On the Road Again

Credit to Willie Nelson for such a great song that is etched on my heart.

"On the road again,
Goin' places that I've never been,
Seein' things that I may never see again,
And I can't wait to get on the road again."

This week our visa and humanitarian projects had us traveling the main highway across the top of Slovakia. It is six hours drive from our apartment to the capital of Slovakia - Bratislava.

Spišsky hrad with rainbow

Along the way are many stone built castles built centuries long ago. Much of their history is lost with the death of their residents and builders. Today, most are ruins but others are well preserved.

  

We found this charming idyllic sheep farm. Waitress spoke little English, so I pointed to cheese soup and Greg pointed to some form of Halušky with sausages. I would say all the menu items have handcrafted sheep or goat cheese as an ingredient. The food is delicious. In our three visits it has been a packed house. In this restaurant you seat yourself in vacant seats with others on the same table. After all, we are family right?! 

Back on the road to Prešov.

We kept company with the sisters missionaries serving in žilina. What a honor it is to know these strong women, Sister Campbell and Sister McPheeters.

One of our stops was a women's organization located in an old monastery hundreds of years old. These trained staff members are caring for the physically and mentally challenged females who have no place else to live. The social workers try to get everyone to do something even if it the laundry. They asked if LDS Charities could assist them. They provided us lunch and a tour of their facility. We saw at least four beds to a room in very cramped quarters. We are grateful we have this wonderful opportunity to serve the needs of Slovakia.

Košice Branch

View from street
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We've been here in Slovakia for four Sundays now. We live in Prešov and are members of the Košice branch. Each Sunday we drive about 35 kilometers or a half hour to attend church. 

Most our drive we pass green pastures and walls of trees. This time of year, the wild flowers are plentiful. Along the way, we pass by small villages, farms, and churches. 

Interior entrance to
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Košice Branch 

Our first Sunday, approaching our new building and looking around. We had just barely crossed the threshold and put our feet inside the building when meeting our new Branch President, he pulled Greg aside and was asked to be the first counselor in the Branch Presidency.

Sunday worship services are held in rented office space located in downtown Košice. A green door welcomes members and visitors. The largest room is the chapel with tile floors and brightly painted walls. Although we don't have all the people of a ward, we have everything we need to worship our Savior and learn his Gospel. Our small spiral bound hymns books are in Slovak, but we always recognize the wonderful music.

Our first Sunday was Branch Conference. Greg and I were asked to bear our testimonies while someone volunteered to translate what we said; I told them how grateful I was to be in Slovakia and on a mission. I testified of the power of prayer. The meeting was followed by Relief Society and Priesthood. After church, our Branch President had prepared a delicious hot lunch and sweet desserts. 

This photo is our branch conference, held May 28, 2017. Most individuals in photo are missionaries and visitors. There were a few investigators, too.

Included: The Mission President Pohorelický & his wife, the District President & his wife, the Humanitarian Missionaries (us), the District Relief Society President & her husband and four Elder missionaries and two Sister missionaries. The Branch President, of course, is a branch member. There are no youth programs, because currently there are no children in the branch.

Just over the road from church is this lovely park. The church is seen between the trees on left of photo. Cat tails line the pond where schools of goldfish hid under water lilies. A few mallard ducks live at the pond.

The missionaries and Branch President of the Košice Branch. Back row from left: Elder Hammer from St. George, UT, Elder Mueller, from Vancouver, WA, President van Dalen, from Košice, Elder Cragun, from Pleasant View, UT, Elder Harp, from Mesa, AZ, Sister van Langeveld, from Provo, UT, Sister McDonald, from American Fork, UT, and Sister and Elder Schultz, from Las Vegas, NV.

Red Poppies

Early this week, we loaded our vehicle on the night train in Košice, Slovakia and disembarked the following morning in Prague, Czech Republic. We enjoyed our private cabin including wash sink, drinking water, and breakfast pastry. Once we adjusted to the sounds and movement of the train, we slept soundly and comfortably in the berths on the sleeper train. Our Mission President had invited us to Prague for a conference with other senior missionaries.

  

Red poppies along the tracks

 While we were waiting to disembark at the Prague train station, we noticed our Mission President outside our window waving at us. We were delighted to know we did not have to rely on our GPS to get us around Prague.

Two young Elders escorted us on a short two-hour walking tour from the mission home. We walked a short distance before we came to a vista point of Prague. 

As we walked, I snapped photos. There are red roofs, castles, churches, squares, shops, bridges, clocks, cathedrals, and tourists.

