Dave’s Blog

I took the train up to Hamburg on February 2 and was met by Beate. She was at a workshop that I did last year for youth workers and thought she would rember what I looked like. She did remember and as I was standing on the train platform trying to look like “the Stringman” she came running up to say she was sorry that she was a little late. No problem, it was good to have things start off well.

We drove to the home of Viola and Dirk. Viola was at the same workshop last year. We visited over a cup of tea and they showed me what they remembered. Wow. Viola remembered everything except one move for the porcupine and Beate remembered most. They had been workng with strings with their people. Maybe we can get a couple of “String Clubs” started.

Beate and I left there to go to the church where the meeting was to be held. The drive was treacherous. They were having the worst storm that the area had in years. They were even talking of stopping the busses. We got to the church and set up the room. Beate was expecting at least 20 youth leaders and pastors. We ended up with 7…including myself.

Viola’s husband Dirk came. He manages a house in an affluent part of town for youth. It is run by the YMCA and they really mean the Young Men’s CHRISTIAN Assosiation. He saw the usefulness of the strings in his work. Beate’s husband Michael also came and we had a good time. We also had Sabastian, a pastor with two churches in the Northern part of the city and the activities director from the church.

We talked about the usefullness of this activity, the stories behind some of the figures and learned a few new ones that they did not know. They will be passing on what they know. Beate said that every time the youth workers get together they pull out their strings and say, “OK, I forgot this or that”.

Went back to Viola and Dirk’s home for the night and the next morning Viola and I went over to Beate’s new house to have breakfast and visit. What a good time. I also checked my email. We remade a couple things they did not remember from the night before and then started to talk about when I come back next year.

I hadn’t planned that far in advance they they have plans for me to go further North and East in Germany. We also drove around to look at things. We spent quite a bit of time in a cemetary, a very large cemetary, with one area for American soldiers, British soldiers, German soldiers, and a big monument to those killed by the bombings. It was a beautiful and restful place. The people here visit the cemetary more and take individual care of their family plots.

We went to the city center and walked around. The large lake in the center of the city is frozen. Something that happens rarely. It was cold and slippery walking but felt so German. I saw where the Christmas markets are set up and we also went to the town hall, a massive building built in the old style. On to coffee and more visiting then picked up a bratwurst from a street vendor on the way to the railway station. Got there at 3:24…the time the train was to leave but it was 10 minutes late. Thank you God.

Carol met me in Frankfurt main train station and I led the way home. Bought my ticket for the subway and found the right level and stop. I can now get home by myself after the next trip. I still don’t understand the seating system on the train but if I am in a reserved seat someone will just ask me to move. I can do that.

Talked with Kevin and Carol about returning next year and it is fine with them. I guess I am an easy house guest. I have a key and can come and go at will. We also talked about numbers. In the US I can sometimes do programs for 600 children in a school in one day. Here my total number of participants could be less than that for the month. This is appropiate since I am training trainers and program leaders. I am leaving extra strings with them to take to their audiences. Numbers can be such a hinderence when you are trying to evaluate the effectiveness of a program.

Trying not to count bodies…

Dave