===== JMM Mission to Unterhausen =====
Notes by Stuart Smith, Manchester, October 1982


**Friday 22** \\
We set off from the Accrington & Haslingden Circuit at 6:30 meeting members of the Cadishead & Eccles Circuit at Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station. From there we travelled by train to London arriving at Gatwick Airport about 6 hours before our flight was due to leave for Stuttgart. We landed in Stuttgart at 19:45 where we were met and taken to Unterhausen. We were then taken into the town for a meal at the Chai Shop, a coffee bar youth club run by the Methodist Church, Arriving back at Haus Sonnerfel at about 23:00 extremely tired.

**Saturday 23** \\
After breakfast we practised some of our songs until the first group of Germans arrived about 11:00. We then had a general session getting to know each other and singing choruses (in German and English). We split into one English and one German, the idea being to find out about each other and then introduce our partner to the rest of the group; the language barrier meant that some of us had to work in larger groups so that there was someone who could translate. Rain after lunch delayed a planned walk and gave us some free time before a shorter walk when the rain stopped. This was followed by a devotional period of Bible Reading and prayer. After supper we went into Pfullingen to the Church Youth Club where we sang and then one of the German leaders spoke.

**Sunday 24** \\
We had a short choir practice for two songs we were going to sing in the morning worship. We walked to Church where as well as singing the two songs one of our group spoke about why he had come on the mission. After lunch we did some planning and rehearsing for the evening and relaxed. Just before the evening meal the rest of the Germans arrived. After the meal the English Group led some entertainment with a mix of traditional English songs and some illusions. We then played some “getting to know you” games, followed by a Bible reading and short message and informal discussion.

**Monday 25** \\
After breakfast the English Group had a meeting with the Mayor at The Town Hall where we exchanged greetings. Then along with the Germans we caught a bus to go higher into the Swabisch Alb for a walk through the forest followed by a guided tour of some large stables, before catching a bus back to Unterhausen. In the evening we sang and danced before we quietened down with a Service of Holy Communion.

**Tuesday 26** \\
The regular pattern for the mission was established today. We began with a Bible study on the Parable of the Lost Son; we began all together before splitting into two groups, coming back into one group then splitting into four groups. The English Group formed one of these groups and we rehearsed for the evening meeting. We were then given information about the afternoon workshops and chose which we would do. After lunch we went off to the various workshops (I chose and therefore will write about, the drama workshop which was held in the Church). The title for the evening, focussing on the Lost Son, was “A New Beginning: Is It Too Late?” We prepared a two part sketch on the theme and including Geoffrey Stevenson’s mime “The Chocolate Box” which made it easy for me to participate without having to speak. The evening Performance started at 19:30 and was held in the Lichtenstein Halle. All the different workshops contributed to the performance as well as the English Group singing two songs and giving a testimony. After the performance there were refreshments and time to chat with people before we returned to Sonnerfel and a discussion about how the day had gone.


**Wednesday 27** \\
The morning Bible Study was on John 21 “Peter do you love me?” and the cost of following Jesus, we again went into the same discussion groups. This was followed by the English Group preparing for the evening performance. The evening’s theme was “A New Beginning! Time for a Change”. After Lunch we had the workshops again, this time the drama workshop had moved to the Halle in order to practice on the stage once our ideas had been worked out. We planned to co-ordinate with the music workshop to incorporate “Lord of the Dance” into our drama. The drama involved all but one of the group wearing masks and walking round the stage as a machine, as Lord of the Dance was played and sung I danced and bounced around the stage inviting others to come out of the mechanical group joining me and throwing away their masks, this then spread out from the stage to go through the audience and inviting them to join in as well. The evening performance went very well, nearly all of the audience joining in with the dancing. The feedback session at the end of the day was far more hopeful than yesterday.

**Thursday 28** \\
I was feeling unwell, thus I missed the Bible Study which was on Mark 10:17-28, though I did make it to the discussion and the English Group rehearsal. The Evening Theme was “One Step Forward and None Back”. We planned a drama which showed the opposite of the theme. All except one of the group were dressed in black with white faces covered in black marks. One person dressed in white and with a white face tried to help the others with their problems but each person added black to her face until she was brought down to their level. After a further rest (and a couple of aspirin) I felt much better by the evening performance which was good because I was giving my Testimony as part of the English Group contribution.

**Friday 29** \\
Whilst the Mission was continuing, for the English group this was our final morning before returning home. The Bible Study was on Acts 2:42-47 after which we made our farewells and left by car for Tubingen. After being given a brief tour of the city and castle we had lunch and then had the afternoon free to wander by ourselves. We were collected and taken to Stuttgart Airport at 18:00 from where we flew to London Gatwick landing at 21:00. From there we travelled across London to catch our train back to Manchester arriving at 4:15 (Saturday morning) where we were met and driven home arriving back in Accrington at 5:00.


//Stuart Smith//