A White Christmas

Christmas 2008 is my first Christmas not in America. It took a long time for it to feel like Christmas. I think part of that was due to the fact that for almost my entire life there was always the stress of classes, papers, and finals just before the grand holiday break. This year it just kind of came. However, 2 days before Christmas a friend came over and taught me how to make banitsa. Not only is the regular cheese banitsa amazing but pumpkin is even better. As it baked in the oven, the fragrance of pumpkin filling the air brought me into the Christmas spirit. For the first time, it felt like Christmas, and I was excited.

On Christmas Eve, I joined the Sunberg family and Joe to a trip to the new Starbucks in Sofia. I enjoyed a marvelous chai tea latte. I also captured some fantastic photos of the Sunberg girls which are still waiting to be downloaded off of my camera. Another exciting event of the day was snow!!! It didn't snow a ton, but it certainly snowed more than enough to enjoy a lovely white Christmas.

On Christmas morning, I woke up hearing the girls scream upstairs "Merry Christmas." I enjoyed their traditions of opening stockings, eating breakfast, and then opening presents. I gave a few gifts and also received some lovely things. It was weird not being with my parents, and it was sad. (Yes, mom, I do miss you both even when I don't say it.) :) But may it be comforting to you, Mom and Dad, to know that I was in a warm home enjoying the day with a wonderful family. The big Santa gift for the Sunberg girls was a Wii. It is awesome, and it has already been enjoyed by everyone to its fullest. I hope to get better at baseball and bowling. :)

You may know that the original plan for Christmas was to be in Romania. As lovely as that would have been, after my little deportation experience, I opted out for a Bulgarian Christmas. And it was great to just be at "home" and relax. The Sunbergs did go to Romania today (the day after Christmas) because of some needed meetings. They will have fun, but so will I because I'm at their house... with the Wii. ;)

So even though the day ended several hours ago, I wish all of my friends and family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Good Turkey and then a Refugee

If you are not into long blogs, you will never make it through this one. So much has happened within the last 72 hours, but first, I will give the intro.

Last week, the Sunbergs, Joe, and I went to Turkey joining other missionaries and volunteers from the entire Eurasia region. There in Antalya, Turkey, we relaxed on a glorious beach of the Mediterranean Sea in a warm sun and ate a lot of turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Those few days were glorious.

Then, it came time to go home. (When we left Sofia, Joe had some problems with passport control. We joked that he would be in the Terminal 2 during the whole trip. Well... it turns out that I would be the star of the sequel.) Here's the much condensed version of what happened from Sunday evening until Tuesday afternoon.

We finally landed in Sofia. We were in line to go through passport control and then get our bags. Technically, I have overstayed my 90 days in an EU country. Therefore, when I was waived into the mean lady's line (yes, the same one who gave Joe a penalty when leaving Bulgaria), I ended up getting some angry words and stares as she flipped through my passport. She called the director to her booth, and I told Jay that I was going to need some help. The director wasn't in a good mood either and decided that I wasn't to receive his permission to enter into the country. They marked the refusal in my passport, and I was taken to sit in a chair outside of their office. Although I felt like a weakling, there was no way to stop some tears from coming. I had no idea what was going to happen or what I was going to do when it happened. Jay was talking to some people on the other side of the booths and eventually was able to come over to where I was sitting. The officers would not allow me to leave, so Jay had to go with the rest of the family while I remained in the airport.

That night was not the best night of sleep as I tried to curl on some metal bench chairs and sleep. Sleeping with bright lights completely on is difficult, but the floor cleaning man, who was driving a mini-zamboni, also kept waking me up during the five hours I tried to sleep. Monday was filled with much stress as Jay and I tried to get tickets out of Bulgaria. We figured they would send me back to Istanbul (which is where I came from); however, I was fortunate to meet a much nicer border control lady. While talking to this lady, I was able to tell her that I had friends and connections in Thessaloniki, Greece, so it would be better if I could buy a ticket to go there. That proved very helpful in the future. Long story short... after 24 hours in Sofia's airport, Jay and I were on a plane to Thessaloniki. We stayed with some people he knows there.

