Two American SAs flew to Germany to attend the German SA Conference this June. We arrived four hours late and missed our German host at the airport. After two obsessive and fearful hours, our powerlessness was rewarded by a phone connection with Kornelius, an SA, who directed us to the Thursday meeting in Mainz. Friendly Germans helped us use the trains and buses and we arrived 30 minutes early for the meeting. We were again rewarded. Imagine our arriving lost in a strange country and in the same evening sharing deeply with persons we had just met and who understood more about us than perhaps our own families.

The next day after a very late breakfast with our hosts, Hans and Eva K., we were driven to the conference location. It was a beautiful country village with patchwork fields, rolling hills, woodlands, “gingerbread” houses and an antique church with steeple clock.

When we two Yankees entered the dining room full of SAs speaking German (what else) our momentary response was, “What are we doing here?” So, powerless again, we did our best to surrender our care into the hands of our hosts. Translators are a blessed lot. They do for you what you cannot do for yourself. We were “a part of” again. We were at our SA conference.

It was a conference like others, but with its own special flavor. We all led with our weakness. Sharing from the heart was commonplace. Some who belonged to other 12-Step groups as well mentioned something we had also heard—that SA meetings often have a special spiritual nature.

Our higher power saw to it that we went to the “right” meetings. One group centered on the freedom some of us were finding in sleeping and dressing apart from our spouses. In another meeting, sharing about childhood injuries, shame, and painful dreams brought us very close.

Conversation outside meetings had its own special gifts as well. We made good connections in the limited time available.

We returned to stay with Hans and Eva for our remaining time in Germany. In addition to the good food and company, they took us to the charming resort of Wiesbaden. Michael (Mee-shile), a loving SA brother, took us on a Rhine River tour. We ferried across the river to a hilltop castle. What a view!

The old city of Mainz had its wonders as well. The cathedral moved us both. And the pastry shops! Too bad switching addictions is VERBOTEN.

When our time was all spent, Hans drove us to the train. Two strong hugs and we were on our way. Powerlessness had turned out well as usual.