Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Days 7 & 8

DAY 7
June 17

In order to stay sane on these trips, I have to build in some catch-up time when I can concentrate on getting some of the piled-up work done. Or, sometimes I just take it easy. This was one of those mornings. After a 7:00am breakfast, I went on a short walk and ended up sitting on a bench in the main park in Stara Zagora. I read for about an hour then went back to my room to do some emails, etc. Later Mitko and Vania took me to lunch, and we had a great time just talking about ministry, church our lives, etc. Such times with good friends are invaluable to keep us all going in ministry.

After lunch Mitko drove me the 2½ hours to Sofia where I got a hotel near the airport. I had originally made a reservation for another hotel nearer to the city-center, but we both thought it would be better to stay by the airport since my flight was leaving at 6:10am the next morning. He knew of a hotel, so I went there. They had no more regular rooms available, so I got an Executive Room for the price of a regular room—nice!

I took a short nap then met Angel and Mary, Foursquare pastors in Sophia and the ones responsible for the final editing and printing of Enjoying Your Journey with God in Bulgarian. They are fun, happy people, so it’s a treat to be with them. I sometimes forget that I’m much older than several pastors I know (they’re in their mid-30’s), and I’m always taken aback when they make comments about me being something more than them. It’s sincere, I know, but odd when they thank me for taking the time to visit with them.

But I’m older, I’ve published a book in Bulgarian, I do seminars for pastors, etc, so they presume that I’m a “big name” (as Angel said). It didn’t take long to dispel those silly ideas that make one minister more significant than another, and I thanked them for taking the time to visit me on such short notice. I guess as long as it were fighting over which one has done the other a greater honor, we’re in a good place. Rank, status, privilege, etc. have no place in the kingdom—except as we desire to honor one another in love. Too many ministers end up expecting to be treated with honor, instead of concentrating on giving honor to others.

The restaurant where we ate used utensils as the decorating motif, and I inadvertently captured it in this photo. It looks like I shrunk the pastors! About 9:00pm I bid Angel and Mary “good night” and returned to my room to sleep.


DAY 8
Thursday, June 18

Thanks to my jetlag, I was awake before my alarm went off at 4:15am, alerting me to the need to get ready to go to the airport. Apparently, Sofia has no noise restriction ordinances like in San Jose where planes are prohibited from taking off or landing too early or late in the day. My flight to Milano was only one of several leaving very early (6:10am). Unfortunately, I didn’t have any Bulgarian leva (money), so I couldn’t get food before the plane left. The Malev airlines (Hungarian carrier) flight went first to Budapest, where I caught the second flight to Milano (Milan). I had even fewer Hungarian monies, so no food there either. Fortunately, they served us tiny corn muffins on the flights, so I didn’t starve…

Since the Milano airport is situated some distance from the city itself, I had to figure out how to get a bus into town. Even though it was easy to buy a ticket at the kiosk, where to catch the bus—and which of the many to take—was NOT. I did manage to get on the right bus after asking the wrong driver, and it took me to the central train station that was, according to the bus ticket agent, close to my hotel. Why didn’t I take a train to the station, you ask? Good question—only too late in the asking.

Once I arrived and the bus spilled us out on the sidewalk in a mad scramble for our luggage from its underbelly, I still had to locate my hotel. I scanned the horizon for it and decided to get a taxi. Oops! The driver turned out to be unscrupulous. He told me 10-15 Euros. Ok? I thought he was being kind to give me an estimate, but after we drove less than 10 minutes, we reached the hotel and he demanded 15 Euros. Realizing we had just gone in a big loop to a place to which I could have walked in 5 minutes, I said “Here’s 10 Euros for such a short trip!”

I really hate being cheated like that! No matter how experienced I am as a traveler, I still get “taken for a ride” now and then. It really grates on me, though. I find that the frustration and embarrassment of being swindled lingers with me for several days. I’m not overly prone to self-recrimination and blame (i.e. “I’m so stupid!”; “I’ll never get it right!”), but being cheated leaves me feeling very helpless and stupid. It could be pride or some other wrongness in my soul that makes me feel like this, but perhaps it’s just a good reminder that most people end up feeling like life is a bit too much for them to navigate alone. Life is discouraging much of the time…

The good news was that I could check into my hotel earlier than normal, so I took a brief nap before heading out on an extended walk through the streets of Milano. My impressions of the city from a brief visit years ago were confirmed; Milano is a fairly modern city with very little Italian charm or quaintness (is there such a word?). It’s a mixture of old—but not old enough to be interesting (except for its cathedral, if you like that sort of thing) and modern—in a 1970’s way. With regrets to the city leaders, I have to say I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here. It’s not a must-see on any tour through Italy. Here are a couple random shots of Milano:

































I did find another bench in a park (Am I sounding more and more like an old man who sits on park benches?) near a fountain. And I did have dinner at a side-street restaurant.

