I just returned from a trip with the Ephrata Cloister Chorus to Germany and what an enriching trip it was! We met many new friends and renewed old acquintances. The treasures we gained are more than can ever fit into luggage. We discovered the joys of singing in ancient churches and sharing smiles when words could not be said.
Daryl and I were serenaded by the Leidertafel Choir on our anniversary with an enchanting love song. All these experiences reminded me that it only takes a small effort to bring joy around the world. In a time when Americans are often sneered at and jeered, we received warm, embracing welcomes everywhere we went. As it came time to leave, our friends in Eberbach stood by the bus and waved American flags as we left.
Today a new refugee family from Kenya and the Congo came to our church for assistance. As the youth sat around our table frightened by the newness of it all, I was reminded of how I felt when I could not understand anyone around me. I immediately stood up and shook each hand and said my name. They began to smile and say their names. The tenseness in the room left and they began to relax. I pray that we can open our arms to these new friends.
