Lots of American Healthcare Info Today

It was a busy day learning about health care in Green Bay and our Methodist connection to Bellin Hospital. We toured Bellin Hospital, Clinica Hispana, Rebekah Haven Assisted Living and the Odd Fellows Nursing Home. We also got a peak at Aurora Hospital while we ate lunch there and visited with Pastor Barb Ristow and learned of her work with the Hospice program. It was really interesting discussing the differences between our health care systems. Ivo works as an administrator in the Bulgarian health care system so this was of particular interest to him.

Daniel translates to Ivo and Tanya.

Dr. Clark Stevens, MD and Tanya

The tour at Rebekah Haven.

The Odd Fellows Nursing Home is very different from the facilities in Bulgaria.

Day One - Getting Acclimated

This morning Pastor Greg, Pastor Daniel and Ivo left early for a meeting in Stevens Point with Bishop Linda Lee for all Wisconsin Conference Pastors. Daniel was asked to share information about Methodism in Bulgaria and the need of other Bulgarian churches to have partners here in the USA. It would be wonderful if other churches would feel the calling to partner with a Bulgarian church!

We ladies checked out the local shopping mall and then we all went for a drive around the Green Bay area to see the sights. Of course, day one in America needs to include pizza! So we relaxed at Greg and Kerry's house and enjoyed pizza with friends. We were able to eat gathered around the table where less than four years ago the idea for starting New Hope Church became a reality!

After stuffing ourselves with pizza - some of us went to Patti's for a long standing New Hope-Bulgarian women tradition. Ice cream party!

Balloons, Welcome Signs and Hugs!

After about 24 hours of travel, they arrived last night safe and sound to be greeted by a cheery group from New Hope bearing balloons, signs and big welcoming smiles. Even their luggage made it!

Today Pastor Greg, Pastor Daniel and Ivaylo are off to Stevens Point for a meeting of the Wisconsin clergy. We women on the other hand are sleeping in a smidge and then checking out the Green Bay shopping scene.

Our partners are on their way to De Pere!

As I write this Rev. Daniel Topalski, his wife, Nina, along with Ivaylo Ivanov, and Tania Balkandzhieva from our partner church in Russe are on an airplane traveling to the United States to spend a week with us here in De Pere.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HERE!

Check out the calendar on our website of places and activities you can join the fun and get to meet them. I will post info about our activities through out the week here on our blog, so be sure to check in and read up on what we are doing.

Return Home

We arrived home Tuesday evening after 25 hours of travel and a day that tallied about 32 hours all in all. We are exhausted, but happy and excited about what the upcoming year will bring for our two churches as we work together to share the love of God.

Visit to Russe's Gypsy Outreach Program

On Monday evening we had the pleasure of visiting and meeting the children who are part of Russe's outreach in the gypsy community. The children meet weekly in a local home where Krassie and Panka share bible stories, songs, prayers and snacks with them.

While we were there the children sang for us before Panka read a story to them. It was a fun time as we learned about the love of Jesus together.

Familiar faces from last year have grown taller!

Panka shares a story.

Older siblings bring their younger ones.

Mallory and Patti pose for a picture with some of the children.

The woman on the left hosts the children in her home.

The neighborhood.

Shopping and Relaxing

Sunday evening and Monday morning brought with it time to relax a bit and do a little shopping in Russe.

Joanie, Mallory, Patti, Maria, Dave and Greg in Russe's city centre

Mallory and Patti

Taking a break from shopping, Dave is shown taking one of his famous "mental" pictures.

Natalia shows off her sporty New Hope coffee tumbler

Ilian and Natalia enjoying Tootsie Pops

Tanya and Ilian gave Mallory the opportunity to Skype with her friends back in Wisconsin

Tootsie Pops were the hit of the week!