Stories from the past: Friedel Kehl in the Wommen story café!

Stories from the past: Friedel Kehl in the Wommen story café!

In the Margot-von-Schutzbar-Stift in Wommen, just around the corner, the storytelling café has established itself as an integral part of cultural life. People of all generations come together here to share beautiful and moving stories from their lives. The response is consistently positive, as Ursula Nölker from the Hessian Diakoniezentrum Hephata notes. The residents of the communities of Ringgau and Herleshausen in particular responded well to the offer.

Every last Wednesday of the month a narrator is invited to share his or her personal experiences. The listeners were recently completely fascinated by Friedel Kehl, a 90-year-old contemporary witness who reported on his escape from the GDR and his childhood memories. He grew up in Lauchröden and had to directly experience the horrors of the Second World War. The depressed mood in the village, coupled with the news of fallen soldiers, is still with him today, as is the time when American soldiers came to his home village after the war and handed out sweets.

An eventful life

Over time, Lauchröden was added to the Soviet occupation zone. After finishing school, Friedel Kehl began training as a carpenter and carpenter. But in July 1952 he saw his family evacuated to protect them from "the danger from the West." They fled dramatically through the Werra to Herleshausen, leaving many of their possessions behind.

Friedel was able to complete his training in Herleshausen and later started his own family. Today he looks back gratefully on his time with his wife and their two daughters. With his stories in the storytelling café, he not only wants to give space to his memories, but also encourage others to share their stories and thereby create a strong sense of community.

Next appointment in the storytelling café

The next storytelling café will take place on August 27th at 2:30 p.m. in the archway café of the monastery. This time Pastor Dietrich Wierczeyko will tell the story under the title “Psalm meets poetry: The Bible in rhyme – stories to amaze”. Anyone who would like to express their interest should register by calling 0 56 54/9 24 90. There is also a driving service that offers the usual comfort.

The idea of ​​a storytelling café is not only popular in Wommen. Such formats bring people together and promote the exchange of experiences, which is particularly valuable in our fast-moving times. It's worth attending such events and perhaps even sharing your own story.