At least I had a good day of walking after several days of sitting for meals, planes and seminars! I was struck, again, with thoughts about how one-dimensional my life is; though it seems to others like all the international travel is exotic, I rarely DO anything in these far-off places except walk around, eat and (try to) sleep. Most of my time is spent in my hotel room, but perhaps as I continue to get older I’ll find myself preferring park benches to hotel rooms! Ah, something to look forward to?

Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Day 6

DAY 6
June 16

What a beautifully warm morning—bright, sunny and not too humid! I watched the dawn come and go, so by the time we ate breakfast, I once again felt like I was eating lunch. Only this time, we had giant crepes, one filled with some sort of cream cheese and the other filled with jam. I like few things in the world more than pancakes, so when one of our friends didn’t show up for breakfast (he had to leave early for his job), I took a third of each of his pancakes and piled them together on my plate only long enough to cut them into bite-sized pieces that I quickly consumed.

The morning session took another of those timely turns as I was talking about Acts 6 when complaints arose on the part of the widows who weren’t getting their fair allotment of food. I made the obvious observation that leaders get complaints; if no one has complained about your leadership, you probably aren’t doing much leading. Growth leads to clear indications that we must keep adjusting our administration/leadership to meet the new situations.

But that conversation quickly led to another: What is a true leader? In the text we see that new leaders are raised up to take care of elements of church life, so that the other leaders can stay focused on their assignments. Every leader will eventually encounter what I call the rule of limits. There is a finite number of things that anyone can do; even the more “gifted” (not a term I like, but one that Christians use) will eventually max out. Let’s say the number of things a leader can do is ten. If that leader tries to do eleven things, one of the original ten gets neglected in order for the leader to do the eleventh.

Churches invariably need more things done. As they develop, needs/issues multiply. Consequently, the leadership will need to increase the number of things it handles. That’s why it is so essential to multiply leaders. One leader can do ten things, but five leaders can do fifty things! If the things-that-need-doing don’t get done in a church or a denomination, that organization will lose its growth momentum and stall.

That’s why I define a true leader as someone who is handling (assuming full responsibility for) some aspect of a church that the senior leader no longer needs to do—or think about. This definition is helpful for the people who have been called leaders to determine if, indeed, they are really acting as leaders. What are you doing that releases the senior leader from needing to attend to that doing?

But the definition is also telling to senior leaders who might mistakenly imagine they have raised up “leaders” when, in fact, they have simply collected “groupies” or assistants. If a leader has not off-loaded a responsibility to someone else, that leader has not raised up another leader. Having a staff is not the same as having leaders under us. The rule of limits still applies no matter how many people a leader has working on the ten things; if he or she has not relinquished any of those ten things entirely, the organization is still stymied by the lack of true delegation.

And that leads to a second element of my definition of a leader. Not only must they be taking responsibility for doing things that free the other leader from what he or she has been doing, a true leader is raising up future leaders to whom that leader will eventually off-load some of the things the leader is currently doing (to relieve another leader). Those thoughts—more thoroughly explored during our two-hour discussion—may have had the most impact on the group. I could almost see the implications dawning on Mitko and Vania’s leaders.

Afterwards, we went to lunch and back to Stara Zagora where Niki and James and I had a nice long talk about life and ministry. It’s their story to tell, but I’m glad to have such a place in their lives that they seek my council not just about happy things, but also about hard things in their lives…

Later that afternoon, and again after dinner with Mitko and Vania, I fell into those deep jetlag naps from which it is almost impossible to climb out. That meant, of course, that I slept very little during the night.

