zdrasti.
Hello from Bulgaria! Oh man. These past three weeks have flown by! Family vacation, prepping in Atlanta, and then jumping on the plane to go!
Well we’re here. This trip is unlike anything I imagined. I am seeing people and places my eyes have never dreamed of. The landscape here is so beautiful, and the people are not that different from myself. I’m in awe of Gods creativity and know I’ll be saying that practically everywhere I go.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaim his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)
I feel like a baby with a floppy head, waiting for my neck to gain strength. This experience is unlike ANYTHING I pictured. I didn’t really know what to expect. I’m challenged with questions like: Okay, what is the one true Gospel? How do you explain that? How has God played that out in my life? Continue to pray that God would guide, direct, and knit our team together.
[ [ So what has the Lord been doing since we’ve been here in Bulgaria? ] ]
Loving in the Gypsy Quarter: “Let the little children come to me“
When we met up with our contact, we dropped our bags at the church and left for our first activity. Talk about diving in! We went up to a gypsy neighborhood to play with the children and love them. Many of these kids are beaten, abused, molested, and dragged into existing family rivals.
These kids need the love of Christ. I hugged them as tight as I could and kissed them. I wanted them to know the security Jesus brings His kids. They had no idea who I was, but they would not let go. I would stand there playing paddy-cake with one girl while another would hang from my waist wanting another hug.
Doesn’t this explain why Jesus rebuked the disciples when the children came?
Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14).
My heart is becoming undone. It started here.
Pulling Weeds: “Parable of the soils“
Our contact here is preparing to start construction so he can house future laborers and those in need of refuge. We are helping build in an unreached people group where over 90% of the population is rooted in Islam. There many mosques, but that does not worry me. They are just lifeless buildings with empty words and dry souls.
We have been pulling weeds and preparing the ground for construction. I cannot think of a higher honor than to prep the foundation. The soil here is an accurate picture of peoples hearts. It is dry, full of weeds, boulders, and trash. It is hard to plant seeds here because theres so much that needs to be removed.
It reminds me of Luke 8:4-15 and leaves me asking myself, “What is taking up room in my heart?”
Pray for our contact. Pray that the Lord would send him laborers so he can continue planting as God has called him to do. Pray that the people here encounter His love so fear will be casted out. Pray and fight against curses being pronounced over Christians here. Pray from Psalm 91. Many believers cling to this passage and draw encouragement from it.
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will
deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows
my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
(Psalm 91: 14-15)
There are still accounts I want to share of God answering our prayers, but that will have to want until next time. Think of this as Part 1.
