Another feast day at Gerhard’s and Heika’s home.  We received a tour of the farm that had been in Gerhard’s family for many generations.  There is a bell that chimes for the village at 6 am noon, and 7 pm to signal the work day for the village.  Gerhard and his neighbors all helped place this bell up a very steep hill on their property.  The bell has been in this location for 25 years.   Further along the path there is a chapel that the family built after WWI. His grandfather had a mission to build the chapel after returning safely from the war.   According to family tradition a miracle occurred here.  A wagon that was loaded with wood was going too quickly down the hill and would have caused the death of many animals and people.  A member called out to Mary, Jesus’ mother for help and the wagon was stopped by a large tree root.  Thus the chapel was built in thanks for the miracle. 

Heika has been so kind and gracious to take care of us, encouraging us to rest and has fed us many good meals. She has a servants heart and has been so loving. Though she would not admit it, her English is almost perfect.

We also visited Edgar and Adelgunde in the nearby town of Hesselbach. It was Edgar and Gerhard who we met on our 2017 Camino in Spain. Adelgunde prepared a gorgeous tea/coffee for us. It was so good.

The evening ended at the Dorffest in Hesselbach. It is the once -per-year festival in this small village and we have been privileged to be here twice. This years festivities began with a TugOfWar competition. The local club won!! For one event all of the children competed against all of the mothers. The mothers were winning until a couple men (including me) jumped in to help.

After the competition, we ate and had a beer or two and listened to a local band and danced a little. Sunday is mass and a traditional German band.

An abbreviated post as promised.