Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

I am a person who likes schedules, structure, plans, and control. I always have been and will likely always be someone who is conscious of schedules (I am convinced that the body of Christ needs us!). However, the World Race, specifically this “Ask the Lord” month has ruined me for the better.

Before leaving for the World Race, I lived a very structured life in a tightly scheduled city – Washington, DC. And my job, unsurprisingly, was to keep the schedule and plan all travel for the head of a federal agency (I miss you, Anne!!). And outside of work, I was always busy and planning something. Pre-Race, I longed for, and was only content with, structure.

But in Romania, I started to let go of schedule and structure. The process was slow and I didn’t even realize it was happening until someone pointed out that I was much more relaxed. Then we were told that Egypt wasn’t going to happen and to start praying about where God wanted us to go in Eastern Europe. I was surprisingly unshaken by the change of plans. In fact, I was excited about the adventure that was ahead of me. The Melanie that lived in Washington, DC may have flipped out if she was told that nothing was set up for the next month and that we just needed to pray about it. But, praise the Lord, He has been working on my heart.

I am now at a spot where I can be content sitting on a step until God lays out the next one. I don’t have to see the whole path marked out. I don’t need to depend on a plan. I trust that God will tell us to move when we need to and I trust that all the details will work out according to His will. God is in control, so I don’t need to be. Thank you, Jesus, for freedom!

And, He has certainly proven himself a wonderful provider in Bulgaria! The past seven days have been full of blessings and sensing God’s direction. After 26 hours of travel we arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria at 6:30 am. Marissa’s blog about the first day in Sofia is excellent and you can read it here. In summary, we went to church in Sofia, toured some in the afternoon and then caught a bus down to Petrich (about 3 hours south…right on the border of Greece), where a missionary couple, Al and Diane Millinger, are based. You can check out their website here – they have a great ministry in Petrich! Anyway, they welcomed us in, fed us, found us beds, and gave us contact information for ministries across the country. They also gave us an overview of Bulgarian culture and a language lesson. Needless to say, they were a huge blessing to us!!

 
 

One of the contacts they had, was Pastor Mitko in Sandanski, a town about 30 minutes north of Petrich (still about 2 hours south of Sofia). We sensed God calling us to stay in the southern region of the country before heading back to Sofia so we jumped in, without knowing about housing, transportation, ministry, etc. A bus arrived to pick us up from Petrich (the driver didn’t speak English) so we hopped in and arrived in Sandanski to find dorm style housing in a beautiful church! Side note: this was the first bed I have slept in since I left the United States – thank you, Jesus!! Our first day we went to a home for women with mental handicaps and painted trees and picked up pine-cones – seems random, but apparently it was helpful! And yesterday we spent a full day painting in the church.

 

We don’t really know what is next. I am waiting for God to tell us when to move north. We have a place to camp in Sofia starting on October 10th and we are hoping to couch surf and stay with a few Bulgarian families, but nothing is set in stone. What I do know is that God has provided for us this far and will guide our next move. I also know that he has done a great work in my heart, to free me from needing everything scheduled. My feet are now firmly planted in trusting God, so I won’t be shaken when my plans fall through. I can be at peace waiting upon the Lord to light my path.


“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34