Pancakes, Anyone?

In Macedonia, on almost any menu at any restaurant, one can find a selection of desserts. One of these desserts is called Palachinki (translated as pancake), one that we have very quickly picked up as a local favorite!! It consists of a crepe like dough with chocolate, eurocreme and bananas rolled up ( like a burrito) with whipped cream and chocolate syrup on top.

It turns out, pancake is just the English word used for this delicious dessert because English doesn't have an equivalent. But because most Macedonians haven't experienced an American Pancake, there is no way for them to tell the difference. We are asked quite a bit, "Which one is better, American Palachinki or Macedonian?" and we just say they are too different to compare.

Finally, this last week, the American Pancake was introduced to Prilep, Macedonia, complete with a cooking class and demonstration, followed by an all you can eat pancake feast. Here are just a few of the pictures from this cultural experience! One of the challenges was to make sure the pancake was ready to be flipped. Others tried their skills in flipping the pancake in the skillet and one guy was a regular pro!!

The next cooking even will be for women only, in celebration of Woman's Day, celebrated in March. Up on the Menu: Snickerdoodles!!!

Guys Mexican Food Night + Movie

Spencer hosted a guys night at our house this week and introduced some of our friends to the wonderful world of Mexican Food.
It was quite funny listening to him explain the food in Macedonian, explaining how to make a fajita, and the difference between the hot and mild salsa.

On the menu was enchiladas, homemade tortillas, pinto beans, homemade salsa, ground beef, grilled chicken, and tortilla chips.

Following the main course came American Chocolate Chip Cookies (a local favorite) and No Bake Cookies (also a local favorite) with coffee.

The damage done in the end: 8 very hungry guys satisfied, only beans left, a lot of dirty dishes. It was a great time and a full house...we look forward to next time!!!

Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!

We wrapped up our English and Spanish semesters with a celebration Christmas party and certificate ceremony last Thursday. 74 Certificates were earned this semester from English and Spanish classes--Spencer and I also earned our Macedonian Certificates..and we celebrated in stlye...traditional Macedonian style!

Our good friend Irena arranged for students to each bring some sort of Macedonian food, and several came in traditional Macedonian costume and preformed the Oro, a traditional Macedonian dance. There was so much food, and it was all delicious!
I am continuously encouraged by the friends who have come alongside us to help us and support us for His purpose, and I thank the Father for these dear friends: Irena, Boro, Mario, Tomas, Aneta, Hristina, Alexander and Vale. Your help and support throughout this last semester at Izgrev has been such a blessing to us!
Only two semesters left for Spencer and I to teach. Three if you count the summer. Time is running short. But, a lot can happen in one year. A LOT.

Macedonian Charades

Since Spencer and I have finished our formal language classes, we have determined to speak more and more Macedonian and less and less English.

In attempt to answer a challenge from some of our new friends, we hosted a game night last friday night during which Spencer and I could only speak Macedonian.

It was quite comical, but also challenging at times. Some of the words used were English cognates, like "altar" and "bazooka" but others referred to Macedonian movies or Turkish words.

Needless to say we were clueless most of the time, but did have lots of fun trying. Because both of us being on the same team would prove to be a pretty big handicap, we were on separate teams...in the end, I'm not sure who won.

We did have lots of laughs and enjoyed the challenge.

Enchiladas + Salsa + Karaoke + PlayStation = Fiesta!

We hosted an outreach at our house this last Thursday to try to get to know some of the students in the Spanish class a little better. It was a "Girls ONLY" event, and was announced only to the girls who had been coming to both Summer and Fall Spanish classes. Out of the 20 or so girls who had been coming to class, we were expecting 8 at the most, but we weren't sure because we hadn't done anything like this before.

I prepared some enchiladas, hot and mild salsa, rice and beans, as well as some Crystal Light Lemonade. The tortilla chips came from a local grocery store which imports them from Spain; so, we just waited on the 7pm hour to roll around.
It turned out we had 14 guests and we were so excited to be able to have more than what we initially thought. We started the evening off with a round of Crystal Light Lemonade (who would have known Crystal Light could be such a ministry) and EVERYONE wanted to try the lemonade from America.

Next was the unveiling of the enchiladas and tortillas, hot and mild salsa as well as the rice and bean mix. Then the explanations began of what was in what and how to make it and so on...It was the first time for most of these girls to try Mexican style food. One of the girls remarked, "I'm in love with enchiladas!" It made me laugh!

The HOT salsa was more popular than the mild, the enchiladas, tortillas, and chips were gone before the night was over.

Cue dessert, a spread of NO-Bake Cookies and Chocolate Chip Cookies. The NO-Bakes went in a flash...as we all enjoyed the company and sheer silliness of watching friends Karaoke to English songs as if there wasn't a care in the world.

Everyone has asked for the recipes, so I look forward to sharing those in the near future. It was suggested to have another party but next time to invite people over before the cooking starts so they can learn the art of Mexican food too. Others suggested a "Girls ONLY" movie night...so I look forward to future events as I get to know this group of girls even better.

The Great American Pastime in...Macedonia?

YUP.
That's right. The Great American Sport has been transplanted to the soccer fields of Prilep, Macedonia where it was welcomed warmly.

Participants of all ages gathered to learn the basics of this "new" game and actually got the hang of it pretty quickly!

There was basic discussion about how to hold a bat, where the strike zone is, what a foul ball, ball and strike look like...

what happens when there is a pop fly and when it is caught in the air...

what it means when there is a full count, and what it means to be "out"...

and occasional reminders to RUN, RUN, RUN when the batter hits the ball.

Over all, it was a great first time trial, and here's hoping that the people who came will bring a friend to the next "game". Right now American football is taught on Fridays and baseball on Sundays in accordance with the time the field was available for renting. The end goal is to be able to gather enough people to be able to conduct a game or even a tournament, while providing the rules of the game, applications to life, all the while developing relationships and friendships. Please remember the people who attend and will attend, even if it is just to watch.

Once more, we'd like to thank Tree of Life Church in New Braunfels, Tx who provided us the equipment to be able to conduct events like this!

Greece: Living out Acts 16

The remaining summer months have been our busiest, preparing for the fall, meeting new people and getting to know friends a bit better. Before September's English and Spanish classes as well as Spencer's sports began, we headed south to Greece.

We played the role as tourist, viewed the ancient ruins of Philippi and walked where Paul and Silas and Luke walked.

We first came to the amphitheater of Philippi. It was HUGE.

We stood in the same river where Lydia was baptized (Acts 16:11-15) and if the water was as cold then as it was now, wow.

We walked up the same steps Paul and Silas walked up before they were imprisoned for casting the demon out of the fortune telling slave girl

and looked into the prison where Paul and Silas sang praises to God just before the earthquake occurred.

We saw the forum market where Paul and Silas were publically beaten before their imprisonment despite the fact that Paul was a Roman Citizen (Acts 16:16-24),

and saw the buildings which once housed the magistrate who ordered their beating and eventual release (Acts 16:35-40). Notice only the doorframe stands.

We walked through rows and rows of houses, one of which could have belonged to the Philippian Jailer who pleaded with Paul “What must I do to be saved?” after the earthquake (Acts 16:30).

We then headed back to Thessalonica (Thessaloniki) by way of newly built intersate rather than the Egnatian Way as Paul, Silas, and Luke would have (Acts 17:1) The Egnatian Way runs parallel to the Forum (market place) through Philippi. It was one of the only structures which still remained pretty well intact after the city fell victim to several earthquakes and the Turkish rule. It was still mostly flat, paved with large white marble stones, and was wide enough for a wagon or two horses to pass side by side.