Tower of Babel

This week we visited our favorite burger place, a place called, Boom!  Their menu suddenly featured Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches.  Elder Segeberg just had to have one.  After mentioning the menu change to the President and his wife soon they and the Sofia senior missionaries were off on a quest for the tasty sandwich.  Due to a cold front that was still passing through Sofia we traveled through wind and snow to arrive at our destination.  As well as American style food this restaurant boasts waitresses who speak English well. 

 We were immediately greeted by our favorite waitress and seated at a long table.  Our President’s wife enthusiastically ordered first requesting a Philly Steak with a side of onion rings.  The President told the waitress that he would like the same.  Another member of our party indicated that she, too, wanted the same.  Another, who was there for the first time, opted to try a hamburger.  The waitress came around to our end of the table to take our order.  Elder Segeberg asked for a Philly Cheese sandwich as well.  Since everything is made fresh this is not fast food. 

While we waited we enjoyed a pleasant conversation about our weekend activities.  The President and his wife had traveled to Varna and Ruse.  Our other companions had spent the weekend visiting Stara Zagora.  I had taught a cooking class on Saturday making Chocolate Chip Cookies.  When the three who ordered first were given a steak knife, they feared that something had gone awry.  After an inquiry into what was being prepared for them they discovered that they were getting a steak, a fillet (mignon) steak!  Philly, fillet, sounds about the same.  They took the news in stride and enjoyed their unexpected meal. 

This is another example of ‘lost in translation’ rearing its ugly head once again.  Of all the challenges in Bulgaria, the language is the greatest.  There is so much that we would like to communicate to those we know as well as those that we meet only briefly.  I know that the Lord had good reasons for the whole Tower of Babel episode but I sure wish that the statute of limitations would run out on it.  Be grateful when you can communicate with your waitress, your hair stylist, the checker at the local store, and that person who you feel needs an encouraging word.  Open your mouth and let the words spill out!  

Love

Elder & Sister Segeberg

Happy Baba Marta

"CHESTITA BABA MARTA" 

Happy Baba Marta Day! Today dawned bright and sunny after several days of clouds, rain and even snow.  Here in Bulgaria on the 1st of March, Baba Marta Day is celebrated. For those not in the know, that's Grandmother March, the day when martenitsi are exchanged in anticipation of spring, and worn pinned on the clothing or tied on the wrist.
Baba Marta Day is related to welcoming the upcoming spring. The month of March, according to Bulgarian folklore, marks the beginning of springtime, therefore, the first day of March is a traditional holiday associated with sending off winter and welcoming spring.

 Wherever you go on this special day you’ll hear people greet each other with words “Chestita Baba Marta!” after which they exchange additional wishes of good health, luck, happiness and protection against evil for friends and family alike, while pinning traditional symbolic charms with tassels called “Martenitsi” (Martenitsa singular, Martenitsi plural) on each other’s clothes.  Martenitsi are in the form of yarn tassels, male and female yarn dolls known as Pizho and Penda, or yarn bracelets, but always red and white.  All over the country streets are full of little stalls selling these Martenitsi and all day long you’ll witness people happily shouting ‘Chestita Baba Marta!’ and exchanging these charms– quite a fascinating and joyful experience really! It’s not uncommon to look like an over-decorated Christmas tree by the end of the day with all these charms pinned on you!

There are various theories and even several legends, some involving real historical figures, about the symbolism of these two particular colors – red & white, from which Martenitsa are made. The most popular belief is that “red” stands for “life/birth” and “white” denotes “anew/on clear grounds”. Combined together, they mean “a new beginning”; a celebration of Life and Survival. Another popular explanation is that white stands for wisdom and red for good health, which means that anyone giving you a Martenitsa is wishing you both throughout the new year.

In accordance with ancient tradition is personified by the mythical, rather grumpy and limping grandmotherly figure of Baba Marta (Grandma March) whose job it is to brush out winter and let in Spring. There are several different stories relating to Baba Marta, but all have one thing in common: she is a very irritable and unpredictable old lady, extremely moody, (hence the unpredictable weather in March.) She is known to cast bad spells on people who displease her and will only visit clean houses, which means that March is also the month for what is traditionally known as Spring cleaning!  If she’s displeased with what she finds she’ll make it known by sending you bad wintery weather spells, but if she’s happy you’ll find her smile reflected in the warming sun!

The Martenitsi are worn until the first sighting of a stork (a harbinger of spring)  or, more commonly nowadays, a budding fruit bearing tree.  By the end of March and well into April you’ll find trees everywhere decorated with these red-and-white charms. Beware if you don’t wear your Martinitza until then, for Bulgarians believe that you will be visited by evil spirits and bad luck will befall you! You’ll even find pets and domestic animals such as young horses, lambs, kids and sheep wearing Martenitsi.  Houses, too, are decorated with their own Martenitsa.

 
 
So, if you find yourself in Bulgaria in the beginning of March, don’t be shocked to see that everyone is wearing funny white and red tassels on their clothes. No, they don’t have bad taste in fashion, they just like their traditions!

