Greetings from Bulgaria

On beginning my secondary education I was immediately faced with learning Latin and French. Since, in my opinion, I wasn’t ever likely to travel abroad I turned my mind to other things during those lessons. So after one year of Latin and two of French I was encouraged to drop these subjects. How wrong our assumptions can be!

I have had a number of interesting trips abroad since leaving school and my latest was to Bulgaria in September. Over the last few years I have heard something of the work and witness of the Bulgaria Appeal. When Ruth goes on her six monthly visits to Bulgaria she invites someone to travel with her. My invitation came in August and on the second of September we were on our flight to Sofia.

Bulgaria is a beautiful country with three main mountain ranges, fertile plains, and some wide rivers and springs causing streams to flow swiftly from the mountains. On the lower slopes there are plantations of trees growing. These of course are useful for many reasons, especially as firewood, which is very necessary in the winter. In fact while we were there wood was delivered and was being sawn up into logs and stocked beside the houses for that purpose.

Outside the houses in the villages, were seats where the older folk often sit chatting, or in the case of the women, preparing vegetables for the next meal. City life was a little faster but road surfaces were ‘interesting’. At times we had a good tarmac surface but suddenly this would change to cobbles or a road that had a good number of potholes in it. It was as well that our drivers were used to this!!

It was a privilege to stay in the homes of fellow believers as we visited three very different areas. How we appreciated having someone to translate for us for most of the time. But when this wasn’t possible we still found ways of communicating.

All of our journeys went well, including that by Paul and Rosemarie who came by car. It was good to be there to greet them at the border and then to spend the next day sorting out all that they had with them. The gifts they brought were much appreciated by all who received them when we delivered them a couple of days later. It is a pity that those in the UK who sent them could not be there to hear the thanks that were given.

The two Sunday services that we were able to attend were very different but it was good to share in worship with fellow believers. Aided by the very necessary translation that was available to us we were able to more fully appreciate what was being said, especially in the sermon. Greetings from QBC were given and we were asked to bring back with us greetings from those churches.

Probably the most frequent question that is asked of someone on a first visit is, “What do you think of Bulgaria?” What does one say in reply, having received such a warm welcome from a generous people who, in spite of their own needs, insist on giving of their best in excellent meals, gifts as we left each home, and of their own time to make sure we were well cared for during the whole of our visit there?

Slava la Boga - Praise the Lord!

Jan Page

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