Worship in Tsenovo

We went to Tsenovo Friday afternoon to worship and have a delicious dinner. Tsenovo is a sister church of Russe and is about a 45 minute drive into the country. Most of the people who live in Tsenovo work on the nearby farms. Pastor Greg gave a very well received sermon about opening new doors and not being trapped in our old routines. Pastor Greg, and Mariana (the local Pastor of Tsenovo) served communion.

After the service was over we did as all good Methodists do and we ate! They prepared their specialty, Musaka and it was yummy.

Freidie with his fun laugh and "tour guide" attitude is our driver.

Tanya, Nina, Ivaylo and Daniel sang

Mariana Genova is the local Pastor at Tsenovo

Pastor Daniel translates Pastor Greg's sermon

Pastor Daniel and Pastor Greg bless the elements

Pastor Greg serves the communion

Musaka is Tsenovo's specialty. It was meat, potatoes and an egg mixture on top.

Served with shopska salad of course!

Luckily the rain stopped so we could eat outside

David and Ivaylo are tough to get to smile so this one had to

be posted as it's a gem!

Authentic Bulgarian Dinner and Dancing аьхъе шге хсжгш ьуьщ!

Thursday night we were treated to an authentic Bulgarian dinner complete with flaming food and dancing. The "professional" dancers were amazing to watch as they all know every dance step and are right in sync with one another. We joined in the fun, first on an easy to learn traditional dance and then later on a "whatever moves you" kind of dance. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3 - there is a time for everything including a time to dance. And it was our time to dance!

Tanya is a very talented dancer and joined in with the "professional"

dancers on several songs.

"...and the time for dancing."

Daniel, Tanya, Patti and Maria



Patti and Mallory

Joanie, Natalie and Tanya enjoy the talent of the violinist

We were all in awe when they lit our food on fire!

This flaming food is called Satch. It's a delicious dish of chicken, pork, potatoes, onions and mushrooms. Careful when you try this dish at home!

Afternoon of Home Visits

The afternoon was spent visiting the elderly in their homes. We split into two groups and the group I was in went to visit Victoria and Nedka where Ivaylo served communion, we prayed together and chatted.

Victoria sang for us.

Victoria is no longer able to leave her home and shared with us that every Sunday morning she prays and sings for an hour while church is in session.

Ivaylo serves communion to Nedka.

PSB

4:20 p.m.

Morning with the kids! Пдихсхж усшг шге нсая!

The plan for today

We are refreshed after a night's sleep and eager for the day (after a cup or two of EXCELLENT coffee).

The plan for today is to spend the morning with the Russe children and youth and to visit homebound and ill church members in their homes. Later today we'll be gathering with the women of the church and then enjoying dinner at a Bulgarian folk restaurant complete with authentic food and dancers. (fun!)

Tonight I'll post pictures so until then.... dovizhdine.

Patti and Mallory
9:22 am

We Have Arrived!

Slightly over 25 hours after we began our journey we have arrived safe and sound at the Russe UMC.

We passed through customs in Romania at the airport and again via car coming into Bulgaria. Daniel explained to us that not so very long ago, they would have been in danger bringing six Americans over the border into their country. Pastors who were friends with Americans were thrown into jail because they were suspected to be spying on the communists. Times have changed and it only took about 20 minutes for us to clear the border.

The fields of smiling sunflowers are here to greet us, as is the Danube River, Stephan under the tree and the warm embrace of Daniel, Ivaylo, Freidi, Nina, Tanya and others. Our fingerprints remain in the sanctuary from our visit last year. And now I must go as a yummy shopska salad awaits me on a beautifully laid table in the other room.

We just wanted to quickly let you know we are here, we are safe and you are in our thoughts as we begin our time here.

Hugs,
Patti
9:00 pm

Russe's Blog

This past week Reverend Daniel Topalski, Pastor of Russe United Methodist Church, gave me the link to their blog so we can access it as well.

I know two things about it for sure:
1) It has a picture of Pastor Greg on it!
2) The title of the post with Greg's picture includes the words New Hope and Russe

The rest is "Greek" to me. (A smidge of Patti humor)

We are getting excited - we leave on Tuesday!

Their blog is: russeumc.blogspot.com