The experience I had in Sofia's airport is not one I really ever want to have again. Although it is kind of comical now, to say the least, I will probably have at least minor panic attacks as I approach border control booths for... the rest of my life. Now, when you look at me, I don't really look like a threat. I'm not a terrorist or some sort of economic leech. I am a girl teaching English in Bulgaria. Yet, with my marked passport, I was treated kind of like a prisoner. When I was behind the booths or upstairs in the terminal, I was free to move as I wished. I did a lot of walking and reading those many hours there. I was too nervous to eat much and because of my tightened stomach it felt like I had to go to the bathroom all of the time. While I eventually calmed down up there, whenever I had to go down the escalators to the booths or their office (even when I knew it was time for me to go), my chest would tighten and my stomach would hurt. Whenever I sat in my chair outside of their office, I felt like I was going to be sick. It's not my favorite room in my favorite airport. In the few times I was in the front of the airport, I was escorted by two guards... at all times. Two guards for me, really? But never was I left alone. I was also not allowed to hold my passport. When it was needed, the guard would hand it over and then take it back. Even when I checked into my flight, I was not given my passport until back in the terminal. It was also kind of weird (yet somewhat cool) that I was taken through the staff doors and such as we went through the airport. I also didn't have to go through security when I checked into my flight. Of course, I hadn't left the airport in 24 hours, so they knew I had nothing to hide. Funny story of the trip to Greece: Jay "inconspicuously" showed off (or rather he went out of his way) his Orthodox Spirituality book while standing next to an Orthodox priest.

The next day (Tuesday) I slept in. It was greatly needed. Later in the day, Joe and the lawyer came to Thessaloniki. The lawyer and his connections were the reason we needed to be in that city. We gave the lawyers our forms and lots of money. The lawyers then met with the Counselor to get things straightened out; they are friends who enjoyed a nice dinner, I'm sure. The great thing about being in Thessaloniki when you are overly stressed out, and probably closer to mental breakdown then you realize, is that there is a TGIFriday's with Jack Daniel ribs. They were more than delicious and very needed in the moment.

On Wednesday day, Jay, Joe, the lawyer, and I met the Counselor in a cafe. He took our passports to the embassy to get a stamp saying that we were in the process of getting our visa. While I have that "scar" in my passport, I was told that the "applied for a visa" stamp would most likely allow me to enter into Bulgaria without any problem. We thanked the Counselor and left, I was nervous as we drove, but I kept praying for God's peace and strength. As we drove up to the border, my heart started racing. We passed the Greek side just fine, but when we got the Bulgarian side, it felt like my heart was nearly stopped. I stared intently waiting for the officer to get to my passport and flip through the pages. I didn't want to be sent back out of Bulgaria. I like being in Bulgaria... a lot, and the thought of having to return to anywhere (most likely the States) for an indefinite amount of time greatly saddens me. I think that is the reason I was so nervous and anxious the last few days; I am not ready to leave Bulgaria. So it was an overwhelming rush of relief when I saw him stamp my passport and hand it back through the window.

This whole process was just insane. I left out a lot of details, but from knowing the main parts, I am sure you can imagine the craziness. While it was good in the sense that Joe and I are now much closer to having our visas, I would not recommend this experience to anyone. The deported refugee life is far too stressful for me although it makes a great story as I sit on my bed IN Sofia, Bulgaria. :)

(The pictures posted are: 1. a shot of the beach where I spent much time in Antalya, Turkey, and 2. my sad deported refugee face in Thessaloniki, Greece.)

Thanksgiving past and present

As happens occasionally, my fellow USP-ers and I read and send email updates about what we are doing and where we are doing it. I love hearing from them, and I miss them dearly. We experienced so much together in such a short amount of time; it's a special bond we share filled with tears, laughter, and much awkwardness. In one of the emails, I was reminded that it has been two years since my Thanksgiving in Uganda. I simply can't believe it has been that long! I now take time to note a single reflection on the past two Thanksgivings and this one currently happening.

1. Thanksgiving in Uganda: quote of the night said by an ex-pat sitting next to me while we were eating "Only 6 hours ago, this turkey was running around in my garage."

2. Thanksgiving in Snyder, Texas: it was my first Thanksgiving with my parents since I left for college. I went to Texas thinking I could enjoy the warmth. Instead I got a few inches of snow.

3. Thanksgiving in Turkey: turkey in Turkey has a nice ring to it. The other enjoyment is that last weekend I was sitting in snow in Sofia. Today's activities have included walking along the beach of the Mediterranean and lounging on a chair in the warm sun reading a book. We all make our sacrifices. ;)

Next Thanksgiving I hope to be around the table or maybe a tv with some of my Idaho friends. For now, I'll continue to sit back and relax. The official Thanksgiving meal is tonight. I'm not exactly sure what a Thanksgiving meal will be like in Turkey, but I heard that we are at least having turkey.

Yes, an earthquake

So I had it on my Facebook status that I felt the first earthquake but apparently slept through the second. I had a few inquiries about it, so I'll set the record straight.

Yes, I did experience an earthquake. In fact, it was my first.

To make the story really good at this point, I would go into the grand extreme details of how buildings were crashing and how I saved a young child from certain doom. Alas, it was not that big of a deal... the earthquake (not my heroism). :) The news reported the earthquakes were around 4.0 on the scale of earthquake measuring. The first one was last Saturday around 10 pm, and the second was on Sunday around 7:30 am (which is why I slept through it).

