There and Back Again Friday August 31, 2012 New Zealand is seriously the most beautiful place in the entire world. We arrived at the airport and as soon as I stepped outside I was met by the crisp, clean air. It smelled like fall everywhere which was awesome because fall always makes me feel at....
“Rea Sechaba” – We are a Tribe
As we pulled into the airport, a buzz of excitement began to make its way through our group. The waiting was over, the anticipation gone, and we were finally on our way.聽Gradually聽the other passengers on the plane began to learn of our trip, and many expressed concern at our staying in Soweto聽Township. During apartheid, this....
Host families create a circle of warmth
Smiles. Laughter. Love through eye contact. Looking around the circle today showed me more about the group and bo mes (our mothers) than I could have asked for. Trevor’s Me looking so affectionately at him. With the same look of a newborn and his mother. Me Nora holding Kevin’s hand. Clearly there is more going....
Resting in the questions
June 7 I cannot believe that we are flying back to the U.S. in just three days – It is surreal! I have learned, and experienced so much during my time here in Bulgaria. I feel like I have a lot more to learn here, and I am not ready to leave. Processing these past....
Icons of nature, history and the church
May 25 When in Bulgaria, you are sure to experience a few new things; including banistsa, stotinki, and even an earthquake! Around 3:00am on May 22nd, our cross-cultural group experienced the aftershocks of a 5.6 est. earthquake that damaged parts of Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria. No one from our group was injured, but....
Asenovgrad Host Families and the Rose Festival
We are about to spend our fourth and final night with our host families in Asenovgrad. 聽Everyone seems to have enjoyed the stay, but for some it was more stretching than others due to a larger language barrier. 聽My host brother George is fluent in English. 聽On the other hand, Kendal and Brandon, among others,....
Greetings from Bansko
May 21 2012 袟写褉邪胁械泄 from Bansko! We have arrived in Bulgaria after a very long day of travel. We left Harrisonburg聽at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon聽and arrived in Bansko聽at 4:30 in the afternoon Sunday, local time 聽With a seven hour time difference from the East coast, that is a travel time of 21 hours. 聽We were....
Introduction to the desert…and pruning
John 5:1-8 “I am聽the true vine,聽and my Father is the gardener.聽2聽He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,聽while every branch that does bear fruit聽he prunes[a]聽so that it will be even more fruitful.聽3聽You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4聽Remain in me, as I also remain in you.聽No....
Vayan con Dios
April 16th-April 22nd Monday was our last full day with our host families. This time, some of the goodbyes seemed to be a bit easier than they were in Guatemala City. We have had our share of practicing. As Abdu鈥檒-Baha said goodbye to a group of friends on this date 100 years ago he stated,....
Mexico
March 29 This week, our excursion was to the city of Tlaxcala. First, we tried the pulque we have been learning about. Pulque is an alcoholic drink made from the liquid honey-like substance in the maguey cactus. It is kind of thick and sour tasting. We decided that it tasted similar to sourdough bread. Many....