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Weekly Programs
Among our recent two holiday weekend trips are our regular weekly commitments including the Tuesday advanced beginner English lesson, our Wednesday discussion group sessions, one advanced and one intermediate, and two mornings, Monday and Friday, with the kids at each of the two basic schools (elementary schools) here in Letohrad.  The advanced beginner is a class we had not anticipated but have found we are learning as much as the four/five regulars.  It has pushed our boundaries and we are thankful for the requests to conduct this class.  Their dedication and enthusiasm is impressive as is their progress.

The two discussion groups, while requiring varying levels of preparation, are highlights every week.  However, this past session we used a format familiar at First Pres.  Most Sundays feature the "Fellowship of the Bean" in ZW house in which there is an open forum for discussions.  Our session here was named "Down the Rabbit Hole" (that was a treat to translate and explain).  We announced at the previous session that everyone should bring a topic and then let the discussion go where it will - ergo; down a rabbit hole.  Both the advanced and the intermediate came prepared; some with written stories and even a video presentation. The format was a win-win as we got a short breather from preparation and the class had a chance to bring up interested topics.  Both classes produced a lively discussion - with some Czech background discussion- but a lot of English in the final stages.

The basic school sessions continued unabated except for classes cancelled for national holidays and some special school activities.  We have continued the original format of three, 45 minute classes at each of the two schools.  Our style has improved as we became familiar with the teaching requirements and now produce a batch of vocabulary words and phrases which is repeated during the following class. We have received a request for English slang terms and are now compiling our favorites.


Ad Hoc Opportunities

One of the three 'Ad Hoc' classes of 7-9 year olds

This past week offered a bit of a change when we were asked to present to three classes of 7-9 year olds at one of the basic schools (we usually have the 13-15 year olds). The older kids were on a field trip so we spent the day with the younger ones and it was a challenging treat.  These groups were highly appreciative of our efforts, were non-judgmental and an easy audience for a Jackson 5 song and video!! And, yes, I know how that dates me.

We also had the second of our community lectures last week.  This week's topic was "Trump's 100 Days" and focused on a factual analysis of completion of the various elements of his

One of the slides in the '100 Days' Presentation

"Contract with the American Voter" issued prior to the election.  There was a good crowd with several more attending this time over the first community lecture last month. Like the previous lecture this was with a translator which allowed us to cover quite a bit of material.  The afterward question and answer period was lively and enlightening.



But by far the highlight of the past week was a visit to a Czech hospice facility.  We had the opportunity to visit the Ostrava area in the far eastern part of the Czech Republic during the past

holiday weekend.  Nearby in Valašské Meziříčí is one of the many facilities associated with the Diakonie. The Diakonie as an organization provides aid to people in need of care, to people with disabilities or illness, to children and families, to immigrants and their families, to addiction and to those otherwise disadvantaged. This particular facility, the Hospic Citadela, is run by our host organization here, the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren (Českobratrské cirkve evangelicke).  It, like others run by different organizations, receives state support but is managed and operated by the ECCB.  This facility provides end of life care primarily for oncological patients but also provides half of its beds for temporary housing of seriously ill patients whose caretakers just need some time free; a unique angle on use of a hospice facility.  There is also an associated facility just up the road which provides in-home care of dying, alzheimers and otherwise incapacitated patients.  We were graciously shown the

The 'hugging' building

facility by its director, Mgr. Květoslava Othová.  She generously took time from her holiday and for that we are appreciative.  We respected the facilities request not to photograph inside so you will have to take it from me the absolutely wonderful condition and design of the building.  If you would please notice the curved shape of the building; from inside the facility, the curving hallways look like a pair of arms embracing the rooms with the hospice patients.