The thing about the Cyrillic alphabet, other than the fact that its totally different from our own latin characters, is that when you get used to the upper case letters, the lower case and cursive characters really throw you for a loop. (No pun intended!)

For example: You start by realizing that for P they use the 'Pi' symbol (like three sides of a square. P is actually an R and there is no Y. (A y sound has to be created by putting two characters together). H is N and the backwards N thingy is actually an I, as in "thin" but not as in light. (There's no "I as in 'light' sound from one character either). OK, are you keeping up? Oh, the Y character makes a 'U' sound like in put, but not like in 'up' or 'use'.  Great. Then when that all becomes clear, there's lower case. Here a small n is an 'i' and a small m is a 't' and a small g is a d.... Its not wrong, its just different.

Bulgaria is a place of contrasts, like most countries. Yesterday we were in the Sofia Mall - a huge multi story shopping mall with every kind of store, a food court with Mickey D, Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway, etc. It all looks very western and quite prosperous. Its like Sofia's "Eaton Centre". Its great in a way, that there is unrestricted trade, and access to everything that anyone else has, and maybe some things that are better. But at the same time I can't help thinking that the attention is all going in the wrong direction - absorbption into capitalism, which makes for very hard ground for the gospel.

We've had a busy week. Seven days, seven meetings, spoke sevent times, led worship 5 times. We did have a couple of days free here in Sofia Thursday and Friday, and have mostly spent that sleeping and hanging around where we're staying. Now we're wondering when there will be a plane back home, since our official and planned mission is done!

Wednesday we were blessed to be at a Zion (Four Square) service at a gypsy church here in Sofia. (Yes, I know "Gypsy" is not the politically correct word. Its a good word, and has only positive connotations for me when connected with the word "Church" - the pastor says they are gypsy, and our host pastor in Sofia, also part Gypsy, says they are Gypsy. Probably like "Eskimo" - the only people who object to the term are those who don't know any.... But I digress.....).

So at this great service we got to sing and clap and jump to the Gypsy worship, which we love, and preach and pray for people. Also, very special, we got to bless a baby being dedicated and pray for her and her parents. What a treat!

Saturday we were back to join in a study with a group of teenagers who are pursuing God's will for their lives. Wow - so great!

Sunday morning, church at Zion Sofia, led worship, preached and prayed for the congregation. God's presence was LOVELY!! Hung around for quite a while after church and then off to a very Bulgarian restaurant - I'll try and get pics in the gallery soon - for the bestest lunch! God is very good.

Now all we gotta do is pray this volcano closed and the ash away so we can fly home....