A night with the Gypsies

Whoa, we just had crazy/cool experience. We just spent the evening with a “Gypsy” family singing praise songs, praying, struggling to communicate and eating cookies and benitsa (bread and cheese). Nothing like getting right into the culture.

In Lisa’s last post she mentions how our taxi driver invited us to go to church. Actually he told us he was picking us up and since we did not know how to decline – we just said Da (yes). This was to be our first truly “Bulgarian” experience with no Americans holding our hands. Service was great. It was at a Bulgarian Church of God and not too unlike some services we have attended back home. The only “somewhat” down side is that they gave us too much attention. We looked to be the only American couple in about 500 people in attendance. So they wanted to parade us on stage and have me say something – something most all of them would not understand without the use of the translator. We realized they were only giving us the attention because we are Americans, as I kind of doubt they bring every visitor up on stage. Anyways – it was cool to attend and worship with them.

We may have made another cultural “faux-pa.” We were told when Bulgarians ask you to do something during the day – they are actually asking you to spend the whole day with them. After church they wanted us to come to their house. Unfortunately we had not discussed this senario and told them we had to get home to put Drew down for his nap – which was true. But they asked if we were free Monday evening and we told them we were – so they said they would pick us up. To do what – we really didn’t know.

Stoiam, the taxi driver, came to picked us up in his little Russian car, a Lada, and took us to his brothers house. It was a nice home and they laid out a table of goodies for us. Other younger children were there to play with drew. It was Stoiam’s family, his bothers family, and some other relation – about 15 of us in all. We all had our Rechniki (Dictionaries) out trying to piece together dialects that others could understand. It is amazing how much you can communicate through humor – basically everyone laughing at everyone as they butchered the other language. Then they started singing many Bulgarian praise songs and once they started singing Amazing Grace my heart leaped. God’s saving Grace transcends all barriers. They prayed for us and it was a great evening. Scary and exciting all in one.

The Gypsies are actually second class citizens in Bulgaria. They are a bit darker skinned – like those from an Indian decent. We did not even know this until they started making fun of each other for being gypsies. It all clicked once I heard them and paid more attention to there features. They have now invited us to go to the “gypsies church.” We’ll let you know how that turns out.

Please keep Stoiam and his family in your prayers.

Lisa is in the top left.

Stoiam is just to the right of Lisa, balding and in a black jacket.