Letter from Sister Eva Ivanova - Czech Republic, Ostrava Branch

On January 11, 2010 I received the following from a Sister in the Ostrava Branch where Kevin is now serving.

Dear Sister Brenda,

My name is Eva Ivanova and I am president of the primaries in our branch in Ostrava. Your son, Elder Jones is here and he is very good missionary. He quickly learns. Today we in the primaries got your gift - stickers. Much thanks for the gift. He made us happy and is very useful for us.

You can be calm. Your son is independent. At Christmas, they were missionaries in my home and I cooked a Christmas meal. I like to teach with them and other church members helping the missionaries too.

If you're interested, you can read my story. You'll find it at: http://mormonwoman.org/2010/01/06/portraits-of-mormon-women-eva/

Annex I send a picture.
Love Eva

It was so fun to get this letter. If you have a chance, check out Eva's story by clicking on the link above. It includes a couple of pictures of her. I can't really take credit for the sticker idea. Kevin told me before he left that he heard that some missionaries carry a few stickers in their pockets to hand out to children while they are talking with their parents or to use as an ice breaker. So I included some in his Christmas package hoping they would be helpful. I'm grateful that they were.

Christmas with Elder Jones (Kevin)

This picture was taken in July, the day before he told us that he would be serving a mission in the Czech Republic.

We spent just about an hour talking on the phone with Kevin early Christmas morning. Heather, Jeff, Janae, Kiera, Kim, Chris and Hannah were there with us. It was good to hear his voice.

He told us about his experience in the Mission Home and his walk around Prague. You can see the pictures he took on his mission blog.

He told us about his first week in Ostrava and the baptism of a man named, Jaroslav Spunda, that was performed at the end of that week.

He said that the meals they are served consist of meat, a sauce or gravy and bread or dumplings. The first few meals he ate he found that if you finish the meat first, they give you more meat or if you finish the bread first, they give you more bread. Their custom is that if a guest finishes one thing on their plate before the rest you fill up their plate again, it's like asking for more. So, he was getting plenty to eat! He said it is not as easy as you think it would be to finish everything on your plate at the same time.

He celebrated Christmas Eve with his companion and a couple of families in the ward. In the Czech Republic Christmas Eve is traditionally the night when they have the bigger celebration and Christmas Day is more quiet and laid back. Tradition also says that Baby Jesus brings the gifts on Christmas morning, not Santa Clause. Two Elders from another area spent the night at their apartment and they spent Christmas Day by sleeping in and watching Kevin open his Christmas gifts (I guess they had already opened theirs).

He is working hard and continuing to learn the language and is loving every minute of his time there. We are so grateful for the time we had visiting with him.

This is a picture of the Ostrava Town Square at night.

This is a picture of a church across the street from his apartment in Ostrava.

Christmas with the Swanson's

We spent Christmas Day with Heather, Jeff, Janae and Kiera at their house this year.
Kim, Chris and Hannah were with us also.

Janae with all of her gifts!

Kiera with all of her gifts!

Heather opening a ring from Jeff.

Jeff with a gift from Heather.

Christmas with the Blevins'

Christmas Day with Kim, Chris and Hannah.

Chris, Kim and Hannah talking to Janae.

Hanna trying to get into one of Kim's stocking stuffers.


Kim, Chris and Hannah still trying to wake up.

Christmas with the Hanson's

We spent Christmas Eve with Andrea, Chris and Cooper. After opening gifts at our house we went to Grandma and Grandpa Sharp's house for dinner and gifts with them and Laurie's family.

Cooper in front of the Christmas tree. You may notice that you can't see any decorations on the tree behind him. They were all moved up out of his reach!

Andrea showing off an Edward (from Twilight) puzzle!

Grandma with Cooper.

Papa with Cooper.

Copper helping Chris open a gift.