I know it has been a very long time since we last posted anything, but hey we have been busy!!  November and December have just been a blur with so much happening.  So, we will try to catch you up on just a little of what we have been doing. 

 

 

Our first Thankgiving (2012) in Ostrava.  We of course had the missionaries for dinner. (Elders Odell, Buhler, Chezik, Simcock, Elder and Sister Mills, Neumann, Stockdale)  We had to buy two turkeys because Czech turkeys are the size of a big chicken. We were able to find most of our traditional American favorites.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have a few grand kids around us.  We indeed had a feast, and counted our many blessings that day.

 

A fun "P" day with the Elders. (Odell, Buhler, Chezik, Simcock, Neumann, Stockdale)

Elder and Sister Mills

We can't believe we were actually doing this.....Singing in the town square!!!!  Elder Mills and I knew for sure that we would be arrested and hauled off to jail!!  It didn't happen, and we have been singing once a week ever since.  We have gotten used to the way people stare at us, and this was no different.  Must say that this group of Elders have some pretty nice voices, and they are able to cover up all the mistakes made by Elder and Sister Mills.

One of the highlights for us in December was going to the little town of Valašské Meziřiči one Saturday and attending the Mikulaš Fair. It was great!! This fair kinda starts off the Christmas season.  There were wall-to-wall people and many were dressed up in different costumes, with booths selling all kinds of home made goodies and fun things.  (Amy and Bailey you would have thought that you had died and gone to heaven with all these little booths).  If the children are good Mikulaš brings them a gift, but if they are bad the demons or devils get them
.   

We thought this guy was just real fun looking and had to take his picture.

 

This woman was making all sorts of baskets.

Here we are with the demons.  They would chase after the kids and try to get them.  There were kids bawling all over the place.  They thought we were cool because we spoke English and were from America.

 

 Looking out a window at the fair.

 

We were at this castle in the summer, but the Elders wanted to go again in the winter and it was just as beautiful. It is called Hradec Nad Moravici and any where you looked you had a beautiful view.

Elder and Sister Mills

Different views of the castle and grounds.  We thought this tree was pretty interesting.

The sun was going down and the windows looked golden.

 

We took a little trip to Uherské Hradiště.  The YSA were having a volleyball tournament and of course we can't miss a dog fight so we traveled to this beautiful little city.  Elder Mills suited up and played.  He was even able to jump off the ground a few times. (hehe).

Spectators watching volleyball.  The couple sitting just to the side of Elder Mills is President and Sister Řeha.  He is our Branch President in Ostrava.  Other senior missionaries are the Martins, Ostergaards, and the Scotts.

We are back in Ostrava at the main namesti trying to keep warm.

 

Ostrava city center.  Main namesti.

 

Family Home Evening, December, at  Elder and Sister Mills' Home.  It was so much fun. We played crazy games, had  chilli,(which about blew your socks off because it was so hot), and watched President Monson's Christmas address.

Elders singing at our December Family Home Evening.

 

President and Sister Irwin brought all the missionaries together in Prague for a mission Christmas.  We went a day early so we could enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas time in Prague.  It was amazing!! It was truly magical.

This was a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the center.  Aboslutely beautiful.

Elder and Sister Mills.  Night time in Prague.

 

Santa was able to find the Ostrava Elders.  They must have all been good because there were no potatoes in their socks.

A sweet couple we were able to spend the afternoon with.  They are the grandparents of one of our branch members.  They were so kind and gracious.  The Czech people think they have to feed you every minute that you are at their home.  These two were no different.  They had to roll us down to the bus stop because we had eaten so much.  I only know them by "Adams Grandparents"  (Names to come later)

Elder Chezik is the birthday boy for the month of December.  A new-years-eve baby.  We love you Elder Chezik!

Sunday lunch at the Mills.    This is as close to a new year's celebration as these Elders will see.  They have to be in their apartments by 7:00 p.m. on New Year's Eve.  Fireworks are being sold every where along with all of the alcohol I think we will all just stay in our little apartments that night.

It has been an amazing two months for us.  Thanksgiving was fun, and Christmas in the Czech Republic is simply amazing.  They really go all out here for the Christmas holiday.  Elder Mills was in charge of the Branch Christmas Program, and it turned out really well.  We are loving our mission and all of the opportunities it is giving us to serve.  I know you mostly see the fun stuff we do, but the best things we do is when we are able to teach and bear testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Ostrava.  We love being disciples of Christ, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now.  Happy New Year to family and friends.  We hope the new year brings blessings from our Heavenly Father to each of you and your families.  Love to all.  Starši and Sestra Millsovi

 

I wanted to show you that Ostrava does have some beauty.  We ran across this little place looking for a tie store. (Don't even ask!!)  We run onto new places every day.