So that's the story. No buildings toppled and nothing even fell off the shelves. My bed shook kind of hard for the whole 2 or 3 seconds that the earthquake lasted though. :)

Dedicated to the Fat Kids

I spent this past weekend in Razgrad, Bulgaria because I attended Bulgaria's 7th District Assembly. It was my first time back since my first two weeks in Bulgaria back in July.

After several delays and a long car ride, I arrived in Razgrad late Friday night. I stayed with a wonderful family although only one person really spoke English. Saturday morning went by slowly, but the mid-afternoon was kind of a blur as we tried to get everything together and ready. A little after 2 pm the service started, and around 7 pm it ended. Yes, the service was 5 hours long, but compared to the several-days type of district assembly in the States, I think it went pretty well. There were many reports, lots of songs, and a sermon. The Razgrad Church is still under construction, so the congregation was actually in two separate rooms. One had the people speaking, and the other watched via camera and projector. There were also headsets available to hear the English translations of much of the afternoon/evening's activities.

Sunday was a good day too. We had church in Razgrad which is always wonderful. And I had a tasty lunch at a local Italian restaurant. However, when it came time to go home, we hit some obstacles. The 3pm bus was sold out of tickets, and after lunch, we found out that the 4 pm bus was also sold out. The next available tickets were for the 1 am and 3:30 am bus. There were only two of us needing tickets, me and Joe (he's another volunteer here). We were going to cram into the Sunbergs van, but then plans were made to go back with Ilia, a man and pastor who also lives in Sofia. We were going to leave sometime in the afternoon, but as it seems to happen frequently, things kept coming up that kept pushing back the time. I spent the afternoon/evening with Ani and Didi, Pastor Nikoli's daughters. We watched a movie and just hung out. Eventually, their brother Simon was home and Joe also joined us. Around 6 or 7 pm, Ilia comes by the apartment. However, he was not feeling well and really tired, so we all spent another night in Razgrad. Although this meant missing school on Monday, I didn't mind at all really. :)

I spent the rest of the evening with all of Pastor Nikoli's family and Joe. We had a good dinner and watched two movies together. They were Hancock and Kung Fu Panda. The movies were enjoyable, but the people I was watching them with made it even more so. Afterwards, I stayed the night with Yanita's mother, Ani's and Didi's grandma, who lived only one or two blocks away. She was a really nice lady who happened to not speak any English. That night and the next morning I understood a few things she said, but I often found myself smiling and kind of nodding/shrugging my shoulders. (Oh how my Ugandan homestays have prepared me). :)

Ilia, Joe, and I left Razgrad around 7:30 am. We stopped for lunch at a place that grilled things outside that was next to a convenience-like stores and a bathroom. I wasn't going to eat because I didn't feel that great, but the peppers Ilia had looked too good to pass up. I got chicken, tortilla-like bread, and a pepper that turned out to be sweet. It was delicious. Ilia was glad that I got something to eat because he didn't like eating in front of others who weren't. It's also so much a part of the culture to eat together. As we were eating, Ilia, who speaks some English, kept saying that he thought I was a "good missionary" because I was eating this food and so on. He also kept telling Joe that he needs to eat(, but Joe is a picky eater so he didn't really want anything).

Sometimes (ok, more like often) I wonder what my role is in things. I wonder what I can really do that would be of any help now and more specifically in the future. Between Joe and I, Joe is more helpful. He likes building things and fixing things, and well, I can hold the nails and drill. While this may be helpful to someone for 5 minutes, I continue to look for my strengths. As fat kid as this sounds, one strength I do know is that I can eat most things in front of me if I have to. This sounds very "fat kid," but on the mission field or anywhere that's not your home, this is a more than useful tool. I thanked God for it several times during my semester in Uganda.

All this said, while Ilia kept telling us that I was a good missionary, I leaned over to Joe and said "You may be able to build things, but I can eat." :)

***This fat kid moment is dedicated to all of the people who went on fat kid runs to Sonic and other various ice cream places with me throughout my years of college and at camp.

Ride Home from Macedonia

So the last few days I've been in Strumica, Macedonia, at the Southeastern Europe Field Conference. There were people from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Kosovo, and Macedonia. There were several language spoken all of the time, but so many people spoke English quite well. In regards to interpreters and such, the services and seminars were always interesting as the speaker's words would be translated into several other languages. I was impressed on several occasions with the interpreters.

