Dobry den! In my last post (that was far too long ago, my apologies), I informed you (friends, family, my dear internet stalkers) that my team and I were searching for the Kingdom Treasures planted in Burgas, Bulgaria. We were entrusted to seek and find the individuals and families there who have dedicated their lives to seeing the kingdom built in Burgas and the people of that city served well – people who may be weary, alone in their pursuit, in need of a lift or extra hands and feet to see their vision through. We were entrusted to find the next treasures for AIM to send teams to.
Here’s what we found:
- The largest evangelical church in the city, led by the pastor and his wife, passionate about sharing the gifts they’ve received and caring for struggling churches. They even blessed us with a place to stay for a week and offered to ask the church to give us socks for scandalous our chaco feet (we decided to wear shoes after that).
- A young married couple who just recently moved to Bulgaria from Ukraine. They do a lot of outreach and relationship building with the Russian speaking youth in the area. We got to host an America Night for one of their Sunday night meetings, during which we made the grand discovery that Dasha and Leo have been connecting with our beloved barista at the Coffee Room, an incredibly kind, unique and intellectual young man, and many of his friends.
- A German man and his Bulgarian wife who have been missionaries in Bulgaria for 12 years. They know approximately every Christian in the country, but their heart’s desire is to unite the Christians of the country in prayer. They invited us to one of their prayer meetings where a few of us expected to speak in front of and pray with about 12 people but instead got to share testimony and pray for the youth of the country with almost 100 Bulgarians. These two also do incredible work for young adults who grew up in orphanages, of which we got to meet and fellowship with many. They also host an incredible breakfast/spontaneous worship/mutual encouragement party.
- The pastor of a small Turkish Roma (gypsy) community on the outskirts of a city outside of Burgas whose heart is to see this small and lively community transformed by truth and light. We were told that our being there was an inspiration and a reminder that they’re not forgotten. WOW, what words to receive. We got to share encouragement and “advices” with the youth and were treated to an incredible lunch right there in the one-roomed church.
- An incredible new friend who won’t be a World Race contact, but who was a World Racer for a day as she gave up going to a conference to drive us to the Turkish Roma church and translate for us. Except it’s even cooler than that, because she too shared her testimony with the youth and it was exactly what they needed to hear, and she even wants to forge a partnership between her church and theirs.
- The couple in charge of the Youth With a Mission base in Sliven, Bulgaria. They are both from Roma background and have crazy passion to see that group transformed. They are passionate about leadership development and discipleship. They are in need and deep desire of more international partnerships. They paid for our coffee and gave us such humbling encouragements.
And these are just the ones I had the privilege of meeting. Other teammates had other meetings that I didn’t attend because I was attending these. How faithful the Lord was to lead us to the treasures of Burgas!
Bonus treasure: The most beautiful woman in the entire world without whom we wouldn’t have found many of these treasures. Keep your eyes open for a post all about this one.
Oh, and here are some teammates and I with some classic Bulgarian roses after a full day of making contacts and Roma worship services and giving advices and being blessed by kind words and free coffee
Aaaaaaand, PS. My team just arrived in Skopje, Macedonia last night. It’s a beautiful city and we couldn’t be happier with our host, a young man from Muslim background passionate about seeing the large Albanian Muslim community here come to know Jesus by serving hem through a café, English and guitar lessons, a family atmosphere, and loads of conversation. We appreciate your prayers as we seek to be light in this community!
