After a late night we stumbled sleepily to breakfast through a gentle summer rain. The Bed & Breakfast we’re staying at was once a thriving Mennonite farm now graced in rose bushes, ivy, and an arrogant black cat strolling the grounds.

We spent our 30 minute bus ride to Gdańsk singing hymns as a diversion from our choral music.

In spite of our droopy eyelids, we had an inspirational concert complete with rain pounding on the cobblestones outside the church. Our hosts served us food appropriate for the weather – hearty bowls of stew and plates of cake complete with coffee.

By the time we pulled into Choinice for our next concert, the sun had chased the rain away. It was a privilege to sing for the church’s 25th anniversary celebration. Our venue was the town theater complete with a disco ball, strobe lights, and smoke, which gave the concert an interesting twist.

After the concert, our host took us to a nearby hotel restaurant for spicy oriental delicacies.
We left the restaurant in the glow of a pink sun sinking behind the towers of Choinice.

Sheila Witmer