Who's Traveling? — Mothers & Daughters

Among our 80-some travelers, we have three mother-daughter pairs. We gathered at a cafe in Eisleben to talk about what it's like to travel together to the Lutheran heritage sites that were closed to Western visitors for so long.

Let's meet these traveling moms & daughters — from left to right in the photo are Elise Stueland and Joanne Fitzgerald, Lisa Ruby and Barbara Mayer, and Ina Cohen and Elizabeth Cohen.

Elise Stueland of Scottsdale, Arizona, and her daughter the Rev. Joanne Fitzgerald of Grace Lutheran in Elmwood Park, Illinois, had never traveled together before, and they report that they're having a wonderful time.

Barbara Mayer of West Orange, New Jersey, is a member of Good Shepherd in Florham Park. Her daughter Lisa Ruby lives in Rensselaer, New York, and attends St. Timothy's in North Greenbush. They travel together regularly, and this is Lisa's first trip to Europe.

Ina Cohen and her daughter Elizabeth Cohen, both of St. David's in Massapequa Park, New York, were among the first to sign up for this trip, eager to see the former East Germany and learn more about Lutheran history. Ina says that their congregation (hello, Pastor Meyers!) has many members of German background, and they're eager to hear what Ina and Elizabeth will have to say about the trip.

I asked the women what the most moving experience or sight they'd had on the trip so far, and their answers were as unified and as varied as the women themselves.

Barbara immediately named the service of Holy Communion that we shared at Castle Church, where Martin Luther preached and where he is buried. Joanne was deeply moved by assisting with Holy Communion in the Castle Church where Luther is buried. "Such an honor," she said, blinking back tears. Lisa was moved by seeing and hearing a young woman pastor, the Rev. Dawn Hansen, preaching in the pulpit where Luther himself had preached so often. The service also deeply touched Elizabeth, who was also delighted by the friendliness of the people of Wittenberg and Torgau.

Elise named the Berliner Dom, where we had heard evening prayer. The Kaiser Wilhelm church in Berlin, with its old tower left broken after World War II and the new church glowing with blue stained glass, was another favorite. Barbara found the scars of war and division in Berlin very moving — and wondered, now that we're all so connected by modern communications, why is there still war? And Ina chimed in, Why not peace?

Before we got up from our table talk, I asked the daughters one more question: What would you like to say to all the women who'll read your words here on this blog?

Elizabeth said, It's good to depend on Mom.

Joanne said, It's more fun to travel with someone you love.

And Lisa said, More mothers and daughters should travel together!