Weeks 6 and 7

Our assignment takes us to all the branches of the mission; therefore, we are crisscrossing the country what seems like every other week. During this past month we have driven more than 3,000 kilomoters, that's about 1,860 miles in a country that is only half the size of Utah; and this is not freeway driving. Bulgaria is surrounded by mountains, some as high as 10,000 feet. Most of the roadway is narrow, winding, up and down, two lane full, and checkered with deep chuck holes. Last week we hit one of these car eating pits and lost a hubcap along with puting a small dent in the rim. This past week we were in Sofia for two occasions: a Senior Couple's conference on Friday, put on by President and Sister Bennett, and Super Saturday, put on for the Seminary aged youth in the Sofia area by Peggy and me, the following day. Both of these events took place at the Mission Office/Chapel/Mission Home.

There are many conveniences that appear missing from Bulgaria when we compare the country to America, but there is one landmark that is common now throughout the world. As the picture shows, I met my old friend, Ron, at the world shrine.
There are some interesting cultural traditions that we thought you would be interested in. 1). The first one is impossible for us to get into the habit of; it is the shaking of the head to say no or yes. Their heads go side to side to say yes, to us that means no. Up and down is no to them, so we always have to think when we ask a yes or no question what it means when they shake or nod their heads. We do a lot of laughing because of our mistaken thinking. 2.) For those of you who don't like tomatoes, or possibly cucumbers you won't be ordering salads in Bulgaria. I asked for a cucumber salad once and got a huge plate of sliced cucumbers. Their famous salad is mainly tomatoes and cucumbers with some kind of red pepper. It is smothered in a cheese phonetically pronounced seirinaise. we hate seirinaise, but it tastes great on the salad. 3.) Everywhere we drive we see herds, big and small, of sheep, cows, and goats. Once in a while the sheep and goats are together. Every one of them has a shepherd or two and dogs that stay with the herd all day long. I've seen the herd being led, as in the picture below, and the sheep follow, just like in the Bible that Jesus teaches about. Even the cows have herders. We have seen herds as small as 4 and as large as 30 or 40. This one has goats with the sheep.

4.) We have seen 6 storks, heralding the coming of spring. This means that we can take our martinitzas off and hang them on a budding tree. A rite of spring, a symbol or omen of good luck, whatever. The storks are beautiful and big. White with black wing tips the size of a swan, but the neck is not so long, the beaks are longer and more pointed. They build their nests on man made objects often provided by the farmer such as a tall pole. Often they are built on chimneys, light posts, or other sort of support for their huge nests. Our favorite is in the picture below where it is hanging onto the cross of an orthodox church. When the cross bends far enough it will definitely slid to the ground.

We have yet to get a picture of 5.) the horse drawn cart with the horse wearing a red tassel hanging in front of his eyes. Usually it is the gypsies who have these carts. Those without the tassels are probably farmers or other workers. Gypsies, we have been told do not like to have their picture taken. Too bad, you will see one some day. and 6.) Easter hasn't happened here yet. So we did not miss it like we thought. Easter weekend is April 26th-27th.

Bulgaria is an ancient country. They have historical sights as old as 700 b.c. In the heart of Plovdiv is a Roman Amphitheatre. They are in the process of excavating it or they are uncovering enough to make it an attraction in the heart of the city. There is a bigger one not far from here they did not discover until they dug a tunnel through a hill in the center of town. That one is used today for operas and plays in the summer.

If any of you retired couples reading this informer would like a similar terrific experience as what we are having, let us know, and we'll tell our Mission President who seems to know some people in SL who have a magic wand in getting couples called to serve here. We have six couples serving here now, and he has indicated to us he is needing several more.