In regards to myself, I was quite awkward most of the time. It wasn't my finest hour of communication. I allowed my shy, introvert-tended self to prevent me from talking to many people. I met a few people, but most of the time, I hung around with the Bulgarian ladies although only two of them really speak English. I tried listening most of the time to work on my Bulgarian comprehension. I picked a few, and only a few, words. I'm not sure why social fear gripped me so this weekend. I supposed it had something to do with the fact I was in a completely new place with a lot of new people. The group of us on the bus also arrived last. This might not seem like a big deal, or maybe just an excuse, but I've noticed that if I'm last to arrive to a new place, I never really settle. I feel like I'm catching up to see/get to know people, and thus, I remain awkward. Lessons for next time... get over myself.

Anyway, I got back today (Wednesday). We left the hotel at 2:30 AM, and then we left the bus station at 3 AM. It was a disgusting hour to experience. I slept for an hour and a half before leaving, and I got a few more after we had departed. The bus was nicer than the one that brought us to Macedonia, and I was appreciative of that. When we finally got to Sofia, Simone, a girl here to interview and tape different ministries here in Bulgaria, and I decided to take a taxi instead of a public bus to my apartment. We had our belongings plus the bag of Simone's friend who is riding back with the Sunbergs later. We got in one with no problem, and I even was able to tell him where to go although I showed him the address just in case he didn't understand my combo of English and Bulgarian. On the way, we were caught in some traffic. Our taxi driver only spoke Bulgarian, and he asked where we were from. Yeah for my little Bulgarian knowledge! I could tell him "I was from the States, but now, I am in Sofia." Later, I told him I was here teaching English, and I'm also studying Bulgarian although I only know a little. We struggled a bit to figure out what age I teach, but it all came across fairly clearly. I pointed the last bit of turns to my apartment because for some reason my buiding number is not on the map. This is how he taught me to say left and right. It was a good taxi ride because he wasn't a scary driver and I practiced my Bulgarian. It was a simple but lovely conversation.

Stinkin' Bus Rides

So what's worse than having to sit in traffic? Sitting in traffic while standing in a crowded smelly bus. Yep, it's much worse.

After a long and crazy ride home tonight, I feel the need to share my annoyances and reliefs with public transportation.

1. The bus is never on time. 2. Rain makes that worse. 3. It's usually packed crowded... which leads to 4. some people are really smelly. 5. I don't usually get to sit down especially in the evening rushes which is only bothersome when you are standing for over an hour in heels.

Good things about the bus: 1. I pay for my bus ticket instead of gas... much cheaper. 2. I don't have to pay attention to what other cars are doing. (In fact, I think I feel safer on the bus when I'm not paying attention to what other cars are doing.) 3. If I'm late, I can blame it on the bus (which, honestly, is usually why I am late if I am). 4. I get to see chivalry and respect in the culture. For example, today, on a semi-crowded bus, a young man gave up his seat for a granny. I have seen this several other times, and I have also done it. I love the respect given to older people in this situation at least. It's refreshing from how the elderly are often disregarded in other countries **cough*America*cough**.

:)

The Teacher and the Student

Monday through Friday I spend my afternoons at an international school. I begin by tutoring a 5th grader with his English by helping him with reading and spelling. Next, I teach 6th grade penmanship/typing. It still makes me laugh a little when I reflect back of myself learning penmanship and typing. I still hold to the fact that cursive writing is pointless, and when one 6th grader asked me if he'd ever use penmanship later in life, I said "nope, but your grade depends on it, so keep writing". ... I know, I have a wonderful way with children. :) ...

I end the day with 1st graders. I teach an ESL class with 7 1st graders. After that, I hang around and help out in the classroom with a variety of activities. I absolutely love teaching ESL especially with these 1st graders. Although I am in Bulgaria, none of my students are Bulgarian. There is a Turkish girl who is always ready to please. There are 3 Israeli kids- 2 girls and one boy. One of the girls is quiet and is not confident in speaking although she usually knows the words. The other girl is getting more comfortable with me which means she's paying less attention when she's supposed to be listening. The boy was the only boy until today. He's smart and super cute. There is also one girl from the Czech Republic who is always smiling and is currently missing her two front teeth which makes her even cuter. And there is one Russian girl who reminds me of a princess with the care she takes to do all things. Today, I got my 7th student. He's a boy from Serbia. He talks a lot but not in English. They are all incredibly cute but sometimes a handful.

When I'm teaching ESL, the words are so basic and small. None of these kids spoke much, if any, English at the beginning of the school year. So, we are going over numbers, colors, how to ask your name and age, and animals. They struggle with some things, but they catch on quickly with other things.

