Hello from Bulgaria!
Starting the World Race has been a huge whirlwind, but it has been absolutely great so far. It still doesn’t seem real that I’m on the race. Over the summer, it was always on my mind, always lingering in the near distant future, but here I am, sitting at our ministry host in Svishtov, Bulgaria almost on my third week of ministry.
Before I tell you what we have been doing, I want to give some (random) facts about Bulgaria.
– Bulgaria is about the size of Tennessee
– Communism fell in Bulgaria in 1991
– The majority of Bulgarians are Orthodox, about 95%
– 4.5% of Bulgarians are Muslim
– 0.5% of Bulgarians are of an “other” category when it comes to religion
– Bonitza is a traditional Bulgarian dish (so yummy)
– There is a myth here that if you eat the end piece of a loaf of bread you will have a baby boy
– Most public bathrooms do not give you toilet paper, so you best keep some on you at all times
– Bulgarians eat a TON of carbs, mostly meat, potatoes, and bread
So, you’re probably wondering what we have been doing here. Last week we started our ministry with a local disability center for disabled children/adults and at risk children. We spent a couple days doing yard work around the center, mostly pulling weeds and sweeping leaves, making the outside of the center look as nice as the inside did. (Mom you’ll laugh at this because you know how much I dislike yard work, and that just happens to be out first ministry project) We did yard work in the morning and in the afternoon we would meet some of the employees and a few people who attended the center.
Until a few years ago, Bulgaria had nothing for people with disabilities. No center, no proper schooling, no physical therapy, nothing to help make their lives a little easier. Now that the center is up and running, individual with disabilities finally have a place to go where they can get services they need. I was humbled to be able to do work there because even though I didn’t think I was doing much ministry by pulling weeds, the people at the center we so grateful for our help and thanked us multiple times for doing a few hours of work there each day.
Also here in Bulgaria, we are partnering with New Life church and their leadership team to help teach English and assist the team in any way we can. The ministry team consists of three couples who are absolutely amazing, not just because they let us use their Wi-Fi and wash clothes at their apartment but because they have left their families and lives back in the United States to serve the Lord here in Bulgaria.
For three years, they have strived to expand New Life church. It is easier said than done. In Bulgaria, going to a Christian church is not normal and is seen as a bad thing. Many people would like to come to church but may be shunned by their families or be at risk of losing their job, which makes it very difficult to get people to attend New Life. Even so, they strive forward every day, even if they feel their efforts produce little fruit, to try and reach the lost and hurting people of this country.
Though there are not many people who attend New life, I can see something stirring in this country. People are curious and wonder when they walk into the church for English club (We teach English at the church) what type of building it is and what the verses on the wall mean. Also, attendees come to church every Sunday and a seed is planted in their heart to know their savior more intimately.
Overall, life has definitely looked different than what it did back in the states. At the beginning of my trip, I was very homesick, longing to be back in the comfort of my own house. Back at home though I was not able to do ministry every day, live in community with my teammates, pick fresh figs in the front yard, take a trip to the mountains, meet so many people in just two weeks, and show people their creator and the endless love He has for them.
As I go into my third week on the field, I am excited to see where God takes me. Where he grows me into who he wills me to be.
