church" building, which is now a clothing boutique.  

Our host families from Doopsgezinde Gemeente, Ouddorp, treated us to a fabulous potluck supper.  Some of our group were even brave enough to try the local delicacy, pickled herring.

We ended the evening's fellowship by singing a few of our song selections for them.  We look forward to continuing our fellowship tomorrow morning in worship.

Submitted by: Hildy Doerksen, Theresa Klassen and Sarah Klassen

July 5, Day 2

It was a beautiful day in Sneek.  The locals here say that it's been cloudy and rainy for weeks, and today it was clear and sunny.  Our tour guide, Lothar, said "The sun shines when angels are travelling".  

We spent the morning exploring our Mennonite heritage, by travelling to Witmarsum to view a monument dedicated to Menno Simons.  We then went to Pinjum, where we visited a hidden church.  Here, the Mennonites had to meet in secret to avoid persecution.  We watched a video depicting Menno Simons' life and faith story.  As expressed by Ruth Derksen, "I was surprised at the emotion I felt when participating in a presentation about our Mennonite roots."

We walked down the street to the church where Menno Simons was first ordained as a catholic priest.  Here, we sang together for the first time.  We sang "Wehrlos und Verlassen". Then, we were joined by the men who are travelling with us, as well as our hosts, and sang an emotion-filled "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  Theresa Klassen says "It was an incredible experience to sing this enduring hymn of faith in the church where Menno Simons first began to explore the Anabaptist faith".

This evening, we had our first formal concert.  We sang in the Doopsgezinde Gemeente Church in Sneek.  We were all very moved by the appreciative audience, and the feeling of community that we shared.  They sang and clapped along.  Clap Yo' Hands will never be the same again!  Following the concert, we were treated to a wine and cheese reception at the church.

Tomorrow we leave Sneek, sad to leave such a picturesque, hospitable community.  The people are friendly, the architecture is stunning, and the whole city is beautifully well-kept.  The preferred mode of transportation is biking.  In fact, a 93 year-old woman biked 6 miles to come and listen to our concert!  

Our time in Sneek was a wonderful start to our tour, and we anticipate the remaining days.

Submitted by:  The Hotel Group

July 4, Day 1

We arrived in Amsterdam exactly on time and met up with the other singers who had travelled to Europe before this, in one of the smoothest and fastest airport exits that our tour guide had ever seen. All people, all luggage! The only thing missing was adequate sleep, but for now adrenaline would have to do.

We boarded a beautiful new coach along with our guide, Lothar Moehlmann who together with his wife Ingrid Riesen, couldn't be a better match for this excursion. Lothar is Friesland-born and has guided extensively in Europe. 

As the bus wended its way northeast, we were treated to the history of this fascinating part of the Netherlands, two thirds of which is below sea level.

We hear of the masterful engineering of the area through dikes and drainage which allowed the fertile land to be exposed and cultivated. The story of Cornelius Lely ("Cornelius the Genius"), the Mennonite architect who designed and oversaw the building of the 30 km dike that reclaimed the land is fascinating and we stop to walk along the dike and to take pictures of his statue. The wind turbines are everywhere, sheep dot the fields, salt water on our left, fresh water on our right. We pass Harlingen, where all Wiebes come from. It's true!

We arrive at our first destination, Sneek, in record time. The architecture, the landscaping, the boats in canals, it all seems magical and we're all rhapsodizing, especially those who have not traveled in Europe. We find our church, where members of Doopsgezinde Gemeente Sneek are waiting enthusiastically. They usher us in and we are introduced. We sing together .... "In Christ there is no east or west".....how fitting. Our hosts have provided the words in both Dutch and English, and the mix is beautiful. The meal provided is beautiful too, and so delicious with indigenous Dutch dishes, like huzarensalade.

Many of our hosts speak English, and we enjoy experimenting with its similarities to  Plautdietsch, as we knew we would. Our hosts also understand the power of jet lag, and we are whisked to homes and hotels as the first day draws to a 

peaceful and happy close. 

Submitted by:  Millie Hildebrand

We're here!!

After 19+ hours of travel, 3 flights and one bus ride we have all arrived safely in Sneek.  More detailed update coming soon!

The Beginning...

It started innocently enough: Someone mused that maybe it was time to contemplate a choir tour. Someone else furthered the notion, conjecturing that it’s “our turn”, (sidebar: if you’ve sung in the Faith and Life Women’s Chorus, you’ll know about the good-natured sparring that occurs when it comes to being compared to the Men’s Choir), and then the topic jumped to “where should we go"? And a tour was born.

The Faith and Life Women’s Chorus is a branch of Mennonite Church Manitoba’s church community building ministry. Twenty-six singers were able to commit to an excursion to the Netherlands and Germany for two weeks in July, where congregations and communities have welcomed us with open arms. Our itinerary includes singing for audiences in the Netherlands (Sneek, Ouddorp), Germany (Neuwied, Rothenburg, Fellbach, Freiburg) and Strasburg, France, with much sightseeing and visiting enroute.

The trip is sponsored in part by The Kuhl Foundation Inc. and Golden West Radio.

Stay tuned for interviews with Golden West’s Michelle Sawatzky as the tour unfolds.

Those who are interested might wish to follow the itinerary posted on this blog.

Submitted by: Millie Hildebrand