That is life with me as the teacher. After school on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, I become the student. I am basically learning the same thing I teach but in Bulgarian. I am also learning more verbs. I feel accomplished when I can say "my name is" or "I can read and write in Bulgarian." Then, I think harder about what I'm feeling accomplished about, and I feel like a kindergartner... or 1st grader. It makes me wonder how my first graders feel after a 45 minute class because when I leave after 1 1/2 hours I feel like my head is going to explode. If it doesn't, then that means it went right over my head. I have been using one phrase a lot lately though... whenever people start talking to me or asking me a question (usually when I'm on the bus), I just say "I speak little Bulgarian." Of course, I say it in Bulgarian. They then smile or laugh and ask someone else. The phrase looks like this ... Говора Български Малко and sounds like govora bulgarske malko. It's an interesting place to be. I'm not sure if it's ironic, but I find myself on very different places throughout the day. I am learning a lot more than just words.

Red Umbrella Man, I thank you

Last Wednesday, I woke up to a cloudy sky. When it was time to go, I stepped outside wearing a long-ish white and black skirt, a nice blue top, my Northface zip-up, and heeled sandals. I was fine until the first big wind swept over my legs fluttering my skirt. I pulled my hood over my head as I also began to feel the rain come down. Of course, I did not have an umbrella on this dreary, cold morning.

I waited at the first bus stop without any incidents. However, a bit more adventure awaited me at my second bus stop. You see, since it was raining quite hard and while I didn't have an umbrella, the best decision seemed to be to stand underneath the bus stop overhang. A small gathering of people joined me under the (barely) shelter. However, directly in front of the bus stop overhang was a large, muddy puddle... or rather a small lake. Most of the cars avoided it, and some gently glazed through it. Then... I heard it before I saw it, and there was not much to do as it happened. A car raced past us through the puddle resulting in a large splash that easily spewed over us, the poor undeserving civilians waiting for the bus to arrive. My only reaction was to cower behind a man with a red umbrella who happened to be standing slightly in front of me. As I opened my cringed eyes, I found myself to be un-mudded.

More people crowded under the bus stop overhand thing, and I found myself even more protected as another man with khaki pants stood in front of me. Part of me wanted to warn him of the possible dangers, but my Bulgarian tutor hasn't covered the "how to warn the unsuspecting" section yet. For more protection, I did lower my bag over my long-ish white and black skirt. I knew the next couple of splashes were coming because an older man near the end of the bus stop would always make this sort of man-cry as if we were riding a roller coaster. He would always laugh afterwards, and I desperately tried to keep my giggles inside of me.

Eventually, my bus arrived, and I quickly escaped from the wet, muddy perils. As I rode away, I silently thanked the man with the red umbrella and the man wearing khaki pants who both stood in front of me protecting me from the great atrocities of blotchy brown spots on my long-ish white and black skirt.

Since then, I have bought a green umbrella, but of course, it has not rained since Wednesday.

Word

Yesterday afternoon I had my first language class. My brain felts like it was on the brink of explosion, but after processing some of it, I feel a little better. Who knew saying and asking about people's names, origins, and job could be so challenging. :) I knew this class would be an adventure, but little did I know (those infamous words) that my adventure would begin before class started.

You see, I leave straight from the school where I am teaching/volunteering. The night before I looked and looked and looked at the map to figure out the best route. I even wrote it down, so I wouldn't forget it. After school I walked to the bus stop, waited, and then got on the bus. No problem. I then rode for a while, and I got off the stop I had expected. It took a second for me to become aware of my surroundings and location, but I successfully found the trolley stop. I waited, and I hopped on to Trolley 8. I knew I needed to go 4 stops, and I would be at the circle which wraps around this Russian monument. I counted 4, but it didn't look right, so I went to five. When that still didn't look right, I got off because I didn't want to go any further down the wrong road. I thought for sure this was it, so I crossed the street in order to... I don't know. I thought I could walk around for a while and see if maybe I was just a block or so off, but I realized I only had 20 minutes until class started. I sucked in my pride and pulled out the map I had fortunately brought with me. Well, that didn't help. From what I saw, I should have been there. Apparently, I can't read city transportation maps. (Although in my defense, there are a lot of little different colored lines going everywhere.)

What was I supposed to do with time quickly counting down? I called Angela, my roommate. :) I told her I had gotten lost somehow and only had 15 minutes until my class started. I looked at street signs, and she tried to figure out where I was. Then, this older man walked pass me. I got his attention, and after some awkward attempts, I gave him my phone to talk to Angela. (Remember, I don't know much Bulgarian; that's why I'm taking my language class. However, Angela has been here for a year already; she knows a bit.) I'm not sure how that all went down, but after I hung up with Angela, this man tried to tell me where to go. I must have had a crazy look on my face because he then just gently took me by the arm and begun walking me down the street. He walked me a few blocks to the tram stop. On the way there, he confirmed where I was going, but did I mention he didn't speak English? He didn't, but fortunately Russian sounds similar in Bulgarian. Once at the tram stop, he passed me off to this lady. He told me it was in two stops; he did this by holding up two fingers. But I think he also asked the lady to make sure I got off on the right stop. When he was talking to her, I am pretty sure it came out that I was an American who was really lost and didn't speak Bulgarian. Neither of them spoke English, but throughout this short conversation, they would both look at me, and I would just laugh.

