SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS

Boy oh boy this week was full of adventures and surprises and journeys and FUN!

TUESDAY OH TUESDAY

We went visiting teaching with Zuzana and Sister Batkova to a less active members house who live an hour away. Perks of going: Sister Batkova ALWAYS buys us icecream, and we get to meet these amazing people who live SO far away. Then we had the rest of the day to contact and we taught 10 lessons! TEN LESSONS! Are you KIDDING ME? that is amazing! 

W*E*D*N*E*S*D*A*Y

We went with the Elders to an investagators house for Halusky. CAN I JUST SAY THAT IS THE STRANGEST HALUSKY I HAVE EVER HAD! They put cream cheese into it. NO. my it was strange. Then we had a lesson and we decided to make it fun, and we taught the Restoration JEOPARDY STYLE. it was a blast! and then we had english and we taught all of our class how to say SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS and I danced around the room like a total freak as my companion and I sang the song. It's the only excuse I have to dance around a room so I took advantage! and then we went to one of our members to visit her and she was just the cutest, and we met her daughter and her daughter is totally cool! it was just a great day all around. 

.thursday.

WOW this day we had like nothing on plan all day. and we WALKED AND WALKED and contacted as much as we could but, everyone and their dog decided not to be on the street this day. and we had a family history course and we taught this man and it was so fun and I just wish that I could do family history all day, but I can't so, Everyone do family history for me! THANKS! :)

FridAy

Doesn't that just -A just remind you of pretty little liars? LOL 

Not much happened this day. We weekly planned and we had a lesson and then we had Book Klub and that is always a good time, because we read a chapter from the book of mormon and then one guy goes on a rant and then someone else rants about their rant and then they kind of argue and then I say "THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING I WILL CLOSE WITH A PRAYER" ahhh yeah. good stuff. 

PS HAPPY BDAY MA

SATURDAY

We celebrated moms birthday! JK, we just celebrated Pioneer day. It started pouring for a solid 10 minutes right before we were supposed to meet so we met at the building talked about Pioneers and went to the park to play. We played Soccer and ping pong (can you all imagine me playing soccer? LOL ) and Fun fact is I wore jeans all day because we had a picnic and then we had studies and then game night so I just literally wore pants all day. 

Sunday. 

Wowowow. What an adventure. 

So we had church and church was just wonderful and then we went to find a referral. and we wandered and wandered and wandered for 3 STRAIGHT HOURS trying to find this one house. Finally we found it and the husband told us that his wife was not home and was not interested in changing her religion, but its okay. 

Then after that we went to get on a bus and we were waiting for our bus and this kid was like what time is it? So I told him and then our bus came. And he walks up to me and looks at my name tag and says SESTRA RATKKST.... What does that mean. So I responded " what does that mean? Thats my name." and he walked away so problem solved. Went a few bus stops and got off. then those boys got off too, and heres the real kicker, The boys get off and the one says to me "goodbye" and then slaps my butt....

SORRY WHAT? I was appalled. I held in all my angry feelings and quickly walked to a different bus stop to go to our concert practice. 

Friends, Even though this week was full of stange experiences and lots of physical exertion, I know that this work is Gods work. He has a perfect plan for us, and His son is in the center of that plan. Jesus Christ Lives and knows us and through him we can return to our father again. I just know that with all my heart. I love being a missionary. I am so INDEBTED TO SLOVAKIA. 

I LOVE YOU all and would like to thank you all for your support. 

Have an amazing week. 

Sestra Madison Jane Ratcliffe

ZAZRAKY

Boy oh boy am I enthusiastic!

This week was full of miracles (zazraky)

So monday we took all of those BYU kids for a tour and then we went to their concert and it was just amazing. FUN FACT: in Europe people do not cheer loud like a drill competition. So that was awkward when I was the only one cheering them on.... :)

Then on Tuesday, for district lunch, We went to a mexican restraunt. and it rocked my world. Well it wasn't like crazy mexican food, but as close as it can be in Europe. Still loved it. 

Then on Wednesday, Sister Russell and I had the opportunity to go to NITRA! We went visiting teaching and it was so fun! I didn't see much of Nitra, because typical Sister Ratcliffe fell asleep in the car to Nitra and back. TISK TISK. 

Then.... On Thursday we have an american family we are hanging out with and they invited us for dinner, and my oh my, let me just tell you all about Chicken salad sandwiches, blew my mind and BLUEBERRY pie. I don't even like pie, but wow was it tasty. #FAT. Oh also that day we met this really cool guy on the street and we were talking to him, and usually when you talk to people the missionaries have to ask to meet again and he was like, So I would like to meet with you this week. I paused for a minute and then I was like..."OKAY WHEN?" it was quite the miracle.

And here is where the miracle happens...

ON SATURDAY, I had the amazing priviledge of being able to watch the MOST ELECT, MOST PREPARED person enter into the waters of baptism. It was a true joy. Zuzana picked an amazing place and was absolutely so happy to be there. We went to this lake just outside of Bratislava and the water was so BLUE and so beautiful and man, I just had the most spiritually uplifting week. 

and then on Sunday Zuzana was able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and wow. It was just amazing. She was all smiles and giggles and could not wipe the smile off her face. It was the BEST WEEK EVER MY FRIENDS!!!!!!!! ahhhh I just love this place. I am so grateful I can be here!

