Learning more about this area

Here are some pictures of where I live. 

Our apartment is on
the top floor of this building.

From the front balcony,
looking to the right

A street in Orel.

On Saturday, I went for a walk around Razgrad. I walked up and around Orel, the part of Razgrad behind where I live. The only time I had walked around this part of Razgrad was while caroling through the night on Christmas Eve. It was good to walk around in the daytime and get more perspective on this area. Orel is a gypsy area. 

Apartment blocks in Orel.

Farther back, there are also lots of Communist-era apartment blocks. The apartment blocks are grey, drab, and unappealing. However, in the midst of some apartment blocks, there are brightly colored playgrounds, cheering up the look of the neighborhood.

In front of the Post Office

I walked around Orel for about an hour before going to the city center for a quick lunch, then joined with Joshua and Katie and walked around for another hour. It was a nice walk around the city. I enjoyed the sunny weather and the opportunity to explore Razgrad more.

Sunday was a good day at church. After the service finished, I enjoyed talking with people. We also had choir practice, and sang a song in English (transliterate into Bulgarian), and a song in Bulgarian. I am getting better and better at reading Bulgarian, although it can still be a challenge to read and sing unfamiliar songs when they are fast.

 Next week, an American man is coming from Poland, where he currently lives, to come do a gospel music workshop and concert here. There will be rehearsals and workshops Wednesday through Saturday, and a big concert in the afternoon of Sunday, January 29th. Other choirs and music groups (like the philharmonic orchestra) will take part in the concert as well, but the focus will be on the gospel music and presenting the gospel message through that. Pray that it all goes well.

The Anniversary couple and Debbie.
Ossenets, Bulgaria

Sunday afternoon / evening we went to the village of Ossenets for the church service there. Every time we have been to Ossenets there has been food; sometimes it has been snacks like banitsa or muffins, twice it has been a full meal, and this time it was some sweets (like cakes), and some salty food (like banitsa, popcorn, rolls filled with cheese, and peanuts). There is always an abundance of food, it seems They are very hospitable there! It is a good way to fellowship; sharing food together and talking.

Me and the boy at Ossenets

Last week the couple who’s home we meet in celebrated their 50th anniversary! So, we sang a few extra songs especially for them, and I was asked to pray for them and bless them. We had a wonderful evening. We spent several hours there, talking, singing hymns, eating, singing some more, eating more, and then singing again. I very much enjoy spending time in Ossenets. There are a couple kids there, and they are cute and fun to talk with.

Petya, the little girl at Ossenets

Monday evening was English Club, but again (the second week in a row), the building where we meet was locked. Last week we went to a coffee shop to talk, but this week Semah (a Peace Corps volunteer from Oklahoma, and the leader of the English Club), invited us to her apartment. Three Bulgarian girls, Semah, and I went to her apartment, and we talked, played games, and had refreshments. I am enjoying spending time with these girls and getting to know them more. I look forward to seeing them each week. Galiya, a girl from church, is the one who invited me to English Club back in November. I have been enjoying getting to know her more and see her several times a week.

Debbie and Galiya

Last night, Tuesday, was Bible Study for this week, but only two people came. Galiya and Joanna were there, but the boys were unable to come. The girls did  not want the boys to miss out, so we decided to change Bible Study to Friday of this week. Last night, we just had a short lesson (about ten minutes long) on John, and talked a bit about the competition part of Bible Quizzing. Mostly, however, we just sat around, talked, and shared stories. It was a good time with friends. I am blessed to be here and be a part of these girls’ lives. God is so good.