Friday, June 12th

Today we met at the Center at 9:30 and had a devotional. Then we got to take a tour of Leipzig from a friend of Mark's named Manfred. He knew a lot of information about Leipzig and his English was also very good. He was fascinating to listen to. 

I wish I could tell you all the information he told us, but I am not that good. This is the Nikolai Kirche (St. Nicholas Church). It is the church where the protests began before the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

The organ inside has over 6,000 pipes and is one of the largest organs in Saxony. 

It is such a beautifully designed church

They were setting up for the beginning of Bachfest. It is a festival they have I think every year where the celebrate Bach's music and there are many concerts in the city. 

This is part of the Leipzig University on the right. There used to be a church here but the communists tore it down. So the University built a new building to commemorate where the church used to stand. 

Listening to Manfred

Listening to street musicians

I think this used to be the stock exchange. 

City Hall

Bachfest

Statue of Bach at the Thomas Kirche where he worked and he was buried. 

Thomas Kirche 

After our tour, we went back to the center. Lunch was being prepared for us there. It was so delicious! 

After lunch, we had a rehearsal. We will have some extra helpers with singing in Leipzig which is really nice! Rob is a professor at ACU. Hunter and John Mark are both OC students who are doing an internship in Leipzig for several weeks this summer. Larry Sullivan, and Karen Abercrombie, missionaries in Leipzig will be helping too! It's great to have more in our group!

After rehearsal, we had time to go back to the hostel for some rest, which was very needed. 

Before the English Bible Group that night, we went out for some dinner. 

We had learned earlier in the day that Larry's uncle had passed away that morning. During the EBG we found out that he would be flying to Texas to attend the funeral. He will return on Thursday. Please pray for him, as he has been very sick lately and needs strength, healing and protection during this time as well as help through this difficult time for his family.