Here are some random pictures of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria:

Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Day 5

DAY 5
June 15

The prompt sleep-going from the previous night led, inevitably, to a prompt awakening at 4:00am, at which point I knew it was useless to struggle against being awake. Might as well go with the flow…So, I read more and got ready for the day. Breakfast wasn’t until 8:30am. I confess I downed the bread, cheese, salami and hard-boiled egg rather quickly—so fast, in fact, that one of the Bulgarian pastors commented on my food’s disappearance as though it was a cosmic mystery. I tried to explain that it felt like lunch, but my explanation was lost in translation.

The seminar arrangement at this hot springs spa would have been especially perfect if I had remembered to bring my swimming trunks. As it is, I must enjoy the warm, spring-fed pool with my eyes only. Probably just as well that I don’t have the opportunity. I’ve enjoyed napping extensively in the afternoons.

The sessions themselves are rather free-flowing, as far as content. I’m simply going from one topic/text to another according to whatever comes to my mind. I’d like to believe it’s revelation that’s guiding me—and several people have commented on the timeliness of the things I’m sharing—but as is usually the case in such prophetic-style ministry when I do not rely on notes or structured sequence in teaching, I have to proceed in faith.

The discussions in the morning centered around discipleship (surprise) and just how easy it is to do the one thing Jesus wants us to do—share with others what He first shares with us. I had the leaders do an exercise where they each shared a verse that had struck them, that morning in their devotions, with a new best-friend. The friend, in turn, shared the essence of that verse passed on to them with yet another new friend, who once more passed it along to someone else. At the end of the exercise, I asked how many people had really been touched by the Lord with the 3rd generation sharing of a verse someone else had read that morning. Almost everyone raised their hands to say, this really answered something in my life.

Many questions and subjects came up the rest of the morning—and again that evening after dinner. At dinner I asked Vania if she had any suggestions for subjects that I should talk about with the leaders, and she said that the Lord had been leading me quite exactly. The things I had been sharing were perfect for the people who were at the seminar.

To me, the most significant revelation from the day was just how much people long for revival—in the sense of God doing something that will make church and the whole atmosphere around believers become more vibrant. What we realized together is that what they remember about the revival that happened in the early 1990’s, as the Communists were swept from power, was that everyone was eager to share what God had been doing and teaching in their lives; they had all things in common; and they all served alongside one another doing whatever needed doing!

Hmmm. Sounds like the very things we’re encouraged to do—each one supplying his or her part; sharing with others what Jesus shares with us; serving one another. When we pray for revival, we ask God to do something different like He has done in the past. I wonder if we would experience more of what we call revival if we would do things differently like we did years ago…

Here are some pictures of my friends in Bulgaria:

Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Day 4

DAY 4
June 14

I didn’t awaken until 3:30am, so felt good about the jetlag progress. I read for a few hours, got dressed, did my morning routine and headed off to breakfast that was, mercifully, open at 6:45am. I definitely like to eat early in the morning because I wake up feeling hungry most days. At first I was all alone in the large breakfast room, so I had my pick of the “breakfast bar” that was laden with meats, cheeses (including Bulgarian Shafska cheese, sausages, tomatoes, cucumbers, breads/rolls, yogurts, etc. I had a couple hard-boiled eggs, several slices of cheese, some yogurt mixed with cornflakes, blueberry juice (delicious) and several cappuccinos.

Before long, the room began to fill with some of the many people from Sofia who are at the hotel for a conference of some sort. I enjoyed the noise of many people talking and laughing at breakfast—even though I couldn’t take part in the conversations. After breakfast, I packed and waited for Mitko to pick me up. Actually, Ivo, his son, came to get me to go to church. They are remodeling the inside of the sanctuary, and it will eventually have air conditioning! Wow. Although many of the people who normally attend were at a wedding of one of the gals in the church, we still had a nice time in service. I spoke about Jesus’ desire to use us as His tools of choice—despite our present condition.

After service, Mitko usually asks people to testify about how God has blessed them. One woman spoke about what a blessing my newly translated book was to her—and doctors where she works (at a hospital or university). That made me so happy! I never would have imagined, when I wrote that book several years ago, that it would find its way into the hands of non-believing doctors who would comment on how much it impressed/interested them. God is amazing!

After service, several youths and several older ladies wanted to talk with me—and have me autograph the book. It was so cute and heart-warming, as these pictures indicate. One of the young men told me that “all the youth really liked” what I said. They are “very enthusiastic” about my teaching. That always assures me that I have been used—when young people relate to what I’ve said.


