"Welcome Home!"

 

"Nashledanou"

 A-freaking-hoj

It was a heck of a busy week, but I loved it. 

Tuesday we had my last district council. The elders came to Plzeň, we got some Indian food, and then we had one of the best district councils of my life, complete with the elders singing a rendition of "Africa" by Toto. I love this district haha. 

On Wednesday the Strattons came to Plzeň to do apartment checks, which really just means they wanted to hang out with us. We spent the first half of the day with them. Then we made a ton of bread for the members for Christmas. 

For Chrismas we went to CBud and hung out with the elders. We made a big brunch, played games, went to Český Krumlov, and then made dinner and exchanged gifts. It was so good to hang out with them. It felt like family. It also snowed, so we got a white Christmas. 

Saturday we went to Karlovy Vary to visit one of our friends there. It's a spa town, so there are springs everywhere. Trang bought us cups and we went around to all the springs and tried all the water. It was a weird experience. The water was way hot and super salty and metallic. I liked it, but Huhane and Ausen were disgusted haha. 

We said goodbye to my favorite people this week. It hasn't really hit me yet that I'm headed home, but saying goodbye to my favorite Czech Babička wrecked me. It was one of the hardest things I've done on the mission. I freaking love the people here. 

Whelp. This is the last email. Kinda crazy. I don't know how I got here. Time drags and also flies at the same time. The mission was hard. It wasn't what I expected in any way. But I am eternally grateful for the things I've experienced here and how it's changed me. I've met some of my best friends here. I've made a family here. I'm going to be reunited with my family back home, but I'm leaving a family behind that won't be reunited for awhile. God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed me in this mission at this time. I could not have asked for anything better for me. Missions are hard. They aren't always fun. (Most of the time they aren't) But they are 10000% worth it. Every single part.

Thanks for supporting me through it all. Mám vás všechny ráda. 

Sestra Lewis

    

                                        

"Bitter Sweet Goodbyes"

 Zdarec!

It was a super busy week. A lot of bitter sweet moments. 

Wednesday we had our Christmas zone conference. Basically they just show a slideshow of the year and they so a talent show. It was fun. And it was in person so that was such a blessing. Also...it was my last one. I'm so glad I got to see everyone in person one last time. It was rough saying goodbye to everyone though. That's definitely gonna be the hardest part about leaving. 

After zone conference we spent the night with the senior couples cause Ausen had visa work the next day. We made root beer, popcorn, and played Ticket to Ride. I highly recommend spending the night with senior couples. It's the best. 

After we got back from Prague we had a devotional with Brad Wilcox over zoom. It was for a ton of members in the Czech Republic/Slovakia and some surrounding countries. It was super good. 

One of my old MTC teachers had a language call with us and some other sisters. It was so weird talking to him again and actually being able to understand what he was saying haha. 

Saturday we went BACK to Prague for a baptism. The elders in our district baptized one of their investigators, and we got to go help with it. Then we got lunch with the office elders, and it made me realize how much I'm gonna miss the missionaries here. 

Today we went to a castle called Orlík nad Vltavou. It was pretty cool. It was surrounded by the river and it was in this TINY town. Any time with the district is a good time. 

I'm stoked for this next week. It's gonna be so busy, but so much fun.

Spiritual Thought:

We were talking with our friend that isn't Catholic, but knows SO much about the Catholic church. He said something that gave me a really cool insight into the Sacrament. He talked about how in ancient times when you sacrificed something it wasn't complete until you partook of the sacrifice. It's the same with the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The sacrament isn't complete until you accept the sacrifice and use it. Taking the sacrament is "partaking od the sacrifice." It's showing that you accept the sacrifice and are going to use it. Not 100% sure how accurate that is, but it helped me think of the Sacrament in a different way. 

Have a great week! Don't miss me too much. Have a fantastic Christmas! Love you guys! 

Sestra Lewis