Learn. Plan. Realize.

So, I'm here listening to Yann Tiersen on a rainy day. We don't have many rainy days in Bulgaria, so I think that maybe I'll actually take a nap today. I do miss my dark room with great sheets from last year though, I think a nap will be a slightly difficult task here with my terrible pillow, Nemo sheets, and blinds that are kind of pointless due to the mass amount of light that comes through them.

I know a ton of people, especially the Americans here at AUBG getting sick and I haven't gotten sick yet and consider myself extremely lucky. My mom used to think that I got sick way too often, I guess I should stay in Bulgaria where I don't get sick.

I've been in Bulgaria for a little over a month and can't believe that it's gone by so fast! I have some short projects due in a couple of weeks and trying to tackle those in my down time. But, I've been dealing with intense emailing to ASU about financial aid and all of that and it's taking up way too much of my time. Planning trips is quite time consuming as well. This weekend I'm planning to go to Thessaloniki and Kavala/Phillipi. It's only like a 4 hour venture and where Paul preached. Being somewhere from biblical times is quite an experience and God used Paul's life so greatly and what an honor it would be to be somewhere that Paul has been, but sometimes when I put so much emphasis on the fact that "Paul has been here" I feel as though I'm making him higher than every one else who has shared their faith. I suppose it's because we just have some great documentation from Paul's life that it's easier to know who he is.

This past weekend I went to Varna in Bulgaria, it's on the coast of the Black Sea. We went to the beach, but it was way to cold for me to go swimming. I got to know the few girls I went with a little better and lately I've just been feeling like it's incredibly hard to show some people that I truly love them, yet sticking to my faith without them feeling like I may judge them. I think that has been something God has been showing me a lot, is to properly balance these things.

In Varna:
-I finally had some hummus in Europe, it's strange that I can't find it anywhere.
-I bought some Christmas presents.
-I saw way too much at the beach.
-I ate both a pasta dish and pizza in one sitting.
-We spent 3 hours looking for a hostel. Joy.
-I went to a Zara store, but quickly left because the temptation to spend a lot of money was too much.
-We successfully got into 2 quarrels at restuarants over the bill.
-We looked for things that we could never find.

I read a few chapters of Matthew recently and wow, I've forgotten how powerful the gospels can be. Typically if I want to look for something to enlighten my view on something I don't go to the gospels, but I have just been so convicted. I also feel like I could be pouring more of my life into people instead of doing so much studying and traveling. I really want to get to know some Bulgarians or basically not Americans, but this is so hard because of my traveling on the weekends. I've been praying for some opportunity, so we'll see what God is going to do with it.

There is an American here who is actively seeking her relationship with God and I would just like to assure you back home that I at least have one person that I see quite often to get encouragement from and be vulnerable with. We had a great conversation the other day about what we've been dealing with and sharing our outlooks on God and life. I really just thank God for her, her ambition also really pushes me and I've learned a lot from her. I've met a few really amazing girls who are my sisters in Christ and the fact that they are believers in this school quite amazes me, because it would be hard for me to be here for 4 years without the kind of body of Christ that I have back at home.

I've been realizing so much about the world and how naive we are in America. I though I was okay, but dang, after coming here, I just had no idea of how different it is. I also have been here without a cell phone the whole time and strangely it's been okay. Americans are known as being friendly, but I think that actual relationships mean more here. I rarely see someone texting, instead I see people with people here. They are indepedent, but also dependent on each other. We are independent and only dependent on our technology. It's been kind of refreshing. Someone said that they were curious as to if upon arrival back in the U.S. if since being here they could resist from using their phone as much and I replied probably not. I honestly believe that I would never really see any of my friends without being able to text them and see what they're doing. Here, I just stop by and then we end up talking. It's so different in that way to me.

I already have to start thinking about what classes to take next semester.... What the heck? I just got to this school and have to start thinking about when I go back. I also may have a paid internship next semester, which would be AWESOME. Summer plans are also needing to be thought about. Sometimes, life is just a bunch of planning. I really just sometimes don't want to plan anymore. High school is a plan for college, college is a plan for a career, dating is a plan for marriage, blah blah blah. Anyway........

I think being here, I've had to put a lot more into my relationship with God, which is worth every minute of preparing to come here. I've been growing and seeing what God can do and He really just puts me in awe.

Prayers are welcomed and I can of course still be praying for anyone, if you have any requests, let me know.

Take advantage of the fall, it's the most beautiful time of the year to me.