Thursday, February 23, 2006

Scouting about Local Cities

This week 2 men from Kansas, Russell W. and a friend of his, came to my city to fellowship, observe our ministry & meet our students. They have connections in helping college students in the States experience life overseas. Here they are on our "Marktplatz" (the town square). The statue is of Duke Johann Friedrich, the founder of our university.

Since I felt that they could give good insight into a decision about starting up work on a new campus, on Tuesday Lukas (student leader) & I took them on a trip to 2 university cities-- Erlangen & Bayreuth-- about 2 hours south of Jena (see Erlangen palace & present univ. building, right).

Our students and staff really enjoyed the chance to pick their brains, especially at an evening group time on Wednesday in my apartment.

No visit to this area would be complete without seeing the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach. Stefan (a student leader) & I took them today where Martin Luther translated the New Testament --in just 10 weeks!

In the year 1206 there was a contest of minstrels, in which 6 poets and singers competed, and the loser was going to lose his life (see re-enactment left! :-)

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