Caroling with Sister Enger

Every year Sis Enger takes a group of us caroling in her neighborhood. We start with our little German class, and we add our spouses, other missionaries and friends.

This evening we met at Erika’s home to practice singing a few carols in German, then we went out to spread some Christmas spirit.

Treats were waiting for us after our return.

The night was cold, but we felt warm and happy as we went from house to house, singing to Erika’s neighbors and friends. Erika delivered the gifts we made earlier this week in our German class to each family.

While singing to people in Erika’s neighborhood, we were invited into the home of a kind gentleman, now in his 90s. His wife died since we sang here last year. He stood in tears, as he listened to our carols, then invited us in to his apartment. It was like stepping into a cozy German cottage in the woods. He had the most interesting German decorations filled with memories of his loved ones. This invitation to step into his world was his gift to us.

Stepping into his apartment was like stepping into a German cottage in the woods. It was lovely. He clearly loved and missed his wife, especially at this time of the year. We could see her influence in the beautiful old-world decorations.

I noticed this tray of walnuts on his dining table. Immediately I thought of my Grandma Elsa, who always had a try of walnuts to shell on her lap during the winter months. We had a couple dozen walnut trees on our farm. She kept her hands busy this way in the evenings. Our friend here said he shells the nuts to feed the birds. What a kindness!

At another home, we were invited to have some hot wassail and homemade cinnamon cookies, a German traditions.

Then after caroling, we went back to Erika’s to warm ourselves with a hot drink made from Spanish orange tea and Erika’s plum juice. It was delicious!