We picked up a rental car (we are not allowed to transport them in our mission vehicle) at the Ljubljana airport. Next, we picked Sarah and Samuel up in Kranj about 30 minutes north of Ljubljana. We enjoyed visiting with them during the 7 hour drive through Austria and into the Czech Republic.
We arrived on time and we all got our assigned rooms. Every morning the YSA's met in small scripture study groups and then after breakfast, there were 6 different classes being held from which you could choose 3 to attend. After lunch, there was a group speaker followed by some organized service or outdoor activity.
Here is a photo of the group that put together 1000 hygiene kits which were delivered by the humanitarian missionaries to a relief organization in Slovakia.
While these kits were being assembled a second group went to a nearby elderly housing community and did grounds work and some painting.
Merritt, Samuel, and Sarah before getting dirty from working.
On another day the group divided up into 8 teams of 12 or so and played a capture the dragon eggs game. It was a complicated version of capture the flag with each team trying to guard their own dragon eggs while also trying to steal as many dragon eggs as possible.
Each night there was a keynote speaker. They were marvelous, we took copious notes but will keep them to ourselves for now. One of the more inspiring speakers talked about how she managed to find and join the church in Czechoslovakia while it was still part of the Soviet Union.
The final activity of each day was a different themed dance and everyone stayed up late visiting except for us old folks who tried to go to bed at 10 pm. (Due to the strong bass sound that permeated the whole building we were not successful)
Pajama Dance Night!
The last evening everyone said good-bye until next year. We are hopeful that we can get a larger contingent from our mission to attend. It really was a marvelous week of spiritual growth and making new friends. We benefited greatly from being able to meet with other senior couples who work with YSA's from Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic/Slovakia.
The next morning we got up early and made a quick trip to Prague. It seemed a waste not to visit this amazing city with it being so close by.
One of the evening speakers talked about Jon Hus, who was one of the primary initiators of the reform movement in Europe. He was burned at the stake, in 1415, for his unwillingness to recant his beliefs that Mass should be conducted in the local language and that additional reforms were needed within the Catholic Church. His sacrifice is memorialized by a moving monument that dominates the main square in Prague. The religious freedoms we enjoy today were paid for by men like him. (Click here to learn more about him and the monument).
Here we are, with one of the main city gates of Prague in the background. Beyond it lies the famous Charles Bridge.
View of the castle across the Vltava River.
You can't go to Prague and not take some photos of the Charles Bridge with all of its monumental sculptures.
After the long walk across the bridge, it's very nice that we found this extra special gelato shop where they are known for their "gelato rose" creations.
We only had a few hours in Prague before we had to start on our 7-hour drive back to Slovenia. We got back just in time to avoid an extra day charge on the rental car. The conference and Prague were great, but we most valued the opportunity this provided to get to know Sarah and Samuel.
They were great travel mates and proved to be up for anything!
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