Hills and Valleys

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions! It's been a week of wonderful highs, and difficult lows. 

I spent the first couple days of the week religiously checking my mom's blog, waiting for updates from my family, and impatiently grumbling about the time difference because I only get to talk to my family in the afternoons and evenings. 

(One small victory: I'm finally a legal resident, and the visa process is officially over! I've paid my dues, paid more processing fees, signed more papers, had more pictures taken, been fingerprinted, and all for a small card that says that they guess I can stay here for a while. Joy.)

On Wednesday, though, things started to get a little crazy. I'll back up a little bit....

Near the beginning of the semester, I dropped a four day hiking class because I basically decided I was too much of a wimp to do it, and also it was going to be cold. And we all know how much I adore the cold. 

So anyway, I dropped that, and it's a good thing, because a couple weeks later, I was invited to go on my new branch's temple trip to Switzerland, on the same weekend!

Just so you understand how exciting this was for me: I didn't think I was going to get the chance to go to the temple during my time here, because both the Frieberg and Frankfurt temples are closed for renovation during the whole time I'm in Europe. The next closest is Bern, Switzerland, and it's so expensive to try to go there, and it would have just been complicated. So I was absolutely thrilled. Like, jumping up and down squealing kind of excited. And that doesn't happen very often.

A little while later, we find out about Charlie's cancer, and it so happens that both of his major surgeries were on days that I was in the temple. I can't even express how much comfort and peace this brought me. Sitting in the celestial room, I was really able to put things into perspective and better come to grips with the fact that the Lord is in control. He is watching over me, my family, and my brother. He knows our challenges, pains, and struggles, and He knows what He is doing. Handing it all over to Him is really hard, especially for me, but it truly does result in so much peace. And I'm incredibly grateful for that. 

So anyway, since I left my recommend at home, Wednesday turned into a full length travel day. I left at 6 am to go to Prague to meet with the mission president for an interview, and got a blessing while we were at it. (So wonderful, by the way. Don't get me started on my gratitude for priesthood blessings.) The interview was 20 minutes, and I headed right back to Brno for the 2 1/2 hour bus ride back.

Bus ride between Prague and Brno

Once back in Brno, I finished packing, had a nice nap, and got to the church to get on the bus to Switzerland. We drove all night and made it there at about 8:45 on Thursday morning.

This is where things get really hard for me. At that point, I was tired, worried, and anxious. A couple people had talked to me, some more than others, but the language barrier is so real. My branch is wonderful and welcoming, but I felt awkward, out of place, and dumb. Everyone was speaking in a language I didn't understand, and while someone was usually willing to translate for me, I didn't like to ask. On top of all that, I was constantly obsessing about my family, Charlie's surgery, and I felt incredibly far away from home. So as the group of girls waited for baptisms in a quiet room, I completely lost it. In front of everyone. One of the girls I had talked to knew what was going on at home and did her best to comfort me, but it took a while to get myself under control. I actually felt a little bit cheated! This was supposed to be a wonderful trip, and peaceful, and all I was feeling was upset! I just wanted to go back to Brno, or better yet, home. But, after lunch (food always helps), some very friendly people, some kind temple workers, and a lovely session, I felt much better. The temple was beautiful, and I really was able to feel the peace and joy that comes from being there.

After being at the temple for most of the next day, we also took a trip to Bern. I really loved it there; it's a beautiful city, and I wish we could have spent more time there. We drove all that night to come back home. 

Overlooking Bern, Switzerland

Area in Bern where they have a bear park.

Astronomical Clock in Bern, Switzerland

Fountain

I'm so glad I was able to go. I met so many wonderful people, and even managed to learn a little Czech. 

I'm so grateful for people who aren't afraid to cross the language barrier and cultural differences in order to help someone like me who doesn't know what she's doing. It really means the world.

Rachel and Andrea

Rachel and Zdenek

We had this great CzEnglish conversation going on!

Drahomira and Rachel