I love my mission. Slovakia, ugh I LOVE Slovakia. 

OKAY I have time so I will send pictures. 

Have an AMAZING MIRACULOUS WEEK.

Sestra Ratcliffe

~ Zuzana ~

 Some Randoms

 a cute flower I found at zuzanas baptism. :)

When we were in NITRA

THE FINGER INCIDENT

The Finger.

The doctor told me to stablize my hand, AFTER CURFEW so I was running around a dark apartment and found a popsicle stick and some duct tape. AHHH MISSIONARY LIFE> 

WARNING (kind of gruesome) 

so many bandaids and neosporin 

but it is healing like a gem!

broken cups and torn up hands

HELLO HELLO HELLO!

So if this week was not a miracle I don't know what is. 

So at Family home evening we were just sitting there and one of our friends who is not a member came walking in after a month of being non-existent. 

So we met with her again and she is seriously so prepared. She told us she wants to be baptized and then she was mumbling so I asked her what would she lose if she was baptized, and she said she would lose NOTHING! are you kidding me? Where is the font? 

Oh I love her. She is amazing. 

Oh and this week we had exchanges and I was here in Blava with Sister Abbott and the most amazing miracle occured ever! So we were teaching a young man and we didn't have anyone to teach with us and we had used all our resources and no one could come so we thought to call our new convert Wanda and her phone didn't work and then sister Abbott was like that lady outside looks like Wanda. and I was like oh, yeah.. it does... IGORNING and then I was like WAIT. IS THAT WANDA? and so we ran out side and there she was. And we asked her to teach with us and she was like YEAH. I had a feeling to come past the building on my way to grab a chocolate bar. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!! FRIENDS THAT IS THE SPIRIT. I about died. 

And we teach a free english class and we had 4 new students!

FOUR NEW STUDENTS 

seriously that is a miracle. 

So, down to the topic of this email. 

So here I was at our branch presidents house. 

I asked if I could do the dishes for them so we are doing the dishes,

and you know those really sweet coca-cola cups you get from MCDONALDS? 

yeah so I am washing it and all of a sudden it breaks, and I was like ouch, OH SHOOT I JUST BROKE THE BRANCH PRESIDENTS CUP. and I look down and my hand is covered in blood. 

So what happened is that when the cup broke it sliced a part of my had by my knuckle. and I didn't think it was a big deal but everyone else said I needed stitches and I was like "please I have had worse cuts guys" I got some sweet essential oils on my hand to stop the bleeding, talked to Sister McConkie and she told me I didn't have to go to the hospital. Talked to the church doctor on the phone AFTER CURFEW> #REBEL but all is well and my hand is healing fine. FORGOT my camera again so you will have to wait for the picture of it but I will have a sweet scar when I come home! SO EXCITED! memories. 

Oh and the positive outcome of this is the zone leaders went to prague and grabbed my package while they were there, so now I have an Icecube tray AND disney music in slovak and so much american candy and GOLDFISH! ahhh life is good. 

I love being a missionary. 

Its the best life. 

Well have a miraculous week. 

S laskou

Sestra Ratcliffe

Cute Missionaries

Email we received - Love to get things like this!!

We are Americans living in England traveling in Bratislava.  We happened across your missionary.  She was delightful and gave us a great tour of the town!  Thank you for having such a wonderful missionary!

The Cragun Family

Found this gem on FB - Love getting to see her!

HAPPY 4TH of JULY

HELLO ALL!

I hope you just had the most magnificent week ever!

Oh boy and I hope you are seeing miracles too! 

Tuesday was just the greatest. 

We taught a ton of people on the street and they all really absorbed what we had to say. 

We were in a little town named petrzalka when the zone leaders called us to come to the building. We were like seriously we have been here 15 minutes, but we got on a bus and hurried back to the city. 

Once we got there a missionary who just finished his mission was at the building with his family. We visited with them and missionary realationships are weird, so like my mom in my mission is Sister Parsons and then the district leader where she first served is her dad, so my grandpa. and Turns out that the family who came, the missionary is my great grandpa, and I told Elder Ferrells mom that, and she shouts FAMILY and gives me this huge hug. It was awesome!

And then on Wednesday all the missionaries came to our apartment to sleep over and it was the greatest. I got to see all the sisters and we just chatted and then went to sleep it was so fun. and we also got to watch meet the mormons and that was really fun.

And then Thursday we had training and it was just AMAZING. It was all about our choice and how we are not victims of anything bad that happens in our mission, because IF WE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE OR THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR SITUATION IT WILL ALL WORK OUT! I just loved it! It was the best.

Saturday was a real good day. Our senior couple made us some delicious american food and we had a picnic in the chapel. How many people can say they have done that? LOL its was awesome!

Well I hope you all just had such a wonderful week!

I want you all to know how much I love this place and Absolutely adore my mission!

I am so grateful that I can serve here in beautiful Slovakia. 

I just LOVE!

Okay have a great week! 

Sorry my email is kind of short today

Sestra Ratcliffe

Happy fourth of July! We had a good little party with some Sloppy Joes and american potatoe salad and watermelon. It rocked my world. OH and TEAL PINK AND CREAM CAKE. Did you know those are the colors of the american flag? LOL 

And today we went on a tour. I got bored to I took selfies

 Just Bratislava at a glance. 

I think all the buildings are just gorgeous.

 Sister Russell and I