 

 

This is Sister Křišžova, a woman we home teach.  Here she is with her two beautiful twin grand daughters.  We love her dearly.  She speaks a tiny bit of English, so with our little bit of Czech it makes for interesting home teaching!!

Sister Mills having fun holding one of the twins.

This is our Ostrava English.  Although, there is usually twice this many there, but this is the night I had the camera.  We love to go to English class.  The people who come are so interesting and we just have a lot of fun.

Here is our ward choir.  Yes, Elder Mills and I sing in the choir. (I hope Suzanne Smith doesn't see this.)  We did our first number today in Sacrament meeting.  We sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".  Another first for us is after we finished singing the people in the audience started to applaud.  It was great to see such joy on their faces.

Elder Nye from Zvolen, Slovakia,  Elder Buhler, our District Leader in Ostrava, and Elder Mills.  Elder Buhler served with the Nye's in Slovakia before serving with the Mills in Ostrava, CR.

The Ostrava Elders coming home from church on a cold day in the tram.  They are on their way to our home for Sunday dinner.  I just thought this was a cool picture.

We had District Conference last weekend.  There are no stakes in the Czech Republic just districts.  The conference was in Brno, about two-and-a-half hour train ride.  Here we are with Elder and Sister Schuetze from Germany.  He is the Area Seventy, and is totally wonderful.  We were able to spend some time with him and President Irwin to discuss the upcoming YSA Conference.  He was so impressive, and gave great talks in all sessions. 

The Elders walking to catch the tram to go home after conference.

Elders Buhler, Sister Ivanová, Hansen, Boysen, Dietrich, Chezik.  (Minus Elder Prymak who was up top with us.)

After District we had to hop another train to Prague to apply for our visa's.  Most missionaries don't even have their visa's much before it is time to go home.  Elder Prymak went with us.  Here he and Elder Mills are on the train.

In Prague we stayed with Elder and Sister Bohne.  They work in the Mission Office in Prague.  It was a lot of fun to get to know them better, but they leave to go home to Nevada in January.  That's the bad thing about missions....everyone keeps leaving.   This is a beautiful church just down the street from their apartment.

We had a little time in the morning before we had to go get visas so we strolled through old town in Prague.  It was so beautiful.  Everything is just so old, and the architecture is so wonderful.

The only reason we took this picture was for our grand daughter Hailey Mills.  She loves horses, and we knew she would enjoy this.  We love you Hailey and miss you, as we do everyone of our grand kids!

Famous "astronomical clock" in old town Prague, Czech Republic.

Sister Mills in Old Town Prague, Czech Republic

Elder Mills in Old Town Prague, Czech Republic

You have seen a picture like this one before, but it is one of our favorite spots in Prague.  Just can't get over how beautiful it is here.

At the train station.  Elder Prymak and Sister Mills waiting for the train.

Elders Hansen, Mills, and Chezik.  A couple of  young Elders that we became quite attached to!

Sister Benčiková, a branch member.  I went with the missionaries to visit her one afternoon.  She was so happy to see the missionaries.  (Even if she doesn't look it here.)

Lunch at Sister Blombergová, and for some reason Elder Chezik's plate exploded.  (So he says)  Sister Renata helping to clean up the mess.

 One thing we really hate about this whole mission thing is transferes.  We love all of these elders and hate it when they have to move on,  Here we are with each of the elders from this transfer.  Elder Detrich....going home, back to Germany on Wednesday.  We wish him the best!

Elder Hansen.  Being transfered to Česke Budějovice.

 

Elder Boysen.  Being transfered to Prague.

Elder Prymak.  Being transfered to Olomouc.

Elder Chezik.  He is staying with us in Ostrava for another 9 weeks.

Elder Buhler.  He too is staying in Ostrava one more transfer and then he will be going back to his home in Utah.

 

Entire District.  After Sunday lunch each companionship told their greatest sucesses of this transfer.  It was amazing how hard they have all worked.  We are so proud of each of them!!

 This great event didn't happen in the Czech Republic, it happened in Layton, Ut.  Our grandson Bryce Nyman received his Eagle.  We are so proud of him and all of his accomplishments.  He has worked very hard to earn this award.  We wish we could have been there, but our thoughts were with him that entire day.  We love you Bryce!

 

Proud Mom and Dad!!

And, last but not least....congratulations to our oldest grand son Derek Nyman who made the Layton High varsity basketball team.  Way to go Derek!!  Good luck for a great senior year.  We are so proud of you too.!!