Bridgebuilders discover America 

This Bridgebuilders Club from the YMCA in Nurnberg, Germany was on a Summer USA trip in the New York and New England area. They arrvied in New York on August 18 and returned to Nurnberg on September 7.

From August 27 – September 2 they were on the South Shore (south of Boston). During that time they were  hosted in guest homes from different churches. Participating churches are the South Shore Community Church in West Bridgewater, the Assembly of God church in Brockton, the Easton Baptist church in Easton, the Life House church in Bridgewater and the Trinity Bapitst church in Brockton.  

The leaders of the Bridgebuilders are Anne Sophie and Gregor. Their mission was to explore American culture, meet American youth, and learn about American church life and how churches reach and work with young people.  Did they accomplish their mission? What did they think about the people they met and the places they have been to?

We're gathering that information in the coming weeks, in time for the next Kronicle on October 7!

BUT HERE IS AN INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THEM JUST AFTER THEY ARRIVED. MORE LATER!

Explore !

That was the theme of  our trip. And on Aug 17th it finally started:  Our YMCA Nuremberg’s  Bridgebuilder Club, consisting of 12 teenagers and 2 youth leaders left Germany to spend 3 weeks at the east cost of the United States. There, we visited New York City, discovered the Rockcounty YMCA in Nyack (CT), lived in host families of the Black Rock Congregational Church in Stamford (CT), got to know YMCA Norwalk (CT), traveled to Boston (MA), did sports in Brockton and South Shore YMCA (MA), experienced a church discovery through their host families from different churches, went back to Freeport (CT) to have another experience in a Baptist church and to see more of New York City…a great tour which really fulfilled our trip´s objective: „Building bridges, breaking down walls!“ - bridges between different countries and cultures, bridges between different life styles, different believes, different languages. And the one who made it possible to experiences all these things was and is Jesus! We could see him in so many things: In the hospitality of our host families who didn´t treat us as guests but as familiy, in the help of a lot of people who arranged a really exciting program, in the invitations we got as a group to the people´s homes (to have pool parties, fire and smores), in the worship, in the bible studies, in words, in chance encounters, in meetings, smiles and hugs…Coming back to Germany we just feel thankful and thrilled about this wonderful Atlantic Bridge summer experience!

Greetings to all from Anne Sophie & Gregor, Atlantic Bridige group leaders, YMCA Nuremberg

OVERVIEW OF THEIR TIME IN THE SOUTH SHORE REGION

FRIDAY (August) 27

Saturday 28   Discovoery of Boston -  visiting the Boston Commons, Boston Garden, Ride the Swan Boats, Freedom Trail, Pizza at the North End and more. This whole day was arranged by Ralph and Diane Paine and afterwards we swam in their pool and had a BBQ and hamburgers. What a great day this was! Thanks to the Paine's.

We had a great time in the evening with a youth group from Tommy's church. Tommy is one of the coordinators in this region and is also the (full time) youth leader at the South Shore Community Church. It was a special youth event with Pizza,  music by Chris and Meredith Wood and a presentation by our German Bridgebuilders. There was printed promotion for going to Germany next year and lots of the kids were totally excited after we did our presentation!  Another great day and a fantastic evening! We really hope there will be a group from the region coming to Germany next summer!