It turns out that Trolley 8 turns down where as a few others keep going straight and around the monument I was looking for. When I had looked at the map I did not notice that because I street name was on the line just before the circle and didn't take time to see what trolleys went in other ways. I just assumed it went where I wanted, but you know what they say when you assume.

When I got off the tram, I knew exactly where I was. I walked to where we were meeting for class, and I was only 10ish minutes late. This was certainly an adventure. Slava na boga for that wonderful man and sweet lady though. (Slava na boga is the first phrase I learned in Bulgarian. It means Praise to God. I learned it at church because that's how they greet one another.) After class, I got home ok, and I did not take Trolley 8. :) And, I have language class again today, so I am hoping for a better travel since I have a little more idea of how things go. But at least I can ask the person's name when I need help. :)

Many Firsts

Last week was filled with many new experiences. For instance:

For the first (and several more) times, I went to the school where I will be volunteering a few hours a week. It is called AEA, American Evangelical Academy. They have K-3 through 12th grade. The first day was mostly meeting people and looking around the place. I took some pictures of the younger kids' assembly with Teanna's camera, and I talked with several people to kind of figure out what I'll be doing. The next two times I went to the school I helped with K-3 and the kindergartners. There are so many adorable children there. Many of them speak English, but there are several who are still learning. (Actually, this year the school in general has a larger population of students who struggle with English.) It may not have seemed like a big deal, but let me tell you if it hadn't been for me I don't know who would've taken some of those little ones down the hall to the bathroom. :) There is still discussion about what exactly I'll be doing. I'll find out more information on Monday. Right now, it looks like I'll be spending more time with older kids. I could teach penmanship to 6th graders, or I may be teaching Literature to 10th graders. It's not exactly what I thought I'd be doing, but again, this is just one place where I'll be volunteering.

I am kind of excited to be working with the older kids. Although I love little kids, it will be good to have contact of teenagers because of a group that a few of us are trying to start. We call it... groUp. (It sounds really original, I know.) It stands for "globally reaching out to understand and undermine poverty. (We capitalized the U since it stood for two things.) We plan on meeting once a week to either discuss about societal problems (first off poverty), and other times we will meet to hang out and play with some kids at an orphanage. If you are interested in praying, this would be something worth your prayers. We had our first initial meeting last night, and so for the first time, I bowled in Bulgaria. I scored 116 which may not seem too high, but I am very proud of myself. :) The teens there were all MKs, but I think we can really branch out from there. We struggled getting the word out this week because we couldn't post flyers. However, we have more time before our next meeting, and from the few Teanna has talked with, there is interest in becoming involved in reaching out to others.

Another first last week occurred when I rode on the Bulgarian public transportation more specifically the bus. My roommate Angela basically saved my life. On Monday, I decided to ride the bus to school the next morning. It wasn't that far, and I didn't want to inconvenience the Sunbergs although my apartment is not completely out of the way to school. So Monday afternoon/evening, Angela offered to take me on the bus to the school so that I can see the stops and figure out which bus line would be the easiest and quickest. There were basically two options. First, the long route where I only had to be on one bus. Or second, a shorter route with a transfer, but it cross directly in front of the school. In either case, I would have to walk a little bit, and there might be some back tracking depending on which stop I got off and on. We had to wait a little while for the first bus, but we ended up getting on the longer route bus. It was definitely a long route. It had several stops, and it didn't end as close to the school as we thought. So we got on another bus that went directly across the school. We went back home on the shorter route with the transfer. To our fortunate surprise, there was a path under the road right at the stop. After we got back, I decided to take the shorter route with the transfer. I was a bit nervous as I left the apartment to go to school. I waited at the stop, got on, and then got off. I wasn't sure if I got off at the right stop. It was dark by the time we had gotten to this stop the night before, and things looked much differently. I knew I needed to get to the other side of the road. I looked at the sign to see which buses passed by. The one I needed was not on there. I thought "crap." But then I saw another sign, and it was the right stop. The next bus came quickly, and I made it to school much earlier than I thought I would.

