WEEK 17, 18 AND 19

Week 17 found us heading to Krakow, Poland to finish a project started by our predecessors, the Kozak's.  Throughout the Czech/Slovak Mission, the Elders and Sisters and many members of the Church crocheted baby blankets to be delivered to Koala House, an Ukraine refugee womans center in Krakow, Poland.  We met with Dave and Lisa Jackson, our counterparts serving in Poland, and had a couple of wonderful days visiting the Namestie, Auschwitz and Birkenau and the Salt Mines.  Touring Auschwitz and Birkenau was a heart wrenching experience but it was also pretty amazing to see where one of the darkest pieces of world history took place. As difficult as it was, we think it is a must see for everyone 

Koala House Krakow Poland

Namestie Krakow Poland

We loved the Namestie of Krakow, it was especially beautiful at night with its twinkling lights and outdoor restaurants.  We had perfect weather while we were in Krakow and enjoyed several meals and great conversation with the Jacksons here on the Namestie.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

We spent 3 hours in the Wieliczka Salt Mine and really only saw about 2% of the mine. 

Dates back to the Middle Ages

Over 2,000 chambers no two are identical

9 levels down

245 galleries

327 m deepest point

Unusual salt landscapes made of various salt rocks and many salt lakes underground

Magnificent works of art created by sculptor miners

Auschwitz - Birkenau

  Auschwitz was initially established in 1940 by the Nazis in the suburbs of Oswiecim, a Polish city annexed by the Nazis to the Third Reich.  The immediate reason for the establishment of the camp was the fact that mass arrests of Poles were increasing beyond the capacity of existing prisons.  The first transport of Poles to Auschwitz took place on June 14, 1940.  At first, it was just another typical concentration camp that the Nazis had been building since the 1930 to house “undesirables”.  In 1942, Auschwitz-Birkenau became the largest of the extermination centers for the murder of European Jews and other minorities. We felt the darkness of this place deeply but also felt in our hearts the joy that must have filled the spirit world as these innocent men, women and children returned to their heavenly home. 

Stropkov, Slovakia

On June 5, we received a message from Darina, our friend and a representative from the Slovakian government over Roma villages in eastern Slovakia. She told us that 2 fires had broken out in the Roma village in Stropkov with 21 homes being burned to the ground. She explained  that the mayor, members of the municipality, government social workers and members of Darina's team requested a meeting with us. There was an urgent need for blankets, pillows, towels and medicine for families left destitute in the fire.   We immediately called our managers in Frankfurt and they were so willing to provide the much needed funds for us to buy emergency supplies.  We loaded our Hundai to the max, got up early the next morning and drove there to deliver the goods and buy needed medicine.  It was devastating to view the damage from the fire. We were so glad that The Church was willing to help these people who already have so little.

The residents of the village were temporarily housed in the local elementary school, however this created a stressful situation for students, teachers, staff and parents.  The local Red Cross setup tents on the school grounds to house some of the residents, however there was an urgent need to get the Roma out of the school and back to their village.  The decision was made to purchase 9 storage containers and prepare a place in the village to place them and charge a nominal rent for the families who would move there.   

We were impressed that the Municipality recognized the need to help these marginalized people learn to be more self reliant.

Our missionaries teach an English Connect class each week to anyone in the community that would like to attend.  They have been talking to their friends about American pancakes.  We decided to hold a pancake supper for then all.   It was a great success--and it was the first time since being in Slovakia for us to eat some good old American pancakes!

We had a wonderful experience to travel to Freiburg, Germany to attend the Freiburg Temple.  On the way we stopped in Prague to pickup the Sisters.  We love Prague!

The Freiburg Temple was one of the highlights of our mission so far.   The temple was built in 1985 and was the third temple in Europe.  The first built in the current boundaries of Germany, and the first to be built in a communist nation.  The grounds were so peaceful and beautiful.  Our dear friend, Sveta, was able to go to the temple and enjoy the spirit of doing vicarious ordinances for those who have gone before us.  It was a wonderful trip and we felt blessed to be there.

We think of you often and love and miss you all!