 Love
Elder & Sister Segeberg

Passing the Trial of Faith

One of the sweet elders here was informed recently that his 15 year old sister may have a brain tumor.  For many weeks she had been experiencing severe headaches for which the doctors could find no cause.  After many tests it was suggested that she see a psychologist since most likely it was all in her head (please excuse the pun.)  The family mentioned her situation to a friend who also had some medical knowledge.  She asked if her braces had been removed for the MRI.  They had not; which she said could make abnormalities impossible to detect.  They returned to the doctor armed with this new information and requested a new MRI without the braces.

As the mother and daughter sat in the doctor’s office waiting for the results the doctor began to explain the discovery of a tumor on the young girl’s brain. The mother quickly wondered how she could be a support to her young daughter when she herself was feeling so devastated.  Before she had a chance to collect her thoughts she heard her daughter say, “I am a daughter of God.  I have hopes and dreams for my life and I know that He has hopes and dreams for my life too.  I pray that these dreams as the same; but if not I will be happy with His plan for me.” 

She had learned well the lessons taught in her home and as well as in her Young Women’s classes. As a reminder each Sunday the girls recite the Young Women Theme:

“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”

We do not know this young lady personally but her faith, courage, and strength are amazing. As we encounter trials and challenges in life may we all have the faith to rely on our Father in Heaven and submit our will to His plan for us is our hope and prayer.

A Little Snow Before Spring Hits

Greeting from Eastern Europe!  We have been delighted to be experiencing a mild winter this year.  After -33C last year in Riga this winter has been only slightly troublesome. There were only a few snow storms and never did we get more than 3-4 inches, usually less.  The trouble came when it froze unevenly on the already treacherous sidewalks and streets.  We have experienced a fall or two but no significant damage luckily! Recently it seemed that spring was in the air.  Often the temperature has hovered around 48°-50°F.  Although we have not experience much bitter cold weather we were happy to anticipate spring with slightly less treacherous sidewalks to navigate.  We have missed being able to get out and explore.  Today we unexpectedly woke up to the scenes that we have included this week.  Generally the first thing I do in the morning is check the weather app on my iPad.  I was shocked to see snow in the picture.  Often it will show rain and when I look outside there is none to be seen.  It seems that accuracy in forecasting is universal! Today I peeked out of the window and was surprised to see a coating of wet snow on the trees and rooftops! It is very picturesque but it looks as though the boots will have to come back out of the closet!

 We spent the first several months catching up on all that had fallen behind due to the lack of a senior coupe for many months.  And then there was the change in mission presidents; one wanted to get everything in order for his replacement and the other wanted to get things organized his way.  All of these things kept us very busy.  Just as we were beginning to relax and coast a little with time for the projects that never seem to bubble to the top, we realize that our time is passing quickly.  Now we are busy cleaning up and cleaning out.  As the reins change from one couple to another, things accumulate and no one dares to throw anything away.  We have been disposing of outdated material and instructions with reckless abandon!  Also we have been up dating written procedures and making long lists of our individual responsibilities.  As yet we have not been notified of a new couple coming to take our place which is troublesome for our dear president as well as for us.  Fortunately, we have a local service missionary who helps in the office a couple of times a week.  She is furiously taking notes as we attempt to teach her as much as we can before we leave.  We are happy that we continue to be busy!  We pray that all is well with our loved ones far away! 

Love

Elder and Sister Segeberg

Area Presidency Mission Tour

Last week we participated in a special Zone Conference.  A member of the Area Presidency came to the Bulgaria Sofia Mission.  After visiting the branches and members in Turkey he arrived in Sofia.  Sunday evening we picked him up with his wife and the Wilsteads at the airport. 

On Monday we were treated a special experience as he instructed us. He suggested that we should rename meetings to be revelatory experiences.  He emphasized that we all live up to expectations.  During his education he had a class in which his grade at the end was much lower than when he went into the class. He hinted that this was partially because of his instructor’s lack of expectations.  The moral of the story is that those around us will live up to our expectations.

On Monday evening there was a special dinner held for the senior couples, the President, his wife, and our visitors.  It was a wonderful experience to be able to interact with them on a more personal basis.  Both he and his wife were delightful and very kind.

Elder Segeberg and I were responsible for dinner on Wednesday evening for our visitors and the mission presidency with their wives.  Being the Italians at heart that we are, we prepared lasagna and garlic bread. The sometimes contrary ovens cooperated this time and it turned out very well.

After dinner a fireside was held for all of the members in Sofia.  Just moments before the meeting began he requested that one of the Elders preform a special musical number, in Bulgarian of course. Having no advance notice, the Elder chose ‘How Great Thou Art.’  There was no time to practice with the pianist.  Their performance was their original run-through! In spite of that they did an amazing job!  Our special visitor then began his remarks by focusing on the theme of the hymn that the Elder had chosen.  His message was just as amazing as the music even though he had no idea what would be chosen. 

These special occasions are a great boost to the members and missionaries alike.  Only occasionally are we treated to the visit of a General Authority.  The people that we have met, members, leaders and missionaries, will be the highlight of our mission!

Love 

Elder and Sister Segeberg