Before getting into any news, yes - we are headed back to the states for a brief trip from Oct 9-19 to use our insurance one last time for physicals, etc. visit my mom in Sioux Falls, visit First Baptist in Cambridge on their mission Sunday and spend time with our kids and a few other family. We'd love to see anyone in Cambridge when we're there and may see a few others as time permits. Short trips are always so challenging! (Once we land, I can be reached at my old number 602-315-4375.)
Here in Sofia it's hard to believe we've already slipped into Oct, the leaves are changing color and falling - as is the temperature, going from 75 one day to a high of 45 the next.
With the change of seasons come other changes as well. Kids are back in school, expats who've gone home for the summer are back and the church is more filled with "regulars." Fall ladies Bible study has started with 10-12 on Wednesday morning and another group of 4-5 who will meet on an evening starting in Nov. We've been to Germany for meetings and will return late in Oct for a few more. Paul is busy with preaching, meeting individuals and facilitating other activities at the church.
For some, there are big and difficult changes. A good Bulgarian friend at the church lost his wife to cancer at age 50, after a 6 year battle. His wife was Orthodox and we were privileged to attend the service and burial to support and grieve with him. Times like this not only deepen relationships, but give us insight into culture and history. Our friend commented several times about Chernobyl, the catastrophic nuclear accident on April 26th, 1986, and that many more deaths would be seen this year, some 30 years later.
At the time, those of us in the states were scared and nervous, but the situation was much more close at hand for people in Bulgaria and other eastern European countries. In many of these places authorities were not quickly forthcoming about the dangers of the incident and citizens were required to attend May Day parades just days after the meltdown as polluted rain fell on them and officials often stayed under cover. How do events like this impact a culture? How do we as believers share the faith and hope we have in Christ in ways that can reach into the hearts of people who are often skeptical, distrustful or uninterested?
We are thankful to be here to share the love of Christ amidst both the international community and Bulgarians. Please pray with us that we will faithfully follow the opportunities God gives us.