Afterwards Mitko, Vania, James, Niki, Eva and Alex took me to lunch. It was delicious—and lots of fun to have time with my extended family in Bulgaria. Little Eva has grow lots since I saw her last year, and little Alex is such a good baby, we hardly even hear a peep from him. Both Vania and Mitko love being grand-parents, and I know exactly what they’re feeling.

Here is a picture of Niki, one of our former interns, and her little family:

Then we went to the retreat site and rested for the remainder of the afternoon. At 6:00 we met for dinner ad the start of this retreat for the leaders in Mitko’s church, as well as a couple of other pastors from other Foursquare churches. I asked Mitko his vision for the gathering—since I was unclear, exactly, I was supposed to do. He wanted me just to share from my experiences anything that might be helpful. Thanks, Mitko, for the concise and clear direction!!

Surprise. Surprise. I had no trouble filling 90 minutes with thoughts, scriptures and exercises for everyone. I truly do love the conversational format. We all sat around a big table, and I spoke, took questions, asked questions, etc. on the topic of leadership. I pointed out, first of all, that leaders mostly solve problems, and the only problems God cares much about are the ones that afflict people. Stage-ministry is ok, and I’m glad we give preachers a platform to preach, and worship bands a stage to play. But real ministry—the kind that develops our leadership skills (discipleship) only really happens as we’re working with people on a more individual basis.

“Fortunately,” I said, “Churches are full of people with problems. So go find some and help solve them with God’s word!” Of course I had lots of other thoughts about leadership, and many of them must have struck resonating chords in people’s hearts because several of the leaders came to me afterwards and thanked me—in great detail—for talking about what I spoke on tonight. It was exactly what they had been dealing with. It made them feel like they really were doing what they were supposed to be doing!

And on that happy, thank-You-Jesus note I retired to my room where I promptly fell asleep.

Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Day 3

DAY 3
June 13

I awoke—for the last time—at 3:00am, and proceeded with my morning routine: 50 pushups, a shower and morning devotions. These days I’m combining several Psalms with a few chapters in John to form the base of my time with God. Since I’m in London, I decided to make myself a cup of tea to enjoy while reading and praying. That’s one nice thing about hotel rooms. They usually have a teapot or coffee maker right in the room. Very convenient. Especially for guys like me who don’t easily go out of our way to make a meal. I had my cup of tea in a few minutes without even going into a kitchen!

At 5:00am I walked back to Paddington Station and took the Express Train to Heathrow Terminal 5, the very nice, new terminal for all British Airways’ flights. Though I didn’t have a 1st Class ticket to Sofia, I am the highest level of Frequent Flier (“Sapphire”) which meant I could access the 1st Class Lounge—and its full complement of breakfast foods, snacks and drinks! That meant I enjoyed eggs, mushrooms, toast and marmalade along with more than one cup of coffee. You’d think I had been starving for the last few days the way I put all those goodies away.

I read the paper, did lots of email work and ended up having to depart the lounge in a hurry so I wouldn’t miss my plane because I became so absorbed in my work. The flight to Sofia was uneventful except I ended up in a row in front of the emergency exit row, and that meant my seat wouldn’t recline. Good thing I was almost too tired to notice the inconvenience. Since Bulgaria is two hours ahead of London, I didn’t arrive in Sofia until 1:30pm. That plus the three-hour drive from Sofia to Stara Zagora meant I wasn’t in my hotel until 5:00pm.

Khalin drove me from the airport to Stara Zagora, and just before we left Sofia, he suggested that we get lunch. Here we are eating at a famous Bulgarian restaurant! We talked on the way. I napped a couple of times—at least one of those times was unconscious!

Whenever I feel a bit exhausted by the long travel to get to my friends, I try to remember how Nehemiah traveled such a great distance, across many provinces, to reach Jerusalem. I certainly don’t class myself with him, or with Paul who traveled about strengthening and encouraging the churches, but I do see the pattern for ministry in their lives. It often takes a lot of traveling (translate that inconvenience) to get to where people live. At this season in my life, most of that distance is physical. But throughout my life in the Lord, I’ve felt such a calling to “get to” where people really live.

I think it’s an important lesson for new/young ministers to learn—the onus is on us to “go the distance” and get beyond the barriers that people put up as defenses against (more) disappointment. Even with the coffee and the naps, I usually feel a bit disoriented on these trips and, like Nehemiah, I suffer the perpetual battles with ‘nay-sayers’ in my mind and heart. They challenge the very basis upon which I choose to travel; they question the worth and efficacy of what I’m here to do.

