|
Shores
of Hope
-
the tour: Germany, England, Ireland
|
|
On
Monday, September 4, 1854 a group of 531 Wends left the train
station in Bautzen to find their "Shore of Hope"
in America. Lead by Pastor John Kilian they started an adventurous
journey from the Lausitz to Hamburg, Hull, and Liverpool.
Many died as they had to fight the cholera, before they finally
on December 15th arrived in Galveston/ Texas. After a winter
treck into the country they founded the little village Serbin,
finding their new home.
|
The
book "Shores of Hope: Wends Go Overseas" by Trudla Malinkowa
paints a colourful and detailed picture of the Wendish emigration.
It was honored with the Concordia Historical Institute Award 2010.
Follow the roots of the Wendish settlers, who as confessional "Old
Lutherans" from Germany founded St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Serbin, the "mother church" of the Lutheran Church- Missouri
Synod in Texas.
A
group trip in the steps of the Wendish emigrants could be like this:
Day
1
Arrival, Berlin
After your transatlantic flight you arrive in Berlin (or Frankfurt)
and will be met by your Terra Lu Travel tour director and the bus
with the nice, English speaking bus driver. Orientation sightseeing
tour of Berlin, before the tour continous to Wittenberg. Welcome
Dinner, and time to relax and get over the jet lag.
Day
2 Wittenberg
Start the Germany experience in Wittenberg, the town where Martin
Luther lived, worked, and preached. See the door where the Reformer
posted the 95 thesis, visit the town church, and the former Augustinian
Monastery. The
tour continues to Niesky (Niska), your home for the next few days.
Day
3- 5 The Wendish Home land
In day excursions you will explore the countryside the Wendish
emigrants came from. Visit Hochkirch (Bukecy) where John Kilian
served as a Pastor before he left Saxony and joined the Oldlutheran
Church in Prussia. Weigersdorf and Klitten will be visited,
the Lutheran home churches. More villages and little towns can
be built into the itinerary depending on the family roots of
tour participants. Excursions also go to museums like the Sorbian
Cultur Center in Schleife, the open air museum in Lehde, and
to Bautzen. Meet Trudla Malinkowa, author of "Shores
of Hope", the most knowledgable expert on Wendish emigration
history. |
Lutheran Church Weigersdorf |
Day
6 Hamburg
The Wendish emigrants took the train, you will comfortably travel
in your air conditioned private coach to Hamburg, Germany's biggest
harbor town at the North Sea.
Day
7 Hamburg: BallinStadt
In the 19th century Hamburg was one of the most important gateways
to the New World. Visit BallinStadt, the award-winning museum which
revives the world of emigration. The BallinStadt is a lively place
on ancient grounds, for the Emigration Halls from 100 years ago
where built on the exact same space here on the Veddel Island. The
three halls accommodate the exhibition of the history of emigration
over Hamburg, a replica of a sleeping hall, original ships, and
a family research center.
Pastor John
Kilian and his wife Maria |
The shipping
company Pastor John Kilian and his group contracted was not
able to provide a boat big enough for the Wendish Lutherans.
So they decided to take a steamer to Hull in England,
and the train to Liverpool before the embarked at the
"Ben Nevis". With the cholera on board they had
to stop in Ireland and buried the dead, before they
finally where able to cross the Atlantic. Follow the tour
from Hamburg through England to Ireland. Or stay in Germany
and add a few days of Luther-Sites, Bavaria, or the Romantic
Road.
Based
on the book of Trudla Malinkowa, Shores of Hope: Wends Go
Overseas (translation of Ufer der Hoffnung from the German).
Austin: Concordia University Press, 2009.
|
|
This
itinerary is a sample, based on tours we planned for groups.
But no two Terra Lu tours are the same. Our proposal for you
might be different, depending on time of travel and availability
of services.
Please
request a customized quote for your family or group!
>>
Request a quote
|
We are a proud partner. |
|
