Let's Make This Brief.

Procrastination.
I'm sorry about waiting almost two weeks to update you guys.

I've spent the past two weekends in Blagoevgrad. Traveling will start almost every weekend from this point on. I really liked just being here though, last weekend I met some sisters in Christ and that made staying in Blagoevgrad all worth it. We watched The End of the Spear in a discussion group meeting that is open to everyone and later that weekend I went to an informal church/bible study meeting and it was so great to be able to worship God with the few people who do here. I've learned a lot about this culture and how religion plays in these peoples lives, in general it just doesn't. The people in Bulgaria just don't even see the importance of it in any way and it's really hard to approach.

God has been showing me a lot here, about how He works in peoples lives differently than most people I know. Even this summer He was showing me that there is no set way. I always seem to think that everyone will believe and do the same things I do, but it's not true, I'm a sinner and think everything is about me. I've gotten to tell people what I basically believe, but not expand a whole lot, for the most part people are respective.

I can't remember a whole lot about the weeks before this past weekend because I have so much going on. Homework is piling up, which isn't great, but I think I've been doing a pretty good job of getting it done and balancing it with a social life. This Wednesday we have no class and it's great, but I always feel like my schedule is so scatter brained. I've also been having to deal with financial aid and that is, as always, a nightmare, but worse because all I can use is email.

This past weekend a group of 14 people went up into the Rila Mountains to see the seven lakes and we spent the night up there. We hiked and ate lots of carbs and protein to stay alive. The soreness in my body is starting to kick in. Check out my facebook pictures, the place was gorgeous. I also just really enjoyed the people who went, we had a pretty great time and have awesome skills at building last minute fires. I could see God's great work in the mountains, but I was reminded recently in Ephesians that God's greatest work was bringing Christ from the dead and I never really stop and think of what a triumph that is, but it is bigger than any mountain.

One of the things I was so excited about in Europe is getting to experience dj's playing some kind of electronic music and getting to dance. There is no scene for this in Arkansas and wow, now that I've been here, I wish there was. I went to a big outdoor party with a dj who was playing House and it was great to just be able to dance. I did have a bad few minutes, when I realized how much people love their sin and I was there witnessing it, that was slightly heartbreaking. The music was great though and getting to dance.

I've realized how much I'm going to miss Bulgaria when I leave. The hardest part will be leaving these relationships. At least at home I know that I may see them again or we can plan something, it's hard to come just to Europe, so when I leave, I may never see these people again and it's an upsetting thought. I miss home and ASU a lot though, my heart is torn and I always think it will be.

This may be my most unorganized post, but I don't have a ton of time to write this. My bulgarian is getting better. I can almost recognize the alphabet and how to read it, I just don't know what the actual words mean. It's so much easier (but at the same time, more pressure) to learn the language in the actual country where it is native. I remember taking spanish in high school and I didn't actually need to learn it, so I didn't retain any of it.

I think that I'm going to pitch an idea to a magazine on this campus of writing a story dealing with religion on this campus. At AUBG, it is supposed to be similar to an American University and I don't feel like it's that way at all in the religion area. Most people just don't care, but the fact that it is so hard for there to even be avenues to explore what you want to believe at this university is where the problem lies. I wish I could just sit down with you and tell you all I've learned about everything here, it's all so interesting.

Next weekend I'm heading to the black sea and it will be beautiful, after that I'll start making plans for Croatia, Turkey, and Macedonia. I don't even have enough time to see all that I want to see here, but I'm going to try and get all that I can out of it.

I hope to get closer to God and the people here, I want people to see that I truly love them and I want my heart to grow bigger. I want so much to happen throughout this experience and I pray that God will surprise me and teach me more than expected.

For all of you back in Arkansas that are dear to me, I want to talk to you. Message me, ask me questions, I want to encourage you and to receive it from you. I love you all so much and miss you and can't wait to share my experiences with you next semester.

I have class starting soon, but I will update this more frequently so that you can know every detail of my life. :)