“It’s not much, granted. But it is the loaves and fish I offer to Jesus for His use and distribution. If what I have only feeds one other person (i.e., with no miracle of multiplication) then, at least, I’ve shared my meal with a hungry person who would have otherwise gone hungry another day. So, I console myself with this simple truth: whether Jesus multiplies what I bring for the sake of many, or whether He simply allows me to share what I have with one other person, that’s His call—not mine. Either way, I’ll open my sack lunch and travel as far as I have to travel to do just that. Share.

At 7:00 Mitko picked me up and we went to his house to have dinner with Vania, Niki, James and their kids. It was so comfortable to be with good friends, talking and laughing. We discussed the recent Foursquare Convention, the difficulties we’re all encountering telling unchurched people about Jesus, etc.

By 9:00pm, however, I was finished and ready to go to bed. Mitko walked me back to my hotel, and I turned in for the night!

Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland June 2009 Days 1 & 2

DAY 1
June 11

Even though I wasn’t being picked up by Isaac until 5:45am, I awoke just after 3:00am and decided that I might as well start acclimating to European time by getting up! Call me crazy, but I find it easier to get up at such an hour than to stay up to such an hour. I remembered, while laying there, that I hadn’t packed a belt or my flip-flops—important last minute details—so I got up, got them and placed them in my suitcase before I forgot again.

Isaac kindly brought me a cup of coffee for our ride to San Francisco. He said he could have brought me breakfast at such a late hour because he is used to going to work about an hour earlier. We laughed over that one, but not many other people would likely find much humor in calling 5:45am late in the morning. We enjoyed a spirited conversation about the recent Foursquare Convention; Isaac and Patrice, as well as a dozen other people, went with me to help with the CTW booth, but more importantly, to offer prayer to anyone who wanted it. Many pastors and leaders took us up on our offer of prayer—many saying that they had not been prayed for in years!

Following Convention, we invited several international guests, including the National Leader of Thailand and one of their pastoral couples, Dton and Goy from the main church in Bangkok. We had such fun, and they got to visit with so many of the people in our church. I believe we have established a deep and lasting connection with the Thailand Foursquare Church. In fact, Goy gave her testimony at MD1 (our monthly leadership meeting) and thanked everyone for providing her with a family she could open herself to in trust. Her husband, Dton, as well as Pastor John (the National Leader), expressed a condition that I find is true almost everywhere I travel: our pastors and leaders yearn for more genuine and rich relationship—especially with mentors and “older brothers.”

I suppose I’m thinking about our dear international friends as I begin this trip because they are the whole point of my travels. I am reminded of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey. Whereas the 1st trip began with fasting, prophecy and laying on of hands, the 2nd journey started with a simple concern for the friends he had met on the 1st trip. Love and affection drew him away from the comforts of his home base. All he did on those trips was encourage the believers and teach them more of what he had come to understand about God’s Kingdom.
In a way, that’s really all we’re called to do in our daily life—pass along lessons-learned to people with whom we have established relationship. Love for them is the motivation. That’s why Paul speaks about love in the midst of his discourse on ministry gifts and spiritual enablements. Love motivates. Love compels. Love guides us. Otherwise, it’s just a sham!

My flight to Dallas got cancelled due to inclement weather there, so AA routed me through Chicago and on to London. That meant I didn’t end up with the most desirable seats—like the ones I had selected when I purchased my ticket months earlier—but I took it all in stride and remained grateful for seats of any kind when I might easily have simply been forced to delay my trip. In Chicago I barely had time to grab a quick fist-full of carrots and celery from the Lounge, call home, call Lorrel and get back on a plane.

I arrived in London eighteen hours after leaving the house—at 11:30pm PST (7:30am GMT). Since I’ve been at Heathrow many times, I know the drill: pass customs, pass through baggage reclaim (I didn’t check my bag) and head for AA’s “Arrivals Lounge.” It’s great to take a shower, get some light breakfast and read a paper before heading off on the Paddington Express train into London. Once at Paddington station, I walked about half a mile to my hotel. I paid an extra twenty pounds to check in early, so I could sleep a few hours.

Sounds exciting, huh? Early morning, long flight(s), jetlag, a brisk walk with roller board suitcase in-tow, a hotel room with no internet cable and no wireless access… Hmmm. Not so spiritual-sounding. But it’s just the beginning of the trip.

