Hey everyone! How's it going? I'm here in Košice, not a big deal or anything. ;) I'll just tell you how everything is going...
My
flight (which left Monday) from Chicago to London was sooo long! Since it was a night flight we didn't
really have any opportunities to contact people. I couldn't sleep at all. I
was much too excited and uncomfortable to sleep....And Dad: yes it was raining when we
arrived. We must be twins or something! ;)
[It was raining when her Dad arrived in the mission field]. Anyways on our flight to Prague, I was starting to really feel the effects of no sleep...I
actually fell asleep (well dozed on and off anyway). But we were finally
in PRAGUE! At the airport security we had a bit of a scare. Starsi
Talbot couldn't find his passport! Our travel leader (Sestra Baird)
gathered everyone together (except Starsi Talbot and Pruden b/c they
hadn't passed through security) by the baggage claim to say a prayer.
Right as we were ending our prayer, the intercom came on for Starsi
Talbot!
[His passport was found] The Lord truly loves and blesses His missionaries. Waiting for
us outside the airport were President and Sister Irwin. (There were also
an assortment of elders to help w/luggage and driving). We all went to
the mission home and had a quick group meeting but then they separated
the Czech and Slovaks. The Czechs went on a tour of Prague (I'm a little
jealous) while we Slovaks met our companions. (There were also some
pictures taken during that time. I'm sure I look dead tired and awful).
Sestra Baird and I are with Sestra Pýšňáková. (Her parents immagrated
from the Czech Republic to America before she was born. She actually
grew up speaking some Czech.) . Our trainers are the Czech sisters who trained the other
two Slovak sisters. Starsi Calderon is with Starsi Utley and because
he's a European Union citizen (Finnish, you know), he went straight to
his area in Žilina where the other two Slovak sisters are. The rest of
us got put on a bus to Bratislava.
We arrived in Bratislava at night
where 2 nice elders, Clark and Guymon, helped us with our luggage. We
went to an apartment and spent the night. The next day we were up at 4
in the morning! We had to go to the Foreign Police to get our visas.
That took forever! But by mid afternoon, my companionship was off to the
train station to travel to our area. (The other 3 sisters stayed in
Bratislava). Košice is the furthest city in our mission. And we are the
very first sisters to ever serve here! The train ride was long!! I want
to say 4 hours but I was so tired I kept falling asleep so I'm not
really sure. Upon our arrival, the branch prezident (President van Dalen) and
the 2 elders picked us up and took us to our
apartment. Which smelled like elders.
Our first official day in our area
(Thursday) we started as all missionaries should. Up at 6:30 to exercise. We carried on with our normal schedule until 10 and then we
went to get bus cards. On the bus and at the stops we tried contacting
(key word: tried). It was difficult, mainly b/c I don't speak this
language very well and understand even less. Anyways, b/c my
companionship was blinded in (meaning none of us have ever served here),
it is very difficult. We only have one investigator (who we have yet to
meet). Mostly we've just been contacting a lot.
I don't have much time
left but I'll tell you about Sunday. It was fast and testimony meeting.
We all bore our testimony and besides us 5 missionaries, there was 3
other attendees (one of which left after sacrament meeting). The other 2
people were President van Dalen and Lenka, a lovely girl who was
baptized about a year or so ago. It will be a struggle I think, trying
to grow this branch. I have some interesting stories for you all. This
week is going to be super crazy though, b/c we have training on Friday
in Brno. I have to go so I love you all!
Lots of Love, Your favorite missionary, Sestra Whitney Sarah Johnson <3