One last first to mention for now was in the experience of not easily being able to get a visa. The other times I've been to Europe I didn't need one because I was just passing through, and in Uganda, there was no problem. They just gave us a student visa (after we paid) at the airport. However, this is more of a process. Magda (sp?), an accountant at the Naz office, had gathered all the information and paperwork we needed. She had talked to several people at several offices, and so we thought we were set. We had to travel to Thessaloniki, Greece, to the Bulgarian embassy there. It was only 4 or 5 hours driving, but we left on Wednesday to be at the office on time on Thursday. That's when we found out we needed a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We had another letter from an important person, but apparently, this guy wanted a different one. It was a bit disappointing and a somewhat wasted trip. However, on Wednesday night, we (Jay Sunberg, Magda, Joe, and I) went out to eat at Bennigan's like the one in the States. I got ribs. Although they weren't the best ever, they were quite satisfying to my tummy. We also have gotten a tip for our next trip because we will need to go back to Greece after we get that letter. Apparently, there is TGIFriday's, and there ribs are highly recommended.

In Transition

So an update has been long overdue; however, I have found myself in a bit of much needed rest and transition. The two weeks previous to the last week and a half were spent with another Work and Witness team. The first week they were here was spent in some villages outside of Montana, a city northwest of Sofia. There was a "Holiday Bible School" in the morning and some community project groups in the afternoon. Did I mention this group was from England? That made some moments funny and other times... interesting. The second week they were here was spent in Sofia. We worked on the Sunbergs' house, which is also the district parsonage. There was building, plastering, sanding, and painting.

There were some good times during this Work and Witness trip, but by their second week (my fourth), I was feeling the burn. Before I came to Bulgaria, I knew that I would be hitting the ground running. It has been such. I started the day after I arrived, and I had one and a half days in between the two groups. I was getting a little grumpy, and I just wanted to rest. I made it through without any mishaps, and now, this last week and a half I have been able to rest a significant amount. There was still some work we finished up in the Sunbergs' house. (I would feel quite alright not painting or cutting edges for a good amount of time.) But I have been able to stay up watching movies and sleep in a little bit. One afternoon I went to a swimming pool with Teanna and her girls. I jumped in for a little while, but I quickly found myself a lounge chair. I stretched out in the hot rays of the sun and eventually fell asleep. (I am really sacrificing myself here.) :)

I feel much more recooperated now. I apologize for not posting earlier. I just didn't want to think, I guess. I have been staying at the Sunbergs' house, but I will be moving into my apartment either this Friday or Saturday. Next week school starts, and I will also be starting my language tutoring soon too. I am excited to get going again. It will be busy at times, but it will be much different then this last month and a half. I expect it will be stretching, but I am most excited about the possibilities that are ahead. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Thank you.

Two Weeks in Koubrat

A title like that sounds like some sort of cheap indy film or Discovery Channel documentary. It may not be a Blockbuster hit, but I think there would be a few strong fans. The picture to the left might give you an idea about the film, but it is simply an outside shot from one of the nearly completed rooms at the church.

I began my time in Koubrat really well. The team was great, and much work was accomplished on the church. I often self-ripped myself out of comfort zones whether that be to try and talk to locals or even people within the Work and Witness team. Each time I did I was rewarded with a pleasant experience, yet it did not necessarily make the next instance any easier. I was reminded that the older I get (because I have been on this earth oh so long) and in truth the more I realize about myself I am introverted particularly when I am in a new environment and even more so when I am with new people in that new environment. Being around my friends and doing things no matter of the location does not wear me out. I thoroughly enjoy it. Yet even if I am in a comfortable environment, such as camp, I am able to extrovert myself for other people. Two unknowns just take a lot out of me.

I recooperated a little over the weekend. We took a touristy day to Varna which, yes, is on the coast of the Black Sea. After much debating in my head, I realized I came too far to just sit on the beach. I jumped into the water to join a game of frisbee. I then quickly jumped out, handed my glasses to one of the grannies who laid them on my towel, and then jumped back in. And as with the Nile, I felt obligated to pee in it... which I did. :)

While the team enjoyed a successful week of construction work and the first ever VBS in Koubrat, my second week in Koubrat was greatly overshadowed with the news of a friend's death. I am still not sure I can fully accept the fact that he is gone. It was so sudden and unexpected. Due to my limited email checking, I did not find out until after the funeral had already taken place. I am not one to get homesick (as my parents know), but this last week, I have felt every mile of distance between my friends in Colorado and myself. I struggled to stay focused in work, and the effort it took to engage with people seemed even greater. The week got a bit easier as shock begun to wear off, and I felt calmer after talking with a friend on Facebook Chat. I continue to pray for Dan's family and the Golden Bell staff. I also continue to pray for God's strength to renew me in this rough beginning.

