施罗德長老和姊妹

June 25, 2022

Kosice Slovakia -- Uzhhorod Ukraine border

The day Shelby and Josh returned to the U.K., we drove to Kosice to provide our experience and perspective to Ukrainian relief efforts with the existing Humanitarian couple, the Morleys, and the 2 senior missionary couples (Wirthlins from Canyon Country, CA--recent mission president to eastern Ukraine, and Johnstuns from Idaho) assigned to support the effort in Slovakia. It was a beautiful drive across Slovakia. We arrived Saturday and left Tuesday.

We loved working with these 3 couples. We saw and advised them to improve their communications a bit more and consider ways to help beyond the few members and others directly asking for help who crossed from Uzhhorod into Slovakia. We shared our Krakow experiences and ways to help many in need (often not easily known). By going to the train station and existing Ukraine support sites, we found more individuals who could be blessed.

Meeting Sister Utsch in Zilina, Slovakia on our 5-6 hour drive to Kosice. We had dinner with the Ottos on the Zilina town square. Late April snowfall in the mountains toward the Poland border.

outskirts of Kosice--a castle being reconstructed

Kosice City Center Cathedral

amazing structures walking toward the train station in Kosice, Slovakia

good support and signage for refugees (Kosice is about 1 hour from the border)

our drive to the border--beautiful countryside

We stopped at a refuge center in Michalovce, Slovakia and then drove on to the Ukraine border crossing near Uzhhorod--we were so close to bring supplies, but it is not easy passing nor advised for missionaries or Americans. On the map you'll note the border and cities in Poland (Przemysl--Tesco center) and areas we visited a few times in March-early April.

welcome signs and support available between Slovakia and Ukraine

posted at our church in Slovakia

Praha (Prague) West Zone Conference April 28-29--Farewell to the Andersons

One of our last morning walks in Jihlava, Czechia. We knew we were transferring to Wien (Vienna) and the German Alpine Mission by this time. We would continue our work at the Cumorah Academy, now as Institute, YSA advisors, and continue to support self reliance courses there. We came to love our first city in Czechia--though our language skills were low, our love was full.