DAY 2
June 12

My day in London (en route to Bulgaria) was an uneventful, but delightful day. I took a nap for several minutes in the hotel, and rested for about two hours before heading off on an all-day walk. Except for brief excursions, I stayed on main roads (Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly, etc.), so I could easily find my way back without a map. I walked about two hours before lunch, and for the first time in all my years of traveling to and through London, I took a bus. It was one of those red, double-deckers.

I was a man-on-a-mission—and have been for the last month. The band of my black Swatch watch has been breaking for several weeks, tearing a little more each day. Knowing it is only a matter of days before it falls off my skinny wrist, I’ve been thinking about replacing the band. But that’s all I’ve done—think about it! I’m not sure what I’ve been waiting for—the magic moment—but deep down I’ve lived with the ridiculous notion that a Swatch watch opportunity would present itself to me without me needing to make any special arrangements (called an errand).

Low and behold, there it was! A Swatch store right along my path! Congratulating myself on my patient endurance, and feeling marvelously confirmed in my procrastination these last weeks, I marched in and inquired about a new band. “I’m sure we have replacements,” said the smiling young lady. However, when she looked for them, she didn’t have any of the ones I needed. “But,” she enjoined, “I know our store in Victoria Station has them.”

The blank look in my touristic eyes compelled her to continue. “Take #8 or #73 bus, right over there,” she explained, pointing to the bus stop right outside the shop. So, I did. I clambered up to the top deck of the #8 to Victoria Station, and enjoyed 20 minutes of sightseeing in London! Plus, I got a replacement band for my black Swatch watch at the end of the trip.

Hungry from my errand-exertions, I bought lunch in a health-food type grocery store. I got a little bag of carrots, some Bing cherries and a small Greek salad. I took the Underground (Circle Line) directly from Victoria Station to Edgeware Road, the nearest stop to my hotel. I ate my salad while sitting in the large lobby of the Hilton where I’m staying (I had already munched my bag of carrots while on the Underground). I zipped back up to my room to get a sweater, to eat half my cherries (saving the other half for dessert that evening) and to ready myself for the second walk of the day.

I wanted to see the new movie “Red Cliff” that just opened. It is a remake of a classic Chinese epic—all about loyalty, love, devotion and battle. It’s an “old West” style movie with very clear heroes and villains who fight simple right/wrong wars. OK, it is very battle-focused, and it has more bloody sword cuts, spear throws and body crunches than anyone should want to see… But, I wanted to see it. The hotel concierge found where it was playing, so I headed off on another cross-city jaunt, arriving in plenty of time for the 3:00pm showing. There were five of us in a theater that holds 400 people! Oh well, perhaps the movie WILL become another classic in the future.

It was after 7:00pm by the time I walked back near my hotel, and the last mile or so, I kept my eye out for a likely-seeming place for dinner. I almost never eat in a restaurant located on a main street (except in Paris where it’s generally ok) because they rely on location (to attract tourists), rather than good food (to attract loyal locals). I usually look a block or two down the side streets in order to find good restaurants. Nothing struck my fancy before I neared my hotel, so I diverted my course to a parallel street two blocks down from the busy road. I did a mental wish list: sidewalk table, Indian (with Nann bread) or Italian food, smallish establishment, locals eating, posted menu, quiet street.

After checking out a few likely looking places, I found a restaurant with a name and look I couldn’t categorize quickly. I spotted (heard) locals eating at small tables on the sidewalk. When I checked the menu, I read Shish Kabob and Nann bread, but I didn’t see lots of other dishes I identified with India. I decided this was the best place I’d seen, so I sat and waited for the full menu. The food was fabulous! I think the cuisine was a combo of Indian and Persian. I had a mixed grill Kabob with salad on Nann bread. The appetizer was like salsa made of cucumbers, dill, onions, garlic, tomatoes and who knows what else. I heaped gobs of it on more Nann bread…

Good thing the restaurant was just a five-minute walk from the hotel because it was all I could do to walk home before I was ready for bed with a full stomach, exercised legs and jetlag! Yes, I did finish off my cherries just before I went to bed at 9:00pm.

