As we travel to various parts of the country, we take time to look at historical sites along the way. The first 3 pictures are of the Rila Monastery in the south-west part of Bulgaria. It is probably 800 years old, still functions as a monastery, and one can even stay there as they offer hotel accomidations.
On our way home from Shumen, a town about 100 km from the Danube River and Black sea, we drove to the top of a mountain to see this monument, called Buzludjia. (The spaceship like structure at the top) It is from the Communist era and it was boarded up about 20 years ago. People have broken into the place and as it is falling apart, no one seems to care that people go in and look around and maybe take some of the mosaic tiles. We did enter, but did not pilfer. There is mosaic tile murals on most of the walls and they are falling off, exposing the paintings underneath used to guide the placing of the mosaic tiles. We don't know what this monstrosity was used for, but it had huge windows overlooking all sides of this mountain peak.
This shows the murals and the deterioration of the place.
You can see how extensive the murals are and how intricate. This section is the most intact of all the walls.
Out of 19 branches we still have 5 more to visit this month. We go to Pleven this weekend, and Ruse and Velico Turnovo next weekend where we also have to speak in Sacrament. We will be speaking every 3rd Sunday in the 3rd zone of the mission, the area closest to the Black Sea, rotating with the other Senior Couples through the zone's 6 branches.
On our way home from Shumen, a town about 100 km from the Danube River and Black sea, we drove to the top of a mountain to see this monument, called Buzludjia. (The spaceship like structure at the top) It is from the Communist era and it was boarded up about 20 years ago. People have broken into the place and as it is falling apart, no one seems to care that people go in and look around and maybe take some of the mosaic tiles. We did enter, but did not pilfer. There is mosaic tile murals on most of the walls and they are falling off, exposing the paintings underneath used to guide the placing of the mosaic tiles. We don't know what this monstrosity was used for, but it had huge windows overlooking all sides of this mountain peak.
This shows the murals and the deterioration of the place.
You can see how extensive the murals are and how intricate. This section is the most intact of all the walls.In the last 5 days we have met with 7 branch presidents. When we meet with them we take them out to dinner and discuss their seminary/institute needs including going over the list of potential names belonging to their branches. A new direction from SL just arrived regarding the calling of seminary/institute teachers. As senior couples we no longer call the CES teachers; that job is now the branch president's, and he does this like he would any other calling in his branch. This puts more emphasis on the program and more responsibility on the district and branch where it should be and not on the mission. Though it sounds great to be going out to eat all our meals when we travel, it gets old, but is a good way to get a feel for the needs of the branches. We have learned a lot and have found out some of their strengths and weaknesses. Some of the Br. Pres. have no concern about the need for S/I. They grew up without such programs in their lives and, of course, have no idea how seminary or institute should be run. One Branch President, who's own son should have been attending, did not have a teacher for 5 months after the original teacher quit, and did not even think to call a new one. We learn and wonder what we can do to increase their understanding of how important S/I is for the future of their branches. The picture below is of the teacher and his wife in Hascovo.
Out of 19 branches we still have 5 more to visit this month. We go to Pleven this weekend, and Ruse and Velico Turnovo next weekend where we also have to speak in Sacrament. We will be speaking every 3rd Sunday in the 3rd zone of the mission, the area closest to the Black Sea, rotating with the other Senior Couples through the zone's 6 branches. Where has the time gone; we have now be in Bulgaria six months.
2 comments:
That space ship-looking thing is quite different; I've never really seen anything like it. Are those statues of black hands at the bottom of the picture? It looks like they're holding torches of some kind. Yes, 6 months has gone by really fast, hasn't it?
I am just catching up on my emails after being gone for what seems like a month, actually it has been that long. Family trip to Bear Lake for a week, babysitting while Megan went to girls camp, helping lanie drive back to Portland after a 3 week stay in Utah, and now we are in London (cashing in some FF miles before the airlines go bust) visiting Kevin and Jill while he is here doing an internship. We return home tomorrow and will stay (yea!) until Lanie has her baby in October. I love reading your blog and the pictures. You are having such an amazing experience and WOW! the time is going by fast. We love and pray for you daily.
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