My sabbatical time continues. I continue with daily readings from Reading the Anabaptist Bible: Reflections for Every Day of the Year. Last week I read through the Gospel of Mark. I journal as I read and reflect. This week I am reading Luke.
Over the next couple of weeks I will include a portion of the log from our trip in Europe.
Peace in Christ! Cal
C C Zehr Europe Travels, July 10-26, 2007
July 10, T - Travel to Zurich.
Connie Kr. chauffeured us to O’HARE International Airport. Our flight left late due to heavy weather in Ohio and earlier storms on the East coast. We left an hour late. Upon arrival at Philadelphia we thought we had about 5 minutes before our plane to Zurich was to take off. We put our selves in high gear and away we went with Jenna and Melissa in the lead. After a substantial hike we made it to the gate the time our plane was suppose to leave. It’s departure had been delayed and hour. We rejoiced! Little did we know there we hurried in vain. A couple of hours later, we boarded the jet as maintenance "completed" a routine oil filter change in the engine. After we were all in the jet, the captain said we should be leaving soon. A bit later, he said he did not know when we would take off. Why? Maintenance could not get one of the engine covers to close. They looked for the part - a pin. They needed to find someone to install it. Instead of taking off at 6:00 pm, we departed at around 11:00. Since the plane wasn’t full, we stretched our in multiple seats for the night flight.
July 11, W - Arrive Zurich not at 8:05 am, but 1:00 pm. We rented our minivan and drove to the Swiss Reformed Church office to drop off the Willow Springs letter, plate and mug. A couple of years ago the Swiss Reformed church issued a "Statement of Regret" for the persecution and killing of Anabaptists in the 16th century. The secretary met us and received our delivery. Next we walked in Zurich: Grossmunster - a reformed catherdral, Zwingli statue, town hall, St. Peter’s clock tower, Limmat River were Felix Mantz was drowned, Konrad Grebel’s house.
Lodging at Jona Youth Hostel, CH
July 12, Th - After a typical European breakfast of bread, buns, cheese, jams and jellies we took a walk to Lake Zurich and looked at Busskirch, a small Roman Catholic Church. Next up, our Anabaptist adventure to the Tauferhohle (Anabaptist Cave). Wow, what hike. What an amazing journey the early Anabaptist led as they desired to gather as the community of believers and worship the Lord. The scenery proclaimed the glory of God. We shared a devotional time in the cave. Groceries from the fresh market made up our lunch and then to Innsbruck, Austria. Many tunnels! Some very long, ten or 15 miles. We arrived looked around in the main part of old town. We saw two white busses with blue lights pull up and a bunch of dressed up people came out to look around. I saw a folder that read, "European Union Economic Security Council . We saw where Jacob Hutter was burned at the stake in front of the Golden Daule. We saw and heard a couple of marching bands pass by as we ate our supper in a café along the street. We also learned how to get out of the parking garage. :)
Wow, what a positive experience traveling through Europe seeing different parts of the world and interacting in the love of Jesus with persons we had never met before. What a huge treat to share time with German friends we had met over the years at Starland and especially sharing an evening with Bob Carter in Northern Switzerland. What a special time. AND, thanks for the Italian ice cones, Bob!
Our travels were safe and relatively smooth. We had a good time of rest on vacation in Arkansas last week. The water activity was very nice.
Thanks so much for your prayers that sustained our journey. We now will be with my parents a couple of days.
I will catch you later! More reflections to follow. Love, Cal
We had an excellent week in San Jose at the Mennonite Convention. Travels went well. The convention input was stimulating! The worship was refreshing. Our group time was excellent! A "huge blessing" is the best way to describe the week. More later. Many, many thinks to those that helped make this trip possible!!! (If you go to the web site of "The Mennonite" you can find some daily summery videos of the week. http://www.themennonite.org/ Watch for us in them.)
Now. today we travel. We arrive into Zurich tomorrow morning, or in the middle of the night here.
I think we are all ready for some major family adventure to where some radical Anabaptists journeyed around. The Lord goes before us. Thanks for your prayers!!!
I need to keep moving. Peace be with you! As the Father sent Jesus, We are also sent! Love in Christ, +Cal+
We arrived back to Tiskilwa on Thursday evening. We came from Starland HB, Gibbon MN. On Wednesday, we traveled from Winkler, MB, to Starland. As we arrived home, the trip odometer read 2,222.4 miles. :)
What a blessed time as we traveled and interacted with people along the way.
People at:
Sargent Ave Mennonite Church, Winnipeg. The first worship service of the morning is a shorter one in German. Their other worship service followed the same format as Willow Springs. We felt right at home. During the coffee time following the service people were so friendly to all of us.
The Epp house, Winnipeg. We shared Faspa, a Russian snack/supper, with the Epps, and visited a long time. We could have stayed longer, but it was time to move on.
Crystal Spring HB, Ste. Agathe. The girls played telephone dictionary until late. Carol and I visited until late. The Elder of the Schiemdeleut group of the Hutterites lives there. I enjoyed our conversation. We spent the night there and headed to Plum Coulee on Monday morning.
The Canada MCC Warehouse. Here we worked together as a family to serve other people in distant places of the world through the ministry of Mennonites in Canada through MCC. We packed relief kits, wrapped baled clothing in waterproof covering for shipping, packed caps for Liberia, lined wooded crates to ship blankets and took inventory of relief kit supplies.
Wilf, the director, took time to share with us about the work of MCC and some recent trips to Darfur and Kenya. Wow, what a powerful ministry MCC performs! Wow, we have so many material goods.
Winkler with our hosts the Redekop’s. They welcomed us. They taught us so much about the area and the Mennonite groups there. Mennonites comprise about 90 % of Winkler’s population. Our conversations went to sundown, about 10:00 pm! Our fellowship in the Lord continues to impact me. Our daughters enjoyed the company of the Redekop’s 20 year old daughter. The Redekop’s hospitality blessed our lives richly!
Overnight at Starland. Again, we shared life with our friends. Their expression of community always challenges me deeply. We laughed. Ate together and stayed up late.
The Lord helped plan this trip. I learned more than I had hoped or could even plan on my own. Our family time of fellowship with others enriches our lives in many ways. Kingdom blessings!!!
The last couple of days have been getting ready for San Jose 2007. I finished preparations for the youth seminar our group will lead: Are you a radical dude or just plain tired? Pray for us on Tuesday and Friday.
The next aspect of Roots, Branches and Leaves will bring more Anabaptist discoveries and a deeper sense that the Kingdom is in us and among us!!!
Our trip to Canada went smooth. We stopped at Crystal Springs Colony: toured the hof, ate a great supper and experienced rich fellowship. They did not want us to leave so we decided to head to back on late Sunday afternoon.
We created new friendships with the Penner's in Landmark, MB. Friday, we explored the Mennonite Heritage Village and learned so much about Mennonite migration and life from Prussian to Russia to Canada. What a challenge to think of relocating because of faith reasons.
Another made another stop at Faith Rose Mennonite Church. Their history comes through Russia as a Kleinegemeinde Church which is now called Evangelical Mennonite Church. The youth pastor gave us a tour and the pastor gave us a history book and mission history. What a blessing.
Travels to Winnipeg went smooth. This afternoon we explored downtown.
Tomorrow, we head to Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church.
