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.