I want to apologize to all of you for not posting more blogs. Last month was an interesting month, and one that I didn't find much in the way of inspiration for actually writing down what happened. Honestly, I was more interested in actually being present and spending time with the kids that I was around, with the families we had the priviledge of knowing and living among, that going online and blogging.
We spent the month with our contact, Yavor his wife Maria, son, Philip (Feef) and daughter, Sarah (Sare). We also got to know Yavor's brother, Victor, and his family; wife, Theresa, and sons Danny (Dan-Dan), Mattias (Tie-Tie) & Noah (No-No). On top of that, we spent a lot of time with Bisa, the man whose apartment we shared.
It was a great month. Probably the best of the whole entire race, and the part that made it the best was building relationships and living in community with the amazing people mentioned above. If you go on my facebook, you'll notice that I am now considered "sister" to Feef, Sare, Danny, & Tie-tie. These kids are amazing, especially for being 13, 16, 15 & 14 respectively. They all served as translators for us during our different ministries and really just embraced us and loved us so well.
They were so gracious, kind, generous and respectful. It was truly a blessing to be around them, to love on them and to mutually encourage each other. They helped me grow a lot and reminded me of just why I am here; to spread the love of Jesus and to encourage and remind people, whereever they are, that they are loved, they are wanted, and they have a daddy who cares so much for them that he couldn't stand the thought of leaving them without the hope of being united with them for eternity.
And, in my travelings, it is my hope that I will not only directly encourage those who are not currently believers, but that I would also be able to propel a greater desire for Christians to love the people they're around and see the world for what it is: bigger than our own sphere of influence, greater than the hopes and dreams we have for ourselves, and the place that Papa has created us to be a part of, because of his love and glory.
By spending the time I did with the kids, and reading the letters they gave me upon our departure, I know that I did indeed propel a greater desire and awareness within them. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to know them, to love them and love & serve along side them.
With all that being said, in these next 3 weeks, before I head to Central America, I will be posting blogs abotu what I did in Bulgaria. I hope you find them enjoyable, and I'll do my best to keep you all more up to date on what's going on in my little sphere of influence…
With love,
Amanda