Switzerland & Greece March 18-April 5, 2009 Days 17 &18

April 3-4

FRIDAY
David Massiani’s father, George the taxi driver who met us at the airport when we arrived, was our ride back to the airport. About 20 minutes before we were to eat our last breakfast in the apartment, Dave and Dick zipped out for a few minutes to one of the local stores to buy fresh bread. On the way back, they spotted George sitting in his taxi (because he didn’t want to risk being late to pick us up). For a taxi guy, time waiting is fares lost. The guys invited George to have breakfast with us, and I think he was so surprised and honored that he didn’t know how to refuse them. We had a delightful breakfast—even though George hardly ate anything. He was too nervous and too excited.

On the way to the airport, he explained how he loved to serve God and his church; taking us to the airport was one way of doing that. We all agreed and predicted that he would have a good day of fares, and when he dropped us off, a lady was waiting for a cab—in the wrong location right there where George pulled over! That was such a blessing to witness the faithfulness of God.

I sometimes feel like a character in an international spy novel. Think of it: one day we’re in Greece eating Baklava, and the next we’re dining in London. We flew to London Gatwick (LGW), took a cab to our hotel, got settled in about 15 minutes and headed into town for an evening in London. Dave suggested a theater performance, so we got tickets to see “Jersey Boys,” a musical about the career of Frankie Valli. We had fabulous seats. That was Dave’s era in school, so he knew all the songs—and the whole story. Dick and I, who are much younger, only recognized the last several songs in the musical rendition. What a blast, though, to be in London at a premier show with two friends. After that, just as the town was cranking into high gear, we got a taxi back to the hotel.

SATURDAY
Throughout the course of the last several days, I have been waging a losing battle with emails. Each of the more than 70 notes deal with fairly significant issues—at least in the lives of my many friends all over the world. It kills me not to be able to respond to each one within a few days, but the Internet provider/protocol wars in Greece messed up my internet connection, so I’ve gotten way behind in my correspondence. Hence, it seems like every waking moment I’ve been doing email with my thumbs on my iPhone. Finally getting connected in London was a relief—but also a torture. I finally begged the guys to drag me away from my computer to do a day in London.

To Dave, that translated into shopping at Harrod’s! I wouldn’t class myself with either Dave or Dick when it comes to shopping, but I consider myself an above-average guy shopper (they are premier league). Consequently, I was up for the challenge of braving the store. Besides, I had no plans to buy anything. Since I had not had as much opportunity to walk as they have had to move about and exercise this last week, I suggested a power-walk to Harrod’s. After breakfast, we headed across town—and I mean across town! The walk took over 2 hours (sorry guys).

Once there, we decided it was time for lunch. After all, in Greece where we “left” our hearts and our stomachs, it was almost 2:00pm. Dave’s shopping plan and strategy was for us to split up, so each could find their own way through the maze. Did I say maze? Make that jungle. After two hours we met for snacks; they had chocolate really-good-cheesecake-lik

e-cake plus cappuccinos, and I had scones with cream and jam plus tea. That pushed even seasoned culinary veterans like us to the breaking point. They continually refused my offer to share some scones with them (they had not offered any cake to me) until I put small pieces on their now-empty plates. Gone in a second! I knew they secretly envied my choice of morsels.

Whew! Uggh! Ohhh! Clah! Uuuu! We made all sorts of involuntary noises as we hoisted ourselves up from the chairs where we would have willingly spent the rest of the day. Once we actually got some momentum in our walk, we managed to make it down the escalator and onto the streets.

Next we walked to Piccadilly Circus because Dick knew where it was—and we needed a destination. Along the way I began to feel a bit tired, not from the exercise, but from all the days of this trip. It has been fabulous—perhaps one of the more significant in the last couple of years in terms of confirmation, direction and impact—but the crazy schedule of full days takes its toll. I have watched many ministers who never pull back, never rest. The guys are always so helpful to ask me about my workload, and if I should cut back on my “work” with pastors. I appreciate their constant checking. But as we talked on the sidewalks of London, I became even more settled in my heart that I am investing my days in the right thing and with the right balance.

The key, for me, is responding to the signals my body sends me. When I feel this tiredness, I know it’s time to stop. So, I did. I caught a taxi back to the hotel while the guys continued their conquest over exhaustion in London. I came back to my room, changed into my sweats, took a 5-minute nap and watched a soccer match (I didn’t even turn on my computer). That evening, we walked to a nearby Indian restaurant and gorged ourselves one more time “for the road”! A great ending to a great trip…