Friday we left early and drove across Bulgaria and were able to see sights and places we had never seen before. We had heard Ruse was called "Little Vienna", and I have heard many great things about a town called Veliko Tarnovo.
We first drove to Etropole in the Balkan Mountains to pick up Rossen, our translator, then over to Veliko Tarnovo. This city took my breath away! It was on the side of a large hill/small mountain that overlooked another canyon and on the other side was another large hill/mountain with a beautiful castle on top. The geological rocks that jutted out were amazing. I have travelled to many European cities, and I will have to say, Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. We were looking also while we were there for an Irish restaurant/pub that I had seen on the show House Hunter's International. We were able to drive through the town, but some streets were blocked off, so we didn't find it this time. We will definitely go back to this city later to visit!
We arrived in Ruse and had a discussion question at a church there in the city center. (It is a church completely underground right under the city.) The next morning we had a full day of worship, teaching, testimonies, and workshops. The teens of Ruse are wonderful!
We left early Sunday morning for Shumen, hoping to meet some pastors from England that are working there. About 8 km outside of Shumen we heard a POP! and then the temperature in the car began to RISE. We got out and checked and the tension wheel that turns the serpenine belt had popped off. So we basically coasted into Shumen and prayed. When we arrived, we stopped at the gas station and asked for a mechanic (being Sunday we were a little concerned), and he said he had just seen him going up to his shop. We got to the shop and he fixed the car. He said he never comes in on Sundays because that is his fishing day, he just happened to need to go to the shop for a minute. When he told us the price to fix the car, we had the EXACT amount on us.
We thanked him and then preceeded to find the church and the pastor. (The number we had to reach them didn't work). A nice lady walked us through town to their church and we were able to stay to hear half of the service and then go to lunch with them afterwards. It was such a God moment :D
After that we had seven hours of driving back to the house. We have made it safely back home and spent yesterday RESTING!
Here are a few pictures of Veliko Tarnovo (not mine, I just wanted you to see how beautiful) and two of Ruse we took.
We first drove to Etropole in the Balkan Mountains to pick up Rossen, our translator, then over to Veliko Tarnovo. This city took my breath away! It was on the side of a large hill/small mountain that overlooked another canyon and on the other side was another large hill/mountain with a beautiful castle on top. The geological rocks that jutted out were amazing. I have travelled to many European cities, and I will have to say, Veliko Tarnovo is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. We were looking also while we were there for an Irish restaurant/pub that I had seen on the show House Hunter's International. We were able to drive through the town, but some streets were blocked off, so we didn't find it this time. We will definitely go back to this city later to visit!
We arrived in Ruse and had a discussion question at a church there in the city center. (It is a church completely underground right under the city.) The next morning we had a full day of worship, teaching, testimonies, and workshops. The teens of Ruse are wonderful!
We left early Sunday morning for Shumen, hoping to meet some pastors from England that are working there. About 8 km outside of Shumen we heard a POP! and then the temperature in the car began to RISE. We got out and checked and the tension wheel that turns the serpenine belt had popped off. So we basically coasted into Shumen and prayed. When we arrived, we stopped at the gas station and asked for a mechanic (being Sunday we were a little concerned), and he said he had just seen him going up to his shop. We got to the shop and he fixed the car. He said he never comes in on Sundays because that is his fishing day, he just happened to need to go to the shop for a minute. When he told us the price to fix the car, we had the EXACT amount on us.
We thanked him and then preceeded to find the church and the pastor. (The number we had to reach them didn't work). A nice lady walked us through town to their church and we were able to stay to hear half of the service and then go to lunch with them afterwards. It was such a God moment :D
After that we had seven hours of driving back to the house. We have made it safely back home and spent yesterday RESTING!
Here are a few pictures of Veliko Tarnovo (not mine, I just wanted you to see how beautiful) and two of Ruse we took.