In our last night in Koubrat, there was a special gathering. We invited the Koubrat church and local families to hang out with us Americans. Balloon animals were made, and bracelets were given out. Smores, which are unknown to Bulgarians, were introduced and greatly enjoyed. Up to this point in the week, I was so tired. While I enjoyed the people, I was ready to go back to Sofia. Honestly, while I enjoyed Bulgaria, I would have much rather enjoyed the company of friends in America. So... I sat on the side watching people have fun. I then watched as some of the Bulgarians talked and began to say goodbye to the American team. Later that night, there was a sort of dedication for the church. (The picture to the right is of the almost finished sanctuary.) Witnessing all of the goodbyes there, while I knew I had much more time here, made me appreciate all of the Bulgarians. I do not know them very well, but the thought of leaving them saddened me. They are such an inspiration especially as I learn the dynamics of the Protestant/Evangelical Church in Bulgaria. They are amazing people, and it was an amazing renewal of hope and excitement for the rest of my time in Bulgaria.

In one of the emails I received telling me about Dan's passing, the sender also gave me some encouragement. He told me not to regret my decision, for I am where I am supposed to be. I remind myself of those words often, and with that, I enjoy this day of rest as a group of England arrives tomorrow. We will work in Montana for one week. (Yes, there is a Montana in Bulgaria.) Then, we will be in Sofia working for another.

While this "ending" may not be joyful as many movie watchers prefer, I do not see "Two Weeks in Koubrat" as a stand alone film. It is more of a series, and so there is excitement and hope as it continues.

Until next time,
:)

Spiders and Mistaken Identity

I arrived safely in Sofia, Bulgaria, a little before 2 pm (Bulgarian time) on Friday, July 18th. It was a long flight, but it was good. I also did not get lost or confused in Frankfurt's airport which was a huge answer to prayer. (I was quite nervous before the trip since I only had a little over an hour to find my next gate.) When I got to the airport, I got both of my bags and found my ride. Teanna Sunberg, three of her girls (Lexi, Sophia, and Jenna), and two other volunteers (Caleb and Joe) met me at the airport and helped put my bags in the car.

And so the adventure began...
We were driving through Sofia when Teanna realized she needed to pick up a few things. When we parked, I decided I wanted to walk with her because I had been sitting so long. Everyone else decided to join too. We went to the bank and then this marketplace that was made of several tables with different souveneirs and trinkets. After about an hour of being in Bulgaria, we headed back to the car... or at least where we had parked the car. All of us stopped and stared at the empty spot between several other cars. Teanna said, "I locked the doors," but I was just thinking all of my clothes and my computer were in there. I was also thinking I just got here, this can't be happening. There was a police car parked near us to Teanna went to talk to them. Eventually, one of the men came out and led Teanna to a road sign. She came back and said the spider had taken our car. It turns out she had parked where only officials or certain workers could park, so when the spider, or tow truck, spotted the unbelonging car, they towed us away. While Teanna went to retrieve the car, the rest of us went and got ice cream. But eventually, we were back on the road with all of my luggage still in the back. :)

Right now, I am in Koubrat which is about 45 minutes away from Razgrad. We are here working with a Work and Witness group from California. We are working on a church for this town. There are so many stories to tell especially about this family that I met today. This man has had diabetes for over 20 years, has recently lost his sight completely, and is also on dialysis. His wife became a believer, but he eventually also became a believer. While he is experiencing great hard times, he maintains his faith in God. He prays for healing in this life, but he also accepts the possibility of healing in the next. With my struggles of understanding and accepting God's love and presence within our lives, this family certainly inspires me.

I am sure to speak more about them and others, so before I end this blog, there is one more humorous story to tell. So, the Californian team arrived a day after me. I met them here in Koubrat. Now, when I'm in unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people I am more quiet than when in a familiar or even just around familiar people, so I haven't spoken a lot to the group as a group. Even still, I didn't really ever think of myself as looking like a Bulgaria, yet I have had 2 or 3 people ask me if I was from nearby or if I could tell them how something was pronounced. My answer is simply "I'm from Colorado" or "I only know English." We laugh, and then they ask me to tell a little about myself and that I have only been here a day longer than them. When I told Teanna, she thought it was pretty funny and said maybe it was also because of my dark hair. I don't know... maybe...

Here I Go!!!

So... in just over twelve hours, I will be soaring out of the Denver International Airport, and about 18 hours later with a stop in DC and Frankfurt, I will find myself (hopefully so) in Sofia, Bulgaria.

I am most excited and getting pretty nervous as I spend my last night in America thinking about all of the things that need to be packed, what I still need in the morning, airport transitions, and oh yes, figuring out how I am going to learn Bulgarian. (not that I need to know before I get there, thank goodness)

I hope to have some great stories, awesome pictures, and telling lessons through these next open months in Bulgaria. I know for sure that this trip will require openness and flexibility. There is no ending date; I'm just going to stay as long as my money lasts. I have budgets, and I will be stretching what has already blessedly been given to me. So, if you feel the need or holy conviction to continue supporting me financially, I will be glad to give you the information needed to send money to Kansas City.

Any at rate thuogh, please, please pray for me in my travels and the ministry I will be joining and beginning.
Until next time...