Spending a Sunday in Sofia is always a delight. I met Biss for the 30-minute walk from where I was staying to the meeting pace. It was a beautiful morning, and the walk gave me an opportunity for my traditional Sunday morning mosque picture. The walk gave us time to discuss something while doing something we both really enjoy. Upon arriving at the meeting place the joyous reunions began with folks I have come to hold dear. The meeting that had me fighting back a tear was with Dinyu. He has come from the mountains to live in Sofia again, and promised to become a part of the church. At 91, he seems as spry as ever.
The attendance was good, and that included several families with children. As usual, the two young Egyptian girls taught a class for them. The Arabic-language Bibles were a reminder of their efforts to reach the Muslim refugees in Sofia. Many things about the assembly were very moving, but nothing more so that realizing that the three men “waiting on the table” were from Nigeria, Egypt, and the Ukraine. They represented such different backgrounds and cultures, but united in and by their love for the Lord.
As the meeting concluded, we went with Hristo, Vanya, and a young American girl named Jeanna to a Turkish buffet for lunch. After occupying a table longer than the server would have preferred, we went our separate ways. Biss and I spent a couple of hours walking and talking. Along the way, we met a young family who had recently fallen away. That gave us a good chance to try to reconnect. In the early evening, we went to Savella’s flat for tea and cake. That gave us a better chance to catch up with her on the difficulties she is facing. As we left, I was reminded again of the little things we take for granted. She had had her front door replaced, but the price didn’t included removal of the old door. Consequently, it was standing in the hallway annoying her neighbors. She was understandably unable to carry it down the several flights of stairs to the street. We were able to take care of that on our way out.
