Seasonal Sights of Sofia

The holidays are past, but we haven't experienced much of what really feels like Christmas and winter weather here in Sofia. We have had very little snow and the cold, for us Minnesotans, is quite tolerable.

Sofia has been going through a lot of public improvements, which are always a bit disruptive and controversial (in any place, I think).  One here has been to change a street from tram and car traffic to only tram and walking.  It seems to take forever for these kinds of projects to be completed (impacting traffic and definitely local businesses) but it was nice to see some Christmas cheer amongst the workers all dressed as Santa as they layed pavers.

Stray cats are everywhere in Sofia.  These 2 (and a couple of others) hang around outside our apartment building.  I've heard they were left behind by a resident who moved out and that someone in the building continues to feed them (which bothers some other neighbors...)

We haven't had much snow or even rain, but it can be beautiful when it does come.  Summer was dry too, so I wonder if we're moving into a drought.  So, no snow pictures, but this is Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the main Orthodox church in downtown Sofia.  On one of the beautiful recent sunny days, I managed to even get a picture with no cars around in the middle of the day - a very unusual sight.

As we have each of the Christmas seasons we've been here, we had a Christmas potluck on one of the weekend nights in Dec.  We fit as many tables and chairs into the sanctuary as we can and have a great assortment of food, music and fun.  We're blessed to have a youth group who comes to help set up and contributes to the program, thanks to our great youth group/Young Life leaders - who also serve as worship leaders many weeks.

Bulgarians have a lot of food traditions associated with Christmas - including an odd number of only vegetarian dishes for Christmas Eve and this beautiful bread.


We hope and pray that you experienced a wonderful Christmas and that you will recognize God's blessings in the year ahead.  We have frequently been reminded of late how very much we have to be grateful for - even as we acknowledge the difficulties and suffering in our world today.

Blessings, Kathy

If you are interested in giving to our work in Bulgaria, and Paul's consulting in Africa and beyond, gifts can be given online at Global Horizons/Emmaus Assoc or mailed to Global Horizons, P.O. Box 856678, Minneapolis, MN 55485-6678.   Please attach a note indicating Emmaus.  Thank you!