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Saturday we arrived in Bulgaria- so finally month one was officially here…Even though to me it seems like month two. Because it felt like the race had already begun to me after t camp. Anyway here I am!!! Finally at a foreign country serving the communities. So on Saturday we arrived at the city we are supposed to work for the month. At the beginning I was very excited and thankful to be here. But then by day two I never felt more lonely in my life. I felt disconnected with the ministry and with the team and I just kept thinking I was too different… too culturally different. And somehow I had to tough it up… At the same time I got anxious and worried about my Moldova visa that I needed to apply from sofia- Bulgaria – even though we are only going to Moldova in September. So with all these mixed feelings I felt I wasn't being a good "missionary" and I felt bad about it, but I thought no one could understand what was going on inside me.
On Tuesday night one incredible couple from the church that is receiving us decided to give us a Bulgarian dinner – Peter and Mariana- they were very sweet. So as my team was having dinner finally Colleen said she was feeling weird- and so I could share I was feeling weird too. It seemed only the two of us were having these feelings and we both had to go to sofia on Wednesday to work on our visas process- for me the Moldova and her the India one. So it wasn't a cultural issue after all.
So after sharing a little bit of our hearts to the team we some how felt more comfortable about what we were feeling and processing the whole thing. So on Wednesday the majority of the team went to ministry at the gipsy community while we were processing the documents for the visas and traveling to the capital. Meanwhile we were able to talk, pray, cry and understand what was going on in our hearts.
We got to sofia Thursday morning and a friend from Alex- who is the sweet, awesome sort of children's leader from the church at the gypsy community- Magy met us at the bus station, she was the sweetest ever. Took us to both embassies and showed us around Sofia.
Neither of our visas worked out, but I never felt more peaceful about it than I feel now. I really needed the time to process with Colleen. And God knew this was what we needed. We are gonna be able to get our visas later so it's fine really.
I felt so relief by sharing with her my feelings and being open about stuff. We want to be open with all the girls and really grow into a relationship with love and sisterhood. But God knew this was what we needed. And I just kept thinking about the verses in Romans 8:28,29. He always works for our good even if we don't understand it at the time. So my heart is very relieved and now I know I can be really committed to what God wants us to do and be at this country and for this I'm very thankful.
This week we will continue to go to the gypsy community. Next week we'll work with a poor community and in the third week will be working at a summer camp from the local church.
Prayer requests: for my team unity and connection
To be full of peace
To really listen to God's voice
For the money I still need to fundraise for the project. Around 5 thousand dollars
And for my visas through the race.
Thanks
Love, Dani.
Português
Búlgaria: Alívio em um visto negado
Chegamos na Búlgaria na sexta-feira passada, uma semana atrás. Depois de mais de 40 horas viajando chegamos no sábado na cidade que viemos ajudar este mês. Na primeira semana o nosso programa era em uma das comunidades ciganas com as crianças. Nesta próxima semana vamos trabalhar com uma outra comunidade carente e na última semana vamos ajudar no acampamento de verão.
Assim que cheguei fiquei muito feliz e agradecida em estar aqui. Mas no segundo dia comecei a me sentir muito sozinha. Sentia que não estava conectada com ninguém do meu time e também desconectada com o trabalho. Fiquei pensando que eramos muito diferentes, culturalmente diferentes, eu e as meninas americanas.
Além disso, comecei a ficar ansiosa e preocupada com o processo do visto da moldávia. Vamos pra lá em setembro mas tinha que tentar tirar o visto em Sofia esta semana.
Na terça-feira uma família maravilhosa que tem nos ajudado aqui decidiu nos oferecer um jantar bulgariano. Então enquanto eu e meu time, 5 Outras meninas, enquanto comíamos, pudemos ter mais tempo para nos entender. Colleen, uma das meninas compartilhou o coração e pude me relacionar com ela entendendo que estávamos nos sentindo do mesmo jeito.
Na quarta-feira eu e ela tínhamos que resolver os processos dos nossos vistos enquanto as outras meninas foram para a comunidade. Quarta a noite viajamos para Sofia para tentarmos pegar os vistos na quinta. Nossos vistos não foram aceitos. Mas o tempo que passamos juntas foi necessário para entendermos o que Deus quer da gente aqui e processar nossos sentimentos.
Vou conseguir pegar o visto mês que vem então tudo bem.
Entendi o cuidado de Deus em tudo isso. E finalmente parei de me sentir sozinha. O texto de Romanos 8:28,29 ficou pipocando na minha cabeça. Tudo coopera para o bem daqueles que amam à Deus.
Pude conhecer Sofia e a cidade é linda.
Continuem orando por mim:
Para que meu time tenha unidade e amor.
Para que eu tenha paz e entenda o que Deus quer fazer
Pelos recursos que ainda preciso levantar, cerca de 5mil dólares.
Pelos vistos que ainda preciso durante o projeto.
Obrigada pela ajuda e pelas orações. Saudades do Brasil.
