PILGRIMS, BOOMS, & CHOCOLATE

Project for the week:

School supplies for Vulnerable First Graders- Italy

During the last week of July, more than 500 youth from four countries (Italy, Malta, Macedonia, and Albania) will gather for FSY (For the Strength of Youth) in Grosseto, Italy. As part of this conference, they will participate in a service activity to assemble 1145 school kits for vulnerable 6-year-old schoolchildren. These basic school supplies will give these first graders a good start to their educational experience. Kits will be distributed to students in Palermo, Alessandria, Venice and Milano.

After three days in the office, we spent a long holiday weekend in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Leiden, Netherlands

Our 4 ½ hour drive from Frankfurt turned into 6 ½ hours with terrible traffic and detours through the countryside. It is against the law for trucks to drive on holidays and Sundays in Germany so you would think the roads would be clearer. Hundreds of trucks are parked in rest stops all through the country to wait until 10pm when they can be on the road again. Once we got into the Netherlands the delays were caused by canal bridges being raised so ships could pass through. One interesting bridge pivoted instead of raising.

When we finally arrived, we enjoyed a Pilgrim Fathers Walking Tour. In 1620, 102 assorted Pilgrims and adventurers set sail for New England on the Mayflower. About half of the Pilgrims had been sheltering in Leiden since they left England in1609. We visited places that would have existed while they lived here in the early 1600’s. Since we both have ancestors that sailed on the Mayflower we wanted to walk in their footsteps.

We visited the bakkerij where people came to receive bread. Today this building is a place where those in need come to access social services.

The Holy Spirit Orphanage was open from 1450 to 1961. At its peak it housed 1,250 children. Orphans were educated on site. When they turned 10, the boys would be sent to a local tradesperson to learn a trade such as cobbler, carpenter, plumber or bookbinder. Girls left in their teens for domestic service.

Pilgrim Fathers worshipped at Saint Peters Church and those that died before they could set sail are buried here.

The Pilgrims lived in cottages at this site in what is now a beautiful courtyard surrounded by lovely flats.

This is the place they set sail from. We have a total of 14 ancestors that were on the Mayflower. We found three of Ed’s ancestor names on the memorial: Samson, Browne, & Fuller. Henry Samson, Ed’s second cousin 12 times removed, sailed on the Mayflower with his aunt and uncle when he was 17. During his lifetime he was a constable, a tax collector and a surveyor. Peter Browne, Ed’s 10^th great grandfather, was 26 years old and was recruited by London merchants to make the trip. When Peter died, he owned 130 bushels of corn, six goats, one cow, eight sheep, and a number of pigs. He and his brothers were weavers in the New World. Samuel Fuller is also Ed’s 10^th great grandfather. He was 12 years old when he sailed with his parents. They left Europe for religious reasons and were members of the Separatist congregation. After Samuel’s parents died during the first brutal winter, his aunt and uncle raised him.

Leiden is a picturesque Dutch town

Haarlem, Netherlands

Haarlem is another lovely Dutch town

We loved these courtyard apartment complexes we saw in both cities.

This was a pilgrimage trip for Debbie. Ever since I read The Hiding Place, I have wanted to visit Betsy and Corrie Ten Booms home. It is more than a museum. The history of the Ten Boom family testifies of their love for and commitment to Jewish people. It is a living memorial to this family who lived as true Christians, as they served the people in their community. During WWII the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, they put their own lives in danger. During 1943-44 there were usually 5-6 people illegally living in the home, some of whom were Jews and others, members of the Dutch underground. It is estimated that 800 lives were saved by hiding here. In February 1944 their home was raided, and six family members were sent to prison and concentration camps. Safely hidden behind a false wall in Corrie’s bedroom, the six people in hiding were not discovered. You can read the book for the rest of the story. There was a sacred spirit in this home.