November 2008

The missionaries of the Prague and Hradec Kralove zones got together on Thanksgiving and had a big football game. As you can see, they really got into it. I'm not sure why Elder McLaughlin wore a wig, but it didn't slow him down any.


Before Thanksgiving, we were on the road quite a bit. First was our trip to Warsaw, Poland; then our mission tour in Slovakia. We were surprised at how similar the Czech and Polish languages are, yet they look nothing alike.

Krakow, Poland


During our mission tour in Slovakia, we were able to stay a couple of days in the Velky Tatry, a mountain range that borders Slovakia and Poland. Stary Smokovec is a bustling little ski village nestled at the foothills of the mountains. The first day there, we bought earmuffs. The second day there, we bought gloves. It was SO COLD. And it snowed. It was just lovely!

We attended church and had a district meeting in Kosice, Slovakia. Elder Campbell is the branch president there. I took a picture of him after church so I could send it to his mom.


The church steeple was the view from our hotel room in Kosice. It's a lovely cathedral--very different from what we usually see in the two countries. This one has more of a Russian influence in its architecture.

I saved the best for last. President Slovacek was instrumental in teaching the gospel to a remarkable young man in Prague. Just two nights ago, we were able to witness his baptism--and President Slovacek had the opportunity to perform the ordinance in Czech. It was his first in that language.

President Slovacek, Elder Young, Petr, and Elder Barker.