I don't know any of the names of the sites we walked past. It was a short tour. In Prague, there are many beautiful buildings and tourists following a person holding a stick with a scarf tied to the end. The people crowded the streets and squares, it reminded me of the Las Vegas "strip." But with real bricks and mortar, not facades. 

Of course, we enjoyed the famous street dessert, trdelník.       

They are sold everywhere. A sweet bread dough is wrapped around a wooden cone then onto a rotisserie over wood charcoal heat. When golden brown it is removed and rolled in sugar and finely chopped walnuts. Ours was filled with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and caramel drizzles for a finishing touch. 

It is impossible to include all the splendor of this great historic city. 

This square above and to the left is the famous "Astronomical Clock." It displays the twelve apostles when the clock strikes. It is said to be over 600 years old. Currently, it is under renovation.

While looking around we were stopped by a few members of the church who recognized our badges. Any English and encouragement is good to hear in a foreign land. 

Our purpose for the Prague trip was our semi-annual senior missionary conference. 

It was a wonderful time to learn from other couples serving here. President Pohorelický shared his testimony and retold his conversation and struggles of Czechoslovakia. This conference certainly helped us understand the culture and history of this country. These members are true "Mormon Pioneers." 

We attended Hansel and Gretel at the opera house and later enjoyed a delicious Czech dinner prepared by Sestra Pohorelická in the mission apartment. 

The couples who serve in the Czech-Slovak mission are some of the finest senior couple missionaries around. President Pohorelický is a Czech native, others are from Australia, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. They are making great sacrifices and performing miracles in their service. 

I have no words for the horrific events that took place at Památník Tereyín. Centuries ago it was a small military fortress with mote, in Nazi era a concentration camp for Jewish prisoners, today, a memorial for the dead. 

How sad it must have been to be reduced to a number. Notice the "28" on the grave.





The following is a tribute statue erected in 2009. I found the following poem at http://www.pamatnik-terezin.cz.

To the Dead
A grave among graves, who can tell it apart, time has long swept away the dead faces. Testimonies, so evil and terrible to the heart, we took with us to these deep rotting places. 

Only the night and howl of the wind will sit on the graves' corners, only a patch of grass, a bitter weed                                      before May bears some flowers                                author Jaroslav Seifert 


To leave this blog with ... the red poppy! 

 The Flanders Field 

by John McCrae

written 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row by row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

Scare heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We live, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

We've Arrived in Slovakia

Our Mission President met us at Budapest airport and drove us to Slovakia stopping for a quick photo.

St Nicholas Church in
Prešov Center

We arrived in Prešov, Slovakia about a week ago and are already loving it here. It is a city celebrating it's 770th anniversary year which means it is a very old city and most the buildings date back to the 16th and 17th century. Over the years, fires have destroyed some buildings and most have been restored and upgraded. Nearly all the structures are built from small red bricks and concrete.

Along the sidewalks

Most buildings are joined together like a long row of townhouses.

Coat of Arms
City of  Prešov

The Prešov's coat of arms is positioned all around the city on plaques, buildings, statues, and sidewalks. Top part of shield, three red "roses" and lower part divided into red and silver bands three times.

Basement Restaurant

Many buildings have deep basements and some were found to contain large restaurants. The wine museum winds through underground cellars and old prison cells. The locals say it is the best museum in town. The underground is a portion of the city where we can find hidden gems.

Hlvaná Street
Southward view

Hlvaná Street is "Main"street for Prešov City. The street splits past the green bell tower (photo above) of the Church of St. Nicholas. It is city center and visible throughout the city. Cafes, flower pots, statues, park benches, outdoor pubs, performing stages, and cobblestone sidewalks add charm to this quaint town. 

North side of St Nicholas church
bell tower.

To the north is the Evangelical church cathedral. Another prominent sight in city center.

The main street is lined with three story buildings painted in pastel colors. Many are residential town homes with commercial businesses on the ground floor. To the south is the Church of John the Baptist. Their church bells can be hear all around city center. From what I can tell the bells start around 7:30 am.

Interior of
St Nicholas Church

Wedding day.
Bride and father

These churches are a focal point for weddings. On Saturday, we noticed two of the churches were busy with weddings. At one of the churches,the bride and groom had a large following of guys and gals dresses up in Slovakian outfits. We believe Slovaks are keeping this tradition by wearing clothing worn decades ago.

The weather has been delightful and comfortable. We have not needed air conditioning yet!

We look forward to many more wonderful weeks in Prešov. Slovakia sure is a beautiful country steeped in history and culture. Not to mention the beautiful sights. I feel honored to have this awesome experience. What a blessing!