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.